And finally, at the end of the hall on the opposite side, Theo stopped. "This is my office." He took out a key and unlocked the door. Amber followed him inside and inspected the room. Theo’s desk was a huge mahogany monstrosity that sat in front of a large window. Various college and law school degrees hung in frames on the wall behind his desk. Photos of Theo’s father and grandfather with various dignitaries lined the wall. She would bet money they had been in those exact spots for decades. In fact, everything in the room looked like a tribute to the Clairmont family legacy.
The one bright spot was the fireplace at the opposite end of the room. There was a long, comfortable-looking brown leather couch that sat in front of it, giving the room a touch of coziness and the alluring scent of leather.
Theo narrowed his eyes. “I see that look in your eyes. I'm going to tell you this once: don't touch anything in this office. I know where everything is, and I like it that way."
"Okay, Mr. Mayor," she said meekly, already wondering what the surface of his desk would look like if it were cleared off. And that box of files next to his desk must make it hard for him to find things. He really did need a pillow for that couch to warm it up. Everything was so old and boring-looking. Her creative juices kicked in, but Theo had already left when she turned around.
"And here's your office," he led the way out and turned into the office next to his. "You can do whatever you want here, but don't touch my office."
“Got it, boss," she saluted.
“Call me Theo." Theo called on his way out.
She kept her mouth closed. It was a silly thing not to call him Theo, but it evened out the ever-present scoreboard and she wasn’t going to lose.
Besides, it never failed to get a reaction, and she’d take that over indifference any day.
The door closed with a snap behind Theo, and she was alone in her office. She walked over to the chair and spun it around once, twice, three times.Not bad for an office job.
In the past, she had worked in everything from a cubicle to coffee shops, and as far as offices went, this one wasn't bad at all. It needed a serious update, though. The mayor’s office should reflect the current inhabitant, not the one in office three decades ago. She leaned back in the chair and put her feet up on the desk, admiring the way the little rhinestone buckles gleamed.
All she had to do was stick it out, work hard, and really stick it out for six months. She was a hard worker; she knew that, no matter what anyone else said. Sometimes she was a little impulsive, but not this time. She was going to be the best assistant Theo had ever had. But first she needed to know what the job entailed.
She puttered around the office, mostly changing her email signature to different fonts and colors until she was bored out of her mind, and she headed out to get the lay of the office, so to speak. She started with Todd. He looked like he knew all the good stuff about what went on in the mayor’s office.
An hour later, Amber was sitting on the edge of Todd’s desk, leaning over his arm to read the latest gossip on the Northfield Facebook page when there was a brisk knock on the door.
"Come in," Todd said.
"We're ready for the meeting," Theo said after a pause. He leaned in the doorway, taking in the scene with one quick glance. Amber took the same opportunity to study him.
He was deceptively casual, with his hands in the pockets of his trousers, his maroon tie perfectly knotted, his tall body relaxed and confident without artifice in away she was suddenly, inexplicably, envious of. He was in his element while she felt, alarmingly, out of hers.
And he was glaring at her again. Whatever. She flipped her hair and slid off the desk, making sure to flash some thigh to even things up a bit. She didn’t miss the darkening of Theo’s eyes as she did either.Point for me.“Thanks for showing me the ropes, Todd.” she purred. She paused in the doorway and looked up into Theo’s unreadable eyes. “I’m all yours, Mr. Mayor,” she said lightly.
Theo’s eyes slid to her throat of all places, then back up to her eyes so slowly it felt like he was dragging his big hands over her body. “Follow me,” he said coolly.
Amber followed him down the hall, admiring his shape from behind. The man could wear a suit with the best of them. She fanned herself.
The conference room was at the end of the hall, where Neal and Charlotte sat on either side. Theo sat down at the head of the table and Amber took a seat next to Todd and pulled out her notebook. She thought it was a nice touch, the notebook and the pen she had behind her ear. Very diligent.
“Neal, this is Amber Hart, my personal assistant,” Theo introduced.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Neal said, looking her over. He lingered a little too long staring at her breasts. Amber summed him up immediately. Mid-sixties, slick suit, even slicker combed-over hair.
He was the epitome of a certain kind of man creeping into his later years with a hard-on for proving he was still a ladies’ man, all the while holding women in disregard. She had encountered men like him plenty of times before. He glanced at Theo, taking his seat at the table, and lowered his voice. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”
“I’m sure I’d remember if we had.” She tugged her hand back from his damp grip.
“I believe it was at the pub. Weren’t you giving a show on the bar?” Neal said blandly enough, but Amber caught a subtext that made her eyes narrow.
"All right, Charlotte, give us a rundown of the finances," Theo directed. He slipped on a pair of black-framed glasses. Oh, my. The Clark Kent lookreallyworked for the mayor. He looked up and caught her staring. His lips curved in that sexy little knowing half-smile and a dimple started to show. Amber panicked and pointed at her chin.You have something right...
He frowned and wiped at the nonexistent speck on his jaw.Here?
She shook her head.Other side.
He wiped the left side and looked at her suspiciously.
