Kate frowned. “It’s sophisticated weapons systems, not some high-school dropout with a rifle.”
“Ouch,” Grant said.
“Sorry, but you can’t just skate by. You have to be very knowledgeable. There was talk about opening up a director-of-sales role that would be more hands-on than the VP. A lot of people are vying for the potential position. If you want it, you have to fight for it and prove you’re worthy of it. Let’s go again.”
Kate drilled him on the ins and outs of the company, the mission, where they operated, potential untapped markets, and how Grant would be able to exploit any opportunities.
“Feeling more confident?” she asked him. “A little more relaxed?”
“You know what would help me chill out?” he asked her, coming up to her and resting his hands on her hips. He pushed her back against the desk.
“That’s not happening,” she said. She felt his hand slide up her skirt. “Your father is downstairs!” she hissed at him.
“I’ll be quiet,” he murmured against her neck. He hoisted her up on the desk.
“Say yes?” he murmured against her neck. She shivered at the sensation of his hands running along her body.
“Yes,” she said, pulling him down and kissing him.
Kate knew she should fight it, but she didn’t want him to stop. He pulled off her panties. She heard the rasp on the zipper as he undid his pants. He kissed her as he entered her. She swallowed a moan.
“You’re supposed to be quiet,” he said teasingly.
She bit his chin, and he growled and thrust into her hard. She gasped, and her breath hitched as he moved in her, and she kissed along his jaw line. Grant moved slowly, and it was all she could do to keep from screaming out. Kate wrapped her legs around his waist as he took her. She felt him come inside her, then her body released.
“That’s all the interview prep I needed,” Grant mumbled, kissing her neck sloppily.
She tidied her clothes as he went to a cabinet and poured them each two fingers of whiskey. He looked like a proper corporate boss as he deftly pouring the expensive liquor and handed it to her with a flourish. He just needed to grow his hair out, and it would be as though he had been raised in New Cardiff his entire life.
Kate savored the taste of the whiskey, letting the flavor bloom in her mouth and mingle with the taste of Grant. He leaned against the desk, and she followed the length of his body with her eyes. His suit fit perfectly, and he looked like a billion dollars.
“We should do this more often,” he said to her as he took a sip of his drink.
She didn’t answer him. She didn’t want to ruin the moment.
Chapter 40
Grant
Grant felt a thousand feet tall the next morning. He practically skipped downstairs.
“You seem confident,” his father said, looking up from his newspaper.
“Yes, sir,” Grant replied with a grin. “I’m ready! Let’s do this.”
“Did you drug him?” his father asked Kate half jokingly. She shook her head, her mouth full of granola.
Grant wanted to say, “I’m high on Kate!” but she would probably be mad. He felt as if they had really made a connection the previous night.
He mentally patted himself on the back for offering the whiskey. Kate seemed to like that. It was better than just dragging her into his bed. He grimaced. He probably should have done the whiskey first or actually invited her on a real date. Drinks after sex probably didn’t count. But he did need it, and she had enjoyed it. She didn’t run away after, so that was progress, right?
The self-doubt started creeping back in as they walked into the elevator in the lobby of Holbrook Enterprises. He tried to hype himself up as if he were about to go into battle. But in the war zone, he had the advantage of bullets flying to really ground him in the present. Here, it was a series of suit-wearing upper-class men who didn’t look as if they’d seen a hard day’s work in their entire lives. They were all seated around the large reclaimed-wood table. Martin, the VP of sales, was there, as was Randal.
Kate took a seat in the corner of the room. Grant was asked to sit at the center of the table with his back against the door. It already put him on edge. Maybe he shouldn’t have pretended he was going into battle. The paranoia and the heightened senses were probably no good for this environment. He didn’t feel prepared at all.
Calm,he told himself.Be calm and confident.Kate gave him a small thumbs-up, and he felt his heart rate slow.
“Thank you for coming in for an interview,” Martin said.
