Page 20 of Office Intrigue (Office Intrigue Duet 1)
“I knew you’d say that. I’m so happy. They’re really good guys, Luce. You’re going to love working there.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m just waiting for them to become a little less hot,” I said as I grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. “It’s not easy being immersed in all that…sex appeal.”
Kristen chuckled. “You’ll get used to it, I’m sure. Just consider it a perk of the job.”
There was a muffled sound and I realized Kristen had covered the phone.
“Okay, yeah. I’ll be right there. Hey, Luce. I’ve gotta run. I just wanted to check in with you.”
“You wanna grab drinks tomorrow night?” I offered.
“Sorry. No can do. I’m working all weekend. Maybe sometime next week.”
“Absolutely.”
The call disconnected and I stared at the phone, then shrugged my shoulders.
I missed hanging out with Kristen. Last night at the bar was the first time we’d been able to hang out in quite some time. Although we generally made it to yoga several times a week, it had been a while since I’d really spent any time with her other than when we were all hot and sweaty. She was always so busy with her job. Evidently, being a sous chef at a renowned restaurant took up a lot of free time.
As I reached for the remote to turn on the television, my gaze fell upon the paperback sitting on the coffee table. I bypassed the TV clicker and grabbed the book before snuggling into the cushions.
“So, tell me, TJ Arlington, just what sort of dirty, wicked stuff am I going to find in your book?”
I didn’t even bother with the book description, launching right into chapter one.
By the time I was turning the page to chapter three, I was enthralled with what was transpiring between the heroine and the sexy dominating man she’d just met. By the time I was on chapter five, I was suddenly grateful tomorrow was Saturday.
Looked as though I’d found a way to pass the time.
Eight
BOSS MEETING
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Justin
“LUCI’S BEEN HERE FOR TWO weeks as of tomorrow,” I prompted when Landon finally joined us in my office.
“Technically, she’s been here two weeks as of Friday,” Langston corrected. “She interviewed two weeks ago tomorrow.”
The man was a stickler for accuracy and sometimes it irked the shit out of me. Today, I decided I could let it go. It was a few minutes before six and the four of us were the only ones still there. Luci and Jordan had left for the day and I figured it was as good a time as any to get a status update on how well our girl was doing.
Our girl.
Yes, I knew how that sounded, but I couldn’t help myself. For two weeks, I’d watched her pretty face brighten up the entire office. I loved to hear her laugh, enjoyed watching her smile. I even laughed when she attempted to tell jokes. Which was not her forte, by the way. But it was cute, nonetheless.
“She’s catching on quickly,” Ben said, reclining. “She hasn’t asked a single question twice.”
“Remember the one who asked you to type up notes for her?” Landon chuckled.
Ben groaned. “She was serious. When I told her I wouldn’t, she told me she couldn’t work here because we weren’t providing the tools necessary to do the job.”
Oh, Lord. I remembered that woman. I’d been hesitant to hire her, but Landon and Ben had encouraged me to fall in line. Needless to say, I had enjoyed my I told you so moment.
“Thankfully, Luci’s not that demanding,” Ben added. “I’ve caught her taking notes on things she’s worried she won’t remember. I’m rather impressed.”
“I’ve received several emails from my managers,” Landon offered. “They’re extremely happy with her. According to them, she’s more than willing to help them out. Which is more than we can say for the last couple who’ve stayed longer than a week.”
That was true. For whatever reason, until Luci, we had yet to find many secretaries who could mesh well with the managers in the field. There had been one, but she had flirted ruthlessly, making a couple of them uncomfortable. Most of the women we had hired seemed to think that their only job was supporting the four of us. And in a way, that was true; however, in order to support us, they had to support those who worked for us, too.
“Are we ready to present the requirements?” Langston asked, always the one to get right down to business.
I instantly shook my head. “Although I sense she’s taken a liking to us, I’m not ready to do that just yet. I want her to get more comfortable here. Less chance of freaking her out.”
“She’s extremely flirtatious,” Ben said, crossing one ankle over the opposite knee. I could tell he was regarding me, likely trying to figure out how I felt about the girl. “But not in an overly aggressive way.”
