Page 8 of Snowed In with the Bosses

“You have what it takes, Clara. Don’t let the fear of this moment choke you out.” He pocketed his hands and stared straight ahead.

“Yes.” Twin voices crossed the lobby with a pair of matching strides. Alexander and Ethan appeared in the glass, their reflections startling against mine. Ethan cocked his head. “Let’s get shit done.”

A grin stretched wide. I nodded and turned to face them. “Let’s go.” We made our way to the bank of elevators that would take us up to the private conference room. I dove into the work with a gusto that I relished. My fingers itched to pick up my tools and draw every line and angle of the buildings we were responsible for creating.

Hours passed amid the quiet clicking of computer keys, the occasional curse when something didn’t work out, and the scratch of pencil on paper.

Alexander strolled over to my drafting station and leaned over my shoulder. His palm rested beside my hand, his thumb close enough to brush my wrist.

I froze, heart in my throat and body so, so tempted to lean into him.

“Did you draw a puppy in your shelter?” He squinted at my outlines. “And is that a crying cat?”

“Damn right.” I tapped the whiskered feline with one nail. “Tell me anyone can look at that and not be moved.”

His chin tucked downward until our cheeks aligned. “Oh, I’m moved all right.” He pushed away from the desk and retreated to the far side of the room.

I huffed and tugged my hair back over my shoulders.

“Keep that up and you won’t need a pencil. You could make your lines from hair.” Liam twirled a strand around his finger as he passed.

I swatted at his hand and laughed. “If you think that’s bad, you should see my bedroom.” Instant regret sent heat flooding across my face.

Ethan locked eyes with me. His mouth moved, and I swore I heard him whisper, “Don’t tempt me.”

“That’s lunch.” Alexander clapped his hands and rubbed the palms together. “Take a few hours. We’ll be here late tonight.”

I didn’t need to be told twice. As much as I wanted to stay in the room, I’d promised to check on Mom. Two hours was pushing it, but I’d figure it out.

My boots sank into the plush carpeting in the hallway. I pressed the button on the elevator and stepped into the empty space, finally able to draw a breath.

A hand shot out as the doors closed. Allan darted into the space.

I’d never hit high alert so fast in my life. Allan was one of those men that made me shudder every time I looked at him. And not the good kind of shudder, but the kind that made me wish I had pepper spray in my purse.

“Headed out for lunch?” His voice had the greasiness of an oil spill, the kind that even his relatively handsome features could not overcome.

“Yes.” I prayed he’d leave it at that.

Allan leaned in close, his musky scent overwhelming. “I’d love to join you.”

The elevator doors opened and I rushed past him. “Sorry. I’m on my way to see my mom.”

His deep scoff followed me. “You need a better excuse than that if you want me to believe you. Playing off the old ‘visiting my mom’ card is so yesterday.”

Whatever. I ignored his continued monologue and snagged an Uber to Mom’s house. She was glad to see me but so worn out that I barely managed to make sure she ate a few bites before she fell asleep on the couch. Normally I’d get her into bed, but I had to rush back to the office to beat the two-hour lunch deadline.

I searched for Allan every step of the way. I didn’t have enough on him to lodge a formal complaint, and “he makes me feel icky” wasn’t exactly an HR-worthy visit. Not to mention Allan had seniority over me and I dreaded the potential workplace animosity reporting him could bring.

Alexander met me at the conference room door. “We need to work overnight.”

“What? Why?” I mentally rearranged everything I’d planned on doing this afternoon. Mom would be okay with Bridget, and I could call her to check in since I’d seen her at lunch.

Unbuttoning his gray jacket and shedding it to reveal strong shoulders and bringing attention to his chiseled jawline, he closed the door behind me and lowered his voice. “Urgent email from Harrington. The city council has scheduled an impromptu meeting in the morning. They want to review the initial concept designs. Without their approval, the delays will be astronomical.”

“Oh.” What was I supposed to say other than, “Okay.”

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