Later that evening Lee walked into Brooke’s office without bothering to knock. Damn, she looked fucking edible in those jeans that hugged her ass. He had to remind his cock to stay in check.

He cleared his throat, forcing her to look up from her desk. He wondered if she had been there since he left in the morning.

“How was your walk?” she asked.

He stopped. “Missed me?”

She scowled. “Not at all. I’ve been working.”

“How do you know what the assignment is?” he asked, curious about what she had done all day. The hike had cleared his head. He needed it. It felt good to get away from the house.

“I’ve getting acquainted with StarCon.” She smirked. “But since you’re here, why don’t you tell me what the artwork entails for your new project?” Her eyebrows rose.

Lee folded his arms across his chest. He couldn’t blame her for being hostile all the time. The situation was out of control, but he knew there was no going back. Once he had supported Tyler, he was in a hundred percent. The farther he walked in the forest, the more certain he was that this was going to work.

“First I want to make sure you were given a proper orientation to the company from human resources. Did they call you and go over everything on the phone?”

Brooke nodded. “They did. The whole thing seems a little ridiculous though. Why would you do that when we’re all the way out here in the wilderness?”

“It’s not ridiculous. I’ll tell you what happened. A couple years ago our payroll department was hacked.”

Brooke’s eyes widened. “Wh-what?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “So, we take all employee information very seriously. Don’t worry. That’s not going to happen again. We’ve added firewalls. Whoever the hacker was, was pretty clever.”

“Really?” She tilted her head. “But you never caught them?”

“No. Never. Anyway, if you’ve gone through HR, I think we should talk about what’s next for you. Wouldn’t you like to know what you’re designing?” he asked.

She looked around. “This office is over-the-top. The house is over the top. Everything about this arrangement is crazy. I can’t imagine what you want me to design.”

“Speaking of our location, I just need to know you have everything you need to complete the project.” Along with the design table, she also had a new laptop, phone, and the latest design programs.

“I can’t think of anything else. I just need you to tell me the project. Is it a video game? One of your new apps?” She looked agitated. “I’m sure it’s going to have all the bells and whistles you want.”

“Is there something wrong with the products StarCon Global creates?” he questioned.

“No. I just can’t believe I’m going to help you make millions of dollars after all this, but that’s the price of my deal, so just go ahead and tell me. What’s the newest and greatest thing that will make you and Tyler ultra-rich.”

“Brooke, it has nothing to do with making us rich.”

She huffed. “Likely.”

He sat in the soft white leather chair in front of her desk. “Would you like for me to explain it to you?”

“I’m listening.”

“You are competing for the winning design of the Dream with Wings Foundation.”

“A foundation?” Her beautiful lips parted with surprise.

He felt his chest tighten. Even the smallest movements she made, drove him wild.

“Yes. It’s our children’s foundation. The pinnacle of what we are trying to achieve at StarCon Global. Yes, we are fortunate to have padded bank accounts. Tyler and I know how lucky we are. We don’t take it for granted. Over the years we’ve tried to figure out how we could give back. What the right way was to show our gratitude. This idea has been in the works for years. That’s why it’s so important that we get it right. The branding of the Dreams with Wings Foundation has to show the world that if they give to our foundation, whether it’s through time or money, that they are part of a cause greater than them. They are part of a family.”

“I don’t believe it.” Brooke blinked. The green in her eyes glistening. “This is for a charity?”

He chuckled. “We’re not green-headed monsters. We have hearts, despite all your pre-conceived ideas.”

“My pre-conceived ideas are based on the reality of my situation.”

“I’ll give you that.”

She paused. “Ok. So I’m supposed to design the artwork for a children’s foundation that does what exactly?”

She had started to take notes.

“We don’t want to narrow our focus too much, or make it too broad. Tyler would like to make sure we’re giving as many educational opportunities as possible to young children through high school.”

“And you? Do you have a different focus?”

Lee nodded. “I love his idea, but I want to make sure that kids stay healthy. That they get the chance to live out that educational dream of his. So, my end is more children’s health. Helping families pay medical bills. That kind of thing.”

Brooke’s jaw dropped. “You are fucking with me right now, aren’t you?”

“Excuse me?”

She shook the blond curls from her shoulders. “You seriously want me to believe that you are both so enthralled with the livelihood and well-being of children that you’re setting up a foundation?”

“That’s exactly what we’ve done. After our mountain break, we are announcing it to our shareholders and to the public. We are anticipating a high media presence. They are going to expect us to roll out a new product, but instead they are going to get this. And we hope the foundation gets a lot of support. What better way to kick off a campaign?”

“And for you two to make your re-entrance into civilization.”

“Something like that.” He didn’t like the public relations side of it, but the timing wasn’t a coincidence. It was the one thing the two of them had to agree to work on outside of Denver.

“I really don’t know what to say.”

“Do you think you have enough information to start the design work? You’re running on a short time table. The other artists we have consulted certainly have a head start on you.”

“Th-this is huge,” Brooke stuttered.

“Are you up for it?”

She nodded. “I-I have to be, don’t I?”

He smiled. “That’s up to you. You don’t have to take the assignment, Brooke. Tyler’s not going to be easy on you. He has an art background. He knows his stuff. He has the final say. It’s not up to me.”

“And if I don’t then I sit around the cabin all day while you two chop wood and burn stuff?”

“I didn’t say that. I’m sure we could find something else for you to do here. This was your negation. It was your idea,” he reminded her. “You can sit up here and knit sweaters if you want. Read. Sleep. Or just paint. You don’t have to do any of the Dreams with Wings work.”

She sat back in her chair. For a moment, he thought she might reconsider. She might pull her offer to design the brand.

“I want the job.” She pulled her shoulders back. “If there is one thing I know, it’s how much children need a foundation like this. I’m going to produce the winning design.”

“Good.” He pushed off from the chair. “I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”

“I’m going to have this.”

Lee paused in the doorway. He could see the determination in her eyes. Feel the defiance dripping off her. She was beautiful and smart. And every time he saw her she was getting under his skin more and more. He wanted to clear everything off her desk and kiss her until she screamed his name. Brooke was more than he ever could have imagined.

“If it is, then I guess we won’t have much time together.” He said the words slowly. He didn’t want that to happen. But he wanted her to win. He wanted her to feel that kind of satisfaction from proving her work and her art.

He was torn, wanting to keep her, and wanting her to be successful enough she could free herself.

“Then we still have a deal.” She grinned triumphantly. “Thank you for the information, Lee. I know what I need to do now.”

“Glad I could help.” He tapped the doorframe. “I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”

“Right. Dinner.”

He walked out of Brooke’s office.