Page 4 of Thankful for My CEO

Not that Kit would even be an option. He might have left the lodge by now, anyway, off on whatever mountain adventure he’d come for. And he didn’t seem like the type who’d be into someone like me.

A chilly breeze blew right through my sweater. The yellow sweater wasn’t doing much for me apart from looking cute, apparently. So much for choosing something nice over functional.

I ducked into the main building and saw Mrs. Taylor reading some kind of paperback behind the reception counter.

“Good morning, sweetie. There’s coffee and a continental breakfast in the dining room. I haven’t seen Mr. Hayes yet, but I’m sure he’ll be here soon. I’ll let him know if you want to set up in the meeting room.” She gave me a warm smile.

“Thank you,” I said, unable to resist smiling back.

A family still in their pajamas crowded around the buffet table. I waited for them to clear. With a pang, I thought of my mom prepping our Thanksgiving meal for two because my sister and her family were gone this year. We’d all be at my mom’s for Christmas. Even so, it was hard to be reminded of what it might be like to be surrounded by a big family at Thanksgiving.

The family finished loading their plates and moved toward a couple of tables in the corner of the room, each adult with a child or two clinging to their hands.

I grabbed a small pastry, the butterflies in my stomach making me too nervous to eat much, and headed toward the wooden door with the “Meeting Room” plaque in script.

The room was pretty bare bones -a long wooden table, a few office chairs, a whiteboard -and smelled musty. I would have opened the window if not for the weather. I noted those gray clouds from before were looking a little darker.

I nibbled on the pastry while I set up my laptop near the head of the table and absent-mindedly flicked through my slides for the hundredth time. It started to drizzle, glittering raindrops collecting on the glass of the one window looking out into the woods.

9am came and went. I pulled out my phone, forgetting I had no service. I checked my email -nothing.

9:15am and I heard a sharp knock on the door. It swung open and a man in a black suit strode in, phone to his ear.

“I understand,” he said. “Tell them it’s a necessary expense. Without this kind of preparation, it’ll be impossible to expand into the area.” Silence. He faced away from me, looking out the window, not acknowledging my presence in the least. “I trust you in this. No, I won’t be able to look at the documents until later today. I have another meeting now.” More silence.

I wasn’t an easily irritated person, but I also wasn’t used to being treated like this. Most potential investors were excited to hear about Earthbloom’s mission, or at least polite enough to let us know when they would be late. I tapped my fingers on the table, letting out some nervous energy.

“Yes, alright. Alright. Email them to me. Mhm. Talk to you later.”

He slipped his phone into his slacks pocket and turned to me.

Oh.

My heart beat faster, encouraging the butterflies already fluttering in my stomach to pick up speed.

I hadn’t recognized him fully clothed -and in a suit, no less. Those dark eyes… Those curls… The subtle curves of his suit just barely smoothing over those chiseled arms and abs I had laid eyes upon just the day before.

It was Kit. The man from the hot tub.

The man who had so earnestly tried to give my lost key back and introduce himself to me.

The man who I had dismissed so thoroughly and completely as some asshole.

The man who I was supposed to impress and cajole seed money out of.

I swallowed. “Good morning,” I said, finally.

How was I supposed to play this off? As if yesterday had never happened? No, I couldn’t. I had to acknowledge it somehow. Should I apologize? But I didn’t really do anything wrong. I had just basically run away from him.

“Ms. Moreno,” he said, acknowledging me.

“Mr. Hayes,” I returned. “Kit?” I added, unable to help myself. So much for pretending yesterday hadn’t happened.

“It’s a nickname I picked up as a child.” He strode down the table and took the seat directly next to me. His cologne smelled like caramel, with a touch of spice. “Christopher came from my grandfather, just as a formality. I’ve never really thought of it as my name apart from legally.”

Connect, I told myself. You have to sell Earthbloom. Doesn’t matter if you had a rocky start yesterday. I put a smile on my face.

“Well, let’s get started. I’m sure we both have things to get to before tomorrow.” I turned to my laptop and moved onto my agenda slide. “I respect your time, so I want to give you the information that’s most important. We’ll go over Earthbloom’s mission, our growth over the last few months since our soft launch, and our projected…”

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