Honor

Chapter 41

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

E vie

No, I didn’t just hear what I think I did.

There’s no way Mr. Hunt just asked me if I’d ever kiss a man like him.

A few weeks ago, my answer would have been a very loud and instant, “No!”

Now, I’m not sure. His lips seem like they’d be very kissable. They’re full, just the right shape, and a shade of pink that is so tempting.

“What was that?” I ask him to repeat what he actually said because it could have been work related and I’m not about to break my streak of being the best executive assistant this company has ever seen.

He steps closer to me, but before he can say a word, the door to his office flies open, and his former executive assistant rushes in.

Great timing, as usual, Norbeta.

In her hands is a plate of cookies. From where I’m standing, they look like chocolate chip. They smell like they spent too much time in the oven.

I’ve sampled enough of Norbeta Pittman’s cookies to know that I shouldn’t do that ever again.

“Evie!” she greets me happily. “I brought you both a treat.”

“Great,” I say with as much exuberance as I can muster for over baked cookies. “I’ll take one to go.”

I don’t have to say another word because Norbeta picks up the biggest one on the plate and offers it to me.

I accept with a nod of gratitude. “Thank you.”

“Enjoy every last bite,” she suggests. “I need to speak to the handsome grouch alone if that’s okay.”

Every time she comes to the office, she has a choice word to describe Reid. It’s always prefaced with a compliment like it was today.

Handsome grouch.

Smart grump.

Business-savvy crab.

I’ve always assumed she gets away with it because Reid has a soft spot for her. It’s hard to imagine her sprinting around the city trying to complete any of the ridiculous task lists he’s handed me. That’s not to say that I don’t think Norbeta could get it done in record time. I know she could. I just don’t think Reid was ever as hard on her as he is on me.

“I’ll call Mrs. Tabbert and reschedule your meeting,” I tell my boss. “Then, I’ll get started on responding to emails and any voicemails waiting for me.”

“Thank you, Evie,” he says in a soft tone that makes my toes curl.

“Those flowers on your desk are breathtaking,” Norbeta remarks. “If your friend sends a bouquet like that to thank you for being her maid of honor, I can’t imagine what the flowers at her wedding will look like.”

I can’t say I’m surprised that Norbeta read the card that came with the flowers. She still thinks anything in or around my desk is fair game to her. That’s likely because I’ve never told her to mind her own business.

“Charlotte sent the flowers?” Reid asks.

I catch his eye briefly. “She did.”

A smile ghosts his lips. “Good to know.”

Why? Why is it good to know that?

I glance at the cookie I’m holding. “Thank you again, Norbeta.”

“Not a problem.” She grins before she slides another cookie from the plate. “Our boss can have this one. Why don’t you take the rest to the break room after you call Mrs. Tabbert?”

My co-workers will never forgive me for the subpar baked goods, so I’ll leave a note next to the plate explaining they are courtesy of Norbeta. “I’ll do that.”

I don’t glance at my boss again before I turn and march out of his office with the words I thought I heard him say still haunting me. As soon as I shut his office door behind me, I lean my back against it and shake my head.

Reid Hunt would never ask me if I’d kiss him, but that doesn’t mean I can’t answer the question. Since my boss always seems to overhear every single thing I say, I close my eyes and nod.

I’d kiss a man like him.

In fact, I’d kiss him in a heartbeat if given the chance.

“This is awful.” Baden spits the small piece of cookie in his mouth into a paper napkin before discarding it in a wastebasket near the coffee machine. The rest of the cookie follows it.

“Norbeta made them, “ I tell him, even though it’s clearly noted on the card I left near the plate of cookies.

“She took baking lessons.” He smiles.

“Norbeta did?”

He laughs. “Technically, Reid arranged for her to take baking lessons a month or so after she retired. I can’t say for certain that she showed up for them.”

“I’d guess no.” I grin. “I’d still give her an A for effort.”

“You’re too kind.” He fills a mug with coffee from a pot I suspect was brewed hours ago. “Did she bring those in, or did Reid send you to pick them up?”

It’s a fair question since my boss has sent me to Norbeta’s apartment in the past to pick up baked goods or books she’s loaned to him since they share the same love of thrillers.

“She brought them.” I glance at the cookies. “She’s with Reid now.”

“She can’t let go of this place.” He pours some cream into his coffee from a small carton that has been in the fridge all week.

“Are you sure that’s not sour?” I approach where he’s standing, ready to take control of the cream carton so I can give it a smell test.

He does that himself. “Smells fine.”

I still take the carton from him to shove it back in the fridge. “I don’t know Norbeta very well, but I like her.”

“I know her pretty well, and I still like her,” he jokes. “She’s like family to Reid.”

That reminds me of what Lottie told me about Reid’s family before she realized I work for him. I had no idea that his parents were both gone. That thought almost brings tears to my eyes because I know I’ll be a mess when my mom and dad pass away.

Baden tugs on one of the lapels of his suit jacket. “I’ve got a meeting across town soon, so I have to take off. Spare the rest of the company the misery of those cookies, Evie. No one will know if you trash them now.”

I laugh. “I’ll know.”

He stares down at me. His gray eyes study my face carefully. “You’re a better soul than I’ll ever be, and you’re way too good to be Reid’s executive assistant forever.”

“Forever is a long time,” I whisper.

I’m tempted to tell him that my ultimate goal is to work in marketing for a Fortune 500 company. Baden, like Reid, has endless connections in this city, but if I confess that I plan on leaving Vidori within the year, he’ll tell my boss.

I know that for a fact.

“Indeed it is.” He grins. “My door is always open if you want to talk about a future beyond your current role in the company. Cleo started in a junior position, and is about to leap into something beyond her wildest dreams.”

I nod because I know exactly what he’s talking about.

“Keep that to yourself.” He warns me with a playful wag of his finger. “At least until the end of today.”

I mime locking my lips with a key that I pretend to toss over my shoulder.

“Toss Norbeta’s cookies wherever the hell you threw that imaginary key.” He chuckles. “Your co-workers will love you for it.”

They already love me. Well, most of them do. I don’t know exactly what Mr. Hunt feels for me. I know it’s not love, but there’s a possibility he likes me, and I’m beginning to suspect that it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m a great assistant.