Page 21 of A Night To Remember

Just as the doors were closing, a strong, sinewy hand reached out to stop their progress.

Charlie gasped to see Jake step inside. He, however, didn’t seem very surprised. She moved to the far corner of the elevator, attempting to move as far away from him as she could. The wolfish grin he gave her sent Charlie’s pulse racing.

“Good afternoon, Charlie.”

She nodded in acknowledgement, not trusting herself to speak.

“I haven’t had a chance to ask how you like the job.”

She looked frantically at the numbers over the door. Why was this friggin’ thing so slow? “I like it a lot, thank you.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Brian says you’ve quickly become an invaluable asset to the finance department.” His eyes looked as if they were undressing her.

Charlie couldn’t hold back the shiver which shot through her. “Please don’t,” she groaned involuntarily.”

He lifted his brow in question. “Don’t what, Charlie?”

“Look at me that way.”

“How am I looking at you?”

She took a deep breath, her hands balling into fists at her sides. “You know how.”

“If I did I wouldn’t be asking.”

“Please don’t insult my intelligence. You’re looking at me like you see right through my clothing.”

“Ah. It’s not my intention to make you uncomfortable, Charlie.” The elevator stopped one floor above her destination and Jake moved to leave, but not before one parting shot. “Oh, and while I don’t have the ability to see through your clothes, I don’t need it, because I already know what you look like underneath them.” Then he left her to stew. She realized then it was growing more dangerous to be in the same workplace as Jake. Something had to give.

He was obviously still smarting over her comment about using him as a substitute. Charlie wished she hadn’t said it because it was a pretty rotten thing to say, but she had to let him know their one-night stand had been just that. Not that it probably mattered to him anyway, she had heard through the grapevine that Jake wasn’t hurting from lack of female attention. And as much as she pretended that it didn’t matter, deep down it did.

Charlie was going over some numbers with Brian, when he asked her to deliver a proposal for him upstairs.

“No problem. Who do I need to drop it off to?”

“Jake.”

Charlie stiffened.

“Is there a problem?”

“Umm, no. Not at all. I…well, I was just a bit surprised because you usually make this particular delivery yourself.”

“Yes, but Jake asked for you specifically.”

“Why?” The word was out of her mouth before she realized how it must have sounded. “I mean, I’m just a low person on the totem pole. It surprises me that he even bothers with the peons.”

“Every position in this company is valuable. He probably wants to talk to the person whose praises I’ve been singing lately. You’re a real jewel, Charlie. I don’t know how we managed without you.” Brian grinned at her.

“Me?” she asked in amazement. What the hell was Jake up to? She didn’t doubt Brian was pleased with her work, because she worked damn hard, but it made her uneasy that Jake would ask for her specifically.

“Yes, you. He always takes an interest in our shining stars, and since you’re one of them, he wants to meet you. Go on, he won’t bite,” Brian prodded.

How could she tell Brian that Jake’s interest had nothing to do with the work she was doing, and she was absolutely certain Jake Fox did bite? She couldn’t very well tell him no. “Okay. I’ll take it up,” she said reluctantly.

Chapter Seven

Charlie headed upstairs to the executive suites. She was glad to be wearing her black power suit today. It usually gave her confidence, and right now she could use as much of it as she could get.

---