by Amy Brent
She felt his sincerity and she took the binder he handed to her. She did her best to glance over the information and carefully assess what he needed. There were misprinted labels and poorly organized records for the employees, as well as some things that didn’t seem to make any sense at all.
“I think you will need a lot of my help Reed, this is a mess.”
“I am well aware Miss. Sinclair, that’s why I need you.”
“Tempest, please. Well we are the best team for the job, we have a lot of other big investment clients and I think you will be happy with the numbers we have generated from that partnership. She handed him a folder with the information and she waited, giving him a moment to read it over. It gave her an opportunity to look at him closely once more. He was undeniable handsome, rakish in his own way. He had a way of looking at you that would turn the normal woman to putty in his hands, which he likely used on women often enough. He furrowed his brow slightly as he looked over the documents and arched a brow on page two. He took care of his business and she knew he wanted it to succeed.
He glanced up, catching her eye and she swallowed hard, glancing away but not before she saw him smile.
“Impressive, for such a small company. I know your fairly new but your numbers are promising.”
“Thank you, we work hard.”
“The thing is I want something a little bigger. I want to go back to playing golf professionally. It’s a part of who I am, in my blood so to speak.” He smiled at her, letting his eyes caress her face. “I need a company that will run almost every facet of the business so that I can get back into what I am really good at.”
She frowned. “I am confused, I thought you were interested in HR help and development?”
“Oh I am, but I want you to run the place in my absence. It won’t be all the time, but the majority for sure, especially during the tour. I know it’s not your typical thing to do, but I know the best person to keep an eye on things is the person in charge of the people, that’s why I want you.”
He accentuated the last part of the sentence, his eyes once more looking over her frame quickly, but not before she caught it. She took the envelope her offered her and glanced over the figures inside. The amount of money he was willing to pay was double what they had projected for income off of this one company. She wasn’t sure if this was a good idea of not.
“I know you are over thinking it, just by the look on your face. Trust me, it’s not as bad as you may think. I just need a day to day operations manager. Like I said I will be in and out and its just for a year. After that I’ll come back full time. At the moment I am just feeling the need to get back out to my sport, before I lose myself in a jumble of paperwork.”
She felt his sincerity, and she also knew he was downplaying how much of a responsibility this really was. She slid the paperwork back in the envelope, before she looked up at him.
“I will certainly take this to my team, and see what they think.”
He leaned forward in his chair once more, a smile on his face. “Oh that’s fine, I don’t mind them handling the HR part of this but I want you to be in charge of the whole thing.”
“Me, why me?” She waited.
“Well for starters, you graduated at the top of your class, you have a head for business and you work hard. Plus, I trust you… call it gut intuition.”
She stood then, and waited as he walked towards her. He was taller than she remembered last time she saw him, the clear blue of his eyes had never changed. He handed her a pen. She wasn’t sure what to feel about the whole thing but she didn’t take it.
“Well, you’ve certainly done your research. I’ll need a few days to look over everything, can I do that?” She felt the heat of him as he moved closer to her.
“Sure, can you come back on Monday?”
“Yes, I can.”
“Noon, then lunch for the two of us.”
“You don’t have to...”
He held up a hand to interrupt her. “I choose too.”
She wasn’t sure what to say to him next, he was looking down at her his eyes searching hers.
“Are you married Tempest?” His voice had dropped an octave and she felt the heat of him as he asked her. She glanced up at him, lifting her chin a notch.
“Is this part of the interview still Reed?”
“Yes, and no.” He reached out to pull on a springy curl before letting it go once more. “Yes, because I want to know more about who I am leaving my company to run for me, and how distracted you may be. No, because I simply want to know if your taken or not.”
She swallowed hard. “No, I’m not married.”
He took another step in her direction. “Good.” It was the last thing she heard before his lips found hers in a crushing kiss. She was taken by surprise, his mouth moving and nipping over hers expertly. She inhaled as he broke the kiss but only for a moment, his mouth finding hers once more and this time deeper and more intense.
She kissed him back, despite her efforts to avoid doing just that. He was like a magnet and she was lost in her own defenses. Soon she felt his hand at the small of her back, pulling her close to him and his other hand was in her hair at the nape of her neck, tilting her head back once more as he feasted from her lips. She let herself stay there, enjoying the feel of him when no one had kissed her like this in so long.
When he let her go, she took a step back, shakily. She saw the smug smile on his face, and she instantly hated herself for falling under his charms. She was no better than some school age girl with a crush.
“I should go.” She grabbed up her bag, flinging it on her shoulders as she turned to leave.
“Don’t be mad for liking it Tempest, you know you wanted it so bad.” He chuckled as she walked into the open elevator.
Something about him set her on edge, but whatever it was would have to take a backseat. He had kissed her, and not some brotherly little peck, oh no he had kissed her full on and now she was struggling to figure out how to forget all about it. She settled into her car in a huff and made her way home, all the while playing his words back in her mind.
