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Feel what? Uncomfortable? Kind of, but not really in a get the hell away from me kind of way. More in a damn you for making me notice you kind of way. And the way her body more than responded to being near him didn't help at all. What was wrong with her anyway?
The absolute last thing she wanted or needed was an attraction to another corporate go-getter, someone climbing his way to the top. The last man she'd been involved with had used her as a rung on his ladder to success. Good thing her heart hadn't been involved at the time, and maybe that should have been a clear indicator that something was amiss. But she hadn't recognized the signs, hadn't noticed how he was more interested in her family and their position in the business world than he was in her.
Well, after that disaster it wasn't going to happen again. Men were good for one-time fucking, occasional social dates, only when absolutely necessary, and that was it.
She didn't want to have dreams about them, didn't want her body to respond to them, and sure as hell didn't want to be thinking nonstop about them.
No, not them. Him. Max. He was the only one occupying her mind the past couple days.
Like right now, as he leaned back in a chair in the small conference room, her public relations program in one hand, a red pen in the other. Slash mark after slash mark bled all over the pages. So deep in concentration, he didn't even notice her pacing a hole in the rug behind him, stopping every few minutes to heave a disgusted sigh as she looked over his shoulder and watched him massacring her work.
"Couple more hours and I think we'll have the national and international program ready to go."
"Uh huh." She stood directly behind him, wondering if her small hands would fit around his thick neck. Probably not. Too bad.
"You'll like these ideas. Trust me."
"Uh huh." She didn't even want to read them, in fact after days of work, her first intent would be to toss his ideas right in the circular file near her desk. This was her campaign, dammit, and they were going to run it her way, no matter what Max Devlin thought.
She wondered if there was a good voodoo-curse store around the corner? Nothing life-threatening, of course. Some genital warts would be nice sprouting up on Max's dick.
He whirled around in the chair and she took a quick step back. Pinning her with his gaze, he smiled and said, "And I owe you an apology."
"Huh?"
"An apology." Waving the binder in front of her, he said, "I underestimated your talent. Your statewide public relations blitz is really good. You have a keen eye for what will capture the public's attention."
Okay, maybe just crabs, then...not warts. "Thank you."
So she'd take a look at his notes, and then she'd throw them in the trash. She took the binder and sat across the oval table from him, pouring through his comments. Occasionally she'd look up to find him staring at her, but she ignored him, concentrating instead on what was obviously sheer brilliance.
Okay, so he knew public relations. More than knew it. Especially nationwide programs, not to mention international. In a few hours of scribbles he'd outlined what would, essentially, catapult The Rising Storm into one of the top hotel/casino chains in the nation.
No wonder Lissa thought so highly of him, and why Logan had agreed to bring him down here to work with her.
She had to admit defeat on this one. He knew way more than she did, at least about running their PR program outside the state. "This is fantastic."
He grinned, and her heart slammed against her ribs. "You think so? Great. Do you think it's doable in the time parameters I outlined?"
"Maybe. Might need a little tweaking, but definitely close to the deadline dates."
"Good. And now that I look at your statewide plan, I think you're right. We can start the blitz statewide, then in the next quarter take it nationally."
He agreed with her? Damn, she should have played the lottery today. So maybe he wasn't the big bad wolf. She stood, figuring she'd better get back to her office. Max rose and skirted the table, stopping in front of her.
Lord, he smelled good. Like fresh sunshine and the crisp, warm outdoors in the summer. She didn't want to stare at the pulse throbbing in his neck, or wonder if his skin would taste salty if she licked there.
He cleared his throat and she tilted her head back, meeting his gaze. The yellow flecks seemed to dance through his eyes, like spots of sun filtering a green meadow.
Whenever she stood close to him, her magic churned within her, like it wanted to erupt all around them. She fought hard to keep it contained.
"Your eyes change colors sometimes," he said, tucking one of her errant hairs behind her ear. "The blue clouds over, grows darker, like a squall is brewing."
