Unraveling

by Kelley Griffin

  Jen slowly shook her head as if to say how disappointed she was in the woman. She watched Ellis’s eyes narrow.

  Obviously, she didn’t think she’d done anything wrong.

  Chapter Two

  “Wolf” Wolfenbarger needed only one thing, he thought, as he straightened his crooked yellow tie in the reflection of his monitor. He needed to ace his after lunch meeting with his mentor, Donald Garrett. Today was the day the ultra-conservative, pro-family man could choose to help him convince his Board of directors to back his proposal to build one of the largest subdivisions in all of Knoxville. It was a risk, but one he was itching to take.

  This contract would pull his father’s business out of the hole. It would mean hiring more staff, but also being outside all spring, summer and into the fall. Something Wolf craved.

  As he tugged open the tie his little brother’s wife had knotted for him and straightened it again, his mind reeled.

  The only hitch was Mr. Garrett was a family man. One that had known Wolf since he was a kid. As the company’s biggest stockholder, he’d been pressuring Wolf to find a life outside of work for years.

  Only Wolf knew he couldn’t do that to a woman. She’d be throwing away her chances and he knew it. It was part of the draw of dating Ellis. She’d never wanted kids. But Ellis was needy and narcissistic. He’d never felt fully connected to her and to be honest, it was scummy to date his assistant, no matter what she or anyone else said.

  He stared around his office.

  He’d still be in the dark if he hadn’t walked in on them.

  Wolf shook that image out. He’d already been thinking about breaking up with her. She just saved him the trouble.

  And now, he needed a new assistant.

  Walking out into his lobby, Wolf felt like he’d just blindly walked into a shit storm without a helmet. On one side was Ellis, his freshly demoted assistant and on the other side of his lobby was the woman he was about to interview for Ellis’s job.

  Jen Cox. Well, Jen Cox Harper, now, although he wondered if she’d keep that last name.

  She’d been the shy wallflower he’d been too much of a jack-tard to speak to in high school. When his HR director had brought him the stack of resumes, Jen’s had been on top and for good reason.

  She’d been at her last company for sixteen years until they closed the doors, which showed loyalty. She’d been an executive assistant which meant she could keep him in line, and she knew just about every computer program known to man. A definite plus since he’d spent the last fifteen years getting his father’s company back on track and loathed being in front of a computer. It just wasn’t his thing. Give him a hammer or a set of plans and he was happy. He didn’t give two shits about stockholders and corporate meetings.

  That’s why he needed someone like her.

  When he saw her, he knew exactly who she was. She hadn’t changed much, although she looked more confident, more worldly. She still had that radiant smile from high school. She’d always impressed him back then with her witty comebacks when someone would call her short or height challenged. He’d loved her ability to fire back at the other idiots who didn’t see her for what she was.

  But today, he’d watched her walk in the door, exuding confidence like she owned the place. Until she spotted Ellis.

  And now, if the daggers coming out of Jen’s eyes were any indication, he’d need to step in and quick.

  Wolf moved between the ladies, with his back toward Ellis. Jen’s face changed immediately from angry to a full blown smile. A damn dazzling one at that.

  “Ms. Harper?”

  Jen’s eyes widened in recognition and her face immediately turned pink. She swallowed hard and when she spoke, her voice cracked a bit.

  “Yes.”

  Wolf grinned, “Would you care to follow me for your interview?”

  His heart fell a bit when Jen looked around as if anyone would be a better candidate to interview her, than him.

  “Uh...sorry, I thought I was here for the Executive Administrative job?”

  “You are.”

  “But...I thought the job was for Mr. Hughes’s assistant?”

  Wolf motioned for Jen to follow him, but she didn’t budge. Her feet were firmly planted, and her arms were crossed protectively over her body. Obviously, she wasn’t going anywhere until she got an answer.

