19. Chapter 19
“ H ey, Annie.”
Even now, after three weeks of being in the same office building with Kylan almost daily, I still couldn’t handle it like a normal person.
And if I had to see him, even from a distance conversing with someone down the hall or in an office as I passed by?
My heart skipped a beat, or several. Serious efforts were needed to calm myself whenever I heard his voice, even when it wasn’t directed toward me and even if I couldn’t see him.
But on those rare occasions he was speaking to me, in front of me?
I was a bumbling idiot. Not to mention a klutz.
And that’s how, moments later, I ended up face-down in the hallway but perversely glad of it, if only so I could escape interaction.
But of course he couldn’t have the decency to leave me alone in my mortification, could he? I looked up and sideways at his bulky thighs crouched down and his hand hovered above me in uncertainty. “Annie? Are you OK? Can I … help you? I think I misheard you.”
No, you didn’t mishear .
I just said something completely incoherent about tea and peaches and then venetian blinds before inelegantly tripping over … probably nothing.
Why can’t he just go on his way and pretend I’m not here?
Step over me and move on?
He let out a bark of laughter. “I’m not going to step over you and move on. Geez, what do you think of me, Annie?” When I buried my face in my hands again, he chuckled again. “Never mind, don’t answer that. But let me help you.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing he’d go away. When I heard no footsteps, I exhaled heavily and started to raise my upper body with my hands. One of his hands was braced on his thigh, and the other was outstretched toward me.
Oh, no.
Noooo, no.
The last thing, the very last thing I need is to touch him. In any way.
But this job mattered to me, and I couldn’t completely blow off the boss. Gritting my teeth, I let him take my hand and tried to ignore the current that passed through me. As he helped me rise, he also put a hand on my waist and then my back, steadying me gently.
And … I couldn’t think.
Those hands, innocent though they were, and that heat …
When he deemed me steady enough, he released me and stepped away as though the contact had meant nothing to him. The only emotion in his eyes was concern. “Are you all right, Annie?”
“I’m fine. I—” I said hoarsely. “I just … I was—” I said before coughing.
He was staring into my eyes so intently that I had to look away.
But I found my eyes drifting back, such was the pull of his gaze.
He hadn’t looked at me that closely since he’d been back, since …
since he’d gazed at me like I was the only woman in the world.
But this look wasn’t love. Surely, he was simply worried about me.
“OK,” he said, his voice a bit gruff. “Let me take you home. You look pretty pale.”
“What?” My eyes widened. “No, I’m fine. Why would you—”
“You don’t seem fine, Annie,” he said. Without warning, he stepped a little closer and gently placed the back of his hand on my forehead. After a moment, he removed his hand slowly, and his face relaxed a bit. “You don’t seem feverish, at least. That’s good. But I think—”
“Kylan,” I started. His name on my tongue felt strange. When had I last spoken his name to him ? Everything felt strange. He had just touched my face; his hands had been on my body; he was staring at me. What was I going to say?
“Yes?” His voice was quiet.
I opened my mouth to speak, and for a moment, no words came. Finally, I took a steadying breath and managed to say, “I’m OK, really. I just … I was just flustered because you …”
He was still, his voice still quiet. “Yes?”
Save yourself, Annie!
“Because I fell on my face. It’s embarrassing, you know? And more embarrassing to admit, so thanks for making me do that.”
But far less embarrassing than admitting the reason I fell—that I can’t be normal around you and my feelings and thoughts make no sense when we’re near each other.
Kylan stared at me before his lips twisted into a teasing smile. “You’re welcome.”
That smile! I can’t handle it …
Is he—is he joking around with me?
Maybe he doesn’t actually hate me anymore.
But that theory died when I saw his smile morph into a frown.
“Well, I’m sorry about the peaches in the breakroom. And the other stuff you mentioned,” he said, scratching his head although trying to remember all the details of the rambling I’d done before tripping in front of him. “But I just wanted to ask if you’d planned to cancel book club tonight.”
I tilted my head, drawing my eyebrows together. “Why?”
“Because of the snow,” he said, as though it were obvious.
“The …” I started to say before giggling. “The snow?”
A faint smile appeared briefly before he frowned again. “Uh, the blizzard warning. You can’t not know about it.”
I suppressed another laugh. It wasn’t even 8 o’clock yet, but the sun was already up on this beautiful spring day.
