“Why don’t we go around the room and open the floor for possible agenda items for our next meeting?” Kate said. “I’d love to hear what you all think are some of our most pressing women’s issues here at Lexington Industries.”
“That’s a great idea,” Grant said.
Some of the women were more enthusiastic than others. One woman spoke about the need for a breastfeeding room. Another spoke about mixing family responsibilities with work and how flexible hours in the workplace would be a great asset to working moms and dads. An older woman advocated for equal pay for women, which had been the issue I’d planned to speak about since I had personal experience with it. Two women passed on speaking, saying they needed to give it some thought, and then it was my turn. I’d been about to second the other woman’s comments on equal pay when I felt Grant’s eyes on me. At the last second, I decided to screw with him.
“I think sexual harassment needs to be addressed. Things like a boss or a boss’s boss’s boss asking a woman out to lunch.”
Grant kept his face stern, yet I caught the slight tick of the muscle in his jaw.
“Absolutely,” Kate said. “Things like that should never happen.”
Grant cleared his throat. “I do a lot of business over meals. It’s partially out of necessity because there are only so many hours in the day. Are you saying we should put an end to the practice of people sharing lunch altogether?”
I addressed him directly. “Not at all. But it’s a slippery slope, and it’s often difficult for a woman to know if a man is inviting her to lunch to discuss business or if there’s more to it.”
Grant held my eyes for a few heartbeats and then gave a curt nod. “Very well. Add that to the agenda for our next meeting.” He stood abruptly. “I think this has been a good start. I’ll have my assistant type up notes and schedule the next meeting.”
Kate looked just as confused as most of the people at the table. But I got the feeling she was used to her brother’s abruptness. She smoothed things over. “Yes, we appreciate you all taking time to kick things off with us, and we look forward to addressing the many unique needs of women in the workplace. I think this committee is going to do very good things for Lexington Industries. Thank you for making the time, everyone.”
I stayed in my seat as people got up, eavesdropping on a conversation between Grant and Kate.
“You decide to create this committee, come up with a flimsy agenda three hours ago, and stick me at the head of the table to punt.” Kate shook her head. “I finally get things going, and you grow bored. Do me a favor, don’t take an interest in any committees anymore.” She shuffled the papers in front of her and turned on her heel to walk out.
I rose and headed for the door. But I felt Grant walk up behind me. He discreetly took my elbow and steered me to the right as we exited the conference room.
“Can we speak for a moment?” he whispered.
“Sure. Would you like to hear more about my thoughts on sexual harassment?” I offered a smug smile.
His jaw flexed, and I continued to walk by his side down the hall to his office. Arriving, he extended a hand for me to walk in first. “This is me being a gentleman. I hope it’s not a form of harassment.”
Grant spoke to his assistant from the doorway while I took a look around his office. It was large, the proverbial corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows covering two walls, a masculine-looking, carved, dark wood desk in the center, and a separate seating area to one side. A framed photo on a credenza caught my attention—Grant and his two sisters with an older woman, who I assumed might be his mother. Though I didn’t ask when he walked in and joined me.
He motioned to the seating area. “Please, have a seat.”
He took the seat across from me, unbuttoned a cufflink, and started to roll up one of his shirtsleeves. “So…your boss’s boss’s boss asking you to lunch is sexual harassment?”
My eyes had been glued to his muscular forearms. I blinked a few times and looked up. I’d been teasing him when I said that in the conference room, but the look in his eyes wasn’t playful. “I was just screwing around with you.”
“So you didn’t find it harassing when I asked you to lunch to discuss your reinstatement?”
I’d actually been referring to when he’d asked me to lunch before I knew who he was. But Grant looked genuinely concerned that he’d upset me. I felt like I should let him off the hook.
I shook my head. “I never felt harassed. Sexual harassment is an unwelcome sexual advance. You never propositioned me once I knew who you were, and, if I’m being honest, any advance you made in the coffee shop wasn’t unwelcome.”
His shoulders visibly relaxed. “I apologize if I put you in a precarious position in the coffee shop.”
I was honest. “It’s okay. Like I said, it wasn’t unwelcome.”
Grant seemed to avoid looking at me. He nodded and finished rolling up the other sleeve before standing. “Thank you for your candor.”
I stood. “Of course.”
A moment of awkwardness settled in between us. I was acutely aware of how much my body liked being this close to him. The air had a crackle to it whenever he was near, and I didn’t think I was the only one who felt it—probably not the best thing to be thinking about right after the meeting we’d just had.
“Okay…well…I’ll see you at the next meeting, I guess.”
Grant nodded. He looked like he wanted me to leave his office almost as much as I wanted to leave…which was not at all. Nevertheless, I took a few steps toward the door. Then I changed my mind. If I could be candid, so could he.
“Can I ask you something?” I said.
“What is it?”
“Did you make up the women’s committee while you were on the phone with me? Or was it something you had in the works?”
Grant raised one brow. “You’re very full of yourself, aren’t you? The president of a multinational company makes up an entire initiative just to have the chance to spend a little time with you?”
I felt my cheeks heat. I knew how egotistical it sounded... I laughed nervously. “I guess that is a little insane.”
Grant stepped closer to me. “It would also be highly inappropriate, wouldn’t it now?”
I could’ve sworn there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. Damn, my imagination was really having a field day. I needed to get the hell out of here. “Yes. Yes, I suppose it would be.” I shook my head. “I should get back to work.”
I suddenly had the urge to flee and headed for the door.
As I reached the doorway, Grant called after me. “Ireland?”
I turned back. Dear God, the man was handsome. He was the kind of gorgeous your eyes snagged on while walking and made you trip over your own two feet—basically the dangerous kind women should keep away from, particularly with the cocky smile he wore on his face.
“I’m glad we’ve cleared up that any advance wasn’t unwelcome. I’ll see you around…soon.”
My brain felt like it was misfiring as I walked out of his office. What the hell had just happened? I’d admitted that I welcomed any advance by him, and he’d admitted what…?