Page 18 of The Charmer's Gambit
“Yes, but you have what, a hundred employees? Baker Brown has significantly more.”
“Mershano Suites has hundreds of thousands, and Evan always gives credit where it’s due.” He paused to inhale another bite before fixing me with a look. “And Mershano Vineyards has closer to five hundred employees.”
“Really?” My preliminary assessment of his company a few weeks ago wasn’t as thorough as I thought—a result of not taking his offer seriously, something I regretted now. I could have gotten a head start on this project. Instead, I would be playing catch-up for weeks.
“And I expect to add more with these acquisitions overseas.” He finished his pizza and pushed the plate aside. I expected him to want more, but he rebooted his laptop instead.
“Once the contract is signed by me and your firm, I’ll send you everything I have on the pending merger and the other properties I’m interested in pursuing. Plus you’ll have access to Mershano Vineyards’s records, financials, and other key components. In the interim, you can read up on the terms the vineyard in France has requested. That should keep you busy this week and allow you to properly introduce our first project to your team next week.”
Sounded about right. I polished off my pizza and glass of wine while he composed an email filled with project materials. My pocket buzzed a minute later to let me know his message had arrived. Walking back to the living area, I pulled my laptop from my bag and fired it up on the couch.
It dawned on me a few minutes into reading that he may have wanted me to leave, but a glance at him said he wasn’t in a hurry to kick me out. He was engrossed in his own work, or maybe the proposal, and didn’t seem the slightest bit irritated that I’d taken over his couch.
With a yawn, I went back to translating the website on my screen and read all about the vineyard he was acquiring in the South of France. The pictures were gorgeous, and the winery’s reputation was solid. I wondered idly why they were selling, then stumbled upon a photo of the elderly owners. It seemed they were childless and looking to retire. Interesting.
I started reading through the terms he’d forwarded, and stretched my arms over my head. Every muscle along my shoulders and neck seemed to ache. I considered packing up to leave, but Will’s comments about preparing for next week rattled around in my mind. If I wanted to prove to the partners that I had what it took to lead a project of this magnitude, then I needed to be prepared. Arriving with all the high-level background details would be a healthy start.
My eyes drooped a little as I continued reading in French. It wasn’t so much boring as exhausting. The weekend was definitely catching up with me. When the words started to blur, I pinched the bridge of my nose and let my lids fall closed. This happened all the time in college. I just needed them to reset, and I’d be right as rain. Stifling a yawn with my opposite hand, I laid my head back against the soft cushion and relaxed.
Just for a minute.
I breathed deeply,inhaling the alluring scent surrounding me. Peppermint cloves and something decidedly masculine.
Delicious. It made my mouth water.
I burrowed deeper into the heaven surrounding me, luxuriating in the satiny cotton and plush pillows. My limbs felt well rested, my chest warm and content, but my feet feltconstricted. I wiggled my toes against the suffocating fabric and frowned.Why did I wear pantyhose to bed?
My eyes opened as I shot forward. “Oh no.” The curtains were drawn over the floor-to-ceiling windows, masking the light pouring in from outside, but a sliver was all I needed to see. My head fell to my hands on a curse as I started shaking it back and forth. “Fuck.”
“You do seem to enjoy saying that in my bed, darlin’.”
I flinched and peeked at the well-dressed blond leaning against the door frame. He had traded his white button-down and black pants for a light blue dress shirt and charcoal slacks. Even in the dim lighting, I could see his dimples.
“What time is it?” Sleep clung to my throat, softening my voice.
“Just after ten in the morning,” he murmured, amusement coloring his tone.
“Fuck!” My phone must have been in the other room or dead, because I’d missed my six o’clock alarm. Being late was a pet peeve of mine, and I never arrived for work after nine.
I jumped out of the bed, only to have a warm body halt me in my tracks. Will’s hands went to my hips, steadying me before him when I would have fallen backward. “Whoa there, darlin’. Didn’t mean to startle ya.”
My head spun, trying to catch up with my body’s too-quick movements, and I clutched his biceps for support.
“I spoke to Janet this morning,” he continued, “and told her we were meeting over breakfast to review some of the materials. No need to rush about.”
I palmed my forehead with one hand while the other gripped his arm tighter. A variety of words fought for precedence in my mouth, leaving me mute. I had no idea where to start.
I’m sorry.
I can’t believe I fell asleep.
I can’t believe Islept.
I have way too much work to do.
Will pushed me back a step, causing the back of my knees to connect with the mattress. I sat on instinct and let go of his arm. Both hands went to my roaring head. How much wine did I drink last night? Because I could swear I felt hungover.
“Be right back.”
