CHAPTER 3
Elena
I’m seething inside. I can’t believe he’d say that to me, or at least say it that way. Not here. Not now. This isn’t high school anymore, and he shouldn’t be shooting out comments anyone can misconstrue. It’s bad enough how he said my name while Sage was standing right next to him. I refuse to think about how his voice sent tingles down my spine.
I take in a deep breath, tightening my hold on the lunch bag. “Let me get my computer.” Determined, I step around him and head for the door, trying my best to ignore the flutter in my belly. I hate the way my body responds to him, but I can’t seem to do a damn thing about it.
“We can set up in your office,” he says, coming up behind me in the hall.
The last three words reverberate in my head, stopping me in my tracks. I’d be sitting side by side with him for hours, in what’s already a small office.
I do not want to end up alone with Addler. I remember what it’s like to be that close to him, and I want no part of it. It’s like the guy has his own gravitational field. One second, you’re miles away from him, and the next, you’re suddenly too close. Worse, it seems like he knows half the things going through your mind.
Knowing him, he’ll insist on closing the door. That will only get people talking about me again. Not that we have too many people onsite at the moment. But the way Sage was going on a few minutes ago, I can imagine she’s created all sorts of scenarios in her head just from the way he said my name.
I turn on a heel to find him way too close, but I refuse to back up. He’s doing it on purpose, to rattle me. “How about you head across the hall to the conference room.” I point to the door behind him, on his right. “It has the big-screens set up around the room so you’ll be able to review the spreadsheets and any documents I pull up.”
There’s a tiny curl to the corner of his lips, enough to know he’s amused. The jerk is laughing at me. He knows how he affects women, and, while I don’t go stupid around him, like most, I’m not as immune as I’d like to be. “If you think we’ll be more comfortable that way.” I narrow my eyes. It’s not what he said, it’s how he’s saying it.
“It’ll be easier than having both of us squinting at the screen on my laptop.”
He shoves his hands into his pockets, backing up a few steps to give me room. I take the opportunity to go through then down the hall to my office. I’d like to say I didn’t notice the way the suit shows off his form, but I’m not dead. In fact, I know he’s still standing there watching me. The weight of his gaze is sitting square in the middle of my back then sliding down to my butt. I don’t have to see him to know.
The conference room is in the middle of what is essentially a double-wide mobile building. Offices all the way around, with an extra row at each end. That’s where the managers sit. I turn the corner then go down two doors and enter my office. Once I’m out of view, I release a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
The moment Bill asked me to come help, I knew this moment could happen. He assured me Addler had never been by. From what Sage said earlier, this much was true. But why did it have to be today he’d show up? A day when Bill’s been called away on an emergency. I chew on my bottom lip. A day when I’d have to be the one to sit in. Who else would review current project costs with him, if not me?
Setting the lunch bag down, I go around my desk and disconnect my laptop from the port with shaky hands. The mouse and keyboard will go with me, so I stack them on the laptop, along with a notebook and pen. I grab the kitty-cat holder with my Post-it notes for good measure. One more quick glance to take stock and make sure there’s nothing else I might need.
Nervous energy runs through every limb. Addler… I take a deep breath, the best I can do to prepare myself for what’s coming. In another minute, I need to walk out of my office to face him.
“This isn’t too bad,” he says, from behind me.
I jerk my head around to find him filling the doorway to my office. He’s casually reviewing the whiteboard, filing cabinet, monitors, and the empty chair beside my desk.
“We’d be good to settle in here and review everything,” he says with a straight face.
Pressing my lips together, I bite back a retort. He’s doing this just to get a rise out of me. The jerk. Putting a protective hand over the stack of electronics, I move around my desk before he decides to plant himself in that chair. “It’s easier to review on the big screen. Besides, I already have everything with me.” I raise the stack a bit, calling his attention to it.
His gaze lingers on the laptop then moves above it, to my chest. I’m kicking myself for setting this up for him without realizing it. The worst part is my entire body is reacting. To his attention. To being this close to him. To the fact he came looking for me.
“Let me help you.” His voice is a low rumble.
“I’m good.” I shake my head. “If you start moving this, I’ll end up dropping something.”
“Then hand me something,” he insists.
The only thing sitting precariously is the Post-it holder. I’m not about to hand him the kitty cat and have him start with innuendos about the time I gave him my pussy. For some reason, I hear the words in my head, with his voice in that amazingly annoying, teasing tone. My cheeks flame, scorching my entire face, the heat then running down my neck and chest.
I redirect my attention straight ahead. Unfortunately, what’s straight in front of me is his chest. That rectangle stretching between enormous biceps, leading up to well-rounded shoulders. Right in the middle, the perfectly pristine knot on the tie he’s wearing. The material of his suit looking smooth and rich. It gives me an insane urge to trail my fingers down the lapel just to see what it feels like. Only this is Addler…
I swallow hard. “The conference room is right behind you.” I tilt my chin to indicate where we’re going. He’s bound to have that knowing look in his eye. Something similar to what he had when he was messing with Sage. So, I refuse to look up.
The fact he can get to me so easily annoys me. “The quicker we get started with this, the quicker will be done.” Now I can look up at him.
It’s a subtle smirk, if that’s even possible. But at least he knows I’m not going to be a pushover. Or at least, as long as he thinks so, I should be all right.
He takes a step back, relaxed, loose, the total opposite of me right now. Then he takes another and the third before he stretches out his hand in a gentlemanly manner, waving me ahead of him. I should refuse, but I know it’s not going to get me anywhere.