Wow! Talk about a warm welcome. Thank you! :) Sorry for the small delay but I'm moving to Florida on Friday and I'm super excited about it. I've been busy packing and mentally preparing BECAUSE I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD! Literally! I will be working at Disney! *happy dances and throws confetti for myself because I'm lame but too excited to care*

Not only do I have to give you all big thanks for a warm welcome, but I have to give thanks to my wonderful friend/beta. She faithfully checks over everything and then goes into the nooks and crannies of each chapter to make sure it's update-ready. Also, thank you goes to those who took the time to leave a review. You have no idea just how far one or two words of praise goes. *tosses out virtual cookies to you*

This is such a long author's note, but I'm almost done, I swear! I should probably mention that I have a twitter: _ThisIsMyEscape, so feel free to follow me on there. I post spoilers about the stories I write and I've been told I'm an entertaining live-tweeter when my favorite shows are on, so there's that!

Anyway, I've made you all wait long enough for this chapter. On with the story! Happy reading! ~Kate

Emma is up an hour before her alarm goes off. Aside from it being her first day of work, she's feeling antsy about what sort of boss Killian Jones is going to be. It's Tuesday morning and he's asked her to start working right away, giving her little time to mentally prep. Being a secretary really isn't that daunting, she knows this, but that isn't what she's worried about. It's who she'll be working for, the blue-eyed brunette who has the power to make her a quivering mess with a single glance. Her hair loosely curled past her shoulders, she throws open her closet and pushes the shirts and blouses she's got hanging to the other side until she finds what she thinks she's looking for.

Fifteen minutes and four outfits later, Emma's decided on what to wear: a navy blue blazer and a jet black pencil skirt with nude flats. The shade of her shoes matches her skin tone and it makes her legs look a mile long, and though she wishes she could wear heels, Killian had been right. When she got home from City Hall yesterday, the adrenaline from running into him had worn off, and with it, the numbness for what had kept her from feeling one serious twisted ankle. She would have iced it except the apartment superintendent hasn't fixed her freezer yet. She wasn't able to make ice cubes when the damn box was warmer than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, let alone 32.

It may be bit precarious for a job where she'll be sitting behind a desk in a building full of conservative politicians to want to wear heels, but what's that old adage? Dress for success?

Oh, well. Flats until her ankle isn't the size of a golf ball.

Emma's much too anxious for work to prepare breakfast without ruining it, so instead she settles for toast and hot chocolate. It's chilly for January and the thick drink will keep her full until noon. She tries not to think about where (or whom with) she'll be spending her lunch hour. After his startling confession the day before, she told him she wanted to keep things professional. He merely smirked at her with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes and she knew he was going to make working for him difficult.

And that's why she's worried now.

She has a good feeling about him. At least, that he'll be a good superior and won't be a first-rate asshole boss. It's his flirty personality that she's sure is going to get her into trouble (she doesn't bother to examine what sort of, but it will be trouble for sure).

After rinsing out her ceramic mug she puts it on the dish rack to dry, slips her shoes on and instead of using gas and driving her bug to work, she hails a cab. She isn't worried about traffic. Why would she be worried when she doesn't have to be there for another two hours?

Her new co-workers start filing in about an hour and a half after she gets there, and she envies them because her anxiety refused her restful sleep. She's never, ever been nervous but here she is: 100% nervous and 100% afraid of fucking up. It's that damn English beauty that's keeping her from relaxing…

And he's not even here yet.

"So, you must be the newbie?" Her head whips to the side of her desk and a handsome, albeit young man is standing in front of her. "Swan, Emma?"

"Uh. Yeah, that's my name on paper but in person it's the other way around," she laughs and shakes the hand that's offered to her. "First day. And you are?"

"Humbert, Graham." He smiles and she immediately feels the tension fade away. He's got warm, dark eyes and a gentle smile.

Another man steps next to him and gives her a devilish grin. He's got dark hair, the same as Killian's she realizes, and the same blue eyes but lacks that spark that captivates her. "Well, aren't you a pretty thing."

She rolls her eyes, but isn't offended in the least. She goes to tell him she's flattered, but –

"Jefferson, you're going to frighten the girl."

That voice. Instantly she tenses, but it isn't her shoulders or her spine, it's the muscles near her core and she swallows hard before slapping on a bright smile and turning the other way until Killian is the one in front of her.

