Chapter 2
James
Just as I get into a groove working on reports, there are two knocks on my door. I know who it is without looking, just like I already know my plan for today is going to be ruined. I shake my head as the office manager walks in. Jessica sits down and arches her eyebrow at me.
“You don’t even want to see the candidates for your personal assistant?”
“Avery has it under control. He’s more than capable.” I keep working on a report.
“Will this new assistant be going to work events with you, like I did?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re perfectly fine with anyone that Avery picks for you? Shouldn’t you make sure they’re capable…personally?” Jessica finally catches my attention. She makes a good point. That’s why she works for me.
She’s been a good woman to have on my arm at events. Her elegance, intelligence, and professionalism have made it possible for me to mingle without worry. But now that she’s married, she has insisted on doing only normal work hours.
It was a shame to lose her, but she deserves to move up. And now I’m going to have to teach someone else to fill her shoes.
“What do you think?”
“You know what I think or you wouldn’t have stopped working.” She shrugs. “We have five potential secretaries in the waiting room and one in the conference room with Avery. Take a look.”
With that she leaves my office. Jessica has shed her shyness and unwillingness to disagree with me. For the last year, she’s been inescapably direct—and almost always right. She’s come a long way from being a timid assistant. I smile and shake my head. It would have been easier to deny her the promotion, but I have to admit, she runs the office much better than the person before her. Hell, better than anyone ever has. She deserves it.
I sigh and rub my forehead. I know I better follow her advice before it’s too late and Avery does something stupid I can’t undo. I stroll through the waiting room and see the candidates. Not all girls, some are old women. They may be qualified for the in-office stuff, but not the parties. It’s rather disappointing. I hope that someone will catch my attention.
I walk by the huge windows of the conference room. And then I see her. Somewhat of a Marilyn Monroe look-alike. She’s talking and gesturing with her perfectly manicured hands. Jesus, she’s a beautiful creature. I freeze just out of view, soaking in every inch of her, remembering her angelic face and luscious body for use later on. The blonde woman being interviewed has me snared.
She has on black high heels that draw focus to her delicate ankles and long legs. Her toned and sculpted legs lead to a skirt that’s almost too tight to be professional, but the right kind of tight to tempt. And she’s fucking tempting. Mouthwatering. Her slender neck, the swell of her breasts, the way she sits so confidently...
She tosses her hair over her shoulder and rubs her thumb over her jaw. Her pale skin is so smooth and creamy, a natural blush on her cheeks. Then her eyes change from thoughtful to challenging. Sharp, like a predator who has its prey cornered, as if this entire interview is a game that she knows she’ll win. God, she’s fucking sexy.
There is no hesitation in her responses. Her leg doesn’t bounce. She doesn’t twiddle a pen or play with her hair. She leans back ever so slightly as Avery asks another question. She’s relaxed, practically molding to the chair, wearing a knockout smile. There’s a hint of something in the curve of her lips that tells me she’d be just as comfortable teasing Avery with everything he can’t have as she is with answering his run-of-the-mill questions. She’s used to being the center of attention.
Strands of hair fall over her ear, curling slightly as it brushes the swell of her breast. Unlike most candidates, she doesn’t try to fix it, doesn’t push it to the side, she just lets it be. My dick starts growing. I want to see her hair fully down, unrestrained.
Hell, I’d like to see her completely wild.
I adjust myself and close my eyes for a moment. An attempt at control. It fails, miserably. Because with my eyes closed, I see this woman bent over my desk as I’m plowing her hard. Her ass smacking against my thighs as my hand bunches her skirt up at the waist. I can practically hear her teasing me, asking me if that’s as hard as I can go.
I haven’t felt this eager, this immediate attraction to anyone, since Caroline left me. And I’ve never wanted to mix business and pleasure this fast, never wanted to immediately bury myself in a woman without even knowing her name.
Opening my eyes, I see her laugh, her eyes squinting as she puts one hand to her chest. Sitting back, she settles into a genuine smile, not something she crafted for an interview. Her skirt rides a little higher up her thigh, and her quick fingers drag it back down.
She bites her lip and glances from her resume to Avery, giving him her full attention again. But I want her attention, undivided and focused. A wave of jealousy unnerves me. I’m not possessive, but seeing the way Avery looks her over, the lust I can see in his eyes drives me to want to own her.
I try to rationalize. It’s not possessiveness. It’s a protective, preventative measure. Avery can get handsy. So it’s only right for me to keep Avery away, far away, from her.
My hands are the only hands that should be on her. And only after she begs.
I can’t stand it, especially when she shifts in her seat, giving me a hint of her cleavage. Pale skin that looks invitingly soft. I want to drag my tongue over the exposed flesh and taste her. I lick my lips and do the stupidest thing I could do.
I open the door.
Chapter 3
Claire