Blind Date with the Boss (Heads or Hearts #6)

​CHAPTER SEVEN

NOT SURPRISINGLY, Janet now wanted everyone to introduce the person they’d interviewed to the whole group, sharing what they’d discovered about that person.

Logan hardly heard what they others said. He was too busy trying to work out why his newest employee had such a disturbing effect on him. She was pretty, certainly, but not as beautiful as many of the women he’d dated.

Those golden curls continued to intrigue him, but it was more than that. Sally Finch radiated warmth and vitality and there was something very wide-eyed and fresh about her that stirred memories of the strangest things – the first exciting day of the long summer holidays, waking as a child on Christmas morning.

He’d never met a woman quite like her. But he wasn’t going to admit that here. In the end, when it was his turn to introduce Sally, he spoke simply about her family, about her country girlhood and her desire to travel. He certainly didn’t mention the moment of spine-tingling connection while they’d been talking about the Brahms. For him, it was one of those rare experiences, like the music, that remained beyond the reach of mere words.

He wondered if Sally would mention it when she introduced him. As she got to her feet, he was on tenterhooks, fearful that this outspoken young woman might reveal too much about their conversation. But to his surprise, Sally was extremely circumspect. His business CV was more personally revealing than her careful introduction.

Janet Keaton caught his eye, her expression faintly bewildered. What had she expected? That Sally would spill one of his deep, dark secrets?

Perhaps, they’d both underestimated the newest employee.

For Sally, the rest of the workshop was every bit as much fun as she’d anticipated. There were all sorts of problem solving exercises which brought out different people’s strengths and weaknesses and showed the benefits of working in a team. She found that she was a lateral thinker, good at listening and at being empathetic, but she wasn’t so hot when it came to logic and spatial skills.

In groups, they hunted for errors in messages, tried to find triangles inside pentagons and to draw circle-and-dot diagrams without taking their pens off the paper. There were even moments of self disclosure where they shared fantasies.

Sally’s fantasy was to have long, straight, dark hair. The boss surprised everyone, except Sally, by claiming that he would love to have played rugby league for Australia.

Logan disappeared at lunch time and missed the rather delicious smorgasbord served in the dining room.

Maeve pounced on Sally. ‘Poor you. What was it like being grilled by the boss?’

‘Nerve-racking until he thawed out. Then he was close to normal.’

‘I must say you looked pretty into each other by the end.’

Sally tried to make light of it. ‘We were just talking about travel. How was Prince Charming?’

‘Fabulous.’ Maeve’s eyes danced with excitement. ‘I’m going out with him tonight.’

‘Tonight?’ Sally gaped at her friend. ‘Wow! That was quick work.’

Maeve grinned happily. ‘Our chat session was as good as a date. A kind of blind date in the workplace.’

In a strange way, so was mine , Sally thought. Far out . What would Logan say if he could read her thoughts?

Now she really was getting carried away.

The boss returned in time for the afternoon session. They were broken into competitive teams and given a kit of materials, and instructed to build an “anti-grenade” that would protect the shell of an egg. The time limit was thirty minutes.

Sally was hopeless at this, and happy to cheer on her team mates. After they’d built their device from reinforced cardboard and crumpled paper, they went to a “test site” in the park, where they had to throw their constructions.

Sally’s team broke their egg.

The boss’s team won, launching their device the furthest distance and keeping the egg intact.

He hadn’t been in Sally’s team for any of the day’s team activities, and he’d paid her no attention, but during the entire time she was ridiculously, super-aware of him. It was awful, like having a high school crush on a senior boy, but so much more painful, because it was so pointless.

Because it wasn’t supposed to happen.

After a scrumptious afternoon tea of scones with strawberry jam and cream, along with piping hot tea, Janet announced that it was time to draw some conclusions from the day’s activities.

‘But before that,’ she said, ‘I’d like you to return to the pairs you were in this morning, when we had that first ice-breaker session.’

Sally’s stomach tightened. From across the room, she saw Logan stiffen and glance her way. But his expression remained deadpan as he beckoned to her to come and join him.

Flashing hot and cold, she crossed the room.

‘This time, I’m going to give you a list of questions,’ Janet said as she moved between their tables, distributing sheets of paper. ‘Feedback from others is the most important form of reality check we can have. It’s a matter of lowering your fa?ades and seeing yourselves as others see you and it’s very illuminating self knowledge.’

Sally cringed. Receiving feedback from her boss would be bad enough, but giving it would be incredibly risky!

With trepidation, she read the questions on the sheet.

What was your first impression of me?

Why did you have that impression?

Who did I remind you of? Why?

How accurate do you now think that impression was?

Ouch! How could she be honest about her first impression? She’d met Logan Black on the day of the interview when he’d found Rose under his desk and she’d thought he was an arrogant prig.

Looking up at him now, she saw a dark red stain creep up his neck. He’s as uncomfortable with this as I am . She dropped her gaze to her hands and twisted them nervously.

Logan made a small throat clearing sound. ‘Trust Janet to save the punch line for last.’ He shot Sally a piercing look from beneath half-lowered lids. ‘Would you like to start?’

She tried to smile and failed. ‘I’d rather not.’

