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Chapter Nineteen

He smiled, obviously amused. Taking a notepad and pen from her desk, he scribbled on it, tore the sheet off, and handed it to her.

Good morning, gorgeous.

She flushed with pleasure, damn him.

"Em?" Ben said through the receiver. "Are you still there?"

"Yes, Ben." She set the note down and gave Joe a reproaching look.

His face clouded over, and he ducked his head to write another.

Sighing, she took it from him when he held it out.

Is that the gardener?

She nodded, and he quickly scribbled:

What does he want?

"Em," Ben said, unaware of a secondary conversation happening, "I know asking you on a date must seem like a shock, but I think we'd suit each other rather well."

Joe slapped a piece of paper on the desk in front of her.

Tell him to go away.

Frowning, she shooed him with her hand. To Ben, she said, "Maybe now isn't the best time to discuss this."

Joe held another note in her face.

It's really not.

She rolled her eyes and added it to the pile on her desk.

"Then maybe we can discuss it when we have lunch?" Ben asked hopefully.

"Sure," she said, wincing as she heard the reluctance in her voice.

Joe slapped the notepad down and crooked his finger at her.

Em blinked, confused. And intrigued. "I have to go, Ben," she said, warily watching Joe. "We'll set a date later."

Joe's eyes narrowed angrily, and she knew better than to wait for Ben to say anything. She set the receiver down and pushed back in her chair.

"My office," was all he said before he marched off.

Really? She crossed her arms, tempted to sit back down. Did he expect her to obediently trail after him?

Yes, obviously.

She tapped her foot, about to rebel. Only what did he want? Dying to know, she followed him-slowly. No sense in him thinking she'd jump to attention whenever he snapped his fingers.

"Close the door," he said when she walked in.

His back was turned to her, and he looked out the windows at the rooftops below. While he looked at the view, she admired his backside, which filled out his trousers quite nicely.

He suddenly turned around. "You aren't going out with him, are you?"

She wasn't sure how she should answer, so carefully she said, "I would be a fool not to, don't you think?"

"Just the opposite, actually." He glared at her. "You can't seriously think he would be good for you."

"I do, actually." She lifted her chin. "He's a good man."

"You'd be bored out of your mind with him." Joe stalked toward her, his gaze locked on her like he was intent on eating her up.

Air catching in her throat, she stepped back. "Joe, I don't understand."

"You really don't." He caught her arms and looked deep into her eyes. "How can you possibly think that man is enough for you?"

"Ben is-"