“It’s fucking indispensable.”
Julien’s mercurial frown vanished and a slow smile spread across his mouth.“Indispensable,” he repeated.“Yes.”Then he touched the screen of his own device.His image popped up.“Use the word indispensable in the marketing materials.”
Julien’s image bowed toward him.“Yes, genius.”
The voice, the tone, was dead on.
Obviously the engineers had heard that term plenty.
Julien brushed the sapphire-glass surface and the hologram vanished.“Where were we?I wanted to congratulate the Colonel.”
Cade pointed out the table.
Before walking away, Julien said, “I’ll upload the latest software update to you next week.”
“You mean I need to download it?”
“No.It will happen automatically.”
“How intrusive is this thing?”
“Check your heart rate when you see a beautiful woman and ask me then.”Julien nodded politely before walking away.
“I think he wants to rule the world,” Sofia said, joining them.“I caught the end bit.”
“Rule it?”Nathan asked.“Dominate it is more like it.”
Cade shrugged.
The band segued into an up-tempo song and announced yet another line dance.
“Show me how it’s done, Mr.Donovan,” Sofia said.“The only reason I accepted this job was to see you line dance.Remember?”
Proving how besotted he was, Cade tipped his hat.“Anything for my lady.”
With that, as if there were no one else on the planet but the two of them, they headed toward the dance floor.
Nathan resumed his favorite position, an arm propped on one of the bar-height conversation tables.
A tall brunette wearing a sequined dress so tight it should have been impossible for her to move sashayed past him.She caught his eye and smiled.Everything about her was perfect—hair, makeup, shape.
She stopped long enough to accept a glass of wine and to look back at him, being sure he noted her interest.
Rather than engage, he checked his watch.And his heart rate.
Clearly Julien was wrong about the watch.It didn’t show any reaction to the bombshell who was telegraphing her availability.
He looked back up to note that she’d moved on to someone considerably more appreciative.
Which left him free to peruse his own thoughts.There was little Nathan enjoyed more than the strategy.Except the chase.
Chapter One
Juggling two venti mochas with extra whipped cream, her electronic card key, a purse and a bag stuffed with her workout gear, Kelsey Lane exited the elevator and strode toward the set of double doors at the end of the hallway.Since it wasn’t even seven o’clock, she had almost the whole building to herself, something she liked, especially on Monday mornings.
This early, if she drove, she typically didn’t have to fight traffic on Houston’s busy roads.If she rode the train, she could always find a seat.Regardless, she liked to get a jump on the week, organizing and preparing before the phone started to ring.
The lights were on in the office, so she tested the handle, hoping the cleaning crew was still there and that the suite was unlocked.Thankfully it was.“Good morning!”she called out so she didn’t startle anyone.
