Everly
“There areat least three different brands that want to be the exclusive brand for next year's winter season, so why would we add yet another one to the list if it’s just a version of the same thing?” I sit back in the conference room chair and stare at each one of the marketing team members for some kind of response.Crickets.
I’m still in a huff from last night's family dinner. I don’t like when outsiders, specifically ones that are too good looking to keep my mind from wandering intoveryunprofessional territory, get involved in family business discussions. Even if he had a point and I was the one being kind of an asshole in making assumptions about him. I saw his face when I said it, and I immediately regretted it. I was ticked off that he even entered the discussion, but I shouldn’t have been so nasty.
As if on cue, almost knowing that I’m already distracted by thoughts of him, Jack strolls into the conference room with one hand holding his camera by the lens, with the strap hanging casually by his side, and the other hand with a still steaming cup of coffee. From Brew & Books no less, I can tell by the cute logo on the cup.I could go for another Hungry Eye coffee right about now.
“Jack, thanks for making it to this meeting,” Law says as he gets up from his chair and shakes his hand. “Perfect timing. Everly was just asking my team about the additional brand that wants exclusivity for next winter. I thought it made sense to have you here for it.”
I look at Law, somewhat confused as to why Jack would need to be here for any other reason other than to take images of the team working and interacting for the website revamp.
“Law, I’m here only for creative reasons. I want to get a feel for your team interaction and maybe take a few shots throughout, but that’s it.”
Jack leans against the far back wall, which is directly in my line of sight. He sips his drink and just watches me. His attention is inescapable, and I’m brought back to him watching me touch myself. Once again. I can feel my cheeks warm, and I’m instantly turned on by just a flash of those thoughts. I need to get a handle on this.
“Fair enough. Jack brought the fourth company to my attention and some of the questions you have were in their proposal. We can recap it later.”
I ignore Law and the rest of his team and ask, “Jack brought the fourth company?”
Jack chimes in, “I’m on the board. It’s a small brand in comparison to the rest, but they’re worth looking at. There might be more there beyond a winter exclusive. If you’re thinking of acquiring some smaller companies in the future, they’re primed for partnership now. Could be more later. Just a thought. I don’t mean to walk into a scenario that I’m not supposed to, but I’m not the kind of man to stand by and just watch.”
Did he just…
This fucking guy smiles into his cup of coffee.
“It’s funny because I feel like that’s exactly what I’m seeing. You, walking into a situation late in the game and just standing there with some big words and no action. It is very disappointing. This makes the third time now that you’ve walked into something late and did nothing but interrupt.”
He chokes a bit on his sip.
I give him a snarky smile and ask that the team provide their recommendations by the end of the week. We carry on for another twenty minutes before leaving the conference room. I don’t stick around. As much as I want to challenge that stupidly sexy man, I know it’s a bad idea. Too complicated, too much of a reputation, and too many red flags. I also probably owe him an apology, which I’d like to give when I’m not annoyed at him. On the flip side, I’m going to have to change my underwear, because, after verbally sparring with secret innuendos, followed by a flash of those dimples he keeps whipping out, I was almost at the point of having to rub my thighs together just to calm myself down. Why does bickering with him feel like foreplay?
When I finally make my way back to my office, I’m greeted with a large cup from Brew & Books sitting on my desk. “Beautiful” is written on the side where someone’s name would normally be. I can’t help but smile. I take a sip. It’s a Hungry Eye.So good.
Over the next week, every day after my first meeting of the morning, I come back to my desk and find a cup of my favorite coffee from my new favorite coffee shop waiting for me. And every day, just the wordbeautifulis scribbled on the side, nothing else. I don’t know why it would be from him, but my guess is that if it is, Jack is trying to change my perception of him. And it’s starting to work.