Before I could add anything more, he placed his hands on my shoulders, walking me to the chairs, making me sit down. Feeling his fingers on the bare skin of my shoulders, his thumbs pressing gently at the sides of my neck, made me simmer all over. The skin on my arms turned to goose bumps.
“I see. So this is what you meant when you said I hadn’t seen bossy yet. Just so you know, I’m reconsidering that upgrade.”
“I’m more than happy to prove my case. I know how to go about it.”
He lowered his gaze to my mouth. I was past simmering right now. A full-on inferno billowed inside me. Oh yeah, another kiss would convince me. I wasn’t even sure of what anymore, but it didn’t seem important.
How could I be so smitten already? This man affected me unlike anyone before.
“I like the sight,” I commented.
He half turned, cocking a brow. “Do you now?”
“Enjoyed it all day. At least now I don’t have to pretend I work while doing it. I am memorizing all that display of muscle... to have something to replay in my mind when I’m alone.”
His gaze darkened. I was flirting, but it felt so good. Maybe the tension between us had escalated because we’d both been reining ourselves in.
“Keep that up, Sienna, and there will be no dinner.”
“No can do, mister. I’m super hungry. Is this how you’re planning to take care of me? By starving me?”
“How about I just kiss you until you forget about everything else?”
I narrowed my eyes. “That doesn’t count as taking care of me. Get back to work.”
His smile was deliciously happy as he returned his attention to the pan. The rice was preboiled, so it took no time at all for dinner to be ready.
When we both sat at the kitchen table, I became aware of how tiny it was. I could barely move in my seat and not touch Winston: either his hand or his legs under the table.
Okay, so my previous assessment was incorrect. Here we were, openly flirting, and yet the tension was escalating.
I laughed, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I wanted to know more about him.
“So, what made you decide to finally take over the stores?” I asked.
He chewed carefully, eyeing me intently.
“The store’s previous general manager didn’t do a great job. When he retired, I took a look at our numbers. He took additional financing from banks to solve short-term liquidity problems. He put the store in San Francisco as collateral and screwed up everything.”
“Wow. I didn’t know that.”
“No one does except the CFO and her right hand. So I didn’t want to trust someone else with the stores during such a delicate time. This company feels like home to me. I practically grew up on Statham’s floors or in my parents’ office. I want to preserve it.”
I was speechless. He was a remarkable man. I hadn’t thought it possible that I’d find him even more endearing, but he’d just proven me wrong.
“Why don’t you take on investors? Or a partner?”
“No. Banks are one thing, but a partner or an investor would want decision-making power, possibly equity. The stores are a family business. I don’t want strangers in the mix.”
“Okay.”
“Please don’t talk about this with anyone. I’m handling it, and I don’t want to cause panic.”
“My lips are sealed.”
I was in his confidence. The news he’d shared was definitely not an occasion to smile, but I was smiling nonetheless.
“Winston, you’re brilliant. You’ll get the store through this, I’m sure of it. Every company that’s been active this long has its ups and down and moments of crisis.”