Page 35 of Tempting Levi
Emily nodded and breathed in. “Okay, then. I can do this.”
She glanced out the door and into the busy hallway, filled with Club Tahoe executive staff conducting business. “I’m bringing a dog to meetings. This should be an interesting day.”
Chapter 16
Emily staredat the square ceiling tiles. So ugly. Why did they always use those in office buildings? Club Tahoe was top-quality mountain lodge elegance, but even in the executive offices they’d used the same old ugly tiles as in every other office building. She supposed most people never looked up—you know, because they weren’t lying flat on their backs.
A long, wet tongue lapped the side of Emily’s cheek before she could block it. “Ugh, Grace!” She swiped at the wet spot. “I’ve seen where you put that thing, and I don’t appreciate you laving my face with it.”
Grace dropped her head on Emily’s chest and stared at her. When Emily didn’t move, Grace nudged Emily’s chin with her long nose.
Emily groaned. “Really?More rubbing? The hair behind your ears is going to fall off. You’ll have giant bald spots if we keep this up. And my arms have cramps. See?” She held up her hands stiffly. “I can barely move. You’re not light, either. You know, if we move to my chair, I could reach the itchy spots better.”
Grace drove another nose nudge to Emily’s chin, leaving behind a dampness Emily chose to not think about.
“Okay, okay.” Emily rubbed the back of Grace’s ears, breathing through thirty pounds of dog on top of her and the pain in her wrists. If she could only reach her phone. Which was on top of her desk, where she’d left it. A good four feet away.
“Help!” Emily tried to gently shove Grace off her, but the dog had amazing dead weight and managed to elongate her body. And Emily wasn’t about to hurt Grace to get her off.
The dog barked, and at this point, Emily wasn’t concerned about keeping her quiet for the other employees.
“Help!” she called again.
Why of all days did everyone decidetodayto leave the office by five? There were always a few stragglers. Okay, typically only Emily and Levi, but still. And it was a Friday night.
“You were so good all day. I stole bacon from the restaurant for you, remember that? We’re friends. Why, Grace? Why are you doing this to me?”
Levi was going to get an earful from her once she got her hands on him, or once he found her.
Oh God.She wouldn’t be left here all night, would she? She sank her head back and closed her eyes. No—Levi would eventually come for his dog.
And she was going to kill him when he did.
* * *
Emily was ignoring him. That was the only explanation for why she hadn’t returned his calls. He didn’t want to do it, but he needed to have a talk with her. She must assume that the kiss last night meant more than it had and that she could take advantage of her new status. Not the first time a woman had tried to use him or one of his brothers; he was simply surprised Emily would try.
Levi rubbed his forehead and stood, straightening his back, furious to find himself forced to go to her. She should come to him. He didn’t like going to her office. It smelled like her and she smelled too damn good, but that was beside the point.Hewas the boss, not Emily.
Walking down the hall at a fast clip, Levi didn’t bother to knock. He shoved open the door to her office. “Emily—”
She wasn’t at her desk. His eyes darted to the ground, where his dog was sitting—really, sprawled would be more accurate—on top of the woman in question. Who looked rather small with Gracie Girl on top of her. “Grace!”
Grace climbed off Emily and ran over to his side.
A moan came from Emily, but she didn’t move.
“What’s going on in here? Why are you on the floor?”
Emily’s head popped up. “I have a bone to pick with you.”
Shewas mad athim? “Look, Emily. We need to talk.”
“Damn straight we do!” She sat up, her arms lying stiffly in her lap. “You can’t just leave me with your dog. I’m not a dog watcher. I’m a top executive assistant with an MBA fromHarvard, and, and…” She swallowed. “I’m so mad at you, Levi Cade!” And then she growled.
Levi flinched. She was using his full name. That couldn’t be good. Maybe he should take a step back. Probably wasn’t the most courteous thing to leave Gracie with Emily while he ran meetings. She had her own busy workload.
Okay, he’d been an ass. He alsomighthave wanted any excuse to see her. Leaving his dog with her had been the first thing that had come to mind.
