Chapter Five

Beth

“Good morning,” Ann greets me as I step off the elevator. My shoulders loosen as I take in her smile. If she greets me every morning with this perky of an attitude, it’s going to be hard walking in here every day worrying over working with Maverick.

“Good morning,” I reply with a wave as I head for my office.

It’s not like I can’t do my job just because he is in the room next me or because if I need to talk to anyone throughout the day, he’ll be the first person I go to. Because let’s be honest, Austin is going to be no help. Maverick will not affect me. And I will repeat this every day until I accept its truth.

His evergreen smell reaches me before I’ve even stepped into my office.

Maverick is leaned back in my chair with his feet propped up on my desk. He’s reading something and judging from his engrossed level, I gather he’s been here for more than just a few minutes.

Just fucking great.

“Good morning, Maverick. Are you ready to get started?” I ask, keeping my tone completely professional when I really want to tell him to get his polished black shoes that look like they’ve never set foot outside off my clean desk. But that wouldn’t really make sense, seeing as how they aren’t dirty. But I’d do anything in the moment to get that sexy smirk off his face. And “anything” is not a good idea when a new vision of us naked and on my desk just popped into my mind.

“Beth,” he says, retuning his feet to the floor and adjusting his tie as he sits up. “How are you today?”

“Ready to work. Where’s Austin? He was on the email I sent out asking you both to meet me in my office this morning.” I’d sent the email with intentions of diving into work so I wouldn’t be tempted to think of Maverick. It’s clearly not working because I’m pretty certain we could both fit in that chair as long as I kept my knees bent.

“Are you always in such a serious work mode when you arrive?” he asks.

“From the moment I walk through those doors to the moment I leave, yes.” Good. Glad he’s focused.

“You’re just saying that to impress me.” He laughs.

“Nope. It’s a real thing. Some of us are here because we want to be and because we worked hard to get here.”

His brows dip and his mouth twitches between anger and disappointment. The tick in his jaw is a pretty good indicator that he didn’t like what I just said.

“There are very few people on this floor, Ms. Moyer, who didn’t earn their place here. I gather from your tone a moment ago that you believe I am one of those people, and I assure you, I am not.”

I press my lips together, and when I have to take a deep breath to keep myself from apologizing like a crazy person or from spouting some smart-ass remark, my chest rises so dramatically, it draws his eyes.

Men.

“Believe it or not”—his eyes flicker to mine—“I enjoy this business and I think I’m really good at it.”

I’ll bet he’s good at a lot of things. And I’d like to try a few of those things right now, but that would defeat my whole goal of not imagining Maverick naked today. Which has failed twice now. Fuck.

My body and brain act like the damn battery ran down and everything but the sex button has forgotten how to function properly around him.

“All right then, since Austin is late, let’s get to work and we can catch him up when he gets here.” Yes, okay. I’m charged back up. I point to another seat for Maverick and then take my own when he stands. I wiggle the mouse to wake up my computer as I say, “I did a little research last night, and from what I found, our radio company does the least amount of marketing of any radio station in town.”

Maverick unbuttons his coat and takes a seat in one of the chairs across from me. With one ankle crossed over his knee, he says, “Well, that would make sense on why they’re inquiring to hire with us. They need more advertisement.”

“More is the key word that doesn’t even fit. You have to have a little to need more, and they have none. They need their name out there, period. Their website says it’s invalid, probably the result of someone not renewing the domain name, and they don’t even have a Facebook page. Everyone these days knows that, as awful as Facebook is, it is one of the best tools for a business.”

I pull up the files I emailed myself last night after I got home from the bar. Sleep wasn’t easy once I dove into researching the station. I twist my computer to show Maverick.

“This row represents all the different ways we could market the company,” I point out. “And these columns are the leading radio stations in town. Each check mark applies to which types of advertising the companies use. If you notice, each one uses different ones and they only use about half the entire list. TACM could be the first to use 100 percent of the possibilities.”

I nod as I finish my mini speech. I know I’m smiling, too. The idea of helping a company get recognized and grow their fan base gets my blood pumping. And this spreadsheet is only the beginning

Maverick doesn’t say anything right away, and when I try to read his expression, I’m not sure what to make of what I see. He’s focused on me and not the screen, and his mouth is tugged to the side with a smile. Happiness comes to mind, but the swirling feeling his gaze sends to my lower stomach makes me think this look means something else entirely.

“You really were meant for this job, weren’t you?” he asks.

