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Interest sparked in Evolet’s eyes. “Congratulations.”
The sincerity in her voice warmed him. He inclined his head.
“Thank you.” He gestured to the résumé on his desk. “You worked five months as an executive assistant for a CFO for a major US airline and four months for the head of marketing for another. You have over six years of experience in this type of work. Past employers have remarked on your diligence, talent for details and ‘pleasant manner,’” he added with a coy look in her direction. “When Laura called the temp agency, you were their first recommendation.”
“And I appreciate that, but...” Her voice trailed off as her blush deepened. “What about...well, the...thing?” she finished weakly.
“Thing?” he repeated casually.
She rolled her eyes. “You kissing me in Central Park.”
“As I recall, you kissed me back. Yet so far, we’ve managed to exist for—” he glanced at his watch “—eight minutes in the privacy of my office without a repeat performance.” He arched a brow, ready to deal his final card. “Unless you think you can’t keep your hands off me.”
Bull’s-eye.
Her eyes hardened as she sat up straight. “Of course I can. It was just a kiss.”
It was exactly the attitude he needed her to have to make this working relationship successful. The little stab of irritation that she could deem what had happened between them as “just a kiss” was inconsequential.
“Good. In that case, Miss Grey,” he said with a sharp smile, “let’s get to work.”
CHAPTER SIX
EVOLET’SFINGERSDRUMMEDa steady beat on the handle of her cello case as the elevator soared upward. Hauling the instrument on the subway was less than fun in the early morning rush, but it was worth it to have the extra practice time. The first couple of days, rushing home on the subway, getting her cello and making the walk to Central Park, had left her with precious little time to practice. By Wednesday, she’d taken to bringing her cello with her and hopping off at the Fifty-Ninth Street station and practicing in the park. With her audition for the East Coast Chamber Orchestra later in the week, she needed all the practice she could get.
Excitement hummed inside her. It was her first audition in over a month. Not her dream position, but a respected and growing orchestra that would be a good first step into the world of playing professionally.
But that was later, Evolet reminded herself as she exited the elevator. Right now, Bradford Global commanded her focus. It had been two weeks since she’d joined the company. Two weeks that had dragged on and flown by in equal measure. No matter how early she arrived, she had not yet beaten Damon to the office. They started off with an overview of what the day would look like, from touring the existing manufacturing facilities to reviewing pieces of the reports filtering in from various departments that would be submitted to Royal Air. Dizzying amounts of information, hours spent poring over documents.
And the man who starred in what was turning into nightly erotic fantasies often just a few feet away from where she worked.
She had an office, a beautiful room with a large window that overlooked the Brooklyn Bridge and the blue waters of the East River. At first, she had resisted adding any homey touches. She was a temporary worker, not an employee. She’d spent months at other companies and never once felt the inclination to personalize whatever space she was assigned.
But there was something different about Bradford Global. Amazing, she thought as she stepped off the elevator and waved to Julie, what working for a company that invested in their employees could do. It wasn’t just the perks, like the coffee bar in the cavernous workroom she’d passed on her first day or the catered luncheons. It was the genuine friendliness Julie greeted every employee with, how Damon knew the names of everyone who came into his office and remembered to ask about their children, their college studies, their dog. His other executives, like Laura Roberts, mirrored his attitude of respect.
The first time she had been invited out for after-hours drinks with a group of engineers and assistants, she’d been so startled she’d said yes. She’d silently cursed herself all the way to the bar, only to stay two hours and find herself relaxing, enjoying conversation with people who were quickly turning from strangers to casual acquaintances.
A thought that would have made her uneasy just a short time ago. Instead, it had made her look forward to her days at the office.
Another red flag. She had fallen into her job with NYC Executives when she’d been attending college. It had offered flexibility and, best of all, temporary placements. No time to get attached to people, a job, if she moved every few weeks to months. She preferred no attachments.
Then why, she groused at herself as she walked down the hallway to her office,am I getting involved?
She’d turned down the second invitation for another night out with an excuse of needing to practice. But the third invite—a group dinner at an Italian restaurant that served savory pastas and bruschetta topped with tomatoes and fat slices of mozzarella—had resulted in her staying for three hours, sipping on wine and laughing as her coworkers had debated current events and swapped stories.
They’d even asked about her music—questions that had both surprised and touched her.
She was getting involved. She needed to stop.
A text lit up her phone as she walked into her office and set her bag on her desk next to the photo she’d put up of her, Constanza and Constanza’s son, Samuel. She laid her cello case down in the corner.
“Hey, did you get my text?”
Evolet looked up with a smile to see Audrey Clark, one of Bradford’s marketing pros, standing in the doorway. She reminded Evolet of Julie, her thousand-watt smile a flash of white against smooth dark skin. The two had connected over drinks that first night, chatting about everything from Audrey’s father’s playing for a jazz band in his retirement to their mutual interest in murder mysteries.
“My phone just dinged,” Evolet replied with a laugh.
“We’re all going to a dance club Saturday night in the West Village. Want to join?”
