Page 26 of Heart Like Yours
“We can’t,” I say softly, choosing not to answer his question with a yes or no, even though every single piece of me is screaming ‘yes.’ “You’re my boss.”
He shrugs with a smirk, moving even closer. “Technically, I’m your peer.”
“Technically, none of the paperwork has been signed yet.”
“Semantics.” His lips ghost over mine as he whispers, sending a shiver down my spine, but I don’t back away. “Tell me you feel this. That what’s happening between us isn’t just one-sided.”
“It’s not,” I admit. Going against every wish and desire, I back away. “But that doesn’t change the fact that this can’t happen.” I unbuckle my seat belt and reach for the handle but pause.
There’s no denying that he’s clearly attracted to me and that the feeling is mutual. But between the promotion and the kiss, the part of me that thinks I’m not good enough creeps in.
“Is this why you picked me for the job?” I ask, my heart thundering in my chest while I watch him over my shoulder.
“No,” he states, and the seriousness in his expression tells me he’s being honest. “My feelings for you are completely separate from my decision to pick you as a partner. That’s why Leo is so heavily involved—to keep me unbiased in my business decisions.”
My lips part and my eyes widen as I watch Garrett’s pleading expression.
“Your…feelings for me?” I murmur, unsure if I actually want to hear the confirmation.
He nods, a lopsided grin stretching across his face. “Yes.”
“I…I didn’t…I mean, I’ve always…” The words stammer out of my mouth, but none of them stick. Garrett’s hand that’s still on top of mine squeezes gently as he smiles reassuringly.
“I know what I feel for you, and it’s okay that you’re not there yet. You can take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere. You’ll find that I’m a patient man, I know we’re inevitable. So until you tell me no, I’ll be here, showing you that you can let me in. As a business partner, as a friend, and with every fiber of my being, I hope as so much more. I just want you, Paige.”
GARRETT
Finally.
After a month of keeping everything on the down-low, of slowly and stealthily moving Paige into the office beside mine, we get to stop sneaking around at last. If the past few weeks have done anything, it’s given me a newfound appreciation for Dominik and the fact that he has kept his relationship a secret for nearly four months. I’m not even dating Paige, and after not being able to talk freely to her about her new job, I can’t even imagine keeping a personal relationship with her hidden.
Hell, if Paige gives in to this chemistry between us, I’ll be showing her off and shouting it from the highest rooftop in the Tampa skyline. There’s no way I could keep being with Paige a secret for even one day.
I’m so excited for the announcement, that for the first time in a long time, I’m the first one to the conference room for the team’s Monday meeting. As my knee bounces beneath the table and I look around the empty room, I wonder for the first time if I should have brought a special treat for everyone. I want them to know this is a good thing. That the expansion, as well as Paige’sand Eva’s promotions, are going to benefit everyone in the long run.
As I pull out my phone to check the time, Donovan walks in.
“Mornin’ boss man! How was your weekend?” he asks, taking his usual seat a few chairs down from mine.
“Good.” I smile, thoughts of Paige not denying she’s attracted to me flitting across my mind. “Yours?”
“Good! I was actually feeling very inspired over the weekend and made two premades.” He turns on his tablet and taps the screen a few times. “This one might be one of my favorites.”
He slides the tablet over to me. At first glance, the cover is stunning. The mountains and frozen lake blend together beautifully. But two things stand out and my brows scrunch together.
“Who came up with the title ‘Puckered Love’?”
He glances down at the screen, his smile falling slightly. “I did. It’s meant for a hockey romance, so I wanted to insert a cute pun.”
I nod, almost feeling bad for the fact that I’m about to burst his bubble.
It’s a really good cover, which I would expect from Donovan. He’s one of our best designers. I could probably leave it be and hope that Paige or Eva catch these things. However, having grown up with my best friend playing hockey, it would be wrong of me not to point out the things that jump out at me.
“And what’s with the sticks?” I inquire.
“They’re hockey sticks…” he explains with a hint of exasperation.
“Hockey players tape the blades of their sticks, typically with white or black tape. It helps protect it, give them extra grip, and also prevents moisture build-up,” I explain gently.