“Well, I didn’t take full course loads and more during spring, summer, and fall semesters till I graduated for nothing. This is what I want to do. I, too, think I’m really good at it, even if this is my first job. I like how it makes me feel. It’s exciting.”

“I noticed.” His words are deep as he leans forward. “I’m not so sure you’ll—”

“Good morning.”

We both jump at Austin’s greeting as he steps into my office.

“Sorry, did I catch you at a bad time?” He asks the question loudly enough for the both of us, but the stern look in his eyes is set on Maverick.

“No, Beth was just showing me the spreadsheet she put together last night on the different opportunities we have to advertise this company,” Maverick tells him.

Austin steps in close enough to get a look.

“Well done. It’s almost as good as the one I put together last night.”

“Really?” I ask. He did work? That surprises me, but it’s awesome. “Can you forward it to me? We could compare and then make a game plan from there.”

“Your list is already here.” He sighs and pulls out his phone. “I’m sure we can make one from that.”

My guess is he didn’t even do anything project related last night.

I chance a glance at Maverick, who is staring at Austin with a raised brow and annoyance written all over his face.

“The event center holds an annual Fourth of July fireworks show each year. They’ll need a radio station to host the event. This would be great exposure for TACM. I’ve already contacted the center and pitched the idea. I think we should go with a major social media target on this one.” Maverick directs his attention toward me. Austin is still on his phone.

“You pitched something for our client without us?” I ask. That’s bullshit.

Maverick tilts his head and shrugs. “I could have waited and there would have been a chance we’d miss our opportunity.”

“You should have discussed it with me or”—I look at Austin. Must be something damn good on his phone—“whoever before you made that decision.”

“I made the correct judgment in my choice to contact them.” Maverick’s voice is smooth and confident.

“Yeah, it was a genius idea, Maverick, but Bart mentioned his appreciation for teamwork not even twenty-four hours ago. Don’t you think you should show your respect to the way he runs his company and what he expects of his employees by putting in the effort he asked for?”

Maverick clears his throat and leans back, his eyes connecting with mine. “You are correct. My apologies. It won’t happen again.”

“Okay.” Shit, now what do I say? I was on a roll and he agreed and now … okay … I got this.

“Do you want to put together a Facebook page for them? Send out some ads? If we want the event center to choose them, we need to get their name in front of as many people as possible.”

“Yes, I’ll have it by lunch,” Maverick answers, and a giddy feeling fizzes in my gut. Despite him making a choice without me, it’s obvious we want the same things for our client.

“Could we go over the page and campaign idea after lunch?” I ask him.

“Works for me,” Maverick answers.

Well, these short answers are not my favorite.

“Yeah, not for me though,” Austin says. I almost forgot he was there. “I have appointments all afternoon.”

“Doing what?” Maverick asks.

“It doesn’t concern you.” Austin stands and heads for the door. Pretty sure his not being available for the team does, in fact, concern us.

“Tonight then?” I speak up. We have to work on this sometime, and if outside office hours is when he’s available, I’ll rearrange my schedule.

A grin that makes me shift in my seat and look away appears on Austin’s face. “Sure,” he says. “Seven o’clock? The steakhouse on Evans Street.”

“Okay,” I answer.

“This isn’t on your time, Austin.” Maverick’s stern tone is thick. “Don’t be late.”

“Right,” Austin says and is gone.

When Maverick turns back around, he gives me a sad attempt at a smile.

“I’ll get to work on that page, then, and see you tonight.”

I nod, watching him as he leaves. Working with these two is going to be a pain in my ass. Austin doesn’t seem to want to help with anything, and Maverick … well … he distracts my mind from work both in the fact that he looks good—god, that scruff is sexy—and because seeking out a venue for the station to host on a fucking holiday was a goddamn brilliant idea and I should have thought of it first. Ugh, I want him even more knowing he’s going to work just as hard on this as I am.

I’ve got this though.

I have to.

I need it.

Whatever it takes, I can do this.

* * *

The day passes quickly and I’m glad. Not meeting this afternoon to go over these first few steps of digital advertisement has cost us wasted work hours. That’s not something I enjoy.

I apply a gloss layer over my lips and grab my purse and coat before I head for the door. Coming back to my apartment for some downtime between work and this dinner meeting was a good idea up until the moment when I fought with myself to wear jeans instead of my work attire. The skirt and blouse won, again.

My cell buzzes inside my purse as I reach my car, and my brother’s name appears on the screen.

“Hey, Phil,” I greet him and turn the key.

“Beth, we need to talk,” he says.