Reed
He was still smiling as the doors shut to the elevator. He had wanted to kiss her, sure, but it had gotten out of hand even for him. A simple kiss had escalated until he had pulled her close. He wanted more, and he wanted her to know it. Her body had fit against him nicely, the curve of her hips just itching to be touched and held. She was no ordinary woman to be played with and conquered, no she was something altogether different and he loved a good challenge.
He glanced down at the desk, once more thinking over the company. Monday would be here and he would tell her more. She was sharp, and had made great investments in her career, except for the year that she simply vanished. He had done enough digging around in her history, no he would wait on her to share more about herself. Then he would show her the benefits of being in his bed.
Moving down the hall to his car he knew he needed to get out some of his pent up energy. He knew there was no better place to do it than on the course. He made his way to the club, knowing he would see a few friends. As he pulled in he was once more reminded of how much he loved the game. It had nothing to do with speed, or aggression. No, golf was a fine tuned amount of skill and precision. Ever hole he made, filled him with excitement. He wanted to get back in the game and soon.
Feeling better than he had in a long time Reed managed to play a few rounds on Sunday as well, meeting up with some old friends. He let his thoughts drift to tempest, and how she would likely appreciate the planning that went into the game. Or, she would tell him to get to work. Either way he found himself thinking of her a lot. He was more than ready for Monday to arrive.
He wasn’t disappointed on Monday when she came into his offices. He could see her walking down the long hall and he was caught up in how she carried herself once more. She was a combination of confident and anxious, and she wasn’t comfortable with either one. He opened the door for her and
whisked her inside, breathing in the smell of her perfume. Looking her over he appreciated once more the curve of her body, and the sway of her hips when she walked. He gestured to the chair which she readily nestled into.
“So my dear, have you given it some thought?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. I know the offer is sound, and legal. I just don’t trust you Reed. That’s as honest as I can be.” She crossed her arms across her chest and she was adorable.
“You don’t trust me how, exactly?” He leaned back in his chair. He especially loved to watch the myriad of expressions that crossed her face as she thought about an answer.
“I don’t exactly know, to be honest.”
“It’s because I kissed you.”
She squirmed in her chair and he knew he had hit on something.
“I liked kissing you Tempest. As a matter of fact, I want to kiss you right now. That being said I need this company structured to run on its own, and the organization to be at the top if its game. I know you have the skill, and I’d rather not look for another company. However, I don’t want to give up kissing you either. That is unless you didn’t like it?”
She was moving even more now, and he knew he was getting under her skin. Oh she had liked it, far more than she even knew. She looked up at him, lifting her chin a notch.
“I can do the job, no problem. What I can’t do is kiss you anymore, I’m afraid.”
She looked very pleased with herself, having said the words. He knew she meant it, or at least she thought she did. What she hadn’t counted on was him being as direct about it as he was. He waited, enjoying the picture she made, unaware that her fretting over the situation was more of a turn on than anything else. He wanted both… and he would win. It was, after all, part of the game.
“Fine, I won’t kiss you anymore. Now what about the job?” He waited, glancing over the paper on his desk as if it made no difference to him at all.
“The job I will do, but I’ll need to work out some of the information on the company with you. A few hours a day for a week or so. Can you do that?”
This was getting better by the moment. “Yes, I can give you that. A few hours a day is just fine.”
He ordered lunch as she settled in, losing her jacket and pulling out some paperwork. He watched her movements, graceful despite the fact that she was a big girl. He was more attracted to her than he liked, but the game was on and he was enjoying it far more than he thought he would. He settled in and started giving her the first lesson on his company.
As the afternoon went on he found that Tempest had a quick wit about her, and an excellent sense of business. They poured over the company policy and he shared stories with her about the beginning of the company and his grandfather’s vision. He watched her face light up as he showed her the plan for the future, and the many branches he would build and create.
“Wow, this is quite an undertaking Reed. I mean you keep talking about golf, how can you invest this much time in something? She asked him, but immediately retracting her question. “I am so sorry, I forgot myself. Its none of my business.”
“No, it is actually. I want you to help me so asking questions is a part of that. The honest answer is I simply don’t know yet. Golfing is like breathing to me. I want that, but when I am not in a tour then I can focus on business. Once the business is big enough it can run itself most of the time.”
“I see… is there no other family of special someone that would like to do more? It seems like a lot to shoulder.”
“It can be, but my mother wants no part of it, and I am an only child. So I am all this place has I suppose.”
“No wife, or kids anything?”
He smiled wickedly at her. “No, but I find it funny you ask me that now. Not before you were kissing me back so wholeheartedly Saturday.”
He watched her blush and roll her eyes before looking down at her paperwork. “I won’t get married, and I don’t want kids. Too much work, too much hassle. Besides my father was a scoundrel, and worthless. I’m doubtful I would be much better than he.”
