Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
In the large supply closet, she found the stepladder and a bulb. She set up the ladder in the middle of the hall and tested it for stability.
“Good enough,” she mumbled.
Stepping out of her shoes, she placed one foot on the lowest rung and started to climb.
“I know you’re not about to do what I think you’re about to do.” Maxwell’s deep voice arrested her movements.
Her pulse rate tripled at the sight of him standing to her right, hands on his slim hips.
How did he manage to move so quietly? He no longer wore his white coat.
Today’s outfit included dark pants, a white and charcoal tie, light gray shirt, and a vest over the entire ensemble that hugged his muscular torso.
He had no right to walk around looking so sexy in a place of business.
“What do you think I’m about to do?” Jasmine asked.
“Climb that ladder, which is a bad idea.”
“I’ve done it before,” she informed him.
“You shouldn’t be up there. Get down.” He walked over.
Holding on to the top of the ladder, she rested a hand on her hip. “You don’t tell me what to do.”
He arched an eyebrow. “You didn’t have any problem taking instruction before,” he said in a low voice.
Oh no he didn’t. She glared at him, cheeks burning at the insinuation.
A self-satisfied smirk touched his lips. “Come down. Please. I’ll put in the new bulb.”
She refused to do what he asked out of sheer obstinance. “I know how to change a lightbulb.”
“I’m sure you do.” He didn’t move.
Jasmine sighed. “Fine.” She descended the ladder and stepped to the side.
Maxwell unbuttoned his shirt cuffs and shoved the sleeves up to his elbows, causing her to sigh internally as he became even sexier.
As he climbed up, the material of his pants pulled against his muscular thighs and hugged his tight butt.
She watched in silence as he replaced the old tube with a new one.
When he finished, he returned to the floor.
“This is the part where you say thank you,” he told her.
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “Thank you.” Then, before she seemed truly ungrateful, she added, “Seriously, thank you. You didn’t have to do that. It’s my responsibility, not yours.”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind. Besides, I didn’t like seeing you climb up that ladder. Anything like that happen again, let me know, and I’ll take care of it.”
Chivalry wasn’t dead after all.
“Remember those words when I ask.”
“How many points do I get for this?”
“I’ll give you two.”
“Two? Wow,” he said sarcastically.
“I’m feeling generous,” she quipped. Then, “Hey, about my snarky comments to Keisha about how the mothers love you—”
“Forget it. I already have.”
“You’re sure?”
“I promise.”
She exhaled with relief. “Okay, then.”
“I’ll take the ladder back to the supply closet and toss this old bulb,” Maxwell said.
“Trying to earn more points?” Jasmine asked.
“As many as I can get.”
“Have a good night.”
Jasmine went to her office and packed up her belongings, but she took her time, listening for when Maxwell returned to their side of the building.
When she heard him, she slipped her bag over her shoulder and walked to his door to say good night.
He was writing in a leather-bound notebook, which she had seen him do one other time.
“You’re still working?” she asked.
Maxwell put down his pen. “Not working, exactly.”
Fully curious now, she stepped a few feet into his office. “If it’s not work, what are you doing?”
“Some people would say you’re being nosy.”
“Some people should keep their negative opinions to themselves.” She liked their verbal sparring and wished they interacted more often so she could indulge.
Maxwell leaned back in the chair, giving off his usual confident air. He hadn’t rolled back down his sleeves, which meant his muscled arms dusted with fine dark hair remained exposed to her greedy eyes.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” he said.
“Try me.”
He paused, as if deciding if he should share with her. Finally, he seemed to come to a decision and sat up, resting his forearms on the desk. “I was journaling.”
Her eyebrows lifted higher.
Maxwell let out a small laugh. “See, I knew you wouldn’t believe me.”
“It’s not that I don’t believe you. It’s... you gave an unexpected answer. I never figured you for the journaling type.”
“Why? Because I’m not a nice guy?”
She sighed. “Okay, this conversation is over. Have a good night.”
“No, don’t run off so quick. I was only teasing. Funny how we both have misconstrued ideas of each other.”
“What did you think about me?” Jasmine asked.
“Because of how we met, I figured you were a party girl. A woman who likes to have a good time. Not someone who runs a doctor’s office with military precision.”
“I didn’t have much choice. I love my father, but organization is not his strong suit. Someone had to get this place in order when his last manager left.”
“And you were available?”
“I was in-between jobs because...” Better not go down the road of that memory.
Her mistakes were in the past and she’d learned a valuable lesson about getting involved with charming coworkers—a mistake she would not make again.
“The reason is irrelevant. I came to work here, which was supposed to be temporary, but...”
“But?” Maxwell prompted.
“I liked the job and my dad asked me to stay on permanently. It worked out.”
“I don’t think Dr. Roberson could be any prouder of the work you do. He bragged about you during my interview.”
She smiled, embarrassed but pleased by the information. “He brags about all his daughters. My sisters are all doctors, by the way.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. My two oldest sisters have a practice together, gynecology and obstetrics. My sister closest to me is a cardiologist. And then there’s me, the office manager.”
“Hey, I get it. I come from a family of overachievers too. They’re all entrepreneurs or extremely successful in their chosen fields.”
“It’s crazy to hear that being a doctor isn’t a high achievement.”
“If you met my family, you’d understand,” Maxwell said with a laugh. “My point is, there’s nothing wrong with going a different route than your siblings.”
