CHAPTER NINETEEN

Abby

The January chill makes me wish I’d worn a scarf to work this morning. My fault because I wasn’t entirely thinking straight when I said goodbye to Powerfluff. As my breath puffs out in little clouds, I hurry across the parking lot. At least I remembered gloves, even if they’re the ones my parents gave me for Christmas. So far, they’ve kept my hands warm. Time will tell if that continues.

I stop at the entrance to the office building. It’s freezing, yet I only stare at the door.

No need to be nervous.

John’s SUV wasn’t in the parking lot, so I won’t see him first thing. Not that it matters when I see him.

Just another workday.

I wish . Today is different because I won’t just see my boss, Mr. Barrington. I’ll see my boyfriend, John.

Boyfriend. The word still feels weird to me, and it shouldn’t.

He’s talked to corporate headquarters. Everything is fine. No need to worry.

I open the door and step inside. The warm air makes my chilly cheeks tingle. I notice that the holiday decorations are gone, including the tree Powerfluff toppled, and the lobby looks bland and boring again. I wonder if John would be up to decorating for more holidays. Valentine’s Day will be coming up next month.

“Morning, Abby.” Melanie smiles at me from the reception desk. “How was your holiday?”

I want to tell her the truth about getting a boyfriend, but I can’t. “Oh, you know, the usual family chaos. How about you?”

As Melanie tells me about her cousin’s destination wedding in Hawaii, I nod. My gaze darts toward the door, and I wonder when John will arrive.

“…and then the bride’s dress caught fire!” Melanie finishes with a laugh.

“Wait, what?” I blink. “The dress caught fire?”

Melanie gives me an odd look. “No, I said the best man gave a touching toast. Are you okay, Abby? You seem distracted.”

My cheeks heat. “Sorry, I must still be in holiday mode. I should get to my office. Have a great day!”

I scurry, silently cursing myself. Get it together, Abby. You can’t spend all day jumping at shadows and trying to listen for John’s voice .

I settle into my chair, booting up my computer and trying to focus on my inbox. The first cup of coffee goes down quickly. I’m taking my time with the second.

But every sound outside my office makes me want to peek out my door like a meerkat on caffeine.

“Morning, everyone,” John says finally, though I can’t tell where he is. The lobby, perhaps? “Hope you all had a good holiday break.”

My heart flips as John strolls past my office, looking unfairly handsome in a crisp blue shirt and charcoal suit. Our eyes meet, and he gives me a small, secret smile that sends warmth flooding through me.

He’s gone too soon, and I nearly collapse onto my desk.

I need to pull myself together, but everything I imagined having someday—a caring boyfriend, an accepting family, and a cat who gets along with all of them—is coming true with John Barrington. I don’t want this to end.

The morning crawls by in a haze of catch-up emails and client phone calls. I throw myself into work, determined to prove I can be professional. But every time I walk out of my office, I can’t help but glance at John’s office and lose focus.

By lunchtime, I’m a jittery mess. I head to the break room, hoping more caffeine will settle my nerves. It’s late enough, so I doctor my coffee with obscene amounts of cream and sugar.

“Rough morning?” a familiar voice asks.

I whirl around, nearly sloshing coffee all over myself. John stands in the doorway, an amused smirk playing on his lips.

“Oh! Um, no, just…Monday,” I stammer, wondering if it’s possible to drown myself in my mug.

John moves closer to grab a cup of his own. As he reaches for the coffee pot, his arm brushes against mine, sending an electric shock through me.

“How’s your day going?”

I take a sip of coffee to buy myself time, but then the scalding liquid burns my tongue. My eyes water. “Fine. Everything’s great. Totally normal. How is your day?”

“Good. Though I miss having a certain cat around, causing chaos.”

Once again, my cheeks heat up. I’ll never forget our cozy nights cuddled on my couch, watching Christmas movies and kissing. After he dropped Powerfluff and me off on New Year’s Day, he had work stuff to do, so I didn’t see him that night. “At least there’s no tree for her to destroy if she was here.”

