But that’s perhaps why Tanner’s handsome face keeps coming back to me.
In a world where no one listens, where men are just waiting to ask my number and not get to know me, he was a breath of fresh air.
The fact that I’ve never been attracted like that to anyone in my life has nothing to do with it.
The door to the conference room opens up, and Rod Dewans, one of the board members, sticks his head in.
“You have time for one more interview?”
I sigh. “Is he any different from the last ones?”
Mr. Dewans, who probably liked every other swaggering, blowhard interviewee we’ve had so far, looks at me with some confusion. “He’s different in that he came specifically recommended by a board member. We really can’t say no.”
I fold my arms, leaning back in my seat. Given that the board chose the last two candidates, I really don’t have high hopes for this one, but I can’t really say no. “Fine. Send him in.”
“His résumé should be in your inbox,” Mr. Dewans says, leaving the conference room to join up with some of the other VPs who are currently laughing loudly in the hallway over someone’s story about dating three models.
I shake my head at them as the door shuts, leaving me in silence to check over the latest résumé.
At least I have something to keep my mind off of Tanner, who I will probably never see again.
I click open the résumé, then narrow my eyes at the name at the top.
I shake my head, thinking it’s a common name, that it couldn’t possibly be the same person, but then—
“Hello, is this the place for an interview?” A calm, familiar voice jars me out of my shock and into even more shock when I turn to the door and see the man from last night.
In a suit, looking like he was born to rule the corporate world.
And of course, just like last night, my body reacts almost instantly to the sight of him.
I take a deep, shaky breath, trying to compose myself as he takes a seat next to me at the table rather than walking around to sit at the other end.
He looks over at me, and in the daylight, I can see that his eyes are actually a deep, deep navy. So dark they are almost black. But the long lashes, the sparkle whenever he eyes me, makes them beautiful, like obsidian or—
“I can see I’ve caught you off guard,” he says calmly. “That wasn’t my intention.”
I flash my eyes back and forth between him and the résumé, wondering if there is some kind of trick here.
Then it all falls into place.
New up-and-coming CEO hears about a job opening and goes to see the person who is in charge of hiring, pretending it’s just an innocent meeting.
I groan because the worst thing is that I fell for it.
Still, he probably would have gotten the interview anyway since he knows the board, so I might as well get this over it.
But did he kiss me knowing he would be back? Was it supposed to be some kind of inducement?
I feel a flush work its way up my neck and put a hand back to rub it away.
“Don’t worry about it,” I say, because if he wants things to be strictly professional, they’ll be strictly professional. “Let’s take a look at your résumé.”
He leans back, crossing his legs calmly. “Go ahead.”
I slant him a glare, still wondering what his game is. Either way, I have to do my best to grill him, because someone who would kiss me like that just to get a job at my company is definitely not someone I want to work with.
Plus, I might end up doing something stupid. Like kissing him again.
Think, Eva. I scroll through his résumé and narrow my eyes at his work experience. “Ha!” I point to a spot on the screen. “I need you to tell me more about this work you did at… Let me see… The Kingdom of Darkness?”
He blinks at me, long and slow, giving me a chance to stare at his face as his arms fold in front of his magnificent chest, which I’m not supposed to be noticing. “A large corporation I ran.”
“How many employees?”
He thinks for a moment. “Four hundred? Though, I had VPs as well.”
I rumple my brows for a moment, wondering why I haven’t heard of this company.
“It’s privately owned,” he says, smoothly turning to face me. “You wouldn’t have heard of them.”
No CEO needs to be as fit as he is. Or as gorgeous.
“Why did you want to work here, then, if you had such a good position?”
“I had to relocate,” he says coolly. Finally, a break in the armor, and I see a muscle twitch in that hard jaw.
A jaw you could cut apples with, I think somewhat dizzily.
Stay professional, Eva. We can’t have him as our CEO, even our interim CEO. He kissed you just to get a job.
I run a hand through my hair, letting a few strands fall free of my usually tight ponytail.
“Some of your references are a little sketchy,” I say, surprised I can even muster a normal tone. “Like, who is this… Brett Everfrost?”
He smirks slightly, perfect, carved lips tilting up at one side. “A friend and co-worker. He knows my prior work.”
I shake my head, closing my laptop as I turn to face him frankly. “Look, to be honest, your résumé is weird, but I’ve seen weirder, even today.”
“Sorry about that.”
I let out a sigh. “The thing is what I think isn’t really going to matter, as I told you at the bar. So if you were kissing me just to—”
He sits up abruptly, only looking taller and more intimidating. “I would never do that.”
I flush, staring at the table, then back at him. “Then why…?”
“I was just listening,” he said. “No intentions. No ulterior motives. I heard about a position and came to apply.”
“But you kissed me.” I’m red as a tomato now. I know it.
He grins then, and his large, elegant hand comes up to rub his jaw. “I couldn’t resist. But I promise I’m not here to trick you.”
“So this is what you meant by seeing me again?” I ask, thinking hollowly that I must have misunderstood everything.
“Yes,” he says frankly as I sit there wondering how everything could have gone so wrong.
I thought he would see me again for… Well, it doesn’t matter now. If we end up working together, we’ll have to be totally professional.
But I suppose he’s fine with that.
“Thanks for coming,” I say as I stand, extending a hand for him to shake to end the interview. “I don’t have any more questions.”
“That’s it?” He raises a dark eyebrow, standing as well.
“Yes,” I say. “If it’s up to me, you won’t get the job, because regardless of what you meant, it’s not a good idea to kiss someone in upper management just to—”
He moves in front of me, blocking my way to the door so I almost bump into his firm, wide chest in my rush to leave.
Heat pumps through me as I slowly look up at him.
“I told you,” he says. “I wasn’t planning to kiss you. I just… couldn’t resist.” He reaches out a hand and, to my shock, pushes a stray lock of my hair behind one ear. Even where his fingertips graze me is on fire.