Millionaire Romance: In Love With My Boss - A Contemporary Romance (Millionaire Romance, Contemporary Romance, Comedy Romance Book 1) (16 page)

She chuckled and met Andrew’s gaze. He could read her mind, she was almost certain.

“I was just making coffee,” she offered to ease the silence. She motioned towards the small counter housing the mini fridge. A manual grinder set next to a tall French press with the top and strainer off. The French press was filled halfway with soaking beans.

“I just need to top it off and then it’ll be ready in another three minutes,” Jennifer offered. She moved to the countertop and poured more scorching water into the press. She pushed the grounds down with the strainer and then added the top. Turning around, she leaned against the counter and met Andrew’s eyes.

“I sorry for upsetting you last night,” he cleared his throat. “At the restaurant,” he added when he saw Jennifer’s expression.

She nodded knowingly, trying her best to keep the “chill” face on. Instinct would have had her shrug it off saying,
It’s okay
.
Don’t worry about it.
But she was never any good at playing down her feelings. She remembered the beautiful goddess resting her head against Andrew’s shoulder from the wallpaper on his phone. It wasn’t really any of her business who that beauty was. If it was the most recent chick he had dated, didn’t she have a right to know about it before he went around giving people wet hugs in an incredible, secluded oasis along a mountainside that took an hour to hike to?

“Who was the woman in the picture on your phone?” That definitely didn’t come out like she was planning.

Andrew’s brows scrunched. “What?”

“In Manitou, on the trail we saw a deer. You let me see the picture on your phone,” Jennifer was tugging at her fingers, watching Andrew’s expression. He was still confused. “There was a woman in your wallpaper. Was she your ex or something?”

She knew she had no right to ask the question, and Andrew had no obligation to answer her. Still, her body tensed as realization dawned on his face. He slipped his phone from his pocket and tapped at the screen. When he saw the picture, he smiled. Really? Jennifer frowned. He turned the phone to her and held it out.

“This picture?” He asked.

Jennifer nodded. She had only seen the image for probably less than a second, but she had never forgotten the look of that incredible woman.

“Who is she?”

“My niece.”

She couldn’t help the scowl that flickered across her face.

“She looks nothing like you.”

Andrew’s smile only grew. He brought the phone back to him and continued tapping and swiping. “My uncle married a Spaniard. His wife had a darker complexion than most.”

He turned the phone towards her, letting Jennifer take it into her hands. She saw a picture of an older white male, certainly American, with a foreign woman on his arm. Between them was a small child, probably two or three years old.

“That’s the best picture I have of her mom.”

Jennifer realized he had spoken in past tense about her. “Did they divorce?”

He shook his head. “She’s dead. Cancer. Marie was raised mostly by my mother. They had her a year after they married. I was five. She was like my sister.” He chuckled. “She is my sister.”

Jennifer’s breath left her. Staring at the old family photo, Jennifer frowned. “Where’s your uncle?”

“Dead.”

She gasped this time, nearly dropping the phone. “What on earth?”

Andrew shrugged weakly. “He lost his wife three years after they married. He never coped with her loss and became depressed,” he paused as if remembering something. “It was suicide.” He didn’t want to speak more on the subject.

She wanted to pull him into her arms and comfort him. Instead, she happened to glance down and remembered the coffee. She handed Andrew’s phone back to him and pulled two black mugs from the countertop towards her. She poured the cups gingerly and gave Andrew one before he took it. He smelled the steaming liquid.

“Black?”

Jennifer smiled and nodded. “I’m kind of a freak about it. Do you need sugar or cream? I saw a small bowl of one somewhere.”

Andrew shook his head. “I’ll try it black first.” After a sip, his eyes grew. “That’s good.”

Jennifer smiled. “It is, isn’t it?”

“Wow,” he drank more, his cup a quarter gone by the time Jennifer took her first sip. She felt her senses beginning to wake up. Fatigue and fog seemed to retreat into her mind, screaming and yelling for cover as a unit of heavily armored caffeine tanker trucks arrived.

They enjoyed the hot coffee in silence. Andrew took a step towards her and sat his cup down. It was half empty.

“Last night you asked me if I date. Yes. I do date, but I haven’t in a while. Nothing serious at least.”

