by M. E. Carter
Speaking of Rian… I can’t get her off my mind and I can’t for the life of me figure out why. She’s not my type in any way, shape, or form. Not just in her body type, which is larger than I typically go for, although she has a nice rack, that’s for sure. But she’s also too intelligent for my tastes. And witty. And funny. And charming.
Because who wouldn’t want a woman like that? Me. That’s who. All those personality traits lead to a life in commitment-ville and all the drama that comes with it. That’s one place I have no interest in moving.
Still, I can’t get her out of my head. Is it lust? I don’t think so. But she’s captivated me in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. Maybe it was the enchiladas. Lord knows I almost caved and asked her for a taste. I haven’t had creamy sauce like that in so long. Next to my bland chicken, they looked like heaven on a plate.
The moan Rian let out when she took her first bite didn’t help either. Nothing makes your own dinner lose all its flavor than when the woman next to you makes sex noises while eating.
And I’m back to the lust issue I can’t figure out. Not that I should be thinking about it anyway. I have work to do, and clearly, it’s not going well.
Giving up on reading the latest memo from Karen about the insurance issues we’re still dealing with, my fingers hover over my keyboard. I’m so tempted to google Rian’s name and see what it comes up with. That’s not weird, right? I’m the Chief Operations Officer at the fastest growing security firm in Chicago. Knowing everything about people is part of my job, isn’t it?
Continuing the debate in my head, images of last night keep flashing through my mind.
“All I want is a baked chicken breast and some steamed vegetables on the side, but I don’t see it on the menu,” I tell the waitress who is listening way too intently to me. I’m used to it, though. She’s not the first one to lean into me making sure I have a nice view of her cleavage. And I’m certainly not complaining about it. “Is it possible for the chef to make it?”
“Sure,” she purrs. And yes, her words are definitely a purr. Down pussycat. I’m dining with friends. “What kind of vegetables do you want, and do you want them seasoned or cheese on top?”
Handing her the menu to give us a bit of distance, I smile kindly at her. “I’d love some broccoli and cauliflower if you have it. And no need for seasoning or cheese. I’ll just salt and pepper when it gets here.”
Pussycat moves over to Rian who orders the three cheese enchiladas dinner. I remember when I used to eat enchiladas. They were my favorite. But losing them is a small price to pay to keep this body in shape.
As the waitress makes her way around the table, I take the opportunity to get to know Rian a little better. She seems nice and if Tabitha likes her, that speaks volumes. It’s not that Tabitha dislikes anyone. She just keeps her circle small. I’m not completely sure how I even got in it.
“So, Rian.” I lean in on the table so we can hear each other better. “When you’re not at the gym or dining out with friends, what do you do?”
For a brief second, she looks almost surprised that I’m talking to her. Strange.
“I’m a customer service rep at Sandeke Telecom.”
Not at all what I was expecting her to say, but also piques my interest. The Sandekes own a whole lot of this town, some legitimately. Some not so much. And while the Telecom business is on the up-and-up, I can’t help wondering what kind of environment it is to work in. Like the saying goes, it all starts at the top. Quinn’s ability to drive everyone in our office crazy is proof of that.
“Yeah?” I say noncommittally, not wanting to ask the questions I really want answers for like, “Is it as misogynistic in your company as I hear it is in their other businesses?” Instead, I stick with “What all does that entail?”
She shrugs, still looking a bit confused as to why I’m speaking to her. But why wouldn’t I? We’re having dinner. She may not be my type, but I’m not a total asshole.
“Technically, it’s customer service, but really it’s a lot of up sales.” She takes a quick sip of her margarita before continuing. “When people call in about their package or wanting to cancel, they’re transferred to me so I can find out what’s really going on. Then I present them with several options that might be better suited to their needs.”
For the second time, she’s caught my attention. Only this time, it’s not as her dinner mate. It’s as an operations manager who is always on the look-out for people with particular skill sets.
“Sounds like you’re more of an account manager than customer service rep.”
She shrugs and I can’t help but notice she didn’t realize I was giving her a compliment. “I suppose. Except I don’t follow up with anyone, so I don’t really manage anything.”
“Maybe not, but don’t sell yourself short. Up sales are hard. Especially if customers are already calling to cancel.”
“You’re telling me,” she half says, half grumbles.
We glance over at Tabitha and Frank who are leaning so close to each other, they’re practically sitting on each other’s laps. Not unusual for them, especially when Tabitha is drinking. I don’t think they’ve ever hooked up; at least she’s never told me they have. But if this goes on for much longer, tonight might just be the night.
After watching them for a few seconds without them noticing, I realize whatever they’re discussing is going to stay between them, so I might as well not interrupt. Rian seems to figure that out at the same time I do, if the slight blush on her cheeks is any indication.
“So,” she says, turning back to me, “what do you do when you aren’t at the gym or dining out with friends?”
I smile at her tossing the same words at me that I just gave her. “I’m the Chief Operations Officer at Cipher Security Systems.”
Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Wow. That’s a fancy title.”
“Fancy title. Not so fancy job.”
