took a few steps toward him. “You act like you are.”
“I’m busy, that’s all.”
She stopped in her tracks. “I heard you’ve got something going on with her.”
Anger pricked at the back of his neck. “With Ivy?”
“No. With the one from Denver.”
“Her name is Ms. Callahan, and I don’t like office gossip.” He fixed her with a steely gaze.
“AJ told me he’d seen the two of you at Ruthie’s last week.”
“Look, Sabrina, you’ve got to understand that nothing’s ever going to happen between you and me. Stop meddling. For your sake, I’m going to forget we had this conversation.” He walked over and opened the door. “Shouldn’t you be at the front desk?”
“I’m just trying to protect you,” she said as she walked toward the door.
He laughed dryly. “People need protecting from me, not the other way around.”
“I care about you, that’s all.” She strolled past him, then paused. “I always will.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.” He closed the door behind her, then strode over to the filing cabinet.
Smokey plucked out the folder on the marketing projections Ashley had given him a while back, figuring it’d be a good idea to review the paperwork before she came in for the meeting. He didn’t want to add to her idea that he didn’t give a damn about his company. What she didn’t understand was that working the construction projects took precedence over the front-end of the office. He had Pearl, Ivy, and Katrina to make sure the administrative BS ran smoothly, and he’d hired IMG to do the marketing.
Smokey tossed the file onto the desk and sat down. He never imagined the woman Zach touted as the workaholic of IMG would be such a sexy knock-out. Besides that, he hadn’t counted on her sassiness, his strong attraction to her, or the effect she seemed to have on him. He admired her tenacity, her intelligence, and the way she looked in a tight pair of jeans.
Fuck. I can’t blow this. I gotta keep her at arm’s length. He didn’t want to do anything to make her hightail it back to Denver. The company needed to expand. It needed a top-notch marketing campaign, and Ashley was ready and willing to deliver it.
There was no doubt that during the meeting, it would take every ounce of self-control he had not to kiss her before bending her over his desk for a good fucking. Smokey’s dick thickened against his zipper as he conjured up her image in a sheer red thong and black heels. He squirmed in the his chair as he pictured himself stroking her rounded ass cheeks while she whimpered. Dropping to his knees, he would spread her stiffened legs apart and work his tongue from her heated slash to her throbbing sweet spot while pumping two fingers into her, causing her to buck off the desk, her big tits swaying—
His eyes flew open when someone knocked on the door. Quickly adjusting his pants, he opened the folder.
“Come in,” he called out.
Pearl entered, crossing the room to his desk. “I’ve got the contract for you from Denton Corp.”
“I’ll look it over this afternoon.”
Placing the document on his desk, she smiled. “You look nice.”
“Thought it wouldn’t hurt to look professional once in a while.”
“I’m sure Ashley will appreciate it.”
“What the hell does that mean? I have a meeting with the Cole Brothers later today.”
“Like you did last month when you wore jeans and a T-shirt?” Pearl sat down. “I think Ashley is a wonderful young lady.”
“Don’t start your matchmaking, Pearl. You’ve been trying to tie me down since I hired you. Anyway, Ashley and I have a professional relationship, and that’s it.”
Pearl’s smile widened. “If you say so.”
Before Smokey could reply, Ashley breezed into the room, the scent of her patchouli and lavender perfume wafting over him, stirring his senses. His balls tightened, and his waning erection came back to full attention.
An inquiring look spread across her flushed face, as if wondering why he hadn’t stood to greet her. For obvious reasons, he remained seated.
“Don’t you look pretty,” Pearl said as she rose to her feet.
Ashley shifted her gaze to Pearl. “Thank you.
Shifting uncomfortably, Smokey tried to focus on something other than Ashley’s lush curves in her tailored plum suit. A hint of lace peeked out from under the jacket, driving him wild. Calm the fuck down. Focus. The first Harley came out in 1903 in Milwaukee. The bike was built to be a racer. In 1928, the first two-cam engine came out to the public.