I HURRY OUT OF THE subway.
Of all days for me to be late, I choose this one.
My phone rings, and I know exactly who it is. My boss, Mark. My anal retentive, no nonsense, perfectionist boss—whom I adore.
He drives me nuts, but he is the most supportive man I have ever met, so I’m giving him a pass this morning. I know why he’s wound tight. His biggest client is coming in for a meeting and everything needs to be just right. Which is part of the reason I’m late in the first place. I couldn’t decide what to wear! Every time Kayne Roberts walks into the building my pulse races, my heart rate spikes, and my knees go weak. He’s a walking god in an Armani suit.
“Hello?” I answer as I turn the corner, picking up the pace.
“Where are you?” Mark snaps.
“I’ll be in the office in five minutes.”
“Three minutes. Roberts will be here any second. The conference room needs to be prepped and coffee needs to be made.”
I sigh. “I prepped last night, and the coffee is on a timer.” Okay, so maybe I knew I was going to be late.
“You’re magic glitter in high heels,” he says then hangs up. Did I mention Mark is flaming gay? Makes him that much more fun to work for.
There’s a pedestrian traffic jam right outside of my building’s entrance. Of course. I push through the mass, battling my way to the double doors I have in sight. I emerge from the throng, but not before my heel gets caught in a crack in the sidewalk, and I fly face first onto my hands and knees. Shit. Everyone saw that. I allow myself to feel humiliated for just a second, and then proceed to pick myself up.
“Okay down there?” A smooth, masculine voice vibrates through my limbs. I look up to find Kayne Roberts himself holding his hand out to help me. I’m stuck. Kneeling at his feet as my brain forgets how to command my body.
He frowns. “Ellie, are you hurt badly? Do you need me to carry you inside?”
Carry me? Yes please!
“No.” I finally find my wits. “I’m okay.”
Kayne plucks me up, and I’m caught staring into his beautiful crystal blue eyes. Well, one beautiful crystal blue eye. His right eye has a large patch of brown that looks like a lightning bolt is striking his pupil.
It makes them even more of a spectacle to stare at.
He smiles down at me and then drops his gaze a little lower, smirking wickedly. I look down immediately to find the top button of my shirt popped open and my cleavage fully exposed.
I want to crawl into a hole and die of embarrassment, mortification, and shame.
“Nice,” Kayne quips.
I grab my shirt and yank it closed.
“Thank you.” It’s the only thing I can think to say and makes my embarrassment burn brighter, right on the apples of my cheeks. I right myself as Kayne opens the door for me, and we walk to the elevator together. Him haughty, me abashed.
As we ride to the tenth floor in silence, I pull my black pencil skirt up and check my knees. Kayne watches with entertained eyes as I expose more leg. I feel claustrophobic under his gaze. My right one is scraped and stings slightly, but I don’t notice the pain. All I can think about is that old expression you should be careful what you wish for. Because ever since he strolled into this company, I have lusted after him. Wishing that just once he would notice me. Well, today he did. And all I want to do is die.
Mark is waiting by the elevators when we arrive. I swear if he could stick his whole head up Kayne’s ass instead of just his nose, he would. I guess I can’t blame him. Kayne is his number one client. Expo is an import/export company and Mark’s baby. He hired me straight out of high school and I have worked my way up from novice secretary to irreplaceable personal assistant during that four year time. My family couldn’t afford to send me to college, and I didn’t want to rack up one hundred thousand dollars worth of debt by going to the top-ten school of my dreams. So, I decided to forgo college until I could save up enough to attend. Mark has been overly generous with my paychecks and bonuses ever since he found out I had half a brain. Coming from the poor family I did, I learned quickly that I am the master of my own destiny. If I want something out of life, the only person who can afford it to me, is me. My upbringing wasn’t all bad though. Contrary to the bottom line of their bank account, my family had a wealth of love to give.
Mark is wearing his power suit—a dark grey jacket and matching pants with a bright purple shirt and printed tie. Despite the way Mark dresses, he is brilliant, and I have learned an abundance since he took me under his wing.
“Kayne.” He and Mark shake after we walk out of the elevator.
“Mark.”
“Everything is set up. Ellie, please escort Mr. Roberts to the conference room. And tend to whatever he needs.”
