Page 100 of Help Wanted

“I’m afraid you’re delusional.” She sat up and looked around for her jeans, but he stopped her.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m not the perfect woman you had fantasies about when I started here. I have faults and problems. If you keep me on a pedestal I’m bound to fall off.”

A smile started on one side of his mouth. “If you’ll recall, I just had you on my desk, not a pedestal.”

She found her pants and pulled them on.

“Ken?” She paused. “I see the real you. The stubborn, workaholic, borderline-neurotic you, as well as the kind, sweet, sex-on-a-stick you. And I think you’re even more perfect. So get over it.”

Her heart filled with love as he bent to kiss her.

“Okay,” she said, pulling herself together as she slipped on her shoes. “I was going to make meatloaf.”

She watched as Zane set the picture of his sister back up on his desk, adjusting it slightly to the side. Then he turned to her with a smile on his face.

“Sounds good,” he said. “Call me and I’ll be there.”

* * *

Zane was still smiling and straightening things on his desk when Brady came in and flopped down on his sofa.

“I have a big problem, boss.”

“I was having an awesome day. Please don’t come in here with bad news,” Zane begged.

“You have the same shit grin on your face that Ken had when she left. Does that have anything to do with your awesome day?”

“The awesome day you’re about to ruin?” Zane deflected the question. Brady laughed it off instead of persisting.

“Actually, my problem is of a personal nature.”

Zane sat up, wanting to help. He’d already agreed to bring Hunter in three days a week, but if he needed something else, Zane would be there.

As much as he and Sidney tormented each other, there was an important bond between siblings. He knew he would be there for Sid, the way Brady took care of Hunter.

“What do you need?”

“I think I’m in love.”

Zane couldn’t help the burst of laughter that escaped. “And you think I can help you with that? I’ve messed up so many times with Kenley, I’m barely hanging on.”

“From the look on her face when I passed her, you’re holding your own.”

“But sex is different than real feelings. I don’t have to tell you that.”

Brady frowned and shook his head. “No. You don’t. I haven’t even had sex with Mick yet. I guess I just need to know what happens if you tell a girl you have feelings and find out she doesn’t.”

Zane squirmed a bit in his seat and then shrugged. “I’m not sure. I’ve never told Kenley I loved her.”

Brady’s eyes went wide before he tilted his head and squinted. “But I thought you—”

“Yeah.” He’d tried to tell her less than fifteen minutes ago, but he still hadn’t managed to work up the nerve. Every time he thought he was ready, he’d think of how awful his parents’ marriage was, or how Kenley was out of his league.

“You may be even worse off than me.”

“Possibly.”