Jennifer nodded, licking her lips. “Are you a serious kind of guy?” She feigned a type of disinterested tone, or attempted to at least. Around Melone, she was nothing but knots and butterflies. She had her moments when her heart seemed to race within her chest around Andrew, but for the most part, her mind stilled around him like a pool of tranquil water, with an under current of rushing thoughts about the hidden meanings of everything he said. Was that a contridiction? It didn’t matter.

Andrew placed an elbow on the countertop. He played with the handle of his cup and considered Jennifer’s question thoughtfully.

“I think so.” He smirked. “Ever feel like you’re just a bit too old to play games?”

Jennifer smiled. “All the time.”

Andrew looked over Jennifer’s face intently. He looked at her lips, chest, hair, and then full body. Jennifer didn’t blush. When he met her eyes again, they both grinned.

“You look exceptionally beautiful today. Did I tell you that?”

She smiled. “I think you said something like that at the door.” She took the moment to set her cup down.

“Do you plan to work with Melone forever?”

The question threw Jennifer off guard. “What?”

“As his assistant. Is that what you want to do forever?”

Jennifer’s eyes roamed the room. Of course, she didn’t want to be an assistant forever. She had
wanted
to be a designer.

She stammered, searching for an answer. How long was forever? She had already worked dutifully for the man for five years. What exactly was she expecting from James? She had stayed out of sheer loyalty and the hope that he would one day find himself just as attracted to her as she was to him. Of course, having purchased her home recently at North Canal Street gave her an incentive to stay. That unit wasn’t cheap.

“No, I don’t think so,” Jennifer answered at last.

“What would you do?”

Jennifer smiled weakly. “I’d make super expensive handbags.” Saying it out loud made her sound like a stupid kid with an equally stupid dream. She sighed and attempted to backtrack on the previous enthusiasm her voice had.

“Designing was something I wanted to do but honestly,” she shrugged, “I don’t understand starting a product business too well.” She stared at Andrew but didn’t know what else to do other than shrug, so she kept talking. “I don’t think I have the capital to start something like that anyway.”

Andrew considered her words carefully. “I could help you with that.”

She couldn’t contain the smirk, and then the flat out rude laugh that followed. Andrew didn’t seem to take offense. Instead, he smiled back.

“I could invest what you need to get started.”

Jennifer’s face drained. It was pretty obvious from the look on his face that he was speaking from a purely professional standpoint…or maybe there was a bit of personal interest in there. She couldn’t really tell.

“I’d probably fail.”

Andrew’s smile grew. He inched towards her. The uneasiness was back. “We all lose some money sometimes. There might be an initial loss, but I’m sure we could get you yielding a profit of some sort within five years.”

Jennifer felt something hopeful rise within her. “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.”

Her head began to hurt with the different scenarios, thoughts, and possibilities. She could finally test her theory of making designer bags from scratch, her very own handbags from hand cut leathers and hand sewn with saddle stitch, glues, and staples. People loved Made in the U. S. A. brands, and if she created something unique, one of a kind and different, what a market!

Then she remembered what he said. A profit within five years. Would she be capable of something like that? How much money was he talking about investing? She began to frown. Andrew reached for her arm, touching her at the elbow gently.

“My niece, Ariella, just graduated college, her doctorates. She’s in residency right now. Wants to be a gynecologist.”

Jennifer shrugged at the information and lifted her cup. “She sounds incredible.”

“She is,” Andrew nodded eagerly.

“Seems like you come from a long line of professionals. Like my family. Oldest brother is a family law attorney and my youngest brother is an actor.” She was just making small talk now; certain Andrew would need to leave at any minute.

“So what about you?” He asked instead, leaning on the palm planted on the countertop.

“Me?” Jennifer lowered her mug.

“Sounds like everyone else has pursued their dream,” he chuckled lightly. “What about you?”

Jennifer fought the urge to be defensive. She lost. “I am very busy right here, right where I am.”

Taking a deep breath, Andrew took a small step back. “I just don’t see you as an assistant to Melone—or any
one
—for much longer. You’re so smart. I know you could do whatever you dreamed of doing. You’re capable,” he nodded with assurance.

