“I’m five minutes early,” I replied. I was never late. She knew that, and she hated it.

“Not by my clock. I’ll be writing you up if this happens again.”

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I didn’t. Taking the high road, I walked past her and toward the lockers in the employee lounge to put my purse away and get my apron. When I walked past Captain’s door, I resisted the urge to kick it. I didn’t know what she was doing in there, but I hated that I was completely jealous.

Last night had been a mistake. He hadn’t texted or called all day, and then I saw his ex leave his office the moment I arrived. If I didn’t acknowledge the clues that were being thrown at me, I was being naive. He was Franny’s dad. That was it. I wouldn’t play this game.

Brad was in the employee lounge, and he turned and smiled at me. “Hey.”

“Hey,” I replied, surprised that he’d actually spoken to me.

“Last night was crazy busy. Be glad you were off.”

Small talk. Something else I hadn’t expected. “Yeah? I hope tonight isn’t too bad.”

“Hope this new guy can handle things when Captain’s gone.”

Something else I hadn’t thought through. Would I keep working here when Captain was gone? Why keep this job and deal with Elle, when I could work somewhere where I didn’t have to deal with a mean bitch who hated me?

“I’m sure Captain will have him ready when he leaves,” I said to fill the silence. Because right now, I didn’t want to think about Captain.

“You’re right. I will.” Captain’s voice came from the doorway. I tensed but didn’t turn around to look at him.

“Oh, yeah. I know you will. I just meant that he’s not like you. I don’t doubt your skills.” Brad sounded a little nervous.

“Rose, I need to see you in my office.” His voice had softened from the one he’d used with Brad.

“I’m late. If I don’t get out to the dining room, your girlfriend will write me up. She told me so when she came out of your office earlier.” The bitterness in my tone was obvious. I hadn’t meant to say all that, but it just came spilling out. Now I looked like a jealous bitch. Crap.

“Now, Rose.” His voice lowered, and I could hear a small warning in his tone.

As much as I wanted to scream at him to go away—because I really did want to throw a total female fit—I nodded and closed my locker with more force than necessary, before turning to follow him to his office.

Except he didn’t turn around, and he wasn’t walking away. He was watching me, with a frown wrinkling his forehead. He was confused, as he should be. I was completely overreacting. So we had made out last night. It wasn’t like we made any promises.

This wasn’t high school, but I was acting like a crazy teenage girl.

I sighed. There was nothing I could say about it except that I was sorry. I didn’t think my pride was going to let me apologize, though.

Captain turned and headed toward his office. All I could do was fall in step behind him. I could feel Brad’s eyes on my retreating back, but there was no way I was saying goodbye to him or even looking at him. I might not be able to make eye contact with him again after this. Somehow I’d managed to embarrass myself even more.

At the first step I took into Captain’s office, he turned and wrapped his hand around my wrist and tugged me closer before slamming the door behind me. I jumped, and my pulse quickened under his firm touch. I’d made him angry, but I wasn’t scared of him.

“Girlfriend?” he said in a low, gravelly voice, as he backed me up against the door. “Last time I checked, it was your pussy I was tasting.”

Oh, dear God.

“Elle has no power to do shit to you. Her threats are pointless. I won’t let her hurt you, and you know that. You should know that.” He stopped and lowered his head until his lips kissed my neck. “You getting jealous pisses me off and turns me the fuck on, all at the same time.”

Oh, dear God.

His tongue came out, and he ran it along the curve of my neck. “Don’t want anyone else. Told you last night it was always your face. Every damn time. I never could love anyone but you.”

My body melted against him.

“I tried all there was to try. I did everything I could to get you out of my head. But not one day went by that I didn’t miss you. That I didn’t see your face when I closed my eyes.”

His mouth trailed kisses up my neck, until he placed one small one at the corner of my mouth. Then he rested his forehead against mine and picked me up by the waist until I was at his eye level.

“Tell me what set you off. Was it Elle walking out of my office? Just because she comes in here to bitch doesn’t mean I want her here. You need to trust me.”

“You didn’t call or even text me all day,” I blurted out.

A slow smile tugged at his lips, and he shook his head. “I was giving you some space to accept this. Us. Last night was intense, and I didn’t want to overwhelm you. But if I’d thought for a second you were waiting for me to call, I’d have fucking called you.”

All the worry and jealousy that had been eating me up vanished, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m sorry.”

He chuckled and leaned in to claim my mouth in a kiss that was as sweet as it was hot. I grabbed handfuls of his hair, and his hands gripped me tighter as he pulled me against him. “Wrap your legs around me,” he said against my lips.