by Lola Kidd
Chapter Four
“Who was that?” Stephanie asked her son.
Connor groaned. “No one, Mom.”
“It didn’t look like nobody.” She went to the window next to the door. “That girl is very pretty, and she’s got a nice, curvy little body on her, too. Just your type.”
“That’s one of the cleaning crews I’m interviewing.”
He really didn’t have time for this. He’d hustled out Mary, who was exactly his type and very nice to look at, because he needed to get on a conference call. He hadn’t cut his time with that gorgeous woman short so he could spend time with his mother.
“Can you ask her out, or is she the one you’re going to hire?”
“Everyone can’t be like Beckett. We don’t all use our staff as our dating pool.”
His mother put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to date her if you feel a spark. You don’t have to hire her if you want to date her.”
Connor chuckled. “I’m pretty sure that’s illegal. At the very least, it’s not very ethical. Usually, that’s called sexual harassment.”
His mother sighed. “It’s only harassment if the person doing it is rude. You don’t have to harass the poor girl.”
“Please forgive me if I’m not going to take career advice from a woman who hasn’t worked in more than thirty years.” Connor tapped his watch to try to hurry his mom out.
“If asking out your workers is sexual harassment, then your dad harassed the hell out of me.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what he did.” Connor threw his hands up. “You aren’t supposed to marry or date the people who work for you. There’s a clear conflict of interest there.”
He was going to be late for his meeting, but this took precedence. He hated how his mother wouldn’t stop going on about this. Ever since Beckett had married Lenni, she’d been trying to set him up with every pretty new hire who came through the door. It didn’t matter if they were his coworkers, subordinates, or people they were trying to get a contract with. No one was free of Stephanie Hansen’s matchmaking.
She waved her hand, dismissing his claim. “It was true love, not harassment. Your dad knew what he wanted and went after it. Besides, you haven’t hired her yet. Didn’t you think she was cute?”
“It doesn’t matter if she’s beautiful.”
“I didn’t say beautiful.” She smiled. “You do think she’s pretty. You’ve got her number, right? Give her a call. See if she wants to have dinner sometime.”
“I think I am going to give her a call. To hire her.” Connor grinned when his mother grimaced at his words. “Their bid was a little too high, but they still might be the right crew for the job. She has impeccable recommendations. And with that, I really have to go. I’m already late.”
“Maybe hold off on hiring her, then?” his mother said, walking with him.
“Just let me go to the meeting, Mom.”
They were at the door to his wing of the house.
“Have you been using MateMe?” his mother asked.
“I have a meeting, Mom.” He didn’t want to talk about that damn app right now, either.
“You’re already late for the meeting. So, about the app?”
“I have not.”
“I swear, you boys are so ungrateful. Your father created that app so the two of you could find mates. And here you are, turning your nose up at what he’s giving you.”
“He should have asked us, if that’s what his plan was. Both of us would have told him we didn’t want to use any kind of matchmaker. We’ve had them at our disposal before, and that hasn’t been our choice.”
“So, you won’t ask out pretty girls you meet, and you also won’t use a matchmaker. How are you ever going to find a mate?”
“I’m going to do it the old-fashioned way. I’m going to meet a woman who’s appropriate, and I’ll ask her on a date. If my lion is intrigued, maybe I’ll marry her.”
“Maybe? I swear, you’re going to be the death of me.”
“Mom, Beckett and Lenni are going to have a baby. Isn’t that exciting enough for you?”
“I’m happy about the baby, but you still need to find a mate, sugar.”
“I’ll find a mate when I’m good and ready. Right now, I’m going to focus on my career, living my life, and being happy. My mate will come along when she comes along. I’m not going to force it.”
“And that girl who came in to interview—what did your lion think about her?”
Connor thought for a moment. He hadn’t been paying much attention to his lion during the meeting. He’d been so rushed. There’d been a tell when he first saw Mary walk in, but that had happened with a lot of beautiful women.
And she was very, very beautiful.
Her long blonde hair and her shapely body were gorgeous. She’d turn the head of any man who passed her. But she seemed very matter-of-fact, and if the online reviews were true, she was good at her job. She had the best cleaning crew of anyone he’d talked to that day, and he didn’t know if he wanted to ruin that just to ask her on a date. His lion was interested, but that shouldn’t cost the woman a great contract.
Not that he was sure her company would get the job. But he didn’t want his lust to take her out of the running.
He knew that while his mother would be okay with any man hitting on her, that wasn’t the case with the women he worked with. It had worked for his older brother, but Connor didn’t want to go that route, even if the woman was as beautiful as Mary.
He could proudly say that he’d never, ever dated anyone he’d worked with. He’d never even been involved in flirtation when he could help it. He liked to keep things very matter-of-fact.
With all the problems he was having finding a cleaning service, he didn’t want to add any kind of relationship drama to the mix. His mother would never be able to convince him to change his mind.
“She seemed nice, but I didn’t think of her as anything more than a potential hire.”
