Mix'n Business With Pleasure

by Hadley Raydeen

  “You are welcome, but I’m only telling the truth. I find sexy, professional women very alluring.”

  Words that would have sounded inappropriate and unprofessional from any other business associate sounded completely sexy and intoxicating from him and she wanted to hear more. He is everything wet dreams are made of… But I still have a million questions of which none have been answered. She gave herself a minute and sobered her thoughts, allowing time for his words to mull over in her head

  She had to go about this the right way.

  Kudos to him for being so ballsy, but she didn’t think a business lunch was the correct forum to be so forward. This son-of-a-bitch was trying to distract her from being angry with him. She couldn’t trust a man that stalked her before they even had the chance to formally meet.

  He knew her identity and didn’t let on he would be working with her for the next couple of months. She cleared her throat and her mind.

  “Compliments are nice, Mr. Stewart, but at this point completely inappropriate.”

  After a moment of silence between them, he closed his menu and set it in front of him.

  “Well, Ms. Thomas, I’ve been known to speak my mind, more often than not and I think you are a beautiful woman. You can take it however you want. Inappropriate, out of line, I can’t help how you take the truth. Now as for what is going on between you and me—”

  “There is nothing going—”

  “Yes, there is. If you are feeling half of what I’m feeling when I look at you, then there is indeed something. The attraction is mutual, Bevin. Feel free to correct me when I’m wrong.”

  She sat back and crossed her arms in indignation. This guy is blunt and doesn’t give a damn. “Fine. I’ll admit there was an attraction, yesterday; today, not so much.” Lies. The man is completely turning you on and you know it. Hell, he knows it. She pressed on anyway, wanting answers to how they got to this point.

  “Frankly, Mr. Stewart, if you haven’t noticed, you’ve pissed me off and have freaked me out.

  There is no way our interaction and our first meeting…” she remembered seeing him this morning before work, “no, our first two meetings were coincidences. This whole thing is messed up. You should explain yourself, but instead,” she flailed her hands for emphasis, “you ask me to lunch, and hit on me or whatever the hell this is.”

  “I agree.”

  “Really? You are the one who orchestrated all of this. Now you are agreeing? That it’s insane?”

  He held his hands up in surrender. “I cannot argue the point, Ms. Thomas. I went about meeting you the wrong way, and I should have been up front. Everything you say is true. I’m not disagreeing; I’m trying to apologize.”

  The waitress came back to their table before she could respond. She placed their drinks, side salads and dinner rolls on the table.

  Bevin used the interruption to gather her thoughts. This man could be very dangerous, and for more reasons than one. He could be a killer for all she knew. Though she doubted that was the case at all. She wanted to be mad at him but even now, as she glanced across the table at him, his blue eyes kept on her face. They were soft and kind, inviting her to trust him. He wanted her to forgive him. She looked away not wanting to read the looks he gave her or give in. Too much was waging in them and she didn’t want to over interpret much more.

  Starting down this slippery slope, again, with someone she wasn't sure she could trust, would not prove well. This needed to remain strictly professional. One miscalculated move… She couldn’t fall back into old patterns with men. She shook her head, clearing thoughts of him from it. He wasn’t the first handsome face that crossed her path during her career. She’d treat him no different from the rest. Sexy, hot dreams between the sheets with her lunch company would have to be put aside, especially now. Now that she had to work with him, there was no room for any of that.

  Yeah, you can be too handsome for your damn good and know all the right words to say and when to say them. I may even want to play. Hell, I may play better than you, but I won’t. But I know you’d play the game so well, sexy face.

  She took a deep breath and watched him, not knowing where this was going. She would wait him out and see what great excuse he would come up with to explain his deception.

  “Can I take your order?” The waitress’ gaze lingered on Jaxon longer than needed and Bevin couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Yes, he is delicious. Take the order and get going, princess.

  She cleared her throat catching the waitress’ attention. Yoo hoo, I’m here too.

  “I’ll take the strawberry chicken salad, please, with poppy seed vinaigrette, on the side.”

  “Is that all you want?” he asked looking across the table at her. A daring glint flashed in his amazing eyes when he glanced at her briefly.

  “The salad is plenty,” she answered, sipping at her water. The double meaning in his question did not go unnoticed. I’d take a side of you, but you’re being sort of a creeper right now.

  She caught the twitch in his lips, staving off a smirk. Instead of commenting, he placed his order for the lunch special, walnut crusted halibut with a veggie medley.

  When the waitress finally walked away, he leaned forward and regarded Bevin. A smile spread across his handsome face and he folded his hands in front of him.

  “I look back over the last two days, and I can understand why you are creeped out and pissed off by the whole thing. Hindsight is always 20/20.” He buttered a piece of bread, and handed it to her. “Peace offering?”

  She took the warm, buttered bread and took a bite. She was too hungry to decline. She was fully aware his eyes remained on her lips as she enjoyed the delicious offering and she decided, at that moment, more flies are caught with honey.

  “Okay, Mr. Stewart, against my better judgement, I’ll play. Thank you, it’s delicious.”

