brothers. “This new stuff is far beyond what I’m trained in, and I’d feel much better knowing that I have the authority to contact her if anything goes wrong,” he glances at me as he finishes his sentence. I’m quite surprised and pleased that he wants to continue to work with me.
“I don’t see any reason why not,” James says in a clipped tone. “Stephanie, if you would prepare some sort of contract for long-term consultation, I’ll have Kate look at it and we can proceed accordingly.” I swallow the lump in my throat that’s suddenly appeared. James doesn’t seem very happy with this idea.
“Actually, Kate would be the one to prepare it so why don’t we just meet with her together and save us both some time and money,” I say pragmatically, looking him directly in the eye. I don’t have a clue what’s going on with him, but I’m not going to let him see me sweat.
“I’ll ask Simone to set it up on my way out,” Joe says quickly. He and Jason stand and leave but James stays where he is, not breaking eye contact with me. We continue this standoff for a few more seconds before I break.
“Is there a problem, Mr. Owens?”
“Are you sassing me, Ms. Edwards?” My heart rate spikes and my cheeks flush. What’s going on here?
“I’m not sure what you mean. You’re the one who seems pissed off.”
“Well, then you’re reading this all wrong. I want to be very clear here. I’ve been fighting with myself since you started working here. I’m attracted to you in a way I’ve never felt before. Staying away from you has been a struggle, but I’ve done it because I want to keep things on a professional level, but it’s becoming more and more difficult. Now keeping you on the payroll for an indefinite length of time only means that I will never be able to explore what could happen between us.” His eyes never leave mine and I feel like I’m being swept away. It’s like he’s been reading my mind.
“Being a consultant doesn’t make me your employee, James. Besides, I’d like to see where this could go as well. From the moment I met you I’ve felt like I know you. I appreciate the need to be professional, but our initial contract will end next week. Perhaps…”
“Will you have dinner with me?” he asks, interrupting me. I can’t get over how vulnerable he looks right now.
“Yes, I will, when I finish out what I’m here to do.” There’s nothing I’d like more than to spend time with this man.
“Thursday then. We’ll have dinner on Thursday,” he says as he stands. I mirror his action. He takes a step toward me and I think he’s going to kiss me. I close my eyes and take in his scent; something spicy and incredibly sexy. When nothing happens I peek out from under my lashes and James hasn’t moved. I’m so embarrassed that I take a small step backward to get some breathing room. Unfortunately my heel hits the chair and throws me off balance. I start to fall to the side but I don’t ever hit the floor. James has his arms around me, saving me from further humiliation.
“Sorry,” I stutter as I try to get back to my feet. He doesn’t let me go and if I’m honest with myself, I don’t want him to.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispers as he leans down. I can feel his breath on my lips and I know what he’s about to do. I part my lips slightly in anticipation, knowing that one kiss just isn’t going to be enough.
“James, you have a call on line two,” Simone’s voice comes through the speaker phone, breaking the spell. James pulls me to my feet and we both step away from each other.
“I’ll get it in a second,” James says loudly. I straighten my clothes and walk away, leaving the office without looking back.
I t takes several seconds to get my breathing and my cock under control. What the fuck was I thinking?
“James, are you going to answer the call or do you want me to take a message?” Simone’s voice comes through the speaker again.
“I
“I don’t see any reason why not,” James says in a clipped tone. “Stephanie, if you would prepare some sort of contract for long-term consultation, I’ll have Kate look at it and we can proceed accordingly.” I swallow the lump in my throat that’s suddenly appeared. James doesn’t seem very happy with this idea.
“Actually, Kate would be the one to prepare it so why don’t we just meet with her together and save us both some time and money,” I say pragmatically, looking him directly in the eye. I don’t have a clue what’s going on with him, but I’m not going to let him see me sweat.
“I’ll ask Simone to set it up on my way out,” Joe says quickly. He and Jason stand and leave but James stays where he is, not breaking eye contact with me. We continue this standoff for a few more seconds before I break.
“Is there a problem, Mr. Owens?”
“Are you sassing me, Ms. Edwards?” My heart rate spikes and my cheeks flush. What’s going on here?
“I’m not sure what you mean. You’re the one who seems pissed off.”
“Well, then you’re reading this all wrong. I want to be very clear here. I’ve been fighting with myself since you started working here. I’m attracted to you in a way I’ve never felt before. Staying away from you has been a struggle, but I’ve done it because I want to keep things on a professional level, but it’s becoming more and more difficult. Now keeping you on the payroll for an indefinite length of time only means that I will never be able to explore what could happen between us.” His eyes never leave mine and I feel like I’m being swept away. It’s like he’s been reading my mind.
“Being a consultant doesn’t make me your employee, James. Besides, I’d like to see where this could go as well. From the moment I met you I’ve felt like I know you. I appreciate the need to be professional, but our initial contract will end next week. Perhaps…”
“Will you have dinner with me?” he asks, interrupting me. I can’t get over how vulnerable he looks right now.
“Yes, I will, when I finish out what I’m here to do.” There’s nothing I’d like more than to spend time with this man.
“Thursday then. We’ll have dinner on Thursday,” he says as he stands. I mirror his action. He takes a step toward me and I think he’s going to kiss me. I close my eyes and take in his scent; something spicy and incredibly sexy. When nothing happens I peek out from under my lashes and James hasn’t moved. I’m so embarrassed that I take a small step backward to get some breathing room. Unfortunately my heel hits the chair and throws me off balance. I start to fall to the side but I don’t ever hit the floor. James has his arms around me, saving me from further humiliation.
“Sorry,” I stutter as I try to get back to my feet. He doesn’t let me go and if I’m honest with myself, I don’t want him to.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispers as he leans down. I can feel his breath on my lips and I know what he’s about to do. I part my lips slightly in anticipation, knowing that one kiss just isn’t going to be enough.
“James, you have a call on line two,” Simone’s voice comes through the speaker phone, breaking the spell. James pulls me to my feet and we both step away from each other.
“I’ll get it in a second,” James says loudly. I straighten my clothes and walk away, leaving the office without looking back.
I t takes several seconds to get my breathing and my cock under control. What the fuck was I thinking?
“James, are you going to answer the call or do you want me to take a message?” Simone’s voice comes through the speaker again.
“I
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