Chapter 2
Tess
I sat in the first row of the auditorium, a few seats away from Liam and the rest of his staff.
Skye was standing right next to the desk where we propped the laptop.
The screen was projected on the wall behind her.
She started by presenting the financial growth we had over the last three years.
Pride swelled inside me as she moved from one slide to the next.
We built this business from the ground up, and last year we introduced customization options, which were a complete game changer.
Skye’s final slides were about what we planned to do if we partnered with Harrington otherwise, working together will be difficult.”
“Okay, well, thank you for your time today,” Skye said. “We look forward to hearing from you.”
While the two of them gathered their laptops and other belongings, I couldn’t help but stare at Tess’s ass. Damn, the woman was killing me with those curves.
When she turned around, she caught me looking and cocked a brow. Fuck. I didn’t want her to think I wasn’t taking this seriously because of the encounter in the bathroom…or that I was a perverted asshole.
Neither was true.
Usually, I was far better than this at separating business from personal interests. I didn’t get involved or even check out the applicants in a sexual way. Period. It was a strict rule, and I lived by it. I had no idea why it was so hard for me to control myself when it came to Tess.
Her shoulders were a little slumped as she and Skye left the auditorium.
I made a split-second decision.
“Let’s take a five-minute break.”
Becca nodded.
David shrugged. “Again?”
“I’ll be right back” was all I said before I rose from my seat. I caught up with Tess at the building’s entrance hall, where everyone could store their personal items in a locker. She was just putting the laptop in her bag, and she was completely alone.
“Tess,” I said.
She looked up in surprise, slinging the bag over her shoulder. “Hey. Did we forget something inside?”
“No.” I walked closer until I was standing right in front of her. “I just wanted to talk to you for a second.”
“I’m listening.”
There was no other way to say this, so I just laid out all my cards. “You might have caught me checking you out.”
Tess gasped as color flooded her cheeks. Fuck, her reaction to me was cute.
“Might have?” she challenged in an amused tone.
“I did. Several times. I promise you I’m not an asshole. And none of it will impact the way we judge your application. I want you to be certain of that. I’m usually on my best behavior at work. It’s just…very difficult to keep my thoughts straight around you. I don’t know why.”
“Possibly because you saw me in my bra this morning?” She was smiling now. Damn, she was even more beautiful like this. She was far more relaxed than she’d been inside.
“And without it.”
She gasped again before starting to laugh. “I thought you said you didn’t see anything.”
“I was just putting you at ease. Or trying to.”
“You failed. I was on edge the entire time.”
“I could tell that by your body language,” I admitted.
Her eyes widened. She cleared her throat. I leaned in close enough that I could smell her perfume. It was fruity and sweet but also had a hint of something spicy. She licked her lower lip before exhaling sharply. Stepping back, I pointed toward the front door.
“I don’t want to keep you any longer. If all goes well, I hope to see you at the get-together.”
“And you’ll behave there?” she teased.
“I’ll try.”
“Just like you tried to pretend you didn’t see me half naked?”
“I’ll try a little harder. Forgive me if I fail. You make a… lasting impression.”
Her mouth opened in an O, and she shook her head before walking past me. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she left the building. That swing in her hips was going to be the death of me.
Fantastic. I’d come out here to put her mind at ease, and I ended up flirting with her. Way to go, Harrington.
I’d tell myself that I’d do better during the get-together evening, but I didn’t like lying to myself.