FOUR #3
The thought sparked an unexpected surge of disappointment, but I quickly shoved it aside.
My phone chose that moment to buzz into life against the desk.
My gaze skimmed the screen – the stark Hospice flashing over it – and I grabbed the damn thing like it was seconds from exploding.
Jabbing the volume button to silence the rattle did little to kill its echo lingering in the back of my mind.
My heart kicked into my throat.
What the fuck did they want again? Was something wrong with the monthly payments?
It was the third time they’d called me in the last two days.
Paula repositioned in her chair and snapped me out of it. She cocked an eyebrow at me, lips curving ever so slightly as if holding back a retort.
‘Look,’ she said, glancing down briefly – and for a moment, I worried she was about to get up and leave.
‘I know I was late for the interview, and I’m sorry about that.
I’ve been doing these all day. And I get it – you’ve probably already found someone for the role, so I’ll just get up and get out of your hair. ’
My jaw tightened as she pushed back her chair, and I bit down on my lip to keep from blurting something overly eager – or pathetic.
Rising from her seat, she extended a hand. I took it. Even her grip was confident, her skin warm against mine.
For a moment, I wondered whether she could feel the faint tremor in my fingers.
As she reached the door, she hesitated, glancing back over her shoulder. The brief pause felt charged; her eyes meeting mine for a fraction longer than necessary – just long enough to kick my pulse into gallop.
‘Have a good day, Mr D’Angelo, Mr Marino,’ she said, her voice soft but steady. The sides of her mouth lifted in the barest hint of a smile, one that answered nothing.
Vinnie – the Observant – glared at me from the corner of my vision, his lips moving soundlessly: ‘Say something.’
‘Can I keep these, regardless of the decision?’ I asked, holding up the book she’d handed me earlier.
Vinnie’s mouth fell open with a mix of disbelief and exasperation. He shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Paula gave no visible reaction. Her face remained blank. ‘Of course,’ she said smoothly. ‘I have more copies.’
‘Thank you, Miss DeLuca,’ I said, allowing her name to roll off my tongue like I needed to taste it.
‘It’s just Paula,’ she corrected, her voice clipped but not unkind. Without another word, she gracefully strode out of the room.
I exhaled slowly as the door clicked shut behind her, the tension lingering like the scent of her sharp-sweet fragrance. This wasn’t just curiosity or desire; it was something deeper, something I couldn’t afford to let get to me.
Just as her footsteps faded, Vinnie immediately assaulted my desk, his eyes blazing. ‘Can I keep these, regardless of the decision?’ he repeated mockingly. ‘Smooth, Casanova. Real smooth. No wonder you’re not getting laid.’
I chuckled, reclining back in my chair, but his flare didn’t falter.
‘She’s not a good fit,’ I said, shrugging, though my voice lacked conviction.
Vinnie raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms.
‘Not a good fit? Are you fucking kidding me? She writes the same nasty shit you do, her English is flawless, she’s a published author! She’s got the grit for this job – and, let’s be honest, probably the grit to deal with your bullshit, too.’
I shrugged again, though a knot twisted in my gut. ‘I don’t think hiring a distraction would help my writing.’
He barked out a laugh, shaking his head. ‘Distraction? You’re hopeless, man. Yeah, she’s hot – I’ll give you that. But that still leaves us without an Assistant Writer. You need to think long and hard about this, Cain. Hire her. Even if her arse is fuckable.’
I smirked, unable to resist matching his crude tone. ‘Funny – I was thinking the same thing about her mouth.’
He gave me a playful nudge. ‘Deviant.’
Snorting, I leaned forward to grab the rest of the books she had left behind. ‘Pretty sure you’re the deviant in this scenario. Can you get me some coffee? I’ve got reading to do.’
Vinnie straightened, narrowing his eyes at me like I’d grown a second head. ‘Reading?’ he echoed, puzzled. ‘You should be writing!’
I raised Paula’s book, wiggling it in my hand. ‘I need to know whether she’s all talk and no game.’
He let out an incredulous puff of air, his arms dropping to his sides. ‘And if she’s all game, you’ll consider hiring her?’
I grinned, already flipping to the first page. The opening lines hooked me instantly, dripping with a tension I knew too well.
‘If she’s all game?’ I mused, a wicked smirk tugging at my lips. ‘Well, her mouth is fuckable, after all.’
Vinnie’s laughter trailed behind him, echoing down the hallway. I, on the other hand, was already lost in her words, the anticipation building with every page I turned.
It was clear she wasn’t just another applicant. Something about her, the contained fire she carried, lingered long after she left the room. It wasn’t just her words or her work; it was the way she held herself – as if she knew exactly who she was and dared the world to challenge it.