“I have documents to type.”He paused, giving her a searching glance.“Do you do dictation?”
“Yes.”That wasn’t a lie.She’d aced her secretarial course and enjoyed learning the different aspects of what made an excellent personal assistant.She could type, copy, computerize, and organize with the best of them.
Given his size, Suzie imagined he’d command respect because his presence filled the room.
“Humph!”His sharp grunt combined arrogance, doubt, and annoyance in equal measures.“Come along then, and we’ll see if you speak the truth.”
Once again, she yanked at the reins of restraint and pressed her lips together to prevent an indignant retort.She’d rather hide up here than face the fresh shifters with uncrushed enthusiasm or the desperate ones.That group was worse because of their urgency and the driven nature of their actions and conversation.
The big man stalked across the cream and terracotta French Aubusson carpet while Suzie followed more slowly, taking in the rug’s central medallion and floral border.She knew from her research since she’d arrived at the castle that the rug was an antique and worth many thousands.
They entered an adjoining room with a massive oak table, but she didn’t have time to dally and admire anything else.One more left turn, and they entered a modern office.
The grumpy behemoth pointed at a wooden desk.“That is your station.Coffee machine is there, and if you’re hungry, there’s food in the fridge.”He indicated a wooden cabinet, and she presumed the unit concealed the fridge.
The truth—it was difficult to concentrate on what he was saying because his sexy accent kept distracting her.She’d bet the man could read the driest document and make it seem alluring.
“My desk.”He gestured at a massive desk with orderly piles of papers, books, and a computer.“Do not chatter, hum, or tap your fingers on the desktop.Do not play on your phone or answer personal calls during work time.Is that clear?”
“Crystal,” Suzie said.
His hazel eyes were so beautiful—way too gorgeous for this grumpy man.They narrowed a fraction more, emitting clear suspicion.He didn’t think she was listening.
“Make our coffee, and we’ll start on the dictation after you sign the non-disclosure document.I want to record my thoughts while they’re fresh.”
Suzie barely stopped herself from giving a two-finger salute.A non-disclosure document?Color her even more curious.This man was a grumpy, snarly mountain of flesh, but he’d alleviated her boredom and despair.She took a quick breath because his sudden appearance had left her instinct flagging and her mouth hanging open.
His scent filled her nostrils—tangy with an undertone of sweetness—a syrupy tartness with hints of heather and whisky.
He was a bear.
Of course, he was, now that she added the clues.Large—check.Short-tempered—check.Brown hair—hmm, perhaps a brown bear?
“What are you waiting for?I’m not paying you to stand around gawking.”
He wasn’t paying her at all.Not that it mattered.She didn’t have to take his snapping and snarling.Yes, she’d been trespassing and deserved chastisement for that crime.She opened her mouth to unleash a verbal assault and changed her mind.Her thoughts buzzed with curiosity, and she desperately wanted to learn what required a non-disclosure document from a lowly temp.
Besides, her alternative was to return to the gathering activities and fake a smile for the desperate and the newbies.Now that Edwina had gone, the gathering had lost its luster.
Suzie marched to the coffee machine and selected a pod containing industrial-strength caffeine.For herself, she chose one flavored with vanilla.Soon, the coffee scent perked her up, and she delivered the burly bear his steaming mug.She grabbed a pad of paper and two pens and planted herself in the chair opposite him.
“This is the non-disclosure document.Think carefully before you sign it because not even a top-notch lawyer will get you out of the problems I will heap on you should you decide to sell any proprietary information.Why are you wearing that weird, gawking expression?The employment agency must’ve told you I expected you to sign this agreement before you commenced work for me.”
“I have no problem signing a non-disclosure, but I would like to read the terms and scope of it first,” Suzie said, her voice professional and polite.
The starch exited him, and he gave a tiny nod of what might be approval.He handed over a document.Huh, more than the one page she’d expected.Her eyebrows winged upward, and she shot him a glance.His face remained expressionless.Wow, his was a resting grump face if ever she’d seen one.
She turned her attention back to the document and started reading.At the end of page one, she sipped her coffee.Yum, that was delicious.After another quick taste, she glanced at the bear.Heck, she didn’t even know his name and didn’t want to ask because the employment agency would’ve told her.Wouldn’t they?
She kept reading, the clauses long and convoluted but reasonable, given the circumstances.Whatever he was working on was top-secret and commercially vulnerable.A product in development.Her brow creased before she consciously smoothed it.A bad habit, and according to her grandmother, she’d develop early wrinkles.Suzie read to the end and hesitated, her pen hovering over the signature spot.Maybe it was best for her to confess she wasn’t the temp he was expecting except…
She battled with her conscience, her boredom, and her love of adventure.
And failed to do the right thing.
Yet again, her grandmother would say.
Suzie signed the document with a flourish and handed it to him.If the temp showed up, she could talk her way out of trouble.She surreptitiously crossed her fingers.Hopefully.
