“Heart doesn’t execute flawless events!”
We were practically nose to nose now, or as close as we could get with our height difference. His eyes had darkened from their usual clear green to a deeper emerald tone. My heart raced, and I couldn’t tell if it was from anger or something else.
“You think you’re so perfect,” I hissed. “With your perfect suits and your perfect hair and your perfect plans. But I know better.”
His jaw tightened. “You know nothing about me.”
“I know enough,” I whispered. I knew how his hands trembled slightly when he was aroused, how his breath caught when I touched him in just the right spot, how his eyes blazed with need when he came undone.
Something flashed in his eyes. Hunger or rage or both. For a wild moment, I thought he might kiss me. Fuck. For an even wilder moment, I almost wanted him to.
Instead, he took a deliberate step back. “We have a job to do,” he said, his voice low. “For the next two months, we’re going to work together professionally. No personal attacks. No sabotage. No... distractions.”
“Fine,” I agreed, trying to ignore the irrational disappointment curling in my stomach. “Professional competitors.”
“Professional competitors,” he echoed, extending his hand.
I hesitated before taking it. His palm was warm against mine, his grip firm but not aggressive. The simple touch sent a jolt up my arm. Those same hands had explored every inch of me.
We separated quickly.
“I’ll replace the damaged boards,” I offered, surprising myself.
“Don’t bother. I always have backups.” Of course he did.
We spent the next ten minutes in uncomfortable silence, straightening the room and collecting our materials before the clients returned. I realized I’d left my printed plans in the garden space, and since the couple hadn’t returned yet, I went to get them. Unfortunately, someone must’ve of thrown them away once we left because the table had been cleared. It didn’t really matter, except that it meant I’d need to print them again.
By the time I got back to the room where I’d left Hudson, Lia and Manny were also returning.
Lia breezed back in and glanced between us. “Everything sorted?”
“Completely,” I assured her.
“Excellent. Now, about the guest list. We’re looking at approximately 350 people, split between the ceremony and reception...”
The rest of the venue tour proceeded without incident. By the time we wrapped up, it was after 4 PM, and we were expected at our new shared workspace by 5.
“We’ll see you both at the office,” Manny said as we parted ways outside the venue. “Try not to destroy the place before we get there.”
“No promises,” I muttered under my breath.
Hudson and I stood awkwardly on the sidewalk, neither wanting to be the first to leave.
“I’ll see you at the office,” he finally said.
“Yeah.”
As he walked away, I couldn’t help but notice how his suit jacket stretched perfectly across his shoulders, how his posture remained impeccable even after two hours of tension. The man was infuriating, but he wore the hell out of a suit.
I pulled out my phone and called Anica.
“How’d it go?” she asked without preamble.
“I may have accidentally-on-purpose spilled coffee on his presentation boards.”
Anica’s sigh was so deep I could practically feel it through the phone. “Mari.”
“I know, I know. But he ambushed me! He brought his own florist to my venue tour!”
