“Something funny?” His voice was amused and she grinned at him and told him what she was thinking. He laughed.
“A loaner, huh? Well, we’ll see about that.”
Her stomach dropped, desire flash-burned over her skin, and she could feel her face coloring. Jay got out of the car and helped her out, and kept her hand in his as they walked into the restaurant.
She really was lovely, he thought, that dark olive skin that colored a deep rose when she was embarrassed, the deep brown of her large eyes, the wayward dark hair, half-clipped up, half tumbling down her back. Jay McKittridge was used to beautiful women — his position as one of the city’s — hell, the world’s — most eligible billionaires guaranteed him ready access to the A list of gorgeous women but this girl…she had what he thought was starting to become extinct — a personality. And she also possessed something else he found irresistible…
She had absolutely no idea who he was.
Jay signaled to a waiter, greeted him with a smile. Norah watched in silence, nodded when he asked if he could order for them both. Clearly she was overwhelmed and as the waiter moved away, she started to chew her lip.
“Mr…”
“Jay.”
She grinned then. “Your name is Jay Jay? Did your parents hate you?”
“Funny girl. What were you asking?”
She took a deep breath in. “Look, thank you. I really appreciate you taking care of me. I will pay you back for the doctor’s fees, it just might take a while.”
Jay waved a hand. “Don’t be silly, it’s my pleasure. After all, I nearly ran you down, didn’t I?”
She half-smiled. “No, I…”
“Norah,” he leaned forward and put his hand over hers. “I mean it. It’s my pleasure.” God, just a little closer and he could brush his lips against that rosebud mouth, inhale her fresh, clean scent, the scent that had driven him almost out of his mind the last couple of hours. He held her gaze then as the waiter appeared with their drinks, he sat back.
“Tell me about this interview.”
Norah shrugged. “It was a long-shot anyhow. Marshall Harrington likes experience over qualifications. I have the qualification but…”
“May I ask…how old are you?”
She didn’t appear to mind the question. “Twenty-four. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Harvard Business School last year. I’ve been looking for the right position ever since.”
Jay looked askance. “Summa Cum Laude and you’re having trouble? Jeez…” He shook his head, disbelieving. What the hell were graduates supposed to do to get the experience? “That’s ridiculous.”
She raised her glass of orange juice to him. “Amen.”
Their food arrived and he was gratified to see she enjoyed his choice — smoked salmon with such light scrambled eggs and truffle that they were like air.
“Oh,’ she said after a few minutes of eating, “this is truly heavenly, thank you.”
“My pleasure. Norah?”
“Yes?” She said, grinning with her mouth full. She was utterly adorable, he thought with a smile.
“Will you have dinner with me?”
***
Later, at home, she went over what had happened and cursed herself out for being so stupid. It was just dinner…and she’d said no. She’d been polite, thanked him for the doctor’s fees and brunch but said it really wasn’t a good idea. Now as she sat alone in her tiny studio apartment, staring blankly at an old black and white movie on the tiny portable television set, she repeated one word to herself.
Idiot.
The disappointment in his eyes when she’d turned him down, however gently, had made her cringe inwardly. How ungrateful could she be? And yet…her feminist side yelled at her for thinking she owed him something…and her feminine shouted at her that he was, without a doubt the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.
Like I said…idiot.
She should have been thinking of what she could do career-wise after missing the Harrington interview. She pulled her laptop over and, chewing her lip, typed Jay’s name into Google.
And immediately wished she’d hadn’t. How the hell did she not know about this guy? James ‘Jay’ Whitney McKittridge III, thirty-seven, single (unbelievably) and the billionaire CEO of America’s largest media corporation, JWM.
“Jay Double-U Em…” Norah intoned to herself. “Freakin’ Jay Double-U Em.” She was suddenly glad she hadn’t gotten to the interview with Harrington that morning. If she was so out of touch that she didn’t know who Harrington’s biggest competition was… Embarrassment mixed with confusion — she’d told Jay who her interview was with so why hadn’t he admitted who he was? Maybe he assumed she did know who he was and…
“God.” She said out loud. Did he think she was hinting at a job? Oh god, no…She might never see him again but she hated to think that he would think that about her. She picked up a pillow from the couch and screamed into it. Why? Why me? Why do I have to be such a doofus?
She didn’t realize the doorbell was buzzing until she took her face out of the pillow. She threw it across the room and skittered over to the door and yanked it open.
James Whitney McKittridge III grinned at her. “I’m really bad at taking no for an answer.” He said and Norah, her mind a confusion of embarrassment, mortification, attraction and amusement, chose amusement and burst out laughing.
***
Jay took Norah to a local place, quiet, non-assuming. As he ordered their drinks, she studied him, his elegance, his sheer machismo set every nerve ending in her skin alive. Goddamn, it was that feeling all over again. When she’d agreed to a date with him, she’d made a promise to herself. Just drinks. Nothing else. Just a polite drink and then home. Alone, she told herself sternly
But then, as soon as he’d offered her a hand out of the cab and their skin had touched, albeit briefly, electricity had surged through her and when he gave a sharp, almost inaudible, intake of breath, she knew he felt it too.
