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My eyes bulge as I’m completely caught off-guard. “What did you just say?”
He glares down at me. “I think you heard me.”
“No.” I shake my head. “The words I just heard couldn’t have been directed at me.”
A smile spreads over his lips, but there’s nothing kind, friendly, or gentle about it. A shiver passes through me, and I take a sip of my champagne if only to wet my mouth, which has gone barren from his expression.
“There’s no one else that I’m speaking to.”
Remembering who I am, I shake off whatever weird reaction my body has to this man and square my shoulders.
“You know, in the three times we’ve spoken to one another, that’s the third time you’ve referenced sex.” I lean in. “If you want to fuck me, Kyle, just say so.”
His eyes instantly drop to my lips, and I wonder if I’ve let myself enter the deep end without a lifejacket. Never in my past had I used sex to get what I was after. Sure, a little flirting here and there, but I wasn’t one of those love bombers. I kept business and my love life completely separate. As separated as possible.
So why am I standing face to face with Kyle Townsend as he stares at my mouth, with images of what he would look like without any clothes racing through my brain?
The truth is, I don’t even need to ask. From how the button-down white shirt, light blue suit jacket, and white pants perfectly fit Kyle’s six-foot-three frame, it’s easy to see the man has an insane workout regimen. As ridiculously sexy as he is with clothes on, I bet he would look even more glorious naked.
“That’s one way to conduct business,” he says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“What?” I ask as if coming out of a trance. This is not going how I want.
“There has never nor will there ever be a time in which a woman who ended up in my bed also ended up in my boardroom, Riley. Hell will freeze over before I let that happen.”
Shit. Why does my name sound smooth as silk coming out of his mouth? I swallow the lump that oddly formed in my throat.
“I assure you, Kyle, my only interest is what my company can do for Townsend Industries.”
He lets out a chuff. “As I’ve already told you, Townsend has all the consultants we need.”
“You haven’t even given me a chance to tell you what my company can do for you.” I decide to make this the moment to pounce with my five-minute elevator pitch. “Martin and Associates is not simply your run of the mill consulting firm. I have worked with small and medium sized companies on everything from employee retention to advanced security breaches that top notch security personnel couldn’t fix.”
“Small and midsize businesses?” The skepticism drips from every word. “Townsend brings in revenue upward of eighty billion annually and employs thousands of people. Those are our U.S. numbers. That number increases greatly when you add in our international subsidiaries.”
“This is why my services would benefit your company.”
“Or, all the more reason why your services are lacking when it comes to doing business with us. You don’t have the experience.”
“Some would sayyoudon’t have the experience.”
He lifts his light brown, almost blond eyebrows.
“You’re aiming to become Townsend’s next COO, is that not right?” Seeing the anger that instantly covers his expression, I don’t give him time to answer. “At your age, I guess there are more than a handful of skeptics who say you’re not ready to handle the responsibilities that come with such an important role.”
“Not one of them is brave enough to say any of that bullshit to my face,” he says so sharply that I hold my breath for a beat. “When I become COO, it’ll be because I earned it.”
I watch his Adam’s apple move up and down.
“Are we clear?”
“If you say so.” My reply comes out as skeptical as I want it to. “But I’m sure as capable as you are, every business has its weak spots. It’s not shameful to need some help now and again.”
His eyes narrow as he scans my face. Somehow, we’ve managed to move within inches of one another. Kyle doesn’t say anything for a long moment. During that time, my heart rate kicks up for no reason.
We’re just standing there, not saying anything, but our eyes are searching out one another’s.
“Weak spots,” he mumbles loud enough for only me to hear. “I don’t have any.”
