full advantage, kids. You're going to love the place, trust me. It's right outside a vineyard, fabulous views of the countryside, and the fresh air in that place . . . well. Only one thing, Chloe, that I want you to keep in mind," she adds, her voice suddenly stern and much more serious than it's been all meeting so far, even when we were discussing the crooks who are stealing her name and brand and tagline to try and advance their own agenda.
I swallow hard, suddenly nervous. "What's that?" I ask, hoping the nerves don't show on my face.
Suzie narrows her eyes. "Don't keep this trip strictly to business. Business is best, I always find, when mixed with a heavy dose of pleasure."
Over her shoulder, Max cracks up in silent laughter. I have to press my lips together to keep my expression from shifting into embarrassment. My cheeks, however, burn red all on their own. Traitorous body.
Suzie laughs, too, and swats my arm. "Seriously. Don't be so serious. Have some fun while you're there. It'll be good for you."
But as we say our farewells and she sweeps out of the office, followed closely by Max, as though he can't even stand to linger in the room with me a minute longer than necessary, I have to wonder if she's actually as right about that as she thinks. In my mind, mixing business and pleasure has always been a recipe for disaster.
Especially in a case like this. A scenic Napa home, right on a vineyard, where I'll be forced to hole up for a few days. Me, and Max Davis.
My stomach churns, and it's all I can do not to teeter in my high heels, despite how balanced I normally am in them.
What have I just agreed to?
Eight
Max
A text flagged with the emergency ringtone I use only for this arrives on Monday.
Three minutes before I'm supposed to be heading to Chloe's office for our final planning meeting before we leave for Suzie's place tomorrow. Shit. I'd been expecting this text—dreading it, actually, hoping it would be good news. But expecting a bad answer nonetheless.
Sorry about this, need to cancel today. I dash off the email to Chloe quickly, and add a few notes about what I'd been planning to mention. Logistics, mostly. I'll pick you up at 9am tomorrow. You bring snacks, I'll bring coffee, deal?
Then I'm gone, rushing to the elevators as quickly as my feet will carry me. Normally I'm never this flaky, and I wouldn't cancel a meeting last-minute, not with someone counting on me.
But someone else is counting on me more, and some things can't be helped.
Unfortunately, Chloe catches me just as I’m about to climb into the elevator.
“Are you seriously bailing right now? We have a lot of things we need to discuss before the trip tomorrow.” She’s got her hand on her hip, which is cocked to one side, her curves devastating in the slim-fitting dress she’s wearing. She’s not showing any cleavage today, and yet just the outline of her breasts makes me picture every other glimpse I’ve gotten of her full, firm tits.
I can’t do this right now. Focus, Max. “Something important came up, Chloe.”
She rolls her eyes skyward. I swear, the glasses just accentuate the strength of her eye rolls. “What could possibly have come up? An emergency afternoon hookup?”
I frown. “It’s an actual problem, Chloe. Some people have those, you know.”
“Oh, so I don’t? We all have issues to deal with, Max, but some of us know how to set aside work time to, you know, actually do work.”
“And some of us know that there are more important things in the world than work,” I snap. Then I push past her onto the elevator, ignoring the rush of heat throughout my body when our shoulders brush. If there’s any time I really don’t want to think about how fucking hot she makes me, it’s right now.
She just assumes she knows everything about me. Assumes she knows who I am and what I prioritize. I’m a great lawyer, and I pour my all into this company, but I understand the line between work and life. I’m not so
I swallow hard, suddenly nervous. "What's that?" I ask, hoping the nerves don't show on my face.
Suzie narrows her eyes. "Don't keep this trip strictly to business. Business is best, I always find, when mixed with a heavy dose of pleasure."
Over her shoulder, Max cracks up in silent laughter. I have to press my lips together to keep my expression from shifting into embarrassment. My cheeks, however, burn red all on their own. Traitorous body.
Suzie laughs, too, and swats my arm. "Seriously. Don't be so serious. Have some fun while you're there. It'll be good for you."
But as we say our farewells and she sweeps out of the office, followed closely by Max, as though he can't even stand to linger in the room with me a minute longer than necessary, I have to wonder if she's actually as right about that as she thinks. In my mind, mixing business and pleasure has always been a recipe for disaster.
Especially in a case like this. A scenic Napa home, right on a vineyard, where I'll be forced to hole up for a few days. Me, and Max Davis.
My stomach churns, and it's all I can do not to teeter in my high heels, despite how balanced I normally am in them.
What have I just agreed to?
Eight
Max
A text flagged with the emergency ringtone I use only for this arrives on Monday.
Three minutes before I'm supposed to be heading to Chloe's office for our final planning meeting before we leave for Suzie's place tomorrow. Shit. I'd been expecting this text—dreading it, actually, hoping it would be good news. But expecting a bad answer nonetheless.
Sorry about this, need to cancel today. I dash off the email to Chloe quickly, and add a few notes about what I'd been planning to mention. Logistics, mostly. I'll pick you up at 9am tomorrow. You bring snacks, I'll bring coffee, deal?
Then I'm gone, rushing to the elevators as quickly as my feet will carry me. Normally I'm never this flaky, and I wouldn't cancel a meeting last-minute, not with someone counting on me.
But someone else is counting on me more, and some things can't be helped.
Unfortunately, Chloe catches me just as I’m about to climb into the elevator.
“Are you seriously bailing right now? We have a lot of things we need to discuss before the trip tomorrow.” She’s got her hand on her hip, which is cocked to one side, her curves devastating in the slim-fitting dress she’s wearing. She’s not showing any cleavage today, and yet just the outline of her breasts makes me picture every other glimpse I’ve gotten of her full, firm tits.
I can’t do this right now. Focus, Max. “Something important came up, Chloe.”
She rolls her eyes skyward. I swear, the glasses just accentuate the strength of her eye rolls. “What could possibly have come up? An emergency afternoon hookup?”
I frown. “It’s an actual problem, Chloe. Some people have those, you know.”
“Oh, so I don’t? We all have issues to deal with, Max, but some of us know how to set aside work time to, you know, actually do work.”
“And some of us know that there are more important things in the world than work,” I snap. Then I push past her onto the elevator, ignoring the rush of heat throughout my body when our shoulders brush. If there’s any time I really don’t want to think about how fucking hot she makes me, it’s right now.
She just assumes she knows everything about me. Assumes she knows who I am and what I prioritize. I’m a great lawyer, and I pour my all into this company, but I understand the line between work and life. I’m not so
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