Читать книгу Mistletoe, Baby - Donna Hill, Donna Hill - Страница 12

Chapter 5

Graham loosened his tie and slowly lowered himself into his high-backed leather chair. Her scent still lingered in the air. It was on his fingertips even though he hadn’t touched her, didn’t dare. He was beginning to believe that it was some kind of aromatic hallucination because he inhaled her in his apartment, in his sheets, in the shower, in the car. It was as if he’d absorbed her into his pores. An image of her sitting in front of him flashed. His cock jumped in response.

His jaw clenched. Alexis was a distraction. And he didn’t like distractions. It was good that he was getting away. The trip would give him some time and space to clear his head and shake himself back to reality. He may have made a mistake taking her on. Had he met with her in person prior to the hire, this spot of trouble could have been avoided. But she’d signed a contract that he had countersigned. To break it would be a public relations nightmare. Not to mention the cost and legal ramifications. He’d have to show cause. And getting a hard-on when she was anywhere near him was not a reason. He would have to get her to demonstrate her inability to perform the job she was hired to do.

At least that much was in place. It would be a challenge for her to complete the initial assignment he’d given her in three days. He pursed his lips and thoughtfully rubbed his chin. He’d start there.

* * *

Alexis called Claire’s phone and asked her to put together the list of DOE contacts that had been used in the past. Maybe she would recognize a name or two from the zillion educational conferences that she’d attended over the years. She also asked Claire for a list of any outside consultants that had gone into any of the schools that R.E.A.L. dealt with.

“Not a problem. I’ll start on the lists right away. Oh, did you want to order lunch or will you be going out?”

“Hmm, I hadn’t really thought about it, but maybe I’ll go out and get a feel for things.”

“There are some great places one block up on Seventh Avenue and if you walk down toward Radio City Music Hall, go down the stairs of the McGraw Hill Building, there are some really good restaurants there as well.”

“Great. Thanks.” She disconnected the call and turned her full attention to the proposal in its entirety, then began to break it down into manageable parts and then started rewriting, expanding some sections and compressing others.

As she worked it was as if she was inside Graham’s head, thinking how he thought, seeing what he saw, wanting what he wanted. She worked with a single purpose to please him—with the final product. Although it was work there was an almost sensual quality to it that stirred her. To Alexis there was nothing more sensually stimulating than getting inside someone’s head—becoming one with them—a mental symbiosis. Her nipples tingled inside her lace push-up bra. She gave her head a shake and willed her senses to dispel their fix on Graham.

She drew in a long breath of resolve, rolled her shoulders and targeted all of her concentration on the task at hand.

* * *

Alexis glanced up to see Claire walking into her office. She had a folder in her hand. Alexis pushed back from the desk and noticed the time on her computer. She’d been working for nearly two hours straight. It was almost three o’clock.

“You need to take a break,” Claire said.

Alexis stretched her arms above her head and her tight body sighed in relief. “You’re right and I’m starved.”

“Do you still want to go out or would you rather order?”

“Hmm, I think I’ll order. Touring will have to wait for another day. Do you have any menus?”

“Sure do. I’ll be right back.”

While Claire went for the menus, Alexis did an assessment of what she had accomplished. She broke the project down into six steps each with its own components and time frames. During the time she had her nose to the grindstone, Claire had prepared the last of the contacts and uploaded them to the shared drive. She opened the file and scanned the individual names and organizations and was mildly disappointed that there weren’t any names that she was acquainted with.

Claire returned with the menus, a veritable Who’s Who of dining.

“Wow,” Alexis said on a breath, as she flipped through the stack. “Any recommendations?”

“Roof, if you like Thai.” She plucked a menu from the stack.

“Sounds fine.”

“I can order for you.”

“Would you? Some kind of rice and chicken.”

Claire grinned. “Okay. Anything else?”

“Some green tea.”

“Hot or cold?”

“Hot.”

“You got it. Give them about twenty minutes.”

“Thanks.”

Claire walked out to her desk to call. Alexis pulled herself up, stretched and walked to the window. The first full day in New York City was almost behind her. She felt a sliver of accomplishment. Yet, looking down on the rushing world below she knew she was only a minor player on the New York stage.

“How was your day so far?” Alexis spun around.

“Mr. Stone.”

“Graham. Please.” He walked into her office. “Getting settled?”

“Yes,” she said on a breath. She sat behind her desk. “Claire is the best.”

His eyes said he agreed. “I won’t keep you.” He slid a hand into his pocket. “Remember, everyone is at your disposal, eh?”

Including you? “I’ll remember. Thanks for stopping by,” she said to his back.

Claire and Graham passed each other in the doorway. She had Alexis’s lunch and placed it on the desk. As hungry as Alexis was, she would first have to calm her jangling nerves following Graham’s impromptu visit.

After a few minutes, Alexis opened the bag containing her food and peered into one of the cartons. She tasted a spoonful of the delicious stir-fry rice, then noticed that her green tea was missing. Her forehead pinched in annoyance. She returned the carton to the bag, grabbed her purse and walked out. She stopped at Claire’s desk.

“Everything okay?”

“Yes, fine. But they forgot the tea.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll call them.”

Alexis waved away the offer. “No worries. I could use a walk. I’ll be back shortly.”