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That seemed to please her. “I may have grown up on a farm, but I know how to survive in the corporate world, and I’m really excited to work here, despite the fact I’ve never tried a truffle.” She laughed again, and he was really beginning to love that sound.
“Hold that thought.” Sebastian held one finger up as he rushed off to the counter, returning with a truffle on a small napkin stamped with the Schultz Chocolate logo.
“For you.”
She eyed him, then the truffle, but hesitated. “I really shouldn’t.”
“Of course you should.” He lifted it from the napkin and inched his hand toward her mouth. “It’s not cherry.”
The right side of her mouth tilted upward in a cute sideways smile.
He continued the movement of his hand, and when she opened her mouth, as if to allow him to place it between her full, pink lips, he had the sudden urge to find out what those lips felt like against his.
At the last second, she reached for it and popped it into her mouth, snapping him out of that fantasy. And just as his had done earlier, her eyes slipped closed as she tasted the truffle. “Whoa! This is so good,” she said with her mouth full.
He stared at her, completely enamored, until her pretty brown eyes opened and met his again. They were so rich and so lovely, he nearly forgot to speak.
“I’m glad you like it. We’re very proud of our truffles around here.”
“Do you like working here?” she asked.
“I do.” He glanced around. “I don’t actually work in the gift shop, though.”
“Oh.” She finally set down the package of truffles she’d been holding.
“You’ll like it here. It’s a great company to work for.”
“I’m a little nervous. New job jitters, I guess.”
“That’s normal,” he replied.
“I’m also kind of dreading my first big meeting of the day,” she admitted.
“Why’s that?”
“I have to meet with the president of the company, Sea Bass Schultz himself.”
Sebastian laughed in surprise at her insult of him. “Sea Bass?” He was even more curious about this woman now.
“Yeah, you know, like a cold fish.”
His laughter could not be contained. He really shouldn’t have been laughing at all. This woman had just insulted him to his face, and it was obvious she didn’t know who she was talking to. If she did, then she had some nerve saying what she had.
“I’ve heard he’s difficult to get along with,” she continued. “Kind of distant and unapproachable.”
“Is that so?” He wondered what would come out of her mouth next.
“My friend, Karen, who told me about this job, warned me about him. She said he keeps to himself, shies away from the media, and doesn’t like women.”
He stiffened up at her last comment. It wasn’t that he didn’t like women. He just didn’t like women who pretended to care about him, when they really only cared about his money.
“She also told me he’s a brilliant business man. I guess he’d have to be to succeed with a personality like that. Do you know him?”
“Yeah, I know him.” He knew he should tell her who he was, but she kept talking.
“So, is it true then? Is he as horrible as I’m imagining? Because I’m picturing this stuffy ogre of a man. Give me some advice, so I know what to expect when I go in there.”
Sebastian shook his head. “You might be surprised.” She would be if he didn’t fess up. She’d be embarrassed and uncomfortable after what she’d just said, and their meeting would be awkward. He opened his mouth to tell her who he was, but was interrupted. Again.