One Night with the Boss (5 page)

And that was the primary reason to acknowledge his not-just-business awareness of Olivia Lawson all these years. Hurting her wasn’t an option—and that’s what would happen if he started something he had no intention of finishing.

Except a little while ago he
had
started something.

“You’re wrong,” Maggie said.

“About?”

“Being the falling-in-love sort.”

“Oh?” He grabbed his niece and lifted her onto his shoulders, where she squealed with delight and slapped the top of his head with her little hands. “Why do you say that?”

“Here’s my theory and worth what you paid for it. Feel free to blow me off.” She met his gaze. “You won’t let anyone close because you’re afraid of losing them. Because it hurts when you lose them.”

“Don’t quit your day job and take up psychoanalysis,” he teased, but there was a lot of truth in her words.

As if she hadn’t heard the taunt, Maggie continued. “We lost Dad that Christmas you came home from college.”

“Yeah.” A trauma like that stayed with a guy forever.

Brady and his father hadn’t always been close but then his dad changed jobs, allowing him to be home all the time. He’d coached Brady’s baseball team and never missed a high school football game whether or not his son was playing.

He would never forget how his father had collapsed and died in his arms. One minute life was normal and happy, the next it changed forever. And the absence of the man he’d grown to love and emulate was a gaping black hole. It did hurt. So sue him.

“Is there a point to bringing this up?” he asked irritably.

“Then Henry was killed in the accident.”

His best friend. The two incidents were a painful lesson that someone you love can suddenly be gone. The only way to keep from hurting was not to care.

Brady met his sister’s gaze. “Of all people, you should understand. You lost Dad, too. And then Danny. I know how hard that was on you.”

“Still is.” The words were spoken softly as she stared at her daughter. “She has his dimples and the shape of his face. Losing him was the worst thing I’ve ever gone through.”

“So you understand why it’s unlikely there will ever be anyone special for me.”

“No, I really don’t.” She was still looking at her little girl. “At least I had a great love and know what that feels like.”

“If it was so great, why don’t you do it again?” Brady countered. “Why aren’t
you
dating?”

She sighed. “For one thing, it’s not easy when you have a child. How many people want to start a relationship with someone who has a kid?”

“I think you’d be surprised. Look at Adam Stone and Jill Beck. He adopted C.J. after they got married.”

“Okay.” She thought for a minute. “But then there’s Cabot Dixon and Tyler.”

Cabot was a good friend of Brady’s. His wife had walked out right after Tyler was born and he remained happily single. “Maybe he’s not the falling-in-love sort, either.”

Maggie made an unladylike snorting noise. “We can trade examples all night, but that won’t change what’s going on with you.”

“And that is?”

“Your only excuse for refusing to open yourself up to love is that you’re chicken.”

“What is this? Pick-on-Brady day?”

“Did someone else tarnish your image?”

“No way I’m passing this one on. You know how rumors spread here in Blackwater Lake.”

“There’s a rumor I haven’t heard? Don’t hold out on me, Brady.”

“There’s not a chance in hell I’m telling you.”

“Language,” she said, pointing at her daughter, who was completely oblivious.

“Sorry.” And wild horses couldn’t drag this particular information out of him.

It was the second time in the last few hours that a woman had dumped on his reputation. He’d shown Olivia his particular kissing skills, although it had backfired big time. But there was nothing he could do or say to convince his sister that in this instance not starting something was for the best.

“So, other than having a child, why are you unwilling to dip your toe in the dating pool?” he challenged.

“It’s complicated.” She stood. “I’m going to fix dinner now.”

“About darn time.” He watched her walk into the kitchen. “Please tell me veggie burgers are not on tonight’s menu.”

“It would serve you right if I served you that and quiche for dessert.” She turned and grinned. “But, no. I have a roast in the Crock-Pot.”

“Sounds good.”

It was the best offer he’d had all day.

Maggie wouldn’t talk about it, but she understood the tricky situations dating created. It was like touching a hot stove: after the first time you knew it hurt and avoided another go-round. Things inevitably got complicated when he refused to take a relationship to the next level. Kissing Olivia had taken him somewhere and it was a level he’d never been before.

