Mix'n Business With Pleasure

by Hadley Raydeen

  “You caught me, Ms. Thomas. I wanted to meet you. That was my only reason. I took your particular job because I wanted to meet the beautiful and intelligent Miss Bevin Thomas in person before I saw her in the boardroom. What I did, I won’t take back. Maybe how I did it... I should have said something yesterday to you. I was wrong. For that, I apologize. ”

  She took the napkin off her lap and wiped at her mouth. Taking a drink of her water, she answered, “Apology accepted. So now that you’ve met me, I will warn you, I’m not easy to work with, Jax. I expect great things, and not a rushed job just to say you can and just to say you did. Werries trusts me with this project, and if that means I have to be on the worksite with a hard hat on, well damn it, I will be too.”

  “I look forward to the challenge.” He sat back in his seat. “Though I have to admit the thought of you in a hard hat and high heels—”

  “Stop right there,” she said holding a hand up. “There will be none of that. I will admit that before I knew we would be working together, I may have entertained the idea of—”

  “Of what, Bevin? Dating me, kissing me, sleeping with me? Tell me something I haven’t already thought myself, beautiful.” He shot her a daring glance. She felt that fire simmer again. It started low this time, igniting every nerve ending in her body. Her inner thoughts were on overdrive and this smug bastard knew everything she was thinking.

  “I’m too old to play this game with you, Jax.” She choked on the words.

  “Too old?” He laughed. “Sweetheart, what are you, late twenties?”

  “I’m thirty-four!”

  “Still, not old enough to say you’re too old. Trust me, I’m too old to piss around my attraction for someone. Before you ask, I’m thirty-eight.” It was his turn to hold up his hand and stop her before she could interrupt. “Now, I will be the most professional person you will ever meet on this project. Your wish is my command, but I am what I am and I make no apologies for that. My mother always told me I’m too outspoken—”

  “I would have to agree with her.”

  “Then she would definitely like you.”

  “I’m sure she is a lovely woman.”

  The waitress came at that moment and she felt like she’d been tossed a lifeline once again.

  “May I have a takeout container please and the check?” she asked the waitress. The girl took her plate to box her food for her and scurried away to get the check.

  “Have I scared you off?”

  “I just really should be going.”

  “I’m sorry, Bevin.”

  “No really, I just have some things to handle today.” She looked everywhere but at him. Her purse all of the sudden was the most fascinating thing in the world.

  He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “I’m not talking about making you blush that intoxicating shade of red you are turning, ma’am. I’m sorry for putting you in this uncomfortable position. Making you question everything that makes you desirable and making you feel you can’t trust me. It was never my intent.”

  She waved his comment off pulling her credit card from her black bag. “I’m over it, Jaxon. Please let’s not bring it back up.”

  “Okay then. Do you mind if I stay and eat?”

  She glanced at his plate. He had barely touched his food. Damn, I am being rude. But the way he looked at her now, and the direction this conversation was headed, is why she had to leave. Her skin felt on fire already and if he continued on, she would spontaneously combust. She liked to be in control of every situation and right now she was not.

  “No, not at all you should enjoy your food while it’s still warm.”

  “Thank you.” He smiled.

  The waitress came back with a takeout bag and a black leather folder containing the bill.

  “Lunch is on me,” he said plucking it up before she could open it.

  “Really, you don’t have to—”

  “I want to.” He didn’t look up at her as he pulled out his wallet and slipped a platinum card from the contents. He opened the small folder and inspected the bill.

  She picked up her purse and stood. “Thank you for lunch. Enjoy the rest of your day, Mr. Stewart.” She took her takeout bag and turned to leave, but his voice halted her.

  “I’ll be in touch, Bevin.”

  She nodded once and offered a small wave over her shoulder before she hurried from the crowded restaurant.

  Chapter 7

  She paced back and forth in her large office at the end of the workday, not sure how to take him, or what to make of their conversation at lunch. The attraction to him was definitely there. Heaven help her, the man was gorgeous. His personality magnetic… You can’t do this, Bevin. Don’t obsess. Not again. “Ugh.” She let out an involuntary moan. But… There were a few buts. She was now working with him on a fairly large project. She had to communicate with him and be around him often.

  Russell trusted her with the new office plan. This was the biggest assignment he’d given her since she was promoted to second in command. Granted, she had worked her ass off to get to the point, but nonetheless this was pretty huge. She couldn’t act like a school girl smitten with the older classman. This was real. She had to weigh the pros and the cons of any type of fling she would have with him. Is that what he wanted, a fling? She thought he was looking for something physical. He hadn’t out and out said it, but he sure did imply he wanted something.

  She ran out of there like a scared chicken before she could find out what that something was. All signs pointed to this man wanting in her pants. Granted she wanted in his pants too but… Damn him. He had her mind all frazzled. She wasn’t even making sense to herself at this point.

  I’m mad at him. I’m attracted to him. I’m frustrated by him and then I’m envisioning laying under him with his weight pressing me into the bed, my legs on his shoulders… What the hell is wrong with me?

