“That sounds like a plan to me, sir.” I smile up at him. I have got to figure out a way not to sound such like a suck-up.
“Read over these and give me a full report tomorrow, please.” He hands me another stack of papers. “Have a good evening.”
Does he ever lighten up or will he stay a professional robot?
Chapter 4
“Samantha! You’re going to be late! Get up!” Jess screams through the door before barging in. “Samantha. I feel like your mother. You are going to be late for work. Get up!”
“I’m up. I’m up.” I sit up arching my eyebrow at her standing at the end of my bed with her hands on her hips. “Funny, Jess. Ha. Ha.”
“This isn’t a joke!” She flails her hands up to the ceiling, “Girl, you must have been exhausted. You fell out last night. I came in here to see if you were hungry and you were sound asleep. It’s 6:25 in the morning and we are going to be late if you don’t get to moving it.”
She grabs my green apple comforter, pulling it to the floor before walking out of my room. I must have been so exhausted last night that I passed out while reading. I can’t remember what I read or how far I even got. Great. That means I have to back track tonight to remember.
I jump out of the bed and rush into the shower. The water feels great, but unfortunately I don’t have time to enjoy it since I forgot to set the alarm last night. I quickly dry off and run to my closet grabbing a short grey A-line skirt and a white blouse that goes perfectly with a black blazer. Back in the bathroom, I decide to wear my hair in a low chignon and put on my make up as normal—just a touch of eye liner and a dab of mascara. Today, bring on the world.
Rushing to my desk, I throw my briefcase down and start up my computer with only seconds to spare before being late. I take a few deep breaths trying to slow my heart rate. I hate being rushed, not to mention the fact that my coffee hasn’t had the proper amount of time to kick start my blood. I open my emails to see one from Adam confirming our meeting at nine this morning in the conference room. He said that everyone will be there except Mr. Weston. That helps settle my nerves. I don’t know why bosses make me nervous, well, actually I do—they’re bosses, duh! Thankfully, I have time to refresh my coffee and get everything in order before heading into the meeting. I email Jess and let her know our lunch date isn’t happening today. She isn’t going to be happy. She’s excited about taking me to a restaurant several blocks away which she says is completely full of good looking men and great food. Oh well, there will be other times.
As I’m thumbing through the papers in my hands, the elevator doors slide open. Before I can even look up, I run right into a solid wall of muscle making me spill my coffee.
“Oh! I’m so sorry.” I wipe away the droplets of coffee on the blue jacket. “I didn’t mean to spill my coffee on…” When my eyes find their way up to the pleasant face of the suit’s owner, I’m mortified. Out of all the employees that work here, I’ve run into Mr. Eye Candy from the elevator yesterday. “You?” I exhale.
Excitement flickers in his blue eyes. Dimples appear from a victorious smile. My insides clench.
“I knew I needed coffee this morning,” he chuckles, not easing my embarrassment one bit.
“I really am sorry.”
He steps into the elevator, turning around with a megawatt, sexy as hell smile and a wet coffee stain, “No worries.”
I shake my head when the doors close eliminating the incredible view of him. “Seriously? That just happened.” I tell myself under my breath. Over slept, then practically scalded Mr. Eye Candy into a wet suit contest…this day cannot possibly get any worse.
_________________________
Jess sent me a text while I was in the meeting letting me know that she had to work late and she may not make it to the bar for our beer. However, based on the day I’ve had, a beer is exactly what I need. The speakers are playing a song by One Republic when I find an empty seat at the bar. For a Tuesday, the place is busier than usual. I wonder if they’ve all had bad days too? Surely no one has spilled coffee all over an innocent bystander, a fantastically good looking innocent bystander at that. Way to impress, Sam.
As I sit here sipping my beer, I replay my day. Adam planned a great meeting, allowing me to meet some very significant and high-ranking people. From the sounds of it, Adam has lost all his other assistants by his work ethics, and they’ve quit due to the workload. I don’t mind being pulled in many directions or working late hours. Honestly, I enjoy it. It makes the day fly by and it helps to miss Jess’ crappy reality TV that she so loves to torture me with.
“Hi,” a deep baritone voice says behind me, yanking me from my revisit of my meeting.
I yelp, jerking toward the voice. I’m taken aback by his light brown surfer style hair and the sincerity swelling in his golden brown eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he chuckles throwing his hands up in a surrender. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Hi! No, well…yes you did,” I stammer holding my heart in my chest.
“I couldn’t help but notice you look in deep concentration ‘bout something. And for a lady as pretty as you, I’d rather see you smile. I’m Logan,” he says holding his hand out.
“Sam,” I say and take his firm, strong handshake.
“Would you like another beer?” He considers my half empty beer.
“Mmm…let’s see how your company is first.” I’d hate for him to buy me a beer and find out he’s no fun to talk to.
“Ok.” He narrows his eyes, accepting my challenge, “Do you work around here, Sam?”
“Yes. I work at Weston just down the street. Let me guess what you do.” My eyes fall to his scuffed boots and back up to his eyes. “By the looks of the dirt, worn jeans, dark tan, hard lines, muscles and shit eating grin, I’m assuming you’re a construction worker.”
You can spot construction workers around here for miles. They all look the same. The sun has beaten them down, the rain has soaked their skin, and their boots beg for mercy.
“I don’t exactly push papers around.” He smirks, taking a drink of his dark liquor.
“I enjoy pushing papers around. The biggest risk I have is a paper cut, not a beam falling on top of my head. The best part, I get to send orders to bosses of construction workers.” I’m feeling presumptuous testing his intentions. I’m not some bimbo he’s going to take home with just a simple hello.
“So how did you manage that fancy job at Weston?”
