Samuel was grating on Levi’s last nerve. Was he suggesting that Levi had screwed up the Shin deal? And if Levi had, that was none of his lawyer’s business. The man was here to advise, not judge performance.Thatwas Levi’s job. “I’ll let you know if anything pans out.”
Samuel huffed out a sigh. “I would prefer to be kept abreast of the situation.”
Levi stood and Samuel tipped his head back, eyes rounding at Levi’s height. Was it Levi’s fault if his physical stature tended to intimidate people?
He walked to the window and gazed out. He was already pissed that Samuel had suggested cutting the children’s program before it had even gotten off the ground. It was for kids, for God’s sake. And if Emily and the finance director were in favor, it would be a nice addition. “We’re doing the children’s program.” He looked over his shoulder. “If it doesn’t earn back after a quarter, we can consider cutting it or revamping the marketing.”
Emily gave him a quick smile. One that sent heat to his already overheated body. Just being in the same room with her had lit a fire in his blood.
Levi cleared his throat. “That’s all for now.”
His attraction to Emily wasn’t going away. It was growing, shifting into something that felt out of control.
He waited until both his lawyer and Emily had walked out, not daring to change his stony expression and give away his thoughts. Then Levi sank into his plush office chair and stared out at the Club Tahoe grounds.
Mike the groundskeeper was pruning not far away. He’d been a fixture at Club Tahoe for as long as Esther. As a former Navy SEAL, Mike had taught Levi and his four brothers boat safety—through drills and boot-camp tactics. Levi grinned. It was the best damned parenting he’d received from a father figure. If there was one thing Levi’s dad had done right, it was keeping good people around.
The rest of the day was a slog. While Emily set things in motion for the children’s program and worked on bringing in more entertainment to the resort, Levi researched companies to offer free nights’ stays to in exchange for a look around Club Tahoe. Between the club’s financial stress and trying to keep his hands off Emily, Levi was in a foul mood when the end of the day rolled around.
The clock read ten. He rubbed his eyes and stood, stretching his back. He leaned over and put the computer into sleep mode, then walked out of his office, locking the door behind him. He was about to turn toward the employee exit when he glimpsed a dim light down the hall. In Emily’s part of the offices.
Levi moved in that direction before he could think twice. Just to check things out. No harm there. It was a good idea to know who was still around.
Or it was an excuse to see Emily. Because her office was the one lit up—and he’d known it would be. No one else besides the two of them ever stayed this late.
Levi paused outside her open door. He would check in, then go home. At least, that was what he told himself.
He knocked lightly and entered the room. “You still here?”
She looked up from her computer and smiled wearily. “Yes, but I was about to leave. You?”
“Just leaving.”
She nodded and stood, her hands restless at her sides as her gaze dipped down his body, then away.
It seemed he wasn’t the only one holding back. Was she waiting for him to make a move?
He should leave. Make it easier on the both of them. They could pretend that Saturday night hadn’t happened.
Right.Just like he was able to pretend the kiss the night of the ball hadn’t happened.
He walked over to her desk at the same time she rounded it. They hesitated for a split second, neither speaking. A quick glance at her mouth, her breasts. The gentle touch of her eyes on his shoulders, his chest, and on down to his waist before darting back up.
And then Levi was pulling her into his arms and kissing her.
“I missed you this afternoon,” she said.
His heart hammered. As good as it felt to hear that, a small part of him worried that this was going too far.
But she pulled his shirt from his dark slacks, tugging it up his chest, and his reservations quickly vanished. Maybe he was wrong and she was okay with something casual.
Levi stopped kissing her long enough to pull the shirt over his head, then he was gripping the bottom of her top and sliding it up and off. Her bra went next.
Emily undid his belt and the button of his pants, then palmed him above his slacks.
He sucked in a breath. His blood was already running hot. Having her in his arms was like setting kindling to a flame.
She slid down the zipper, cool air hitting his overheated skin. Her small hand gripped him and his jaw tightened. She was driving him crazy—because the next thing he did was pick her up and prop her firm little bottom on the desk. He hiked up her tight, yet thankfully stretchy, skirt high on her thighs.