"Morning, boss." Emma greets him with a wave and when he thinks Jefferson and Graham aren't looking, Killian sends her a wink and she blanches.

"You've got him wrapped around your finger already," Graham grins before throwing an arm around Jefferson's shoulder and waggling his brows at Emma and Killian. "Come on, Jeff. Let's give these two some alone time."

Jeff mumbles something and she watches his mouth move. She's always been a decent lip-reader and it looks like he's saying something along the lines of "lucky bastard." She feels her cheeks warm and while she's not interested, she's still flattered that he's taken an interest. She makes a mental note to (as politely as possible) inform him of the rule that she's just decided to make for herself:

No dating co-workers.

Before he speaks, she can feel his presence, reminding her that she needs to stick to that rule like she's made of glue.

"How are you this frigid, January morning?" Emma looks up and is instantly caught off guard by the look in his eyes. "F-fine, just fine," she splutters, and is thankful she thought to grab a paper cup and fill it with water before sitting it down. What the hell is she doing? She's not normally a bumbling fool. This is the second time she's acted as such! Get a grip Emma, she tells herself. She takes a gulp and is sure he knows she's acting like a bumbling fool when he asks, "is everything alright? You don't seem entirely like yourself today."

How does he know what I normally act like? He doesn't know me well enough to know anything about how I normally act!

"Yeah, yep," she answers quickly and mentally bashes her head against the wall at the hasty response. Part of her regrets taking this job and it's been less than twenty-four hours since starting. "How about you?"

"Doing well," he smiles. "If you don't mind, I have a few favors to ask of you. I have a few meetings today, one starting at eleven, and would be grateful if you took messages from anyone looking to speak with me. They're important and I can't afford to be pulled out of them in order to take a call."

"Sure thing," she says and gives him a thumbs-up.

A thumbs-up? Who the hell does that anymore?

"Um. That's one favor though? Thought you had a few?"

"Just two, really." He chuckles low before leaning close. "If you could meet me in my office in three hours, then that would be fantastic."

"Three hours? That's when we take a lunch break."

He gives her a panty-dropping grin and then, "Exactly."

Emma does as she's supposed to when callers start asking to speak with Mayor Jones. She gives them the typical, "I'm sorry. He isn't available at the moment." Some leave a message, and others beg to speak with him. She's guessing those people aren't actually interested in anything business-related and she's surprised to feel a surge of something. It's a mixture of annoyance and jealousy.

She doesn't like it, but there it is.

Noon rolls around and her stomach growls. Her mind was too jumbled this morning to remember to grab lunch, so after putting her computer on sleep-mode, she walks (more like limps) the short distance to his office. When she knocks on the door, it's opened and two seconds later she's literally being pulled inside with a firm hand wrapped around her forearm.

"Did anyone see you?" he asks as she looks down at where he's gripping her. It doesn't hurt, not by any means, though she's shocked he hasn't yet let go. She shakes her head, barely registering the fact that he's asked her a question. "Good."

Killian leans in to kiss her as soon as the word leaves her lips and she's backing away thinking, holy shit! for two reasons: one, he freaking tried to kiss her in the workplace! And two, her sharp movement caused her to accidentally set her entire weight on her ankle. She cries out in pain and his eyes widen in what she briefly recognizes as concern before her own slam shut and she's cursing every swear word to man.

"Emma, what is it?"

"My ankle," she bites out, squeezing his arm to keep upright and not buckle to the ground like a two-ton boulder. "You were right, I twisted it."

"Here, let me help you." He wraps an arm around her waist and braces her against him, acting as though she weighs nothing. His eyes catch hers and his mouth lifts up at one side. "Clever girl."

"I'm sorry?"

"Using what happened yesterday to get closer to me."

"That's not what I was doing, but I…"

His gaze drifts over every inch of her face as she speaks, and she wishes it didn't faze her – that look (full of want, but soft somehow) that's causing butterflies and shooting warmth in between her legs – but it does and she really wants to just…no. No, she can't.

"I can't do this," she breathes, still keeping her eyes closed. "I'm sorry."

Hating the frown that immediately appears on his face, she closes her eyes. She hates this stupid rule. Loathes it, actually, but it's the smartest thing for her to do. The one thing that ensures she doesn't get caught up in an office romance and get heartbroken or worse, fired if Human Resources finds out, when it doesn't work between them.

