Why does he have to be so damn handsome?

The whole maintaining a professional demeanor thing would be a lot easier if my entire being wasn’t screaming at me to flirt with Rafe.

He strides over to my desk with a hesitant smile.

Don’t look at his dick. Don’t look at his dick.

Crap. I failed miserably at that.

The way his pants hug his legs and crotch, it leaves little to the imagination. And I don’t need imagination after replaying that damn video a thousand times.

He reaches my desk and extends his hand. I rise to greet him, and the moment our hands touch, a tidal wave of warmth floods my body. He feels it too. I know he does. The raised eyebrow and his lingering squeeze of my hand tells me I’m not the only one who’s experiencing a physical reaction. And damn if that doesn’t suck.

I haven’t met a man I’m this into in years, and he has to be my employee. One who is already in hot water.

“Please take a seat, Rafe.”

He unbuttons his perfectly tailored suit jacket and slowly lowers himself into one of the chairs facing my desk.

Don’t look at his dick. Don’t look at his dick.

My eyes drift of their own accord and I find myself staring at his lap, barely visible over the edge of the desk.

He clears his throat, refocusing my attention to his face. A grin slants his mouth. “I assume you want to discuss your meeting with the board and my statement for today?”

I nod and try not to drool over the way his jacket is pulling taut across his biceps when he shifts. “Yes. I thought we could go over everything.”

“Fire away.”

I chuckle at his choice of words that I’m sure was intentional. “You’re not getting fired. The board may have concerns, but I’m the one calling the shots, and I say you stay.”

His brow furrows, and he leans forward slightly. “Does that mean you’re putting your own job at risk by standing up for me with the board?”

That’s a hard one to answer and one I would rather avoid altogether. Rafe strikes me as the type to be heroic and throw himself on the sword to protect a woman. I can’t see him being okay with what went down in that boardroom.

“If this goes south, it’s your ass on the line.”  Barry’s words ring in my ears as Rafe waits patiently for my response.

I clear my throat. “That isn’t any of your concern. You do your job and I’ll do mine.”

Rafe considers me for a moment, his long fingers steepled over a luscious mouth I’d kill to kiss. “Andy, I appreciate what you’re doing for me, but please don’t risk your career for mine. I have other things I can do. It wouldn’t be the end of the world.”

Didn’t I tell him not to worry about it?

Part of me wants to remind him who’s in charge here, but the other part recognizes that he’s only trying to do the right thing. I can’t really blame him for that. He was probably raised right, to be chivalrous toward women and offer them assistance, even if they don’t need it.

Don’t be offended, Andy. Take it as a compliment he wants to protect you.

I smile and wring my hands together in front of me. “I’m not worried, Rafe. And you shouldn’t be either, unless you’ve changed your mind and you’re telling me you want to resign?”

A smirk overtakes his face, and he drops his hands onto his thighs.

Christ, I want to see what his legs look like under that black fabric. Probably thick and muscular…I’m sure the video didn’t do him justice.

“No, I’m not quitting. I just realize that this situation may be more than is fixable, and I don’t want to be responsible for you losing your job too.”

My spine snaps straight, and I narrow my eyes on him. “I can assure you, Rafe, I am responsible for my own actions and how they affect my life.”

He grins. “Oh, I have no doubt about that, Andy.”

His words drip with sexual innuendo, and the air in the room thickens. The large space suddenly feels like a tiny coat closet with both of us crammed into it.

“Are you so eager to get back to the museum? Are you sick of the spotlight already?”

A laugh rumbles from his chest. “The last few days have certainly given me reason to second-guess my decision to leave the museum, but no, I’m not looking to go back there. I love doing this.”

“Good. Then let’s go over the statement I’ve prepared for the press conference today. I’ve made a few changes since yesterday based on some comments from the board, but it’s largely unchanged from what we previously discussed.”

He nods and reaches out to take the proffered sheet of paper. “I trust that anything you’ve prepared is fine.”

“I appreciate the confidence in my abilities, but you do have some say in this. If there’s anything you aren’t comfortable with, please let me know, and I can run any changes by legal before we go live.”

His focus centers on the paper and that leaves me time to drink him in without being noticed.

Damn. This man really is something else.

His dark hair and olive complexion are enhanced by the dark black suit and blue shirt combination molded to his body—a body I have no doubt is toned and absolutely lickable from what little I saw on the video.

I almost wish he would quit to remove any impediment between us. But that’s selfishness talking, not the shrewd business woman who knows what an asset he is to this network.

He finishes his perusal of the document and returns his dark bourbon eyes to me. “This looks good. Let’s run with this.”

“Great.” I stand and move around to the end of the desk. “Then I’ll see you in about an hour to head to the press conference. I’ll escort you down and say a few words before I bring you on to speak.”

Rafe rises from his chair and approaches me slowly, his eyes roaming over my black dress and red heels. “Do you think that’s wise? Appearing on camera for something like this so early in your tenure? Why not let someone from legal or PR handle it?”

I narrow my eyes on him and lift my chin. “You don’t seem to be understanding, Rafe…this is my show. I’ll do whatever I want.”

He steps into me, far closer than is appropriate for the situation, and a tingle of excitement races through me. “Yes, it would seem you are firmly in control here, Andy.”