Page 7 of Bad Love

"I know you’re slammed, Kendall. But we’re a smallfirm.”

“And I’m committed to helping you grow this company.” I mean it. Daisy’s amazing, and I love what she’s doing. I’m honored that I get to get up in the morning and work here. “But I'm not sure I’m the right person for this assignment. Lust is not myspecialty."

Her gaze works over me, and I wonder what she sees. "You’ve been here for years. You work extremely hard, you're capable, and I want to see you grow. This product may be astretch.”

You think? I’ve never even owned avibrator.

“But the best marketing isn’t about selling things you love. It’s about getting inside your client’s head and their clients’. It’ll make you better at your job.” As if sensing my hesitation, she goes on. “There’s a bonus in this if we can meet Hunter’s goal. Five thousand dollars, which I will hand over to you infull.”

My breath hitches. I could send Rory to camp this summer. He’d beecstatic.

“And,” she goes on, “I know you’ve been absorbing a lot of client work. If you take care of this, I’ll give you the ability to choose your clients goingforward.”

Choosing my own clients would mean I could work with people who are more flexible in understanding myschedule.

But if the price is selling sex toys for the hot lumberjack… it feelsimpossible.

What would Nadinedo?

She’d say yes. No questionsasked.

“All right,” I say, straightening. “I’ll doit.”

Relief etches itself onto her face. "Good. Get Hunter whatever he needs. He's an old schoolfriend."

That revelation surprises me. Daisy’s built this business from nothing, so my respect for her transfers to my newclient.

"Is there anything else you can tell me abouthim?”

"Hunter is enthusiastic and charming. He's like a dog with a bone." She looks through the glass, and I follow her gaze to where Logan's inspecting the plant wall. Is he… sniffing it? "In fact, he's kind of like a doggenerally."

The fondness in her voice has me deciding that maybe this can be a good experience. A challenge. There’s no reason working with this man has to bedifficult…

My thoughts end in silence as he turns away, because…whoa.

The rear view might be as good as thefront.

"I'll take care of him." I clear my throat. "Professionally."

Relief crosses Daisy's face. "Thankyou."

I go back into the room, and the man in question turns to face me. He shoves his hands in the pockets of his jeans, angling his chin up. The posture should make him look reserved, but he'scocky.

I clear my throat. "Mr.Hunter."

"JustHunter."

"Hunter." His name makes the hairs rise on my arms under my sweater. "I look forward to helping you with this project. Let’s set up a meeting to review your goals. If you can send me a description of the product and current sales figures inadvance—"

"No."

I freeze. "Excuseme?"

He closes the distance between us and slides the pen from behind my ear in a way that has me feeling as if he just dragged the tip down my spine. "Let’s startnow."

I clutch my notebook to my chest. Not because of his proximity, but because my new vantage point has me realizing something profoundly disturbing and fascinating in equalmeasure.

Logan Hunter has a tonguering.

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