6. Kat
“Close the door,” Stone said, and it was ironic that he’d accused me of looking like I wanted to bolt out the door and run away this morning because I suddenly had the urge to do just that.
I did as he asked because there was still a healthy dose of fear squeezing at my insides. And a pinch of thinking dirty thoughts about him crossing the room and kissing the hell out of me, which added a thread of lust, and then my emotions were like drunk butterflies, crashing into each other and slurring nonsensical thoughts all at once.
“You use ‘I mean’, ‘maybe’, and ‘it seems’ too much. You don’t make eye contact and you back down. You don’t speak loud enough for people to hear you very well—unless it’s to add a smartass remark, that is.”
Offense pinched my insides, and I crossed my arms. “Well, which do you want me to do? Speak loud or nod and be a good little minion?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I’d like some respect, especially in front of my employees.”
“It was supposed to be funny, not disrespectful.” I sighed. “See, this is why I hold back. Sometimes what I say is fine, and sometimes what I say is ‘disrespectful.’ I’m sure no one’s ever contradicted you before but?—”
“People contradict me all the time.”
“And then get lectures?” I wasn’t sure how I’d even lasted this long in this conversation. Usually this was where I’d just say “Yes, sir” and go back to my desk and hold back tears until I could go home and cry and vent to my plant, who always understood. “Don’t act like you weren’t egging me on a bit, telling me to speak up in front of everyone.”
He stood, placed his palms on his desk, and leaned forward. “To motivate you to stop…” He made a low noise in the back of his throat that sounded rather close to a growl. “Holding back.”
“Oh. Now it’s crystal clear.”
The exaggerated sigh he released held about as much frustration as I was currently feeling. I’d thought this break from an office where everyone already had their mind made up about me would be nice, and that six weeks might not be enough time to learn everything I needed for them to take me more seriously. Now I was ready to leave this beautiful yet aggravating man in my rear-view mirror and go back to my office, where at least I felt in control of my emotions, if not my employees.
But this wasn’t about being in control or winning an argument. It was about gaining the skills I needed so I could run the Hartford branch and do justice to my family’s legacy. Sometimes I felt like my dad wished he’d had a son and I needed to prove to him that I was ready and able for the job, so he’d look at me with more pride than disappointment. “I didn’t mean to disrespect you, but I get it. I’ll work on speaking up when I need to and holding back when I need to do that. And if I get confused on which is which, I’m sure you’ll have no problem letting me know.” I gritted out an approximation of a smile. “Anything else, Mr.Stone?”
He came around the desk and stared at me for five full heart-stopping seconds.
The air crackled between us, and while it was electric-charged, I wasn’t sure what else was there. Irritation? Provocation? Lust?
Fine, on my part I had a little of all three. “That’ll be it for now.”
I swore I was going to suck it up so I could learn and go back home with new people skills and shit, but my arm didn’t get the memo, and it decided a sarcastic salute would be the way to go.
With that delivered and fear taking over, I spun around.
“Kat,” he said, his voice low and gruff, and a spike of awareness shot up my spine. He hadn’t used the more intimate form of my name since the train, and it made me freeze in place.
I felt him come up behind me, but I was too much of a coward to face him now. Why couldn’t he just let me have my dramatic exit?
His breath stirred the hair by my ear. “Let me guess. Not many people told you what to do at your daddy’s office. Maybe there you could get away with getting mad and storming off when someone challenged you on something, but that’s not gonna fly here.”
The daddy’s office jab cut deep. “You’re one to talk,” I shot back—apparently the key to saying exactly what I thought, nice and loud, was making me mad enough to see red. “You stormed off after I shot down the bragging stats in your meeting.”
“I do not storm off.”
“Oh, right. Because you’re a man. Your tantrums are called being alpha.”
His body pressed into me, warm and firm, and he curled his hand around my upper arm.
“If you can’t take constructive criticism, what’s the point of you working here?”
“If I’m too afraid to speak my mind for fear you’ll snap at me afterward, what’s the point of me trying to speak up?” My voice came out a little breathier than I preferred, but at least it’d come out. “All of your employees are scared of speaking up, by the way—I saw it in there.”
“This is how I get things done. You don’t have to like it.” “Good. Because I don’t.” It was easier to be bold with my back to his front, but I liked the way his body pressed into mine a little too much.
His hand grazed my hip as he lowered his hand and I sucked in a sharp breath.
“I’ll have Rob and David send you all the information you’ll need to switch up the marketing budget, and I expect the first report tomorrow evening. Understand?”
Don’tlookbackathim,don’tlookbackathim. “I understand.” “On your way, then.”
Without looking back, I made the retreat I’d tried to before my body got all revved up by being too close to his.