Professional Boundaries Read online

  He sounded sincere.

  “Fine, you have two minutes. Go.”

  I think his lip twitched like he was going to smile. “Can’t I come in?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t let strangers, especially of the male variety, into my apartment.”

  He crossed his arms and narrowed his gorgeous brown eyes at me. “Kelli, you know me.”

  “Isn’t funny how sometimes the people we think we know the best are the ones we really don’t know at all,” I said with glee.

  He stood there and stared at me for a moment. I didn’t budge. I was serious about not letting him into my apartment, and I was serious about not knowing him. After he broke up with me that was one of the hardest parts for me to reconcile. I thought I knew him so well, but in reality I didn’t know him at all, because my version of Ian may have freaked out a little bit about the whole love thing, but he never would have treated me so harshly.

  He bravely stepped toward me and softened his tone. “I have a feeling I’m going to need more than two minutes to convince you. Can I take you to dinner?”

  I stared into his deep brown eyes. I noticed he had some subtle lines around them now, and I even noticed a gray hair or two in that dark hair of his. So much had changed in thirteen years. Thirteen years ago I wouldn’t have even given his invitation a second thought, but now I needed a third and even a fourth thought.

  While I was mulling over his invitation, he smiled at me. “Will this impose on your belly dancing class?”

  I half smiled and shook my head no. I was still so embarrassed about the butt incident this morning. What do I have to lose? I thought. “Fine, wait here.”

  He visibly relaxed.

  I opened my door and hauled all my bags in. I found my lazy tabby cat, Charlie, lying on the top of my couch just waiting to be adored. I stroked his head several times until he purred. He was such a diva. Then I freshened up a bit. I smiled to myself to think of him standing out in the cold. Maybe that was rude, but the guy did break my heart once upon a time and he stole my job. And if memory served me correctly, he enjoyed cooler temps. After I took my own sweet time, I walked back out to meet him.

  He was walking around the pool area looking around. When he saw me, he walked back my way. “Great, you’re ready.”

  We proceeded to the parking lot, and he tried to make small talk. “This is a nice complex, do you like living here?”

  I shook my head yes. “Yes. For apartments they’re great; a little pricey, but worth it.”

  “Hmm …” he said. “Should I drive?” he asked as soon as we made it to the parking lot.

  “I was just planning on following you in my car.”

  He raised his eyebrow at me. “You won’t ride with me either?”

  “You know what they say, stranger danger,” I said without apology.

  He tried to compose himself before he spoke. “I forgot how willful you were.”

  I smiled in mock delight. “So, where are we going?”

  “Why don’t I follow you, so you don’t think I’m luring you anywhere?”

  I smiled toothily. “Perfect.”

  He just stared at me and shook his head. I let him get in a few more looks before I walked away, smiling to myself for throwing him off his game. I honestly wasn’t worried about Ian taking advantage of me. Heck, I had to practically throw myself at the guy when we first started dating. Our spark was undeniable, but boy did he try and fight it. Looking back, I suppose he was right to; I was awfully young at the time, but the heart wants what it wants, and boy did my heart want him.

  He followed me to my favorite restaurant, Alicia’s. I personally knew the owners, Alicia and her husband, Jose. They were my first account as a junior account manager at Chandler Media. That was seven years ago. They still used the logo and ad designs I created for them. The design had an old world feel—we used an old world map of Mexico as the back drop. I’d since offered to touch it up or create a new one for them, but they’d become very attached to it.

  Ian had no trouble keeping up with me. I kept wondering what he was thinking about as he followed me. I was surprised he was going to all the trouble; I thought he would’ve been happy to see me go. Funnily enough, my sister thought otherwise. She’d predicted he would ask me to come back. She believed he had ulterior motives for coming to Chandler Media, but I’d told her she was crazy. “Crazy like a fox,” she responded.

  Alicia’s parking lot was almost full; that was a good sight for me. They deserved the continued success. I had never met harder working or kinder people, and their food was to die for, especially their smothered burritos. My mouth was watering just thinking about it.

