Inappropriate - Vi Keeland Page 0,21

slope, and it’s often difficult for a woman to know if a man is inviting her to lunch to discuss business or if there’s more to it.”

Grant held my eyes for a few heartbeats and then gave a curt nod. “Very well. Add that to the agenda for our next meeting.” He stood abruptly. “I think this has been a good start. I’ll have my assistant type up notes and schedule the next meeting.”

Kate looked just as confused as most of the people at the table. But I got the feeling she was used to her brother’s abruptness. She smoothed things over. “Yes, we appreciate you all taking time to kick things off with us, and we look forward to addressing the many unique needs of women in the workplace. I think this committee is going to do very good things for Lexington Industries. Thank you for making the time, everyone.”

I stayed in my seat as people got up, eavesdropping on a conversation between Grant and Kate.

“You decide to create this committee, come up with a flimsy agenda three hours ago, and stick me at the head of the table to punt.” Kate shook her head. “I finally get things going, and you grow bored. Do me a favor, don’t take an interest in any committees anymore.” She shuffled the papers in front of her and turned on her heel to walk out.

I rose and headed for the door. But I felt Grant walk up behind me. He discreetly took my elbow and steered me to the right as we exited the conference room.

“Can we speak for a moment?” he whispered.

“Sure. Would you like to hear more about my thoughts on sexual harassment?” I offered a smug smile.

His jaw flexed, and I continued to walk by his side down the hall to his office. Arriving, he extended a hand for me to walk in first. “This is me being a gentleman. I hope it’s not a form of harassment.”

Grant spoke to his assistant from the doorway while I took a look around his office. It was large, the proverbial corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows covering two walls, a masculine-looking, carved, dark wood desk in the center, and a separate seating area to one side. A framed photo on a credenza caught my attention—Grant and his two sisters with an older woman, who I assumed might be his mother. Though I didn’t ask when he walked in and joined me.

He motioned to the seating area. “Please, have a seat.”

He took the seat across from me, unbuttoned a cufflink, and started to roll up one of his shirtsleeves. “So…your boss’s boss’s boss asking you to lunch is sexual harassment?”

My eyes had been glued to his muscular forearms. I blinked a few times and looked up. I’d been teasing him when I said that in the conference room, but the look in his eyes wasn’t playful. “I was just screwing around with you.”

“So you didn’t find it harassing when I asked you to lunch to discuss your reinstatement?”

I’d actually been referring to when he’d asked me to lunch before I knew who he was. But Grant looked genuinely concerned that he’d upset me. I felt like I should let him off the hook.

I shook my head. “I never felt harassed. Sexual harassment is an unwelcome sexual advance. You never propositioned me once I knew who you were, and, if I’m being honest, any advance you made in the coffee shop wasn’t unwelcome.”

His shoulders visibly relaxed. “I apologize if I put you in a precarious position in the coffee shop.”

I was honest. “It’s okay. Like I said, it wasn’t unwelcome.”

Grant seemed to avoid looking at me. He nodded and finished rolling up the other sleeve before standing. “Thank you for your candor.”

I stood. “Of course.”

A moment of awkwardness settled in between us. I was acutely aware of how much my body liked being this close to him. The air had a crackle to it whenever he was near, and I didn’t think I was the only one who felt it—probably not the best thing to be thinking about right after the meeting we’d just had.

“Okay…well…I’ll see you at the next meeting, I guess.”

Grant nodded. He looked like he wanted me to leave his office almost as much as I wanted to leave…which was not at all. Nevertheless, I took a few steps toward the door. Then I changed my mind. If I could be candid, so could he.

“Can I ask you something?” I said.

“What