Page 40 of Mine to Love

“I have one,” Margaret says. “Is the company in question interested in relocating or are they set on continuing the business in Portland, Maine?”

“The location is non-negotiable.”

I shift my attention to Reese, waiting for her clarifying question. She gnaws her lower lip, scans through the top four papers in her folder.

Damn do I envy that bottom lip of hers. Hell, I want to nip at it as well, then glide my tongue across it, followed by–

She releases her lip and lifts her gaze to mine. “How long do we have for our presentation?”

“How much time do you think you’ll need?” I counter, setting my coffee down.

I watch in awe as her hands move through the air as she speaks, her lips full, her eyes wide and bright as her voice fills with excitement. It’s as if the numbers and research turn her on, which only turns me on. I discreetly reach for my belt and adjust my pants.

“I can get it done in fifteen minutes if all you want is a basic outline. If you want data reports, hypotheticals, comparisons of surrounding business models, and a thorough list of possible profit and loss margins based on my findings, I’ll need closer to an hour. I guess it depends on how much you want to see.”

“I want to see it all,” I say, low and deep.

When Reese’s face flushes pink, I realize what I said. Out loud. I quickly turn my attention to the other two. “All of it. Your presentations should cover every finding you uncovered and every detail of your proposal. Be ready by two.”

I stand, hoping my suit coat hides my arousal, and leave. Ignoring Doug, I head into my office and close my door.

This isn’t good. I can’t work alongside Reese if simply listening to her talk about numbers makes me hard. I haven’t had any form of release since our time in the front seat of the BMW. It isn’t like my sex drive is on a schedule. I don’t need to sleep with a woman a few times a week or even weekly.

Hell, I’m too busy to even think about sex, which makes my reaction to Reese unfamiliar. I’ve worked with and even dated many beautiful women, but none cause such a stirring in my pants.

Shit. The stirring is more than down below. I run a hand across my chest and return to my desk to read through the dozens of emails that flooded my inbox since last night. There’s absolutely nothing sexy about stocks and bonds and interest rates, but when Reese talked about them, they suddenly had me thinking about naked skin. Hers.

Only hers.

***

“THAT WENT SURPRISINGLY well.” Melinda says as soon as the three candidates leave the conference room. “Three different approaches, but in my opinion, one clear winner for this job.”

“Agreed.” Doug nods.

I agree too, and I hope it isn’t just me who thinks Reese won by a landslide. I could have been misguided by lust, by the fullness of her lips, by the enthusiasm behind her ebony eyes as she pointed out colorful pie charts and graphs she’d made to enhance her presentation.

The other two only took twenty minutes to share their findings and had stuck with basic templates, but she spent close to an hour explaining the reasoning behind each decision and added colors and fonts to her slides making them pop. It’s more than numbers that land us clients. We need to sell our ideas, and Reese is the perfect package.

In the end, it’s my decision, but having Melinda and Doug’s support will ease my conscious.

“You’re awfully quiet, Logan. Thoughts?” Melinda asks.

“Reese has what I’m–we’re looking for.” My slip up isn’t much of a slip. Melinda and Doug are helping me find a solid lead to help me start a new company in New England. She was for him.

“Agreed. I like her. Melinda leans forward and Doug nods as well. He closes the binder Reese left behind. “It’s a done deal. Doug, can you change their flights so they can head home tomorrow instead of Thursday morning?”

“Sure.” Doug picks up his phone.

“Wait.” I don’t want Reese to leave early. I want—need—more time with her. “Miss Jones’s flight can be changed. Since Miss Elliot will be here, why don’t we use the time to start her training?”

“Good idea. Should I call her back in now to tell her she got the job?”

“Not yet.” I don’t know why I want to play it slow. I don’t know why I do half the things I do or think about when it comes to Reese.

“Whatever you say, boss. Full disclosure, I already promised to bring her to an authentic Texas barbecue tonight. I promise not to talk shop.”

Jealousy twists in my gut. I want to be the one to bring Reese out to dinner, but that would be out of character for me. Business dinners with clients, sure. Casual dinners with new employees, never.

---