AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Mr. Wilder, this is Charlotte Moore,” Becca introduces, bringing me out of my stupor.
“Pleased to meet you,” I add on autopilot, extending my hand for him to shake.
But instead of taking it, he just stares at me.
His eyes scan me in a way that I should find intimidating, tracking every little flaw and imperfection with his probing gaze. Unfortunately, I’ve become quite accustomed to this type of reaction when people meet me for the first time. Therefore, his scrutinizing glare doesn’t unnerve me in the least.
I’m very aware that my chosen rockabilly appearance isn’t for everyone.
Some might even say it’s a little out there.
But I feel empowered with the way I present myself to the world.
It’s my own brand of sexy armor, if you will, and I won’t apologize for it either.
Paired with a large red rose in my jet-black hair that matches the same blood red lipstick, today I’m wearing a simple black pin-up swing dress, accompanied by my favorite leopard print jacket and combat boots.
I usually tone down my rockabilly style for the office, but this is as demure as I’m willing to go. If my clients can’t get past my fashion sense, then I doubt they will be willing to follow any dating advice I give them, either. And looking at the way Nathan is unable to take his eyes off me, it’s safe to assume that he fits that small demographic of narrow-minded thinking.
I’m a firm believer that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I’m not naive in thinking that everyone else lives bythat same mantra. Some people just can’t look past the outer casing of a person, much less be willing to see the true beauty that lies within them. As shallow as that thought might be, it’s just the world we live in, unfortunately.
Squaring my shoulders, I make it a point to never waver my locked gaze from his, showing him that I’m not the least bit rattled by his disapproval of my choice of clothing or appearance. But then the infuriating man tilts my world on its axis when I see a faint smile crest his lips, those damn eyes sparkling right back at me.
“I… huh,” Becca stammers, nervously watching the awkward interaction between us.
“So nice to finally meet you, Mr. Wilder. Piper has told me great things,” I come to my assistant’s aid, sticking my hand out in front of him more assertively.
“Hmm,” he retorts, his gaze falling from my face to look at my hand as if it were some foreign object he doesn’t know what to do with.
I look silly, keeping my hand extended out for so long, but stubbornness won’t let me pull it back. Finally, he relents and reaches his hand out to mine to give it a shake. My throat constricts when an electric pull runs through my veins at the connection, my hand looking dainty and delicate compared to his huge, manly one.
“Please have a seat,” I tell him, quickly pulling my hand away from his.
“Hmm,” he grunts again, and I don’t miss how he flexes his hand before sitting down.
So far, all I’ve heard from the man have been grunts instead of actual words.
Then again, why use words when his very presence speaks volumes?
His toned, muscular body proclaims that he spends most of his time in the gym or on the ice.
His unkempt beard and wavy hair say he doesn’t care much about his appearance, announcing to the world that you can take him or leave him of your own accord.
All of him screams alpha male, his grunted replies adding to his mystique.
But it’s his eyes that give him away, whispering to me that there is more to this man than his fabricated facade.
“Would you like anything to drink, Mr. Wilder? Coffee? Water? Tea, perhaps?” Becca offers with a courteous tone, doing her utmost best not to fawn all over him right now.
Again, he doesn’t reply with words, merely shaking his head instead.
“Thank you, Becca. That will be all,” I say, ready to get this meeting started.
The sooner I can get him out of this office, the better.
I’m not sure why his mere presence is so disconcerting to me, but it is.
I blame myself for watching that stupid video obsessively so many times. If I hadn’t, maybe I wouldn’t feel this… this affected by him.
