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

until late, I can use our comfy sofa to curl up, set the living room stereo to a jazz station—which Chelsea hates, but I love—and get on with writing my romance novel.

Katja opens her arms. “It depends. Hayley used to stay till very late with Devon…” A frown appears on her forehead, then, as if something just occurred to her, she strolls over to my desk and leans toward me. “Laia, let me give you a piece of advice. Watch out with Devon, okay?”

Her voice is low and has, for the first time ever, a hint of motherly concern.

“Why?” I ask, puzzled.

Katja gives me a there’s no use pretending look. “My dear, I may be old enough to be your mother, but I’m still very sharp. The change in your clothes didn’t escape my attention. But I need to warn you like I warned Hayley. Devon Griffin isn’t what you need. As a boss, yes, he is great. But you should not get dreamy about him as a man. Hayley didn’t listen to me, unfortunately.”

Again, this Hayley.

I might’ve decided that what Devon did or didn’t do with his previous assistant doesn’t concern me, but after Katja’s comment, I can’t avoid getting to the bottom of this gossip.

I straighten from my seat and level Katja’s gaze. “What exactly happened to Hayley?”

Katja inhales, then releases the air with a loud swish. “Hayley had a major crush on Devon. I cautioned her not to get involved with him emotionally, but she laughed at my concern. Then one morning, I came into the office, and Hayley was gone.”

“Gone? Just like that?”

Katja gives me an uneasy smirk. “Devon decided to let her go.”

My stomach tightens.

Katja either doesn’t know all the details, or she doesn’t feel like sharing them with me. In any case, what she said so far doesn’t contradict the rumor I heard from Fanta.

“Do you think I’m like Hayley?” I force my voice to sound disdained by her accusation, even if my innards are cramped with a pang of odd guilt.

Katja throws a quick cross on her chest. “Heaven forbid, no. Hayley was a whole different ball game. I see that you’re here because you want to work, and you do an excellent job.”

“Ah, thanks.”

“But”—Katja lifts a finger—”I also noticed how you look at Devon each time he steps out of his office.”

I shake my head. “I don’t ogle him if that’s what you’re implying.”

Really, I don’t.

I might’ve forgotten my glance on him once today, when he handed a document to Katja, but that was only because…I don’t know. Probably my eyes were exhausted, and they’d glazed over.

Katja sniffs. “Perhaps not. Then call me overly chary. Still, I think it’s wiser if I warn you. I’ve worked for Devon for five years now. The man has a bone-deep appeal that could charm the spots off a Dalmatian. Don’t tell me you didn’t perceive it.”

I shrug, avoiding Katja’s gaze.

I can’t deny that I know what she is getting at. Not after the thrills Devon’s proximity triggers in me.

“Okay, so Devon has that certain, je ne sais quoi. So what?”

“So what?” Katja throws me a concerned glance and pats my shoulder. “So, he’s a dangerous guy to be around.”

“But you just told me I need to wait till he finishes work,” I snap, confused.

“Yes, you’re his assistant, so you don’t have a choice. But limit your interaction to professional topics when you’re with him, okay?”

I swallow and meet Katja’s light-blue eyes. “I know how to protect myself against charming guys like Devon.”

Katja gives out an amused snort.

There’s a loud noise from Devon’s office, as if he dropped a book or something. Katja’s eyes flick to his door, and she waits a few seconds before answering. “Our boss isn’t a real womanizer, you know. Just someone who thinks fleeting pleasure is the preferable choice. I doubt he ever means to hurt the women he gets involved with.”

I put a finger to my chin. “Didn’t you start this whole discourse to make me wary about him?”

Katja chuckles. “You’re right, Laia. But I don’t want you to assume that Devon is mean. He isn’t. Exactly because he is a great guy and has this innate kindness and amiability, he manages to disarm women. But falling for him would set you up for heartache, so please keep your head leveled around him. Don’t play with a player, or you will get hurt. Be an exceptional assistant to him, but nothing more. Then your future in the company will be bright.”

She sears me with an I-don’t-want-to-see-you-hurt stare.

I plaster on a smile I don’t entirely feel. “I wasn’t planning on anything else, but thank you for your concern.”

Katja gives me a relieved glance. “Great, now I feel calmer leaving you here.” She turns and walks to the elevator.

I slouch back in my chair.

I can protect myself from Devon and his smile. I can.

But as his last charming grin pops into my mind, a warm glow starts in my chest and flares quickly to a decisive heat. The more I savor the memory of his dimples, the more the puzzling hotness migrates to my belly. I press my hands on my abdomen, trying to offset the unfamiliar feeling that brews in me.

Given my lack of experience with men, desire is uncharted territory for me, so I’m not sure what to make of the sensation.

To change my thoughts, I take a notepad from my drawer.

I’ll just scribble down my rough ideas for my romance. I can flesh them out into proper paragraphs when I’m at home.

I focus on the white paper and abandon myself to the love story shaping in my mind. The words flow from the tip of my pen, and my previous worries quiet down.

Perhaps I should be grateful for the sensations Devon stirs up in me, since they seem to help me depict the attraction my protagonists feel for each other.

After I’m done recording everything, there’s still no movement from Devon’s office.

My stomach growls, signaling what I already know. It’s