“So, your lion wasn’t interested at all?”
“My lion didn’t even notice I was with a woman,” Connor lied. “Now, can I go?”
“Of course. But please think about using the app. Or doing something else if you refuse. I can’t think of the last time you had a girlfriend. If your lion doesn’t move for a pretty girl like that, I’m at a loss for how to help you.”
His mother hugged him and left him to go to his conference call. He knew she meant the best for him, but this wasn’t the time. She was right; it had been ages since he’d had a girlfriend. He was just picky.
Every woman didn’t make his lion jump. He knew a lot of beautiful women, but he was looking for something more. He wanted a deeper connection, something like what Lenni and Beckett had.
If it took him forever to find that, so what? He was a shifter—he had years to search for his perfect mate. But no matter what advice his mother gave him, and no matter how Beckett had found his mate, he knew it could never be someone he worked with. That was just inappropriate.
Chapter Five
Mary was waiting outside the meeting room. She’d gotten herself a second meeting with Connor. It was probably a lost cause, but that didn’t matter. She’d told him after losing the contract that she’d would appreciate a review of her pitch. She and Gina had sent him a thank you card and told him how much they would appreciate the help.
He had answered quickly and agreed, much to her surprise and delight. That was why she felt a little guilty. She didn’t need a review of her pitch. She knew why they hadn’t gotten the contract—their bid was too high. She was there with another intention: she wanted to ask him to give her the job. She knew that was unprofessional, but this was a last-ditch hope. She’d been trying to secure jobs over the last few days. All of them combined wouldn’t bring in the money that this one job at the Hansen mansion would.
They needed this. Even if she made a fool of herself, she wanted to try. He had acted as if
he really liked her. She was willing to bid lower. This was so unprofessional, but it was all she had left to try.
Her stomach flipped when she saw him coming down the hall. It would be better if he were less handsome. Now that all his baby fat was gone, it was hard to keep her nerves steady when she saw him. Today, he was wearing a slim-cut black suit with a white tie covered in red gems. Very formal for a meeting like this. She was wearing a simple sheath dress and wished she’d put on higher heels and done something else with her hair.
Standing next to him, she was always going to pale in comparison, but she’d have felt better in more formal dress. Being underdressed only added to her nerves.
“Nice to see you again, Mary.” He held the door to the office open for her. “Thanks for coming to meet me here.”
“No problem. I’m glad to get to see the building.”
Hansen Security headquarters was one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. It overlooked a sparkling lake and had a solid glass front. The grounds were immaculately landscaped, with lush trees, bushes in animal shapes, and flowers everywhere. It was like something out of a fairy tale. Honestly, she thought it was even more beautiful than their home.
Connor’s office, where they would be meeting, occupied the top floor. There was and office for his father and one for his brother also. She knew that Beckett never used his, and that it was more of a showpiece. He and his wife were jetsetters who traveled all over.
Beckett and Lenni Hansen’s wedding had been the talk of the town last year. It had been held outside here at the company’s headquarters. Since the grounds were so beautiful, it wasn’t that unusual, but she was surprised that they’d allowed press photographers to take pictures.
“I really appreciate you meeting with me,” she said, standing next to a chair.
“Please have a seat,” he said. He went around to his side of the desk and opened a folder. “Would you like something to drink before we begin?”
“I’d love some water,” she said.
She quickly looked around his office as he poured her drink. It was much more extravagant than his space at the house. It appeared that the Hansens were more concerned with having a lavish business front and were more minimal at home.
Most of the millionaires Mary worked for had lavish homes and very sleek offices. Connor and his family were very much the opposite. The mansion was modern and minimalist, with very few frills. It would be a dream to clean.
She was going to get to clean it, too. She was going to get this job.
It was important to keep a positive outlook. The more she told herself that she’d get the job, the more she felt it was true.
“It’s really no problem to meet with you,” he told her, handing a glass of water to her. “I’m glad to be able to help a young businesswoman starting out.”
“I’m not that young,” she admitted. “And I’m not just starting out, either.”
Connor frowned. “Have you just been having a string of failures, then?”
She shook her head, cheeks burning. “I actually was dishonest. I didn’t ask you to review my pitch. I’m here to ask you to please hire us.”
He rose from his chair. “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. I decided to go with a different company. Your bid didn’t attract me.”
“Whatever they’re offering, we’ll do it for half.” She didn’t stand up. She wouldn’t budge until she absolutely had to.
He went to the door and opened it. “That wouldn’t be fair to you. I don’t want to waste your time or underpay anyone.”
“If they’re willing to do the job for less, then so can we.” She still didn’t get up from her chair. “Please. I’m not usually one to ask for charity, but I’m begging you to give us this job. I know the other companies that you saw that day, and we do much better work than any of them. Please check our references.”
As she spoke, a beautiful blonde woman came to the door. Stephanie Hansen—Mary would have recognized the glamorous woman anywhere. She was Connor’s mother and Mr. Hansen’s second wife. She was a well-known figure in charity circles around town, and she’d spoken at Mary’s high school three times while she was there. Mary had gotten to meet her one of those times, and the older shifter’s presence had stuck with her.
