Page 5 of Fierce-Michael

He wasn’t sure what she meant by that but didn’t want to ask.

“So what is this bet?” he asked again. He could have just let the whole thing slide but decided not to. Maybe he didn’t want to be thought of as boring and stable all the time.

“I get you to smile or laugh.”

“So now it’s two things?” he asked. “Even harder.”

“I said or, not and. So one or another because it’s almost impossible to laugh without smiling.”

“You think?” he asked.

“I’m sure if anyone could do it, it’d be you. But back to the bet. I get you to laugh or smile and you have to buy me a drink. Not at Fierce. Anywhere but there.”

“And if I don’t smile or laugh?” he asked.

“Then I have to buy you a drink.”

“So regardless of the outcome of this bet, we are getting a drink?” he asked. “Like you’re trying to set up a date?”

Her smile fell. Maybe he was coming off like an ass, but it’s not like he changed his tone of voice. He was just clarifying things because too many times in the past few years he had to ask direct questions to find out what the hell was going on around him.

“If that idea appalls you so much, maybe you pick what happens if you win?”

He could do that but decided to go with the flow for once. “We can stick to your terms.”

“Sweet,” she said, her smile returning. “Already winning. Let’s go check out some products.”

He wasn’t sure about winning, but it sure didn’t feel like losing. At least that was an improvement.

2

THE BOLD TYPE

“Have fun at your appointment,” Kelly said to Alex. Alex had returned to say she was leaving with Cade.

Kelly hated being late for anything but got stuck on a call and then rushed over only to find out that Alex was leaving for an appointment. Cade hadn’t told her that, but she didn’t always see him either.

He was a cool boss and let her and others in the department do their own thing. After years of working for him, she’d been given a lot more responsibility while Cade dealt more with legal issues and other arrangements between Fierce and local businesses.

She was the one handling most of the media, advertising and products with him signing off on it.

“I will,” Alex said, waving. “Let me know what you think of everything you see today and then we’ll get it ordered.”

Most people wouldn’t deal with the CEO and President of a company this big for ordering products, but since it was her husband and his family’s business, Alex always had her hand on it all.

“Let’s go to Alex’s office,” Michael said. “She told me where everything is there and then we’ll go to another room.”

“Sounds good,” she said. She didn’t want her eyes to fall on his ass, but she couldn’t help it.

Six feet four of scrumptious goodness in front of her was hard to look away from.

Not that he ever gave any indication he was interested in her, but the fact that she was so excited to be meeting with him alone had her putting her foot in her mouth and throwing out that challenge.

She’d known Michael for years. Since he’d moved here to work for Alex and been her right-hand man through their massive expansion.

She’d heard that some of the expansion had actually been Michael’s idea and he’d pushed for it when Alex had been nervous about it.

Seemed it was working out.

---