He steps closer, and suddenly, the break room feels tiny. “I missed being with you last night.”

My heart hammers against my rib cage. “I missed you, too.”

We just stand there, gazing at each other. The air between us crackles with tension, and I lean in.

Someone laughs loudly, making us both jump. Reality crashes back, and I remember where we are.

“I should get back to work,” I say hurriedly, gesturing vaguely with my mug. “Lots to catch up on?”

“Right, of course.” He lowers his voice. “Maybe we could grab dinner later to discuss…business?”

I can’t help but smile at his awkward attempt at subterfuge. “Sure, that sounds great.”

As I hurry back to my office, my coffee is cooling and forgotten in my hand. I can’t shake the feeling that balancing personal versus professional will be trickier than I thought.

The afternoon drags on, each minute feeling like an hour. I try to focus on my work, but my thoughts wander to John—the way his eyes crinkle when he smiles, the warmth of his hand in mine, the soft press of his lips…

“Earth to Abby!” I look up to see Sarah grinning at me. “Where’d you go just now? You’ve been staring at that spreadsheet like it holds the universe’s secrets.”

“Oh, um, just got lost in thought, I guess. Did you need something?”

Sarah stands in the doorway. “A few of us are going to that new bar that opened right before the holidays. Want to come?”

Of course, the one night I have something would be the same time as this. “Thanks for the offer, but I have plans.”

Sarah’s eyebrows shoot up. “On a Monday? Do tell.”

I scramble for an excuse. “It’s nothing exciting. A family thing. You know how it is after the holidays, trying to catch up with everyone.”

She shrugs. “If your plans fall through, come find us.”

“I will.” I hate lying to her, but I can’t say that I’m having dinner with our boss. I suddenly realize how complicated keeping our relationship secret will be, and I slump in my chair.

At five o’clock, I’m about to pack my bag, and my phone buzzes. It’s a text from John:

John: Meet me at Chez Marcel at 7. Looking forward to tonight.

A grin spreads across my face, and I type a response.

Me: I can’t wait.

Giddiness bubbles inside me. I’m so excited to have dinner with him tonight where we won’t have to act like we don’t care about each other.

* * *

As I hurry toward Chez Marcel, I remember how cold a January evening can be. My heels click against the pavement at a rapid pace, and I skirt around a couple pushing a baby stroller.

I’m late.

Totally my fault.

I took too long deciding what to wear. I just hope John likes my green dress with black knee-high boots. The wind makes me tighten my shawl.

As I round a corner, I see him waiting outside the restaurant. I can’t believe he looks even more handsome in his suit and slightly tousled hair.

“Sorry I’m late,” I say.

His face lights up with a smile that makes my heart beat double time. “You’re worth waiting for.”

Heat pools on my cheeks. “Thanks, but I’ll remind you of that if I’m running late in the future.”

Smiling, he offers me his arm. “Shall we?”

Inside, the air is warmer, and I loosen my shawl. The scents of garlic and herbs make my mouth water. I’ve never been here, and I’m looking forward to tasting the food. The atmosphere spells romance. A flickering candle sits on a white linen covered table. A single rose bud in a small glass vase graces the tabletop too, and soft instrumental music plays. The place is perfect for a dinner date.

The hostess leads us to a table, and we sit. Anticipation hums through me. All I’ve wanted today is to be with him.

John glances over the top of his menu. “How was your day?”

“The usual. Spreadsheets, phone calls, emails, trying not to stare at my incredibly handsome boss. How about you?”

“Much the same, except replace ‘handsome boss’ with ‘beautiful employee who’s driving me to distraction.’”

Our waiter appears, and my warm face tells me I’m blushing again. I’m not used to receiving compliments. We order our meals and a glass of wine each.

I take a sip of my cabernet. “I have to admit I was nervous about today. I mean, I wasn’t sure how to act around you.”

