by Haley Travis
5
_____
Emily
So many thrilling things were all happening at once that my head was spinning. Not only did this sound like an incredible job for me, but it felt like Mason had created it specifically with me in mind.
Did he do this to keep me around? I knew that it wasn’t exactly normal for a boss to keep holding someone’s hand, but it genuinely felt like he couldn’t stop. I’m not sure why, but that tickled me to pieces.
Opening my brand new laptop was another thrill. It even smelled new. Taking a closer look at the brand and model number, I realized that this machine had only been released a few weeks ago.
It must be nice to have infinite resources, and be able to snap your fingers whenever you wanted something.
Mason’s wealth obviously gave him some wonderful perks and comforts, yet he didn’t seem spoiled. From the stack of folders on his desk to the way everyone seemed to buzz nervously around him, he was likely the most hardworking person in this office.
Before I could formulate a plan to change his persona, I pulled out my phone, calling up the photo of my aunt’s list again.
Even though I had it memorized, I had to see it again.
All five points were perfectly clear. He was extremely focused, with a bent little finger and green and gold eyes. He was bizarrely obsessed with coffee. He seemed strict and cold with everyone but me. Did that really mean that I was going to be his one true love?
I’d always thought that Aunt Betsy was just a harmless hippie type, not really psychic. Yet these details were extremely specific. How on earth could she have predicted this four years ago?
Setting my phone on the table, I pulled my shiny new computer onto my lap, and got to work. University psychology studies. Audience feedback for game show host auditions. Inspirational talks. Subconscious instincts of neural programming.
My fingers were a blur on the keys as I curled up on Mason’s sofa, pulling every scrap of information I could into an organized document.
The door clicked open softly, and I looked up with a start.
Mason was standing stock still. There was something different in those welcoming lips and striking eyes. As he flipped the switch so that the wall of privacy glass hid us from the rest of the office, I saw he was staring at me with hunger.
Sitting up straighter, I realized I was sitting sideways on the couch with my knees bent and my skirt hitched up almost to my hip. Moving the laptop to the table, I pulled my skirt back down as I sat up properly.
Mason came over and sat beside me, his leg pressed against mine. It felt like heat was rolling off him in waves as he stared down at me.
Such a huge, hulking man, staring at me like he wanted to eat me alive, should have made me nervous. Instead, being the object of his absolute focus made me feel, dare I even think it, sexy.
“That was the longest two hours of my life,” he said softly, leaning closer.
“You were gone for two hours?” I glanced over my shoulder to the huge clock on the wall. “Wow.”
Mason nodded, grinning differently now. “Were you in the zone?” he asked.
“Yes, apparently,” I smiled at him. “I have a bunch of great stuff, I think.”
“I’ve already asked Sandra to send us lunch at noon,” he said. “And I was incredibly polite.”
My fingers reached out to straighten his already perfectly-positioned tie. His large hand reached up to take my wrist, setting my hand on his lap between both of his, caressing my skin gently.
There was something desperate in the way he looked at me. Yet everything about him was refined. Polished. He smelled crisp, like fresh linen and ice.
“Emily,” he began softly, my name sounding so seductive as it crossed his lips, “if you’d like me to keep my hands to myself, and just want to be my intern, please tell me now. I swear it’s absolutely your choice.”
I shook my head, making it spin even more. Was this actually happening?
“The feelings I have for you are…uncomfortable,” he said slowly. “Unfamiliar. More intense than I would have expected.”
“You’re not making that sound like a good thing.”
His hands squeezed mine. “I think it’s going to be very good,” he said, searching my eyes. “I just need to know if this is what you want.”
“What is…this?” I asked.
Mason was still for a moment, then exhaled sharply. “I want you to be my girl, Emily. I want to take you to dinner, dates, anything you like. I want to get to know you completely.”
“I’d like to get to know you too,” I said. The slash of coppery gold was even more stunning, now that I wasn’t nervous to look into his eyes for more than a few seconds. Hearing him actually say that he wanted me was such a huge feeling that I couldn’t comprehend it all at once.
He lifted my hand, kissing the back of it gently. It felt like a test, as if he was observing my reaction. I needed his lips on me everywhere, but maybe not here in his office.
Taking his left hand, I held it up, examining his pinky finger. “How did this happen?”
A deep rumbling chuckle shook the shoulders of his expensive black suit. “A slight accident.”
“Tell me.”
“Three years ago at the holiday party, an employee’s ex-boyfriend showed up, trying to take her home with him. I intervened while he was trying to shove her into his car. My finger was caught in the door, but he was caught by the police, so everything turned out fine.”