  Wolf glanced over his shoulder. Ellis glared at the back of his head and listened in on every word. Great. Hash this out in the lobby. He bent so she could hear him and lowered his voice. “Actually the job was originally for his assistant, but that position has been filled by my old assistant. So now, the job is working for me. Will that be a problem?”

  He watched as one eyebrow hitched up on Jen’s face. “No... Gosh no. I mean...No sir, it’ll be fine. I’d love to interview for your job...I mean for the admin job—for you...” Her downward gaze reminded him so much of the shy girl she was in high school. The one he really liked.

  He couldn’t stop his grin with a jackhammer.

  “Good. Now can we go to my office?”

  “Sure.”

  ~*~

  She must’ve pissed off her guardian angel to deserve this.

  Seriously? She couldn’t work for him and have a crush on him. This was insane. And how come the homewrecker still worked here?

  Obviously, this was just another reason to tack on to the many, of why she couldn’t trust Tom. He’d told her Ellis would be fired when the boss found out she’d had an affair. He’d been demoted—not fired—but only because they knew he had kids to support.

  Everybody knew Wolf’s parents had split because of his dad’s many extra relationships. It’d tarnished his dad’s reputation as a builder and lots of people wouldn’t hire the company because of it. It was rumored that the only time Wolf’s ill temper flared was when he found out about infidelity.

  And exactly why did he have to have on a crisp white button down against his dark skin? And the tie. Gah.

  All she’d ever seen him in were basketball sweats and t-shirts. She wasn’t complaining. He’d looked good in them back in the day with his sandy blonde hair sticking out from under his ballcap and dimples that creased his cheeks whenever he laughed. He resembled a young movie star, all tan and white teethed. But a little shy at the same time. That’s what drew her to him. He wasn’t loud and obnoxious like most of the guys. He was quiet and witty.

  And now, he looked regal and important. And honest.

  Honesty, she realized, made him even more handsome.

  Jen’s hands trembled as she sat. Wolf walked around the large, mostly cleared desk and sat, too.

  It was then that it hit her. Her husband and the ho had cheated on her right here in this office. On this desk. Jen started to shift uncomfortably. Her palms began to sweat. That same pain washed over her all over again and her face flushed.

  Wolf watched her carefully.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she answered, then changed her mind. Honesty.

  “No. No I’m not.”

  Wolf leaned forward. Concern etched his face. He nodded for her to continue.

  “Why is she still here?”

  Wolf took a deep breath. “My father. Mine and hers have been golf buddies since we were kids. It’s why she got the job in the first place. I’m sorry. I know her being here hurts you, but my father is still on the board and he insisted.”

  Wolf looked at his shoes.

  Jen straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. No way in hell was she going to let the tears pooling in her eyes drop.

  Wolf glanced back up and locked eyes with her. “If it makes a difference, you’d indirectly be her boss and you’d have my backing 100%. If she gets out of line at all, I can let her go. And...” he pointed at her, “I’m not hiring you because of the incident or to make her life worse, I’m hiring you because you were by far, the most qualified.”

  Her lips turned up despite her heartache. “Thank you.” She said, an
d when his gaze settled on her eyes and didn’t falter, she had to glance away.

  Looking around the room, she wiped her eyes, then chuckled.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You don’t spend much time here.” She glanced around as she said it.

  Wolf crossed his arms as a smile crept up his lips, “What makes you say that?”

  Jen smiled back, “Well, first...there’s a layer of dust on the computer.”

  Wolf stared down at it for a beat, then answered, “I hate ‘em.”

  “And the picture frames on the bookshelf all have the pretend families in them. You know, the ones that come with the frame when you buy them?”

  Wolf looked around then laughed at himself. “Okay, you got me. I hate this office.”

  “Can we do this somewhere else?” She asked.

  His face brightened. “Can I buy ya lunch? I’m starved.”

  She thought for a moment. “I could go for some lunch, but I’ll buy my own, okay?”

  He narrowed his eyes at her like he was trying to work out a puzzle but nodded. “Café downstairs okay with you?”

  She nodded. Wolf stood and walked around the desk.

