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“Not yet,” he whispers as I squeeze past his tall frame. Drake makes me feel dainty and feminine.Damn it!I like it entirely too much. He knows it too!
Our boss is just hanging up the phone when we walk in the door. He stands and waves us over to the chairs lined up in front of his huge desk.
“Promise and Drake. Thank you for coming in today. I wanted to talk to you two about your future with the company.”
My breath catches and I almost fall into the seat. “Is there something wrong?” I ask, my voice carefully neutral.
He waves his hands. “Oh, no no. Nothing like that. But there is about to be an opening for an executive creative director. I wanted to let you both know that you’re being considered for the position. I’ll be announcing who gets the position at the office Christmas party at the end of the week.”
Drake grunts. “Is there anything that we can do to make the decision easier for you?”
Mr. Alexander grins. “Always straight to the point with you. I like that, Drake. No, we’ve got it narrowed down to you two. The board meets on Wednesday and we’ll go over a few things and then after that all we need to do is offer the job to one of you.”
I glance over at Drake’s wry grin. Oh shit, this is not good. If I know anything, the good old boy network is alive and well in most businesses. And Drake’s a charming guy. He’ll have this job locked down before I even get a chance to prove that I’m the one for the job. And I need this raise. My ex screwed me over in the divorce and even though he makes more money than me, he has to pay almost no child support.
Always get a different attorney. But I let the attorney that we’d been using for years while we were married draw up the paperwork. And he was being payed by James. So that kind of gave him a skewed look at who got his loyalty.
That wasn’t me and Justin.
By the time I figured out what was going on it was all final. I suppose I could take him back to court and try to get things adjusted. Really, I just don’t want to see him again.
Justin missed him at first but it’s been over a year since he asked about his dad.
I curse under my breath. I wish James had been a better man. A better father. But it is what it is. So I could really use the extra money that I’m sure would come with this job.
Alexander stands up and holds out his hand to Drake to shake. Then he turns to me. “I’m sure that either one of you would be an asset to this company in this position. Congratulations for being considered. Good luck!”
I nod and smile. “Thank you, sir. It is an honor to even be considered.”
But I don’t just want to be considered. I want this damn job so bad I can taste it.
We both walk out the door and Drake pulls me over to the copy room, shutting the door. “What the hell are you doing, Drake?” I yank my arm out of his hand, rubbing at it like he’s burned his way under my skin.
Dammit! He has. I can still feel the tingle of my senses where his warm, big hand cupped my elbow.
Eyeing him like he’s a tiger about to strike, I move to the far side of the room.
“I just wanted to let you know that I hope you get a shot at this job. You deserve it as much as I do.”
Huffing a breath, I cross my arms over my chest, feeling a hunger slide over me when his steel blue eyes fixate on where my arms are crossed. His eyes gleam dark and dangerous.
“Stop looking at me like that, Drake,” I mutter under my breath. “I do deserve this job. But I can already see that he’s leaning towards you. The good old boy network looks to be alive and well.”
The bitterness in my words shocks him. His firm lips drop open. “I don’t think so, Promise. He’s a fair man. You’ll get the same consideration as I do. I’m sure of it.”
He stalks closer to me and I step back into the counter behind me. My hands reach behind me and my fingers lock onto the smooth laminate.
Closer and closer he moves, each step measured and careful. Like he’s a predator stalking its prey. Trying not to startle it so it runs.
Lord, do I want to run. Something flashes in his eyes. Exciting and unnerving. I’m not sure exactly what it is but my heart seizes in my chest then starts running about a million miles per minute. My head swims when his spicy smell wafts over me.
“What are you doing, Drake?” I whisper so quietly he almost doesn’t hear me.
His lips quirk up. “I think you know, Promise. I think you know what’s going on between us. What’s been going on between us for the last few years. You’ve danced away from this over and over again.” His hand lifts and my head jerks away. He drops it down but not before it skitters lightly along my arm. Fire brands me where his fingers touch my skin. Fire and fury. I feel it. I don’t want to but I’ve always felt it when I’m near him.
I shake my head. “We can’t get involved, Drake. One of us is going to get this promotion and that person will be in charge of a team. Which will work with all of the ad accounts. Will be the person overseeing everything. It’s too important to mess up with a casual fling.”
His head jerks back, his dark brows lifting. “Casual? Oh I don’t think so, Promise. There’s nothing casual in the way that I feel about you. It’s a lot to take in but I think that it’s possible to have it all, princess. I want to give this a shot.”
