“Hey, Rhys—”
“You need to get down here right the fuck now!”
Chapter 13
Arianne
Valerie just called to let me know Beckett was back in the office. With a nervous tremor lodged deep in the pit of my stomach, I trail down the hallway to his office.
“Knock, knock, knock,” I say, rapping on the door.
“Come in!”
I open the door, but don’t step inside. Instead, I stick my head and shoulders in his office. It’s best, just in case I need to make a run for it. After all, I was a little short with him earlier.
“Is it safe to come in?” I ask.
He sits back against his seat, his arresting blue eyes staring straight at me.
“It all depends on you,” he says.
I put my big girl panties on and step inside his office.
I close the door behind me and lean against it, still hesitant.
I had the whole spiel rehearsed in my head, but when my eyes drop to his forearms, I lose my ability to speak.
Wow.
My gaze travels up Beckett’s defined wide chest. Even to the blind eye, it’s evident from the way his crisp white shirt hugs his torso, every muscle of his body is well sculpted. I can just picture the perfect body hiding underneath the shirt.
In my momentary bewilderment, I continue my careful inspection.
My eyes slide down to his exposed forearms.
Holy hell.
“Your tattoos… the photos online don’t do them justice—” Shit. My mouth runs away from me. “Oh, my God, I’m sorry. I was so out of line. And unprofessional.” I close my eyes in dread.
I brace for the hatchet to fall on my neck, but it never comes.
I open one eye, then the other.
“You’re stalking me?” A wide grin stretches his lips. “Bad girl.” The mischievous sparkle in his eyes is dangerous.
“Err…” My mind speeds up in my attempt to save face. “It was for research. It’s important to know the man—in this case, the men—behind the company.” I’m almost convinced by my own bullshit.
Beckett lets out a boisterous laugh. “That’s a valiant attempt, Miss Buchanan, but it’s too late. The cat is out of the bag. I won’t tell a soul you have your eye on me, if you don’t.” His cocky playfulness is doing things to me. “This can be…” He waves a finger between us. “Our little secret.”
It’s my turn to laugh. “You’re impossible, Beckett Christensen.”
“You already knew that, but I suspect that’s not why you’re here.”
My dread returns full force.
“You’re right.” I let out a heavy sigh. I take several steps forward until I’m standing in front of his desk. “I’m really sorry—”
“For chewing me up and spitting me out?”