Swamped with proposals, contracts, and getting everything ready for the quarterly meeting with the management staff, I walk to Devon’s desk.
Just as I reach him, Devon rises from his chair, worry etched on his face.
Coming to a stop in front of him, I ask, “What’s wrong?”
“My sister just broke off her engagement. Apparently, it got really bad. She’s in LA.” Devon gives me an apologetic look. “Would you mind if I take a couple of days off to bring her to Chicago?”
“Of course not.” I glance at his desk. “I’ll get someone to cover for you.”
Relief relaxes his features. “Thank you.” I watch him gather his keys and phone, then he says, “I’ll probably only need three days.”
I nod. “Take the rest of the week.”
“I really appreciate it.”
I watch as Devon leaves, then, picking up his phone, I dial the extension for HR.
“Gina speaking.”
“Devon had to take a couple of personal days. Send someone up to cover for him for the rest of the week.”
“Yes, sir.”
I place the phone down, and walking back to my office, I figure I better get to work if I want to get everything done before Friday morning’s meeting.
Minutes later, there’s a knock at my door. Scanning over the final page of a contract, I mutter, “Come in.”
The door opens, and only once I’m done, do I glance up. Surprised to see Kiara staring at me, I lift an eyebrow. “Do you need something?”
“Gina sent me up to cover for Devon,” she explains, looking anxious as hell.
“Right.” Rising to my feet, I say, “There’s a meeting scheduled for Friday morning with all the management staff. Can you put together data packets for the quarterly projections?”
Kiara stays rooted by the door, and I don’t miss the fear trembling in her eyes. “I haven’t done it before, but if there’s an example, I can learn quickly.”
I gesture in the direction of Devon’s desk. “Devon will have the last meeting’s presentation on his computer.”
Kiara moves out into the hallway so I can exit my office, then follows a couple of steps behind me.
Taking a seat at Devon’s desk, I search his saved documents for the right one, then bring it up. “Here we go.” Opening his emails, I click on the one I sent to him, opening the document with the information she’ll need. Rising from the chair, I motion for her to sit down. I make sure to keep a professional distance as I ask, “What do you think? Can you do it?”
She looks at the two documents, then nods. “I’m sure I can.”
A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. “I’m in my office if you need help.”
Kiara nods, then gets right to work. I watch as she copies the last meeting’s document, creating a new one to work on, then her fingers fly over the keyboard.
Usually, I get annoyed watching other people work, just wanting to get shit done myself, but my eyes are glued to Kiara, the way her hands move is almost soothing.
Mesmerizing.
“It’s about time you replaced Devon,” Finn suddenly comments.
Kiara startles so bad, she pales while my eyes snap to Finn. My tone is unyielding when I say, “Kiara’s covering for Devon, and she has work to do, so you can move along.”
Finn presses the button for the elevator, then gives Kiara an inappropriate grin. “Just saying, I like the view.”
I should’ve pulled the trigger this morning.
The arrogant fuck steps into the elevator, the doors closing on his smirk.
Turning my attention back to Kiara, it’s to find her frozen in the chair, her eyes wide on the shut doors.
“I apologize for that,” I say, then think to add, “if he makes any inappropriate comments, let me know so I can deal with it.”
Kiara glances up at me, her tongue darts out to wet her lips, then she nods.
I point at the computer. “Let’s get back to work.” I watch her type for a couple of seconds, then turn around and head back to my office.
Now I can focus on getting the contracts done. I get lost in my work until my phone rings. Pulling the device out of my pocket, I answer, “Liam.”
“A warehouse got hit,” Will mutters, his tone pissed off. “The one holding weapons and counterfeit machines.”
“Fuck.” Rising to my feet, I turn to look out of the window, not taking in the city stretching out around me. “Did anyone get hurt?”
“Collin took a bullet to the shoulder. We’re getting him fixed up.” Will lets out a sigh. “You’re not going to like this.”
“What?”
“The men say it was Sicilians.”
What the fuck?
“You sure?”
“I’ll look into it. Could be the leftover soldiers that are trying to rebuild the Sicilian mafia. Should we clear out the warehouse?”
“Yes.” Glancing at my wristwatch, I notice it’s already past six pm. “I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Okay.”
Ending the call, I shut down my laptop, and grabbing my jacket from where it’s hanging, I shrug it on as I leave my office.
I’m in for another surprise when I find Kiara still working hard. “You’re still here?”
Her head snaps up. “Yes, didn’t you need it done today?”
“Christ, no.” I glance at the time again, then say, “Switch everything off. Can I give you a ride home?”
“Ah… no, but thanks for offering.”
I wait for her to gather her bag, then press the button for the elevator. When the doors slide open, we step inside.
Kiara moves to the side, putting space between us, and when she sees I noticed, she smiles awkwardly. “Just making sure I don’t bump into you…” a cute expression flutters over her face, “again.”
Right. “You heard I don’t like being touched?”
She almost looks sad when she replies, “I can understand why. People are too handsy nowadays.”
“Sounds like you’ve experienced someone who doesn’t know how to keep their hands to themselves?” I don’t expect her to answer, but I hope she will.
I actually feel comfortable in the small space with her.
That’s new.
“Yeah.” She shrugs as the doors open, the action almost hopeless.
A weird emotion hits me square in the chest, and stepping into the lobby, I ask, “Is the person still a problem?”
Kiara hesitates but then shakes her head.
I open the exit door and wait for her to pass, a faint floral scent drifting from her.
She even smells beautiful.
Totally out of character, I say, “If the person gives you trouble again, I’m here if you need help.”
Her eyes meet mine, and again, it catches me off guard how striking their color is.
Nodding, she says, “Have a good night.”
“You too.”
I watch her walk toward the corner, and even though I have to get to the warehouse and stop by Jimmy’s place to check in on him, I stand and watch until she gets safely on a bus.
My thoughts are consumed with Kiara and what I learned about her. There’s obviously a fucker in her past who gave her a hard time, and it doesn’t escape my attention that it pisses me off.
It also doesn’t escape my attention that Kiara affects me like no one has before.
An eyebrow lifts as I head to the basement where my car is parked.
You’re interested in the woman.
The realization catches me totally off guard, never having felt anything for a woman before. Coming to a dead stop in the middle of the basement, I search deeper but can’t figure out what it is about her that has me feeling attracted to her.
Christ, this is weird.
