by Megan Bryce
Mackenzie forced her concentration back to her work but she knew where he was. She could tell by the murmur of voices, the laughter. No one seemed to be able to do any kind of work when he was near and she didn’t know how anyone in the New York office got anything done. She thanked God every time Ethan visited that Los Angeles wasn’t his home base.
The murmuring and laughter grew closer and louder. He’d picked up an audience and people found things to do near her office. The most charming man in the world vs. the woman who said what she thought and never pandered to authority.
Round one. Ding.
“Hello, Mackenzie. Hard at work, I see.”
She looked up at tall, lean man and kicked herself. She never remembered how good he looked. When he was away she easily forgot how his long eyelashes framed green eyes with a hint of playful devil in them. And how his blond hair framed a face so pretty it just couldn’t be real.
“Hello, Mr. O’Connor. Causing a fuss again?”
He smiled and shut her door behind him. She gave him a look that quite clearly said what she thought about that and he laughed.
She stood and walked around him to open the door, wishing she’d worn higher heels. With Ethan she needed all the help she could get.
“You’re not playing by the rules, Ethan. They’ll bug my office if they can’t hear the show.”
She heard him opening and shutting the drawers of her desk and she sternly hid her smile before she turned around.
She said, “How many desks do you search on your walkthroughs? I’m pretty sure that’s unprofessional.”
He held up the candy he’d found and said, “Talk about unprofessional, what is this?”
“A box of Hot Tamales.”
“And where is the chocolate, Ms. Wyatt?”
She pursed her lips. “I may be able to find some but you’ll have to sit in this chair–” she tapped the supremely uncomfortable chair in front of her desk, “–to get it.”
He grinned, plopping into her cozy, ergonomic chair and propping his feet up.
“Nice try.”
“At least you didn’t find my Snickers.”
He ripped open the box. “I like these.”
“I’m sure you throw up anything you eat in my office, just in case.”
He choked. “Maybe I should have been, but I haven’t.”
Mackenzie shrugged. “You’re not dead yet.”
Ethan eyed the box of candy, shaking it and looking for anything suspicious, and then ate a handful.
“I like to live dangerously.”
She sat down, slouching in the uncomfortable chair. “To what do I owe this visit? I’ll make a note to stop whatever it is.”
“I had to come congratulate the office, and the person, who made such a great sale.” He nodded at her like a king approving his royal decree.
Mackenzie couldn’t help the cat-that-ate-the-canary grin. She’d made him a lot of money over the years but this sale had been a doozy. Her commission had been a doozy.
And truthfully, that was why she was allowed to taunt and insult the boss. He may find her amusing, but no one made more money for him than she did. And they both knew it.
He plopped some more candy in his mouth. “I’ve decided to celebrate that little piece of magic with a company picnic this Friday. I knew you needed a personal invitation or you wouldn’t show.”
“Picnics aren’t really my kind of thing.”
“There will be a very competitive game of softball and I’ve heard you can play.”
“Unfortunately, I’ve already arranged for Friday off.” Or she would as soon as he left. “You’ll have to find someone else to win that game for you.”
His feet slid off her desk and he leaned forward onto his elbows. He smiled fully, his white teeth flashing. They were probably caps.
“Oh, Mackenzie. I know you’ll only play for me when money’s involved. I signed you up for the other team.”
Her breath hitched a nanosecond too long and his smile widened.
Mackenzie got her breathing back under control with a grimace. It had only been a slight slip but he’d seen it. Had been watching for it. And that was exactly why Ethan was so dangerous. He found your weakness, then dangled irresistible bait. And boy, did she want to beat him. She wanted to wipe that smile off his face and make him sweat.
She forced herself to say, “Although I’d love to watch you lose, I still have plans.”
He shook his head. “I hate to do this to you but you leave me no choice. I’m making this a requirement of your continued employment.”
“Are you saying you’ll fire me if I don’t attend this celebratory picnic and play a game of softball?”
Ethan nodded his head sadly. “I am sorry but it means that much to me.”
Mackenzie shook her head, a pity-filled smile playing at the corner of her lips. “If you’ll hand me the small notebook in my top right drawer. Yes, thank you.”
She flipped to the middle and made a notation. “Ethan, you’re losing your touch. It’s only been one week since you last threatened to fire me.”
“One week? Are you sure?”
“You called and left a voicemail congratulating me on my sale and said if I didn’t return your call you’d have to let me go.”
“Oh, yes. I do remember that. You didn’t return my call.”
“You didn’t fire me.”
He smiled at her. “Then I guess we’re at an impasse. You’ll have to come play softball to see who really has the upper hand between us.”
“I’ll see if I can rearrange my schedule.”
He swiveled in her chair for a few seconds, then stood. “Excellent. Keep up the good work, Mackenzie.”
He waltzed out her door and she took a deep breath. She was going to annihilate him at softball. No matter if he had her right where he wanted her, it would be worth it.
She reclaimed her chair and ignored how warm it was and how she could smell his faint aftershave.
Ethan popped his head around the corner and said, “Next time have a Snickers.” And then he winked.
Mackenzie stood, shutting the door firmly behind him.
Next time she’d have a mouse trap.
Copyright
The Tie’s The Limit
The Fashionista and The Geek, Book Two
Copyright © 2018 by Megan Bryce
To my husband–
Who does everything I can’t (websites, spiders, etc).
You complete me.
And to Lynn-
Who loves sparkles,
and who came up with the title!
[email protected]
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