Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
I tilt my head back to look at him. “You’re not my boss yet.”
My breath hitches when he bends over, leaning in close and placing his lips next to my ear. “This is happening, Charlie.” He stands back to his full height. “Get used to seeing me around.” He smiles, and even though he has a beard, I know there is a dimple hiding in there, and I hate that. I wish that I could see it.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be looking for new employment as soon as this day ends.” I turn back to the door and immediately feel his hand at my elbow before I can pull it open.
“Charlotte,” he says softly. I don’t turn to look at him. My emotions are all over the place, and hot tears prick my eyes. His thumb rubs circles on my arm where he’s still keeping me from leaving the room. His grip is loose but still effective. “Look at me.”
“Can we not do this, Spencer? Please?” My voice cracks. I swallow hard. “Not here.”
What happens next has my knees turning to jelly, and I’m glad he has a hold on me and that I have a hold on the door handle. Because when he leans in close, his scent surrounding me, and presses his lips to my temple, I barely stay up on my feet.
The feel of his soft lips against my skin, the heat of his touch, it’s all too much. I have to get out of this room. I need some space, just a damn minute to breathe and process that my afternoon will be spent with him.
He drops his hand, and I take a moment to take in a long deep breath and slowly exhale before pulling open the door, plastering a smile on my face, and leading him to the break room to make himself a plate.
Thankfully, the staff still have ten minutes before we turn the phones off for lunch, so Spencer and I are able to make our plates before without anyone watching us. I’m grateful because I know the tension between us is palpable. I feel it as though it’s a living, breathing thing stretched between us, and that is not something my staff needs to see.
Once we both have our plates made, I lead him back to the conference room, where I shut the door. Not because I want to be alone with him but because I don’t want prying eyes to see how uncomfortable I am.
“How has your week been?” Spencer asks.
I look up at him just as I am about to take a bite of my turkey sub on wheat. “Do you really care?”
He chuckles. “Do I look like a man that would ask a question he doesn’t care to know the answer to?”
“Are you forgetting that I know the pre-CEO Spencer? The one who walked around the Clemson campus as if he owned the world? The same guy who could smile, and the ladies would practically toss their panties at you. Or the guy that would gloat if he got a higher grade than me? I know that guy, and he doesn’t give a fuck how my week has been.”
“Charlie—”
“Mr. Pennington, my name is Charlotte.” I avoid his gaze and choose to stare down at my plate as if it’s the most interesting thing I’ve seen in my entire existence. I can’t look at him. Those dark brown eyes will be assessing me, and he’ll see too much. He’ll see that I wanted those smiles directed at me, that I wanted to talk about our grades and mutual classes, not compete. He’s been my rival for as long as I can remember, but deep down, that’s not what I wanted us to be. That’s just… who we were, and I’ve accepted that. That’s all we ever will be. Well, until a few hours ago when I found out Spencer Pennington is no longer just my college rival. He’s my new boss.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Spencer
She’s ignoring me while she picks at her food. I know this because I can’t take my eyes off her. I’ve sifted through every conversation I’ve ever had with Dr. Phillips and all the documentation that I’ve read about this practice, and never once did her name come up.
Not once.
Dr. Phillips always refers to her as their practice administrator, and her name isn’t listed on their website and, of course, on none of their financials. I knew that she also worked in healthcare. I just didn’t know in what capacity. I feel as though I’ve been duped, but I’m the only one to blame here. I should have done more research. Fuck, I should have asked her where she was working. I’ve had plenty of chances over the years, but I spend my time verbally sparring with her instead of asking the important questions. No wonder she shot my ass down all those years ago.