“Oh it’s good to hear from you too,” I say.

“It’s about Mom.” He ignores my sarcasm.

“Of course it is.”

“Why aren’t you answering her calls?”

“Um, for the same reason I never do. So I don’t have to listen to her yell at me for moving to Wyoming with Dad as a kid. So I don’t have to listen to her talk shit on Dad. So I don’t—”

“Beth.”

“What?” I haven’t even pulled away from the curb. Whatever he is about to say, I assume I shouldn’t be driving when I hear it.

“There’s this job, in New York, and I think it would be great for me,” he says. He sounds hopeful, exactly like I used to about this marketing job.

“Okay, so what do you need to talk to me about?” I ask, even though I know. It’s the same reason he came here right before Christmas. He wants me to move and take care of Mom, in Montana. He’s been doing it for the last couple years. I know a good sister and a good daughter would drop everything to help family, but I just don’t think it would do her any good. She needs more help than Phil or I can give her.

“Take my place at Mom’s,” he says.

“I can’t.”

“Why? Because you have to sacrifice part of your life? What do you think I’ve been doing? It’s your turn, Beth.”

“Phil, you chose to take that responsibility on your own. I didn’t force you.”

“She needs us. She needs her kids.”

“No.”

“Beth, please. I don’t want her to go to some home. She misses you, and I’m almost convinced if you come home, things might change for her.”

“I can’t, Phil. Drop it.” My eyes burn as I snap at him.

“Can’t or won’t?” he asks. The line falls silent as he waits for answer.

“I just got this new job. I can’t leave now,” I tell him.

“So they offered it to you?” he asks, and despite our current topic, he actually sounds happy for me.

“Not yet. But I know they will.”

“And if they don’t?”

“I don’t know. Find another job.”

“You’re my baby sister, so I’ll make you a deal. You get this job, I’ll stay with Mom and we can consider a treatment facility for her. You don’t get the job, you take my spot and if she’s not improving after a year, we will reconsider our options.”

A tear breaks free. I want Mom to get better. I really do.

After the divorce, Phil was always the best brother even if we lived miles away. If I don’t get this job, the right thing would be to let him go for the one he wants. It’s only fair, right?

“Okay,” I tell him.

“Seriously?” Enough excitement to last a lifetime blares through the phone. “Beth, thank you! Thank you!”

His happiness overtakes him as he stutters a few more thanks you and then tells me he’ll call me later.

It was good to hear from him even if it wasn’t for the reason I would have wanted; I miss him and I know what he wants from me is reasonable.

But now I want this job at Mitchell Marketing more than anything.

Maverick

I arrive at the restaurant at a quarter till. I don’t see either Beth or Austin, so I take a seat in the lounge. We aren’t having dinner. This is a work meeting only.

I’ve barely sat down when Beth walks through the door. She’s still in the skirt and jacket she had on earlier, looking radiant as ever. I smile and wave her over.

This is work, not a date, I remind myself one more time.

“Where’s Austin?” she asks. I can’t help but laugh. When it comes to work, she sure is serious. This kind of attitude would be very beneficial for the company.

“Does it surprise you that he isn’t here yet?”

The waitress places water glasses on the table. “Can I get you anything else to drink?”

“Water is fine. We are waiting on one more,” Beth answers. The waitress leaves us, and I can’t help but smile.

“What?” Beth asks.

“You’re like a lion ready to pounce.”

“Well, I am here to work and I want to get started.”

“It’s okay to relax though. I mean, we are going to be working together for a while. Being comfortable around each other will help us process more smoothly.”

“I’m comfortable.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

My brow raises. I’m not so sure.

She releases a big sigh.

“Fine, but how would you feel being in my position? Up against two family members of the company.”

She has a point.

“Well, for starters, Austin isn’t much to work against. He isn’t even here,” I tell her.

“But he’s the boss’s son. That already puts him in a higher place than me.”

“I wouldn’t assume that.”

“Still, I can’t be messing around. My life depends on this job.”

A worried look that almost clashes with desperation flashes through her eyes. What would a woman right out of college have to fear? Money? This could be an interesting topic to explore, but my damn phone picks right now to ring.

“It’s Austin,” I say before answering it.

“Are you almost here?” I ask.

“No.”

“What do you mean, no?”

Beth’s eyes go wide.

“I relocated the meeting. Meet me at the corner of Stone and Fifth.”

“Stone and Fifth,” I say out loud. Beth pulls out her phone and types in the address. Her brows furrow as she holds the phone closer to her face.

“It’s a strip club,” she mouths.

