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Thane's question pulls me out of my thoughts. I straighten my spine, since I somehow managed to sink into a slight slouch. Then I look directly at him. "The name is unpronounceable, that's why. How many people still speak Gaelic? Not many, I'm sure. There are approximately two hundred thirty-five thousand people living in the Highlands."
"And roughly sixty thousand speak Scots Gaelic."
"So, that would be about one percent of the population."
He rests his elbow on his chair's arm and rubs his chin. "I reckon so."
"That's an incredibly small segment of the target demographic."
"Who do you believe is our target demographic? Not Gaelic speakers. You've made that clear."
"Please don't make assumptions about what I think. I'm trying to help you revitalize your business, Mr. Buchanan."
He gazes straight at me, those striking blue eyes staring into mine. His voice drops to a deeper, almost sensual tone. "If revitalizing my company means erasing a part of my heritage, then I dinnae want your help."
"I haven't suggested any such thing." I slide forward in my chair, leaning toward him. "Will you at least listen to my suggestions? If you hate them, you can feel free to fire me."
"No, I can't do that. Fiona is in charge of all our employees."
"All right. In that case, if you hate my ideas, I'll resign."
Thane rolls his chair forward until his abdomen is pressed against the edge of the desk. He slants his head toward me. "Why on earth would you give me an excuse to fire you? After you've come all this way to work at my company."
"I don't want to resign, especially since my---Well, let's just say that I have a concrete reason for wanting to stay. That means I will do whatever I need to do to keep this job."
"What concrete reason do you have?"
I shake my head. "Awfully nosy, aren't you? My reasons are personal. If you want to know more about me, first I need to know more about you. What makes Thane Buchanan tick, what matters to you, and how far you're willing to go to make this distillery a success."
Why did my voice turn huskier? No idea. I can't be attracted to Thane. I met him a matter of minutes ago, and I do not believe in lust at first sight, much less love at first sight.
Thane rises and marches around to my side of the desk. Then he rests his bottom on the edge. That places his dick less than a foot away from me. And for some crazy reason, I can't stop staring at it.
He hooks a finger under my chin and lifts until my gaze meets his. "Are you having inappropriate thoughts about me, gràidh? I'm having them about you, that's a dead certainty."
"What?"
I still can't focus on his words because his body has captured all my attention. My gaze has shifted up to his brawny chest. The tight shirt he wears accentuates every muscle. He must work out a lot. I mean, those biceps... I can picture myself lying on top of Thane while we're both naked and I'm straddling his hips just before I lower my body onto his cock.
Damn, it's been too long since I had sex.
Thane snaps his fingers.
I jerk and swerve my gaze to him.
He leans over until our eyes are only an inch or two apart. "I said, are you having inappropriate thoughts about me, gràidh?"
"Um... What did you just call me?"
"Gràidh. It's an endearment."
"We don't know each other. You shouldn't be calling me anything like that. It's unprofessional."
He leans in even more, and his nose brushes mine. "If ye want to understand what makes me tick, you need to understand that I cannae tell you everything. I have secrets, and I will never share them with you or anyone."
"Why?"
"Because."
