Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41482 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41482 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
When I was finished speaking, I smoothed my hands down my thighs, my heart racing as we stared at each other. He didn’t say anything in response, and the tension between us could have been cut with a knife.
But overall, I thought I was doing a pretty damn good job of looking like I had my shit together. At least I hoped I did.
“So, yes, I was fired from my last position, a position I’m actually now being interviewed for. But I’m not a bad employee. I didn’t screw up regularly. In fact, I thought I did a really great job at my tasks. But I am human.” The words were out, and the fact that I was the one in control of this situation made me feel incredibly better about it all.
Pope glanced down at the resume, and I could see the wheels turning in his head, as if he was trying to figure out how to break this to me easily. And when he lifted his head and looked at me, I felt the air leave me.
“Olive, I’ll be honest.”
Here we go.
“I don’t care about any of that.”
I blinked several times. “Excuse me?” Those two words left me before I could stop them.
“The job is yours if you want it.” He sounded professional, as if this truly was just another interview and not something more. But it was. I’d been wrong to think he’d felt nothing last night at dinner. The way he looked at me, as if he wanted to own me, sped right into my core.
I knew my eyes were wide. He offered me the job after knowing I’d gotten fired from my last one?
“Don’t look so shocked,” he finally said and leaned back in the chair, the leather making a soft sound from his weight settling. “You’re qualified for this position, I like your personality, and I think you’d be a great fit here.” For just a second, I swore I saw something move across his face. But it was gone just as suddenly. “I think you’d be a great addition to my department.” He cleared his throat, and I felt heat slam into me from his words. “I also like that you took this situation and made it your own. You’re the one who explained to me about it all. I admire that.”
“You would? You did?”
He nodded, and that sexy smirk came back.
I didn’t know what to say. I was shocked, yeah, but I think I was more aroused in this very moment. I looked down at my hands, which were clasped tightly together on my lap. I wanted this job. I needed it. But I also needed to make sure he knew there couldn’t be anything between us. Then again, I sure as hell didn’t want to exactly come out and say that if he already put that wall between us romantically.
I glanced up, and a little gasp of surprise left me, as Pope was standing and had walked around his desk without me even realizing it. Here I was sitting, my head tipped back as I stared at him. He was still a few feet away from me, but I didn’t know if I liked that. I felt at a disadvantage, and right now, I needed to keep myself in control.
“What are you doing?” I don’t know why I said those words. He could do whatever he wanted. I was in his office, after all. But this seemed… personal.
“I’m offering you the position, Olive.”
I forced myself to stand, smoothed my hands down my skirt, and took a deep, steadying breath.
“It’s yours if you want it,” he said in that masculine, deep, oh so sexy voice of his.
I felt this little tingle race up my spine. “And you’re okay with the fact that we went on a date and I was… in your bed this morning? Like, that’s not going to cause problems, make things weird?”
“You mean, is it a conflict of interest?” The corner of his mouth kicked up momentarily.
I didn’t know if I thought he’d laugh, shrug it off, or act like I was being ridiculous. Because he didn’t do any of those things. In fact, he took a step forward and looked even more serious than before.
“Pope.” I whispered his name.
“The truth?”
Those two words that came from him made it feel like cement filled my body. I couldn’t move, couldn’t even speak. I did nod, however.
He lowered his gaze to my lips, and I forced myself not to lick them in response.
“I want more, Olive. And I know you do too.” His voice was low, heated, and moved through every single part of my body.
Oh my God. He’d actually said them. I did lick my lips then and tried to act like I had my shit together. “You don’t know what I want,” I whispered, but it was a lie.