Chapter Ten
could feel Jack's eyes on me as I led him through the warehouse and explained the various points of operation. I wasn't sure if he was sizing me up as part of his team or if he viewed me as an obstacle.
I had done a bit of research on him when I'd found out that he would be taking over for his father, and I found that he had a reputation as an international playboy. What I read about him made it hard for me to take him seriously as a businessman who would run Baby Steps the way his father had—responsibly.
"Over here is the shipping and receiving area," I said, pointing to the offices in the back of the warehouse where a group of workers were boxing orders that had been gathered from the shelves.
"So, what exactly is it that we do differently from the competition, Leah?" Jack asked as he looked around. His face registered a low level of interest and a high level of boredom, and I resented that this was taking time away from my duties to show him the ropes. Even more, I resented that I wanted to stare at him and, more than that, I wanted to ask him if he remembered kissing me in the parking lot at the wake.
Jackson Yates was a man who drew attention. He was taller than his father had been and had broader shoulders. And whereas Bernard had had a stern but warm face, Jack's face radiated an intense sensuality that made him impossible to ignore. His thick, brown hair was long enough to make girls want to run their fingers through it, and his facial hair had been trimmed just close enough for him to appear groomed, but rugged. His eyes were a warm shade of brown, highlighted by gold flecks, and they radiated an intensity that made it difficult to look away. I felt angry with him for being so handsome and so hard to read.
"We offer high end baby products that are ecologically responsible and ethically made," I said as I walked him back to the part of the warehouse where the products were stored, “Bernard Yates had made sure that everything in our inventory was something that improved the lives of the people making it and the lives of the people buying it.” I stopped and turned around to look at him as I continued, "But I'm sure you already knew that, didn't you?"
"Leah, I know very little about my father's business," Jack said. I held his gaze longer than I needed to, but I couldn't look away. I cursed myself silently as a slow smile spread across his lips, and he added, "But anything you want to tell me is something I'd like to hear."
"We do our own packaging and mailing using Earth-friendly products," I said as I tried to turn the conversation back to the business. "It's been quite profitable, and it's given the company good press. I think we've garnered more business as a result."
"Do you now?" Jack said very close to my ear. Startled, I jumped. My head hit something hard, and I heard him cry, "Oh fuck!"
"Oh my gosh, Mr. Yates . . . Jack, are you okay?" I asked as I turned and saw him holding a hand over his nose as blood slowly dripped out from between his fingers. "Oh no! You're bleeding!"
"No shit, Sherlock," he said as he pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to stanch the bleeding. I ducked into the nearest bathroom and cursed softly as I realized that we no longer had paper towels in our bathrooms. I rushed out and headed down the hall yelling, "Hold on, I've got something to help!"
In the lunchroom, I grabbed a towel from the dish rack where employees left their lunch dishes after washing them and raced back down the hall to where Jack stood holding his nose and looking up at the ceiling.
"Here, use this," I said, shoving the towel at him. "It should help catch the blood."
Jack took the towel and held it over his nose as I led him down the hall to the lunchroom. There was blood all over the front of his suit, and I felt compelled to try and clean it up. I grabbed another towel, ran it under the faucet, and then dabbed at the blood on his dress shirt.
"It's coming out," I said as I slipped my fingers between the buttons and blotted the stains. I could smell Jack's musky cologne, and, as my fingers grazed his chest, I suddenly felt a little lightheaded. I looked up and found him smiling down at me with a lazy grin that simultaneously made me weak in the knees and pissed off at his arrogance.
"You're doing a great job, Leah," he purred in a way that made me think of big cats stalking their prey. I, however, had no intention of being Jack Yates's next prize.
"Here, you can finish it up," I said holding the towel out and backing away.
"Don't you want to finish what you've started," he said in a low voice that made me shiver a little.
"No, I think you can handle the rest," I said, shaking my head and backing up toward the door. I was acutely aware of the fact that the warehouse staff was due to walk through the door at any moment, and I didn't want to be caught in anything remotely resembling a compromising position. I'd worked too hard to earn the respect of my staff. To have them think that I was currying favor with the new boss was not the way to ensure loyalty or respect.
"C'mon, Leah," Jack said with a grin. "You know you want to."
"Mr. Yates," I said in a voice that cut through the flirtation. "You are a grown man who is perfectly capable of removing stains from his own suit. If you have trouble doing that, I'd be happy to recommend a reputable cleaner who can do it for you, but I'm not the maid. I believe our tour is over, so if you have any other questions, I'll be happy to answer them and, if not, then I have a warehouse to run."
"No, that'll do," he said coolly, as he dipped the towel under the faucet and dabbed at his suit.
I nodded before turning and walking out the door. Once in the hallway, I walked a few steps and then leaned heavily against the wall. I tried to catch my breath as I realized that I had not only rebuffed Jack Yates, I'd put my new boss in his place. I wasn't sure how this was going to play out, but I crossed my fingers and hoped that this was enough to keep him at a safe distance. I had my doubts.