Chapter 42

Chapter 42

THEY DROVE HOME IN silence. As they pulled into the long drive to Carl’s house, he began to talk. “If you are uncomfortable coming...”

“I’ll be fine. I can get things sorted in the office tomorrow, clear your schedule, and make sure there is a temp to cover for Gina if she’s still sick.” She pulled her phone out and saw she had missed a call from Nicholas and a message from Gina. “Looks like Gina’s back in business.”

“Good.” He pulled his car into the garage. “Are you sure you’re okay to come?” He turned the ignition off and turned to face her.

She hesitated, unsure if he was having second thoughts about inviting her along. Maybe it had been heat of the moment and now, having a chance to think about it, he probably wasn’t sure he wanted her around his family. He might be embarrassed. “It’s up to you, Carl. I can come with you or I can stay here and manage the office.” She bit her lip, hoping her reply would let him decide what he wanted and not force her to make the decision.

Carl opened his car door and got out. “Fine. I’ll let you know in the morning.” He walked toward the door leading to his house as Mandy got out. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mandy. Thanks.” He disappeared behind the door, letting it automatically shut behind him.

Mandy stood in the garage alone and finally moved when the automatic garage door opener light shut off. She moved quickly then, feeling awkward. She headed out the side door and walked around to her suite. The sun had set and the automatic lights blinked on as she passed them. The night sky already had stars sprinkling across it like sparkly dust. She didn’t know what to think or how to stop her brain from thinking about Carl.

Maybe it would be better if she didn’t go. She was trying so hard to keep her heart out of her job, but her feelings kept jumping back in. She wanted Carl to see his family, to be able to say good-bye to his father, however, did she really need to be there? At times it felt like Carl was pulling her towards him and then it felt like he was pushing her away. He made it clear that he needed her as his PA, nothing more. He’d just gone away with some woman for shit’s sake! He didn’t want her in his bed. She’d keep everything professional. If he wanted her to come to—where were they going, anyway? She kicked a small stone on the sidewalk. If he needed her to come along, it would be completely business related. Nothing more. There would be no personal interruption on her part. She could keep it all professional. Again.

She unlocked her apartment door and slapped her forehead when she stepped inside. Shit! She was going to have to ask him for a ride into work tomorrow. She had left with him and her car was still in the parking garage at work. Again.

Her phone vibrated in her jacket pocket. She pulled it out and saw Nicholas’ name on the screen. “Not now,” she muttered, tempted to send her phone to call-answer. Instead, she shrugged out of her jacket as she swiped her phone. “Hey Nicholas.” She needed to tell him she wasn’t interested in dating. At least not now.

“Hello, Mandy,” Nicholas replied, sounding cheerful. Mandy’s stomach churned. Either she would lead him on or totally spoil his good mood. Then Nicholas surprised her. He cleared his throat. “You probably think I’m about to ask you to dinner, but I’m actually calling to give you an out.”

“An out?”

“Yeah, you see, on my way home from work, I went to stop at my favorite watering hole for a drink. It’s a local dive. Great chicken wings.” He hesitated, as if waiting for her to say something. Mandy didn’t know what to say. “I noticed Mr. Carl Salvo in the corner, by the moose. You were there. It looked like a pretty intense conversation, you didn’t even notice me.”

Mandy groaned. “It’s not what you think,” she said. “He’s my boss. We were just having a quick business meeting. Nothing more.” Lame. Real lame, Mandy.

“You don’t have to explain yourself, Mandy,” Nicholas said. “It really isn’t any of my business. Whatever the meeting was about, I saw the way you looked at him and I know you’re not available for dinner.” Mandy was silent, too embarrassed to say anything. Nicholas chuckled kindly. “Listen, no hard feelings, okay? I’m still happy to meet you for dinner if you want.”

He wasn’t going to let her off that easy, was he? She was passing up on a real sweetie. Carl had mentioned Nicholas wasn’t poor and he didn’t trust the guy. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

“Carl and I aren’t dating.”

“Yet.” He chuckled. “Don’t let him be an idiot and screw it up. Look, I’ve got to go. Keep my number, if things change.”

“I will. Sure. Thanks. Uh, see ya?” She knew she sounded like an idiot, but she didn’t know what else to say. After she hung up, Mandy threw herself down on her bed. Nicholas was right. She couldn’t deny she had feelings for Carl that were far from professional, regardless of what his own feelings were. She was fooling herself if she thought she could keep it professional. It wasn’t going to happen.

She wanted to scream in her pillow.

Damn it! First, she fell in love with the boss’ son and let that crash and burn. And now she was in love with her boss.

Her phone vibrated against her hand. She lifted it up to check who was calling.

It was a text from Carl: Flight booked. We leave at noon.

EVEN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, Mandy couldn’t help but be excited about travelling first class. The seats were huge! People looked at you with envy as they headed into the sardine can behind them. They were the only two in first class. The stewardess kept coming by offering a beverage and Carl, looking like he could really use one, politely said no.

They had barely spoken at the office. Mandy had woken early, went for a workout on the treadmill and then packed her suitcase. She had been about to call for a taxi when Carl knocked on her door and said he was heading into work if she wanted a lift. She hadn’t argued and that was the last time they spoke, until he told her it was time to head to the airport. Incredibly awkward. She hated it.

“You still planning on going to the wedding?” Carl asked suddenly.

Mandy looked over at him from the book she held, but hadn’t been reading. “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I was kind of waiting to see if she would call me.” She set the book down. “She’d been calling and messaging me five to twenty times a day. Now it’s stopped completely. It feels weird.”

“You should go. It might be good to give her a good dose of feeling small,” Carl said, his face revealing nothing. “You look good. You’ve lost weight. You’re confident. You’ve got one hell of a job to brag about.” He winked at her. “You show up looking incredibly gorgeous and she’ll wish you were still her maid of honor, instead of whatever bony, bitter friend she chose.”

Mandy laughed. “That’s okay. I’m not into paybacks.” She smiled, glad he was talking to her again. “I don’t think I’ll have fun. Besides, she thinks bony is great.”

“Perhaps there’s another way to get back at her, then.” He tapped his finger against the leather arm of his chair. “You need a date. Someone to blow her mind, and everyone else’s. I should take you! Stephen told me, after I hired you, that Claudia went on about how you were going to have the hots for me and would never stand a chance. I’d never be interested in a girl like you.”

Mandy flushed. “He told you that?”

“Multiple times. I’ve had way too many run-ins with your family than I care to count. I can’t stand mine, but yours... they’re crazy.” He chuckled. “She would hate it if we showed up together, I’m sure.” He held his hand up. “You’re coming along on this trip for me. Let me make it even, and help you with that.”

Her stomach dropped. He wasn’t offering to go because he wanted to, he was doing it to keep things fair. “You wouldn’t want to go to this wedding. You don’t even like the bride and groom.”

“No, but this is business.” Carl smiled grimly. “And I want to make Stephen realize he picked the wrong sister to mess with.”