He saw her face soften, no doubt wanting to tell him something womanly and mushy. Instead he decided to change the mood.
“I do wish you would let me kiss you again. Your lips are delicious.”
“What! Men.” She sighed. “I really should go I’ve been here half a day. Besides you have too much to say and not enough to keep you busy, obviously.” She stood slipping into her jacket and spun around to face him.
“I know your game Reed, and how well you can play at it.” She leaned in lightly and straightened his tie, her mouth almost touching his. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She moved then, leaving him in the office alone.
He watched her leave, surprised to notice he was clenching his fists and every part of him wanted to throw her down on this desk and bury himself deep inside her. He had never had someone set him on fire like this, and he had a feeling she felt the same way.
Tempest
She exhaled slowly as she slid into her car. Damn him for playing games. Teasing him was not an area she was used to. But he needed to learn a lesson, even if she had to be the one to give it to him. She made her way home and found herself thinking more and more about Reed. Sure he was an ass about many things, and a womanizer but he cared about the company and where it was headed. She needed to set boundaries, and make things clear to him. She didn’t want some scandalous affair or her business plastered all over some tabloid like most of his alliances were.
Why he teased her so much was lost on her anyway. Sure she loved herself and her curves but it was rare someone who was blatantly into petite blondes, would give her a second glance. Reed, seemed to be giving her more and more glances and there was the kiss…. She had to give him credit for effort, that was for sure.
The days passed quickly, the two of them sharing an office to get Tempest up to speed on the ins and outs of company planning and the like. She found herself enjoying their time more and more, and he was always quick to make her feel beautiful. She knew she was starting to care about him more than she should, but he often hid the softer side from the rest of the world, and for her he was just himself. One afternoon, after lunch she found herself meeting a very obvious part of his like in the form of an angry coworker.
She came busting into the office without so much as as knock.
“I’m so over it Reed, I thought you had someone…” She trailed off. “Who are you?”
She was beautiful, and poised and Tempest stood to give her an outstretched hand.
“I am Tempest; I work for Reed.” She shook it, but her sour look gave the impression she was touching spoiled meat somehow.
“When will he be back?” She tapped her foot.
“In an hour or so, should I tell him you stopped by?”
She balled up her fists. “Lydia, tell him to find me.”
In a huff the red hair beauty was gone. Tempest was once more reminded of Reed’s playboy ways. Lydia was obviously more than just a disgruntled co-worker. She soon asked him, knowing full well he had something to share. This time she controlled to conversation. She watched him walk in, coffee in hand. He handed her hers, knowing full well how she liked it by now. As he settled into his chair she gave him a knowing look.
“What why the look?” He ached an eyebrow at her.
“You had a visitor, someone who obviously does show up for work.” She smiled.
“Oh no, don’t tell me mother is here somewhere?” He glanced out of the windows as if she were lurking around the corner.
“No, just some woman ranting about something, Lydia I think.”
With a long exaggerated sigh, he exhaled. “I see.” He was tight lipped and Tempest couldn’t help but push, just as he did her.
“She is beautiful, but her bedside manner leaves something to be desired.”
“She is something that’s for sure.” He moved to grab a stack of paperwork.
“Really, Reed that’s all I get. I th
ought we were friends now. I mean I have been here every day for two weeks learning all about your business and now I final get some dirt and you brush me off. Wow some people.” She was smiling still, knowing he would rise to the challenge.
“She is an ex… kind of. She works here…I know that’s bad you don’t have to tell me.”
“I see.” She never looked up at him.
“You are jealous!”
This time she did look at him. “I’m what?” She paused. “Don’t even begin to think that Reed Hoelshing. You have to be the most self-centered egotistical person I know.”
“It’s ok Temp, I know you got it bad for me.” He gave her a wink and she was infuriated.
“How do I lose the upper hand in this with you every time? I’m so frustrated.” She threw her hands up in the air.
“You know I can fix that…the frustrated part I mean.” He gave her a wink and she threw the cup of water in her hand at him, jumping up to put her hands on her hips. “Jerk.”
She was still laughing at the startled expression on his face. She knew he was going to retaliate and being up was a far better advantage. She waited for him to make his move, smiling as he walked slowly towards the door, and not her. She frowned puzzled.
He carefully closed the shades to his office and locked the door with deliberate slowness. He turned then to face her, his eyes full of light. He began losing his clothing as he walked, his jacket then his shirt. She gulped, silently feeling her body react to the site of him as he moved closer and closer still. Soon he was standing before her in nothing at all, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. She moved backwards as he moved closer still to her, until her back was pressed against the desk she had been working on.
She would be lying to herself, and anyone who asked her if she said she didn’t want to feel him pressing himself against her. Or that she didn’t want to reach out and touch his body. She looked up at him as he lay nestled between her thighs.
“You know Tempest, if you wanted to get some dirt on me you could have simply asked me. I would have given it to you.”
