Page 22 of Delayed
Anna clicked save on the presentation andsnapped her laptop closed. “Well, that’s a wrap. Presentation isTuesday. Did you want to do a run through Monday at somepoint?”
“Sure. Just put something on my calendar.”Jacob popped up and gathered his things. “I’m meeting Robert for adrink. Enjoy your weekend.” Jacob hustled out of the conferenceroom without another word.
“Argh,” she growled. It annoyed her to noend that Jacob treated her like his administrative assistant ratherthan his co-collaborator. She rolled her eyes despite no one beingable to witness it. And the fact he was spending his eveningsocializing with the CEO made her stomach twist into knots. Gettingthis promotion would require her to showcase her skills and hardwork, which would be easy enough. But would it be enough tooutshine the brown smear covering Jacob’s nose? That she couldn’tanswer.
Chapter Twelve
Rex stood at the high-top table he’d stakedout at The Bay Bar and stared at the entrance, waiting for Anna.Seeing her again had ignited everything inside him. He’d never beenso drawn to a woman, so enamored with a woman in his entire life.Not even Layla.
He glanced back at the view from theirtable. The dock stretched into the bay with several spots alreadytaken by those arriving by boat. The downtown Tampa skyline crestedthe horizon with the pink, purple, and orange streaks of thesunset. No wonder Anna frequented this place. It really wasbeautiful. Despite having been to the restaurant multiple times tocheck on the Dog Tired beer, he’d never truly looked around. He’dbeen bopping in and out of all sorts of places not noticinganything. Doing his job, chatting with people, but never taking inthe atmosphere. Not seeing the whole picture.
Just another reason Anna was good for him.Something about her had him wanting to slow everything down. Totake note of where he was, who he was with. Now if he could onlyconvince her to give him a shot. Give them a shot. He couldn’tguarantee the end result, but he could promise he’d give them hisbest damn effort.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood anda tingling sensation escalated up his spine. He turned to see Annabreeze through the front doors. Her presence was like an electriccurrent. Her chestnut waves fluttered from her movement. Shestopped to speak with the hostess. He waved his hand as she peeredaround. Her gaze snagged on him, and she smiled.
His shoulders dropped as the tension lefthis body. Not that he believed she’d stand him up but seeing herwith that gorgeous smile erased any doubts he may have had.
She sashayed her way through the tables andthose gathered around the bar. The plum pencil skirt clung to herhips like a second skin. Her hips mesmerized him like a pendulum.She had shed her suit jacket. The cream-colored blouse flowed overher, buttoned up to chest level, leaving just a hint of cleavage.He swallowed his moan. Something about her in her work clothesturned him inside out. Knowing what lay underneath her sexy outfithad heat coursing through him.
“How’d you score such a great seat at thishour? On a Friday?” She inquired as she reached the table.
Rex pulled out the stool for her. “I’mexcellent at getting what I want.” He winked. He wantedher.He kissed her temple. Her spicy vanilla scent enveloped him,settling his pounding heart. She was next to him. He could relax.For now.
“What’s this?” She pointed to the two pintsof dark beer resting on the table.
“My winter stout.” He scooted his stoolcloser and sat next to her.
“Yourwinter stout?” She cocked ateasing eyebrow.
“I guess that sounds a little egotistical. Ishould sayoursince Taylor, Brady, and I are a team.” Heshrugged. Neither would be mad at him for the comment. “But whatthey don’t know…”
Anna chuckled and lifted the pint glass toher lips, sipping back the dark liquid. She moaned softly.
Blood rushed to his groin. That sound undidhim. “I’ve missed the noises you make.”
Her cheeks tinted.
“I’ve also missed the way your cheeks turnpink when I say something that embarrasses you or, my favorite,turns you on.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.
Her mouth softened. Her lips damp with theremnants of the stout. He could deepen the kiss right there. Tasteher. She’d let him. But he just flicked his tongue over her bottomlip with a promise of more to come. Pulling back, he looked at her.A flush colored her cheeks, her neck. Her breaths hadquickened.
“So, how was your week?” He brushed a fewstrands of hair behind her ear.
She leaned into his touch. “A little hectic.Hadn’t planned to miss the extra day from travel.” She sipped fromher pint. Her gaze fell to her hand wrapped around the glass beforeshe peered up at him through her lashes.
Fuck me! What a look from her could do tohim. Bring him to his knees. Being here with her was more than aphysical attraction. He felt that when his heart squeezed. But damnif anyone told his dick, which pressed against the front of hisjeans.
“Made for a lot of hustle yesterday andtoday.”
“I hear ya.” His voice cracked. He swallowedback a sip of the stout with its coffee and chocolate hints in thehope of disguising his desire. “Put in more hours the last threedays than usual. But it’s worth it.” He rested his hand over herson the table and caressed her soft skin with his thumb. He glanceddown at where he touched her, then pushed his gaze back to herface. “So worth it. How was your last meeting this afternoon?”
“Ugh!” Her shoulders slumped.
“That bad, eh?”
“I’m doing this presentation to the boardnext Tuesday with my arch nemesis. He does little work but tends totake credit for it all. It aggravates the hell out of me.” She tookanother sip of her beer.
The hair on his nape stiffened. “Who is theguy?” That anyone would give her a problem bothered him. But thatsomeone would take credit for her work agitated him in a way hehadn’t been before. Even knowing her for this short period of time,he knew she worked hard and loved her job.