“You had him arrested?”
For the first time, I saw his eyes turn icy cold. “Not only was he driving drunk, and trying to embarrass her at a corporate function, he was spewing some nonsense about her belonging to him because of some far-fetched destiny crap. My lawyers had him charged with impaired driving, assault, attempt to kidnap, causing a disturbance, and parking in a handicapped spot.”
I couldn’t help laughing. “They threw the book at him.”
“Absolutely.” Lifting my hand, he kissed the tip of each finger gently, sending ripples of warmth through my entire body. “Thank goodness they had that terrible karaoke booth at the party, which was why I’d gone for a stroll outside.”
“You don’t sing karaoke?”
Mason chuckled again. “Absolutely not.”
“Well, according to all of this research I’ve just compiled, if you had gone up and sung, even just backup for someone else, even absolutely terribly, you would have totally won over your coworkers.”
“My employees,” he corrected me automatically.
“See, that’s another thing,” I said excitedly, “You need to be one of the team. Of course you’re the head of the team – everyone knows that. But it can’t be a King and his subjects. They have to know that you’re all in the trenches together. Do you know what I mean?”
His eyes blazed. “Not really. Tell me more.”
6
_____
Mason
I’d never felt happiness that was so prickly. The intensity of the joy was almost uncomfortable inside my body.
As Emily led me through her findings, perfectly condensed into a concise list of easily applicable tips, she grew even more beautiful in my eyes.
Even after stating that I wanted her to be my girl, she worked hard anyway. I had come across so many people who were always looking for the easy way out, and I was relieved that she wasn’t one of them.
She had a brilliant way of thinking, circling around the broad strokes, then doubling back for the tiniest details.
My tight control was already slipping. My locked down focus was dissolving. For the first time ever, I cared less about my work, and only wanted to hear every word from this pretty girl’s sweet mouth.
When Sandra came in with lunch, and noticed my jacket thrown over the back of the sofa, her shock was comical. I made a point of thanking her for her wonderful food choices, and was rewarded with warm smiles from both her and Emily.
We chatted brightly all through our
meal, and I deferred every appointment and call for the rest of the day. After Sandra returned to clear the table and shut the door behind her, Emily turned to me with a strange expression.
“Now we have to put everything you’ve learned into practice,” she said. “It’s the only way to lock things in, according to these experts.” Emily jumped up, walking to the center of the room. “Come on.”
I followed her, well over a foot taller as I turned to face her.
She began to sway. “I won’t make you actually dance,” she smiled up at me. “Just do this.”
She stepped side to side, like every awkward teenager when they’re first learning how to dance. I followed suit, feeling like a complete fool. Strangely, the sensation wasn’t nearly as painful as I would have expected, since Emily’s grin encouraged me to keep going.
“Quick – don’t think,” she said, swinging her arms along to her steps. “Tell me how to be engaging the second you meet a client.”
Before I even realized I was doing it, I began reciting her notes. “Confident but open body language. Smile while looking into their eyes. Think about warmth when shaking their hand.”
“How do you make them like you in seconds?” she asked.
“Use their name. Connect them to people in the room by their expertise. Be impressed by their accomplishments. Give them my full attention. Be on the same team, shooting for one common goal.”
I was always a quick study, but for some reason, half dancing badly truly locked the information into my brain.
That saucy look of determination as she challenged me was the last straw. “How do we make sure we don’t fall into old habits?”
My feet stopped. Leaning closer, my hand covered her face, as my thumb trailed along the very bottom of her lower lip as she stepped toward me.
“We break old patterns,” I murmured, looking deeply into her gorgeous eyes. “Should I do something that up until yesterday I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing in a million years?”
Her face tipped up to mine as she breathed, “Yes.”
My lips brushed against hers in a delicate kiss. Tracing her cheek with my thumb, I settled my mouth against hers, breathing her in as her hand slipped up my arm, grasping my bicep.
She tasted like a dream. The faint scent of lemon and sugar surrounded her. I could get lost in her kiss for days. Emily’s soft moan against my lips nearly made my knees buckle.
My arms gripped her too tightly as I pulled her entire body against me, which reminded me how tiny and delicate she was.
“Is this all right, angel?” I murmured.
“Yes, but…”
Immediately I stepped back.
That light, airy laugh filled my senses. “Maybe we shouldn’t do this in your office,” she whispered.