“You sure?” she jokes playfully. “I bet you have a fancy office with a fancy chair and a fancy desk. I bet even your assistant is fancy. Am I right?”
“I don’t know anymore. You’ve said the word fancy so many times, it’s lost all meaning.”
Rian laughs and I’m shocked by my own reaction to the sound. It’s deep and throaty and makes my nerve endings feel like she’s touching all over my whole body. It feels an awful lot like lust. What in the world is happening to me? I shouldn’t be attracted to this woman for any reason except some interesting conversation while our other friends ignore us. Except, that’s not what’s happening. For whatever reason, this woman has caught my eye and I don’t understand it. At all.
“I hate when that happens.” I don’t remember what she’s talking about at this point, but I let it go. “I just mean it sounds like you have a really important job. Definitely important enough that I wouldn’t expect to see you at a place like Jose Jose.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “What’s wrong with Jose Jose?”
She shrugs playfully taking another sip of her drink. If she keeps this up, she’ll need another one soon. “I suppose it doesn’t seem fancy enough for a guy like you.”
“There’s that word again,” I groan.
She just laughs, and that same sensation runs over my skin. Maybe I’m getting a fever. Surely that’s a more logical explanation that lust, right?
“I just mean it sounds like you have a lot of responsibility and clout. Seems like it would be hard to make time for dinner out just for fun.”
I take a breath as I decide how to answer. She’s not wrong. The title does sound that way. Pretentious, almost. But that’s not the way Cipher Systems operates. “From a business model standpoint, it seems like I’d be at the office all the time.” She nods in understanding. “But from an operational standpoint, that’s not how we work. The bulk of our company is round the clock, yes. But mostly that’s out in the field. The part that I do is more in support of all that. And I’m really good at being proactive in that sens
e. Well, when my boss is keeping me in the loop.” Her eyebrows raise in question and I wave her off. “He’s just having a rough few weeks. Normally, there are no issues. But for the most part, my day is pretty much scheduled from the time I walk in until the time I leave. Once it’s over for the day, it’s truly over and I’m free.”
“That’s good.” Rian drains her drink and pushes her mug to the center of the table. I gesture to it, but she shakes her head indicating she doesn’t want another. “I know the chief anything officer typically doesn’t have a life outside of work. At least not at my company. I’m sure it makes it hard to have a relationship of any kind, so that’s good that you have that kind of freedom.”
“Oh. Well, I have no interest in a relationship of any kind anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. I just like that I’m not chained to a desk.”
She cocks her head slightly like she can’t believe what she’s hearing. “No interest whatsoever? Not even if she just falls into your lap?”
I sit up straight and shake my head back and forth slowly. “No way. Relationships are messy and pointless. It’s much easier to just be single and enjoy life as a bachelor.”
This time, her brow furrows. I’m not sure why the voluntary single life is such a hard concept for people to understand. Why does everyone have to pursue a dating relationship?
“Sorry.” She shakes her head and the expression off her face. “I’m not trying to be judgmental. I just don’t know anyone this age who wouldn’t be interested in finding someone to share their life with.”
She’s not wrong. Most people I know are all about finding “the one”. “Nope. I’ve never wanted to be tied down. Not in my twenties. Not in my thirties. Not now. Single life is the way I like it.” I don’t know why I feel the need to justify myself to her, but now that this can of worms has opened up, I can’t seem to stop the words from crawling out of my mouth, no matter how inappropriate they may seem. “I don’t mind having a physical relationship with someone, but only short-term.”
“So, you’re all about the sex,” she deadpans. Not that I should be surprised. I’ve had conversations like this before.
“Yes, but not like you think.”
“Really?”
I catch the disbelief in her tone, but I ignore it. I’m oddly used to it by now. “Really. You know how when people fall in love, they say they’ve finally found their purpose for being here? Like being with that other person is their reason for being?”
She shrugs. “I guess. That’s a weird way of saying it, but I suppose I understand the sentiment.”
I nod. Maybe she will understand. “I feel like my purpose in being here is to give women pleasure. It’s not about getting my rocks off, ya know? It’s about letting a woman feel beautiful in that most intimate moment. It’s about showing her that she’s worth taking my time with. She’s worth the effort of giving her that kind of pleasure. And I’m good at it. I know that sounds cocky and arrogant, but it’s important to me that when I’m with someone, she knows in that moment, she’s worth it.”
Done with my rant, I wait for Rian to respond. When she doesn’t, I look up at her, but can’t decipher what she’s thinking. She’s not moving and it’s like her entire body has frozen. I open my mouth to ask what’s wrong, but I’m cut off by a baked chicken breast and broccoli dropping down in front of me.
Once everything is placed in front of us, our pussycat waitress asks if we need anything else. Rian immediately responds with, “I’m gonna need another drink.”
I smile at her with confusion because she just told me a few minutes ago she didn’t want another. Maybe she changed her mind because the food is here.
“Mr. Davies?”
