“Fine,” I say through gritted teeth. “Interview question number one: did you have any idea who I was last night when you took me up to your hotel room?”
Sierra’s full lips form a perfect o-shape. “Are you serious right now?”
“Answer the question.”
“Of course I didn’t know who you were. I would’ve run for the hills. This opportunity is too important to me.” She drives her finger into my chest. “And you’re the one who bought my drinks, remember?”
She’s got me there. I open my mouth to argue, but I’m lost in her sparkling blue eyes. How is it that Sierra’s even more beautiful when she’s angry? I want to rip that blouse of hers wide open, push that skirt up over her curvy hips, and fuck her right here on the conference table. The vivid daydream makes me rock hard and ready.
“So, you had no idea?” I swallow back that animalistic urge to overtake this woman. “It was a happy accident?”
“I wouldn’t say it was an accident.” A look of hurt flashes across her eyes. “It seemed pretty intentional on both of our parts.”
“That it was.” I start to step forward but check myself. It causes me physical pain not to be able to touch her, to press my lips against hers.
“So, is this a total lost cause?” She slaps her sides, shoulders slumped.
“Not necessarily,” I shake my head, heading back to the table. Even considering hiring Sierra is a bad idea; my company has a strict no fraternization policy, and how can I expect my employees to follow this rule when I know for a goddamn fact I won’t be able to resist possessing Sierra at any given moment? “I can’t count you out just because we’ve slept together.”
“Exactly.” She says. “It was a mistake, and it will never happen again.”
Her words are a stab to the gut. Maybe she didn’t see last night as something magical. Maybe she doesn’t have that magnetic pull toward me as I do toward her, and honestly, who cares at this point? If I’m going to hire her, I have to let that feeling go. Though God knows it won’t be easy.
“Let’s see your portfolio.” I gesture for her laptop.
Sierra’s smile lights up the room, taking away the awkward heaviness lingering between us. Part of me prays that her work sucks. I’d rather court her, make her realize that she’s the only woman for me than have to tiptoe around her with balls bluer than a fucking Smurf.
Unfortunately for me, her work is some of the absolute best I’ve ever seen. As I flip from each design to the next, I’m blown away at the fact that she’s not only the most gorgeous, most irresistible woman on the planet, but she’s one of the most talented, too.
I’m really fucked now.
I hand her back the laptop and press my fingers into a steeple. I rest my forehead against my hands and take a long, deep breath. “Your work speaks for itself, Sierra.” I brave looking into her eyes, knowing that every time I do I fall for her a little bit harder. “The job is yours if you want it.”
Sierra clasps her hands in front of her chest. “You mean it?”
“I mean it.” I roll my chair a little closer, allowing myself a breath of her delicious lavender scent. “But, there are some ground rules.”
“Okay?”
“We can never have another night like we did last night. It’s unethical and—“
“Fine.” She says, slapping her palms on the table. “Not a problem at all.”
“Not a problem,” I repeat, a little offended. It’s that easy for her? I wish it were that easy for me.
“Nope.” She raises her chin and takes a long breath in through her nostrils. “This job means too much to me to…” she chooses her words carefully. “To ever do that with you again. I completely understand, and as far as I’m concerned.” Now it’s her that leans in a little closer, whispering. “We can pretend like it never even happened.” She mimes zipping her lips.
This shouldn’t upset me like it does. I need to take the rest of the day and blow off some serious steam. “In that case, Miss Alvarez, you’re hired.”
She shakes my hand, and I desperately try to ignore the tingles rushing up my arm. This isn’t going to be easy, but I’d rather have her around and try and resist her than never see her again.
Five
Sierra
It takestwo weeks of tying up loose ends before I’m able to move into temporary housing and start my dream job. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe it. I did it; I’ve been hired at Magic Media.
And you slept with your new boss, to boot.