My One And Only (Very Irresistible Bachelors 5)

Liam

I straightened myself in the auditorium’s comfortable leather chair, tapping the pen against the stack of papers. I’d rarely seen anyone speak with so much passion about their clients and their products.

Sure, everyone who came in to pitch to us had pride in their financial success and accomplishments, but these ladies were different. From the way they’d spoken, this was clearly personal to them, and I liked that. I just had to stop imagining Tess wearing every design she’d spoken about.

Hell, when she said how silk feels against her skin, I nearly lost my mind. Gone were any thoughts of business. Instead, I wondered what she was wearing under her skirt. Did it match the bra I’d seen in the bathroom? I could almost feel her soft skin beneath my fingers as I took off whatever she wore.

I was still thinking about that. Damn it, I had to get a grip on myself. What was I, fourteen? I forced my thoughts back on the straight and narrow and told another part of my body to slow its roll. All eyes were now on me, waiting for me to take the lead since I’d been the most skeptical about their business.

We rarely got involved in the fashion industry, but their lingerie business was solid—impressive even. My previous skepticism disappeared because I realized their growth coincided with the introduction of the customization options. Their sales would continue to increase. But they had to strike while the iron was hot and get as many customers as possible to establish themselves as the go-to store when it came to customizable lingerie before others started copying their business model.

They needed a much better online shopping experience and a second brick-and-mortar store to keep up with the demand, if nothing else then to house the inventory they were powering through.

“Thank you both for the presentation,” I said. “We’d known most of your numbers from the application you sent, but let me just reiterate that they are impressive. You have a very solid business. Today was just about hearing your pitch in person. We’re going to get back to you in a few days with our answers and all you need to know about the next step.”

“What would the next step be?” Tess asked.

“We invite you to a dinner where we all get to know each other in a more informal setting.”

David spoke up. “We like to get to know the owners personally. Everything has to click; 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.