Chapter 22 Good Genetics

"You look flustered," Pierce commented, his eyes still roaming my face.

I felt my face heat even more. Leave it to him to point out my reaction to his close proximity.

Pierce gave me one of those half-smiles of his that I was begrudgingly starting to enjoy. It was like his calling card. It wasn't a normal smile. Pierce didn't seem do anything normal. He had his own style for everything, even his grin. And despite myself, I found myself liking it more and more.

"I meant," Pierce emphasized with that knowing hint of humor, "that you looked flustered when you walked out of the room. Not that you were flustered by me but..." he added as if he was going to point out that I had in fact been, but I interrupted him before he could.

"The meeting!" I blurted out louder than I wanted. "The m... meeting," I repeated, my voice quieter this time.

His frowning look had me regretting it immediately. I shouldn't have mentioned the meeting. I didn't want to talk about it with him. I didn't want to look like I was running and telling on anyone. It had been handled. I didn't want Pierce stepping in and making more trouble for me with the others than I already had.

"What about the meeting?" he asked, his eyes darting into the now empty room as if expecting to see someone else he could question.

He turned back to me and thrust his hands into the front pockets of his tailor-made trousers as he stared down at me intently. I swallowed as his eyes dared me to stay silent.

I swallowed again to ease the dryness of my throat. I fumbled in my mind for something to say to gloss over my rash words. If I could at least appease him, my chances of him dropping the subject were better.

"I'm... I'm just not used to them," I mumbled lamely, though it wasn't far from the truth.

I did hate them and I had hated that particular one even more. Fern was a bully that seemed to be threatened by me for whatever reason and had tried to undermine my credibility. But I hadn't let him. I had handled it myself. Pierce didn't need to butt in.

Pierce eyed me. It was clear he knew something had bothered me but I refused to say more.

"Come on," he clipped out and turned, making his way to the elevator.

I followed him into the closed compartment and watched him lean against the wall, his hands still shoved nonchalantly into his front pockets.

His casual pose, the custom suit, his refined features made a captivating picture that I had difficulty looking away from. I had never been more aware of him than I was in this moment.

His sharp gaze suddenly turned my way and pinned me to the spot. The intelligence that lay behind his eyes made him even more attractive to me. He was no one's fool. Despite how things sometimes played out with Pierce, I found him completely sexy.

I blanched and dropped my eyes, breaking the connection. I had never had such thoughts before. I never thought in terms of sexy or hot. To have them now was disconcerting.

The elevator's slight bounce signalled our arrival and I was never happier for that stomach dropping sensation in my life. Pierce swept his arm out for me to precede him. I stepped out and paused so that he could exit and lead the way.

I recognized where we were. We were walking towards his office. I wondered if he wanted to have lunch again. I very much hoped he didn't want to further discuss the meeting.

Pierce entered his office door and I meekly followed. He shut the door behind him and told me to have a seat. I walked over and sat where I had the other day.

I heard him walk to the mini-fridge and a few moments later he was handing me a bottle of carbonated water. I opened and sipped at the cold fizzing, faintly berry flavored liquid. I let the bubbles sizzle and pop on my tongue before I swallowed the refreshing drink.

"So, what happened at the meeting that had you hot and bothered?" Pierce asked quietly.

I shouldn't have been surprised by the question. Pierce didn't seem the type to let things go. He had just decided to try a more subtle approach. That did seem less Pierce-like. I didn't think he had a subtle bone in his body.

I looked up at him while taking another sip. I was trying to buy myself some time. I wasn't a liar. I didn't like to do it nor was I good at it. My face was an open book.

Neither did I want to divulge today's meeting to Pierce. He wouldn't stay quiet. He would get angry. I had to work with the others whereas he was the boss. He didn't have to worry about dealing with any fallout. I did.

I had managed fairly well but I didn't want continuous meetings like todays. Pierce butting in would most likely make that impossible.

"You know all I have to do is ask Mr. Jones, Jackson, but I would rather hear it from you," Pierce said breaking into my thoughts.

I looked over at him in dismay.

Pierce sat down across from me. "I didn't think your eyes could get any bigger, but I was mistaken," he commented conversationally.

I frowned, surprised by the comment or had it been a compliment? As his eyes lingered on my face, I was apt to think the latter.

"You're pretty easy to read, Jackson," Pierce said with a chuckle. "It's how I know I pissed you off Friday night. It's how I know you loved I took care of your dog. It's how I know you were upset when you left the meeting a little bit a go."

I gulped. As I listened to him list out all those things, he said he gleaned just by watching my fascial expressions, I couldn't help but worry if he had noticed my thoughts a few minutes ago in the elevator. Had he known what I was thinking and feeling then? About him?

How embarrassing if he had!

My first instinct was to get up and leave... no run. But I didn't. I breathed through my rising discomfort. I was aware of Pierce watching me but I ignored him for the few minutes it took me to gather my nerve.

I finally looked at him. He strangely enough appeared patient and calm. I had expected to see irritation at the very least. I felt oddly deflated as I released the deep breath I had taken when I had turned to talk to him.

"Go ahead," he encouraged, still waiting as if he had all the time in the world.