I suddenly flush. Whatever he needs? My mind races with erotic images. I’ll tend to anything he needs.
“Yes, Mark,” I answer dutifully.
Kayne gazes down at me with vigilant eyes. His glare heats my skin. It’s as hot as the sun.
I walk Kayne to the conference room with him trailing slightly behind me, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear he’s stealing glimpses of my ass. It turns me on and makes me uncomfortable all at the same time. I guess that’s what I get for wearing the tightest pencil skirt I own.
“Do you need to clean your knee?” Kayne asks.
“It will be fine. I’ll take care of it after you’re settled.”
He nods.
Kayne relaxes himself in one of the large leather office chairs adjacent to where Mark usually sits.
“Coffee?” I ask.
“Yes, please.” He smoothes his tie. “Milk—”
“No sugar.” I finish his sentence.
“You remembered.” He smiles brightly, and I almost dissolve.
“It’s my job not to forget.” Jesus, is that even my voice? It sounds husky, thick with desire. Can I be any more desperate?
“Rare quality. Attentiveness,” he muses.
“I guess.” I shrug, backpedaling toward the door. “I’ll be right back.”
I flee the room, seriously needing to pull my shit together.
By the time I return with Kayne’s coffee, a tea for Mark, and the tray of baked goods Mark always requests, the meeting is already under way. I hand Kayne his coffee first. He winks at me and our fingers brush during the exchange. The contact feels like an electrical current.
I shakily place Mark’s tea in front of him as he reads through the agenda, and then set the silver platter of muffins, scones, and miniature cupcakes in the middle of the table. After that, I leave the room, stealing a glance at Kayne right before I exit.
I clean my knee, then spend the rest of the morning spying into the conference room, swooning over the very desirable and even more unattainable Mr. Roberts.
“I see your boyfriend’s back.” Susie, one of Mark’s logisticians, bumps my hip.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say with a huge smile. Everyone in the office knows how bad I have it for Kayne.
“Yeah right.” She laughs with her throaty voice. “You’re standing there with your tongue unraveled.”
“Am I that obvious?” I scrunch my face.
“You’re like a white dot on a wall of red.”
“Is the red because I heat up every time I see him?” I ask chewing my lip and twirling the end of my light brown hair compulsively.
“Not just you, honey. The building.”
“I’m a desperate loser.” I drop my face into my hands.
“Don’t beat yourself up about it. That man is walking sex with a side of pheromones. No one blames you.” She stirs her coffee with the thin orange plastic stick.
“He’ll never notice me.” I sigh as I eye him through the glass. He’s engrossed in whatever Mark’s talking about. I’m engrossed by his body, his face, his hands and his hair.
I finally look back at Susie. She’s smiling, chewing on her coffee stirrer. “You want him to notice you? Give him something to look at. You’ll never know if he’s interested if you don’t put yourself out there.”
“He’s Mark’s most important client. I wouldn’t want to mess anything up for him by mixing business with pleasure.”
Susie shrugs. “A risk comes with every reward.”
She throws her stirrer in the trash. “See if he’s going to the party tonight. If not, invite him,” she advises before she saunters away.
Ask him out?
I glance up to find the meeting coming to an end. Everyone is slowly but surely clearing out of the conference room. Except Kayne. He’s still sitting, jotting notes.
“Ellie. Can you clean up in there? I’m heading to lunch,” Mark calls.
“Yes, Mark,” I once again dutifully respond, and Kayne looks up.
His stare makes the insides of my thighs heat up. Get a grip!
I head into the conference room, steeling my nerves.
“How was the meeting?” I ask Kayne sweetly as I begin to collect the information folders left behind.
“Excellent. Mark is a genius at logistics. He found an alternate flight route out of Mexico that will save a few hundred thousand over the next year. I’m pleased.”
Kayne utilizes Expo to import limes and his own personal brand of tequila out of Mexico. He’s making a fortune right now on that little green fruit. Because of weather conditions and poor crops, the price per bushel of limes has quadrupled. Mark sees dollar signs every time we have margaritas after work.
“That’s good.” I smile. “No lunch for you?” I ask casually.
“I have another meeting in an hour. I’ll be having lunch then. Mark said I could utilize the conference room to do some work to kill time.”
