Page 28 of The Hang Up
“Is it? I didn’t know that, but I did try to talk them out of it. For crying out loud, we’re in financial crisis. Is now really the time for the execs to go out for dinner?”
“What did they say?”
He shrugged. “That the board of directors insisted. They made the reservation months ago, long before I got here. Apparently we’d be charged anyway if we tried to cancel.”
“I see,” Miriam said, watching as he scooped up his teacup and drained it in one final gulp. “Remember how you asked me to give you a few pointers on becoming a more polished and refined CEO?”
“Yep.” He grinned at her. “And then I sort of hijacked things by giving you pointers on being an outdoor adventurer instead.”
“Exactly. So it’s my turn.” She spread her palms out on the desk. “How about we bone up on table manners?”
“I liked the first four words of that suggestion,” he said. “But the rest was fine, too.”
He watched as she replayed her own words in her head, then laughed. “Nice. Here’s your first tip—sex jokes at the dinner table are probably not your best starting point for conversations with the executive team.”
“Duly noted. Probably not with my branding consultant, either, eh?”
“Not when we’ve agreed to keep our hands off each other.”
“Such a shame.”
She smiled again, and Jason wondered if it was too late to take back that promise to keep things platonic between them. She was so beautiful, with her eyes flashing fire and her body lush and rounded under that expensive-looking outfit.
“No,” Miriam said, seeming to read his thoughts as she trailed a finger over the rip of her teacup. “We can’t fool around, obviously.”
“Obviously,” he said, echoing her wording if not the certainty in her tone.
“It could compromise our working relationship. And we’re all wrong for each other. Plus?—”
“Why do you sound like you’re trying to convince yourself?”
Miriam pressed her lips together. “No fooling around,” she repeated.
“All right.”
She grinned. “But come to my place tonight at six and I’ll put something delectable in your mouth anyway.”
CHAPTER6
Miriam stood arranging an artful display of mortadella, prosciutto, chicken liver pâté, and fennel seed-flecked finocchiona when her doorbell rang. Her ridiculous heart leaped into her throat, but she forced herself to finish setting out the crostini and a little bowl of apricot chutney before turning toward the door.
She took her time getting there and reminded herself this was a business function and not a date.
The instant she opened the door, her brain short- circuited a little.
Good thing it’s not a date. If it were, you’d be climbing this guy like a jungle gym right now.
He wore a well-tailored suit and a cheerful smile that gave Miriam the urge to shimmy out of her panties right there on the doorstep.
The panties got one step closer to the ground as Jason thrust out a bouquet of irises. “For you,” he said. “I was going to bring this or wine, but I don’t know a whole lot about wine, so this seemed like the safer bet.”
“You can never go wrong with flowers.” She accepted the bouquet as she stepped aside and waved him in. “Thank you. Come on inside. You look very nice.”
“Thanks. Ellie made me buy a couple suits before we moved out here, but I kinda hope I don’t have to wear them very often. I feel like I’m going to a funeral.”
The word “funeral” made Miriam’s heart turn over in her chest, but she forced herself to keep smiling, not to think about her dad now. Jason must’ve noticed a shift in her expression, because his trademark grin dropped away. “God, I’m sorry. Faux pas number one. I know you lost your dad a year ago. I didn’t think before saying that.”
“It’s okay,” she said, grateful she didn’t have to pretend the thought hadn’t crept through her mind. “The suit fits you well. Your sister has good taste.”
