pink. "Quick, what have you fantasized about since working here?"
"A promotion and a raise." That earned her a hard glare from Tia.
Her boss sashayed to the desk and propped her hip on top before flipping her brown curls. "Honey, let me be frank. There is a man by the name of Xander Christian that you've been in love with for years. Yeah, well, he just entered the elevators to our building. Front desk said he was asking what floor you were on."
"What?" Shalaine pushed back from the chair to pace the small side of her office.
Tia's curls bounced with her enthusiastic nod. "Yes, he's here and he's heading this way. Honey, that last article either impressed or pissed him off. Either way, we're special enough to warrant a visit."
"It's not about the article." Shalaine chewed her bottom lip as her steps quickened. She tried to make a conscious effort to block out Tia's rambling. This was it, the day she'd been waiting for and the day that terrified her. She hadn't expected him to show. This changed everything. Shalaine knew last week that Secrets of Sydney finished production. She understood the ramifications of why he left in December, but it still didn't make it sting any less. She had no ties to him, so she was lucky to even have the key to his car and warrant a visit from him.
Thinking of the key, she raced behind the desk, snagged her purse , and then dug inside the zipper side for it. She glanced at Tia, still perched on the desk watching with interest. Tia didn't miss anything and by this point, Shalaine couldn't keep the details of what happened to herself anymore. It seemed Xander was about to go public with their involvement and that was a big step. The paparazzi could snap photos of them together at any time. Holy shit, Xander Christian is seeking me out. Shalaine couldn't stop smiling. She didn't even want to try.
"What aren't you telling me?" Tia's eyes narrowed and she glanced at the black key fop in Shalaine's hand. She threw her hands up in a backup gesture. "Wait a damn minute. Mystery Alaska Guy, the one that left you his car key. The same one you were so tight -lipped about, is Xander Christian ?" Shalaine had shared the small details with her friends but spared Xander's name. It wasn't like her boss and colleagues would believe her.
Tia laughed aloud. "A shame I deleted that picture of the nudie you sent."
A solid knock on her door had them both turning to look at it. Tia rose from the desk, straightened her pewter skirt suit, and flung back her hair. She had the biggest grin on her face and Shalaine could imagine the naughty things Tia would bring up to her later. Before walking to the door, Tia turned and glared at Shalaine with a playful glint in her eyes. "You owe me more than just the cliff notes you gave before. Now I want full details of what happened in Alaska." Tia sashayed to the door and swung it wide just as Xander posed to knock again. He froze, smirked at Tia, and was about to speak, but he met Shalaine's gaze. He closed his mouth as he moved into the room and stood to the side waiting for privacy. Captured by his gaze, Shalaine heard Tia snort and mutter something about rude celebrities before closing the door behind her to give the illusion of discretion. Shalaine was sure everyone on her floor had their ear pressed close to listen in.
Xander looked good . His face was a tad darker than when she’d last saw him. So he'd caught some sun in Australia. He had beefed up a bit too. She had to contain the whimper that wanted to slip out. His eyes were sparkling and his smile was radiant. The black shirt he wore was a small reminder of the skin-tight one he'd worn back in the cabin's kitchen. Only this one showed his muscular arms.
He stepped forward. "I thought about you a lot."
Shalaine blush ed and her heart kicked up a beat. "Funny way of showing it." She could not let herself be putty at the drop of a hat; damn it, she had to be strong or he'd never respect her. "Pretty shady thing to
"A promotion and a raise." That earned her a hard glare from Tia.
Her boss sashayed to the desk and propped her hip on top before flipping her brown curls. "Honey, let me be frank. There is a man by the name of Xander Christian that you've been in love with for years. Yeah, well, he just entered the elevators to our building. Front desk said he was asking what floor you were on."
"What?" Shalaine pushed back from the chair to pace the small side of her office.
Tia's curls bounced with her enthusiastic nod. "Yes, he's here and he's heading this way. Honey, that last article either impressed or pissed him off. Either way, we're special enough to warrant a visit."
"It's not about the article." Shalaine chewed her bottom lip as her steps quickened. She tried to make a conscious effort to block out Tia's rambling. This was it, the day she'd been waiting for and the day that terrified her. She hadn't expected him to show. This changed everything. Shalaine knew last week that Secrets of Sydney finished production. She understood the ramifications of why he left in December, but it still didn't make it sting any less. She had no ties to him, so she was lucky to even have the key to his car and warrant a visit from him.
Thinking of the key, she raced behind the desk, snagged her purse , and then dug inside the zipper side for it. She glanced at Tia, still perched on the desk watching with interest. Tia didn't miss anything and by this point, Shalaine couldn't keep the details of what happened to herself anymore. It seemed Xander was about to go public with their involvement and that was a big step. The paparazzi could snap photos of them together at any time. Holy shit, Xander Christian is seeking me out. Shalaine couldn't stop smiling. She didn't even want to try.
"What aren't you telling me?" Tia's eyes narrowed and she glanced at the black key fop in Shalaine's hand. She threw her hands up in a backup gesture. "Wait a damn minute. Mystery Alaska Guy, the one that left you his car key. The same one you were so tight -lipped about, is Xander Christian ?" Shalaine had shared the small details with her friends but spared Xander's name. It wasn't like her boss and colleagues would believe her.
Tia laughed aloud. "A shame I deleted that picture of the nudie you sent."
A solid knock on her door had them both turning to look at it. Tia rose from the desk, straightened her pewter skirt suit, and flung back her hair. She had the biggest grin on her face and Shalaine could imagine the naughty things Tia would bring up to her later. Before walking to the door, Tia turned and glared at Shalaine with a playful glint in her eyes. "You owe me more than just the cliff notes you gave before. Now I want full details of what happened in Alaska." Tia sashayed to the door and swung it wide just as Xander posed to knock again. He froze, smirked at Tia, and was about to speak, but he met Shalaine's gaze. He closed his mouth as he moved into the room and stood to the side waiting for privacy. Captured by his gaze, Shalaine heard Tia snort and mutter something about rude celebrities before closing the door behind her to give the illusion of discretion. Shalaine was sure everyone on her floor had their ear pressed close to listen in.
Xander looked good . His face was a tad darker than when she’d last saw him. So he'd caught some sun in Australia. He had beefed up a bit too. She had to contain the whimper that wanted to slip out. His eyes were sparkling and his smile was radiant. The black shirt he wore was a small reminder of the skin-tight one he'd worn back in the cabin's kitchen. Only this one showed his muscular arms.
He stepped forward. "I thought about you a lot."
Shalaine blush ed and her heart kicked up a beat. "Funny way of showing it." She could not let herself be putty at the drop of a hat; damn it, she had to be strong or he'd never respect her. "Pretty shady thing to
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