I don’t even look up.
“I’m sure he’s just a different breed of VP,”I tell her. “He’s energetic and progressive, unlike the old regime here. I personally think he’s a breath of fresh air.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” his voice says from the door.
I look up and my heart has palpitations.
I should have said that he’s a stunningly handsome breath of fresh air.
Because he is.
He’s dressed in a black suit today, with a white button-up, loosened at the neck and no tie. He manages to look formal, yet casual. He’s got classic handsome features and his eyes seem like they can stare right into my soul.
I have to make myself remember to breathe.
And then to answer him.
“Hi Alex,” I say brightly. “Thank you for the coffee.”
“Anytime,” he answers, coming in and sitting in the chair next to Taylor. She fidgets, obviously uncomfortable that he heard her question his behavior. He notices and turns to her.
“Taylor, right?” he asks kindly. She nods. “I’m an early riser. I get here before anyone else does. In fact, I’m the first one here. It’s just habit and I certainly don’t expect anyone else to arrive that early. So, no worries.”
He smiles at her and I can see the relief flood Taylor’s face. Along with appreciation of his sexiness. The man oozes sexuality and power and grace. It’s intoxicating. Even for me, a jaded, middle-aged divorcee. Then my thoughts pause for a moment. Is thirty-five middle aged? Holy hell. My thoughts are appalled. But I’m brought back to the present when Alex turns to me.
“Do you have just a second? I need to run something past you.”
“Of course,” I answer, handing Taylor the stack of signed documents. She takes them and leaves, closing my door behind her. “Thank you for handling that so gracefully. Taylor’s an excellent assistant. She’s just…inquisitive.”
Alex smiles. “And you’re a good boss.”
I can’t help but smile back. I happen to have the God of Business sitting across from me, looking all sexy and perfect and filling my office with his oozing sex appeal. If I did anything but smile back at him, I’d be insane. He could probably fire me and I’d smile at this point. But surely that’s not the thing that he wanted to run past me. To be on the safe side, I ask.
“So, what is this thing that you want to run past me?”
He settles back into his chair, making himself more comfortable as he crosses one ankle over his thigh.
“I’ve been playing with an idea. I know I’m new, but this thing has been nagging at me. We’re a shoe company. We’ve always been a shoe company. But I have an idea…to co-produce a product with a distributor that I know. A custom-fit shoe insert for athletes. We’d capitalize on the Zeller shoe brand and use that consumer trust that has already been established to launch this product. It’s a great way to diversify without going out of our comfort zone too far. What do you think?”
I stare at him, impressed.
“It’s so simple that it’s brilliant,” I admit. “We need another product in our arsenal. Have you run this past R&D?”
He’s already shaking his head. “Not yet. I’d like to go and get the specifics so that we can build up a cost analysis and a risk portfolio before we pitch it. I’ve got an appointment next week to meet with the distributor and I’d like for you to come with me. We can probably wrap up the trip in two days or so. Can you make it work?”
I nod. “Of course. Thank you for your confidence in me. I appreciate that you brought me in on this project.”
He smiles. “I told you…we’re going to make a great team.”
I feel warm inside for a minute. This man’s smile melts my internal organs. I decide that I should get hazard pay for working with him before I return his smile.
“Yes,” I tell him. “We are.”
And before I can stop it, my thoughts run away from me. I picture his full lips blazing a trail across my neck, down over my collarbone and stopping at my br**sts before he sucks there, and then bending me over his desk… and then….
“Allison?”
I snap to attention and my cheeks flare with color.
“Yes?”
“Are you alright? You look flushed.”
I nod quickly and stand.
“I’m fine. I think I just need some breakfast. Have a good morning, Alex.”
I walk out and fight the urge to make a trip to the lounge and put my head in the freezer to cool off. I’m insane. I’m an insane, randy, middle-aged woman who just fantasized about her boss while sitting with him.
But to be fair, Alex Harris is a man who was just made to fantasize about.
I can’t control Mother Nature.
********
As sexy as Alex Harris is, my thoughts are far from him later that night as I prepare for my date with Brainy Brian.
And I’ve seriously got to stop calling him that. I don’t want to accidentally reply to him with, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that, Brainy.’ I shake my head and roll my eyes. He might be boring and I don’t see anything coming of our dating, but I don’t want to offend him. He’s a sweet guy and he can’t help being boring.
And even though I’m having dinner with him, it’s Shade who I am dressing for.
I study myself in the mirror.
I’m a freaking siren tonight. I’ve pulled out all stops.
I’m wearing a black cocktail dress, snug in all the right places, which falls to a soft stop two inches above my knee. I’m wearing black thigh-high stockings and killer black Fuck-Me-Pumps. Seriously, these shoes, with their four-inch stilettos, steal the show. They might have been $900, but as far as I’m concerned, they were worth every penny.
I slide some bright red lipstick on and examine the finished product. My hair cascades over my shoulders, my smoky eyes are perfect… and well, smoky. I personally think that smoky eyes are the sexiest of all eyes. I look great. Even I have to admit that. And knowing that makes me feel sexy.