Chapter 5
Chapter Five
BELLAROSE
What the hell is wrong with me? I need to go find that tree and climb back up. West is going to think I have a real issue with trees at this point.
I clutch the bags of chips to my chest, making them crinkle loudly. Crap. Every step I take toward the fire somehow makes the bags louder. When I finally reach the chairs, I’m hoping that my flushed cheeks appear to be from the warm fire and not my awkwardness.
A few people glance my way, and I give a small wave. “Chips?” I ask, wanting to get rid of some of the bags.
“There you are,” West says, stepping around a group of people. He’s got two paper plates balanced in one hand and an arsenal of dips in the other. “I see you have established a solid defensive perimeter.”
I snort a small laugh at his joke as I tilt my head to meet his eyes. He holds out one of the plates for me, and when I take it, his gaze drops to the chip collection I have surrounding me.
“You know,” he says as he moves his chair closer to mine, “standard issue for most people is one bag.” His voice drops, and he leans in closer. “But you, Bellarose, operate on an entirely different level of preparedness. I respect the commitment. Truly.”
Without hesitation, I burst into laughter. How is it so easy to have fun with him?
West sets the dips on a nearby log. There are four of them. He has brought a buffet to complement my carbohydrate fortress. He opens one of the bags and points to the plate.
“I acquired all the options. Though I have to ask, was taking all the chips a way to establish dominance over the snack table?”
The entire company probably saw me pirouette toward the tree while clutching enough sodium to dehydrate a whale.
“I was just…” I start, but my voice comes out as a whisper. Then I realize that this man got an excessive dip collection to accommodate my panic-hoarding. “Well, don’t you recall the disastrous anal leakage era?”
West’s brows go all the way up, and I slam my hand over my mouth. I did not say that. Why? Why on earth would I say that?
“Don’t stop now, I’m invested,” he chuckles. “No, I don’t know about the disastrous anal leakage era. I must have somehow missed that one.” I drop my hand, but I’m smiling now. I love how he puts me at ease so easily. “Explain it to me.”
“Frito-Lay created a new fat-free chip.”
“This is already going downhill.” He opens one of the bags. “Diet chips? No thanks.” West shakes his head in pure, amusing disgust.
“Yeah, my dad will do these fad diets, and he was excited when they came out.” I peek around to make sure no one is listening because they might not want to hear the next part if they’re eating. “As excited as he was for them to come out, they came out of him even faster.”
West cocks his head to the side. “It gave everyone diarrhea?”
“And maybe some leakage.” West’s mouth opens and then closes. “Let’s just say Mom banned all chips from the house for a few years.”
West throws back his head and laughs. “Are you making this up so I won’t eat all your chips?”
“Guess there’s only one way to find out,” I tease as he brings one to his mouth.
“Just conducting a safety inspection.” He bites into one and then another. “Gotta be thorough.”
Oh my gosh. If I could melt into a puddle right now, I would.
West gets my weirdness and kind of leans into it.
I really like him. Like, really, really, really.
It’s exciting, though it’s probably not my best idea.
We don’t live anywhere near each other, but I can’t seem to stop the growing attraction.
We fall into effortless conversation as we eat. He asks about my parents and then about some of the designs I’ve done for the company. We talk about our favorite movies, and I’m shocked how many are the same. The night is going perfectly until a voice cuts through my blissful fog.
“Did you leave any chips for the rest of us, Bellarose?”
Sheryl materializes from the shadows near a cooler, her silhouette having an orange glow around it from the fire. It’s fitting. She came from the depths of hell.
“I was just holding them while West got plates,” I mumble lamely. My shoulders automatically hunch, the chip bag in my hands suddenly heavy. I’m not going to admit West got me all flustered and then I started grabbing everything within reach.
I am a jackass, I suppose. I stole all the chips, and I’m hoarding them over here. To be fair, it was an accident.
“Some people do not understand the concept of sharing at company events.”
“I suppose I’m an accomplice then. I got the dips.” West winks over at me, and I duck my head to hide the goofy smile that tries to take over.
“I was only teasing her, Mr. Hayes.” Sheryl laughs like we’re old friends and we do this kind of thing all the time.
