Always The Best Man. Michelle Major

       Chapter Four

      Jase reached for the file folder on the far side of his desk just as he heard Emily call his name. His hand jerked, knocking over the cup of leftover coffee that sat on another stack of papers, dark liquid spilling across the messy top of his desk.

      “Damn,” he muttered, grabbing the old towel he’d stuffed under the credenza behind him. This wasn’t the first time most of his work papers had been dyed coffee brown. The mug had been half-empty so this cleanup wasn’t the worst he’d seen. He quickly wiped up the spill, then moved the wet files to the row of cabinets shoved along the far wall.

      By the time he turned around, Emily stood inside the door to his office. Her blue gaze surveyed the disorder of his office before flicking back to him. “Is it always this bad?”

      He kicked the dirty towel out of sight behind his desk. “I’ve got things under control. It only looks like chaos.”

      She arched a brow. “Right.”

      Jase hadn’t seen Emily since she’d walked away from him Saturday night. Letting her go had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done, but Emily wasn’t the same proud, confident girl she’d been in high school. Whatever had happened when her marriage fell apart had left her bruised and tender. Jase had always been a patient man, and if she needed him to go slow he could force himself to honor that.

      She didn’t appear fragile now. This morning Emily wore a tailored skirt suit that looked like it cost more than the monthly rent on his office space. It was dark blue and the hem stopped just at her knee. Combined with low heels, a tight bun and a strand of pearls around her neck, Jase could imagine her on the stage next to her ex-husband, the perfect accessory for a successful politician.

      He wanted to pull her hair loose, rip off the necklace that was more like a collar and kiss her until her skin glowed and her mouth turned pliant under his. Until he could make her believe she was more than the mask she wore like a coat of armor.

      “Why haven’t you hired a new secretary?”

      He blinked, the question as much of a surprise as her appearance in his office. “I don’t need one.”

      “Even you can’t believe that.” She nudged a precariously balanced pile of manila folders with one toe, then bent forward to right it when the stack threatened to topple.

      “I haven’t had time,” he said, running a hand through his hair and finding it longer than he remembered. A haircut was also on his to-do list. “I did some interviewing when Donna first retired. She took a medical leave when her husband had a heart attack, and then they decided to simplify their lives and working here got cut. But she’d been with the practice when I took it over and ran this place and my life with no trouble at all. If I hire someone new, I’ll have to train them and figure out if we can work together and...” He paused, not sure how to explain the rest.

      “Let me guess.” She arched a brow. “The women applying for the job think they’re also interviewing for the role of your wife?”

      “Maybe,” he admitted, grabbing the empty coffee cup from his desk and walking toward her. There were plenty of single men in Crimson, so it was an irritating mystery how he’d ended up on the top of the eligible bachelor list. He didn’t have time for dating, and even if he did...

      “It would have been easier if Donna had helped screen the applicants.”

      One side of her mouth curved even as she rolled her crystal-blue eyes. “Because you have trouble hurting their feelings.”

      “You think you’ve got me all figured out.”

      She shrugged. “You’re nice, Jase. Not complicated.”

      He touched the tip of one finger to her strand of pearls. “Unlike you?”

      She sucked in a breath and stepped back so he could pass. There was a small utility sink in the kitchenette off the hallway, and he added the cup to the growing pile of dirty dishes. When he turned around, Emily was standing behind him, holding four more mugs by their handles.

      “You forgot these.”

      He sighed and reached for them. Add washing dishes to the list.

      “I appreciate the social call, but was there a reason you stopped by?” He turned and moved closer, into her space. “Unless you want to continue what we started Saturday night. That kind of work break I can use.”

      “No break and Saturday night was a mistake.” She frowned. “You and I both know it.”

      He wanted to kiss the tension right off her face. “Then why can’t I stop thinking about how you felt pressed against me?” He dropped his voice. “The way you taste...”

      Color rose to her cheeks.

      “I’m not the only one, am I? You walked away but you came back.” His fingers itched to touch her. “You’re here now.”

      “This isn’t a social call.” Emily straightened the hem of her jacket, looking almost nervous. “I think you should hire me.”

      Jase almost laughed, then realized she was serious. “No.” He shook his head. “No way.”

      “Don’t I at least get an interview?” Now her gaze turned mutinous. “That’s not fair. I can do it.” She spun on her heel and marched toward the front of his office. The space had a tiny lobby, two interior offices and a conference room. Jase loved the location just off Main Street in downtown Crimson.

      The receptionist desk had become another place to stack papers since Donna’d left, and as he followed Emily toward the front door he realized how cluttered the area had become. Damn.

      She picked up a thin messenger bag from one of the lobby chairs and pulled out a single sheet of paper. “My résumé,” she said, handing it to him. He stared at it, but didn’t take it from her. Her mouth thinned. “During college I was an academic assistant for two law school faculty members. I managed calendars, helped with grant proposals and assisted in the preparation of teaching materials. I’m organized and will work hard. I can come in two days this week, and then make my hours closer to full-time once Davey starts school. I’d like to be able to pick him up, but my mom can help out if you need me later in the afternoons.”

      She kept pushing the résumé toward him, the corners of the paper crumpling against his stomach, so he finally plucked it out of her fingers.

      “Emily,” he said softly. “I need a legal secretary.”

      “Right now,” she shot back, “you need a warm body that can do dishes.”

      She had a point, but he wasn’t about to admit it.

      “I can do this. I can help you.” She kept her hands fisted at her sides, her chin notched up. It must have cost her to come to him like this, but Emily still made it seem like she was doing him a favor by demanding he hire her.

      “This isn’t a job you want.” He folded the resume and placed it on the desk. “You’re smart and talented—”

      “Talented at what?” she asked, breathing out a sad laugh. “Shopping? Planning parties? Not exactly useful skills in Crimson. Or maybe I’m good enough to kiss but not to work for you.”

      He pointed at the sheet of paper. “You just told me why you’re qualified. If you can work for me, you can find another job.”

      “Don’t you think I’ve tried? I spent this entire morning knocking on doors. I’m a single mom with a son who has special needs, which is a hard sell even if someone did want to hire me.” She bit down on her lip. “By the way, they don’t. Because I wasn’t nice when I was younger and that’s what people remember. That’s what they see when they look at me.”

      “I don’t.”

      “You’re