I couldn't believe the way these girls are acting and fawning over him. He is a good-looking man but he is no Prince Charming.
"And I'd hire you in a heartbeat to Maggie," James responds to her statement. "I'm sure you'd give some of the younger gals at the office a run for their money."
Maggie? Not even I call her Maggie. How did James get that privilege? I sit there watching as he charms and flirts with the girls, winning them over with a lie because this isn't who he really is.
The three girls hang on to his every word, asking him questions about his business and personal life which he answers.
Where did this man come from? I muse watching in jealousy the way he interacts with these women. Why can't he be as charming with me? If he treated me like this we would have no problems. I would be willing to continue working for him.
"I can't believe a girl hasn't snapped you up already," Maggie states in awe, giving his body such a thorough look, I blush for him but he only grins. "And you being such a handsome devil. Don't tell me you haven't realized how gorgeous your boss is, Emmy?"
I frown at Margaret for bringing me into their conversation. Now, James, has his head cocked to one side, observing me and waiting for me to comment.
"It's not up to me to notice what my boss is or isn't," I answer, getting to my feet, then directing my cross look to James who looks just a little bit too comfy sitting between both women. "I thought we had a flight to catch."
"No rush. We're using my private jet."
And the girls start again with their chatter, wanting to know what it is like to be wealthy enough to own their own private jet.
"Excuse us a minute." Maria gets up to her feet. "Emmy, will you help me get some drinks from the kitchen?"
I follow her gladly to the kitchen, a bit sick to my stomach. If James could flirt so openly with two girls, the likelihood of him doing the same with younger girls more our age is very high. Too high for my liking. I don't like the idea of James with another woman and this bothers me.
Feeling a little queasy, I rest my arms on the kitchen counter, my cheeks heating with the remembrance of James kissing me here this morning. Am I hot only from that kiss or was I running a temperature? I am feeling a little hot.
"Are you okay, dear?" Maria asks, getting several glasses from the kitchen cupboard and the pitcher of lemonade she squeezes herself from the fridge. "You seem a little tense."
"I just want to go already," I respond.
"A few days ago you were hell-bent on coming home," she reminds me. "Now you can't wait to go back to Detroit. Do you actually understand what it is that you want Emmy or are you making rash decisions? Such as quitting your job?"
"I'm not sure what I want," I agree.
"From the tension between you two," Maria presses. "I would say you want that man in there and it scares you. That's the reason you quit your job."
"Not at all. He really is an insufferable man."
"Seems to me he's exactly the type of man you need."
"What? No way, he reminds me of my father."
"First of all, it's kind of unfair to compare the two," she states. "Your father was a drunk and a coward who bullied your mother and physically abused her.
I'm sorry you got caught up in all that, Emmy but not all men with a commanding presence would physically hurt a woman and I may not know him but I would be willing to bet that James wouldn't do such a thing."
I think of the way he took me by the shoulders and grip my jaw and I couldn't be as sure as she is.
"I don't know Maria, besides I don't even think the man is interested."
"And you think he's here simply to get back a PA? You're smarter than that, girl. Don't lie to yourself because it means you get to stay in your comfort zone."
"I'm not—"
"It's evident that you're attracted to him," she continues, ignoring the words I was about to say. "And I'm glad it's him. For a very long time, I worried because of your experience with your father you would just a simple. You wouldn't be happy with such a man Emmy."
"Maria, you're taking things out of proportion," I remark, backpedalling from this dangerous topic fast.
"If you say so. Bring the tray for me, will you?"
I bring the tray with the glasses of lemonade from everyone. Dotty had excused herself to use the bathroom, after resting the tray on the centre table before us, I move to walk back to sit beside Maria.
James foils my plan by holding my wrist and tugging me to sit beside him. My eyes fly to Maria and she gives me a knowing look.
A disappointed Dotty goes to sit across from us beside Maria when she returns. The conversation continues while we sip on the refreshing lemonade but I couldn't keep up with what is being said. I am too conscious of the muscles in James's thigh which are pressed next to mine on the couch.
I am not sure if he's doing it for spite or if it's an accident. Whichever it is, the hardness of him just makes me more aware of myself as small and a bit helpless in comparison to his imposing figure.
"Well, sweeties, this has been fun," James announced after a while, getting to his feet and pulling me along with him. He hasn't let go of my hand since he tugged at me to sit beside him. His thumb strums against my pulse now as we get ready to leave.