“Keep going.”
Excitement brewed in her belly at his interested expression. “Another possibility is beefing up our local interest section. If we focused on spreading our reach to authors in the area—including those indies I mentioned—and inviting them to do more readings and signings in store—” She stopped when he turned away and picked up a pen and pad. “What are you doing?”
“Writing some of this down.” He motioned for her to continue. “Keep talking.”
She continued, the ideas she’d kept inside since their meeting spewing out of her mouth like a geyser. The thoughtful look on his face spurred her on. He seemed genuinely intrigued, eager even.
When she’d worn herself out, she sat beside him on the bed, suddenly remembering she was naked. She looked down at her herself and laughed. When had this familiarity sprung up between them?
“What’s so funny?”
“I just talked business with you for twenty minutes in the nude. Actually, no. I just lectured you about business for twenty minutes in the nude. My boss.” She rubbed her forehead. “God, I must be dreaming.”
“We’ve been getting naked together for a week. You normally have multi-night dreams?” He leaned over and kissed her shoulder.
“Longest dream of my life.”And the best,she added, though she kept that part to herself.
“Let’s hope neither of us wakes up then.”
She slowly shook her head. “I just had incredible sex.” She didn’t miss his grin. “Now I’m sharing all the disordered thoughts in my head about my favorite subject with the man whose opinion about books I respect most. Whose ability to get to the point in about thirty seconds flat is incredibly admirable. Tell me that’s not a dream.”
“You admire me?”
“Well, technically I said I admire your judgment, but I suppose one could extrapolate and say I admire you too.” She looped an arm around his neck and gave him a quick kiss.
“I admire you too. All of you. Head to toe.” Spencer sank his teeth into her lower lip then slid back to regard her seriously. “That’s why I took your ideas to the Sinclairs. I’ll do more research on what you mentioned today. If it pans out, I’ll present what we’ve just discussed to them too. And I’ll keep pushing it, Kelly. I don’t do well with stone walls, not when I’m pretty damn sure we’re on the right track.”
She swallowed around the insistent lump in her throat. From sex to laughter to business and back again, he’d already taken her on the wildest rollercoaster ride of her life.
Soon she wouldn’t be able to climb off, not without surgical extraction.
“No one’s ever listened to me before,” she said quietly. “Not like you do.”
“Their mistake,” he said, squeezing her thigh before he nudged her back and stood. “I’ve made plenty, but I won’t make that one.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. You’re a huge asset to The Book Nook, and it’s about time the Sinclairs know it. I told you there will be a management position opening soon. There’s no one else even half as qualified as you are. I’ll be telling them that as well. And yes,” he said, overriding her interruption. “I know I made that snide comment. It was just that. You’ve always been management material. And yes, I’m breaking every damn rule by having this conversation with you, especially when you’re so adorably naked.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “So be it. Sometimes the spirit of the law is more important than the letter.”
She blinked back the film in her eyes. He definitely wasn’t the most giving of men, but when he finally opened up, the emotion in his voice was palpable. That he believed in her that much meant more than a million declarations.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Don’t thank me. You’ve earned it.” He took a rare deep breath, as if he were gathering himself, and stroked a hand down her cheek. “Since you’re feeling charitable toward me, I have something to tell you.”
On the other hand,shetook a lot of deep breaths. Like right now. “Lay it on me.”
“You, ah, came in my office one night. Late.”
She didn’t follow him, but fine, she’d play along. “Okay.”
“I wasn’t there.”
Still nothing. Then realization dawned, quickly and painfully. Oh dear God. “But you—I thought—no one was around. Oh shit!”
When he grinned broadly, she stared at him as if she’d never seen him before. Then again, when had she ever seen him look that pleased? “I installed a security camera setup in my office. Temporarily. And you just happened to be caught in a very compromising position.” While she sputtered, he knelt in front of her and cupped her knees in his hands. “Sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen. Thank you for giving it to me.”
“Giving it to you? I didn’t give it. I didn’t know… Oh my God.” She covered her face in her hands.