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She smiled. “Hi, I’m Gwen.”
My lungs froze. Every muscle in my body — including the most important one to a man — was rock hard. She was indeed average in height, but what she lacked in small stature she more than made up for in looks.
“Hi, James. Come on in, please.” I parted the way for her, watching her sexy hips sway as she moved past me. While she wasn’t necessarily my type, she was gorgeous and it was hard to ignore.
She sat on the couch and smiled. “So, you're looking for an assistant. Now that I’m here, can you tell me more about what I’ll be doing exactly?”
The way she held her purse in front of her on her lap reminded me of a librarian from my youth. I barely registered what she was saying as I sat down and got comfortable.
“Well, I will need you to help with setting up at the Chelsea Market in a few days. I need to coordinate with their staff, set up, and host the grand opening. It’s a very exciting time at Renegade Wear. I’m sure you're familiar with our products since Martie is your cousin.”
She blinked, her face void of expression. “Nope, I can’t say that I am. I’m more of an eco-friendly kind of gal. These shoes are made of recycled materials, this purse is from a thrift store, and this dress I made myself when I repurposed an old coat from the Salvation Army. I’m a huge fan of being sustainable and gentle on our environment, an animal lover and such. Do you have a product line that includes any of those things?”
Stunned, I tried not to laugh upon closer inspection of her outfit. “No, not currently. While I’m all for the animals and nature, as I have a few pets myself back home, we don’t currently have a line of accessories that are geared towards that market. Perhaps in the future sometime, but as of right now, there's not enough desire for that with my clientele.”
“Well, according to all that is knowledgeable and fashionable on both the East and West coasts, the products that you showcase are a dying breed. There is proof in the media, including social media, that people are becoming more ecologically aware and choosing alternatives that leave less of a carbon footprint.”
Her attitude annoyed me. Suddenly, I felt I had to put my distance between us and grabbed a soda from the refrigerator. Still, I couldn’t take my eyes off her for too long. That shockingly exotic hair color, and all those assets in all the right places kept my body humming, while my mind was getting more and more annoyed.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
She smiled. “No, I’m good. I have water here in my purse. So, will you be booking me a room as well?”
I had more questions, and her attitude about this project might make it necessary for Martie to throw herself on a plane in the morning since I didn't want to deal with an albeit gorgeous diva who had a bad attitude about my products. I needed to make myself clear on that.
“Are you going to have a problem doing this work with your current attitude and point of view regarding my products and business?”
All humor aside, I threw her a serious look, I meant business.
She looked around the room. She was thinking or plotting her next move — one of the two. I couldn’t be sure. Her dark eyes caught my attention again and she smiled. Her hand came out and she rested it on my leg for a moment.
I was stunned but thrilled.Even if I don’t hire you for the position, at least I might get laid here tonight.
“To be completely honest, normally I wouldn’t dare lay a finger on some of the things your business produces. I owe Martie a favor, and when I talked to her I knew she was miserably sick. Aside from that, I could really use the money to get back home to Connecticut. As far as you’re concerned, she expressed to me how urgent this matter is for you, and that it would be in my best interest, and yours, to work together to successfully get it done.”
She patted my knee like I was a child, and I was reminded of that librarian again. I cleared my throat as sensual thoughts ran through my mind about how a librarian might punish a man if he didn't return the books on time.
“I know all that. What I want to know is if you can shelve your ideals and come back to earth with the rest of us folks for fifteen minutes in order to get this job done.”
That’s when I saw it. She squinted her eyes, glared at me, and frowned. She leaned back in the chair to study me.
“You're one of those men who always gets what he wants, aren’t you? This isn’t just about getting a job done, although there is that. It’s about control. Martie told me you’re a very type-A personality. I’m type B. I go with the flow. So, to answer your question, I can adapt and will get this job done efficiently and much to your liking.”
I had to hand it to her, this woman had gall. Not many women could go toe to toe with me and not bat an eyelash.It must be the red hair!
“Well then, we will get started tomorrow.”
Chapter Two
Gwen
Thethoughtofworkingwith the owner of Renegade Wear was not exactly something I strived to do. As an advocate for animal rights, it pained me when the fashion industry did not cater more to people who preferred eco-friendly products that considered the planet and the creatures that lived on it, besides the fashion mongrels of the human race.
Still, I was hard-pressed to not shelve that ideal and do what I must to get home to Connecticut. I owed Martie, and she was terribly sick, which worried me. I was in New York anyway, so it really didn't matter.
On top of that, the pay was insane. Five thousand dollars for a few days of work? Who would pass that up? So, I decided to turn a blind eye to my beliefs for a long weekend, collect my cash, and I’d be out of there in a few days.
James Renegade sounded seductive on the phone. He had the kind of voice that conjured up images of phone sex and strippers. That alone had me rushing over to the most exclusive hotel in town.