“To be honest, my best friend works there. She pulled some strings and here I am.”
“Friends in high places, that’s always helpful. I’d say you would’ve gotten the job without her help. No one could turn down a pretty face.”
“You’re telling me I can come work with you?” Yeah right. I wouldn’t last a day out in the elements.
His laugh booms over the song playing through the speakers above the bar, “Touché, Sam.” He raises his glass sending a cheers, and I can’t help but smile like a smitten idiot at his ease of defeat.
I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, “I think I could use another beer.”
“I guess this means my company’s tolerable?”
He motions to the bartender, his emerald green t-shirt clinging to the carved muscles on his arms, and orders me another beer and himself a Jack and coke.
“You’re a confident, arrogant ass, and the fact that you’ve told me I was pretty twice won me over.” I tease.
“Arrogant ass? You just need to get to know me better. I’m far from arrogant. Confident, I’d have to agree with you. I see it, I want it. Nothing wrong with that, don’t you think?”
He leans his elbow on the bar, dropping himself closer to my view. There’s something about his eyes and the way he smiles at me that catch my attention. “Do I know you from somewhere? You look very familiar.”
His brows pinch together causing wrinkles across his forehead, and his eyes begin to search around. “I don’t—”
“Hey, Belle!” Jess unknowingly interrupts him and wraps her arms around my neck from behind me.
When I swivel around on my stool to greet her, she’s eyeing Logan. Her eyes roam over him like he’s a fresh piece of meat.
I give her a moment to finish soaking him in, enjoying the fact that what she likes has his eyes on me. “Hey, Boots. Long day?”
“Very,” she answers me staring at Logan. This is typical of her. She’s not out for the guys I’m after, but she isn’t shy about ogling them either.
Her eyes are begging for me to introduce them. Our girl code number four states—we do not introduce ourselves. We must wait for the other person to do it first. Such a crazy night in high school, but it was Jess that made that one up. “Jess, this is Logan.”
“Nice to meet you,” he says offering his hand for a shake.
She places her hand in his, “He’s hot, girl.” Did I mention she can be really honest? “You ready to head home?”
“You don’t want a beer?” I ask confused that she came into the bar not even wanting a drink.
“Nope. I’m beat. Jackie had me working my ass off. I’m headed home.”
“I’ll head home with you.” I finish my beer in an unladylike swallow.
“It was nice meeting you,” Jess bubbles out to Logan who has his eyes locked on me. There’s something about his stare. I can’t tell if it makes me uneasy, or if he is just that intimidating.
“Do you live around here?” He asks as I stand to gather my jacket and briefcase.
“We do,” Jess blurts all too excited.
“May I walk you home?” He keeps his golden brown eyes locked on me. His lips are pressed tight, curving into a smile. I think he wanted something else out of this beer.
“Thanks for the offer,” I interject before Jess can open her loud mouth and have me drag him to the apartment, “but I’m not keen on the thought of someone I just met knowing where I live.” I glare at Jess daring her to open her mouth.
“I completely understand. It was a pleasure meeting you, Sam…?” he pauses waiting for my last name.
“Beckman.” I flash him a smile just as Jess begins dragging me by my arm out of the pub.
We head to our apartment strolling arm in arm as we cross the street. Living a block away from a small local bar is one thing that sold us on getting it. Not that we drink and party, but it is convenient when we want to.
“He was hot!” Jess says, her sandy blonde ponytail swaying with her steps.
“I know, right? He looked familiar though. Like too familiar.”
“He could be the man of your dreams,” she giggles pushing open the door to the apartment.
I pull my suffocating heels off, toss them in my closet, and change into my grey sweatpants and pink t-shirt. When I return to the living room, Jess has matched my notion and plopped down on the couch. Unfortunately, she grabbed the remote first. Now I must endure her drama TV. Why in the world does she watch this crap? Someone’s on drugs, someone’s cheating, this guy is in love with this girl and she doesn’t feel the same back, I could go on for days about it. I would rather watch crime solving shows, but she doesn’t like the blood. So of course, she wins.
“Did you get his number?” she says during a commercial break.
“No. It was just a beer and a nice conversation.”
She widens her eyes shaking her head, “I just don’t understand you sometimes. How could you let a cutie walk away like that?”
“I just—“
“Shhhh!” She smacks my leg. Luckily for me, I’m saved by the show coming back on. The good news is she probably won’t remember asking me the question by the next set of commercials. She’s like a goldfish sometimes—three second memory.
Chapter 5
I arrive at my desk and begin my normal morning routine of sipping coffee and checking my emails. I have a few weekly reports and an email from Adam informing me that he has a meeting this morning at ten and wants me to join him to take notes. I’ve not been in any of his meetings yet other than the one for me, and honestly, I’m pretty excited he’s gained that confidence in me. That means I’ve been doing my job right.
“Miss Beckman?” Dana’s voice calls over my phone. She hasn’t taken to calling me Sam yet. Honestly, she seems too snooty. Apparently I got the job she wanted.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“You have a delivery. Would you like for me to send the delivery man to you?”
A delivery? No one has made me aware of any deliveries. “Uh, sure.”
The delivery man enters my office and I’m immediately taken aback by the beautiful white vase holding a single purple Iris.
“Someone’s happy.” The delivery man smiles setting the vase down on my desk and leaves without another word.
I pull at the envelope that’s attached by a purple ribbon springing every direction. I’m shaking from excitement and anticipation as I open it.
Sam, I’ve thought all night about our beers together. This time, join me for dinner and wine.
I must have left a better impression with Logan than I thought. I have to admit, I can’t stop thinking about him. He’s instructed me to email him my response, but even with a skipping heart full of excitement, I cant. This will have to wait until after my meeting that is starting in ten minutes.