or my boss is going to kill me.”
Noah’s face went quickly from anger to quiet control before he grinned. “I’ve heard he’s a demanding man who works his employees to the bone.”
“You know him well,” Julie said over her shoulder, disposing of both their cups in the trash, happy that the awkward moment was behind them.
Pushing himself away from the bar, Noah stood up. “I’ll leave then. I can hear cars pulling up outside. I imagine your workers are here.”
Julie ran to the kitchen window and nodded. “Yes, the troops are arriving and a bit early, but that’s good.”
Within minutes, the kitchen was full of activity and Noah had escaped to another room. She knew his assistant was due any minute, too, along with other members of his staff. She had enjoyed having time alone with him even if the conversation had touched on some unpleasant memories. He had shown her a more vulnerable side of his personality that made her like him even more, and that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. She needed to stop thinking about Noah Jamison as anything but her employer.
However, against her better judgment, she slipped out from the kitchen after breakfast to listen to his speech. She knew he would be a dynamic speaker, and she wasn’t disappointed. He had a way of making everything sound exciting and possible—that risks were a necessary part of the business and could lead to the kind of success that dreams were made of. She wasn’t surprised that he received a standing ovation.
For a moment, he made her wish she were more than a member of his staff. But that was a dangerous thought and not one that would lead to anything but her own heartache. He was way out of her league, and she’d do well to remember that and not how much she enjoyed his company. The fact was, she needed to keep that in mind with both Keith Barnes and Mark Romano, too. She was going to need some space from all three men once today was over.
Running back to the kitchen, she was met with a whirlwind of questions that kept her mind occupied on the task at hand. More flowers were being delivered for lunch, and she needed to go over a number of items with the staff, especially the dinner. Although everyone knew their jobs, it was imperative that the lines of communication remain open to prevent any problems from creeping up unnoticed.
By all accounts the breakfast had been a success. The chefs had kept their stations moving along without sacrificing their tasty dishes. Julie had also noticed that the healthy menu station Kelly insisted on manning for her had received a lot attention. Kelly had been so great. She had stayed up half the night baking the muffins and getting things ready to bring over. However, it was tonight that would make or break them.
Julie was still a basket of nerves, but she didn’t let it get to her. She had a lot of faith in the staff Mark had handpicked for her to help her create something memorable. Mark would be a guest tonight along with Keith. She was sure they would each have a beautiful woman hanging from their arm. Funny, she hadn’t thought about that until now. She wondered what type of women they liked. She felt a stab of jealousy grip her that was totally foreign to her. She had no right to such a feeling, and yet the thought of them with another woman was actually painful. I really do need space away from them, even if it’s not what I want.
* * * *
Mark had cleared his afternoon appointments to his secretary’s dismay, but there was nothing she couldn’t reschedule. Noah and Keith had been right when they told him she was special. He had sensed it from the moment they met. She was beautiful, there was no denying that, but it was her sweet nature that had drawn him to her along with her natural sex appeal. They had warned him that she was innocent to their lifestyle and would need time, but he knew they weren’t the type of men to wait.
He parked his car and walked around to the back of the
Noah’s face went quickly from anger to quiet control before he grinned. “I’ve heard he’s a demanding man who works his employees to the bone.”
“You know him well,” Julie said over her shoulder, disposing of both their cups in the trash, happy that the awkward moment was behind them.
Pushing himself away from the bar, Noah stood up. “I’ll leave then. I can hear cars pulling up outside. I imagine your workers are here.”
Julie ran to the kitchen window and nodded. “Yes, the troops are arriving and a bit early, but that’s good.”
Within minutes, the kitchen was full of activity and Noah had escaped to another room. She knew his assistant was due any minute, too, along with other members of his staff. She had enjoyed having time alone with him even if the conversation had touched on some unpleasant memories. He had shown her a more vulnerable side of his personality that made her like him even more, and that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. She needed to stop thinking about Noah Jamison as anything but her employer.
However, against her better judgment, she slipped out from the kitchen after breakfast to listen to his speech. She knew he would be a dynamic speaker, and she wasn’t disappointed. He had a way of making everything sound exciting and possible—that risks were a necessary part of the business and could lead to the kind of success that dreams were made of. She wasn’t surprised that he received a standing ovation.
For a moment, he made her wish she were more than a member of his staff. But that was a dangerous thought and not one that would lead to anything but her own heartache. He was way out of her league, and she’d do well to remember that and not how much she enjoyed his company. The fact was, she needed to keep that in mind with both Keith Barnes and Mark Romano, too. She was going to need some space from all three men once today was over.
Running back to the kitchen, she was met with a whirlwind of questions that kept her mind occupied on the task at hand. More flowers were being delivered for lunch, and she needed to go over a number of items with the staff, especially the dinner. Although everyone knew their jobs, it was imperative that the lines of communication remain open to prevent any problems from creeping up unnoticed.
By all accounts the breakfast had been a success. The chefs had kept their stations moving along without sacrificing their tasty dishes. Julie had also noticed that the healthy menu station Kelly insisted on manning for her had received a lot attention. Kelly had been so great. She had stayed up half the night baking the muffins and getting things ready to bring over. However, it was tonight that would make or break them.
Julie was still a basket of nerves, but she didn’t let it get to her. She had a lot of faith in the staff Mark had handpicked for her to help her create something memorable. Mark would be a guest tonight along with Keith. She was sure they would each have a beautiful woman hanging from their arm. Funny, she hadn’t thought about that until now. She wondered what type of women they liked. She felt a stab of jealousy grip her that was totally foreign to her. She had no right to such a feeling, and yet the thought of them with another woman was actually painful. I really do need space away from them, even if it’s not what I want.
* * * *
Mark had cleared his afternoon appointments to his secretary’s dismay, but there was nothing she couldn’t reschedule. Noah and Keith had been right when they told him she was special. He had sensed it from the moment they met. She was beautiful, there was no denying that, but it was her sweet nature that had drawn him to her along with her natural sex appeal. They had warned him that she was innocent to their lifestyle and would need time, but he knew they weren’t the type of men to wait.
He parked his car and walked around to the back of the
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