“I see,” I say as I pick up the last folder.
“What about you?” He tracks my movements with his majestic blue eyes. They remind me of a wild jungle cat.
“My lunch is sitting right in front of you. I’ll be dining on miniature cupcakes.”
“Healthy,” he mocks.
“I know, but they’re little. So ... less calories?” I shrug playfully.
“I guess that’s one way to spin it.” He smiles, pulling the silver tray toward him. “Which flavor is your favorite?” Kayne looks up at me like I’m a confection sweet enough to eat. I swallow hard.
“It’s a toss-up between the red velvet and lemon drop.”
“Well, I’m a red velvet man myself.” He picks up the lone red velvet cupcake on the plate. “Would you mind sharing your lunch with me, Ellie?”
“Of course not. It’s only polite to share.” I fiddle with the collar of my dress shirt.
Kayne pulls the wrapper off of the dyed cake, and then splits it in two. “Sit.”
I take a seat next to him, still clutching the file folders in my arms.
He offers me one half of the cupcake, and I take it with trembling fingers.
“Do I make you nervous, Ellie?” he asks as he lightly licks the cream cheese frosting.
“No.” I try to play it cool. “Just too much coffee.”
“I see.” He stares at me intensely as he laps the top of the cupcake clean. I think I just came watching his tongue work the icing. “Aren’t you going to eat?” he asks enticingly, right before he stuffs the naked cupcake into his mouth. I just sit there frozen, trying not to squish the dessert still in my hand.
This man could write a handbook on seduction. Chapter one: Cupcakes.
Kayne looks at me expectantly. Without even thinking, I shove my half into my mouth. Not seductively at all. I’d be the first one to buy that handbook. Kayne smirks, his eyes alight. Then he brushes a crumb off my bottom lip. I nearly pass out.
“Did you decide what school you’re going to attend in the fall?” he asks as he lounges back in his chair. I can’t believe it. We had that conversation over three months ago, the last time he was here.
“You remembered?” I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my face.
“I’m in the business of not forgetting.” He skims his tie slowly between his thumb and index finger. Lucky tie.
“It’s between the University of Miami, NC State, and Hawaii,” I tell him.
“Inclined to warm weather.”
I pout my lip. “I’ve never been away from the East Coast. I wanted a change. I plan to visit Europe next summer.”
“Ambitious.”
His responses are so simple, so controlled, yet so inveigling it feels like I’m falling into a trance.
“I want more than a two-bedroom apartment shared by four people,” I divulge meekly.
“I admire your aspirations. Do you know what you’re going to study?”
“Logistics.”
“Thinking about starting your own import/export? I’d hire you.” His gaze is heavy, probing almost. Is it suddenly hot in here?
“Well, thank you for the vote of confidence. But I’m not sure what I want to do yet. I just know it’s an open field. And something I’ve come to learn.”
“Do what you know?”
“Something like that.”
Kayne nods, glancing at his watch. “Crap, Ellie, I have to go.”
“I understand.” We both stand up, our chests landing an inch apart. I stop breathing.
Kayne stares down at me with those mesmerizing eyes. “Thank you for sharing your lunch with me.”
“Anytime,” I breathe. Inhaling the clean scent of his expensive cologne. The smell is heady.
“Kayne?”
“Mmmm hmmm, Ellie?” He leans a little closer.
“Are you going to Mark’s party tonight?” I ask, a little lightheaded from his scent and his proximity.
A smile plays on his lips. “I was invited.”
“And are you going?”
“Will you be there?” he counters.
“It depends.”
“On what?”
“If I’ll be spending the evening alone or not.” I stare straight up at him, trying not to waver.
“Are you asking me out, Ellie?”
Am I?
“Maybe.” I bite my lip.
“Then maybe I’ll be there.”
Did he just accept?
With that, Kayne picks up his phone from the table and drops it into his pocket. I just watch him like a dumbstruck fool.
“Until tonight,” he says, then steps away from me and starts for the door. “Oh, and Ellie.” He stops short right next to me so we are shoulder to shoulder. “The next time you want to get my attention. Bend over. Your tits are nice, but I’m more of an ass man.”
He then leaves.
With me nailed to the floor.