Chapter Nine
Matt’s phone buzzed on his desk, and he picked it up to see Hannah’s text. He thought for a moment about the best course of action. It would be safer for both of them to meet elsewhere, away from the prying eyes and listening ears of their coworkers. The new HR manager escorting the marketing intern to her car would definitely catch people’s attention, sending gossip flying through the office. Even though her text made him want to grab his jacket and leave, he couldn’t give in to that impulse. He needed to finish his work before he left, and this would also protect Hannah and himself. And the fact it meant he’d get to spend more time with her was just a bonus. At least that’s what he told himself before texting her back.
I still need to finish up a few things. Meet me at Twig’s on the corner. I’ll be there in 15 mins.
He turned back to his computer to finish up and close everything out, keeping his phone next to his keyboard waiting for her response. Satisfaction coiled in his chest when she texted back right away.
Okay.
Matt didn’t think he’d ever finished his end-of-day work as fast as he did today. He planned to buy Hannah a drink and invite her to join him for dinner. See if he could convince her to spend more time with him.
When Matt walked into the place he’d picked ten minutes later, he let out a low groan. He spotted Hannah right away. As well as what looked like half the marketing department, all of the interns, several of the sales guys, and even the head of HR. Damn it. He should’ve known better than to pick somewhere so close to work as their meeting place.
Hannah raised her eyes, her gaze connecting with his. She shrugged one shoulder and offered a sheepish smile before turning back to the person next to her and resuming their conversation. He watched for a moment, enjoying the way her face lit up in laughter at something the woman next to her said, appreciating the way her lips closed on the rim of her glass, drinking in the elegant way her fingers wrapped around her glass, wishing he could’ve felt them wrapped around him over the weekend.
“How many?”
The hostess’s voice interrupted his lustful thoughts. Tearing his eyes away from Hannah, he offered the hostess a weak smile and gestured to the group of his coworkers. “I’m with them.”
With a polite smile, she handed him a drinks menu and gestured for him to join his friends. He took the only open seat, down at the end away from Hannah, next to Janine, the head of HR.
She gave him a friendly smile. “I didn’t know you’d be joining us.”
“Yeah. I, uh, found out people were coming here just before I left and thought I’d come too.” His answer sounded stupid and forced to his ears, but Janine didn’t seem to notice.
“Well, the waitress should be back soon, and you can get a drink then. A few of us are splitting some appetizers. You’re welcome to have some if you’d like to pitch in.”
“Thanks. I’ll just stick with a drink.” He tried to keep up with conversation around him and not seem like an antisocial jerk. But he didn’t give a shit about any of it. Frustration that he’d made such a bad choice colored what should’ve been an enjoyable round of post-work drinks with his coworkers. He’d met up with groups here like this before, and he’d gotten to know the people he worked with better. But today his gaze kept drifting back to Hannah, even though he tried not to stare. He caught her looking at him more than once, and each time she gave him a rueful smile that he returned.
“Careful there.” Janine’s voice pulled his attention back to her after one such exchange.
“I’m sorry, what?”
Nodding in Hannah’s direction, Janine took another sip of her martini. “You two seem to be flirting across the table. She’s an intern, and you’re in charge of the interns for the semester. Don’t do anything stupid. Use your big head, Matt, not your little one.”
Matt spluttered, choking on his drink, not used to having his boss, a woman who was about the same age as his mother, make casual dick references in conversation. He coughed a few times before regaining control, and he saw Hannah shooting him a quizzical look from the other end of the table, several people turning their attention his way after his coughing fit. He ignored them all, though, instead focusing on Janine. “What?”
Janine gave him a knowing look. “Just a friendly reminder about the company fraternization policy. I like you, Matt. You’re a good worker, and you have a lot of potential to go far. I don’t want to see you do anything stupid to jeopardize that.”
Matt opened his mouth to respond, but Janine cut in before he could. “Don’t bother to deny anything. In fact, don’t say a word one way or the other. I’ll pretend I didn’t notice anything as long as you keep it to no more than this.”
His mouth now a firm line, he nodded once and finished the beer he’d ordered in a few chugs, even though it had lost all appeal. Time to go. He pulled a few bucks out of his wallet and tossed them on the table to cover his drink, muttering goodbyes to the people around him.
He could feel Hannah’s eyes on him as he did so. With barely a glance, he nodded at her once and left, the beer he’d drunk churning in his guts, making him feel like puking even though he’d only had one. As he walked to his truck, Janine’s warning rang in his ears,
