Page 2 of Perfect Proposal
“Everyone in Legal has their own discreet printer. It’s something our general counsel, whom I’m sure you know, badgered me into a long time ago.”
“Jerry was smart to do that on several fronts.” But just as I’m about to explain why, the door opens behind Kristoffer and a man backs into the room.
He’s on the phone, so doesn’t recognize there’s other people in the room. “No, I won’t be able to make it. I’m sorry. I know it’s late to be canceling.” There’s an extended pause that goes on where Kristoffer opens his mouth to inform him of our presence.
I slice my hand in the air. This has to be one of my new employees, and I want the pleasure of being the one to handle it.
The man wraps up his call and then mutters loud enough, “It was just one date. Now she wants me to come over to meet the parents. What the hell?”
“What the hell is right,” I repeat sweetly.
The man jolts in surprise. He spins around, and his face which was beginning to twist in anger fills with horror when he realizes where I’m standing and who else is in the room with me. “Mr. Wilde. Sir.” Then a deferential “Ma’am. You must be the new counsel we’ve been hearing so many whispers about. I’m David Lennan, senior paralegal.”
While I appreciate him turning a potentially awkward situation into a professional one, I don’t want deferential from this man. I don’t want him working for Wildcard.
Because I’m staring into the face of a god. And I just signed a document that prohibits me from doing a damn thing about it.
Fuck.
I step out from behind the desk I’d been trailing my fingers over just a few moments earlier and hold out my hand. “Carys Burke, but my colleagues call me Burke.”
His eyes widen slightly. “Burke? You’re Burke—the infamous lawyer who saved Zappata from paying a fine to the FCC for his on-air profanity during the Grammys?”
“It’s not Z’s fault the studio failed to put in their required delay. They really should have known better,” I respond demurely.
He smiles as he shakes my hand, and I really wish he wouldn’t. The smile is lazy and seductive, causing parts of me I was certain had fallen into a slumber to wake up with a vengeance.
Damn, I hate contracts.
I shake myself mentally before I turn to Kristoffer. “Do you mind if I have a word with Mr. Lennan?”
“Can’t I stay and watch?” Kristoffer drawls.
“Kristoffer,” I warn, and he holds up his hands.
“You’re no fun, Carys. When you’re ready, just have David escort you over to the elevator. I have a few calls to make.”
As much as I want to set this too-handsome man in place for using my office to plan his trysts, I do have a job that I officially signed on to do as of a few minutes ago. Straightening to my full height, I ask, “Do you need legal representation?”
Kristoffer winks. “Not for calling my wife, though if our kids used her makeup to paint the bathroom floor again,theymay need it to get out of being grounded.”
I bring my hand up to muffle my laugh. David doesn’t bother. When he laughs uproariously, he throws his head back. His neck is exposed over the tight white collar of his button-down dress shirt. Damn, I want to climb him and take a bite of it, leave my mark right where his pulse thrums steadily.
But I can’t.
“Then I’ll meet you downstairs in just a few moments,” I tell Kristoffer.
He nods before leaving my office and closing the door behind him. The air seems to follow behind him as I find my internal temperature rising with every breath I take while I’m alone with David Lennan. Finally, I gesture to one of my guest chairs. “Take a seat.”
He does, unbuttoning his suit jacket to reveal a flat stomach. The ankle of one leg comes up to rest on the knee of the other. This isn’t a man who’s exhibiting any great concern about being caught in his boss’s office. He’s calm, confident, and internally wreaking waste to my sense of calm. “So tell me, David.”
“Yes?”
“Why shouldn’t I rip into you for being in my office for what was obviously not a business reason?”
His lips purse. “I don’t suppose the fact I didn’t know you were here is a good enough excuse.”
I press my hands to the desk and push to my feet until I’m looking down at him. “Not even close. I’d hate to think I can’t trust one of my employees on the very day I signed the contracts to take over this division.”
