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“My apologies for interrupting—yet again. I was actually going to invite you out so that we could chat. Get to know each other. Talk about the division.”
“Fantastic idea. I figured we’d get to it tomorrow since you have all of the training and whatnot to wade through today.”
“I’m done,” he told her.
Maxi’s eyes grew even wider, though he wouldn’t have believed it possible were he not a witness to the phenomenon.
“Already?” she asked, clearly stunned. “You even took the quizzes?”
“Passed all sixteen with flying colors, including the Sexual Harassment course that did not address whether it was acceptable for me to let you know that you have a little, um, mustard…at the corner of your mouth.”
Her extremely tempting mouth.
Her perfectly plump lips held the remnants of a glossy sheen but were otherwise a deep rose color, which looked striking against her tanned skin and complemented her smoky eyes.
Ryan had the insane urge to cross the room and whisk that tiny dollop from her mouth. Sample it to see how spicy the mustard tasted. Or perhaps he just wanted to know how Maxi tasted. Feel how velvety soft those lips were.
His cock twitched.
Down, boy.
He reminded himself that he wasn’t into risky endeavors. And his electrifying new boss held the potential to be just that.
Her tongue darted out and she licked at the corners of her mouth—really, that just plain teased him senseless—then used both hands to set the enormous sandwich on the paper plate on her desk. She reached for the small stack of napkins and used one to wipe her fingers, then her mouth.
“You’re all good with the mustard,” he assured her.
“You keep catching me off-guard.” Her eyes smoldered.
Was it his imagination or did she enjoy him catching her unawares—perhaps adding a little excitement to her day?
Right. He mentally snickered.
Ryan did not consider himself the type to excite a woman like Maxi Shayne.
Though as he held her gaze, she shifted in her chair, crossing her legs tightly as though he actually had incited some sort of physical response within her. Could it be true?
Continuing, she said, “I think you’ve set some sort of company record.”
“Oh?” He stepped farther into her office, driven by curiosity and testosterone.
She grabbed her fountain soda from its glass coaster and took a deep sip from the straw poking out of the lid. She replaced the Styrofoam cup as she added, “Our New Employee Orientation and training segments are usually all-dayers.”
“Hmm. Well, it was all quite informative.”
“Wonderful.”
“And I likely had a bell curve in my favor, since I know Staci.”
Her brow dipped. “How, exactly, do you know her?” She gave a shake of her head as she amended, “I don’t mean anything personal by that. I don’t want or need to know how you know her, know her. But just…how’d the job offer come about?” She groaned. Then let out a soft, feminine—genuine—laugh that stirred something deep within him. “That didn’t sound right either. I’m just trying to fill in some blanks. No judgment or anything.”
“There’s nothing to judge. We’re not romantically involved, if that’s what you’re thinking. Not directly, anyway. Her former physician is my former fiancée. As it were…” He shrugged. Really, what was the point in divulging all of that? Because it was personal—extremely personal.
Ryan never spoke of his past relationship, and Maxi certainly didn’t need to hear about Elizabeth. Or how she’d ripped the rug from beneath him. Blindsided him. Proverbially cold-cocked him. Whichever description one chose, it’d all been pretty damn painful.
Devastating, to be honest.
Absolutely not a topic up for discussion.
