Page 31 of Hale Yes
“So let me get this straight. You offered a huge endorsement deal from ourcosmeticscompany to a woman who hatescosmetics?”
He sighs. “Yeah, maybe not the best idea. She’s completely gorgeous though and will look great in the print ads and videos once we get started filming.”
I let an idea ruminate for a moment before speaking again. “Why don’t you play up the more natural angle and her all-American looks? You know, instead of trying to make her some glam queen?” Phoenix swivels his head toward me, his eyes searching my face as he nods slowly.
“Yeah,” he draws out, “that might work. I want her to be comfortable.”
“I’ll work on a color palette for her, something softer.” I picture Jordie McNamara in my mind. She is a pretty young woman with blonde hair that’s always in a ponytail, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her with makeup on her face. “The Dragons’ team color is purple, right?”
“Purple and silver,” he affirms.
“We could do lavender for eyeshadow.”
Phoenix crosses his legs at the ankles and thinks about it. “That could work. All she cares about is football, so if we correlate the makeup to her team, she might like that.” He takes another sip of his beer. “She’s very authentic, and I don’t want to hide that. It’s one of the reasons she’s the golden girl of women’s football.”
“And because she’s extremely talented,” I point out, and my brother laughs.
“That too.” His gaze seems to defocus as he stares at a spot on my tall wooden fence. “Jordie’s eyes are the most stunning color of aqua. I’ve never seen eyes like hers before.”
The dreaminess in his voice has my eyebrows making a trek up my forehead. “And you’re sure there’s nothing going on with you two?”
He snaps his face toward mine, his cheeks a brilliant pink color… and I’m pretty sure it’s not from the hot July sun. “Nothing at all.” His brow crinkles. “I think I annoy her.”
“Understandable. You annoy the shit out of me too.”
My brother flips me off before setting his empty bottle in the drink holder and standing. “Come on, asshole. Let’s get in the pool.”
Pushing out of my chair, I walk behind Phe toward the pool. I’m going to have to keep an eye on him because I think he has a bit of a crush on a certain female football player.
And that could spell trouble.
After my swim on Monday morning, I shower and get dressed in charcoal-gray trousers, a pale-blue button-down, and navy suspenders, the last being a tribute to my Grandpa Hale.
As I drive to work, I get the sense something is on the horizon. Something big, though I can’t put my finger on what it could be. The only new thing about today is that Dr. Bell will be starting at Hale Cosmetics. Maybe it’s like a premonition that she will bring something new to the company.
That must be it. Fresh eyes, new perspective, incredibly brilliant mind. Yeah, Dr. Bell will definitely be a difference maker.
For the lab, that is.
I arrive at the building before anyone else, stopping first at our microbiological and chemical analysis area on the second floor to flip on the lights and equipment before taking the elevator up to the third floor. The motion-detection lights come on one by one as I walk down the dove-gray corridor. I do the same for the quality control area and then head for the development lab, where I get everything ready for the day’s work.
When I’m done, I unlock the door to my corner office and take a seat behind my sturdy walnut desk. Most of the administrative offices are on the first floor, the exceptions being mine and Abigail’s. Or I guess Dr. Bell’s now.
I pull up her personnel file on my computer and review it, something I do with each new hire who will be working for me. My eyes scan down the medical section, noting Dr. Bell doesn’t have any known allergies or major medical conditions. It may seem invasive to ask those questions, but they are things we need to know for safety reasons. For example, if the employee is diabetic or has epilepsy, we’ll know how to handle any emergency situations.
My head lifts and tilts to the side when I hear a noise from the lab manager’s office next door. Rising, I put on my white lab coat and exit my office to find Dr. Bell’s door standing ajar.
A woman with dark hair pulled into a tight bun stands in front of the desk with her back to me, and I clear my throat to get her attention. She makes a squeaking yelp and spins around, bobbling the pair of glasses in her hand. In two strides, I’m in front of her, catching the frames before they hit the ground. The woman reaches for them at the same time, and her small hand closes around my fist. I cough to cover the sharp intake of breath at the electricity that shoots up my arm.What the fuck was that?
Now, a normal person would hand over the glasses and apologize for startling her, but I seem to have lost all my faculties as I stare into the most piercing green eyes I’ve ever seen. They are sharp and incisive, surrounded by a frame of dark lashes. Her rosy lips are parted, showing off a hint of her pink tongue.
And why the fuck am I looking at my lab manager’s tongue?I’ve never looked at Abigail’s tongue. Or any of my employees’ for that matter. This is strictly a non-tongue-staring establishment.
My brain does a color assessment of her aura in about two seconds.Red. She’s scarlet red.Like a red flag, maybe? Or like fire? Probably best not to ruminate on that too much.
“Dr. Hale, I presume? Rescuer of spectacles?”
I can’t help but laugh, and she smiles too. She’s really pretty when she smiles. “I am. And you’re Dr. Bell?”