"I would prefer you not ask Mr. Jones anything," I said in a rush, no stutter or stammer to disrupt my words. Taking another deep breath, I continued, hoping to maintain the calm I had somehow managed to find. "The meeting was a bit...," I hesitated over my next word, looking for the least dramatic choice, "confusing," I finally decided on. "But we worked it out. We will reschedule another time to meet and review."

Pierce stared at me the entire time I spoke. It was unnerving and I was surprised I didn't stammer once. I kind of felt, in some strange way, I was getting used to the way he looked at me.

Pierce finally nodded his head.

"I'll let it go this time, Jackson on one condition," Pierce said, his tone serious.

I nodded my head vigorously. I would pretty much agree to anything to keep him from confronting Fern.

"If the next meeting is as confusing, you have to tell me everything."

I nodded eagerly. That wasn't an unreasonable request. I would just make sure to cover my bases before the next meeting so there would be no more issues.

There was a sound at the door and Pierce directed whoever to enter. Two people came in carrying a familiar looking assortment of deli food. The tantalizing smell of fresh ingredients that wafted into the room behind them confirmed it.

As they had last time, the food was set out on the table between Pierce and I. Deli meats, fresh bread, cheeses, vegetables and condiments galore. My mouth watered. I was as usual hungry. Now that the threat of Pierce jumping into the fray had vanished the nervousness, I had been experiencing dissipated and my belly could focus on far more interesting things.

We chatted a bit as we both fixed our plates. Mindful of the last time and his Scooby comment, I was less creative and made an average looking sandwich.

"That disappoints me," Pierce murmured eyeing my plate as I placed the last piece of bread on top. "That doesn't look near as good as the one you made the other day."

I blushed and looked down then glanced at his.

"It looks like yours," I defended, though I secretly agreed with him

"But you're not me," he replied, leaning over and grabbing my plate and my sandwich along with it.

I watched in amazement as he lifted the top piece of focaccia off and began adding to it at will. My mouth watered as he added more cheese and meats, extra lettuce and a few more slices of cucumber before he replaced the piece of bread, topping it off. He handed me back the plate with a huge grin on his face.

"Eat up!" he ordered.

With a small grin in reply I took the offered plate and did as instructed.

While we ate, we chatted. Or to be exact, Pierce asked questions and I answered. They were commonplace questions. Nothing heavy or serious.

I relaxed more and more as we talked and when he asked if I wanted more, I didn't hesitate to admit I did. Pierce chuckled but it didn't embarrass me this time. I even grinned back.

"For someone so... slight," he finally said, seeming to hesitate over the word, "you sure pack quite a bit of food away. You must exercise a lot."

I noticed his eyes were traveling down my body as he spoke. It was disconcerting in a way but also... nice. I could tell he liked how I looked. That felt nice, too.

I shook my head no. "Not really. I walk Cissero, of course and I do swim a little, but that's about it. I've never really been into sports."

"Good genetics then," he commented.

I grinned back. I had never really considered it. My dad was tall and lanky. My mom was short and curvy. I fell in the middle somewhere. Genetics were an odd and unreliable thing in my opinion.

I took another bite of my sandwich, enjoying the combined flavors.

"Just lucky, I guess. Archer is always jealous. He has to be careful because he gains weight really easily."

Pierce's eyes had iced a bit at the mention of Archer but I was thankful to see the ice thaw almost immediately. It made me wonder for a moment if he still held the crazy notion about me and the guys.

"How is Archer and... Percy, you said his boyfriend's name was? There was a wedding or will be?" he quizzed.

"Was a wedding. Was," I told him around my bite and began to tell him about this weekend.

"You seem a bit off. Are you sad your best friend got married?"

Shocked, I stopped the forward motion of my hands from taking the next bite and looked across at him appalled.

"No! Not at all! Why would I be?" I asked in confusion. "He's my best friend and he's crazy about Percy and Percy is a really great guy. They looked so happy together. I couldn't be more thrilled!"

Pierce held his hand up at me in a calming motion.

"Okay. I wasn't trying to imply anything. You genuinely looked sad sitting over there while you talked about the wedding. It made me curious."

I stared back at him. I hated that I looked sad while talking about Archer's wedding. Had Archer seen my discontent as well? I hated the thought.

I simply shook my head at Pierce though and replied, "I wasn't sad about his getting married."

"Sad about what then? Bad date?"

I frowned back at Pierce surprised at the question. A gust of laughter suddenly exploded from my chest a second later. It seemed like an absurd question to me and I couldn't contain the chuckles that followed.

"I didn't have a date," I finally answered still feeling amused at the assumption that he had thought I had one. No one had ever made that assumption about me before. It was pleasing that Pierce had.

Pierce, too seemed happier all of the sudden.

"That's a pity," he commented.

I shrugged.

"I'm used to it I guess," I replied still feeling that lingering melancholy sensation I had felt on Saturday, my eyes unknowingly wistful.

Pierce's eyes lingered on my face, watching me with an expression I couldn't read and I wondered what he was thinking.

Nothing could prepare me though for what he said.

"That just won't do. Next time you need a date, ask me. I'll be your plus one."