God, what I wouldn’t do for a pair of sexy forearms. Hello, Chris Hemsworth.
His brown hair was slicked back, and now that I was closer, I could see the little patches of gray at his temples. Never had a man worn the badge of silver fox so well. I didn’t know how old he was, to be honest, but I didn’t really care at that moment. He was making me weak at the knees. I kind of forgot why I was walking toward him in the first place.
“Dr. Foster,” I said in a clipped tone, standing far closer to him than I would have in the lab.
I was close enough to smell him. A spicy, sweet cologne meant to send women tearing at their undergarments. It was working on me in my semi-drunken state, and I had to put my hand on the counter to keep from falling into him.
“Miss Williams,” he said, his eyes watching every move I made. “A surprise to see you here.”
“Well, I would think it is a greater surprise to seeyouhere. Didn’t know you hob-knobbed with the locals. A karaoke bar of all things.” I sighed and refrained from fanning at my face.
It was super hot in there, and grew only hotter with every second he was watching me.
“Yeah, a mistake. I just picked the closest bar I could.” He shrugged and leaned his elbows down on the counter again, his large hands encircling his beer glass.
The movement made the muscles in his arms flex, and they pushed against the soft fabric of his shirt. I looked away, at anywhere, anything else, knowing that this was one of my daydream fantasies come to life. In fact, was I dreaming right then? I tapped on the counter just to make sure.
“Tough week?” I asked, slowly losing steam.
Why was I there, talking to him? Did I really care about his tough week? I had my own tough week to worry about.
I ordered a cider from the barman, and Dr. Foster said, “Yeah, you could say that.” A tiny smile curved his lips upward, and I nearly screamed.
No! Don’t smile! Your hotness cannot increase.
“Well, it seems that you are going around outside of work just using your gaze to subdue people and control them. I know you’ve been watching me at work, just like you are here. But my personal life is my own, and you don’t have to go looking for flaws in me just to have another reason to fire me.” I spoke so quickly that I was a little out of breath.
When my cider came, I drank a quarter of it down, hoping to cool down.
“I have no intention of firing you, Miss Williams.”
“It’s Cassie, remember? You don’t have to call me that.” I was still facing him, unable to turn my body from his.
He looked at me, still smirking. “Well, you could call me Brad, I suppose. If we’re on a first name basis. Better than Doc Fox, I think.”
“Oh God,” I said, covering my mouth briefly, and he chuckled.
The sound went straight to my uterus. It was warm, friendly, and gave me a glimpse yet again into a softer side. I didn’t want to know about that softer side. I wanted him to show me the angry side, the grumpy side, the rude side he’d initially showed me.
I was known to be flirtatious, and I liked playing the game, but this was different. Brad had my full attention, and my anger was seeping out of me bit by bit.
Get it back! Get it back!My logical side screamed at me.
“I don’t know if it would be appropriate to call you Brad. My boss.”
“Good to know you know your place. Me the boss,” he said, pointing to himself, right at the base of the vee of skin on his chest. “And you, the employee,” he turned his finger around so that he was pointing at me.
He’d now turned his body to face me, and I had the feeling we were closer than normal, but I couldn’t quite tell. The wine was already getting to me, and I was all ensconced in Brad. Looking into his eyes, feeling the energy from him.
I grit my teeth. “You don’t need to talk to me like a baby,” I said. “Maybe that’s why everyone at work hates you.” I lifted my chin, daring him to respond.
“I don’t need to be liked. That’s not why I do the job. I assume that’s also not why you do your job.”
“Well, you should know, since you’ve been watching me like a hawk this whole past week.”
He took a sip and kept those blue eyes on me. I licked my lips, watching his neck as it swallowed. God, who knew that necks could be so attractive? Was this guy a gym rat or what? Every inch of him seemed perfectly sculpted.
“I aim to do observations of my employees. There will be no more firings at present. Everyone left is doing a fine job and not taking control of company time or money.”