  Ian found a space next to my car and parked, and then we met each other on the sidewalk. He looked up at the place. I forgot, this probably wasn’t his style; he was more of the quiet café type, or at least he used to be. Oh well, if he wanted to talk to me, he was going to have to do it on my turf.

  “I hope you like Mexican.” I knew he did, but I was treating him as if I didn’t know him it all. I could tell it bothered him, but I wasn’t sure why.

  He looked at me oddly. “Of course,” he replied.

  So I led the way to the entrance. There was a bit of awkwardness when we got to the door; we both reached for the door at the same time and our hands touched. Naturally, I backed off and let him open it. I had no problem with men opening my door, and normally I just assumed they would, but I was making no assumptions with Ian, now or ever.

  “Um … Thank you.”

  He smiled. “You’re welcome.”

  As soon as we walked in, we were hit with the sound of their live salsa band. I had forgotten Fridays were their salsa night. I looked at Ian, and I could tell it made him a little uncomfortable. Perfect, I thought.

  We didn’t even make it to the seating hostess before Alicia accosted me. “Kelli!” she said as she squeezed me to death. She looked me over like a fine Mexican momma. “Eres Hermosa.”

  Another reason to love this place, it was a great self-esteem booster. “Gracias. Y tu.”

  She kissed my cheek and then she noticed I brought company. “Ahh, who is this, Hermosa?”

  I wanted to say, “Don’t get your hopes up.” She was constantly trying to set me up.

  “Alicia, this is Ian. He’s the new Marketing Director at Chandler.”

  She looked at me with sadness in her eyes. I probably shouldn’t have told anyone I was hoping to fill that position; I could have done without the pity stares.

  Thankfully, Ian took his cue and shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  She eyed him carefully. “You should know Kelli is muy talented.” She grinned at me. I shook my head at her and smiled back.

  Ian also looked at me. “I’ve heard that a lot today.” He sounded sincere, but there seemed to be a hint of annoyance mixed in.

  On that note, Alicia showed us to a booth toward the back. It was the furthest away from the band. I could tell that pleased Ian. She took our drink order and then kissed my cheek before she left to fill it.

  Ian kept staring my way.

  “Do you want to know what’s good here?” I asked.

  He grinned. “Sure, but I was also wondering, does everyone in this town know you and love you?”

  I laughed. “I think you’ve met most of my inner circle today.”

  “Yes, and it’s been painful. I may be the most hated man in Nashville at the moment,” he responded ruefully.

  I couldn’t help but grin and be delighted about that, but I kept my sarcastic comments to myself. It sounded like he’d had enough for the day. I may not have liked him, but I wasn’t one to pour vinegar in open wounds, at least not all at once.

  He leaned forward ever so slightly. “So, Kelli, I think we may have gotten off on the wrong foot today. I’d like to start over if we could.”

  “You think?” I responded.

  He smiled at me and sat back. “How about this, let’s not discuss bus
iness for now.”

  “Then whatever do we have to talk about?”

  “Well, we haven’t seen each other in almost thirteen years.”

  I took a chip from the bowl and dipped it in their homemade salsa all while wickedly grinning. “Really? Has it been that long? I guess time flies when you’re having fun.”

  Yeah, he didn’t know what to do with me by the concerted look on his handsome face. Of course I knew how long it had been since I had last seen him. Unfortunately, that memory was forever etched on my heart and time-stamped in my brain, but he didn’t need to know that.

  “I barely recognized you today when I first saw you.”

  I raised my eyebrow at him and practically choked on my chip. “Well, ok. Most men would lie and say, ‘The years have been good to you, Kelli. You look great.’ But I guess honesty is the best policy.”

  His face turned red.

  I just picked up my menu and began to read it even though I had it memorized and knew what I would order. I had never had anyone point blank tell me I was unattractive and unrecognizable. And I’ll admit it stung coming from someone that used to call me beautiful on a regular basis.

