Chapter 2
Brody
“I… I…” she stammers, then squares her shoulders. “You were voted one of the top forty CEOs under forty by a major business publication. I could learn from you.”
I stare at her, the flicker of disappointment sharper than I expected.
Not sure what I was hoping for, but this, a recycled line about my profile she came across, isn’t it.
I created this new EA position because I need someone who can take over a large share of my day-to-day.
Someone competent enough to run a meeting if I can’t be there, and confident enough to lead in my place.
It’s part of my succession plan. I want the person in this role to eventually step into mine. I need an EA who can steady the chaos I’m pulled into every day. I want this person to grow into my replacement so I can move on to other things.
I've had applicants with impressive résumés and years of experience. But they felt jaded. Safe. Predictable.
Lark Monroe’s cover letter stood out. I saw ambition and hunger. And between the lines, I sensed a vulnerability that she didn’t try to hide.
She acknowledged she didn’t have the same experience as the others, but promised that if given an interview, she would prove she was the right choice.
So far, she hasn’t.
Maybe she needs a minute to warm up. To find her rhythm.
I cross my arms over my chest and wait.
She swallows then composes herself. “Davenport Capital is part of the Davenport Group, which is one of the most prestigious family-run companies in the world.” Her voice is smoother, but her nerves show in the way her fingers dig into the leather of her bag.
That’s when I notice the curve of her mouth.
Pink. Full. The kind of lips that distract a man like me.
Her chin tilts with stubborn grace. Her neckline is elegant, skin smooth like cream, exposed enough to tempt.
Except for that irritating reindeer motif.
But I don't want to judge her abilities based on something as superficial as that.
My gaze trails lower.
Tiny waist. Hips that flare in a way that piques my interest. Legs that go on forever, framed by a tailored skirt that should look professional, but doesn’t. Not on her.
Heat pulses up my spine, low and sudden.
How long has it been since a woman caught my attention, really caught it? Since anything besides boardrooms and bottom lines held my focus. The next deal, the next merger, the next acquisition… It’s all starting to feel like white noise. Meaningless. And now I’m getting philosophical about it.
Since when did I wish I had something more in my life to look forward to than the next meeting?
Something more personal. Something that resembles this curvy woman who I can’t take my eyes off.
Great. This is an interview. I cannot be thinking such unprofessional thoughts about a woman I’m going to potentially employ as my EA.
And the very fact that I’d allow feelings to creep into my thoughts in the middle of a working day? That’s a red flag.
She clears her throat, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I drag my gaze to her face and attempt to keep it there.
Which turns out to be a mistake. Because those eyes—massive, green, impossible to ignore—pull me right back under.
Her blonde hair is swept up into a sleek twist, but it doesn’t stop the rebellious tendrils curling at her temples.
There’s a flush high on her cheekbones. It shouldn’t be distracting, but it is.
She looks like sin wrapped in merino wool and tied up with a Christmas bow. And that’s the problem.
This time of year? I loathe it. Tinsel, carols, fake snow, gift wrap, false cheer—it’s all a farce. Bah, bloody humbug.
The fact that she admitted to being a full-blown Christmas junkie? It should’ve disqualified her on the spot. It required gumption to waltz into my office wearing a Christmas jumper. For that, I should give her a chance.
I give her the full force of my most no-nonsense CEO stare.
“You’ve got one minute. Convince me you’re the person for the job.”
She stiffens, then rolls her shoulders back. A calm, resolute expression comes over her features.
“You are an important man. You make high-stakes decisions on a daily, even hourly, basis. You need someone to back you up, no matter how stressful it gets. You can count on me to show up. To deliver. And I don’t drop the ball, no matter how much pressure I’m under.”
She straightens further, pushing back her shoulders. Her Christmas jumper tightens across her bust. It draws my attention to her hourglass figure; to her nipped in waist and the shape of her curvy hips.
I’ve never been this distracted. Have never spent so much time thinking about what lies under a woman’s clothes as I have with her.
“I don’t flinch when people yell. I don’t crumble when things go wrong. I keep my head, I fix the problem, and I make sure my boss never has to ask me for something twice.”
There’s a thread of steeliness running through her words, telling me she means business. Not bad. I tilt my head, indicating she should continue.
“I have an MBA, yes. But I’ve also paid my way through college the hard way. I’ve served champagne at weddings, temped in freezing offices, and stacked warehouses on weekends. I’m resilient. I'm persistent. I know how to win.”
She draws a breath; her voice is cool and clear.
“Once I set my eyes on my goal, nothing can distract me. You need a right hand. I’m the whole damn arm.”
Her eyes meet mine. She doesn’t flinch.
Not even when I narrow my gaze, lower my eyebrows and paste on my most fierce expression. She doesn’t back down. I’ll give her that much. And despite being decked out like a Christmas sale, it’s clear she’s serious about this role.
The longer our gazes hold, the more something shifts between us. The air thrums. A buzzing sound fills my mind. The heat expands out from my spine to my extremities. I feel alive. Expectant. On the verge of something monumental. Alarm bells go off in my head.