My name being called through my intercom breaks me away from my thoughts of last night. Thank goodness. I was about to fall down the rabbit hole of how a really fun and insightful conversation suddenly turned awkward. I’m still not sure what Rian’s change in demeanor was about. And she eventually warmed up again, but I don’t like the thought that maybe my honesty changed her opinion of me.
Not that it matters. She’s not my type. Right?
“Nancy wants to know if you have time to meet about those two open positions,” Teresa, my assistant, says.
“Shit,” I grumble and run my hand down my face. If Nancy, who is our hiring manager amongst a myriad of other things, wants to meet, that means she’s having a hard time finding what we need through our regular channels. “Yeah. When is she free?”
“She was hoping you’d have time in the next ten minutes or so.”
A quick glance at my desk calendar doesn’t show anything that’s not already accounted for. “That works.”
“Okay. I’ll let her know. Do you need anything before she gets here?”
Some focus maybe. But I don’t think Teresa can help me with that. “No thanks. I’m good.”
“Alright. Just let me know if that changes.”
She clicks off, and I turn back to my computer. Despite my current predicament, Rian comes to mind again. Something she said last night about her job makes me curious about her. Well, that and everything else.
But one little Google search wouldn’t hurt, right?
Before I can second-guess myself, I type her name into the search bar and wait to see what happens. It takes only a few seconds for her name on the same line as Sandeke Telecom to come up.
Clicking the link, it takes me to their website page where all the employee awards are listed.
“What is this?” I whisper to myself, leaning closer to my screen. Not only is Rian listed as being one of the top twenty customer service agents company wide, she’s been given that honor multiple times.
As I keep scrolling, I find myself more and more impressed. She downplayed herself when talking about her job last night. She’s not just good at her job; she’s one of the best. I can feel my eyes widen the more I scroll.
“Holy shit.”
I need her resume on file, and I need it stat.
Chapter Seven
RIAN
Cocking my head, I just watch as she runs. It’s oddly fascinating. Like watching a baby deer galloping through the forest. Running on tiptoes, back stiff and straight, knees coming all the way to her chest, looking like she’s going to step right off the front edge.
Then she stops, placing her feet on either side of the treadmill as it continues to spin. Turns the treadmill up faster, redoes her ponytail, messes with her music, gets back on and runs more. A little faster. Like she’s loping through the forest now.
Then she stops. Does her ponytail again. Messes with her music again. Turns up the treadmill again.
Now she’s running. Like a bear is chasing her. But would the bear catch her when she—
Stops again. More ponytail doing. More music messing. And I’m thoroughly confused now.
“Having a good time watching Bambi?”
“You guys call her that? That’s so rude.”
Abel snorts through his nose. “Actually, it’s her real name. Her running style has nothing to do with it. Although I do enjoy the coincidence.”
“Is that what it takes to have a body like that? To run like, like…”
“Like a deer?”
“Yeah.”
“No. What she’s doing has zero health benefit at all.”
“Really?” I try to glance at him, but still can’t take my eyes off… whatever it is she’s doing.
“She runs for ten seconds and stops. I run further than that from my couch to the fridge. If your heart doesn’t get a good solid pounding going, it’s just a waste of energy.”
“But she’s so skinny. With such big boobs,” I add to myself.
“Body type, babe. Some of the unhealthiest people I know are rail thin. That’s why we work on health, not size.”
I shrug to myself, remembering Francesca’s words and her own struggles with cholesterol. It’s better than focusing on the fact that Abel just called me babe. I know he means nothing o
f it, but I’m a full-blooded American woman. I recognize a hot guy when I see one, and Abel is definitely a hot guy.
“Speaking of health…”
I groan, knowing he’s about to try to get me on that treadmill again. He’ll call it “encouragement.” I’ll call it “harassment.” Tomato, tomahto. Either way he’ll end up convincing me to get back on Satan’s belt of death.
“Don’t groan. You haven’t even heard what I have to say yet.”
“If you want me to stand on the treadmill next to Bambi, the answer is no.”
Abel lets out a low chuckle. I’m glad one of us thinks this is funny. “I wouldn’t be so cruel.”
Crossing my arms, I give him an evil glare. “Because you know people will be doing a size comparison if I’m standing next to her?”
“No. Because I know you’ll get distracted when she starts galloping and face-plant. I hate cleaning blood out of tread.”
I open my mouth to say something witty, but I got nothing. He’s right. She’s so fascinating to watch, I’d fall long before I got up to a meandering speed.
“I have a different proposition for you,” he says, an evil gleam in his eye. I roll my eyes because I’ve already fallen for his trap once. I don’t want to do it again. “Don’t make that face at me. I only want to know if you’ve given any thought to doing my introductory weightlifting class. Free of charge,” he tacks on quickly.
“You mean free the first time, right?”
He shrugs right back at me. “What can I say? I’m trying to make a living here. Besides, you may really like it.”
I look up at the ceiling and let out a dramatic sigh. I’m going to do it. There’s no doubt about that. But I can’t just jump into the class without making Abel squirm at least a little bit. I’m already trying to lose part of myself in a very literal sense. All I have left is my manipulation techniques and melodramatics to win people over.
