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The conversation kind of stalled again, and Melanie reached for the mammoth purse she’d left on the counter.

“Guess I’ll head back to Espo 1 for the afternoon and take a look at the quarterly sales tax reports,” she said.

“You do that.” I paused, watching her rummage around in her purse. “And by the way, feel free to show up for work in jeans and a T-shirt. We don’t stand on ceremony at Esposito’s. Just putting that out there.”

Melanie glanced down at herself. “Ah, what can I say? I’m a dress-for-success kind of girl. But I’ll try to fit in.”

I couldn’t decide if she was insulted or not, but in any case I figured I should have kept my mouth shut about her clothes. I didn’t want to say anything else that would seem out of sorts, so I waved with the hand that wasn’t holding the hammer. “Sounds good. I’ll see you soon, Melanie.”

She nodded. “Two days, right?”

“Two days,” I confirmed and listened as the click-clack of her heels receded. I resisted the urge to follow her hungrily with my eyes. I’d have to find a way to keep my mind out of the gutter. And I would. I had to, no matter how much of a connection I felt with her. After all, I was the boss, and there were rules—rules that Gio and I had designed for a reason. Romantic entanglements didn’t belong in the workplace.

Melanie Cruz was off-limits, and that was all there was to it.