Here, on mutual territory, she no longer felt overwhelmed by him and his status. He was dressed in simple jeans and t-shirt, just like the rest of us mortals, Norah grinned to herself.
“Something funny?” He was back and smiling down at her. She accepted the drink he offered, sipped it as he took the seat next to her.
“I was just thinking, despite being — what was it — Forbes’ Most Eligible Billionaire this year and last year…you seem almost normal.”
Jay smiled. “Is that a compliment or…?”
She grinned wickedly. “It’s whatever you think it is.”
He pretended to consider. “Then I’m going to take it as a compliment. But please,” he intoned dryly, “stop throwing yourself at me. It’s embarrassing.”
Norah giggled. “And clearly, you’re a loon. Forbes Most Eligible Loon.”
Jay inclined his head. “Thas’ me Ma’am.”
They both laughed and Norah was amazed how easy it was to be here with him.
“I wanted to thank you for coming out with me tonight, for letting me apologize in person. You know, for almost killing you this morning.”
Norah bit back a twang of disappointment. Was that all this was? An apology? Get a grip, she told herself, what did you expect? “You’re welcome. More than welcome, you paid my medical bills (not that I needed medical help) and bought me lunch.”
“Brunch,” he corrected, grinning, “and yeah, next time, eat some cereal, would you?”
She flushed but knew he was joking. He chucked her cheek with the back of his hand and her skin flamed at his touch.
“Anyway,” he continued, “I do have another motive.”
Her insides flipped and a pulse began to beat deep in her belly. “Oh yes?” She kept her tone light and he smiled.
“A proposition. My company has a graduate program, a fast track system for candidates just like you with a great package attached. Marshall Harrington is a fool. Summa Cum Laude from Harvard? Yes, please. I’d really like you to come in a
nd see if it’s something you’d be interested in. No pressure, I just want to make up for making you miss the interview this morning.’
Norah blinked. “So this is a job interview?”
Jay smiled, shrugging good-naturedly. “To be honest, I’ve always felt that the company should be the one being interviewed. You’re clearly very intelligent, you’re very personable, you have great integrity. Say yes.”
Norah stared at him for a long time trying to figure him out then a slow smile spread across her face. “Really?”
He nodded, grinning. “One hundred percent.”
“Then, yes. Thank you so much, Jay, that’s beyond kind.”
He shook his head. “It’s not kindness, it’s business. Companies should be banging down your door. Their loss will be our gain. It’s a win-win.”
She had to admit it was tempting…beyond tempting. Plus you’d get to see Jay every day…shut up. She grinned at him.
“I admit, I’m excited at the opportunity.”
“Good,” he said, edging closer, “But there is just one thing…”
He was doing that intense thing again with his gaze. She felt her limbs liquefy.
“What’s that?” Her voice was scratchy. Jay’s face was close, she breathed in his cologne, fresh linen and wood. He smiled, his eyes crinkling.
“I’m not your boss yet,”
And then he kissed her.
***
“What graduate program?” Sloan Farmer looked at him, her pale gray eyes glittering with annoyance. “Jesus, Jay, what now? Another one of your pet projects that ends up costing me money?”
Jay looked at her coolly. “Technically, it’s still your dad’s money, Sloan, but no. We’ve been talking about doing something like this for years — why are you surprised?”
Sloan sighed and sat back in her chair. She and Jay had grown up, running around in the corridors of this magnificent office building, getting under the feet of their fathers. They’d come to love the workplace as much as their homes but somewhere along the way, Sloan had lost the joy in her life. When Jay’s father had died so suddenly, Jay had taken over his position, still only a few years out of college himself and Sloan had lost her playmate. When her own father had taken a step back from the business, early on-set Alzheimer’s taking its toll, Sloan had felt like she’d had to run to catch up. Now, though, she’d finally gotten the Board’s respect and she and Jay had taken their company to successes their fathers could have only dreamed of. They were about to launch their own television company, the workload was insane and now this. Sloan rubbed her eyes.
‘Jay…why now? We have so much on, we’re working every hour.” But she could see his mind was made up. What was the point of arguing? She sighed. “Okay then, I’ll ask Marnie to seek out some candidates for interview.”
Jay smiled. “No need. We have the ideal candidate already. Harvard graduate…”
“Jay, for the love of God, we need to…”
“Summa Cum Laude, business major”
“Still, there’s a proper way to…”
“Poached from Marshall Harrington.”
Damn it. He knew how to shut her up. Sloan loathed Marshall Harrington more than anyone; he was an overrated hack as far as she was concerned. She knew she was beaten. Her shoulders slumped and she threw up her hands.
“Fine, fine.”
Jay grinned that face-splitting, devastating smile of his. “Good. Because she’ll be here in an hour.”
***
Norah fiddled with the hem of her blouse, wishing she had the money to buy a new one. She had very few clothes to begin with and finding something appropriate for an interview was made worse by the fact her only suit had come off the worse in the accident with Jay. Now, though, she was more concerned by seeing him again and not wanting to finish that amazing, limb-shattering kiss.