  He cleared his throat. “Kelli, I didn’t mean to imply that you are anything but Hermosa?”

  I looked up from my menu. “Do you even know what that means?”

  He smirked. “Your belly dancing classes have definitely paid off.”

  “Hmm …”

  “Really, Kelli, I just meant to say you look grown up now.”

  I rolled my eyes at him. “Now you sound like my dad.”

  His eyes sparkled with delight at my response. “I’ve heard that somewhere before.”

  I was supposed to be pretending like I didn’t remember a thing from our relationship. Darn it!

  “How is your dad?” he said, still grinning like a fool.

  I completely set down my menu and placed my hands in my lap. “He passed away six years ago.”

  That wiped the grin right off his face.

  “Kelli, I had no idea. I’m sorry.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “How would you have known?”

  “I just keep screwing up here, don’t I?” he asked.

  I almost felt bad for him, so I threw him a bone. “Tell me how your family is.”

  I was honestly very interested in his answer. I had adored his parents and sister. His parents lived on a cattle ranch outside of Glenwood Springs, nestled in a beautiful valley surrounded by the mountains of Colorado. I was so surprised the first time I met them. They were so different from Ian. I couldn’t imagine Ian growing up on a ranch, but he had. I really enjoyed the time we spent out there, and I would have liked to have stayed longer, but Ian, at the time, was very busy, and I always kind of got the feeling that wasn’t who he wanted to be. I don’t think he was embarrassed of his parents. They were salt of the earth kind of people, but I think he just always wanted more in life. Being a rancher is back-breaking work, and sometimes for not a lot of pay, but I had never met happier people.

  His sister, Noelle, and I really hit it off too. I met her during the one and only Thanksgiving I spent with them. She was home from school. At the time she was attending the University of Texas as a junior. We had actually kept in touch for a while after Ian broke up with me. She thought he was the biggest prat ever for ending our relationship. I think she had even tried to talk some sense into him, but once Ian made his mind up, that was it. Over the years, I had thought about her and wished we had remained friends. She was even more sarcastic and feisty than me; we were quite the pair.

  He looked at me thoughtfully. I hoped they were all still alive.

  “They’re doing well. My parents still work too hard.”

  I smiled at the news. I couldn’t imagine them being any other way.

  “Noelle’s married now and lives in Houston. She and her husband Sean have a two-year-old son named Jax.”

  I grinned wider at that news. “That’s wonderful. I’m happy for her.”

  “She wanted me to tell you hi and that she would love to catch up with you,” he nervously replied.

  That was a pleasant surprise for me. “I’d like that,” I said quietly. But then I thought it was weird he would have talked to his sister about me.

  Thankfully, by that time Alicia returned with our drinks and was ready to take our order. “Are you having your usual tonight, Hermosa?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I responded as I handed her back the menu with my design work on it.

  Ian hadn’t even cracked open his menu. “I’ll just have what the lady is having.”

  That was weird and a very un-Ian like thing to do. Anytime we had ever been out to eat, which wasn’t often, he was picky about what he ordered, and he would ask lots of questions of the server. He had liked to cook for me, and of course that was more cost efficient for us as college students. I think he practically fed me for an entire semester, at least for dinner. I smiled at the old memory.

  “What are you smiling about?” he inquired.

  I quickly put on my I have no idea what you’re talking about look. He would not be getting access to my thoughts, especially any which placed him in a fond light. That was dangerous territory, and I needed to tread lightly there, or better yet, stay away completely. Honestly, I thought I had. We needed to switch gears ASAP.

  “So, tell me more about your first day at the office.” I grinned evilly. We needed to get off the personal train.

  He raised his eyebrow at me and thought for a moment. I could see the wheels spinning beyond those dark eyes of his. “We’ll get there.”

  I didn’t like him taking control of the conversation direction. Hmm …, “Then what do you want to talk about?”