She had never received such positive praise before. James complimented her, but somehow, it was entirely different than the way Andrew was talking to her right now. It wasn’t the same type of admiration. One was a type of “good job” and the other was a not-so-subtle “you rock, why don’t you believe it?” She was sure she liked the way the latter made her feel much better.

“I don’t know anything,” she managed in a breath. It wasn’t everything she had wanted to say, but it was all she could force out her mouth. Andrew was grinning at her again. It was a cute, sexy grin this time. She was sure she had seen that same look the first night they had met.

He stepped towards her and reached for her face, his grin spreading. “I would love to teach you,” he said, speaking softly. “It’s just a matter of whenever you’re ready.”

Jennifer exhaled noisily. She was confused. He was looking at her lips like he wanted to kiss her, yet he was talking about the business, right? Or was it a combination of a business and a relationship at the same time? He took another step towards her, past her respective personal space. She didn’t stop him. Instead, when she opened her mouth, she spoke stupid, like it was a language.

“You have an appointment with Melone.”

Andrew nodded. He was still looking at her lips.

“I do,” he answered carelessly. His phone started to buzz and ring. The ringing never stopped. It was a call.

“That’s probably him now,” Jennifer squeaked.

Andrew glanced at the phone gliding across the surface of the granite countertop as it buzzed and rang.

“It is.” He looked at her lips, and then leaned in. When his lips touched her, she could have sworn she felt something electric shock her, something exciting and frightening at the same time. It shot throughout her body from the tip of her toes and out the ends of her fingers.

She didn’t remember at what point the phone stopped ringing, but it was a while before Andrew pulled away. She was left breathless, speechless. Even her breath quivered on the edge of her lips, and her body trembled.

Andrew pulled away just enough for a quick breath. Their eyes connected in a flash before he pressed his lips against hers again.

Jennifer moved her hands to his arms, to his impressively large biceps, his shoulders and then to his neck. His hands were on her waist where he pulled her into his chest. She didn’t want the moment to stop, but abruptly, Andrew pulled back. He opened his mouth to say something, but the phone room began to ring.

Staring at each other, baby smiles danced onto their faces. Andrew chuckled first and then ran a hand over his face.

The phone was still ringing, loud and obnoxious like an incoming fax at the office.

“It’s probably Melone,” Jennifer said. Her voice cracked. Her throat was incredibly dry.

Sighing, Andrew retreated to the phone. Jennifer straightened herself.

“What are you doing? I said it’s probably Melone.”

Andrew chuckled and nodded. “I know.” He answered the phone anyway. Jennifer held her breath. “Hello? It’s Wiles.” He met Jennifer’s eyes while he spoke. His face was unreadable. “I stopped by for some coffee. She has a French press, did you know that?” He winked at her. Jennifer pulled at her fingertips, running a thumb over her nails. What exactly were they talking about? Did James care that Andrew was in her room?

“She’s ready. We can head over there now.” After a few more words, Andrew hung up the phone. “Ready?” He arched a brow at Jennifer.

She chuckled nervously before heading towards the desk where files, her laptop, and other documents had been laid out.

“Was he mad?” She asked, trying to mask her curiosity as she gathered the work documents.

Andrew shrugged his shoulders after a thoughtful moment. “If he were, I couldn’t tell.” He paused for a moment, and then looked at Jennifer. “Why would he be mad? Let me help you with those,” he moved to her, taking the laptop in hand along with some folders.

“I don’t know,” Jennifer answered at length. It was the truth. Did she really expect James to be upset with his partner arriving a little later? From what she could tell, they hadn’t even met officially as partners. “Guess I’m just a bit paranoid.”

Andrew chuckled. “You can be a bit uptight.” His chortle grew into a deep belly laugh at the face Jennifer made. “We need to go though. He’d like to speak with us.”

They exited the room calmly and in an orderly fashion. Andrew even held the door for Jennifer as she passed into the hallway. She glanced at him several times, but he was looking through his phone, scrolling through emails.

She didn’t know what to think of the kiss. Was that to convince her she should let him invest in her future? She wasn’t exactly sure. One thing she
did
know was that he was an incredible kisser,
so
much better than Dick.