Keir

When you're a grown man, you don't want your little sister getting you a job. Really, you don't want her helping you out with anything. I'm supposed to be helping Ainsley navigate through life, not the other way around.

Never mind that she's a tech genius spy, married to one of the most successful running backs in the NFL. Or that I'm the recently divorced father of two whose wife left him because he wasn't "fun, or rich enough". I'm still the older brother, and I shouldn't be here, talking to Miles Corrigan about a job. Did I mention he's younger than me, too?

Okay, that makes me sound like an ass, when I'm really not. I don't care what age someone is, as long as they're a decent human being. It's just my insecurities over being dumped for not being "enough", and the fact my nerdy tomboy of a sister is now a badass with Twitter accounts dedicated to her glasses, that has me thinking stupid thoughts. Thoughts I'm clearing my head of as I step off the elevator at Corrigan & Co., onto the floor Miles calls his own.

I've met the former baseball star, who now runs the Acquisitions division of his family's company. He's smart, funny, and earned his place here. It's one thing I admire about the Corrigan brothers—they are extremely loyal to each other and those in their circle, but they don't float by on their last name.

I walk towards the office that takes up the back portion of the floor. There's a woman sitting in the desk outside the large wooden doors, and I'm thankful to see her right now. Everyone around me is moving around like the floor's on fire, and I feel bad about stopping any of them. An assistant is used to being bothered, so no worries there.

"Hi, I'm here to see Miles, but I was wondering if you could help me out with something as well."

"What do you need?" she asks, without even looking up.

"A water, please."

She does look up then, and there's no smile on her face. It's a beautiful face, so I'm a little bummed out about the missing smile. Her hair is a riot of browns and reds, from dark to light, all mixing together in a sleek fall past her shoulders. Her eyes are deep brown, and her cheekbones could cut glass. I force myself to keep my focus on her face, because she already looks angry.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not used to this dry weather yet, and I'd hate to start coughing in the middle of my interview."

"We wouldn't want that, now would we?"

"No," I tell her, smiling, because I think I’ve found an ally.

"What did you say your name is?"

"Oh, I don't think I did. It's Keir Martin."

"Huh. I was actually looking forward to your interview after reading over your resume, but now? Now, I'm just going to suggest you don't cough in my direction. Probably don't cough on Miles, either, but he's nicer than me, so I'd go with him as a first choice."

"Wait, what?'

She stands and walks into the office behind her, flipping her hair over her shoulder, and swinging her magnificent ass. Yeah, I'm looking now, and damn if I don't like what I see. Curves that could stop traffic, and legs that go on for miles. I'm not sure who I just pissed off, but I guess I'll find out once my interview begins.

Grace

"He wanted me to get him water, Miles."

"It was a misunderstanding. You were at Susan’s desk."

I'm being extra bitchy at the moment, but I hate when people assume that just because I'm a woman, I'm the "assistant" and not a Vice President in this company. Keir Martin is not the first I've encountered, and I know he won't be the last.

"I'm not in the mood to be logical at the moment."

"Obviously not."

"Maybe I overreacted."

"I wasn't going to risk life and limb by suggesting it, but you said he asked, and didn't demand."

"True."

"I want to give him a chance at this job, G, and you were on board before the water thing."

"His resume is pretty perfect for this."

"Yes."

"That's it? Just yes? You're not going to tell me how you found him?"

"Does it matter?"

Only because he won't tell me, but even though I've gotten close to both him, and his wife, Alex, since moving here, he's still the boss. Meaning, I'll let it go—for now.

"Nope."

He presses a button on his desk. "Susan, can you please send Mr. Martin in?"

I flash him the biggest smile in my arsenal. "Can I sit in your chair?"

"Evil. You are pure evil sometimes," he says, getting up and holding out his chair for me.

"You love me."

He leans down to kiss my cheek. “I totally do."

"Um, am I interrupting something? Susan said I should come in."

Miles stands up, and walks over to shake his hand. "Not at all. Grace was just busting my balls."

"Baseball player humor?"

"More like a kickass woman putting me in my place."

"I'm right here, Miles," I tell him, annoyed that he's letting Keir treat me like I'm not.

"I wasn't sure if it was safe to greet you," Keir says with a sheepish smile.

He's too damn handsome, with his tousled blonde hair, grey eyes, and dimples, and I want him to suffer a little longer for it. "Safe is relative."

"I'm sorry for mistaking you for an assistant, but honestly, is that really such a bad thing? Susan seems more capable than some of the bosses I've had in the past."

Double damn him. "It wasn't about the job. I just don't like being underestimated."

"I haven't had the chance to formally meet you, Grace, so it would be hard for me to underestimate you," he tells me, walking over, and holding out his hand.

I shake it firmly. "I'll concede that point."

"Great," Miles says, clapping his hands together. "Now that we're all getting along, let's talk about work."

Keir takes a seat across the desk from me, looking my way before he turns to speak to Miles. “I’m not sure which part of my resume you’re looking for.”

“All of it.”

“What?” Keir and I say in unison. I thought we were hiring him as a photographer.

“I need photos of our new hotel here in Vegas, but I also need someone to look into some other places I’m looking to acquire. Your background in secret shopping, and going undercover, fits perfectly with that.”

“We’re not acquiring any other Vegas properties right now,” I remind him. I’m a little pissed he didn’t discuss this with me.

“No. The job will require a little travel.”

“I can handle a little,” Keir tells him.

He sounds so casual about all this, but I’m getting a bad feeling. “Where exactly are you wanting him to travel to, Miles?”

My boss actually has the grace to look apologetic. “I’d like him to travel with you. Research strongly suggests a couple blends in better than a single person at a restaurant.”

“Restaurants?” Keir asks, and I understand his confusion.

“Yes. Grace is my VP, in charge of Hospitality Acquisitions. We’ve mostly acquired hotels, but there are some restaurants I’ve been approached about investing in. I obviously can’t go in myself to check them out.”

“Research, or no, I can do this alone,” I insist.

“No one is questioning your skill set, G.”

He says it, but part of me doesn’t completely believe it. Nothing I can do about it now. Not when Keir’s agreeing to the photography, and the undercover work. I’d look like an ass if I complained, and I’ve worked too hard to get where I am to do that. Time to just suck it up, and get the job done.