Oh, it was brewing all right. She shuddered at the brush of his fingers against her ear, wondering what he'd do if she let loose her powers and showed him what she was capable of. Probably run screaming from the room. Wouldn't that be an interesting sight? Max Devlin running for his life.
Then again, he didn't strike her as the type of man who'd run from anything.
And she liked him better when they were arguing. Then she could easily keep her distance. This...this she didn't like. His easy smile, the way his hair curled against the back of his neck, making her want to reach out and caress the dark locks, the way his gaze focused on hers in a way that had nothing to do with business.
When he was nice to her she wanted to give in and...
And do what? Grab him, kiss him, throw him down on top of the conference room table and have her way with him?
Oh, no. She was not going there! Better to keep her lusty thoughts about Max confined to her dreams. Much safer that way.
"Shannon, there's something I want to talk to you about. I--"
"There you are!" Kaitlyn threw the doors open and hurried toward them. "You two going to stay holed up in here all night? There's a party to prepare for, you know."
Shannon quickly stepped back, thankful for the interruption. Yet a part of her wanted to hear what Max had been about to say. Probably better that she didn't know. She threw a smile at her sister. "Yes, we're aware there's a party tonight."
"It's the big PR launch for the hotel, you know." Kaitlyn rolled her eyes as if everyone should be as excited about an event as she always was.
"And it's going to be fantastic," Max said. "I'm looking forward to it."
Kaitlyn glowed. "Thanks. Me too. I hope everything's in place. I'm going to get there early." She turned to Shannon. "Which is why I'm here. I'm going to scoot out of here, run home and change so I can get back to the restaurant."
"You do that, and quit worrying. I can meet you there and help you out."
"No, no, don't be silly. I'm just a wreck. You know me and events. Take your time getting gorgeous," she said with a wink, then turned to Max. "You should see this dress Shan is going to wear tonight. Mon dieu it's something to behold. Fits her like a second skin and really shows off her hot bod."
"Kaitlyn!" Shannon said, feeling the heat tinge her cheeks.
Max turned to her, arching a brow. "Really? I can't wait to see it. Nothing like a beautiful woman in a hot dress."
Kaitlyn laughed. "See? I knew I liked you, Max. See you both later."
After she left, an uncomfortable silence surrounded them. Shannon turned to the papers on the table, neatly stacking them and hoping that Max would just disappear.
"Hot dress, huh?"
She cringed, making a mental note to kill her sister later. "It's just a dress."
"Kaitlyn said it's hot."
"Kaitlyn's trying to act like a matchmaker."
"Really? Now that's interesting."
She glowered at him. "Don't get any ideas. We are not a match. My family just has this inherent desire to want to match me up with the first available man that comes along." Hell, for all she knew he wasn't even available.
"Because they care about you and want to see you happy."
Quickly turning away, she concentrated again on the stack of papers. "I can find my own man."
"And have you?"
He'd approached and now stood much too close to her, close enough that his warm breath brushed the hairs at the nape of her neck. She shivered. "Have I what?"
"Found a man."
"That's none of your business."
"That means no."
Gathering the paperwork and binders in her arms, she turned, holding them in front of her chest like a shield of armor. "Stay out of my personal business, Max."
"What if I want to be part of your personal business, Shannon?"
"You can't be."
"Yes, I can be, and I intend to." He leaned casually against the table, reaching out to run his fingertip down her arm. Now she wished she'd worn her suit jacket, because the touch of his skin against hers had her thoughts scattering like leaves on a windswept day.
"I have to go. I'll see you at the cocktail party." She brushed past him and hurried out the door, nearly running down the hall and shutting the door to her office. She dumped the papers on her desk and stepped to the window, watching the people walk by outside.
No, she did not want to have that conversation with Max. She didn't want to know what was on his mind. Hell, she already knew what was on his mind. Same thing that was on hers.
Sex.
If the event tonight wasn't a Storm affair, she'd hide out in her condo in her pajamas and eat potato chips. Avoidance was a good thing, sometimes.
