“I can fill this out myself,” I offer.
“Nonsense,” she refutes.
“I currently work at a coffee shop, Mocha Lisa, as a barista,” I begin as my mind tries to remember all the jobs I’ve had over the years.
Clara snorts as she fills in my answer. “A barista?”
“Yes,” I confirm. “I’ve arranged things with my boss so my job there won’t interfere with my work here. I’ve also worked at?—”
Clara doesn’t let me tell her the list of the places I’ve worked. “Education.”
“I have a high school diploma from?—”
“That’s it?” She interrupts with a condescending smile on her face.
“Well, I?—”
“Clara,” a deep baritone voice interrupts our conversation—the worst onboarding interview of my life.
Hunter walks with a power that commands attention. His presence cannot be ignored.
It’s more tempting than I’ll ever let him know.
The way he moves into the room makes him seem like a threat. He stalks into the office until he’s standing next to me. “I’m sure you were about to call and inform me that Miss Foster had arrived.”
Hunter’s subtle scolding stirs a different feeling in my belly, erasing the mounting anxiety.
“Of course.” Clara’s forced smile looks like it hurts. The way her eyes appreciate his body paint a whole new picture of the dynamic I’ve walked into.
“Good.” Hunter nods to Clara, then acknowledges me. “Miss Foster, follow me.”
I’ll never admit that the commanding tone in his voice is enticing. I want to defy him just to see what he’ll do. But I’d rather be anywhere but here, so I don’t linger with Clara a moment longer.
My eyes slide down Hunter’s back, admiring the way his shirt accentuates muscles in his back, but not in an obvious way. My focus accidentally slips further down, landing on his backside.
I’ve never stared at a man’s butt before, but that’s the situation as it currently stands, and as it turns out, Hunter has a nice one.
He leads me to the elevator I assumed was for maintenance. He sets his hand on a little screen on the wall, then bends slightly, placing his face right in front of it. A green light radiates from the screen, moving over his eye, and the elevator doors open.
“Overkill?” I snort as I follow him inside.
Hunter faces forward as the doors close. “I’ve been thinking about increasing the security.”
“Are you paranoid or something?” I try to make my voice sound teasing.
I’m prying. He doesn’t owe me any answers, but I’m curious about this man. He’s been on my mind almost too much.
He and two others.
“RHL has enemies. I have enemies. And we have many high-profile clients. One can never be too careful.” Hunter’s face is stoic.
Either the threats are that serious, or he just takes them seriously. However, I don’t like the way this conversation has taken on a grave tone.
So, of course, I try to make it lighter. “If you say so.”
And it works.
The faintest of smiles turns the corner of Hunter’s mouth. “You’ve got a mouth on you.”
