Texas Christmas by Nancy Robards Thompson

Author:Nancy Robards Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-08-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

For the second time in two days, Pepper found herself standing in the Emerald City atrium of Macintyre Enterprises. The same brunette was stationed at the reception desk. This time, she greeted her by name.

“Hello, Ms. Merriweather. Mr. Macintyre is expecting you.” She handed her the same visitor’s pass and directed her to the same elevator. “Please go right up.”

She exited the elevator into the same emerald-tinged executive floor. There, she was once again greeted by Becca, who took her coat and offered her coffee. Pepper politely refused.

As Becca ushered her into Rob’s office and she found herself standing face-to-face with him, it struck her that there weren’t too many times in life where you were granted a do-over.

This meeting felt like one of those rare occasions.

“So, here we are again,” Rob said. He really did have a great smile. It reached all the way to his eyes. Today he didn’t seem a bit smug. In fact, he seemed genuinely glad to see her.

Maybe it hadn’t been all him the last time they met. She had been reeling over the news about her father. Even her friends had said she wasn’t herself. Now, things felt different—and that was such a blessing.

“Yes, here we are again,” she said, smiling back at him. “Thanks so much for agreeing to give this one more shot.”

“Before we take this any further, I have to be very up-front with you. I don’t regret kissing you. I do regret any pain or uncertainty or confusion it might have caused. My company has a strict no-fraternizing policy. I fire bosses for getting romantically involved with their subordinates. Because, to quote a very wise woman for whom I have immense respect, ‘when people get involved and it doesn’t work out things become awkward.’ That’s why I, above everyone, must follow my own rules. Are you on board with that, Pepper?”

Maybe it defeated the point, maybe it didn’t, but hearing him admit that he didn’t regret the kiss made her very happy. Happy enough that she could fold away the memory and move ahead with her new life.

There was something very comforting knowing that he’d be in her life. Even if they weren’t romantic, at least they would see each other. Since things had been so fleeting and impermanent these days, it was nice to know that he was indeed someone she could count on.

“I am very on board with that,” she said.

She smiled, and she allowed herself to acknowledge that it was okay to harbor a crush. As long as she kept that ship safely docked in the harbor.

He smiled, too. The kind of smile that shone through to his eyes. “Why don’t we go over here and sit down where we can be comfortable?” He motioned to a grouping of white furniture on the opposite side of the office over by a wall of windows that was similar to those in the outer part of the executive offices. In his office, the decor had a similar feel, but the quality was superior and, she guessed, possibly more tailored to his taste.

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