  Oddly, he acted like he was reaching out to touch my hand, but he stopped. That was a good thing, too, if he wanted to keep it.

  “Kelli, it’s been a long time. Tell me about you.”

  “Didn’t you read my personnel file today?”

  “Come on, Kelli.”

  “Fine, what do you want to know?”

  He knew he was getting on my nerves, and he seemed to take pleasure in it as he sat back and surveyed me.

  “Tell me about Vanderbilt.”

  So he had read my file. I wasn’t surprised. I was only surprised that he even cared.

  “I received my MBA at Vanderbilt around seven years ago.”

  He held his hand out waiting for me to elaborate. “And …?”

  Fine, he was getting my life story in a nutshell. “I graduated top of my class. I started working for Chandler Media. I’ve been the Regional Manager for three years until today. “

  He ruefully smiled, but that didn’t stop me from giving him the very watered downed history of my life after him. “When I’m not working, I’m either with my sister and her family or volunteering or belly dancing, among other activities. Oh, and I have a cat named Charlie. Is that enough for you?”

  He grinned. “How’s Amanda?”

  I was taken aback that he remembered her name. It’s not like they’d ever met. “She’s perfect. She and Zane just celebrated their fifteenth wedding anniversary, and they have two daughters. Courtney’s ten and Samantha’s seven.”

  “I thought you didn’t like cats.”

  “Yeah, well, turns out I do.”

  I didn’t really, except for Charlie. My sister bought him for me on my thirtieth birthday, and she said she would be buying me a new one every five years unless I got married. She was setting me up to be a spinster cat lady. At first, I told her to take him back, but he was just so dang cute, I couldn’t help but love him. But I warned her, no more. I didn’t care if I never got married.

  “Husband? Kids?” He just about laughed.

  “Really? Don’t you think that would be the first thing I would have mentioned?”

  That made him really laugh. What was up with him?

  I folded my arms. “Are we done now?”

  “Don’t you want to know about me?
”

  “What more do I need to know?”

  A playful grin spread across his face. “You’re not curious at all about your new boss?”

  “You’re not my boss.”

  I was a little curious, but heck, I could google him. And believe me, I would.

  The playful grin still danced across his face. “I forgot. I’m getting ahead of myself.”

  “Way,” I responded.

  “So, what’s it going to take to win you back?”

  I looked at him strangely. That was a very odd way of putting it.

  He got a tinge red. “What can I do so you’ll rescind your resignation?” he corrected himself.

  “Quit,” I said, hopefully.

  His countenance dropped some. “You can take that off the table.”

  “A girl can try.”

  “Kelli, I don’t know if you remember or not, but we used to work well together. And I think if you gave this a chance, we could do great things for Chandler.”

  Before I could respond, Jose brought our smothered burritos out to us. He greeted me with a kiss on the cheek too.

  I figured I should be polite and make introductions. “Jose, this is the new Marketing Director for Chandler, Ian Greyson.” Those words tasted like one hundred year old vinegar in my mouth. It was so bad it left an aftertaste.

  Jose also gave me a look of great pity before responding to Ian’s handshake. He turned his attention quickly back to me. “You can’t leave without dancing with me tonight, Bonita.”

  Now that was something to smile about. Jose and Alicia had been teaching me how to salsa. It was almost as fun as belly dancing. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “So you salsa too?” Ian asked after Jose left.

  “On occasion.”

  “I see you still enjoy life and learning new things.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Can you please try this?” he practically begged.

  I raised my eyebrow at him. “Ian, why are you here?”

  He responded by taking a large bite of food and chewing very slowly. He didn’t verbally communicate, but his eyes danced with delight. Since he was in no hurry, I began to eat. I was starving, and the food smelled way too good to let it sit untouched any longer. Besides, I couldn’t stand looking into those warm chocolate eyes; it brought back too many memories. We ate in silence for several minutes, but there was a serious staring contest going on between us. The whole time I wondered why he was avoiding answering me. It was a simple question really.