Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(17)

“So, Jess? Who is it? Have I met him?” Candace asked.

“May we sit here?”

I froze. I lifted my eyes to the deep, masculine baritone wearing a suit and carrying a tray. He was standing at the empty seat right in front of Candace. Next to him, standing at the empty seat in front of me, was some other high powered dude that had no place in the kiddie-corner with us.

William was going to blow my cover on the very first day he came in! He would pay for this!

Also, he looked really hot and professional. I got a hot flash.

“Oh my God,” Sara exclaimed with stars in her eyes. “Yes! Of course!”

“Uh…” Dave stalled, clearly not knowing what to do. It was open seating, so occasionally a couple people tried to sit in our vicinity. Dave, territorial, immediately scared them away. It was invited personnel only as far as he was concerned. However, the guy that just asked basically owned the table and could fire him. It made things dicey.

William was looking at me. I figured I would just get the show on the road. “Sure.”

William couldn’t stop himself from smiling as he sat down, his eyes moving quickly to Candace. “Hi Candace.”

“Hi Willie. I heard you were in the office today.” Candace was a little breathless.

“Yes. Probably for a few months. It makes meetings easier.” He turned those twinkling blue eyes on me. “Jessica, right?”

Cad. “Yup. And you remember Sara, Dave, Phil and JP from the rodeo?” I couldn’t look away.

“Of course. Hello.” William tore his eyes away from me and looked down the table.

There was a chorus of “hi” from everyone but Dave, who still hadn’t made up his mind if this character were welcomed or not. Sara nearly punched Phil in the face as she extended her hand to shake.

“I’m William Davies,” he continued, looking at everyone. “And this is Gerard. He is our C.F.O. if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting him before now. We thought we’d come down for lunch and meet some of the hard workers that bring the company to life.”

I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t help it; he was laying it on a bit thick.

William caught it and smiled before looking back to his fried delight. He had French Fries. I loved French Fries. Usually if anyone got them in my vicinity I would steal one or two—even if it was Sara’s plate. I got a lot of grumbles in the beginning, and outright complaining from Dave, but I didn’t stop, and people gave up trying to teach me manners.

Sara had since stopped getting fries altogether.

Focusing with all my mind on self-control, I noticed Gerard had them, too.

Oh God. Stealing them from William was one thing, but from the C.F.O.? This guy was the head of my department. My future was basically in his hands.

But he had French Fries. I needed one.

No, Jessica! Don’t do it—

Gerard turned from William in surprise, watching the French Fry disappear in my mouth.

I burst out giggling. “I’m so sorry! But if you come down to these parts, you have to beware of my French Fry addiction! I can’t help myself. Everyone else knows not to sit close when they have fries! Sorry!”

“It’s true,” Dave said in all seriousness, “Don’t fire her. She does it to everyone. I hate it.”

I started laughing harder. Candace and JP joined in. William was trying to suppress.

With a haphazard smile, Gerard stared at me before his eyes dropped to his plate. He pushed his plate forward to allow me to help myself.

“Oh no! I couldn’t. Really.” I put up my hands to ward them off. “I’m gaining weight just looking at them!”

Gerard started laughing. “Well, at least my wife will be happy to hear she isn’t the only one that can’t say no. What is it you do?”

Keeping my eyes away from his plate, I answered, “I work in Finance. For Mr. Nash. Junior Accountant. I’m relatively new.”

“Oh yes, of course. He’s mentioned you. He can’t keep you busy enough, I believe?”

“Um…” I could feel my face going red but didn’t know how to hide my embarrassment.

“No need to be embarrassed for a job well done.” Gerard smiled. He looked at Candace. “And you?”

With the focus shifting I gave a quick glance at William. He was looking back with eyes full of pride. He let his gaze linger for another beat before he shifted to Candace.

The amount of trouble he would get in for doing this to me would be legendary! I was already plotting sexual torture!

After Gerard asked a few questions about everyone’s departments and various moral, he chatted to William about some report, leaving the rest of us to get back to our inappropriate conversations. Whatever they might turn out to be.

Candace turned to me with wide eyes. “Uh… So, um, have you known him long?”

“Who?” I asked, trying to give her shut up eyes.

“The, um, mystery m—person?”

“Jessica, where did you say you got that new robe? I wanted to get one for my wife,” JP said, thankfully derailing Candace.

JP and I expertly steered the conversation after that. We kept it clean enough for the executives sitting near us, with a few bursts of jokes and humor, mostly at Dave’s expense, that caught Gerard’s ear and had him pausing to listen and often trying to suppress a chuckle. William, the whole time, had his attentions divided between me and his work associate. Out of the corner of my eye I could see his glances, or his smirks, or just feel his attention. I had a feeling he wanted to know how I got along in work life, since it was a big part of my day. Unlike most boyfriends—or whatever he was called at this early stage in the game—he had the luxury of satisfying his curiosity, much to my embarrassment.