Page 25 of Trouble Me
She blew out a quiet breath as members stood and told their stories. Thumbing the anchor pendant, she dreamed of hope and redemption. Emma needed hope to make it through the day and to save her home. It would be her redemption.
Her curiosity for the boss would have to sit this one out.
Chapter 8
So You Like Torture
Emma adjusted the glassesshe'd reluctantly broken down and bought, and clicked through a website, researching new accounting software. She dropped her chin to her hand. As hard as the software company tried with its bright colors, exclamation points, and we’re-all-in-this-together pictures, she just couldn’t get excited about accounts payable and receivable collections.
“It appears you work as hard as I do when you’re intent on something.”
Startled, Emma jumped and smacked her knee on the unforgiving wood of her desk.Ouch! Son of a bitch.Rubbing the sore spot, she grit her teeth against releasing a string of obscenities. “Hey, there.”
“Are you okay?” Shane leaned against the doorframe to her office in all his T-shirt and faded denim glory.
Unlike the pressed pair he’d worn the first time she met him, these were the well-worn-in kind that said they’d been around a while. His black T-shirt stretched across those shoulders that carried the weight of the world according to him. A dark jacket draped across his shoulder and work boots completed his ensemble. He looked more like he belonged on a job site with a hard hat than in an office wheeling deals. The man could pull off any look and in spite of the more blue-collar look, Shane still exuded an air of prestige.
Against her better judgment, she had to admit he was hot as hell in jeans that accented his slim hips and long legs.
And good Lord, he was a tall drink of water.
She swallowed, catching her breath, and quickly took the glasses off her face. “Yeah. I’m fine. I didn’t hear you come in.”
He smiled and pushed off the doorjamb and walked into her office, stopping in front of her desk. “You’re always so intent on what you’re doing, you never notice me.”
Yeah, right. Noticing him was never an issue. It was noticing him too much that had her in more knots than a pretzel.
He peered over her monitor. “What’s so interesting?”
“Accounting programs.” She smirked. “Let the snoring commence.”
Shane smiled but it didn’t quite meet his eyes. “Don’t tempt me.” He didn’t elaborate but, with a heavy sigh, sat in the chair across from her. He laid the jacket across his lap and kicked his legs out in front of him, his focus on the floor.
Emma looked closer, past the mesmerizing good looks, to the actual man. There were hints of circles under his eyes, and his jaw was darkened with more than a day’s worth of stubble.
“How was your trip?” she asked.