Killian clenches his jaw, and walks close to her until he has her back resting against the wall. He places his hands on either side of her head. "Emma, look at me." She opens her eyes and slips her lower lip in between her teeth. He hears her sharp intake of breath. "May I ask why?"

"Why am I sorry?"

"Well, that too," he says with that lilt in his voice as he leans forward and nuzzles her neck and nearly causes her eyes to roll in back of her head at the mere act, "but you said you can't do this. Why can't you?"

"I'm sorry because…because I actually want to," He pulls back and his blue eyes look stormy and she can see desire looming in them. Before she can open her mouth to apologize again, he cups her face. "But I just got out of a long-term relationship, Killian, and it ended badly. And not only that, but isn't it some kind of rule that you can't fraternize with people you work with? We can't risk that! I might be into you, but I'd like to think I have some kind of control, but it's my first week, never mind my first day on the job, Hook! You can't honestly think I – "

"So, I was right that night," he says quietly, interrupting her and chuckling when she throws her hands up in the air.

Was that all he got out of that?!

His eyes are twinkling with amusement and she stifles the urge to roll hers. She bites her lip and nods, hating and loving in equal measure that the first thing she said was all he was able to latch onto. "You were."

"Emma," he tells her, while keeping his eyes locked on hers, imploring her to believe him, "One, I would never hurt you. Two, I would never do anything to jeopardize your position here. Or my own position."

She's known him for less than a month. And though her instincts tell her to run the other way, while screaming and never looking back, that she can't trust, let alone find it in her to love a man ever again after what Neal had done to her, she finds herself saying, "I believe you."

He smiles in response and, though she wants to return it, the corners of her mouth tip up sadly.

"And good. Because I don't do relationships with my co-workers…"

"Well, then, it's a good thing I'm not your co-worker," he answers quickly before pressing his lips to hers. She stands there, completely immobile for exactly three seconds before she thinks 'fuck it' and responds to his kiss. His lips feel so good against hers and when she tilts her head to deepen the kiss, he moans and it sends sparks down to her core.

Holy hell, this guy can kiss!

Her memory doesn't do the present justice. His hands weave into her hair and Emma wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him closer. When Killian presses his hips into Emma's her eyes snap open and she pushes him away.

"What's wrong?" he pants and she's shaking her head frantically, running her fingers through her hair. "Emma?"

"I…" she swallows thickly, avoiding his gaze and stepping aside him. She beelines for the door. Before she leaves he catches her by the elbow and she says, "I can't do this, we can't do this. Not here."

"I'm not your co-worker, I'm your boss. No one in HR will find out about this, Swan, I can promise you." She's shaking her head again, wanting to believe him, but apparently she is an open book because he says, "you know we're good together. It's happening quick and I don't quite understand it myself, but I'm falling for you." She freezes, and he caresses the side of her face with a soft tenderness. "Emma."

"Hmm?" she asks, daring to look at him and taking the risk of melting into a puddle when their eyes meet.

"I should amend that statement," he laughs and pain lances through her. Did he not mean it? If so, then why the hell did he say it? Was he toying with her? "Stop."

"What?"

"You're thinking too much." She gulps and he smiles, and damn if it doesn't soothe the wound his words caused. "There's a very real possibility that I'm falling for you. You're a hell of a woman, and there's a blatant attraction I feel towards you that I don't want to fight."

She can't say or do anything other than stare at him as he continues.

"I don't want to frighten you, but I thought you should know. I'm perfectly fine with taking things however slow you want them to go, but…" His brows dip, and he looks like he's searching for his next works, "I believe the term you Americans use is, 'the ball is in your court?'"

He presses a kiss to her forehead and she's dazed when he leaves her to walk to the other side of the tiny room. He kneels, opens up his mini-fridge and grabs two sandwiches. "However, I must know if it's stealing the ball back to ask you to stay for the rest of our lunch hour? You ran out on me last time we ate together. I'd like to avoid that now."

"Okay," she mumbles, and takes a seat at his desk. Instead of sitting in his leather office chair, Killian sits in the one next to Emma's. He hands her a sandwich and she thanks him.

He talks and they both un-wrap their food. "So you've met Humbert and Smith. Humbert is a gentleman, both are harmless and quite friendly, but Smith likes to flirt. A lot. It took me more strength than I'd anticipated restraining myself from hitting the man."

