AllFreeNovel
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Al chuckled as she circled to the front of the chair. “You’ve been doing this long enough to know that one”—she held up a finger—“they’re not going to tie their hands like that, and two”—raised a second one—“this is a letter of intent. Covenants get negotiated in the asset purchase agreement.”
All correct. None the answers CC wanted. “A right of first offer, then?” Those were sometimes specified in term sheets.
“Same answer.”
Albeit rarely.
She pushed off the desk, meeting Al in the narrow space between them. “Five years ago, I walked into that tasting room, and it was a complete mess. Sections of the roof were missing, the walls shook, and there were critters crawling through the rotted-out floors.”
“They’ve restored it beautifully.”
“And their hands and hearts are on every piece of it. We just don’t want a bulldozer to come in and—”
The rest of her words were stolen by Al’s kiss. By her mouth covering CC’s, her tongue tangling with whatever argument CC was making. Obliterating it from her mind. She clasped Al by the jacket lapels and hauled her closer, craving those tits, that body pressed against hers. If they weren’t so far from the damn wall, she’d shove Al up against it and pray they didn’t make it shake.
Shaking walls.
The deal.
Fuck.
She wrenched their lips apart and staggered back until the backs of her thighs hit the front edge of the desk. “We can’t do this.”
“Unless you’re suddenly going to become incompetent, I don’t see how that’s possible.” Al moved between her spread legs and coasted her hands up CC’s thighs, the teasing touch sending heat straight to CC’s center. “Competence is such a fucking turn-on.”
Regretfully—so, so regretfully—CC laid her hands over Al’s and stopped their journey toward where she wanted them most. “My competence dictates we can’t do this because one”—she tapped the back of Al’s right hand—“ethics, and two’’—tapped the back of her left one—“I have to trust you and myself that what we’re doing is for our clients, not for ourselves. These clients mean something to me, Al.”
“And mine don’t?”
Al’s sharp tone and the sudden jerk of her hands, as if to yank them free, made CC realize how bad that had sounded. She clasped Al’s hands before they were gone for good. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just...” She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and regathered her words. When she opened her eyes again, Al’s dark ones were watching her closely, the lines at the corners deepened. “I have to be able to fight for them and not get distracted by the woman I want to fuck.”
Al’s expression relaxed, and one corner of her mouth began to hitch. “Well, that’s good to hear.”
“After we close.”
The threatening smirk disappeared, and CC was afraid Al would too, especially once she withdrew her hands. But then Al crossed her arms over her chest, plumping her breasts and exposing the hint of orange lace that matched today’s “tie” disappearing beneath the plaid vest. “That’s not fair,” CC said.
Al flicked a hand at her. “Neither is you all flushed and heaving.”
“Pause.” She stood, forcing Al to step back and creating some much-needed space between them. “My clients need some assurances on the future use of the land.”
“We can negotiate something in the agreement, and if we can’t, then your client walks. It’s a nonbinding letter of intent.”
“After they’ve held the property for Dotson and spent how many dollars on me and other fees?”
“Dotson came to them, so it’s not like the property or assets were on the market. There’s no loss there. As for costs, we can agree to a breakup fee.” That sounded better, and CC had already talked to Jen and Etienne about their number. But she wasn’t above making Al sweat an extra few seconds. “Come on, CC. This is us, as two professionals, ignoring the heaving bosoms of it all.”
Her tough negotiator mask cracked, a chuckle sneaking out.
“Our clients are at a dinner table. Let’s give them something to celebrate, Red.”
CC ignored the wave of desire Al’s Red sent crashing through her and turned instead. She found a pen among the mess of Tony and Greg’s desk, tore off a corner of a catalogue, and wrote the number she was authorized to present to Al.
Who didn’t balk at it. Didn’t react at all, Al likewise a seasoned negotiator. “Let me make a call.”
She ducked out the door and was gone long enough for CC to text Jen that she’d discussed with Al. When she returned, Al was all smiles. “Sounds like we have a deal.”
“We have a nonbinding LOI that will hopefully become a deal.” She held out her hand. “And then we can fuck.”
