Page 56 of Love In Hiding

She put her hand out and gestured for him to walk in as if he was on a game show and being shown the biggest, best prize.

“Come in,” she said. “We can meet in my office if you want.”

“That works.” He followed her down the hall, her feeling the heat of his presence on her back with every step.

She moved behind her desk and took a seat. One of authority in her eyes.

He sat and got comfortable, leaning back in the chair, his eyes almost drilling into hers.

“What?” she snapped before she could stop herself.

All he did was raise one of those patient eyebrows of his. “How have you been?”

“Good. You?”

“Good.”

She didn’t flinch under his stare. She knew this game. It was her turn to talk. She was going to wait him out.

But one minute of silence and the smirk on his lips saidhe’d sit here all day. “You called this meeting. What did you want to talk about?”

“Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed today?”

“No.” And just to push his buttons. “I slept like a baby. I do when I don’t have so many clothes on.”

The grin didn’t leave his face. “The same.”

There was an air to him today. More confidence than before. She wasn’t sure why.

It was almost as scary as it was a turn on.

She sighed. “Is every meeting between us going to be this awkward?”

“You’re making it that way,” he said.

“I’m being me and you are being you. It’s like we were meant for this to happen.”

“Do I need to get a bottle of wine?”

She laughed. “That does make it better.”

“I wanted to meet because I’ve got an attorney under me. Noelle.”

“I’ve heard her name before.”

“She’s young, a little eager. More annoyed that she thought she’d get my job for some unknown reason.”

She mimicked his relaxed pose. “So you’ve got someone under you that you’ve got to manage who might not be so easy.”

He waved his hand. “I’m not worried about that. She’ll be fine. But I’d like her to look over what you draw up for changes and policies before it gets to me. I wanted you to know that.”

“That could have been in an email.”

“But then I wouldn’t get to see the annoyed look on your face that I knew was coming. And I wouldn’t get to ease your mind that nothing she does is final unless I agree with it. She’s learning, the same as everyone else. Everyone needs achance, but I wouldn’t push work off and take the easy way either.”

“I don’t think you do anything easy.”

“No. It’s more work doing this because I’m positive I’m going to have to change things. But it doesn’t hurt to have more eyes on it.”