  She couldn’t love, she couldn’t trust anyone, not right now. One man had ruined that for her. Sure, she had been on plenty of dates since then. She had her insecurities with all of them though. Some of them black, some of them white. She ran a hand down her face. She didn’t care about race. That wasn’t the point. She would date a purple man if she was attracted to him, but she couldn’t get hurt again. But this man... There was something about Jaxon that was was different. He was intriguing and knew how to push her buttons. I’m sure he knows all the right buttons to push in and out of the bedroom.

  He knew how to tongue-tie her and make her… “He makes me wet,” she groaned. “He makes me want him. Damn it.”

  She looked at her watch. Lunch was damn near seven hours ago and she was still thinking about him. Those eyes—blue, dark, sexy, desirable. His body—rock hard, solid. His mouth—kissable. His voice—like a summer thunderstorm. “Damn him. Damn him! ‘Oh, I’ll be in touch, Bevin’.” She mimicked his last comment to her before she ran out of there like the devil was after her. “Well, screw you, buddy. I’m not going to let you get in my head like this,” she grumbled.

  She grabbed her purse, needing to get out of the office. “I have to stop thinking about this man.” It was time to go home. It was already seven o’clock. She looked outside at the pink sky, the sun ready to begin it’s decent for the evening. The girls had asked if she wanted to go to happy hour. She declined. She just wanted to go home and have a nice glass of chardonnay and brood. She wished she had the man to share it with.

  Get him out of your brain. Nothing is going to happen between the two of you. Nothing can happen between the two of you. This is business! She stormed toward her door and ran smack into her boss.

  “Russell! Oh my God. I’m sorry.”

  He caught her arm helping to steady her stumble. He stepped into her office eyeing her. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she lied.

  “Where is the fire?”

  The laugh that escaped her mouth sounded nervous and fake even to her own ears and she knew Russell could read it like a
book. “I didn’t know you were coming back tonight.”

  “I’ve been back since around two.”

  “Then I am surprised you didn’t come and fill me in on how your lunch went with Jaxon. Did you make progress on the timeline and how you would map out the plan for the opening?”

  She felt the heat on her cheeks. Truth be told, the lunch had nothing at all to do with business. They had talked about themselves and their freak introduction. She had to tell Russell something though because he was standing here staring at her and she was mouth agape like a blundering moron.

  “I’m sorry, honestly, I didn’t know you were back in the office from your meetings and Russ, lunch was uneventful. It was actually rather short. It sounds like Mr. Stewart would like to begin work sometime next week.”

  “Very well, and what is your overall opinion of Jaxon?”

  She hated that she immediately looked to the floor. She raised her gaze and looked at him directly, clearing her throat, making sure her voice did not give her away any more than the blush heating her cheeks. “He is okay, I suppose.”

  “Mm-hmm?”

  “I suppose he is professional. I think he can get this job done.” Personally, he could probably get ‘er done too, but I’m not going there.

  “Well, I value your opinion, Bevin. Honestly, I’m not exactly sure about this guy yet, but he came… recommended, and his contracting firm has received rave reviews from everyone I know that has dealt with his business. I think he is the best around at what he does. So we are making the right choice by getting him to do our offices.”

  Bevin couldn’t quite put a finger on it but Russell’s voice sounded a bit strained as he spoke about Jaxon and his references. She could just be imagining it but something seemed off. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than he was convincing her. He cleared his throat.

  “I have a trip planned all next week and will be out on business. I am leaving this project in your capable hands.”

  “Russell… I don’t know.” Her voice stammered.

  “What? You don’t think you are able?”

  “No, I know I am able—”

  “Good, I know you are too,” he said cutting off her thoughts. “I fully trust you and I know you will deliver perfect work as always. I trust you and Mr. Stewart will work together well while I am away. Now have a good weekend. I’ll see you in a week.”

  He turned at the door and looked at her. “I have another business meeting happening next week I’ll need your help with as well. There is a larger company that is interested in doing business with us, but I think there is more to it. I have to look over the proposal and I may need a second set of eyes on it.”

  “What more do you think there is to it?”

  “Not sure yet. But you know when something doesn’t feel right… Hmm, it may be nothing.”

  “Okay, Russ. You know I’m here to help.”

  He shook his head yes. “Okay, enjoy your weekend. And remember, play nice in the sandbox while I’m away, please.”

  She watched in disbelief as Russell left her office without giving her a second glance or giving her a chance to speak more about her interaction with Jaxon. She knew what needed to be done to ensure things went off without a hitch. However, she didn’t know how effective her efforts would be when it came to him.

  When Russell was out of the office, she was in charge. That also meant the planning stages of this office complex. She would be left alone to make major decisions…with him. She hoped like hell Jaxon had a team for her to work with. She could not work with him one on one. That was entirely too dangerous.

  He waited outside for her until she got home. He knew she would be pissed he was at her house, but he had to see her again.