Wait, did she say Hayes? As in the Hayes that owns Nibbles? West Hayes. Oh. My. God. I’m a dumbass.
He’s the freaking boss! The head of the company had to help me out of a tree! Then I nearly walked into another tree after panic-grabbing all the chips in front of the man whose name is on the building. Oh, shit, then I remember that I got jealous, and he knows it. The boss thinks I’m into him.
Wait, I am into him.
“Sharon,” West says, cutting through her laugh.
He doesn’t raise his voice because he doesn’t need to. I even sit up straighter at the tone. The warmth that was there moments ago vanishes, replaced by something cold and deliberate. Now I very much see the boss. It’s like he flipped a switch.
“If you’re done teasing my guest, perhaps you could go check on the dessert situation. I heard Simon asking about s’mores supplies.”
Sheryl’s smile falters, just barely. “I was only—”
“I know exactly what you were doing.” He sets his plate down on the log, the casual gesture at odds with his tone. “And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t do it to someone I brought here. Bellarose is with me. That means she’s not your entertainment for the evening.”
I don’t know who is more shocked, Sheryl or me.
The fire cracks, making me jump. I’ve never heard anyone talk to Sheryl like that, like she’s a problem to be managed rather than a person to be appeased.
The power dynamic in the air shifts, and I realize with a slow dawning that West isn’t just defending me.
He’s reminding Sheryl who he is, in case she’s forgotten. I didn’t even know who he was!
Sheryl’s face goes through several colors, settling on a mottled pink. “Of course, Mr. Hayes. I didn’t realize the chips were...a date.”
“They’re not a date,” West says, and my stomach drops. “They’re chips. If you wanted a bag, you could have simply asked. I’m sure Bellarose would be happy to share.”
All I can do is nod, but I don’t think Sheryl eats chips. She was coming over to poke fun at me as she always does. Looks like her plan backfired.
“I’ll, ah, go see if Simon needs help.” Sheryl turns, scurrying off, and I hate that I feel a tiny bit guilty over it. I know it sucks when someone knocks you down a few pegs, but she kind of had it coming.
“You okay?” he asks when she’s gone.
“West,” I say, and my voice comes out steadier than I feel. “You’re...you’re the boss.”
“I am.” He doesn’t flinch, doesn’t look away. “Does that change something?”
All the things I’ve said to him flash through my mind. One standing out the most is the leaky ass story.
“I don’t know yet,” I admit.
He smiles, small and private, just for me. “Fair enough. We can figure it out together.”
“It’s not that simple.” I wish it was, but I’m already seeing so many issues. While it was nice to have West stand up for me, I will be paying for it later.
“I suppose maybe it’s not.” He picks up his plate again, but he doesn’t eat. Just turns it in his hands, watching the firelight. “Nothing about you is simple, Bellarose.”
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip because that’s really freaking sweet. I could really fall for this man, hard. If I’m honest, I already am.
“I’m your boss. You’re my employee. I probably shouldn’t be sitting here hoping you’ll tell me more stories about your dad’s terrible diet choices.”
“That’s what you’re hoping for?” I stare at him, and he nods, leaning in closer.
“Do you feel it?” he asks quietly. “This connection between us? I need to know I’m not alone in this.”
“You’re not alone,” I admit. “I feel it.”
The smile that breaks across his face has me thinking I’m making the right choice to see where this maybe could go.
“Good.” He settles back in his chair. “Now tell me another story. Something embarrassing that tops the last one.”
I laugh. “Sorry to disappoint, but I don’t have any more that involve butt disasters.”
“Then I’ll have to settle for regular disasters.” He watches me, grinning. “It’s your choice, but I’ve got all night.”
I look at him, at the fire, and at the ridiculous collection of dips between us. He has all night, all the time in the world, and for some crazy reason, he wants to spend it listening to me.
“Okay,” I say, reaching for the hummus. “But you’re going to regret this. I have a lot of embarrassing stories.”
“I doubt it,” he says, and he grins at me. “I find your antics wildly entertaining.”
Welp, if I didn’t think I was falling for him before, I surely am now.