position—that Axel’s infatuation with her had led to her promotion. On some level, she knew they shared a strong mutual attraction. Although she did everything to ignore her desire, he made her skittish whenever he was near. Why couldn’t she shake this feeling, shake this man out of her brain?
Pushing thoughts about Axel aside, she became more determined than ever to prove to herself that she deserved her new job. She had spent the past year busting her ass, and she was infuriated that others thought she was promoted for reasons other than her hard work and skill. Maybe if she helped land the McBride account she’d earn the respect of her co-workers.
About to leave for the day, her mouse hovered over the exit button on her email application when an incoming email caught her eye. It was from Axel himself, not Brenda his assistant. She could count on one hand how many email messages had come directly from him to her in the past year–this one. The subject was short and to the point. She opened the message with nervous anticipation.
Monday, August 20
To: Kerrigan Mulls
From: Axel Christensen
Subject: Lunch Tomorrow
Kerrigan,
I hope you had a productive day. I know you’ve been working hard on the McBride presentation, but not too hard, I hope. I’m eager to see it tomorrow. It will be good for us to spend time together to get acquainted. We need to have good chemistry as we pitch. I’ll stop by your office around Noon. I should have you back by 2:00 p.m. I’m looking forward to seeing you.
Axel Christensen
President and Chief Executive Officer
A.C. Advertising
The thought of a two-hour lunch with Axel Christensen made her stomach twist. What can we possibly discuss for two hours? Taking a deep breath, she shut down her computer. These problems could wait for the next day and it would be best to leave them for tomorrow.
The office was empty now. Nearly seven thirty in the evening, everyone else in the department had gone home. Grabbing her handbag, Kerrigan headed toward the door and turned out the light. She spun around and took a step back to look at her desk one last time making sure she had remembered her cell phone. It wasn’t on her desk, which meant she had already put in her handbag. Whirling around to make her way out, she slammed straight into a solid brick mass, colliding into him.
Axel must have been standing at her door silently observing her. He had removed his jacket and the top two buttons of his white dress shirt were undone. The palms of her hands landed squarely onto his rock-hard pecks and she tried to steady herself. She could feel the peaks and valleys of his well-defined chest through the thin material of his shirt.
She stepped back abruptly, nearly stumbling to a fall. He caught her by the small of her waist and pulled her closer to him to prevent her inevitable backwards tumble. Their bodies were flush, her breasts pressed firmly against his chest. Holding her in a tight, protective embrace, his strong arms locked her in place against him. She was dizzy and breathless. He looked down at her with impassioned eyes.
“Ah! Mr. Christensen, I mean Axel. I am sorry. I … I didn’t see you, standing there.” She lowered her head down, unable to meet his eyes.
A warm sensation swept over her when she realized that he was still holding her close and hadn’t made a motion to release her. She startled when she felt Axel’s growing bulge press firmly against her stomach. He didn’t attempt to push her away. Breaking his grip, she pulled out of his clutch.
He looked down at her with hooded eyes and spoke softly, almost seductively. “It’s okay. No harm was done. I didn’t mean to startle you. I was leaving, saw your light on, and I thought I’d escort you out. That’s the least I can do since I’m going to work you so hard over the next few weeks.”
His words were unnerving. She blushed at the thought. She was clearly out of line and apparently, her mind wandered straight
Pushing thoughts about Axel aside, she became more determined than ever to prove to herself that she deserved her new job. She had spent the past year busting her ass, and she was infuriated that others thought she was promoted for reasons other than her hard work and skill. Maybe if she helped land the McBride account she’d earn the respect of her co-workers.
About to leave for the day, her mouse hovered over the exit button on her email application when an incoming email caught her eye. It was from Axel himself, not Brenda his assistant. She could count on one hand how many email messages had come directly from him to her in the past year–this one. The subject was short and to the point. She opened the message with nervous anticipation.
Monday, August 20
To: Kerrigan Mulls
From: Axel Christensen
Subject: Lunch Tomorrow
Kerrigan,
I hope you had a productive day. I know you’ve been working hard on the McBride presentation, but not too hard, I hope. I’m eager to see it tomorrow. It will be good for us to spend time together to get acquainted. We need to have good chemistry as we pitch. I’ll stop by your office around Noon. I should have you back by 2:00 p.m. I’m looking forward to seeing you.
Axel Christensen
President and Chief Executive Officer
A.C. Advertising
The thought of a two-hour lunch with Axel Christensen made her stomach twist. What can we possibly discuss for two hours? Taking a deep breath, she shut down her computer. These problems could wait for the next day and it would be best to leave them for tomorrow.
The office was empty now. Nearly seven thirty in the evening, everyone else in the department had gone home. Grabbing her handbag, Kerrigan headed toward the door and turned out the light. She spun around and took a step back to look at her desk one last time making sure she had remembered her cell phone. It wasn’t on her desk, which meant she had already put in her handbag. Whirling around to make her way out, she slammed straight into a solid brick mass, colliding into him.
Axel must have been standing at her door silently observing her. He had removed his jacket and the top two buttons of his white dress shirt were undone. The palms of her hands landed squarely onto his rock-hard pecks and she tried to steady herself. She could feel the peaks and valleys of his well-defined chest through the thin material of his shirt.
She stepped back abruptly, nearly stumbling to a fall. He caught her by the small of her waist and pulled her closer to him to prevent her inevitable backwards tumble. Their bodies were flush, her breasts pressed firmly against his chest. Holding her in a tight, protective embrace, his strong arms locked her in place against him. She was dizzy and breathless. He looked down at her with impassioned eyes.
“Ah! Mr. Christensen, I mean Axel. I am sorry. I … I didn’t see you, standing there.” She lowered her head down, unable to meet his eyes.
A warm sensation swept over her when she realized that he was still holding her close and hadn’t made a motion to release her. She startled when she felt Axel’s growing bulge press firmly against her stomach. He didn’t attempt to push her away. Breaking his grip, she pulled out of his clutch.
He looked down at her with hooded eyes and spoke softly, almost seductively. “It’s okay. No harm was done. I didn’t mean to startle you. I was leaving, saw your light on, and I thought I’d escort you out. That’s the least I can do since I’m going to work you so hard over the next few weeks.”
His words were unnerving. She blushed at the thought. She was clearly out of line and apparently, her mind wandered straight
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