Chapter 3 #2
I spun to Roxanne just as she gave Eden a shrug.
“Told her there was somethin’ in the water here, but figure the true test would be to throw her right into the fire, see if she could handle the heat.
Too many women have passed through these doors ’cause they couldn’t focus on their work with these men wanderin’ around.
Needed to see if our girl here was up to snuff. ”
“Oh, I’m up to snuff,” I declared, squaring my shoulders and schooling my expression to show Roxanne just how serious I was. “You have my word, no ogling during working hours. Only on breaks and lunch.”
“I appreciate the confidence,” she said with a laugh. “But you haven’t met the guys yet. They might be pretty to look at, but I’ll give it a week before the drama they drag in with them makes you wanna commit murder.”
Before I could respond, the glass doors pushed open and another criminally handsome man came waltzing through.
Tall, built, with jet black hair and the palest jade green eyes.
He and Lincoln were total opposites, with the exception of their size and build, but it was a toss-up who was better looking.
His skin was the color of milk and honey, and from his features I couldn’t quite tell what his nationality was, but whatever made this man was a brilliant combination.
“Fuck me,” he grunted as soon as he hit reception, his eyes pointed out to the street. You guys see that Mustang out there? I think I’m in love.”
I looked to the windows where my car was parked among a few other sedans and SUVs before turning back to the newcomer. “My baby has that effect on people.”
The sexy man pinned his gaze on me for the first time since walking in, and the effect of having his full attention made me sway a little. Three men in one morning, each of them potent as hell, was wreaking havoc on my poor little brain.
His lips tilted up in an alluring grin as he gave me a look up and down that was much more pleasant than that of the dickhead from the coffee shop. His rich voice lowered a couple octaves as he came closer and extended his hand. “And who might you be, gorgeous?”
My cheeks started to grow warm as I took his hand, but instead of giving it a shake, he brought it to his lips and pressed a kiss to my knuckles. Holy spontaneous orgasms, Batman! “Uh . . . I-I’m Sage.” It took everything I had not to burst into giggles while ducking my head bashfully.
“Pleasure to meet you, Sage. I’m Bryce,” he replied, still speaking in that husky timbre before looking back to Linc. “Beautiful and she drives that ’Stang? If this is a case, it’s mine.”
“Hands off, horn dog,” Roxanne scolded, coming around the desk and smacking Bryce in the back of the head. “She’s not a case, she’s the new administrative assistant. So how about you take your hands off so she doesn’t file a sexual harassment suit within the first ten minutes of her first day?”
Bryce’s gaze swung to me once more before he threw his head back in laughter, still clutching my hand. “This is the new assistant?” he asked through deep chuckles once his humor tapered off. “Oh, this is great. Xander’s gonna lose his mind. He meet her yet?”
I looked around the group, my eyebrows raised in confusion. “Who’s Xander?”
“Not as far as I know,” Linc answered.
I got the distinct impression I was missing something as I asked again, “Who’s Xander.”
Before anyone could say a word, Bryce spoke again. “Speak of the devil . . . Xander, my man, come meet our new assistant, the lovely Sage.”
“You gotta be joking,” a familiar, deep, throaty voice said from behind me, the tone twisted with displeasure.
I turned and looked up, up, up. My blood simmered with anger as electricity zinged through me, making my panties dampen.
Suddenly, I was turned on and pissed all at the same time as my eyes landed on the man who’d nearly ruined my morning and narrowed into viscous slits as I growled, “You.” The air in the reception area became wired as I entered into a stare-off with the bearded bastard.
“Uh . . . I take it these two have already met,” Eden announced cautiously.
“If by ‘met’ you mean had an unpleasant encounter wherein this jackass proved he’s got all the manners of a person raised by wolves, then, yeah, we’ve already met.”
Eden let out a loud snort at my little rant and slapped her hands over her mouth as if trying to hide her laughter.
“Wait.” Roxanne butted in, looking at me with big eyes. “This is the guy who cut in line and made fun of your shoes?”
“Yep,” I announced, popping the P loudly.
“Sounds about right,” Bryce muttered under his breath at the same time Linc looked to the ceiling with a heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Oh, I didn’t even notice,” Eden spoke up. “Those shoes are really cute.”
I looked back at her with a grin. “Thanks, babe.”
The dude I now knew to be the infamous Xander pointed one of his huge hotdog fingers in my direction while turning to Linc and declaring, “She is not working here.”
“Yes, I am,” I bit out. “That’s not your call.”
“No, you’re not,” he growled. The menace in his voice might have scared me had I not been so damn mad at his barbaric display.
“Eat me, Paul Bunyan. I so am.”
“Paul Bunyan,” Bryce hooted hysterically. “That’s priceless. How have none of us thought of that?”
His black eyes flashed with warning that would have made anyone else cower in fear. “Real classy.”
I let out a harrumph and crossed my arms over my chest. “Says the scone-stealing, line-cutting reject from Sons of Anarchy.”
“Oh, this is so much fun. I can’t wait to tell the girls,” Eden chirped, her tone holding way too much excitement.
Neither of us blinked as we silently tried to melt the skin off of each other’s faces for several tense seconds.
Finally, unable to keep my mouth shut—a problem I’d struggled with my whole life—I leaned in and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, “I. Don’t.
Like. You,” enunciating every word just to make sure I got my point across.
“Believe me, Shortcake. The feeling’s more than mutual,” he said with a grunt. “Don’t get too comfortable. You won’t be here long.”
“You think you can force me into quitting?”
His smirk was cocky and self-assured. “Oh, honey, I know I can.”
I felt my lips pull up in an evil grin. This guy didn’t know it yet, but I never backed down from a challenge.
He’d just poked the bear. “Game on, Big Foot. Game. On.”