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Callan has muscles in all the right places, not too much but just enough. He’s lean and toned and his skin is perfectly sun-kissed. His eyes are a melty pot of hazel dreams. I’ve never seen greens and browns blend together so seamlessly. His hair was slicked back classically earlier, but now the curls have let loose, and his dark brown locks fall effortlessly over his head, longer on the top and faded slightly on the sides. I’ve never seen a man so shipshape, so well suited and professional. But staring at his body with his fingers locked around my wrist feels anything but professional and I also wonder if he’s got a naughty side to him.
“I’m sorry. I just-”
“That won’t be necessary,” he says as he gently lets me go.
“Listen, I’m not sure what you’re getting out of this,” I express. I try, but fail, to free myself from the invisible imprint his grasp left behind…his touch lingering on my skin gives me exciting chills.
“Out of what?” he questions.
“Entertaining the idea of hiring me, knowing damn well that I’m not qualified for this. But I do appreciate the thought,” I breathe out. Suddenly I feel a loss where his warmth once wrapped around me, the lingering sensation no longer present.
He smirks down at me. “Entertain me,” he practically whispers, and my body shuts down for a hot second while I melt under his tone. His words send a shockwave over my body. How in the world did this man just bring me to my knees with two freakin’ words?
He leads me back to the desk with his palm placed on the small of my back, a feeling of dizziness overcomes me.
“This is the job offer,” he starts, assuming that I’m willing to play along with this crazy idea. “The job pays thirty dollars an hour, you’ll be guaranteed at least two days off a week, and we are closed on Sundays.” He leaves me standing in the middle of the office, takes up my unfinished job application and sits down at his desk. “We can go over scheduling needs and there’s an employee handbook that I’ll need you to read and sign.”
“I don’t understand. I didn’t even finish the application,” I state obviously.
“Thanks for pointing that out, Sterling Rose Cooper.” He smiles as he reads the paper and turns back to his computer, typing. “Take a seat, I have some new hire paperwork for you to sign.” He motions me back to his desk, but I physically cannot move. I think I’m experiencing some form of shock right now.
“What makes you think I want this?” I examine him carefully.
“You wouldn’t have come back a second time after embarrassing yourself the first time, now, would you?” He doesn’t even look up at me when he answers and something about that annoys me but attracts me at the same time. I really don’t want to admit that he's right.
Clearly, I’m not fit for the job. But how am I supposed to turn down thirty dollars an hour? Especially after throwing that envelope of cash into the river earlier. I would be stupid to throw away this opportunity, I just hate the way my potential boss is already under my skin. I’d love for his touch to beonmy skin again.Jesus, Sterling, pull yourself together.
Callan interrupts my thoughts as he stands up, walks over to the chair on the opposite side of his desk and pulls it out for me.
“Miss Cooper.” He waits for me to sit.
My legs manage to move, and I approach the chair, sliding in between him and the desk to take a seat.
“You’ll start Monday. We can go over availability then.” He continues to hover over the back of my chair as he explains the papers laid in front of me. “I just need you to sign here.” He reaches over the back of my shoulder and points to the dotted line.
But my hand doesn’t move to pick up the pen. My mind is still spinning, because he’s too close and I feel hot all over.Seriously, someone needs to turn down the heat.
“Sterling.” He lowers himself to my level, bringing his lips down to my ear, as he reaches over my shoulder to grab the pen. The smell of him makes me nervous; cedar and whiskey and moss wrap around me like a warm blanket. He brings the pen up to my hand and whispers, “All you need to do is sign, and the job is yours.”
I jump back at the heat of his voice trailing over my ear, electricity shooting to my stomach. I accidentally bump into Callan; he stumbles back a bit, and a chuckle escapes his lips. I stand and turn to him. My composure is anything but kept at this point.
“Are you okay?” he asks, dusting his hands down his shirt.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. The way he looks at me does anything but reassure me that I am not attracted to this man. No. He looks at me like Ishouldbe attracted to him, like I have no choice. His eyes are low, and his lips are slightly curled. His five o’clock shadow taunts me as his jawline peeks through.Breathe, Sterling.
“I’m so sorry, I’m just a little jumpy from-” But I don’t finish. What I want to say is,I’m a little jumpy from the car accident I just got into a week ago.Which would be a perfect explanation. But I can’t say that, not without going into further detail and looking like a charity case. The only person who knows about the accident right now is Dakota and I plan to leave it that way, indefinitely.
“You’re nervous.” He fills my mouth with words, showing off his full lips as he smirks almost nefariously at me.
“Why are you doing this?” I force myself to ask. He’s near the door frame, after I accidentally pushed him back.
“You need a job and I need an assistant,” he states, a shrug raising on his shoulders.
“Shouldn’t we be doing some kind of interview then? What’s the catch?” I question, turning to look down at the contract on the desk.
“No catch, Miss Cooper.” He wanders over to where the pen had dropped to the floor. As he leans over to pick it up, I can’t help but look at his ass. It’s like it was chiseled by the gods.
“Like what you see?” Callan asks as he stands, forcing my gaze back up to his eyes. I shake my head from the thought.Shit. What is wrong with me?
