Page 2 of Best Mistake Ever

In a deep, rumbly voice, he shouts while still glaring at me, “It’s safe for everyone to go back inside. Everyone except Kendall Ellis.”

Now there are at least a dozen audible gasps.

The entire sidewalk, hell, the entire city momentarily falls silent. My cheeks burn bright as the winter sun as I point to my own chest. “Me?”

“Are you Kendall Ellis?” he asks with a muscle ticking along his strong jawline while the crowd hangs on to his every word.

I can’t speak. I simply nod and wet my lips.

Oh shit.

They still taste like strawberry icing.

My eyes dart around nervously now that we have everyone’s attention.

“Back to work!” Mr. Crawford bellows before anyone moves and begins filtering back into the building while I wait for what I know is coming. Once we’re the only two people standing on the sidewalk, he says, “You’re coming with me.”

“Yes, sir,” I easily agree. I don’t even bother asking where we’re going.

If it’s the police station, I’d rather be surprised.

He tips his chin toward the front of the building rather than the downtown precinct, so I count myself lucky and head inside with him right on my heels.

The security guards still make us all scan our badges, which takes forever. Then a few kind, all-female coworkers, hold the elevator doors for us to squeeze into it with them.

Somehow, Mr. Crawford and I both end up standing sideways, facing each other with his back against the wall.

He smells delicious. Or at least I assume the expensive masculine scent of cedar and sandalwood is coming from our boss.

The elevator takes forever to move.

When it jerks to a stop on the next floor, the front of my body accidentally brushes against Mr. Crawford’s. I gasp and freeze as his hands come up instantly to steady me, closing around my upper arms before I can crash into him completely.

For one second, we’re too close.

Close enough that I can feel the heat of him through my blouse.

Our eyes meet and his grip tightens just slightly, like he’s making sure I’m steady, or maybe making sure I don’t move any closer. His blue eyes search mine in a way that feels very different from the way he glared at me outside.

He lets me go the moment the crowd shifts and space opens between us again, stepping away half an inch farther than he needs to.

But he doesn’t stop looking at me. So I hold his gaze like it’s a game to see who blinks first.

Spoiler alert—it won’t be me.

I’ve already reached the peak of embarrassment today. I’m about to get fired on my birthday. I have nothing left to lose.

The elevator eventually empties and reaches the administrative floor.

I step off first, trying very hard not to think about the way my boss’s hands felt on my arms.

Then I wait for Mr. Crawford to lead the way to his office like nothing unusual just happened, past the empty desk where his personal assistant usually sits.

“Where’s Lily?” I ask in concern. “I didn’t see her outside with everyone else. Is she okay? The baby…”

“Lily is fine,” Mr. Crawford says. “Her doctor put her on bed rest this morning as a precaution.”

“Oh. I didn’t know that.”