Page 3 of Body Shot

I don’t even wear a watch, relying on my phone to know what time it is and alarms to remind me of meetings and appointments.

The gorgeous stranger glances at his watch, a chunky leather and chrome one that looks expensive. And out of place with the rolled-up sleeves of his T-shirt, ripped, faded jeans, and tattoos. “It’s twenty to two.”

“Ack! I’m late for a meeting, dammit. I have to go.”

He nods and steps back. “Sure. Maybe get some ice on your shoulder—”

“Right. Thanks. And uh, thanks for, uh, catching me.”

“No problem. Wouldn’t want a beautiful lady to end up lying on the sidewalk.”

My heart misses a beat when he calls me beautiful. I give myself a mental slap to focus. He’s clearly a smooth talker, because I’m okay-looking, but not beautiful. “Thank you again. I appreciate it.”

I hurry away, aware of his gaze following me as I scurry down the sidewalk in my ballet flats.

How am I going to get a new phone when the rest of my afternoon is booked with meetings? I’m going to have to figure something out.

I drive the short distance to the Carroll Canyon facilities of Vanguard Corp, rush to my office, grab my tablet, and hurry to the meeting room where everyone is waiting for me. Outside, just past the windows of the meeting room, I pause and take a deep breath. I’m hot and flustered, and that’s not the image I want to portray in a business meeting. Big money rides on this meeting.

I smooth my hair back and take a few deep breaths, then walk confidently into the room.

“Hello,” I say with a faint smile. “Thank you for waiting for me. I got delayed on the way back to the office.”

The faint throb in my shoulder reminds me how. Dammit.

I focus on the questions I have for the program director, making notes as we talk. He seems interested in our research and the results we’ve had and as we wrap up, I hope my late arrival doesn’t impact his impression of me.

After showing him out, I return to the meeting room where Richard and Kim wait for me.

With them I can relax and catch my breath. “I was late for that meeting,” I tell them. I had a little accident on the way back from lunch.”

“You took a lunch break?” Kim gapes at me.

“Yeah.” I grimace and rub my shoulder. “I met my friend Carrie.”

“Carrie Garner?” Richard perks up. “The model?”

I hide my smile and nod. “Yes, Carrie the model.”

Richard sighs. “She’s so hot.”

“Yes. Yes, she is.”

“What kind of accident?” Kim’s forehead puckers with concern. “A car crash? Are you okay?”

“It was nothing. I was checking emails on my phone as I was walking back to my car and I ran into a post.”

Kim quickly covers her smile with her hand and asks again, “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I think so. My pride is probably more bruised than my shoulder. Some guy kept me from falling, but I dropped my phone and it’s broken, dammit.”

“Oh no.”

“Let’s get to business.” I push aside my lingering embarrassment and frustration. “Let’s go over the information we’re going to need for the grant proposal. I think we’ve got enough information to address their questions and concerns, but let’s make sure.”

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BECK

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