“I don’t feel bad, believe me. I had zero interest in becoming a doctor, but it’s nice to know that my father appreciates my work.”
Maxwell tapped his pen on the desk. “You have big plans this weekend?”
“Are you fishing for information?”
“Yes.”
“What are you doing?”
“Gonna be all by my lonesome.”
“Hah. I doubt that.”
Maxwell frowned, though he appeared amused rather than upset. “You have a very low opinion of me.”
“I don’t, I swear. I assumed, that’s all.”
“Like I did. I figured you and Nicholas Tight Pants would have big plans for Valentine’s Day. He already showed out with the flowers.”
“What did you call him?” Jasmine demanded.
“You heard me,” Maxwell said, unrepentant.
“First of all, his pants aren’t that...”
He raised an eyebrow.
“They’re snug,” Jasmine amended. “Anyway, not that it’s any of your business, but he’s out of town on business, so we won’t be spending Valentine’s Day together.”
“Aww. Too bad.”
Jasmine narrowed her eyes at his completely insincere expression of sympathy.
“That’s why he brought the flowers early and took you to lunch,” Maxwell surmised.
“Correct. Am I supposed to believe you’re sitting at home with nothing to do all weekend?”
“Not exactly.”
Her stomach dipped, taking her by surprise. “So, you do have plans with someone?” Jasmine asked, trying to sound casual.
“My friend Jayson—you met him at NV Lounge—is having a party. I’ll be going to that.”
“No special lady in your life?” she asked lightly.
He didn’t answer right away, and she tried not to squirm under his direct stare.
“Not at the moment.”
“Oh, that’s right. You’re not looking for anything serious.”
“That could change. It changed for you, didn’t it?” Maxwell asked.
He was clearly referring to Nicholas. Instead of answering, she said, “I better run. It’s getting late, and I’m starving.”
“Hey, if you want something to do this weekend, give me a call. We could do something together. Something platonic, of course.” He wrote his number on a prescription pad and extended the torn off piece of paper to her.
She shouldn’t take it, yet her feet were moving her across the room. She accepted the sheet. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. If I’m desperate for something to do.”
“I figured that’s the only reason you’d call. If you’re desperate.”
“Good night, Doc.”
“Good night, Office Manager.”
Jasmine left him alone but paused after a few steps. She returned to his office. “I didn’t cheat on Nicholas with you.”
Maxwell looked up from his journal. “I didn’t say that you did.”
“But that’s what you’re thinking. You think I was involved with someone the night you and I slept together. I wasn’t.”
“Which means right after you and I hooked up, you met a perfect man named Nicholas Tight Pants?”
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “His name is Nicholas Gamble. What do you care? Are you jealous?”
Maxwell let out a hearty laugh. Too hearty. It wasn’t that doggone funny to suggest he might be jealous.
“Does that answer your question?” he asked.
“Nicholas and I dated a while back. His job took him out of state for a couple of years, and we chose not to do the long distance thing. He moved back a few weeks ago and looked me up and... we’re going to give our relationship another shot.
” Why was she explaining her relationship to Maxwell? She didn’t owe him an explanation.
“How romantic,” he said.
His sarcastic tone irritated her. “It is romantic. He’s romantic, sweet, and very generous. He’ll make a great partner. He has all the qualities a woman looks for in a man. On top of that, he’s educated and has a prestigious career.”
“I saw the Mercedes. He must make a lot of money.”
“That was definitely jealousy I heard.”
“What would I be jealous of?” Maxwell asked, sounding incredulous.
“You’re a doctor, but you’re at the beginning of your career. You probably have a ton of student loans to pay off. Financially, things might not be great for you right now, but give it time. Eventually you’ll be in a good position, like Nicholas.”
His eyes narrowed slightly and the corners of his mouth lifted into a secretive smile. “Thank you. I needed the pep talk.”
“If you like, I could have Nicholas talk to you about investing. He works in risk management and is very knowledgeable about that kind of thing.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m all right in that department.”
“If you change your mind, let me know. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind helping you out.”
“I’ll let you know.”
“Okay, well... I’m gonna head out.”
“I’ll see you next week, or tomorrow.”
She should walk away right now, but her feet wouldn’t move. “Don’t stay too late.”
“I won’t,” he promised. “And like I said, call me... if you want to have some fun while Nicholas is out of town.”
He was definitely messing with her, but she finally left, without any legitimate excuse for hanging around. Walking through the foyer, her heels clicking on the tile, there was a funny sensation in the pit of her stomach.
As she pulled out of the parking lot, she thought about Maxwell’s number in her purse. She didn’t plan to use it, but if she did feel like partying this weekend, maybe she’d give him a call and see what he was up to. Maybe.
His friend Jayson had hooked up with her friend Myra. They went on one date and then he ghosted her. Myra had been hurt and angry, and Jasmine had spent a couple of hours helping her work through her devastation.
“Birds of a feather flock together,” she muttered. She had no doubt Maxwell moved in the same ways as his friend.
Although, he had his moments when he surprised her. As she eased into traffic, she recalled what a great job he’d done during the New Year, Healthy Youth program.
He had also been considerate tonight, insisting that she come down off the ladder so he could switch out the lightbulb. A small act, but thoughtful. Chivalrous.
Nice.