Love, Utley (Love Letters #1)

Maddox.

Seeing him yesterday morning in the break room wasn’t enough.

I need more of him.

The damn man is such a pleasure to be around that I miss him anytime he’s not in the same room as me. Which is almost always.

Wanting the moment to myself, I step the rest of the way into my office and use my foot to push the door shut.

After I set my things down, I pick up the coffee.

It’s still steaming but not so hot I can’t try it. And the first sip confirms what I already assumed. It’s perfect.

I want to return the favor. Or at least tell Maddox thank you. But there’s no way for me to do that.

Sure, I could walk to his office. But I have no legitimate reason to be there. And walking through the whole office carrying a coffee for Maddox would be like slapping a neon sign on my back saying I’m flirting with the boss. And I certainly couldn’t say I’m bringing him a coffee because he made me a coffee.

I have no idea how Maddox got this to my office without anyone seeing, but I’m sure he did.

I could always email Maddox to say thanks. But I’ve taken those stupid mandatory training courses, so I know all company emails are saved somewhere, and I don’t need anyone intercepting nonwork emails between me and the owner of the company.

Maddox might have an office phone number I could find. But what if someone other than him answers? And if someone else answers, they can probably see who’s calling, so I couldn’t just hang up.

I spent hours wrapped up in Maddox’s arms while we lay in my bed, yet I don’t have his number.

A tendril of unease unfurls in my mind, suddenly morphing into panic.

I don’t have his number.

I put the coffee down and pick up the first folder I can find.

Maddox and I work together.

He knows where I live.

He has my phone number off my résumé.

We won’t lose touch again.

But…

I spin around and stride back out of my office.

People are starting to settle in, and about half the cubicles are full, but no one pays attention to me.

I keep my expression relaxed as I walk past the conference room, where it all started, and to the back, where all the executive offices are.

I’ve never been all the way back here, and as that fact sinks in, I start to slow.

Almost all the office’s back here have their doors open and their lights on.

I slow even more.

Which way would Maddox be?

Then I hear him. That deep voice I recognize from my dreams.

Turning toward the sound, I cross to the far corner.