Ginger shuts down instantly, pushing past me as she tries to make her way to the door.

“Whoa, hang on there, sweetheart,” I say, grabbing her arm and swinging her back around. “Not so fast.”

I can tell that me laughing pissed her off, but she has no idea why what she said just blew my mind.

“Tell me more.”

So she does, even though I see the hesitation in her face. She tells me all about how she has been into bikes forever. About how this job is great and all, but she’s just not passionate about it. And how she thinks she can use her skills to help with branding and PR. Now her conversation with douchebag Alex makes more sense.

When she’s done talking, I brush some of her hair back from her shoulder, wanting to take another bite of that smooth skin, but I know I need to get back out there and actually get some work done.

“I have a proposition for you,” I say with a smile.

She laughs. “Bit late for that. I think you already have my answer.”

I shake my head. “No. Let me take you to dinner.”

I want more of this girl. I don’t know what she is, but I do know she’s more than a quick fuck. “After the show. Go to dinner with me.”

“That’s your proposition?” she asks, her voice incredulous.

“No, there’s more. But let’s start with that.”

She smiles, and suddenly I want to make her smile like that all the time. “Deal.”

I haul her to me, needing one more taste of her before I go back out. When I let her go again, I tell her where to come find me after the show.

She tilts her head, and I know she recognizes the name of my company, but she still hasn’t figured it out.

I simply smile and lead her back into the hallway. “Back to work now, Little Red.”

The rest of the day is a total drag. I make nice for all the important players, knowing I need to get on their good side if I want to close the deal that will take my company where I want it to go, but all I really want is for the day to be over so I can get Ginger back in my arms. And hopefully in my bed.

Finally, it’s over, and I’m sitting across from her at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the city. We talk all through dinner until finally I hit upon the subject I really want to discuss.

“So, you’re looking for a new job, right?” I begin.

Ginger looks at me like I’m crazy. “Yeah,” she says slowly.

I lay it out for her, telling her the name of my company. And I know she knows her shit because her mouth drops to the floor.

“No way,” she says when I tell her that not only am I the owner of one of the biggest up and coming bike manufacturers in the country but that I’m also looking to take my marketing to the next level.

I nod. “So, here’s my real proposition, Red. I want you to come work for me. I want you to head up my new campaign.”

“What? Why?”

I can tell this floors her even more. I know part of it is me wanting to be around her, to make sure that this girl is tied to me somehow. I don’t know what that means. I just know a taste of her isn’t enough. But I also think she’s totally qualified. I watched her today when I had a chance, and she not only has the look, but the whole package. She’s exactly what my company needs.

“There’s more,” I tell her, not sure how she’ll react to this. “So before you say yes to the job, you need to know. I want you for more than just working for me. I want you in my bed.”

Her jaw drops again. But why play games? I’m a to the point kind of guy. I put it all out there. So I tell her the hard part, too. I know it seems like I’m offering a job in exchange for sex, but that’s totally not it. I want her for the job regardless of whether she wants to sleep with me or not. And I want her in my bed even if she doesn’t want the job. Ideally, she wants both. Just like I do.

I give her time to process it, then say, “There are no strings here. You take as much or as little as you want. It’s up to you. You think you can be okay with that?”

She takes her time, staring at her hands, but when she looks back up at me, her eyes are full of that same desire I’ve started to crave. And this time there’s no confusion. No hesitation. “I’m totally okay with that.”