Now
that
was complicated.

Chapter Five

O
livia had heard somewhere that there were times when retreat was the better part of valor, and at work the day after Brady had kissed her was one of those times. It was almost noon and she’d spent the entire morning avoiding her boss.

She’d known Brady was going to make it hard on her during these last two weeks. As much as she’d wished to be wrong, she hadn’t been—but she couldn’t really blame him for the kiss. The part about him having a reputation as a bad kisser was fabricated. When had she gotten so good at making stuff up? And why would she do something like that? She knew him well enough to know he’d take it as a challenge. Had she deliberately baited him into kissing her?

It was pathetic and she didn’t want to believe that of herself, because she was an honest person and didn’t lie. Yet these days she was mostly lying to everyone
but
herself.

Normally when she needed Brady’s signature on something, she hopped up and walked into his office. She looked for reasons to see him. Today she was stacking up the paperwork to put on his desk just before she left for the day.

But it would appear that he was avoiding her, too, since he’d been barricaded on the other side of that door since she’d arrived at work today. At least they seemed to be on the same page with that, if not about her quitting her job.

Right now she was going through the calendar, making a list of meetings for the last week of her employment, and it would require her to brief him. By definition that meant she would actually have to see and speak to him—like it or not.

“Uh-oh.” Olivia looked at the notation on her schedule. “Darn it. I forgot all about this.”

She thought about ignoring it and letting the chips fall where they may, but just couldn’t.

Blowing out a long breath, she stood and walked to his office door, then knocked. Loud.

“Come in.”

She did and braced for the power of his stare, the one that always went through her like shock waves and made her knees weak. But he didn’t look away from his computer screen. So, this morning she’d wasted a lot of energy ignoring him when he was back to treating her like the filing cabinet.

“What is it, Liv? I’m pretty busy.”

Oh, really. Did he think she’d been sitting around with an emery board shaping her nails? That wasn’t fair. It was about her ego. The kiss had made her feel something, but it hadn’t been enough to move him. For him the moment had been about proving something. Good to know. Moving on...

“We have a problem, Brady.”

He looked up. “What?”

“Actually, it’s your problem, because I’ll be gone.”

“Okay. Care to enlighten me?”

“Three words. Employee-appreciation weekend.”

Now she had his full attention. It was obvious, because he stiffened and swiveled his chair around to look at her. When her gaze went immediately to his mouth, Olivia wished she’d sent this message in an email. The shock waves made her want to step back, so she deliberately moved closer to his desk. She’d show him she didn’t feel anything, either. Wow, her morals were going downhill fast. Now even her body language was deceitful.

“What about it?” he asked.

“Six weeks from now, most of your employees will be arriving in Blackwater Lake expecting some show of your appreciation.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

Yeah, because she needed to make stuff up in order to give herself more work to do. She stood just on the other side of his desk and glared down at him.

“This was your idea five years ago and you dumped it all in my lap. Getting out the memo about transportation reservations and reimbursement. Arranging car service from the airport almost a hundred miles away. Reservations at Blackwater Lake Lodge for everyone. Activities. Awards dinner. Bonuses. Some of it is already done, but not all of it. Just a reminder, I’m here one more week. Last-minute details need to be handled the week before the event. I just thought you should know.” Because she couldn’t stop looking at his mouth, Olivia noticed when his lips compressed with annoyance. “And now you do.”

“Sometimes I wish you weren’t quite so efficient.”

“And I think you’re going to have to cancel it this year.” She folded her arms over her chest and forced her gaze to his forehead, but that wasn’t safe either. He was too handsome for his own good, so she looked at the jade monkey on the bookcase just over his shoulder.

“Canceling isn’t an option. This event promotes loyalty in the workplace and pays dividends that can’t be measured in dollars and cents.”

“Like I said, you’ve got a problem.”

“You’ve always handled it,” he said.

“Until now,” she amended. “I’m leaving.”