"Looks like I'm not the only one with a jealous streak," she murmurs under her breath before taking a bite of her lunch.

"Did you say something, love?"

Emma swallows her food and then reaches for her cup. "I said, looks like I don't have to worry about my physique." She laughs nervously. "You know, because this is a spinach, tomato, and grilled chicken sandwich."

His eyelids narrow to slits, as though he isn't sure whether to believe her or not, he eventually nods. "I'm not a fan of fatty foods, though I used to be. My taste changed when my father passed away three years ago." He swallows back a bite of his lunch and then looks down. She has a feeling it's because he doesn't want her to see the sadness in his eyes. It's the same sadness that she saw three weeks ago when she asked about why the majority of people that know him call him Hook.

"You don't have to talk about it."

"We're getting to know each other, Emma." He smiles and then looks over at her. "I might not have to, but I'd like to. I want you to know who I am."

"And who are you?"

He holds his hand out to her, his eyes swimming with mirth. She rolls hers and doesn't extend her hand, but does give him a raised brow. "Killian Jones. I'm twenty-seven and I am the Mayor of New York City. I moved here from Poole when I was a young lad of three years old and then, my mother left my father. I'm still not entirely sure why, but she hasn't come back and I haven't gone looking."

"Wow, I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he waves her off, acting like he doesn't care, but she can see that he does by the way his Adam's apple bobs thickly. "She missed out on the brilliant son she didn't raise."

"So, you moved here when you were a little boy, but you never lost the accent?"

His smile turns wolfish. "And risk my devilishly handsome looks being the only thing to capture your attention?"

She feels he cheeks blossom with heat and then he continues as though he never saw it. "You see, my father and I were the best of friends. But he was injured in a boating accident one summer not too long ago and he needed pills to help him get through the pain."

She nods. "Understandable."

"Emma, he needed a lot of pills."

"Oh…well, I'm sure you did whatever you could to help him."

That look that unnerves her enters his eyes again and he tells her, "those pills are the reason I received the nickname Hook."

What? "I don't understand."

"You see, he needed them to help him get through the pain…and then when the pain was gone, he still needed them."

His jaw is set, the muscles ticking and she frowns. "He got hooked."

"Aye, but it was my fault."

"Killian…you couldn't have known that was going to happen. It wasn't your fault."

"He would tell you otherwise, were he still around."

"Some people are more likely to get addicted than others. You can't blame yourself for that."

"My father didn't see it that way." He sits up straighter in his seat and checks his watch. Smiling sadly at her he says, "I didn't intend to spend this hour giving you my life story. It looks as though our hour is up, Emma."

She gives a small nod and stands to leave, but not before placing her hand on top of his. She can't imagine ever going through what he had. Hook is a name his father gave him. Since meeting him that night at the bar there'd be moments when she'd thought of him, and then she'd think about the possibilities why his nickname is what it is. And now that she knows, while a part of her pities his father for what had happened to him, another part of her wants to bring him back from the dead to scold him. How dare he blame his son for something he had no control over?

Killian keeps his hand where it is, save for his thumb that raises and rubs gently over her little finger. Quietly, he asks, "may I see you tonight?"

Her eyebrows jump and his lip twitches. "What happened to the ball being in my court?"'

"I've decided. I've stolen it back, and I'd like to see you tonight. When would you like me to pick you up?"

Laughing, she shakes her head and goes to leave. Her ex-boyfriend had never tried to charm her. He'd always given her cocky grins and sweet words, but with every word that Killian speaks and with every kind gesture he makes, it helps her to come quicker to her realization that what she had with Neal had only been a means to keep her close to his bed, and definitely out of his heart.

With Killian, she feels in the very core of her that he's being genuine.

"Emma?" His voice brings her out of her thoughts and she looks over her shoulder, and waits for him to continue.

"Time?"

Oh, yeah. He'd asked her out. "7 o'clock," she answers softly, "I'll leave my address before I leave for the day."

He flashes a smile her way and immediately her stomach erupts with those damn butterflies again. "As you wish."

Thank you so, so much for reading! What did you think of Graham and Jefferson? I had fun writing those two, so we may end up seeing more of them. Next chapter will take place during their date! Reviews have about the same effect Hook's smile has. ;) See you next chapter! ~Kate