Page 11 of The Wedding Deal
Speaking her mind had allowed Charlotte to keep her job—and yes, he’d needed someone to help with all the hiring as well. But he realized that she could be an asset to the team in more areas than HR.
In fact, he was starting to think she was his ace in the hole.
Chapter Four
A mug was thrust into her line of sight, and Charlotte glanced up, bleary eyed, from her computer screen.
Lance had been on the phone and had walked out of his office about ten minutes ago—for privacy she assumed—and she was surprised he’d noticed she was out of coffee. “I added a shit ton of your fancy creamer, too, since you don’t have to pretend you’re macho like I do.”
“Yeah, if gross coffee is the price, I’ll pass.” She returned his smile as she took the warm offering in her hands and inhaled the delicious aroma. She took a sip, and her entire body perked up.
“I know we had a deal—you shared your pot with me, so I made more—but full disclosure, I’m also hoping to get in another hour or so of work. I’ve got to head to Nag’s Head, North Carolina on Monday, and since I’ll be there at the beach for a week, I’d like to get as much as possible done before then.”
She frowned. While there was definitely a string attached to her perfectly made cup of coffee, she was more concerned about the last part. “Let me get this straight. You fired most everyone on the Mustangs staff, and now you’re just going to go on a beach vacation?”
“It’s my brother’s wedding,” he said, and she wished she hadn’t voiced her incredulity.
“Oh. Well, a valid reason—”
“Gee, thanks for validating me,” he muttered, and she glared at him. Apparently their momentary truce was over.
“I wasn’t quite finished,” she said. “What I was going to say before you interrupted was, ‘Butthis stuff is never going to be done before you go.’ Even if I stay the extra hour or so this coffee will help get me through. Not to mention that with the draft coming up, we’re under a huge time crunch as it is.” Thanks to their horrible record last season they had first pick, so it was an even bigger deal than usual, one they couldn’t afford to waste. These kinds of decisions affected everyone involved in the entire franchise from the staff to the players and everyone in between.Plustheir families.
“Which is why I’ll be working most of the time I’m in North Carolina.”
“I’ll try to hold down the fort here, butfull disclosure, I’m going to have to send you a ton of paperwork to sign so I can get it all filed and we can get started on new contracts.”
His phone rang, and he sighed, a completely exhausted, frustrated noise.
She’d forwarded her desk line to her cell, and between paperwork and sorting through résumés, they’d both been on calls all day, so she understood. If she had to talk to one more person over the phone, she might lose the calm and collected manner she prided herself on. Even when people called to yell, she always kept her cool, although she did get firmer and sharper if necessary.
Lance answered with his name, already off and pacing around his office. After all day of doing so, she noticed he was favoring his right knee. She assumed he wouldn’t want her to ask about it, even if it would be to see if he needed ice or pain meds or something.
“Oh, she did, did she?” Lance glanced at Charlotte, and she fought paranoia. What did she do now?
I’m innocent! I’ve been in here with you the whole time!
Admittedly she’d thought several times about how nicely his slacks fit—he kept putting his hands in his pockets and stretching the fabric tighter across the ass she was filling out all this paperwork to protect. He’d also rolled up his sleeves, and she’d accidentally ogled the enticing line of his forearm, and okay, she wasn’ttotallyinnocent. Maybe it was a good thing he was going to be out of town for a wedding. It’d give them time to get more people into the office and give her some distance from the guy, which would help tame her improper thoughts about him and his ridiculous body. And his deep voice, which continually affected her, regardless of whether he was being nice or completely impossible.
Although for the record, she’d behave either way.
Just to ensure she didn’t go thinking too much about things she shouldn’t, she promptly pulled up the inter-office dating policy. Despite already knowing it by heart, she read it to herself. Not only was dating in the office highly discouraged, section three, paragraph four clearly stated that supervisors must not date their direct reports. The restriction extended to every manager above an employee, and Lance was the very top of everything.
Not that she thought he would have a problem with wanting to date her—and she definitely didn’t want to spend any more time than necessary with someone so frustrating—but it was inappropriate for her to think about her boss in any way besides the guy who was making her life hell but she had to report to anyway.
Maybe there should be an inter-office ogling policy. I’ll write it up, and there will just be one word: don’t.
Lance muttered a few mmm-hms and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Well, it was lovely tomeet you, but I can’t really talk right now.” Pause. “Later. Sure.” Pause. “Goodbye.”
He lowered the phone and glanced at her again, and her spine automatically straightened. “What?”
“My mother is giving out my number to women she wants to set me up with and telling them to call me.”
“Didn’t she hear that you made the most eligible bachelor list? No need for her to play matchmaker—soon you’ll have all sorts of women beating down your door.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’m in much danger of that.” A horrified expression crossed his face. “Unless my mom gives them my address.”
“Or maybe I will,” she teased, acting like she was pulling up his information. Then she stuck out her pinky and her thumb and mimicked being on the phone. “Yes, you can go right on over to his place. Helovesunexpected guests.”
