This isnotDavid Sterling.
My eyes draw to his imposing figure, which seems to occupy every inch of the large executive chair behind his sleek black marble desk. As he marks up the documents before him, the pen appears almost delicate in his grasp, dwarfed by his hand. Despite most of his body being concealed by his tailored charcoal suit, the way his broad shoulders stretch the fabric tells me he’s muscular.
This is a man who clearly takes care of himself.
The realization that I’ve been silently ogling my boss since I entered his office hits me.
I clear my throat.
“I—I’m Avery,” I manage, my voice thin in the expansive room.
At the unfamiliar sound, he finally looks up. His eyes are a cold steel blue. His stare reaches places it shouldn’t, unsettling and exhilarating all at once.
It makes me want to sink into the floor and stand taller at the same time.
He waits, silent, and I think this is my opportunity to redeem this awkward entrance.
I move to his desk, recalibrating.
“Avery Anders. Your new associate attorney. Today’s my first day.”
I extend a shaky hand. It hangs between us as the rest of my rehearsed introduction scatters like ash. I barely manage to keep my composure as the scrutiny of his gaze holds me there, desperate to reclaim my confidence.
Not how I pictured this going at all. But I push the doubt away, eager to impress my new boss.
He stands, towering over me. As he crosses in front of his desk, a look of intrigue comes over his chiseled face. My confidence shrinks. He must be at least a foot taller than me.
Reaching his hand to meet mine, his perfectly tailored sleeve rises just enough for me to catch a glimpse of a heavily tattooed wrist. His grip is firm, and I feel a shiver run down my spine from the heat of his skin on mine.
Words fall away, thoughts fracture. I can’t process anything but his nearness. I’m trying to maintain my composure, the strength of my grip, the quickness of my breath.
And I realize this handshake has lasted longer than feels appropriate at this point.
“Attorney Anders,” he says finally, releasing me. “You’re already taking liberties, calling yourself mine.”
A shockwave of embarrassment pulses through me, and I all but snatch my hand back, clutching it protectively to my side as though I might be able to wring the heat from my skin. My cheeks blaze.
I make the mistake of glancing up and catch the barest hint of a smirk curling at his mouth, though he smooths it away before I can be sure.
Stunned and more than a little confused by his response, I say, “I’m sorry?”
Not so much an apology as it is a request for him to clarify before those words consume my every waking thought the rest of the day.
No such luck.
He smirks, gesturing toward his office door. “Why don’t I give you the grand tour? Introduce you to your team.”
I blink at him, words slow to assemble. “My team?” I echo.
Obviously, I knew I would be on a team when I took this job, but the idea I would be in charge of my own team never crossed my mind.
He turns to me, seemingly annoyed but not totally surprised at my ignorance.
“Yes, the team of legal professionals that will be working under you.” There’s an edge to his voice, half irritation, half resignation. He clears his throat. “Under your guidance.”
I look at him with utter confusion etched on my face, and if I didn’t feel so embarrassingly unprepared, I might even find his clenched jaw and eye roll kind of sexy.
“I didn’t realize I’d be heading a team,” I say, trying to keep my tone steady, professional.