I can’t remember the last time I felt this attracted to a woman.
And it’s not because she’s gorgeous, or that she has an incredible hourglass figure, which I wasn’t aware I favored, until now.
Or that she’s as ambitious, as focused, and as intelligent as her cover letter hinted. No, it’s the complete package.
Her enthusiasm is like a jolt to a system that’s running on fumes. She stands out because she wants this, not only for the title, or for the proximity to power, but because she intends to deliver.
My instincts say she’ll put in the hours, fight to prove herself, and rise fast if given the chance.
That should be the only thing I’m noticing.
But it isn’t.
The chemistry between us hums, low and constant, crawling under my skin in a way I have no business acknowledging. It’s distracting… Annoyingly so. But her potential outweighs all of that. Enough for me to set the rest aside. For now.
I turn away, walk to my desk, and take my seat. Then I nod to one of the chairs across from me.
Time to be professional.
“Take a seat.”
The tension drains from her shoulders. She swallows audibly, then walks toward the chair.
Those luscious hips of hers sway as she walks toward me. Her thighs stretch the tight material of her skirt, making me want to rip it off her and bury my face between them and— Whoa. Stop that train of thought right now.
I am not the kind to feel so powerfully drawn to a woman. This has never happened before. It’s a complication. And I’ve long resolved not to have those in my life.
I’ve worked toward becoming CEO of Davenport Capital since I left the Royal Marines.
Money and power are everything. That’s what my grandfather taught me. And I intend to live up to Gramps’ expectations.
I might allow a woman into my life by getting married like he wants, but I will not complicate my life by allowing her into my heart, like my brothers have.
The reminder helps me shove the unwanted attraction I feel for the woman sitting opposite me to a corner of my mind.
There’s a woof, and Tiny pads over to her. He parks his butt next to her chair and looks up at her with his tongue lolling and what looks like hearts in his eyes. It irritates me for some reason. I can’t be jealous of a mutt. Can I?
I snap my fingers. “Tiny, to your place, boy.” I pull out a chew toy from my drawer and toss it over to the rug at the side of my desk.
For a few seconds, he doesn’t move. Then, as I wonder if I’m going to have to lead him by his collar, he heaves a sigh.
He lumbers up to his feet and, with a last toss doleful look in the direction of the gorgeous woman in the chair, he pads over to the rug and collapses with another sigh. Instead of playing with his toy, he slides his head between his paws and blinks up at Lark.
“He’s so cute.” She smiles at him.
It’s unusual for me to conduct an interview with a mutt in attendance. I’m taking care of him so my grandfather can enjoy some time off.
It’s singularly irregular that the sight of the Great Dane mooning over her fans the kernel of jealousy in my chest into full-blown fire.
It makes me want to get the pooch out of the room.
With a last scowl at him, I turn my attention back on the woman seated opposite me.
“I have had more than a thousand applicants for this role.”
“A thousand?” She pales.
“What sets you apart?” I tap my fingertips together and survey her.
The seconds stretch as she shuffles through her thoughts, then she firms her lips. “I don’t just want to impress you. I want to anticipate you.”
I arch an eyebrow. Not bad.
She presses on, gaining confidence. “The others are probably more polished. They’re definitely more qualified than me. But I’ll try my best to be ten steps ahead. I’ll anticipate what you need from me. You’ll never have to tell me twice. You’ll barely have to tell me once.”
Interesting. And audacious. Definitely courageous.
She knows she has me hooked. A small smile curves her lips.
“You can trust me to be ahead of the curve every single time.”
I still. “That’s a tall claim.”
“It’s true.”
“Prove it.”
She looks askance, then recovers admirably. “I know that you fire fast but reward loyalty. And that you don’t just want an executive assistant, you want a shield. Someone who can manage the day-to-day problems which crop up and put out fires without having them intrude.”
Good answer. I lean back in my seat. “What makes you think I don’t want to know what’s happening day-to-day in my own company?”
She doesn’t hesitate. “You need perspective to be effective. You’re a big picture man.” She levels a shrewd gaze at me. “You want to focus on strategy without being pulled into the minutiae of business. That’s where I come in.”
She’s saying all the right things. I’m almost convinced. Almost. But I need someone who can deliver. There’s no room for failure. There’s also a lot at stake.
It’s why I thought long and hard before creating this position. It’s why I decide to test her further.
“You think you can streamline my workflow?” I scoff.
She leans forward. “I’ll not only streamline it, I’ll own it.”
I lean forward, mirroring her posture.
“I’ll make the running of the business smoother,” she says with complete confidence.
Woman has guts. And assurance. Something I find hugely appealing. I run my thumb under my lip. Her gaze is drawn there, and she flushes. But she quickly recovers herself and squares her shoulders.
“I don’t want to be just your EA, Mr. Davenport. I want to be your advantage.”
“Is that right?”
She sets her jaw. “Absolutely. If you give me the position, you won’t regret it.”