  Her brain had forgotten how he’d towered over her during high school. Maybe it was being married to Tom for so long. Tom hadn’t been short, but he was no Shaq either. But most anyone next to her five foot frame seemed tall. Wolf was over six feet of tanned muscle from working outside. That hadn’t changed since they were fifteen. He got his olive skin from his mama, who used to volunteer at their school. He must’ve gotten his dark, wavy hair from his father. Even his voice, deeper now than it was in high school, did things to her resolve.

  This was gonna end badly.

  Wolf walked past her and opened the door. The vacuum of the open door caused a whiff of his soap or aftershave or buck lore to float past her nose. She froze for a half second, nodded a thank you and sprinted through.

  When she hit the button for the elevator, her fingers shook again.

  What in the holy hell?

  This felt like a first date with the President of the United States. Her mind sputtered. She randomly wished she would’ve shaved her legs.

  What?

  Where did that ridiculous thought come from? She shook her head at herself until she noticed him. He watched her as a smile played on his lips. Why did this feel so awkward? It felt like a first date.

  When they exited the elevator and entered the cafeteria, Wolf got halted by one of his landscape designers with dirt stained gloves, holding two types of landscape rock. The young man spoke faster than an auctioneer. Jen smiled when Wolf shot her a “save me” look. She shook her head no and bit her lip. His eyes narrowed playfully.

  The cafeteria was like an upscale version of a hospital cafeteria. It was clean, plenty of food to choose from, and smiling people standing behind each counter waiting to serve. She wondered if they smiled at her because she was with the boss or if they were naturally that happy to be at work.

  When a janitor walked past, stopped, and ordered a burger, she watched these same workers fawn all over him like he was the King of England. Yep. They truly loved their jobs. In fact, nobody seemed unhappy. From the workers to the staff coming in to eat...everyone seemed genuine and kind.

  Tom had worked there for years on Wolf’s sales force. He used to say the company was third in pleasantness, behind Chick-fil-a and Disney.

  When auctioneer-boy stopped bending Wolf’s ear, he joined her at the burger counter.

  “So...what’ll it be?”

  “I’m thinking the grilled chicken salad?”

  “Nope.” He said as he took a step forward in line.

  Jen stared at him for a beat, “Nope?”

  He smiled down at her. “Nothing beats a burger at CCC. You do eat meat, right?”

  “Yeah, but I was trying to go light.”

  “You gotta try one, I promise they’re awesome. And you don’t need to go light.” As soon as the words came out of his mouth, his back straightened like a steel rod and his face turned beet red. His easy going lips flattened to a straight line.

  “I’m so sorry. That was probably not the right...it was inappropriate...and I didn’t mean it the way it...do you want to leave?”

  She glanced up and smiled, “No. It’s fine. It was nice. Thank you.”

  His shoulders lowered. When they got to the counter, he ordered two burger meals with drinks.

  Hell. She’d continue the diet tomorrow for someone to say she didn’t need to lose any of her baby pudge. Then again...the baby was eight. She needed to start calling a spade a spade.

  Wine weight.

  As they each carried a tray, Wolf nodded to the cashier, who nodded back. Then grinned at Jen as if he’d won the argument about paying for her meal. She shot him a look, like she’d get even.

  Wolf pointed to a corner booth with his elbow and she nodded. Following behind him, she noticed little pockets of people eating lunch and talking. She stared outside through an expansive wall of windows and into a sleeping winter garden with a winterized fountain. Just from one glance you could tell it was well tended and would be beautiful in the spring.

  Wolf stood at the table waiting for her. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked toward him. Two feet from the table and still ogling the garden, Jen tripped over the leg of a chair sticking out into the aisle. Her tray jostled and her drink catapulted forward. Were it not for Wolf’s quick and expert hands, the drink would’ve hit the edge and exploded on his nice white shirt.

  Thank God he caught it. Her face flushed hot. Her nerves were not only going to spill something on this poor man, again, but they were going to kill off this job interview if she didn’t reign them in.

