Page 3 of Open for Negotiation

The man with him stands a few inches taller and a bit broader in the shoulders, but their faces are very similar. I can tell instantly that they have to be related. He’s wearing jeans and work boots with a black T-shirt under a brown jacket. The polar opposite to the man beside him who’s staring a hole through me.

Max is wearing a deep blue suit with a crisp white shirt underneath. He’s not wearing a tie today, at least not yet, so the top button is undone, giving him the laid-back look that makes me want to jump his bones again right here, right now. There’s scruff on his chin, like he shaved on Friday and has a weekend’s worth of growth present. I want to feel it on my inner thighs.

Stop it!

“Scarlett. You’re in early this morning,” Max says, keeping his eyes on me and his hands shoved in his pockets. I flick my gaze to them and I can see his fingers flexing under the fabric.

We stare at each other, letting the awkward silence grow and grow until I finally snap out of my haze and speak up.

“Yeah. I had some things to do, so I thought I’d get ahead of the game today.” I clear my throat then start to turn around and focus on putting cream and sugar in my coffee when a different voice fills the room.

“Don’t mind my brother, he’s clearly forgotten his manners.”

I turn back around and see the stranger, whom I now know is the other Duke brother, is extending his hand toward me.

“I’m Jackson Duke. Max’s younger, better-looking, funnier brother.”

I glance in Max’s direction and he’s rolling his eyes.

“Hi.” I take his hand and give it a shake. “I’m Scarlett.”

“Scarlett is one of our graphic designers here,” Max adds in. “And I’m most definitely the better-looking brother.”

“She has eyes, brother. She can tell.” Jackson looks from his brother to me. “I get it. You have to keep the boss happy but we both know the truth.”

I giggle, but I can’t stop glancing toward the other Duke brother in the room. “It’s nice to meet you, Jackson.”

The presence and memory of what happened Friday is heavy in the air. It’s nearly suffocating now that he’s standing just a couple of feet from me.

“Did you have a nice weekend?” Max asks me, hands still tucked away. The vain part of me thinks maybe he’s having to physically restrain himself too. There’s a magnet there that could be very, very dangerous.

“It was entirely too short, sir,” I tell him and Jackson laughs.

“Do you make them call you that? Jeez. See. I don’t make my crews call me anything but Jackson. I’m not an asshole.”

Normally, I’d laugh at his comment. Seeing someone treat Max like a normal human being instead of a rich CEO and business owner is refreshing, but all I can do is focus on the way Max’s jaw twitches and the way his shoulders square. He’s so intense.

“You can ignore him, Scarlett. I do. Often.” He smiles at me and I shiver all over. It’s the same smile he gave me last week in that boardroom… and again in the car. “Jackson is actually moving here to Atlanta. Moving his construction company down here to work hand in hand with us.”

Work. Good topic. I can do work.

“Oh, wow. Where are you moving from?”

“Seattle. Big bro here made Atlanta sound all too appealing and I have to say, he wasn’t wrong.”

“Atlanta is great. I really love it here for many reasons, but it can be overwhelming sometimes. Try not to go too hard, too fast.” I look directly at Max as the last words leave my mouth. “It’s easy to do around here.”

“Maybe I can pick your brain one day. You can tell me about all the hidden gems in the area,” Jackson says.

Max chimes in quickly, “Jackson. I actually need to have a quick moment alone with Scarlett. I have a question to ask her about something. Can you go wait for me in my office?”

“But I wanted coffee—” he says, but he’s cut off again.

“Go. I’ll bring it to you. No cream, two sugars. I remember.” He looks antsy, aggravated, like me. His jaw is clenched tightly, like he’s trying so hard to keep his hands to himself… or like he’s trying to keep from exploding in anger. I can’t really tell the difference.

Jackson holds up his hands in defeat. “Fine, fine. I’ll go.” He nods to me. “It was nice meeting you, Scarlett.”

“You too. Welcome to Atlanta.”

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