Page 63 of Help Wanted

On Friday morning she was ready to break down and call him, but then Officer Scott Porter walked in.

“Good morning, Officer,” she said with a smile. She was so happy to have someone to talk to she didn’t even mind that she didn’t have any feelings for him. He was a nice enough guy.

“Good morning.” He winked as he held out a small bag with a picture of a muffin on it. “Before you get all excited about me buying you a pastry, you should know I didn’t actually pay for it. Nobody lets you pay for stuff when you’re in uniform. I feel like a mobster or something.”

She peeked inside to see a cinnamon roll.

“Thank you for sharing your protection pastry with me,” she joked.

“I also wanted to see if you were free tonight. My shift is over at four. I could pick you up here at five.”

She looked down at her jeans and button-down.

“You look great. We’re not going to do anything fancy. Just dinner and get to know each other a little. What do you say?” He was actually asking her this time.

For a small second her mouth opened to say she was seeing someone. But then she remembered she wasn’t seeing Zane. She wasn’t seeing him, hearing him, or reading him by text or email. Other than receiving the invoices through the system, she might have thought he’d been kidnapped or something. Besides this man was not her boss.

She could go out with him, have a nice time, and not worry that it might affect her job. It didn’t matter that she didn’t feel a spark. He was safe.

“Sure. I’ll be ready at five.”

“Excellent. I’m looking forward to it.” He backed toward the door. “Until then, have a great day.”

“See you then,” she called, knowing he wasn’t the man she really wanted to see.

The day went by quickly. She only had a few minutes to spend worrying about her date with Scott. His method of ambush dating was a godsend.

At four thirty she stepped into the bathroom to check her hair and makeup. Good to go.

She was tossing her lipstick back in her bag as she walked down the hall and ran right smack into Zane.

Her bag landed on the floor with the contents scattered around his scruffy boots. As they both bent to gather her things their heads knocked together in a painful thump.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low and rough. It made her stomach flip in excitement. Unfortunately her stomach wasn’t aware of what this man had done to her heart.

“I’m fine.”

He put his hand on hers and looked her in the eye.

“No. I mean, I’m sorry, Kenley.”

“Don’t worry about it. While I don’t regret what happened, I think it best that we keep things professional. I like my job and I like working for you. I don’t want to risk messing it up.”

He let out a breath and nodded.

“You’re right. I’m still sorry about what happened with my parents.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she repeated. After throwing the last of the items into her purse she passed him to go back to her desk. It was almost five.

Of all the times for Zane to show up wanting to apologize, why did it have to be ten minutes before her date was coming to pick her up?

But no. It wasn’t ten minutes before her date was coming. Of course, Scott was early. He stepped inside the lobby, wearing jeans and a dress shirt. Out of uniform she could really look at him. He was cute. Tall and broad-shouldered. Much like Zane, who had followed her to the lobby and gave Scott a nod.

“Hey,” Zane said with his brows pulled together. “Did we have plans tonight?”

Scott shook his head.

“Not with you. I’m here to pick up Kenley.” He held out his arm like the perfect gentleman. “Are you ready to go?” he asked.