Bidding on Her Boss(13)

"Truth is," he said, his voice deep, "lately I've been thinking about  the buzz I used to get, setting up the original stores. Working with  customers and having a new challenge were what got me out of bed in the  mornings."

"Your job now must have challenges." Being the head of the Hawke's  Blooms stores sounded as if it would be pretty much all challenge.

"Sure. But there was a joy back then that doesn't exist now." He ran  his hands through his already rumpled hair. "I'm not sure how to explain  it exactly, but in the old days, when my family was first starting the  company, we never knew what each day would bring. I can glimpse that  excitement again when I watch you work."

* * *

Dylan looked into Faith's trusting brown eyes. There was another part  to the answer that he dared not say aloud-he found that excitement again  not only by watching her work but also by being around her. He never  knew what she'd say or do next, and it was the most refreshing thing  he'd experienced in a long time.

A knock on the door drew him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see  his oldest brother, Adam, poking his head around the door. He suddenly  realized how close he was standing to Faith and took a step to the side.

As Adam made his way over to them, his face was blank, but after a  lifetime of knowing him, Dylan could read the question in his eyes.

"Liam and Jenna aren't here yet," Dylan said by way of a greeting-he'd  spoken to Adam a couple of times today already, so a greeting seemed  superfluous.

"That's okay," Adam replied. "It gives me a moment to meet our star florist."

Again, Adam's outward facade-politeness this time-didn't match what was  going on underneath. He had sensed something and had every intention of  getting to the bottom of it. Dylan squared his shoulders.

"Adam, this is Faith Crawford. Faith, this is Adam, the CEO of Hawke's  Blooms Enterprises, which is the overall company that encompasses the  stores, the farm and the markets."

Faith stuck out her hand, and Dylan didn't think his brother noticed  the slight tremble as she shook his hand. "Good to meet you, Mr. Hawke."

"You'll have to call me Adam, or this meeting is going to get very confused with the three Mr. Hawkes together at once."

"Oh, of course." Her eyes darted to Dylan. "Thank you, Adam."

Dylan looked back at the bench and realized Faith wasn't quite finished  with the last arrangement-he'd made her lose precious minutes. He swore  under his breath.

He turned to his brother. "How about we give Faith a few minutes to make the last touches before the others arrive?"

"Sure. There are a few things I wanted to discuss with you, anyway."

As they headed for the door, Dylan threw Faith a smile over his  shoulder, and she mouthed "thank you" back to him. Knowing her, even  once she'd added the final couple of flowers, she'd want a few minutes  on her own to get her head together without worrying about a new Hawke  brother watching her.

Once the door closed behind them, Adam said, "Coffee?"

"Excellent plan."

The staff room was empty, and Dylan headed for the coffee machine, making an espresso each for himself and Adam.

"So, what's the deal with you and Faith?" Adam asked bluntly as he grabbed the sugar jar.

Dylan handed his brother a coffee. "Just helping an employee with potential to advance her career."

Adam sighed, but there was a smile lurking in his eyes. "Dylan, I've  known you your entire life. I saw you when you had your first crush, and  I drove you to the movies on your first date. Don't try to bullshit me.  Your interest in that woman is more than an employer's."                       
       
           



       

Dylan leaned back on the counter. "It's really that obvious?"

"Maybe not to everyone, but to me? Yes." Adam moved closer and clapped him on the back. "What are you going to do?"

"I've got it under control."

"You call this under control?" Adam rolled his eyes to heaven as if appealing for help. "What happened when you kissed her?"

Caught off guard, Dylan felt as if he'd been sucker punched. "How do you know I kissed her?"

Adam's eyebrows shot up. "I didn't until you just confirmed it."

Realizing his mistake too late, Dylan groaned. "What you have to understand-"

"Oh, good. Stories that start this way are always juicy."

Ignoring him, Dylan started again. "What you have to understand is that we didn't meet at work. Well, not exactly."

Adam sipped his coffee. "You ran into an employee socially?"

"Remember that bachelor auction Jenna organized for our charity? The  one you managed to wriggle out of being involved with?" he asked  pointedly.

Uncharacteristically, Adam's gaze dropped to the floor. "I was, uh, busy that night."

"Sure you were," Dylan said, not believing it for a second. "Anyway, Faith placed the winning bid on me."

"You were bought by one of your florists?" Adam said, horrified.

"She bought some of my time," Dylan clarified.

Adam's expression didn't soften. "You've been out on a date with an employee?"

"No, she didn't want dates."

"What did she want?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.

"She asked me to meet her at the Santa Monica store and made a submission for the catalog."

"Did you accept it?"

"Nope."

"Her design wasn't even good enough for the book, yet you have her here working on the most high-profile event in our history?"

"Her work is good. She deserves this spot, no question. The design she  showed me that night was what she thought I wanted. When she does her  own work, she's amazing."

"You said you wanted to rehabilitate your image. This won't help."

"It won't hurt, either, because nothing is going to happen."

"Sure. Let's get back to you kissing an employee."

"Yeah, I'd rather not. I'm trying to forget it."

"How's that working out for you?"

"Not as well as I'd like."

"Dylan," Adam said, shaking his head. "This is dangerous."

"I know."

"Do you? She seems nice, but if this goes badly for her, she can sue  you. Hell, she can sue all of us because we have a policy that you've  violated, but you're especially vulnerable."

"She's not like that. She wouldn't."

"You haven't known her long enough to be sure. You're the head of the  chain of stores she works for, so she's been on her best behavior."

"I have no doubt that I've seen the real her."

"Now I'm even more worried. Is this woman really worth risking your  career over? Exposing the entire company to legal action and a potential  scandal?"

Liam poked his head around the door. "I thought I might find you two in here, stealing my coffee."

Dylan raised his mug. "You should have cookies in here, too."

Liam snorted a laugh. "Faith is ready if you are. Jenna's already in there."

Adam didn't move. "Come in here a minute and close the door."

Liam took the extra step inside the room and shut the door behind him. "What's up?"

Adam gestured in Dylan's direction. "Did you know about him kissing his florist?"

"Yes. Wait, no." He turned to Dylan. "You kissed her?"

"He kissed her," Adam confirmed, rocking back on his heels. "I'll brief  the lawyers this afternoon in case we need to take preemptive action."

Dylan groaned. "Glad we're not overreacting."

Liam blew out a breath. "Look, I know things were different with me and  Jenna, but I kissed her-heck, I made love to her-while she worked for  me, and the world didn't end."

Dylan chuckled. "You sure acted as if it had ended there for a while. Remember that day we came over and-?"                       
       
           



       

Liam hit him upside the head. "I'm trying to help you, idiot."

"Uh, thanks?" Dylan said, rubbing his head.

Adam narrowed his eyes at them both. "You were lucky with Jenna. Most  women in that situation would have reacted differently. Would have taken  what they could get."

Dylan frowned at Liam. "Since when did he get so jaded about women?"

Liam shrugged a shoulder. "Many years ago. I always figured someone had broken his heart."

Adam threw up his hands. "I'm standing right here."

"Good point," Liam said. "So tell us who broke your heart? Was it Liz in college?"

"Nope," Dylan said. "He left her. I had to talk to her when she started calling the house, brokenhearted. Maybe it was-"

"Stop," Adam said in his oldest brother voice. "We're not discussing my  dating history. We're talking about Dylan and the here and now."