“Perception is hugely important. People don’t work well for those they don’t respect. You don’t worry about that shit because everyone’s afraid of you. I don’t have that luxury. I’m always going to be the girl who got the job because she was fucking the boss,” Lilly yelled. “Ya know what? This. This right here…what’s happening right now? This is the exact reason I hesitated to go out to dinner with you.”
He winced at her tone and tried to explain his thought process. “When I saw how much experience you had, how talented and knowledgeable you are, it made sense to put you in a position where your skill set could be put to better use. I’m not going to deny that when I first looked at your resume it was because I was interested in you personally. Don’t think the job opportunity is about anything other than your skill, though. I’m a businessman, Lilly. I don’t think with my dick.” It had been a crude way to put it, but right now he wasn’t feeling very gentlemanly.
“Fair enough. I see your point,” she conceded. Her temper seemed to drop to a slow simmer when she said, “If I hadn’t been mugged in your parking lot, you wouldn’t have any idea who I was. I think we can both agree on that, right?”
He knew he was walking right into a minefield, but he nodded.
“You see my point, then. It’s an unfair advantage. I can’t take that kind of promotion while we’re together. It wouldn’t look right, nor would it feel right. If we keep seeing each other, people will put two and two together. I’d really rather not look like a whore, if at all possible,” she said.
“What do you mean, if we keep seeing each other?” he asked, his heart in his throat.
“You tell me. You’re the one that called me into your office like I was some kind of wayward employee, even though it was clearly a personal matter for you. Are you going to be able to keep things separate? This won’t work otherwise.”
He hadn’t felt this level of embarrassment since his mother had scolded him as a child. Everything she said was absolutely correct. He rubbed a hand over his hair again, agitated. “It was a knee-jerk reaction, Lilly. I apologize. I’ll do my best to see that it doesn’t happen again.”
“Thank you.”
He smiled wryly and asked, “So, if I’m hearing you correctly, that’s a no on the promotion?”
“If I want a promotion, I’ll apply like everyone else does. I don’t, though. Not until I’m done with school. I like the fact that I can balance my schoolwork. It’s low stress. It pays my bills adequately. I’m where I need to be. I appreciate your concern, though,” she said softly.
“Are we okay now?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. You’re the one that called me into your office. Are we?”
It was lowering to admit, but he said, “I saw red. I know we talked about it last night, but I didn’t like his hands on you, Lilly.”
“It was a palm reading,” she repeated. “By the way, he was concerned I was going to get into trouble. He offered to talk to you on my behalf.”
“That’s unnecessary. I believe you,” Talan admitted. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt much of anything. I’ve never felt anything like this. It’s likely that I’ll continue to bungle things. I need you to be patient with me. I’m working this out as I go along.”
Lilly moved toward him and said, “I can’t let you steamroll me, personally or professionally. Please, next time talk to me about it instead of issuing a managerial edict. I don’t necessarily need you to change your feelings, just your delivery.”
He looked down at her face, so earnest and hopeful, and said, “I can do that. Now, come here, please?”
She stepped into his arms and laid her head on his chest. When she wrapped her arms around him, he felt the tension leave both of their bodies.
“Mm,” Lilly said as she leaned against his body. “This is nice.”
“It is,” he agreed, steering them toward the overstuffed couch.
As he settled and then pulled her into his lap, she said, “Thank you for the flowers. They were beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.”
In answer, she pressed her mouth to his, nipping at his lower lip. With a soft groan he opened his mouth under hers, allowing her tongue to thoroughly explore his mouth. Even in her work slacks and polo shirt, she was irresistible.
Just as his hand coasted up her body to cup her breast, his phone buzzed. Lilly froze, made a displeased sound, and then shifted off of his lap. Talan strode back to the desk, pressed the button, and said, “Yes, Gillian?”
A moment later, she said, “Lachlan is here. I informed him that you were in a meeting but…sir, he’s glaring at me and pacing.”
“Send him back, Gillian. I’m just about through with my meeting.”
“Right away, sir,” she responded, sounding relieved.
When Lilly started to head for the door, he said, “Wait. Don’t go just yet. I’d like you to meet him.”
He watched as she chewed on her lip nervously. He stepped over to her, placed his hands on her shoulders, and then said, “I wish we had more time tonight, but I doubt we do. When are you off next?”