Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
I waited until she was out of sight before leaning back in my chair and dragging a hand down my face with a groan.
Finally hiring a competent assistant was supposed to be a relief. Instead, I found myself increasingly frustrated by Raina’s… everything. She wasn’t just good at her job. She was patient yet sharp, and she teased me in a way that made my pulse do stupid things because I enjoyed her humor. She challenged me when I was being unreasonable and backed down gracefully when I had a point. She anticipated my needs before I voiced them and handled problems before they reached my desk.
And I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
It was becoming a problem. I didn’t want this growing attraction. I was supposed to stay focused on work, and Raina was my assistant. Nothing more, nothing less. She was here to help me achieve my goals and keep the business on track.
Instead, I was drawn to her in a way that felt entirely unprofessional. She was a walking distraction with her silky blonde hair and those blue eyes that seemed to see right through my gruff exterior. The way her hips swayed when she walked. The way her skirts hugged her curves. Her bright smile and infectious laughter that somehow made the very air feel lighter.
She was occupying way too much space in my head, and she had no idea.
A few minutes later, she returned with my coffee, placing it to my right, exactly where I preferred it. I’d never mentioned that either. She just noticed.
She also placed a piece of paper in front of me. I glanced down to find the agenda for my afternoon meeting, complete with talking points and relevant background information on the client.
I hadn’t asked for this. She’d simply anticipated the need.
“Thanks, Raina,” I said, picking up my coffee and taking a sip.
She didn’t respond immediately. I glanced up to find her hovering beside my desk, a flush of color in her cheeks and something warm and satisfied in her expression.
“What?” I asked.
The word came out rougher than I intended, because looking at her like this—pleased and slightly flustered—made me wonder if this was how she’d look if I kissed her. Surprised at first, then softening into it. Heat coiled low in my stomach at the thought, and I had to grip my coffee cup tighter to keep my hands where they belonged.
“That’s the first time you’ve ever thanked me.” Her mouth stretched into a brilliant smile. “I must be growing on you.”
I thought back over the past two weeks. She’d been meeting my high expectations from the beginning, and I’d been reluctantly impressed from day one. But she was probably right. Showing gratitude wasn’t something I made a habit of. I didn’t think about it, so I didn’t do it.
Feeling like an asshole, I set my coffee cup down and cleared my throat awkwardly. “You’re doing a fine job here. I’m… grateful for what you do.”
The words came out stilted, and I was painfully aware of how awkward I sounded. Clearly, I needed to be better about expressing appreciation. But Raina didn’t seem to mind. If anything, she looked even happier that I’d made the effort.
Against my will, my gaze dropped to her lips.
The urge to reach out and drag her onto my lap, to finally taste her and discover if she was as sweet as I imagined, hit me like a primitive need. My hands curled into fists beneath my desk, knuckles tightening with the effort of restraining myself.
If Raina noticed my internal battle, she gave no sign of it. She simply turned and walked out of my office, leaving me alone with the lingering scent of her perfume and the weight of my own frustrated desire.
I allowed myself one moment—just one—to entertain the fantasy. Pulling her back through the door. Pressing her against the nearest wall, her body soft against mine. Claiming her mouth in a kiss that would almost certainly qualify as an HR disaster. My cock ached at the thought, and for a reckless second, I almost thought it would be worth it.
But logic prevailed. It always did.
With a heavy sigh, I forced the images from my mind, burying them under the demands of more important things: investment evaluations, expense reports, pending contracts. Work was my priority. I wasn’t going to let an unexpected attraction to my entirely off-limits assistant derail that.
I threw myself into the tasks in front of me, focusing on my computer screen with fierce concentration. The only thing that broke through was the lingering scent of blueberries, so I helped myself to one of Raina’s muffins while I worked.
Unsurprisingly, it was incredible. Just like the cookies and brownies.
I reached for another just as my brother’s voice drifted in from the outer office.
“Good morning, Raina.”