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Sammie’s words jerked me from my thoughts, making me all too aware that she wasn’t thinking about me that way. Why would I assume she’d been fantasizing about me at all?
When I looked up at her, I felt it again. That sizzle, that tension between us. The air surrounding the table seemed thick and heavy. It couldn’t be my imagination, could it?
Maybe it was. This might all just be wishful thinking on my part.
“Running a company takes a lot of time,” I said. “A big buyout means I could invest money elsewhere. I could spend less time on the day-to-day stuff. I might even be able to take an advisory role in a business that’s already up and running.”
“Your business is up and running.” Sammie clasped her hands on top of the menu on the table in front of her and leaned forward a little. Her expression was dead serious as she said, “And you already have someone who can help you run your business.”
Those words were enough to pull my mind out of the gutter and refocus it on more important things. “I do?”
“Me,” she said. “Well, me and Janelle. We keep that office running.”
“There’s a lot that goes into running a business,” I said. “Balance sheets, financial audits, hiring and firing, meeting with clients, keeping clients happy…”
“You need a management team.” She sat back and moved her hands to her lap. “Me. I’d be the perfect candidate to run your office.”
My first thought was to brush off that suggestion. What could this woman possibly know about running a business?
But if there was one thing I’d learned on our long drive to Eugene, it was that this woman was my top salesperson for a reason. She was whip-smart, charismatic, and beautiful as all get-out. Everything about her intrigued me.
Before I could respond to her suggestion, the server returned and took our orders. I’d switched to water a while ago, andSammie was still nursing the second drink she’d ordered after we moved over here for our meeting.
That was fine with me. If this were to lead to something tonight, I wanted both of us completely sober so we could enjoy every second of it.
“You could also step into an advisory role,” Sammie said once the server was gone. “Run all your ventures under one umbrella and hire a CEO to manage our company.”
That was exactly what I’d been considering doing. This woman knew her stuff. But was she CEO material? Not yet. She still needed some experience behind her. I could put her over my sales team, though.
“This might be a wasted trip,” I said. “I guess it’s too late to go home now.”
Sammie tilted her head slightly and narrowed her eyes at me. “You should at least hear these guys out tomorrow. Besides, it’s not a wasted trip if we get to spend time together.”
“Especially if that time together makes it easier for you to convince me to give you a promotion,” I said, guessing at how she felt about it.
Disappointment weighed down those words. The truth was, spending time with her had shown me she was management material, but I wanted her to have enjoyed it for the same reasons I did.
“If that’s how you want to look at it.” She looked around, then leaned forward again. The table was now clear of the menu that had been there earlier. “I was thinking about taking you up on your earlier offer.”
My cock sprang to life at those words. My earlier offer. I couldn’t remember exactly what that was, but it had something to do with climbing into the shower with her and being the one who inspired her to make those noises.
“Maybe we should get this to go,” I said, already waving for the server. “Or better yet, I’ll switch it to room service.”
5
SAMMIE
Iwas still in my room when I heard the knock on the main door to our suite. The food was here.
I was hungry for one thing—Asher Layne. And he seemed to be hungry for me. The bulge in his pants had been unmissable as we stood side by side in the elevator. I tried not to stare at it, but I was aware of it even in my peripheral vision.
He was a true gentleman…until we were standing just outside the room. That was when he spun me around and lowered his mouth to mine. But he didn’t kiss me. He stopped with his lips just inches from mine and said, “I want to see you naked.” Then he released me, scanned the card, and pushed the door open.
I was too shy to strip in front of him, so I mumbled some excuse about changing into something more comfortable and rushed into my room, shutting the door behind me. I remembered the robe that had been hanging in the bathroom. It was some sort of cheap linen. Not at all what I’d expect from a fancy suite in a hotel. But it would do.
Now I stood at the door, wearing nothing but that robe. My hand froze on the doorknob as I tried to calm my racing heart. Iheard voices, then the sound of a door closing. That was when I turned the knob and opened it just a crack. Asher was out there alone.
“It’s safe to come out now,” he said, smiling.