  He nodded his head and smiled. “I’ve never been here before. It’s a wonderful atmosphere,” he said, looking around.

  “Yes, I like to come here for lunch with clients.”

  “Not with a boyfriend?” he asked, buttering his own bread.

  She took a sip of her coffee. “Is that your off-handed way of asking me if I’m seeing anyone?”

  “Maybe,” he answered.

  “What does my dating life have to do with our professional business?” she countered.

  “It’s easier to work with a person if you know what makes them tick in and out of the office.”

  “I don’t know if I agree with that. My personal life is just that. Personal. But since you seem to be fine with dishing out information, how about you? Are you dating anyone special, Mr. Stewart?”

  “Could you please call me Jax?” He stared at her, waiting for her to respond.

  She wasn’t ready to give in just yet. If you want to play with me, we are going to play hard. She sat back not ready to relent. He narrowed his gaze.

  “Well then. You can be like that if you’d like but before I get into anything else, business, personal, or…otherwise…” His words trailed off lingering with innuendo. Her gaze dropped to his lips. It was her turn to admire the way he chewed his bread.

  Hmm, the things I would do to him. She lifted her gaze again and pinned him with a stare.

  “For me to feel comfortable with our working arrangement, I want you to explain to me…how you ended up at my house yesterday and how you were assigned to this project for Werries.”

  From the look on his face, she had surprised him with her question. He put another piece of the bread in his mouth and chewed. His answer was slow and calculated. Something she could admire. A worthy opponent. I like it.

  She didn’t know if he was thinking of the best way to bullshit his way out of the conversation or if she’d get an actual answer, but she could respect he thought it over before jumping into a lame line. But she would be ready for whatever witty retort he had for her.

  “Do you think I’m a stalker, Ms. Thomas?” he asked.

&nbs
p; Well, maybe not that retort. She cleared her throat and thought the best way to answer him. She sipped water before she answered.

  “I have my concerns, yes.”

  “Do I look like a stalker?”

  No, you look good enough to lick. Damn you, I want to hate you right now, but you are making it too hard.

  “What exactly does a stalker look like, Mr. Stewart? The most normal looking people can be crazy. You look like a number of things, but a stalker, I don’t believe that you are. That is why I asked—”

  He quieted her doubts. “I would love to hear exactly what you think I look like, Miss Bevin. We can get to that conversation later, I hope. As for your concern right now, about a month ago, Russell Werries contacted my firm to see if I would do the project for his company. He sent over a complete file and history of the company. That included profiles of his executives with pictures—nothing too personal.”

  “That profile is included in our newsletter. We give it to clients and vendors all the time.” She knew the exact profile.

  “Okay, so you know what I’m talking about.”

  “Yes.”

  “You are the first person listed.”

  “Yes, I am. I’m second in charge of the company.” She sipped her coffee.

  He smirked at her title drop. “Congratulations on your professional accomplishments. But you also know your picture is on that profile.” He smiled at her. “It’s hard to not notice you, Ms. Thomas.”

  Her cheeks warmed and she tried to look anywhere but at him. She didn’t realize this would be his answer.

  “I was impressed, to say the least,” he continued.

  “Thank you.” She looked at him briefly. The intensity of his stare worked a number on her body. The heat radiating throughout her body caused her nipples to ache and her panties to dampen.

  “Two weeks later, after reviewing the file, Tamara told me we received a call from a Mr. Thomas regarding a job for his sister, you—”

  “Is Tamara your girlfriend?” She had to ask, taking a sip of her now tepid coffee. She hated that she sounded overly eager to learn the information and hoped the coffee would help slow her roll.

  A grin spread across his lips. “Tamara is my executive assistant.”

  “Oh, hmm.” She avoided his gaze, fidgeting in her seat.

  “Is that your off handed way of asking me if I’m seeing someone, Miss Bevin?” He repeated her words, and she wanted to crawl under the table.

  Yes, sexy. I want to know who warms your bed at night… Yes, I want to know about you and what makes you tick. Why on earth would someone, as sexy as you, be single is beyond me…

  “If I have to work with you, I should know what makes you tick inside and out the work place, right?” She quirked a brow and sipped her coffee gazing over the brim. She wanted him to give a snappy comeback but he didn’t. He smiled and sat back in his chair. This disappointed her a bit because it was all about the back and forth that fired her up.

  He chuckled instead. “Okay, fair enough.” He let her off the hook, continuing his explanation. “Bevin isn’t too common of a name, and Bevin Thomas well, that is just too much of a coincidence. When I tried to assign a contractor to the job, I saw all my best men were out on a job so I came out myself. Beyond that, I was curious to meet you. I didn’t want to leave the work on your house hanging. I wanted to make sure you had the best.”

  “You are the best?” she challenged.

  “I own my own company. It started with just me. I built myself from the ground up. I hired men I trust could complete the job when I’m not there. But, yes, I am the best at what I do and your house will be completed by the best hands when I’m not there to see the project through. I have references who will speak for me.”

