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I wish Drew was home. If he was, I could talk it through with him. Although I’m not sure that would help. I know exactly what he’d say. First of all, he’d call me a cliché for falling for my PA, especially as she’s so young. And then he’d tell me to stop being so serious about life and fuck her out of my system. Except I don’t want to fuck her. Well, I do. Obviously. Even if I don’t. I want to make love with her… and I want so much more than that, too.
How on earth I’m going to achieve that, I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m going insane… and achieving nothing.
I take a breath and sit forward in my seat, paying more attention to the screen, just as my desk phone buzzes and I pick it up, bracing myself for hearing Livia’s voice.
“I’ve got Preston Tucker on the line for you,” she says, and I nod my head, only just remembering to speak.
“Okay, thanks.”
The line clicks and although my head is still filled with images of Livia, and the sound of her voice, I hear Preston saying, “Hunter?”
“Yes?”
“I’ve just got back from my meeting with Jim Nichols.” He sounds a little out of breath.
“Do you want to come up to my office? It’ll be easier to talk.”
“Sure. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Okay.”
I hang up and then stand, going to the doorway and leaning against the frame, staring out at Livia, who’s concentrating on her computer screen, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
I’d like to stand here and gaze at her all day, but I can’t, and I cough to get her attention. She turns and looks up at me.
“Preston’s coming up here in a minute. He’s been to see Jim Nichols about this contract.”
“Do you need me to sit in again?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“Of course I don’t mind.”
Her smile is mesmerizing, and I struggle to focus. She’s still gazing at me, and although I know I should go back into my office, I can’t seem to move.
“Hey… Hunter.” Preston’s voice startles me and I turn to face him, realizing that either those five minutes passed really quickly, or that Livia and I just got lost in another of those moments. I wish I had time to think about that – about why it keeps happening – but I don’t.
“Preston… come on in.”
Livia stands, Preston and I both wait, letting her go through to my office first, then I follow, with Preston bringing up the rear. Livia sits off to one side again, and I take my seat behind my desk, waiting until Preston is comfortable opposite me.
“So… what happened?” I ask. He’s not smiling, and I’ll admit I’m a little worried.
He sits back, crossing one leg over the other, and tilts his head. “Jim wants us to pitch for all their work,” he says and I feel a slight shiver of excitement run up my spine. This is what the job’s all about as far as I’m concerned.
“Why am I sensing a but?” I can tell there is one. It’s obvious from his demeanor.
“We’re not the only agency in the running.”
“I didn’t think we would be.”
He nods his head. “And they need the proposal back by Monday morning.”
There it is. That’s the glitch.
“So, this is our first test. This is a massive proposal, but if we fail to deliver on time, they’ll rule us out straight away. They’re giving us no time to get this right, but if we get it wrong, we won’t stand a chance.”
“That seems unfair,” Livia says and Preston and I both turn to look at her.