Drawing back an immaculate white cuff, he looked at his watch, which was, of course, beautiful and gold and very expensive looking. ‘Actually, I’m not sure we can do this. I have a meeting at four.

‘Yes, you mustn’t miss your meeting.’ Sally was as glad to escape as he was.

Logan stood, but Janet Keaton was too quick for them.

‘I hope you’re not planning to wriggle out of this, Logan,’ she said, loudly enough for several others to hear.

‘I have an important meeting at four,’ he said, jaw jutting at a distinctly antagonistic angle.

‘That’s fine. You still have plenty of time for a quick recap.’

Sally waited for Logan to pull rank and to insist that he couldn’t possibly stay. It would be dead easy for him to leave now. But to her surprise, he caught her eye and smiled conspiratorially. ‘I guess we’d better do as we’re told.’

As Janet moved away, he sat down again, rested his elbows on the desk and leaned closer to Sally. ‘Don’t look so worried, Sally. I’m not going to eat you. As a matter of fact, I’m prepared to admit straight out that my first impression of you was completely off track.’

Sally gulped. ‘Really?’

‘I assumed you were a single mother,’ he said. ‘And a rather careless one at that.’

‘When I was actually a careless aunt,’ she suggested with a small smile.

The responding warmth in his smile sent a sweet shiver over her arms. She was about to comment that Logan seemed to enjoy his role as an uncle when he asked, ‘How is the little boy who had the asthma attack?’

Sally swallowed her surprise. She had no idea her boss knew about Oliver. ‘He’s much better, thank you. They’ve put him on some kind of preventative medicine that seems to be doing the trick.’

Logan nodded, then looked down at the sheet of questions. ‘I’m expected to say who you remind me of.’

‘Please, don’t say a corn cob.’

‘Why on earth would I say that?’

‘It’s what my brothers called me. And then everyone at school.’

‘Because of your hair?’

Sally sighed. ‘You guessed it.’

His gaze rested on her hair for longer than was necessary, but he made no comment. ‘Actually, you’re rather like my sister, Carissa’ he said. ‘You’re totally different physically, but she has the same kind of vibrancy as you.’

Vibrancy? The boss thought she was vibrant?

‘And you like to talk. You and Carissa both really like to talk.’

He glanced again at the question sheet. Without looking at Sally, he said, ‘But I must admit that my recent impressions have been more favourable than my first one.’

Sally was rather pleased that he didn’t look up to see her blush.

‘And now it’s your turn.’ He smiled at her gently. ‘Don’t be too brutal.’

‘And risk getting sacked?’ She gave a shaky laugh. ‘I wouldn’t dare.’

‘But there’s no point in being dishonest.’

Sally swallowed, took a deep breath. ‘OK. My first impression was that you were – er – very big and dark.’ When his expression remained blank she quickly added, ‘And I also got the strong impression that you didn’t like children.’

‘Good heavens.’ He looked genuinely shocked.

‘You were holding poor little Rose away from you as if she might be infectious.’

He dismissed this with a shrug. ‘I’m not used to babies.’

‘Since then, of course, I’ve realised that was wrong. You’re wonderful with your nephews.’ She waited for him to frown or show displeasure that she’d mentioned this. When he did neither, she said, bravely, ‘I’ve noticed that you’re always super busy and nearly always very serious.’

‘That’s true.’

‘I thought you might not be very happy. Perhaps a bit lonely.’

He frowned at her.

‘But then the roses arrived,’ she said carefully.

‘Roses?’

‘The white roses that come every Friday.’

‘Oh, yes, of course.’

‘And I realised there must be someone very special in your life.’

A faint smile tilted the corners of his mouth.

‘And if that’s the case –’ She paused and swallowed. ‘If there is someone special, then I’m sure you must be happy.’

His eyes, as he regarded her, were so thoughtful, Sally wondered what she’d said wrong. She glanced down quickly. ‘What’s the next question?’

‘Who do I remind you of? And why?’

‘Oh, yes.’ She’d never really known many men from the city. There’d been that one, of course, who’d caused her so much grief. But he’d been oozing smiles and pseudo charm and Logan, thank heavens, was absolutely nothing like him.

‘Actually, you remind me of quite a lot of people,’ she said eventually. ‘Men I’ve grown up with. Graziers, head stockmen, gun shearers. You have the same kind of confidence and inner drive. I’m guessing that you’re very goal oriented.’

‘And I’d say you’re right.’

‘My first impression wasn’t accurate at all,’ she admitted. ‘You were very different –’ She paused and took a deep breath. Perhaps she shouldn’t mention how he’d looked during that memorable moment just before he’d fallen in the pond. Or this morning when he’d been talking about music. Instead, she said, ‘I think you have a softer side that you try to hide.’

Predictably, Logan frowned again.

‘But that’s okay.’ Sally knew she was skating on very thin ice, but the workshop was nearly over and she was feeling rather reckless. ‘I guess a boss has to pretend to be tough.’

‘It’s not a matter of pretence. A boss has to be tough. It goes with the territory.’ Logan glanced again at his watch and stood quickly. His eyes took on a kind of hooded hardness. ‘Now, if you’ll kindly excuse me. I really must go to this meeting.’