honest. Reese is more than a friend to you.”
Ben flinched. “Excuse me?”
“It’s in your eyes when you talk about her.” She smiled. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You want her. Stop fighting it.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“Do you really think she’s on the path that is best for Reese?” Halie asked. He was about to suggest that Halie didn’t know shit about Reese and should quit making assumptions when Halie said, “She’s entering into a vulnerable time, a sexual awakening. Do you really want to see her fall into an affair with the wrong man?”
Hand extended to return her letter, he froze. Coffee churned in his stomach at the words—his deepest worry uttered aloud. He studied Halie and tucked the envelope into his pocket.
Halie was studying the house. “You’re renovating that place?”
“Yeah. We’re gutting it, giving it an open floor plan, a custom kitchen and some gorgeous built-ins.” It was a small place, but it was the caliber of job he wanted Hawk Construction to be known for.
“Ever do anything bigger?”
“In my former life.” He grinned. “I used to manage a crew for Whittingman Homes. I wanted the experience before I took Hawk Construction over from my father.”
Halie whistled. “Fancy. But has this company ever handled something bigger?”
Not even close. “What do you have in mind?”
“Ever hear of McCormack Manor? Just outside the city?”
Hell, who hadn’t? “Sure. That yours?”
“My grandpa left it to me when he passed, and I’m thinking of remodeling and moving in there after my fiancé and I marry. We’re interviewing contractors now. Maybe I’ll have you take a look.” Her eyes looked far-away when she spoke of it—not the hard edged man-eater she came off as when she talked about her program.
“I’d love to.” He did his best to keep his cool as he handed her a business card. This was exactly the opportunity his company needed.
“I’ll be in touch,” Halie said, turning toward her car.
“I’ll give her your letter,” he called after her. “I’ll help her if I can, but I’m not going to seduce my best friend just so she can complete your program.”
Halie turned and raised a brow. “Who said anything about seducing her, Mr. Hawk?”
***
“Reese! It’s so good to have you in the office!”
Reese looked up from a pile of HR forms to find her new boss wrapping her in a hug. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m glad to be here.” Glad and feeling a little guilty about all the benefits that came with working for Halie’s successful empire.
Halie looked around the office. “It’s not huge, but I hope this space has everything you need.”
“It does,” Reese said. This was the first time in her life that she’d had her own office, and she even had a window. “Hopefully I’ll be done with this paperwork by lunch and I can get started on our New Year’s Eve event.”
“Oh, about that.” Halie lowered herself into a chair on the other side of Reese’s desk and crossed her long legs. “I’d like something sooner. Let’s do a Halloween masquerade ball and something else for New Year’s. Don’t you think that would be fun?”
Fun? Sure. Impossible would also be an appropriate word choice. “Yeah, I can see why that would be fun, but we have to find a venue, find a caterer, market the event. Maybe next year—”
Halie pushed up from the chair. “No, this year. I need to see you work your magic.”
“By having so little lead time, we’re—”
“You can do it, Reese. Stop underestimating yourself.” She headed toward the door, then stopped. “Oh, and I want to start a Sex Goddess for Seniors program, so start looking into some promotional opportunities for that as well. We’ll meet tomorrow and discuss your ideas.”
Reese could only stare at Halie’s back as the woman swept out of the room. Suddenly, she felt no guilt about the perks that came with being an SGI employee. She was going to earn
Ben flinched. “Excuse me?”
“It’s in your eyes when you talk about her.” She smiled. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You want her. Stop fighting it.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“Do you really think she’s on the path that is best for Reese?” Halie asked. He was about to suggest that Halie didn’t know shit about Reese and should quit making assumptions when Halie said, “She’s entering into a vulnerable time, a sexual awakening. Do you really want to see her fall into an affair with the wrong man?”
Hand extended to return her letter, he froze. Coffee churned in his stomach at the words—his deepest worry uttered aloud. He studied Halie and tucked the envelope into his pocket.
Halie was studying the house. “You’re renovating that place?”
“Yeah. We’re gutting it, giving it an open floor plan, a custom kitchen and some gorgeous built-ins.” It was a small place, but it was the caliber of job he wanted Hawk Construction to be known for.
“Ever do anything bigger?”
“In my former life.” He grinned. “I used to manage a crew for Whittingman Homes. I wanted the experience before I took Hawk Construction over from my father.”
Halie whistled. “Fancy. But has this company ever handled something bigger?”
Not even close. “What do you have in mind?”
“Ever hear of McCormack Manor? Just outside the city?”
Hell, who hadn’t? “Sure. That yours?”
“My grandpa left it to me when he passed, and I’m thinking of remodeling and moving in there after my fiancé and I marry. We’re interviewing contractors now. Maybe I’ll have you take a look.” Her eyes looked far-away when she spoke of it—not the hard edged man-eater she came off as when she talked about her program.
“I’d love to.” He did his best to keep his cool as he handed her a business card. This was exactly the opportunity his company needed.
“I’ll be in touch,” Halie said, turning toward her car.
“I’ll give her your letter,” he called after her. “I’ll help her if I can, but I’m not going to seduce my best friend just so she can complete your program.”
Halie turned and raised a brow. “Who said anything about seducing her, Mr. Hawk?”
***
“Reese! It’s so good to have you in the office!”
Reese looked up from a pile of HR forms to find her new boss wrapping her in a hug. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m glad to be here.” Glad and feeling a little guilty about all the benefits that came with working for Halie’s successful empire.
Halie looked around the office. “It’s not huge, but I hope this space has everything you need.”
“It does,” Reese said. This was the first time in her life that she’d had her own office, and she even had a window. “Hopefully I’ll be done with this paperwork by lunch and I can get started on our New Year’s Eve event.”
“Oh, about that.” Halie lowered herself into a chair on the other side of Reese’s desk and crossed her long legs. “I’d like something sooner. Let’s do a Halloween masquerade ball and something else for New Year’s. Don’t you think that would be fun?”
Fun? Sure. Impossible would also be an appropriate word choice. “Yeah, I can see why that would be fun, but we have to find a venue, find a caterer, market the event. Maybe next year—”
Halie pushed up from the chair. “No, this year. I need to see you work your magic.”
“By having so little lead time, we’re—”
“You can do it, Reese. Stop underestimating yourself.” She headed toward the door, then stopped. “Oh, and I want to start a Sex Goddess for Seniors program, so start looking into some promotional opportunities for that as well. We’ll meet tomorrow and discuss your ideas.”
Reese could only stare at Halie’s back as the woman swept out of the room. Suddenly, she felt no guilt about the perks that came with being an SGI employee. She was going to earn
Similar Books