“Austin, come on, we can’t meet there.”

“Scared of the temptation?” he asks.

“I don’t even know what that means.” Seriously, what the fuck does that mean?

Beth taps her finger on the table in front of me. “Let’s just go and get this over with.”

“Fine,” I say to both her and Austin. “We are on our way.”

The last place most women want to be is in a strip club, yet Beth accepted the idea like I was asking her if she wanted to grab a drink. I’ve heard of people doing what it takes to get a job, but her drive has got to be on a whole different level.

“Austin doesn’t play fair. I’m warning you now. Let’s just cut him from the team. He can work on his own,” I offer.

“Cut the boss’s son? How do you think that will make us look?” She acts like I’ve just said the craziest thing in the world to her.

“You don’t know him like I do.”

“Suck it up, Maverick. Don’t be a baby.”

“I’m not being a baby. I’m looking out for you.”

“I don’t need you to look out for me.”

She marches out of the restaurant and straight for her car.

Looks like we’re doing this. She rolls down her window and yells for me to get into her passenger’s seat.

“Nothing about this is a good idea, but if you think we should go, we will go,” I say.

“Thank you.”

“However, I would like to point out that he made this work decision without us, so feel free to call him out on it.”

If she’s going to call me out on my bullshit, she should do the same to him. Although her ability to put me in my place earlier turned me on more than it upset me, so I definitely don’t hope for the same reaction when it comes to Austin. Plus, perhaps my comment will get a slight rise out of her. Her cheeks turn this glowing shade of pink when she’s upset and a dimple appears on the left side of her mouth when she presses her lips together so she doesn’t say the wrong thing. It’s only been a couple of days, but she does this more than you’d think.

“Hey, I expect this behavior from him, not you,” she says.

“You’re right.”

“Exactly.”

I steal a glance and catch the smile she’s attempting to hide with her hand.

“You can’t always be right, though,” I tempt her.

“Ah, we’ll see.”

When we pull up to the club, it looks run down and in need of paint. Something I’m sure most people would never notice coming here at night, but since there is still a sliver of daylight, this place gives the illusion that it’s deserted instead of a business.

“We will just get in, get out and be on our way,” Beth says, her steps faltering as she approaches the door.

“Having your doubts now?” I ask.

“No, I just would rather not spend my entire night in a hazy strip club.”

“Agreed,” I say, and we step inside.

Smoke engulfs us the moment we step inside and Beth immediately starts coughing. The urge to tell her to wait outside so she doesn’t have to endure this hits me, but before I can say anything, she walking farther inside.

Fucking Austin. I should have known he would pull this shit. I grip the back of my neck as I make way behind Beth. He is up to something, and I don’t think it’s going to end well for any of us.

Beth spots him before I do. She takes a seat at his table, pulling out a notepad and pen.

“You have all your fancy spreadsheets written down on there?” Austin asks, his eyes never leaving the woman on stage.

“Well, I sure as shit am not going to bring a laptop in here.”

“Why not? Think you’re better than the women in here?”

“Austin,” I warn.

“Let’s just get to work,” Beth says.

“On one condition,” Austin says, and I cross my arms. Now were going to find out exactly why he wanted us to come here.

“You dance and then we can work.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I shout as Beth gasps.

“That’s insane,” she snaps. “For fuck’s sake, how mental are you?”

“Mental enough to know you want this job this badly. Mental enough to know you’d rather work on this project without me. And I’ll give you that, if you dance.”

Beth leans back in her chair, her focus locked on Austin. Her tongue sweeps across her lips right before her teeth tug against the bottom one.

This is not the place for me to begin thinking about how that should be my tongue and my lips.

“No, no, don’t even think about it, Beth. He’s setting you up,” I say. She’s still focused on him.

“She’s a big girl; she can make her own choice.”

“Beth, come on, he’s just trying to see how far he can get you to go. It’s not worth it.” Her eyes finally flicker to me briefly before returning to Austin. “Do I have to take my clothes off?”

“What? Beth, like you said, this is insane.” I’m about to pull out my hair. No fucking way am I letting her go on stage in front of all these men. There might be only six people in here, but still, it’s not going to happen.

“Of course not. Mav wouldn’t be able to contain himself if you did,” Austin answers her.

Big, green eyes focus on me.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asks, probably assuming I shared information about this past weekend.

“Oh, he didn’t tell you why he’s at MM under my father’s watch and not with his own?”

“Austin, just get to it so Beth and I can get on with our work,” I interrupt.