“Right. I’ll get right on that.” Interesting that Kylan was showing a sense of humor with me—it was the first time since, well, four years ago.
It was probably best to leave the conversation on this high note, so I started to walk past him to return to my desk.
But he put his hand out, and I stopped just before he could touch my arm. For self-preservation, of course.
Responding to my questioning look, he sighed.
“Annie, I’m not joking. I know it’s a sunny morning, but there’s a blizzard tonight.
You know as well as I do that such things can and do happen in Minnesota sometimes, even in May.
And it’s happening. I have a meteorologist friend who gives it 97% odds. ”
I stared at him in disbelief and crossed my arms. “Well, even if it’s going to snow, I wouldn’t necessarily cancel book club. We’re Midwesterners—we can handle it. I bet most people would still show up.”
It was his turn to cross his arms, and he took in my defiant stance. Finally, he said, “Fine. Well, we’ll see what happens. I just wanted to warn you.” Then, without another word, he turned and walked in the other direction.
I blew out a long breath. As uncomfortable as that had been, I was shocked to find it was also a bit exhilarating to spar with him.
Could it be OK between us? Could we get to a place where interacting with each other could be only 90% painful and awkward instead of 100%?
With this silly thought, I shook my head with a little smile and walked back to my desk.
Once logged on to my computer, it didn’t take long to confirm Kylan’s prediction on the weather websites.
I swiveled in my chair in disbelief for a few moments before shaking my head briefly to clear my thoughts.
It didn’t matter. This was Minneapolis. A little snow was no big deal.
It did make my choice of spring outfit rather undesirable—a short, high-waisted pleated dress with short sleeves and strappy sandals.
In my defense, yesterday it had been seventy-nine degrees, and I’d been sweating profusely in my jeans and sweater.
The city hadn’t seen snow for weeks, as far as I could remember.
Shrugging, I turned back to my computer screen and pulled up the latest manuscript I’d offered to read for Sofia.
Although reading through the slush pile was part of an assistant’s job to some degree, it wasn’t a large part, since there were so many other duties.
But Sofia had insisted I needed to get more active in the content of our submissions, including reading, editing, and deciding whether to represent an author.
After all, I’d need to demonstrate I could do all those things to get the job—and, if Francis’s warnings were to be heeded, to demonstrate I could do all those things expertly .
I sighed. The next few months were going to mean a lot of sleep-deprived days and nights, but it would all be worth it. It was already worth it. I loved every minute of this.
“This snowstorm is such a freaking nightmare! I need to get home. My sister is in freaking labor —in my house . I can’t be stuck here. I can’t!” Sofia wailed, her arms flailing before she clenched her fists in front of her face with a grimace.
I bit my lip, unsure what to say. Usually unflappable, Sofia never made a scene. Staying calm and professional was a must in this career, given how many different and sometimes difficult personalities we deal with.
Rainn stepped around the wall from Ambrose’s cubicle, his usually easygoing face curved into a grim expression. “What’s all this commotion?”
Sofia’s jaw dropped, and she seemed to momentarily forget her dilemma. “What’s all this rudeness?”
He crossed his arms over his thick chest and took his time in responding. “This is a professional office, is it not? Or did I step onto the set of a soap opera? ”
They stared at each other for a moment, seething. “I can’t handle Mr. Grumpy right now. I’ll be in my office,” Sofia snapped, turning to me briefly as she spun on her heel.
But I called out to her to wait.
Sofia turned around reluctantly, closing her eyes briefly. “What? I have a disaster to deal with, Annie.”
“I know. And this may not be ideal, but …” I glanced sideways at Rainn, who was zipping up his thick winter coat. “Rainn looks like he’s about to go home. We don’t live that far from your apartment. Maybe he could drop you off?”
“ No —” said both Sofia and Rainn simultaneously, their eyes flashing in protest.
“As I said, it’s not ideal, but—” I started.
I halted, sensing a warm presence by my side, his arm an inch away from mine. “It sounds ideal to me,” Kylan said in his deep, commanding voice. “Sofia needs to get home, and Rainn is going home. Nice and simple.”
Sofia looked at him in alarm. “But it’s … he’s … we don’t get along,” she said, her voice becoming quiet when she realized she had no rational reason to protest.