She wished she could command the attention of a room like Mrs. Hansen could. No one would ever refuse her requests. She wouldn’t even have to ask for the job, because she would have already gotten it. Women like Stephanie Hansen always got ahead. If she hadn’t been so kind, it would be easy to hate someone so beautiful. But while Mary was envious of Mrs. Hansen’s beauty, she was more jealous of her confidence.
Now she stood up, tugging down her cheap dress as she unfolded herself from the seat. “I see you have another appointment. I’m sorry to keep you. I’ll leave you two alone.”
“No need to rush on my account. I came unannounced.” Stephanie extended her hand. “I’m Stephanie Hansen. And you?”
“Mary Sanders.” Mary shook her hand. “We’ve actually met before.”
Stephanie studied Mary’s face for a moment, and then her eyes lit up. “You went to high school here. I met you a few years back, right?”
“It’s so nice of you to remember. You must meet hundreds of people every year.” Mary was so flattered. She hadn’t thought anyone like Stephanie would ever remember someone like her.
“Now that I’m seeing you up close, I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you at the house last week. You were one of the prettiest girls at that school. I couldn’t believe someone as beautiful as you was on the math team. You really put me to shame.” Stephanie laughed. “My husband tells me I’m as pretty as a picture, but I’m as dumb as a rock when it comes to math. You’re one lucky girl: beauty and brains.”
Mary’s cheeks burned hotter than when she’d had to lie to Connor. “Oh, I’m not that good at math. Only average, really.”
Stephanie elbowed her son. “Pretty and humble. This is one is a keeper. I see why you wanted to meet with her again.”
Connor clenched his fists at his sides. “What do you want, Mother?”
“I came to take you to lunch, but I see you already have plans.”
“This is a business meeting,” Connor said. “Mary was just leaving, so I’m free.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Stephanie asked Mary. “My treat. I’d love to hear what you’re doing these days.”
“I run a cleaning company,” Mary said.
“Well, isn’t that nice. I’ve always admired women who are able to run their own companies,” Stephanie said, putting her hand on Mary’s arm. “My son is looking for a cleaning crew. Is that why you’re here?”
“She’s already hired,” Connor said quickly. He grabbed Mary by the arm and pulled her toward the door. “I was just telling her that I’d send her all the specifications in an email. I was going to go with another crew, but I’ve changed my mind. It was nice of her to agree to do the job on such short notice.”
Mary had no idea what was going on, but she could barely contain her excitement. He wanted her to agree with what he was saying. She wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth, but if she was going to get the job, she didn’t care. He wanted her away from his mother, and if that was all it would take to get this job, she’d play along with whatever he wanted.
“Thank you, Mr. Hansen. Send it to the email address you contacted before. I’m sorry I can’t join you for lunch, Mrs. Hansen. I need to get back to work.”
“If you’re going to be at the mansion,” Stephanie said, “I’ll be seeing you around. You have to come and have lunch with me one of these days. Don’t try to back out of it.”
Connor pushed her toward the door again. “Thank you, Ms. Sanders.”
Mary left the office nearly at a sprint. She didn’t need to stick around and sour whatever magic was happening.
After she got into the elevator and was alone, she jumped up and down. This had gone better than she coul
d have imagined. Whatever was going on with Connor and his mother, she didn’t care. She’d gotten a job. Mission accomplished!
Chapter Six
Connor gave his apartment a once-over before he opened the door. He knew that was strange, but everyone did it. When a maid was coming, you always had to make sure the place wasn’t too dirty.
One of his friends in high school hadn’t cleaned his room before the maids came, and one day, Connor had walked in while the cleaning crew was leaving. They were all talking trash about his friend. Connor knew he wasn’t the cleanest guy on earth, but he didn’t want to give Mary too bad of a first impression. He’d already been crazy enough with her. He didn’t want her to think he was a pig and trash-talk about him.
“It’s great to have you here,” he told her. “I hope you didn’t have too much trouble finding the place.”
He could have kicked himself over that terrible joke.
She laughed and shook her head. “No trouble at all. It’s almost like I’ve been here before. Crazy. Seriously, though, I’ll get out of your way and get started right away. Thank you again for the job. I don’t know how I can thank you enough for this great opportunity.”
“No need to mention it. You’re the one cleaning, after all. I should be thanking you.”
Mary had a supply caddy and was dressed in a pair of leggings and a loose-fitting brown top with her company’s logo on it. For a moment, Connor couldn’t help but picture her as a French maid in the ever-so-familiar get-up: skimpy black dress with a white apron and cap. He’d love it if she were cleaning his place dressed like that.
“This is for you.” He handed her a key from his pocket. “Sometimes I lock the door when I leave. In case I’m not here, you can let yourself in.”
“Keeping your mother out?” Mary took the key from him and slipped it into her cleaning caddy.
