Page 4 of At Your Service
“That’s great. I’ve gotta head out, but I definitely want to speak with you again. Do you have a business card with your contact information?”
That request came with him taking a step closer to her. Instinct told her to step back, to keep a safe, professional distance between them. But hell, she’d already somewhat fondled him earlier, what harm could it do to have him up close and personal again? Besides, she loved the way he smelled. That cologne had to be an expensive designer fragrance. Possibly even European. It was a heady, spicy scent mixed with something rugged and yet unique. It made her think of cold winter nights cuddled in front of a roaring fire.
But back to business.“Yes. All of my contact information is on the packet I passed out, but I do have cards.”
She pulled her purse open and reached inside for the sky blue card case her father had given her last Christmas. She removed one embossed ivory-colored card, handed it to him and wasn’t at all surprised when he touched more of her hand than was necessary to retrieve it. There was definitely some flirtation going on here in what should have been a simple business meeting. Maybe he thought she was easy considering what had happened in the hallway. But that had been an accident—surely he recognized that. And the question still remained: Why had he been aroused while walking down a hallway? Who had he been thinking of?
“I’ll call you,” he said in that delicious tone that this time had her thighs trembling.
How bad would it be if he tossed her on this table and she opened her legs to him in invitation?
Very, very bad.
“I’ll answer,” she replied before snapping her lips closed because maybe that sounded a bit too coy.
But there was no lie in the two words. If Major Gold called her phone, Nina was definitely going to answer on the first ring and there was absolutely no shame in that. After all, this was her career she was talking about.
“Good,” he said with another nod.
His hand was still on hers. Nina knew the connection was lasting too long and she thought about letting it linger until it wore itself out or led to them climbing up on that conference table. But she had to be professional. If she were misreading his signals—even though she was certain she wasn’t—she still needed to play this like the only thing either of them was considering was this business deal.
She eased her hand from his grasp. “I hope you make it to your meeting on time,” she said, turning to pick up her things.
She was heading toward the door when he fell into step beside her. “I’ll walk you to the elevator.”
“Thanks, but I think I can find it.”This time.She left that part out and continued walking, knowing that once again, he was staring at her ass.
This really was a totally different feeling for Nina. Back in York there’d been no suave and debonair businessman who could make her feel desired and wanted—on a business and a personal front. Not that she’d craved this type of attention; relationships weren’t on her radar because they could abruptly leave a trail of pain that lingered. No, she was just fine focusing on work and her family. But, as strange as these new physical reactions were, they were exhilarating, too.
“How do you plan to enjoy the city?” he asked when they stood in front of a bank of elevators. “Catch a Broadway play? Visit the museums? Go shopping?”
“I actually don’t have a plan, but all of your suggestions sound fun. It’s almost five now, so I don’t have much time, but once I get to the hotel I’ll figure it out.”
“Which hotel are you staying at?”
“The Hilton Midtown.” She was giving him a ton of information that at any other time may have been considered unsafe. There was no explanation for why she didn’t think that was the case now.
“Not too far from here,” he said with another nod.
What was he thinking?
He’d tucked her business card into his inside jacket pocket and still stood abnormally close to her for someone she’d just met.
The elevator dinged and the door opened. Nina stepped into the car and leaned to the side to push the lobby button. She gave him another smile before saying, “Thanks again for your time. I hope to hear from you soon about the project.”
His response was a broader smile. “Oh, you’ll definitely be hearing from me very soon.”
“You want to do what?”
Major ignored the shock lacing RJ’s tone and stared directly at Desta Henner, the marketing director who was working closely with Maurice, the company’s public relations manager, and his team. Desta stared back at Major with expressive dark brown eyes, arms crossed and resting on her desk.
“Let me get this straight. You’re suggesting we bring this woman, whom we haven’t decided to do other business with, into a meeting regarding a secret marketing strategy and use her as your fake fiancée?” Desta raised a perfectly arched brow in what was known as her signature questioning glare.
Major had seen that look many times before in the five years Desta had worked for RGF. He pushed on regardless.
“She’s perfect,” he said, feeling those words take on a very different meaning inside his head than what he’d meant to convey to everyone seated in the room. He cleared his throat. “A fresh face. She’s not a model, which was your idea. And neither is she an actress, my first idea. Instead, she’s a woman from York, Pennsylvania, that no one in the fashion industry has ever seen before. That makes her just like every other woman in the world, precisely who the Golden Bride Collection was created for. A career-focused woman earning a paycheck she hopes can cover the amount of her dream wedding gown.”
“And she’s never been seen with Major before,” Maurice chimed in.
