Page 5 of Crimson Love

“A boss who buys you new shoes?” I walk through the door he holds open for me. “How can a job get better than that?”

“Right? Rob’s been doing it, but he’s overbooked today. I don’t mind. I like filling in.” We walk through the atrium toward the main office. “Hey, can I ask you a question before I clock in?”

I stop in front of the check-in desk. “Sure. What’s up?”

Blake is young and cute as a button. Tall and lanky with a head of thick, floppy hair that he does his best to tame. Usually, he’s outgoing and can talk to anyone, but right now, he looks almost shy. “So, this is going to come across weird. Not weird, but odd. And I’m not asking for me. I’m asking for someone else.”

I pull my purse up my shoulder and turn fully to him. “What do you want to ask me?”

He crosses his arms and bites his upper lip. He looks as comfortable as someone swimming in a shark tank and lowers his voice. “Someone wants to know if you’re seeing anyone.”

I try not to cringe. “Who wants to know that?”

Instead of me cringing, it’s him, but he still doesn’t answer. “I’m sorry. I told her I shouldn’t ask.”

“Who’s her?”

He looks like he’d rather get eaten by sharks than finish this conversation. “Um, my grandma. I’m sorry. She’s been asking for weeks. She heard about you from the ladies at church who are in her book club at the library. When they found out you worked here, they started pushing Grandma to get me to ask you. I’m sorry. I really am. I just can’t seem to say no to her, even though I tried. I really did.”

I look around to make sure no one can hear us. This is the last thing I need at my new job after what I just escaped from. “Why does your grandma want to know if I’m seeing anyone?”

His eyes widen and his expression turns to one of panic. “It’s not for me. I swear! Holy smokes, this is horrible. Never mind.” He shakes his head and takes a step back. “No, not never mind—now I have to finish. I don’t want you to think it’s for me. Gosh, it’s not for me. I have a girlfriend. Not that I don’t think you’re pretty. I mean, you’re way more than pretty. You’re beautiful, but you’re older. Not that you’re old, but, like older. Not that there’s a problem with that —”

I put my hand up to stop him, because this could go on forever. “Blake, it’s okay. I don’t know why your grandma wants to know, but no. I’m not seeing anyone.”

“Her friend has a son on the city council who told his mom you were living in the basement of the library.” His complexion flushes. I can’t tell if he’s relieved or if he wants to run away and hide in the extensive labyrinth behind the manor. “I’m sorry. My grandma and her friends can get out of hand. They always have. You’re new, and everyone is curious. We don’t get lots of new people around here.”

The desire to lock myself in my office versus make sure poor Blake doesn’t feel guilty wars within me. “It’s okay. I get it.”

“I don’t think you do. You’re from the big city. No one cares what you do there. In this town, everyone is watching you all the time.” He drags a hand through his hair as his eyes shift left and right. “Trust me. I couldn’t get away with anything in high school because of Grandma’s friends. Those old ladies are everywhere. It’s why they want to know about you.”

I doubt these old ladies are anything like the surveillance I’m used to. Even so, Blake is a sweet kid. I can tell he’d do anything for his grandmother. “It’s okay. I appreciate the heads up. But you can pass it along to your grandmother and all her friends that I’m not interested in seeing anyone. I’m making a new start and want to put all my energy into my career here at the manor.”

He exhales a relieved sigh but keeps apologizing. “I put you in a weird position. I’m really sorry. The old ladies have sons and grandsons and nephews they want to introduce you to. It didn’t matter how much I told them to mind their own business, they’re persistent old birds.”

I reach out and give his forearm a friendly squeeze. “It’s really okay. Though, I’ll be looking over my shoulder now that I know the old-bird gang of Winslet is keeping an eye on me. But you can give them an answer and be officially off the hook.”

“Thanks for being so cool about this.” He stuffs his hands in his cargo pants pockets that have plenty of compartments for gear to trek through the hiking trails. “I need to clock in and stretch. I’ll see you later.”

I give him a small wave as I turn and talk over my shoulder. “Don’t pull a muscle or twist an ankle. We need you in the dining room.”

I can’t help but laugh as Blake exaggerates his lunges while I’m on my way to my office.

But I yelp as I collide with someone since I’m not watching where I’m going.

A painful, guttural moan rumbles against me. “Oomph.”

Strong arms circle me from behind to keep me upright, but they really feel like they’re holding me at bay. My weight shifts forward and gravity takes over.

I hold on to keep from falling to the side, but it does no good. We both go down and hit the floor.

“What the—” I yell but I’m interrupted.

“Fuck,” the deep voice groans.

The vise grip on me loosens, and I roll away in my short skirt. When I free myself enough to push up to my hands and knees, I finally get a look at the one who took me down.

A man, impossibly big, is lying on his back. He’s got dark, wavy hair. His bone structure that makes up the pained expression on his face looks strong enough to chisel its way through a slab of granite. His eyes are squeezed shut, and unlike me who’s trying to find my balance, he doesn’t move a muscle other than his hand pressed to his midsection.