John reaches across the table to take my hand. His thumb traces small circles on my palm. “It’s complicated. But we handled it pretty well, don’t you think?”

I almost snort. “Oh, I was the picture of calm and collected. I only jumped every time I saw you.”

He laughs, the sound warm and rich. “If it makes you feel any better, I had to physically restrain myself from kissing you senselessly in the break room.”

“Is that so?” I say, my voice slightly husky. “What about now?”

John’s eyes darken. “Now? I’m seriously considering throwing caution to the wind and kissing you in this public restaurant.”

As my heart races, I lean forward. “What’s stopping you?”

Our waiter appears with our entrees. We both lean back as our plates are set before us.

We dig into our meals, a perfectly cooked steak for John and a decadent truffle pasta for me.

“Have you considered your career goals? Since you’re staying with the company, I want to support you however I can.”

I wipe my mouth with my napkin. “I’m looking into becoming a Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Ambassador.”

“You’d excel promoting the role of a CFP and how valuable financial planning is.”

I nod. “I need more experience, but it could be a good next step for me, career-wise.”

“Have you researched any specific programs?”

As I explain what I’ve looked into—what I did when I got home on the first and was missing him—I’m struck by how attentive John is. He asks thoughtful questions and offers insights from his experience, genuinely invested in my professional growth. This starkly contrasts with my ex, Jake, who always viewed my career as secondary to his own.

Warmth spreads through my chest. “I appreciate how supportive you are. It means a lot to me.”

John reaches across the table to retake my hand. “Your success is important to me. Both personally and professionally. I want to see you thrive.”

I squeeze his hand, overcome with emotion. “Thank you. I feel the same way about you.”

We’re both smiling, and I can’t imagine why I thought Jake was the right guy for me. Rachel is welcome to him.

“So, speaking of thriving,” he says playfully, “how do you feel about dessert?”

I laugh. “A slice of that chocolate lava cake has my name on it.”

“Do you mind sharing?”

“Not at all.”

As we eat the delicious cake, I still can’t believe how natural spending time with him feels. Outside of work is easy, comfortable, and right.

After we finish our meal, despite my protests, John pays. We leave the restaurant, and I shiver. Maybe the shawl wasn’t my best outerwear choice. John shrugs off his jacket and drapes it over my shoulders.

“Such a gentleman.” I snuggle into the warmth of his coat. It smells like a mix of wood, mint, and something uniquely John. A part of me never wants to take it off.

As we walk, his arm goes around my waist. “I have a reputation to maintain.”

Streetlamps illuminate the sidewalk. It’s quiet now. Few are out. The town feels different at night, softer somehow.

I lean into John’s side. “Tonight has been wonderful. I don’t want it to end.”

He presses a kiss to my temple. “Me neither. But we have work tomorrow, Ms. Sinclair. Can’t set a bad example for the other employees.”

I playfully swat his chest. “Of course not, Mr. Barrington.”

We reach my car way too soon. I press my key fob, and John opens the driver’s door.

John pulls me closer. “Thank you for a fantastic evening.”

I loop my arms around his neck, smiling up at him. “Thank you for being you.”

We stand there, gazing at each other. Our lips meet. I pour all my feelings into kissing him—my gratitude, affection, and growing love for this man who has turned my world upside down in the best possible way.

When we finally part, John rests his forehead against mine. “It’s getting late, and we both need to get home.”

I understand what he’s saying, yet he makes no move to go. I’m also reluctant to leave him.

“That would be the smart move,” I say. “You must be getting cold.”

“Not after that kiss.”

“But there are meetings tomorrow morning, Mr. Barrington.”

He groans. “Don’t remind me. Being responsible is overrated.”

I give him a peck before stepping back. I shrug his jacket off and give it back to him. “Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Abby. Drive safe.”

As I watch him walk toward his car, I start my car and let the engine warm up. I can’t wait to get home and tell Powerfluff I’m falling in love.

We haven’t been together that long, but my heart feels what it does.

L-O-V-E.

And the feeling is not only incredible—it’s everything.