  “You could have just waited and met me today. You coming out yourself makes it sound like the men that work for you are incompetent. Maybe we should be concerned for our company project.” She sat back and gave him a challenging look..

  “I suppose I could have waited to meet you, but I’ve never been known for my patience. My men are more than capable. It is my company and they’ve all learned from me first hand my expectations on quality of work. I came out because I wanted to meet you. I came out because you deserve the best. If I didn’t trust them, Joel and the other men wouldn’t be there right now painting your house that pretty shade of blue and yellow.” He drank from his tea. “Either way I don’t consider that stalking, and I hope you don’t either.” He smiled at her, leaning forward. His facial features softened and he looked her face over. “Do you forgive me?”

  Her gaze dropped from his marvelous, blue eyes to his enticing lips. She had never been so physically attracted to a man before but if this particular man didn’t stop looking at her this way, he would officially get it right here in this crowded restaurant. Everything she’d worked hard to stop doing, the lusting after things she shouldn't, would go right out the window.

  She didn’t know if she wanted to taste his plump lips first or straddle whatever he was packing behind those tailored pants. She took a sip of water to quench her dry throat.

  His ever-observant eyes never left her face. She squirmed underneath his gaze. She was sure he could read her naughty thoughts.

  “Are you okay, Bevin?”

  “I’m fine,” she mumbled, lowering the glass and avoiding eye contact.

  She sent up a silent prayer, thankful the waitress came back at that moment with their meal. The young woman ensured they were okay with their food and refills before disappearing again, leaving her alone with…him.

  She grasped at any type of conversation to get his watchful gaze off of her.

  “So the plans you drew up for Werries’, the sketches and the presentation today, it looks promising. I was thoroughly impressed.” She picked up her fork and speared her salad.

  “Thank you,” he replied, picking up his own utensils.

  “When do you think your team will start on the project?” she asked, taking a bite of her salad. His gaze focused on her as the food disappeared behind her lips. She knew she hadn’t answer his question if she'd forgive him. She may have overreacted, but she wouldn’t admit that to him.

  She sipped her water and took the opportunity to check him out. She was sure he would have done the same. Not that she would have had the all out balls to just regard her out in the open with no shame to the game like he had no problem doing. She had to admit, it was a well-played move. He definitely got her attention in more ways than one.

  “You didn’t answer my question, Ms. Thomas.”

  That remains to be seen, sexy face. I can forgive you, but can I trust you?

  “We are professionals. We will make this working relationship… work, and hopefully with less of these awkward moments between us. We are off to a horrible start.” She chewed slowly waiting for him to answer her question. Her inner monologue did nothing to calm the rapid beating of her heart. She took a deep breath, which seemed to break his trance as well.

  He looked away and cleared his throat.

  “We hope to break ground within the week. Russell is hoping to have this finished by the end of the year. He is ambitious. It is already late summer. We are good, but damn… The project is going to have me involving every commercial guy I have…and maybe more sub-contractors. Don’t get me wrong, Ms. Thomas. I’ll jump in with my hammer and hard hat if need be, but you are testing my skills here.”

  Her nervous giggle sounded fake and forced. She winced, hating herself for being that kind of woman. You don’t get giddy over men anymore, Bevin. Get it together.

  “In your professional opinion, do you think that is enough time? If you think Russ is farfetched with his deadline, please let me know. I will talk to him about allowing you the proper amount of time to work this project through to completion.”

  “I never back down from a challenge, Ms. Thomas, professional or…otherwise.” He allowed her the time to get his double meaning. She looked up from her plate
into his amused face. Thoughts of quieting that grin ran through her mind. Hard to smirk when I’m sitting on your face, you cocky bastard.

  The idea of being in a compromising position with this man brought heat to her body all over again. This was not going well. She had to finish this lunch meeting without these thoughts, or she would not make it. She sipped her water again thankful the young waitress had topped her off before walking away. I should have asked her to leave the damn pitcher.

  When she found her voice again, making sure the traces of shakiness and flirtation were gone, she kept the conversation on topic.

  “I’m sure you are able to meet the deadline. But I don’t want you, or your men, to feel rushed. I want to make sure this project goes off without a hitch. You should allow time for any issues that arise. Right?” She couldn’t trust what would come out of his mouth next wouldn’t be laced with some innuendo she couldn’t take right now. She was already jumping out of her skin. She held up a hand to stop whatever he was about to say. “It is already late summer, Mr. Stewart. If you can have this project done by Christmas, then you are Superman. If we need to extend to a spring deadline, then please—”

  “The Extreme Makeover team can build a house in a week, Ms. Thomas.”

  She laughed grateful for the break in the tension between them. “Touche. However this is an office complex—”

  “Exactly, and I have five months to complete and a crew of over a fifty men to work on this particular project.”

  She raised a brow narrowing her gaze. “You have over fifty men to work on this project, but you couldn’t find one man to paint my house?”

  He let out a hearty laugh. “Okay, okay,” he said, holding his hands up in defense. He leaned forward dropping his voice low enough for only her to hear. His closeness was intimate. She wanted to lean in and meet him halfway, needing to know what those lips felt like.