Page 4 of Just Business
Sam looked over, his eyebrow lifted in a manner that reminded Eli of Michael. “Oh?”
He waved the question away. “I’ll be in my office.”
As Eli crossed the hallway he rolled Sam’s words around in his head. He dropped the gloves on the corner of his desk, and leaned the cane against the wall.
Sam had noticed something in Eli’s behavior. Troublesome. Very troublesome. If Sam had, chances were Justin had as well.
Worse, he wasn’t exactly sure what signals he’d given off. Eli ran a hand through his hair and sat down. There was raw potential in Justin. But his attitude, his flippant manner... Eli wanted to channel that. Put it to use in so many ways entirely inappropriate for an office environment. Well, being unbalanced was new... but intriguing. Eli adjusted himself through his pants.
Tomorrow would be very interesting, indeed.
Chapter Two
Justin stood in the coffee shop bathroom and adjusted his tie before checking his watch. Eight thirty. Would anyone be up at the office now? He’d considered showing up at seven and sitting by the door until Eli arrived, just to see his face.
Don’t be late.
He wasn’t a child; far from it. He didn’t need a rich asshole telling him what to do or wear. He’d had enough of that with Francis, when he’d blown it at his previous company. Justin took a breath to settle his nerves. He so needed this job.
Brian gave a low whistle when Justin stepped out into the shop proper and more than a few of the normal morning crowd whipped their heads around to take a second look.
Well, good. That’s what he wanted; the surprised look, the parted lips. With any luck, the transformation would impress Sam—and put Eli in his place.
Really think you’re going to be able to do that?
His pulse ticked up a notch.Focus on the CEO, not his sidekick.
“Dude,” Brian said between customers. “You look awesome.”
That coming from a straight guy. “Thanks.” He forced a smile onto his face. Time to head upstairs. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“You’d better.” Brian’s gaze lingered a bit too long before he shook his head and went back to slinging coffee.
Justin took the stairs up to S. R. Anderson Consulting and forced his heart rate and his cock down. Walking in with a hard-on wasn’t the impression he wanted to make. Professional but unique—that was the idea. They’d seen him in Grounds N’at, knew that version. Time to shake things up.
Justin brushed a bit of fuzz off his lapel. Thank goodness the thrift stores also got in unsold clothing. The suit had been afind.
Last step. Justin looked up—and met Eli’s gaze through the glass door to the office.
Holy shit.That smirk. Those gray eyes. Didn’t help calm Justin’s dick down at all.
The bastard pulled a pocket watch out of his vest—of course he was wearing a three-piece suit—and made a show of checking the time before he opened the door for Justin.
“I’m not late.” Justin brushed past Eli, aware of how warm he was. Hard, too. For this guy? Please.
“No, indeed. Seems you’ve come just a bit prematurely.”
Justin bit back thefuck youbefore it came out. Blowing the interview before he even saw Sam wouldn’t help him or Mercy. “Do you always meet candidates at the door?”
“Yes, actually.” Eli didn’t have his cane and didn’t make any move farther into the office, so Justin planted his feet and folded his hands behind his back. Kept him from fidgeting.
Which was good, because the predatory once-over Eli gave him sent ice straight to his feet and nearly had him on his knees.What the hell?Hadn’t felt that impulse in ages, not since he’d left Francis and the Scene behind in California. “You the receptionist?”
A low chuckle rattled Justin’s bones. “Chief financial officer. I like knowing what we’re spending our money on.”
Eli was the CFO?Ohhell. He schooled his expression. “I’m worth every penny.”
Wrong, wrong thing to say, because the flash of teeth Eli gave Justin wasn’t anywhere close to a smile and it sent a bolt of lust straight to Justin’s balls. “You don’t get to decide that.” He nodded toward the inner office. “Follow me.”