She closed her eyes, reliving it now; the way his mouth moved against hers, firm, his soft lips shaping themselves around hers, his fingers sliding into her hair, holding her so tenderly yet she was never more aware of his strength, the feral man underneath. The kiss had gone on too long, until, oxygen deprived, she’d broken away, gasping.
“We shouldn’t have done that.”
Jay had smiled and she could help but touch his handsome face, smoothing her thumbs over the big cheekbones, the strong jaw. His green eyes were locked onto hers and she knew if he kissed again, now, in this moment, the night would end in his bed.
And she couldn’t risk it. Her body was yelling, screaming at her to let it happen but there was too much at stake. He’d offered her a lifeline with the job and a one-night stand — however tempting — couldn’t compare.
“Norah?” God, that voice. She opened her eyes and her body reacted without thinking, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine. Damn it, he was even better the second — or was it third? — time around. Jay smiled down at her. “Hey, you. Ready to get started?”
In a daze, she walked beside him to his office. It was a huge glass cube with stunning views over the city.
“Wow.” She went to the window and looked out. “How’d you get any work done? Look at that view.”
“I have a better view now.”
She turned to see him watching her, amused but with a fire in his eyes that was unmistakable. She tried to put a disapproving face. “Mr. McKittridge…there are workplace harassment laws, you know.” Her grin gave her away.
Jay laughed and motioned for her to sit next to him on one of the big leather couches. “Miss Quinn, you’re going to make that difficult. Seriously, though, welcome. I’m really excited about you coming here, I think it will be great for the company, great for you.”
She smiled but her forehead creased in bemusement. “Jay…we’ve known each other for what?”
He checked his watch. “About twenty-four hours.”
She shook her head. “So how do you know I’m the right fit? In that little time?”
Jay’s smile widened. “Most interviews are a lot shorter than that.”
Norah squirmed a little, embarrassed. “I just wanted to make sure that it wasn’t because…um…”
“That you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met? That I’m completely entranced with you?”
She flushed, mortified. “God no…”
“Because both of those things are true.” His voice was like melting chocolate and he leaned forward, his face close to enough to hers that she could see the dark blue rings around his green irises. “But that’s not why I hired you. They’re just the reasons that I kissed you. That as soon as the work day ends, I intend to kiss you again…if you’ll let me.”
God, yes. She let a long shaky breath. “Okay then.”
Jay sat back and grinned, his finely honed face relaxing boyishly. “As long as that’s clear. Now, you want to come meet some people?”
***
Hell, she was beautiful. Sloan ducked away from the door where she’d been watching Jay introducing the girl to Sloan’s secretary, Marnie. The jolt that had hit Sloan’s stomach when she took in the long, dark, waves that nearly fell to the girl’s waist, the large soft brown eyes, the curves of her body in that cheap suit was almost agonizing. But nothing to the pain when she took in Jay’s expression, the way his hand rested on the girl’s lower back, the light in his eyes. Sloan dragged a long breath into her lungs, her teeth locking together. Jesus. So Jay was bringing his girlfriend in, giving her a job (and, she’d discovered, a very generous starter salary). Sloan’s heart hardened. There was no way she’d let all her hard work be tainted by an inexperienced gold-digger.
She heard the soft knock on her door and steeled herself before turning. The young woman stood, obviously nervous, with Jay beaming at her side.
“Sloan Farmer, meet our first member of our Graduate Program, Norah Quinn.”
Sloan noticed the confused look that Norah Quinn shot Jay when he’d said ‘first’. Sloan felt faintly amused. Just another bimbo. She held out her hand and greete
d the newcomer coolly. She motioned to the chairs across the desk from her own.
“Welcome, Miss Quinn.”
“Norah.”
“Norah. So, Jay tells me we have the privilege of a Harvard graduate joining our team? Why don’t you tell me about your experience.”
Jay shot her a look which she returned evenly, daring him to argue with her. One of them needed to be a professional. Norah Quinn began talking in a low, but steady voice, detailing her time at college, the various part-time internships she’d taken on. As she listened, Sloan found herself impressed with the young woman’s commitment to her career, her obvious passion for her work.
“You did three internships at the same time? Did you sleep, at all?”
Norah Quinn grinned wryly. “Not a lot. But it was worth it.”
Sloan studied her. “Why didn’t you stay in New York? It seems to you had no end of opportunities there. Coming back to New Orleans, you had the grand choice of exactly two; us or Marshall Harrington.”
Norah’s face had shut down. “I had to come back…family reasons.” She offered nothing more and Sloan noticed that it was Jay’s turn to look confused. That was interesting. Sloan nodded between them.
“How long have you know each other?”
Norah and Jay looked at each other and grinned. “A day,” said Jay. “She tried to wreck my Mercedes by throwing herself onto the hood yesterday morning.”
ROMANCE: THE SHEIKH'S GAMES: A Sheikh Romance Page 51