  “‘What are you doing here? You really are stalking me’,” he mimicked with a chuckle. “Not hardly, sweetheart. I just know what I want, you got it and damn it, I’m going to get it. If I have to romance the socks off you, I am going to do it.” He looked in his rear view mirror as her dark gray Miata pulled into the drive behind him. “Oh yea. Here we go, finally. Welcome home, gorgeous.” He gave himself a quick look in the rear view mirror before hopping out of his pickup. He put both hands up in surrender when she emerged from her car, clearly ready to voice her disapproval of him being there.

  “I come in peace,” he said, walking toward her. He failed to quiet any aggravated retort that would come from her lips.

  “What are you doing here?” She leveled a glare at him.

  “I stopped by to see how my guys did on your house. You caught me checking it out.”

  “Do you do this for all of your clients?”

  “The special ones, yes, I do.”

  She regarded him with suspicion and he was sure she knew his line was a crock of shit. “I’m one of the special ones?”

  “Most certainly.”

  She eyed him for a few seconds. Those warm pieces of milk chocolate gave her away. She wants to give me a smart comeback, but she is feeling something else. Second guessing the back and forth. I make her nervous… Not at all my intention.

  She kept the retort to herself and he was sorry she did. He liked her quick wit and no nonsense attitude. He found it attractive and a quality he wanted in his woman. He knew she would save whatever she wanted to say in her back pocket for another time. She wouldn’t let him off the hook so easy, but for now she looked at her home instead.

  “It looks terrific.” She nodded her approval.

  “I told you I guarantee the very best, Ms. Thomas. May I give you the tour?”

  “Of what?” she asked, the surprise evident on her face.

  He smiled offering her his arm. When she stood staring at him, he stepped closer taking her hand, tucking it under his arm. He cinched his arm close to his body, locking her arm against him. Trying to keep his mind off how right she felt against him, he spoke. “Just follow me,” he said, clearing his throat and leading her around the side of her house. He watched her, taking in the newly painted house. “You’re men do good work, Mr. Stewart.”

  “Are we back to formal salutations, Bevin?”

  “Well, if we are you, just broke the rules.”

  “I’ve been known to do that.” He stopped himself from moving his hand to her waist to push her closer to him. He wanted like hell to feel the heat of her body against his.

  “I’ve always wanted to put a deck back here,” she said more out loud to herself than to him. “Now that the house has a fresh new look, I’ll have to think about getting that done.” She looked at him quickly and then back ahead of her. She attempted a step away from him, but he still had her arm in his. They stood in her backyard with the sounds of early evening, birds and crickets and soft breeze in the air ruffling the leaves.

  “I enjoyed lunch today.” He halted her retreat, but let her arm go. She turned her body slightly to look up at him.

  Her gaze dropped to his lips lingering briefly before she looked back up to his eyes. “I don’t know if I can say the same.” The words slowly left her lips. It would only require a dip his of his head to kiss the uncertainty away from her. The thought of her being nervous around him and guarded clenched at him. If he could do any of this over again, he would have gone about meeting her a whole different way. He knew their introduction was unconventional, but he had to get to know her quick. He would do anything to make this right between them for a few reasons. I need to do something…

  “Look, I know lunch with me was the last place you wanted to be today. Russell pretty much made you go with me. But I meant it when I said I wanted to get to know you. I was hoping for a do-over. Are you free for dinner?” He took a step forward. She took a step back. The same song and dance from earlier in the day, he thought.

  “Do I make you nervous, Bevin?”

  “No.” The word was barely above a whisper and he heard the hesitation. But she still raised her nose at him in defiance.

  “No, baby, don’t back away from me. I really ju
st want to talk to you over a nice meal.” He stepped forward again and she put her hand up this time keeping him at a distance. “Hey.” He made sure to keep his words low and soft as he reached out and laced his fingers with hers. He took that opportunity to sneak the other hand down over her hip moving her closer to him. She stiffened a bit and he continued talking. “I’m not going to hurt you, Bevin.”

  “I don’t think that you would hurt me.”

  “Good. It would kill me if you thought I would. I just want to talk to you. What do you say to dinner?”

  “What is there to talk about, besides work?”

  “Us.”

  Us? The loaded topic, much more loaded than she cared to deal with on this Friday evening, tumbled around her brain. Shit, I just met this man yesterday. What in the world “us” is there to talk about? He clearly had the upper hand and advantage. He knew about her before she even knew his name or saw his gorgeous face. His thumb moved over the top of her hand while the other pressed into the small of her back. The feel of his hard body holding her caused the simmering heat to rise in her. The warmth of his touch sent tingles through her body. She waited a second for her heart to slow its rapid beating and the butterflies in her stomach to slow their fluttering. She spoke slowly, as not to sound like a swooning girl.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know there was an us to speak about, Mr. Stewart.” She took back her hand from his heated embrace and missed his touch the minute she did it. She would not allow this to distract her from the moment at hand. She had a point to make and damn it, she would make it. “We just met yesterday. I will remind you; we are business associates.”

  A slow grin worked across his face. His eyes gleamed with amusement.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I said something funny.” His clear disregard for her indignation irritated her.

  “You’ve just given me a challenge, Ms. Thomas. I told you, I don’t back down from those.”