Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Amber
I saunter into Logan’s office, swaying my hips seductively as I pull out a chair in front of his huge mahogany desk. I eye him without saying a word as I sit down, crossing my legs and keeping my back straight.
He looks up from his papers and lets out a little groan when he sees my breasts thrust out.
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Mr. Strickland,” I say in a throaty voice, my hands folded primly in my lap. “I’m very interested in being your new secretary, although I’ll settle into any position you want me in.”
His dark eyes narrow hungrily on me.
“I like to work hard ,” I say, licking my lips seductively. “In fact, nothing would please me more than to be on your desk while you work me as hard as you can.”
He sits back and crosses his arms, his eyes lifting, dark and slow, as they rake up my body, clearly undressing me.
“And what qualifications do you bring to the role, Miss Fletcher?”
I grin as I roam my eyes over Logan’s sexy suit.
“I’m great at dictation ,” I say, nibbling on my bottom lip. “I prefer to work one-on-one with the boss and you’ll find that I’m very good at taking direction.”
“What about multi-tasking?” he asks in a low gravelly voice.
“ Excellent at it,” I say, running my hand along my thigh. “I can use my mouth and my hands at the same time.”
“That will come in handy,” he says as his heated eyes drop to my legs. “I’ll be working that mouth and those hands very hard.”
“Sounds right up my alley,” I say, wiggling my shoulders. “Can I get a hands-on demonstration of your leadership style?”
He grins as he stares me down. Uh oh . I know that look. It usually ends with me bent over, sweaty, and screaming his name.
Logan stands, his chair sliding back as he rounds the desk, his heated eyes fixated on me.
I shift in the seat, heart pounding as I watch him prowl closer. I’m trying to act like I’m not completely breathless. “I’m proficient at spreadsheets, spreading in the sheets, and anticipating my boss’ every, single, need.”
“Sounds like you’re perfect to work under me,” he says as he stops right in front of me and cups my jaw. God, my heart is pounding…
“And how are you at handling long , hard, demanding projects?”
I look up at him with an innocent look. “I don’t mind staying late to make sure the boss is satisfied.”
He groans, his gaze dropping to my mouth. “Do you follow instructions well?”
“Very well.” I lean forward just enough to show him some cleavage. “You say jump, I say how high. You say take off your panties, I say I’m not wearing any.”
His lips twitch like he’s holding back a groan.
“And what is your greatest weakness?” he asks, voice husky as he slides his hand to the back of my neck and into my hair. It gives me goosebumps.
I rise from the chair, dragging my hand up his red tie as I do. “Tall, grumpy CEOs. I can’t get enough of them.”
He closes the space between us in one step, his hand sliding to my hip as he growls, “You’re hired.”
I grin as I press up on my toes and whisper against his mouth, “I accept.”
My cheeks flush, and I try to play it cool, but the truth is—I’m completely in love with this man.
We’ve spent the past two weeks together, not missing one day. His real secretary Cassandra told me he’s taken more time off in the past two weeks than he has in the past decade. I loved hearing that.
But as amazing as it’s been, we both know it’s coming to an end. Willow and Greg return today. In fact, they may be in the city at this very moment.
We haven’t really talked about what’s going to happen next, but I know he wants me to stay.
He’s already made New York feel like home.
His lips are a breath away from mine when there’s a knock at the door.
“ Fuck ,” he grumbles as I step away, cheeks flushed, pussy aching. “Go away.”
I chuckle as I hurry over to the door and open it.
“Oh my god!” It’s Willow. She’s standing in the doorway with a fresh tan, looking refreshed and more well-rested than I’ve seen her look in a long time. She has a breezy linen jumpsuit on, sunglasses perched on top of her head, and a very startled look on her face.
I jump on her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders.
“What are you doing here?” she whispers in my ear. “Are you in a hostage situation or something?”
I lean back and chuckle as I look at her. “Nothing like that.”
She hasn’t blinked once. She looks at me, then at Logan, and then back to me, not knowing what to think. “What is happening?”
“Logan and I hit it off,” I tell her. “We’re… dating.”
Her mouth drops. “Shut. Up.”
“It’s actually more than that,” Logan says as he comes over and puts his arm around my waist. “We’re in love.”
She’s staring at us in stunned silence. I’m trying not to laugh at the crazed, confused look in her eyes.
“You can close your mouth now,” I whisper to her.
She shuts her mouth, walks over to the chair, and plops down into it, holding her forehead. “Wait. What? Can someone please explain what the hell is going on? You’re dating? ”
I sit beside her, take her hand, and tell her everything from the beginning.
“I go away for two weeks and the entire world flips upside down.” She turns to Logan, blinking. “You look… happy.”
“It’s good to see you, Willow,” he says. “You look so relaxed. It suits you well.”
“Thanks,” she says, clearly suspicious. “Hawaii was amazing.”
“I’m glad you had a good time,” he says. “You should take at least one vacation a year. Actually—starting now, I’m making it mandatory.”
She narrows her worried eyes on me. “What did you do to him?” she asks me under her breath.
“I smiled at him once,” I whisper. “He never recovered.”
Willow shakes her head like she’s in some kind of rom-com fever dream. “Okay, well… What else did I miss? Is VANTAGE officially dead?”
“No,” Logan says, leaning against his desk. “I found a solution.”
Willow and I say the same thing at the same time. “You did?”
He turns his attention to me. “You gave me the idea.”
“I did?”
“She did?”
He nods. “Eva isn’t the problem. She just needs to be less robotic. More human. More… fun.”
Willow squints. “So, what? You want to give her a makeover?”
“I want Amber to be her voice,” he says. “Her personality. Her everything.”
I freeze. “Wait—seriously?”
He nods. Wow, I guess I did better on my fake interview than I thought…
Willow studies my face as the wheels in her mind turn. “That’s… actually… a good idea. I can see it.”
“You can?” I say, shocked that I can actually contribute to this giant complicated company in a meaningful way.
“I think it will work,” she says. “I’ll have to ask Greg if she can stay with us?—”
“She’ll stay with me,” Logan says like it’s not up for discussion.
Willow looks at me like she still can’t believe it.
But I can.
Logan and I are meant to be together.
We fit so perfectly.
I’m not going back to Vermont. Not now anyway. Not without him.
I’m staying right here as long as this hot, sexy, grumpy CEO will have me.