His eyes narrow as he looks me up and down. “Keeping it a secret? Fine. You dance for him, really dance for him to the next song, and I’ll let you two be.”

Dance for me? I thought it was dance in general. I rub my hands over my face. How in the fuck did my serious career bring me to this moment? This has got to be a nightmare. This isn’t real.

“That’s it?” Beth asks. “Dance for Maverick and you won’t get in our way on the project?

“That’s it,” he says.

Fuck. This is not a dream and this isn’t good.

“I want him gone, too, but this? This is not the way to do it,” I tell her.

“Can I do it in private?” she asks, ignoring me.

“Beth, you don’t have to do this,” I repeat. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love for her to do whatever to me, but not here and not as a negotiation.

“No, you—”

“She not doing it.” I’ve had enough of waiting for her to reach this decision. “Let’s go.”

“Maverick, this isn’t your choice.”

“You’re right.” In one stride, I’m inches away from being able to kiss her. She doesn’t step back. “We’re supposed to work as a team, right? That’s what you said you want. To make these decisions together.”

She presses on the tips of her toes, her hands resting on my shoulders as she balances herself to whisper in my ear.

“He thinks I won’t do it, which is why I have to. I want this job, Maverick, and I need him to know how much. You said I shouldn’t worry about him being the boss’s son; well, let me show him how unaffected his threats are to me.”

I need this too. I need these next three months to go smoothly, but this is not the way. I don’t know what else to say to make her realize this. I’m still shaking my head, but I know the decision has been made.

A remix of Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” comes on when the next dancer, a thin woman with porcelain-white skin and black hair steps to the center of the stage. She looks like she could be about the same age as Beth. Her hips begin to bounce with the beat, and Austin settles back in his seat. “I have to see it to make it count,” he says, taking a sip of his drink like he already knows the answer.

“Fine, but I’m not fucking going on stage. I’m doing it right here,” Beth snaps at him.

His drink sloshes out of his glass. That wasn’t the answer he was expecting.

Before I can protest once more—she doesn’t deserve this and this is not how business should be handled—she’s out of her seat, pushing me into my own, and standing in front of me, her eyes begging me to agree.

Austin has no idea what it means to grow up and be a businessman. If he did, none of us would be in this position right now.

I release a defeated sigh and nod. She takes her jacket off, revealing a sleeveless blouse that dips way too low for comfort in the front, and then she turns her back to me. I catch the pleased look on Austin’s face right as Beth’s hips begin to sway in front of me.

All right, she isn’t touching me. This should work out just fine.

But then she is. Her hands grip my legs as she bends at the knee. Her ass is slowly placed in my lap. The moment we come in contact, I inhale deeply. Her back rests against my chest, her hips grinding in my lap. I swallow hard, trying to calm myself, but it doesn’t work. I know the second she notices what she’s doing to me, because her ass brushes against me harder, like she wants it. She wants to feel me against her.

I don’t know how much time passes before Austin’s voice interrupts us.

“Now that was a dance.” He laughs, holding his drink up to us. “Enjoy working alone. I will hope for your sake that the two of you get things done.” His laughter grows wicked as his eyes glance to where Beth sits, to where my hands are on her thighs, pulling her skirt higher.

She jumps from my lap and grabs her bag, shoving her notepad inside.

“We’re good then?” she asks Austin.

I’m ready to knock him out when he doesn’t even look at her to say, “Yeah, we’re good.”

She nods and heads for the door.

“Beth,” I call out behind her.

“Don’t, Maverick.”

“Hey, I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

I really wish I knew what she was thinking in there. She acts tough, but I can see that this was too much on her. She isn’t the type of woman to run out of a room like this. I don’t have to know her long to know that about her.

“I’m fine. I don’t want to talk about it.”

We climb inside her car once more, and when we get back to the restaurant it’s hard to miss her shaking hands as she puts the car in park.

“We’ll both have three ideas for Facebook advertising by morning, yeah?” she asks. “Maybe for something else, too.” She shakes her head and looks forward. “Just anything, really.”

“Beth—”

“What’s done is done, Maverick. I don’t care if it wasn’t the right choice to make. I can’t afford for him to get in my way, all right? I’ll see you in the morning,” she cuts me off.

I nod, wishing there was something I could say to her. That I could tell her that it’s not a big deal, but I can’t say that. She knows as well as I do that whatever just happened was a big deal and we can’t forget about it. Yet I have the feeling she’s going to try, because she’s made it more clear than ever how badly she wants this job. Me … I might not get my job back after all.