When he stood and walked around the desk, Olivia turned her back and headed out of his office. As long as his desk was between them everything was fine, but as soon as she could feel the warmth of his body, her body heated up and shorted out brain function. That reason was as good as any to explain why a normally trustworthy and sincere woman such as herself would goad her too-handsome-for-his-own-good boss into kissing her.

“Liv, wait up.”

“I did what I came to do.” She sat down at her desk, trying to ignore the fact that he was right behind her. “You’ve been reminded.”

“There’s no way I can get everything arranged in time without your help.”

“Agreed. You need an assistant.” A keeper would be more accurate, but that wasn’t her responsibility anymore. She spun her chair around and looked at him. “If you’d taken the interview process seriously and hired someone, I could have trained her. Or him. At least gotten them up to speed on what needs to be done. But you behaved like a petulant little boy who didn’t get his way and now there’s nothing I can do.”

Brady rested his hands on his hips and stared down. His thinking posture, she’d always told him. Usually he came up with a brilliant solution to whatever needed troubleshooting, but this time she didn’t see any way out except to scrub the event. And disappoint a lot of eager, loyal members of his staff.

Then he looked at her and a familiar gleam slid into his green eyes. “I have an idea.”

She’d heard that before, but bravely met his gaze. “I’m not going to like it, am I?”

“I can’t speak for you, but I don’t think Leonard will be too happy.” He held up a hand when she opened her mouth. “Just hear me out, Liv.”

It was the least she could do before saying no to whatever he had in mind. “I’m listening.”

“You haven’t put out word yet in the company that you’re leaving, right?”

She had not. “That was my next step in order to find someone to fill my job. I know that sometimes you like to hire from the outside to bring new ideas in, but you were wildly uncooperative with every candidate. Now I think promoting from within is the way to go.”

“Okay. I get it. My bad.” But Brady looked completely unrepentant. “So what would you think about keeping your resignation under wraps for just a little longer?” Again he held up his hand to stop her when she opened her mouth. “Before you lecture me again, it’s good business practice to play it that way. Neither the stock market nor the competition need to know that there’s any potential shake-up in the works. Especially when it involves someone who works so closely with me.”

He had a point. “I see.”

“So what do you think about waiting until the awards dinner to announce you’re leaving the company?”

“But that means I’d be staying until then.”

“I know.” He slid his fingertips into the pockets of his jeans.

“I think that would be like waiting to tell the kids about the divorce until after the trip to an amusement park.”

“And that’s bad—why?”

“It’s just putting off the inevitable and feels like a manipulation,” she argued.

Brady sighed. “Look, you’re right about me. Everything you said about the interviews. I admit it. That wasn’t my finest hour.”

“You can say that again.”

“Don’t push it.”

“Too much?” she asked sweetly.

“Just a little.” The warning lost power when he smiled that appealing smile. “I’ll make you a deal.”

This was what she dreaded. The moment when he pulled out his charm and set it for stun. Resistance was futile, or at least it would be if she didn’t have Leonard to fall back on.

“Leonard is impatient for me to join him. And I can’t wait to be with him all the time,” she added. “Besides, I don’t trust you, Brady.”

“Understandable.” His eyes glittered when he looked at her mouth. “But it would just be until employee weekend is over.”

“And what do I get out of it?”

“You have my word that I’ll stop behaving like a spoiled child and hire your replacement—if you’ll stay until the event is over.”

“Wow.” Her eyes narrowed on him. “This is a very different side of you.”

“How do you mean?”

“I had no idea you’d become so self-aware and mature about my leaving. Maybe desperation does that.”

“Busted. You left me no choice. So, what do you say?” he persisted.

“I’m supposed to start a new job and I was planning to take some time off. A vacation before I pack up and move.”

“You could still do that. And I’ll hire packers and whoever else you need to make the process as quick and painless as possible.”

Darn it all, she was weakening. “But my new job...”

“Surely you can postpone your start date? It’s just a few weeks,” he coaxed.

“I don’t know. It’s a really good opportunity and I don’t want to jeopardize it.”

