“Well, you should have,” I say, stepping back and swatting his hand away. “Because if we do end up working together, I’ll expect you to only see me in a professional manner.”
I walk around him to open the door, gesturing for him to leave.
He gives me a long, slow look of pure heat as he heads to the door, then smiles slightly. “I’m not sure I could remain professional with such a temptation.”
I freeze because despite one urge to throw him out the building for his insolence, my other urge is to shut the door to the conference room, pull down the blinds, throw him onto the conference table, and have my way with him.
Instead, I bite my lip, looking for a comeback. “Well, if that’s the case, it’s probably best if we don’t work together.”
He shrugs. “I think the board has pretty much made their decision.”
I scowl, irritation and sexual tension reaching a peak within me. I push him through the door and out into the hall, trying to ignore the way my body reacts excitedly to even the slightest contact between us. “Board or not, if I have any say in this, you aren’t going to work here.”
“Why not?” He looks genuinely surprised, putting his hands in his pockets. “I think we’d work well together.”
Is he trying to give me a lascivious look, or does my body just take it that way?
“I—I just—it’s not a good idea. Not after last night.” Then, before I can change my mind or look into that handsome face again, I shut the door on him.
I’ve dedicated my life to this company. I’m not going to risk throwing it all away for someone who kissed me the night before he came in for an interview.
We can’t afford another CEO who doesn’t think he needs to be professional, even in the interim.
I turn away, reaching behind me for the string to close the blinds so I don’t have to look at him.
Then I hear his footsteps echo down the hallway as he finally gives up and walks away.
I sit down and open up an email to tell the board exactly what I think about them possibly hiring Tanner.
If I have any say in the decision, he’ll never so much as set foot in here again.
4
Eva
I stare down at the paper in front of me, my jaw dropped in disbelief that this is actually happening.
Tanner Shadeson, stealer of kisses and wooer of HR managers, plus the worst thing to happen to me in the past twenty-four hours, is being hired by Qualtechnics.
All they need is my signature.
I stare at the paperwork, the endless rows of tiny font almost blurring in front of me.
Around the wide, mahogany boardroom table, the other officers of the company have already broken off into little groups, chewing through time since the hiring decision was already made.
“Just dotting your I’s and crossing those T’s?” The familiar voice of Bill Steinman booms jovially from beside me.
“Just making sure nobody is trying to slip anything past me,” I reply, still angry at him and the others for going over my head and saying yes to Tanner without at least further investigating the man’s qualifications.
Across the room, said soon-to-be interim CEO is cavorting with two vice presidents, still looking as devastatingly handsome as he did earlier this morning.
I guess my gaze lingers a little too long, because he looks over at me. My heart stops momentarily as those dark eyes connect with mine.
Then he has the audacity to smile, and I tear my gaze from his, looking back at the contract on the table.
Is he just trying to torture me?
“I wouldn’t worry too much, Eva,” Bill says, lowering his voice so only I’m in earshot. “This whole thing is really just a formality until we get the right person for the job.”
“I thought the last guy was the right one for the job?” I reply wryly.
Bill just laughs to himself. “Nobody’s perfect, I suppose. But in the meantime, I think Tanner will be exactly what we need while all of us get things in order.”
Bill disappears to join an eager discussion of last night’s big game with his friends while I make my way down the last few addendums to Tanner’s contract.
I frown down at one that seems a little odd…
“You pay attention to detail. I like that.” A voice like black satin tickles my eardrums, making my senses perk in his direction.
Curse my inability to hate this man sufficiently to not be attracted to him.
“Yes, well, we both know how I feel about you being here,” I say with a sigh of pure resignation.
He leans against the table next to me, crossing his arms and making the fabric of his suit bunch around taut muscles, even more than I remember being there last night.
Be he a spy, a philanderer, or just the biggest tease in the northern hemisphere, I have this guys’ number, and I’m not letting anything slip by.
“Addendum 4.1a. It says I can terminate you at any time?” I ask.
“Yup,” Tanner says casually. But even though his body is relaxed, I always feel like he’s watching me when I’m not looking.
And I’m constantly, intensely aware of it.
I look away from the paperwork, mirroring him as I cross my own arms. “What’s your play, Shadeson?”
He smirks. “Please, just Tanner. And to answer your question, there is none.”
“How could there be no play, no bamboozle here? Nobody in their right mind adds in something that makes it easier for them to get fired.”
He shrugs, making his suit bunch around his shoulders. “You were the one who said you wished you could have fired the last CEO sooner, right?”
I just stare at him, speechless, because it’s oddly thoughtful for him to remember such a small detail from the night we met.
There he is, breaking through all the walls I try to put up as easily as if they were made of tissue paper.
“Well, that’s true,” I say softly.
“This is me giving you the power to do exactly that.” Tanner stands up, arms still folded, and I feel incredibly small whenever he’s at his full height. “That is if you’re not satisfied with my… performance.”
I feel that rush of attraction again. The same one I felt last night.
Is it hot in here? It’s definitely hot in here. Maybe I should email maintenance after we’re done.
I don’t know if we’re staring at each other for two seconds or two minutes when Morgan Richards, chief financial officer and lackey to Bill, interrupts us.
“A free termination clause right there in the paperwork? Our newest hire sure is a funny one, isn’t he?” Morgan grins widely behind large glasses, and pats Tanner on the shoulder.
Tanner makes an odd face at Morgan, as if he is unfamiliar with the way he’s being touched.
“I believe my presence here should be approved. If I’m not welcome, then I think Eva has a right to say so, seeing as she’s in charge of personnel,” he exclaims.
“Knowing Eva, it’ll be your funeral, Tanner!” some random VP announces loudly to the room, eliciting uproarious laughs.
“It’s been nice knowing ya!” More laughs.
Har-har-har, very funny, guys. Sorry for actually caring about what happens to the company.