“You’re absolutely right. I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s okay,” she said, walking her fingers up my shoulder to give my ear a little tug. “Maybe we should try that again later.”
My phone rang, and I turned to grab it as Emily sat back on the sofa. “Mr. McHenry, the Westwell Group have just arrived in the boardroom.”
“We’ll be right there.”
“What coffee would you like, sir?” Sandra asked.
Flashing Emily a wink, I said, “Two coffees. Surprise us. And please make something special for the clients as well.”
“Oh…oh. All right. Of course, sir.”
Sandra sounded flustered as she hung up, with good reason. I was always completely precise about what flavors and caffeine level I wanted at any particular moment. I don’t think I’ve ever asked her to pick for me. If I wasn’t available for consultation, Sandra knew my standard brew for early morning, mid morning, and lunch.
Emily looked absolutely delighted as she twirled her hair around her finger. “Are you implying that I’m coming with you?”
“Absolutely. We’ve been together all day, I’m not going to leave you alone now.”
“But won’t people wonder who the heck I am?”
“Who cares,” I said, slipping on my jacket. “All these people want to know is that their latest round of global research and documentation is being compiled by a top corporation, and that we are giving them the best quality for a reasonable price. I could bring a koala in with me and they probably wouldn’t say a word.”
Emily laughed, fixing my collar that I was almost certain was already in place. “You’re surprisingly funny,” she said. “Why don’t I bring my fancy new laptop, and sit in the back? I can take notes on your presentation style, and then we can review them after.”
“We can review them tomorrow,” I said quickly. “Tonight I’m taking you to dinner.”
She stood up, her pretty skirt draping gracefully around her legs as she picked up the computer.
Stretching up to whisper in my ear, she said, “How about this – if you do an A-plus job, I’ll go to dinner with you. If you fail, you’ll come back here and I’ll give you assignments to study.”
I couldn’t believe the cheekiness of this girl. I also couldn’t believe that I nodded. “Deal.”
7
_____
Emily
Watching Mason pitch his ideas to five strangers was absolutely incredible. He was self-assured, yet humble. Completely in control of the room, yet relaxed.
I sat in the back, taking notes on, among other things, how he should stop checking his impressive designer watch so often. He was probably timing his presentation, but showing off such an expensive item might be seen as being flashy.
Every time he caught my eye, that fiery tingle spread across my chest and stomach. It was absolutely impossible to think that such a gorgeous man had kissed me, and said he wanted me to be his girl.
It was even more amazing that he really listened to what I had to say.
And his description had been written in my journal years ago. Life was always full of funny surprises.
As the meeting wrapped up and Mason walked the new clients to the elevator, chatting casually about Saturday’s big jazz festival, I closed my laptop and began clearing the coffee cups from the board room table.
I’d just collected everything on a tray when Sandra appeared, looking astonished. “Oh my goodness – Emily, thank you, but that’s my job.”
“I was right here anyway,” I said, smiling.
I wasn’t sure why, but she looked unsettled. She whisked everything away, and I left the room behind her, practically running into my dad.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked. “I assume you need a ride home. Tonight your mom is making a special pre-weekend pasta.”
Whenever my parents went away for the weekend, mom always made a huge dinner so that I would have leftovers. It was sweet how she coddled me, and I couldn’t very well ask her to stop.
Mason appeared at my right shoulder, obviously having overheard. “Great work today, Emily,” he said. “We can talk tomorrow about your notes, and the next steps. Enjoy your pasta.”
I nodded, and as soon as my dad turned away, Mason winked.
On the ride home, I got a text.
Mason: I certainly wouldn’t want to disrupt your family plans. Hopefully we can have dinner tomorrow night?
Me: Absolutely. Thank you for understanding.
Mason: Don’t worry, I won’t be offended if you take a little time to tell your parents about us.
Me: I still have to figure out what is going on myself.
Mason: I am positively infatuated with you, Emily. I miss you already, and I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Good night, angel.
Me: Good night.
The way he spoke was so intense, as if we were already together. It was a lot to process.
After a massive pasta dinner, I fell asleep dreaming of the way Mason held me when we were almost dancing.
Those thick strong arms around me triggered feelings that I’d never had before. All I could think about was what would happen when we were alone somewhere other than his
office.
Like after dinner tomorrow night.
***
I woke up extra early so I’d have more time to get ready.
Mason was such an elegant, distinguished man that I would have assumed he would go for women who were the willowy, model type. I was petite but curvy, with a bit of a round face, and a penchant for wearing a lot of bright flowery colors.