“Your new boss obviously knows you bring a lot of invaluable skills to the table, since he stole you from me.”

“That and he’s a friend from college.”

“Good. So no problem there.” He nodded with satisfaction. “And Leonard...you’re worth waiting for. If he doesn’t realize that, then he’s an idiot.”

When Brady moved a little closer, she rolled her chair back and bumped up against the desk. It felt a lot like being a defenseless bug caught in the spider’s web.

“I’m not worried about Leonard.”

“Okay, then. Problem solved. There’s no reason you can’t extend your resignation deadline past the employee appreciation event, and I promise to choose someone to take over your job.” His expression challenged her to say no. “Deal?”

“Okay.” But her heart wasn’t in it. Or maybe it
was
—just a little too much.

Brady was finally at a place of tolerance about her quitting, so why wasn’t she feeling more relieved? That’s when another saying went through her mind.
Be careful what you wish for.
She’d wanted acceptance and now she had it, but the feeling was oddly empty.

“Do you have plans this weekend? With Leonard?” He was trying to look as if he cared, but failed miserably.

“No.” They did this every Friday night, talked about what was happening on their days off. “What are you doing?”

“Meeting Cabot Dixon at Bar None.”

At least it wasn’t a woman. She always faked a supportive look when he told her about his dates and right now she was at her limit of lies. “I’m having dinner with my family.”

“That should be fun.”

Yes, it should. Unless you had to explain a fake boyfriend and your real reason for moving away from Blackwater Lake.

* * *

In Brady’s opinion, the best burger in town was served at the Grizzly Bear Diner, but if you wanted a beer on the side Bar None was the place. It was located on the corner of Spruce and Pine Streets, one block west of Main, behind the Grizzly Bear, Potter’s Ice-cream parlor and Tanya’s Treasures gift shop.

Brady sat in a booth with his friend, rancher Cabot Dixon. The interior of the place was dark, with mahogany walls and a square bar in the middle of the large room. Booths ringed the perimeter with tables scattered in the remaining space. The floor was covered with peanut shells, which would drive a neat freak crazy, but Brady liked it.

Right now he was in the mood to like everything. Olivia had agreed to work for him a little longer. Some would call him a procrastinator, but he figured himself more of a doer. He’d done what was necessary to keep her here through the employee bash. She seemed adamant about leaving, so this reprieve wouldn’t change the outcome. He just couldn’t deny that he was relieved at not having to say goodbye for a little bit longer.

He cracked open a peanut and dropped the shells on the floor just because he could. “How you been, Cabot?”

“Can’t complain. You?”

“Good. Have you heard Tiffani Guthrie might be coming back to town?”

“Do I know her?”

“Probably not, if you have to ask.” He stared, assessing his friend. The man had dark hair and eyes that were nearly black. Women definitely took note of the tall rancher.

Cabot caught the look and frowned. “What?”

“My mother said I should alert you about her.”

“Why would I need a warning about your mother?”

“No. Tiffani. Mom said you’re a good-looking, rich man and I should give you a heads-up that she’s looking for a rescue from the bad situation she landed in.” He took the man’s measure again. “And I guess Mom is right. You’re not a bad-looking guy.”

The other man held up his hands. “Don’t get the wrong idea about why I asked you here.”

“You mean we’re not having a bromance?”

“I don’t know what that is,” Cabot said. “But I don’t like the sound of it.”

“It’s a combination of
brother
and
romance.
Olivia told me about it.” His assistant wasn’t just the smartest and most organized he’d ever had, she kept him up-to-date socially and with current cultural references. He was going to miss that. “Don’t get your spurs bent out of shape. It just means two guys who are good friends.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to say that?” Then Cabot grinned. “You had me worried for a minute. So, Tiffani?”

“Yeah. I met her when we were seniors in high school and she dumped me my last year in college. Apparently she married a guy who worked on oil rigs. But according to my mother, things haven’t gone so well in the double-wide trailer with her husband in North Armpit Falls, Texas. And she’s on her way back to Blackwater Lake to rekindle things with me because now I’m not a penniless college dropout.”