Page 15 of The Flirtation
“You will enjoy it here I’m sure,sir.”
“Chandra, what does that mean, is itSanskrit?”
“Yes sir, it means ‘shining moon.’ A very good name, you’ll see why. That must be her. Walking faster than anyone else. That’s how you can tell the NewYorkers.”
I followed his gaze to the beautiful silky dark blonde-haired woman who was moving so rapidly towards us. My long-awaited viewing of her lower body did not disappoint. But I was somewhat worried she’d crash intome.
Avery
Dammit,he’s gorgeous. This is terrible. Deep breaths. Be professional. Be friendly. Don’t be weird. Let’s just get this over with. Shit, slow down, you’re going to crash intohim.
I stopped just short of Luke Mason’s firm chest, like a robot. I didn’t want him to say “Hello darling” to me in person. I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it, so I extended my hand, very formally, and said “Hello Luke Mason,” barely looking athim.
“Why hello, Avery Davis,” he said, possibly mocking me, and shook my hand. “So nice to meet you inperson.”
Hot. He was hot. I had a strong feeling that life, as I’d known it, was over. Future Me would divide my timeline into BIMLIP (Before I Met Luke In Person) and AMPMFSHH (After My Panties Melted From Shaking His Hand—also the sound my mouth made instead of “nice to meet you in persontoo.”)
I turned to the local man next to him. “You must beSamson!”
“Welcome, Miss Davis, please let me take yourbags.”
“No, it’s fine really. Okay, just that one.” I let him take my rolling suitcase and gave him a quick hug, surprising him. I was showing him all the great American warmth and verve that I was trying so hard to withhold from this gorgeous British specimen, who was taller than I’d been expecting him tobe.
He’s going to think I’m autistic, but I can’t handle looking at his dimpled smiling face up close.So I stared at his watch. He was wearing the most beautiful sexy watch I’d ever seen. Or maybe it was his wrist that was sexy and beautiful. Or his hand. Definitely his hand. It was big and capable and just looked so good with the rest of his arm, which was connected to his broad shoulders. I mean, his entire body was perfect. It was ridiculously fucking perfect. His shoes were magnificent and tasteful and his feet were big—exactly as big as they needed to be to support his frame, which was about six feet three inches tall, if I had to guess.Just kill me now. This is torture. I’ll never feel those hands on me or his arms around me or his perfect body on top of me, so I just need to take a deep breath, and when I exhale I will be in work mode and I will stay there for five days straight and for the rest of my lifeprobably.
“Are youalright?”
“Hunh?”
“Sorry—you looked like—it looked like you were holding yourbreath.”
“Nope. I’m fine,” I said as I exhaled. “Just, um, breathless with anticipation about going over a strategy for the debriefing…Of Bucket. Regardingthe—”
“Right, exactly, can’twait.”
“Shall we? The car is this way.” Samson gestured towards theexit.
Luke and I followed him.Make small talk, dummy!“How was yourflight?”
“Fine, actually. Slept a bit. Decent food. Can’tcomplain.”
“That bad,huh?”
“Nightmarish.”
“Sorry. Longhaul.”
“Feel a bit of an ass, though, complaining about an all expenses paid trip to theBahamas.”
“Please. Ten hours without phone or internet? I totally get it. You’ll never get that time back.”There. I can manage a normal conversation with him as long as we’re walking side-by-side and looking straight ahead.“Were you able to get in touch with the tax attorney about post-closing?” He looked at me quizzically for a moment, and I realized I’d just darted back into the business talk lane, in order to avoid accidentally blurting out that I thought he smelled divine and could he please turn around so I could see what his butt looked like in those tailoredtrousers?
“Yes, I typed up my notes on that during the flight,” hesaid.
“Fantastic. Good flight?”Shit.
He laughed. “You’d think you were the one with the jetlag.”
“Yeah, I’m a mess no matter where I travel to. I mean, people don’t talk about it anymore, but it’s really weird to just get on a plane in one city and then get off in a completely different part of the world.”Oh God I said the words ‘get off.’“But anyway, I’m sure the villa will be nice, right Samson?”Good save, Davis. He’s totally not thinking about what a weirdo pervert you arenow!
