Law #2: Don't Play with a Player: A Sweet Office Romance Story (Laws of Love) by Agnes Canestri (web ebook reader .txt) 📕

get my laptop and finish my notes at my desk.” She fetches her computer then glances up at me. “Once I’m done with the file, what can I do for you?”

“When you’re ready, just go home. It’s been a long second day for you. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

Laia walks to the door. Before exiting, she turns to me.

“Thank you, Devon. For taking a chance with me…you know during the meeting. I appreciate it.”

I smile. “No thanks are necessary. You’re a superb addition to our team. Don’t forget, we start our morning tomorrow with an external client meeting. So dress nice, just like these past two days.”

Laia’s cheeks turn visibly rosier, and she adjusts the collar of her blouse. “I will do my best.”

When the door closes behind her, I march back to my desk and sit down.

Laia’s flushed skin still dances in front of my eyes as I turn on my computer. I shouldn’t care that the pink color made Laia’s eyes twinkle, but I do for some reason.

Laia has proven her worth during these past two days already. I can’t start doubting my decision to hire her because I happened to notice her subtle beauty.

Also, it isn’t a crime to tease my assistant. It’s not like I intentionally made her flustered so I could admire her rosy cheeks. But since she did blush, and I’m not blind, I can acknowledge that bashfulness makes her look prettier.

Noticing it doesn’t mean a thing.

Chapter 13

(Devon)

“You drive an R8?” Laia squeaks and bolts to my Audi, her heels clicking on the cement in the company’s garage.

It’s hard to suppress a grin. My car is a gorgeous sight, indeed.

Though not as gorgeous as Laia today.

She listened to my recommendation about choosing her clothes with care. Her twill dress pants are more than appropriate to meet Mr. Leonic in that teahouse downtown.

And they flatter her curvy hips immensely.

Laia is circling around my black jewel when I reach her. Her eyes are wide in admiration. “It’s rude to stare when people drive past you, but whenever I spot an R8 on the streets, I can’t help myself. This is the perfect gentleman’s car.”

I know exactly what she means. I had the same reaction each time I saw this model on car shows. Its body is like an expertly tailored men’s suit that shows off a chiseled physique. That’s why I decided to buy it, even though it eats like a monster.

I walk closer to Laia and point at the engine. “It’s not just a pretty face, you know? This car can sprint from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds.”

Laia nods. “Of course, with the exclusive 5.2 GT, it’s no wonder. It must churn out a thrilling 560 hp. I bet when you get onramp, it blows by in an orchestral blur of sound and fury.”

My thumb freezes on my car key as I fish it out from my pocket.

Laia knows the specs of my Audi?

“Are you a car geek or what?” I ask.

“My dad used to call me a grease monkey, but I guess car geek covers it. He was a soldier and more often in deployment than not. When he was at home, he would often repair vehicles for our neighbors. To impress him, I learned all I could about cars. First it was for him, but then with time, cars became my own interest. I’m even able to perform minor repairs on them.”

Laia presses her lips together as if she feels uncomfortable for sharing her private life with me.

But I’m not.

I enjoy how my assistant keeps surprising me each day. I certainly didn’t expect that she would genuinely love cars like I do.

I wink at her. “I’m also a fellow gearhead. My passion started when I was in the hospital at the age of eight. My roommate was a teenaged boy who would only talk about cars. We spent so many weeks together his obsession rubbed off on me.”

Laia furrows her brows. “Why did you need to stay in a hospital so long?” Then she shakes her head. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to pry. Don’t tell me if you don’t want to.”

The reference to my sickness had slipped out.

Women often insist that I should talk more about my past, but I rarely feel the need to oblige. What is it about Laia that makes me let her in on things I don’t usually discuss with anyone?

I can’t answer this question yet, and since I’ve already been chatty, I decide to add a bit more explanation.

“I used to have respiratory problems. Between the age of six and eleven, I spent several months in a pediatric unit. It wasn’t the most fun part of my life, as you can imagine.”

Laia’s eyes fill with a compassionate glow. “That must have been hard as a young boy.” Then as if she senses I don’t like it when someone commiserates with me, she adds, “But at least you discovered a hobby you can still enjoy, didn’t you?”

She tilts her head to my Audi.

“Indeed.” I grin. “This beauty can trick you into thinking you’re charging around the last corner on the last lap to take the checkered flag, when in reality you’re just heading to the store for milk.”

Laia giggles. “It must be fun driving it. I heard an Audi spokesperson claim that they managed to capture the feeling of sitting down in the tub of a Le Mans race car with this model.”

My eyes flick to her shoes. “I’d let you drive it if you weren’t in heels.”

“I wasn’t aware that I’d be driving you around. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have put on these shoes.” The disappointment on her face is so palpable that I almost back out on my safety rule.

“It’s fine.” I smile encouragingly and step over to the driver’s side. “Next time we have an appointment in the city, you’ll be sure to pack some back-up footwear.”

“Wait a minute!” She lowers her laptop bag to the floor. She grabs the purse from her shoulder