  He took the tray out of her hands and placed it on the table with her drink. As soon as her hands were free, she held them to her eyes and shook her head.

  He reached out and touched her arms to steady her.

  “You okay?” he asked, leaning down.

  “I’m sorry. You must think I’m the clumsiest person on the planet.” Jen winced as she pulled her hand away from one eye to gauge his reaction.

  Wolf grinned, “Wasn’t your fault. And it was kind of a compliment to my garden,” He motioned for her to sit before he did and then pointed out the window.

  “Labor of love, right there.”

  Jen glanced back at the space and then to him. His eyes were bright and proud, like a new father.

  “It’s gonna be beautiful.”

  He smiled huge and dug into his fries, “I can’t tell you how many boulders we’ve taken out of the ground in that space.” He shook his head and smiled. “I was just trying to make it something nice to look at while our staff ate lunch and it’s turned into this thing, with a huge price tag and a life of its own.”

  She stared at him for a beat. “You’re good to your staff.”

  He swallowed and stared back, then gave her a half grin, “Thanks. Some of these loyal people have worked here since my grandfather owned it.”

  She nodded. Wolf dug into his burger and nodded for her to do the same. The twinkle in his eye, told her he forgave her and challenged her to take a huge bite.

  Jen stared down at her plate. The burger looked like a frisbee. It took up most of the plate. She glanced over at her knife. No. She wasn’t going to be prissy. For once, she was hungry. It didn’t matter if she didn’t look lady-like. He seemed to appreciate a woman, er—employee with an appetite.

  When she glanced up at him, his eyebrows shot up and he shook his head no, like there was no way she could do it.

  She was gonna look like a four year old with ketchup and mustard down her front, but she didn’t care.

  The new Jen would not be backing down from any challenges.

  Wolf closed his eyes and took another huge bite all the way to the center of the burger. He hummed his appreciation.

  Jen had to remind her jaw to close. Lord. She needed to check her hormones.

/>   She shook her head and took in a mouthful. Automatically her eyes closed like his. The beef was perfect, and the mixture of white cheddar cheese, mushrooms and spices were unbelievable. She hadn’t realized the moan that escaped was so loud, but when she opened her eyes, he stared at her with a look of wonder and something else. Something almost wanting.

  Their eyes locked onto one another and she was instantly transported back to high school. Back where she’d embarrassed herself. And here she was doing it again.

  She’d literally bitten off more than she could chew. He smiled big and she couldn’t help herself but return it. She snatched up her napkin and held it to her mouth.

  Okay, she’d taken too big of a bite. But no way was she gonna lose this challenge.

  A round man with a white fluffy beard had silently sidled up to the table and watched them with a grin. They noticed him at the same time. Wolf wiped his mouth, then jumped up like someone bit him. He vigorously shook the old man’s hand.

  “Mr. Garrett!” Wolf’s voice was higher and more formal than it’d been all morning.

  Jen struggled to swallow the giant bite she’d taken, while beginning to scoot out of the booth.

  The kind eyed older man watched her with a twinkle in his eye.

  ~*~

  Damn. Of all the times for Mr. Garrett to show up, he picked now. The old coot was infamous for coming to a meeting early to look around. He wanted to notice how things ran when they weren’t expecting him. Wolf knew this. But hell, the old guy was literally hours early.

  “I wasn’t expecting you until later today. It’s so nice to have you here. Would you like to join us?” As he said this last part, he absentmindedly wiped a smudge of mustard off the side of Jen’s mouth.

  Jen had just swallowed the massive burger bite he’d dared her to take and stood. She’d stuck out her hand to introduce herself at the same time Wolf had wiped her mouth.

  She’d frozen at Wolf’s embarrassing lack of judgement and personal space.

  Gah, he was such a dumbass.

  Jen stared ahead wide eyed for a full beat before remembering herself, smiling and shaking Mr. Garrett’s hand.