When I face him again, his full attention is on me, and the weight of it is both nerve-wracking and exciting. He leans on the counter as I fidget with the pocket of my slacks, but I face him all the same. There is something about a confident man that tells me he is a grown man, and this one may just have his eyes set on me. My chest warms at the thought of a little bit of fun.
“Beautiful weather,” is all he says, and I giggle a bit.
“You really want to talk to me about the weather?” I counter. Who wants to talk about the weather? No one.
“Actually, no. But starting with ‘You’ve got the kind of smile that ruins a man’s focus’ feels a little bold before I even know your name.” He pauses, as a crooked grin spreads across his face. “Not that I’m opposed to bold.”
I fake a choked gasp before responding with, “Well, boldness is always better than small talk.”
Kels leans over the bar, passing us both our coffees, and when I grab mine, I quirk my eyebrow at him. “So are you going to introduce yourself, or are we leaning into mystery?”
He taps the side of his cup and takes in my full figure as I stand, and his grin widens. “How about a trade: a name for a number?”
Already walking to my office, “Bold,” I call over my shoulder. “I like it.” I take a quick sip of the piping hot coffee with a smile plastered across my face. Smooth and hot, just the way I like it. I haven’t decided if I’m talking about the coffee or the mysterious golfer until I make it to myoffice.
Definitely the golfer.
I set my coffee down and power up my computer, wanting to get all the details for the new hire before they’re brought up here. The club’s human resources director has been out sick this week, and the person assisting him has been slow to get me the things I need, which is exactly why I have no idea who the hell I will be touring through Mossy Oaks after they finish up with their paperwork.
Almost an hour passes as I gather the last bits of documentation from the printer and finish organizing the new hire file before I hear a knock at the door. That must be the receptionist with the new hire.
I finish off the email to Glen, letting him know I will be bringing the pro to his office in the next hour, and shout for them to come in.
“Miss Reyes, I have Mr. Clinton Morrison here for you.” When I meet the new pro’s gaze, I’m met with the handsome stranger from the bar, and a delicious chill runs down my back.
He must feel the same thing because he walks right up to me with his hand stretched out. “Nice to meet you, Miss Reyes. Beautiful weather indeed.”
I scoff a little, laughable disbelief pulling at my lips, as I welcome him in. “I do love ahotday.”
Forcing myself to look away from the fine-as-hell stranger I’ll be welcoming to the Mossy Oaks family, I turn back to Sage. “Thank you for bringing him to my office, Sage.”
As I stand, I hold out my hand to shake his. “Welcome to Mossy Oaks, Mr. Morrison.”
“Thank you,MissReyes, but you can call me Clinton.” His tone is laced with formality, but the glint in his eyes shows me he’s still the sameflirt from the bar downstairs. “Should I call you…” He lets his voice trail off.
“Paloma is fine.” Rounding the corner of my desk, I pull out the folder Glen gave me earlier, before sliding it over to Clinton. “What brings you to Mossy Oaks?”
He flips it open, clicks a pen, and begins to fill out the documents. “I’ve got a little under a year before my next tour, and I figured why not keep up my game while offering some help to my favorite course.” His hazel gaze is on me rather than the folder under his hand. A warm satisfaction sizzles over my body with his eyes roaming over much more than my face.
“We’re glad to have you, Clint.” I shorten his name, exaggerating thet, letting my eyes linger on the material bunching around his lean and muscular arms. “I can scan those in and you’ll be all set to go.”
“You trying to get me out of your office, Miss Paloma?” His flirty tone is still in full force.
A giggle slips through my lips. “Actually, you have a meeting with Glen in a few minutes. Besides, I can’t keep you all to myself.”
“You could.” He wets his lips, and my eyes track his tongue. I have got to get this man out of my office before I let him bend me over this desk and—absolutely not. I can feel the blush creeping up my skin from my thoughts.
Sending a quick instant message to Glen, I let him know Clinton is ready for him. With him only a few doors down from me, he’s at my office door before I get the chance to say anything else to the office’s new eye candy.
“It was nice to meet you, Paloma. Maybe we can enjoy the weather together on the course one of these days.” He has no idea I can’t play alick of golf, but maybe he’s the reason I start.
Before he makes it out the door, I stop him. “Oh, and Clint?” He pauses at the open door, and I think of his question from earlier. “If you need to reach me for anything at all, my contact information is inside the folder.”
6
Lou:Round two. Let’s see if they learned anything from last time.
Chuck:Judging by that awkward eye contact? Nope.
