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“This is incredible,” she said as she spun slowly in a circle.
My eyes couldn’t help but fall to her backside as she turned. That gray skirt did wonders for her. I wondered what was underneath.
“May I get you anything? Water? Coffee?” I asked.
She turned to me and shook her head. “I’m fine, thank you.”
“Well, let’s get started.”
I gestured to the leather armchair and took a seat behind my desk across from her.
She sat and smoothed her hands down her skirt. I saw no ring. She was fair game. Not that a ring had ever stopped me in the past.
I could see she was nervous after what happened in the garden because she was chewing on her bottom lip and looking anywhere but at me. I couldn’t stop staring at her mouth. Her lip tucked under her teeth, fighting to break free. I wished it were my teeth biting into her fleshy pout.
“So…what can I do for you?” I asked, ignoring my wandering thoughts. I leaned back in my chair and crossed my hands in front of me. This was business, after all. Mostly.
“Well, first of all, I again want to apologize for what I said out on the terrace. I don’t know what came over me. Whatever someone’s lifestyle is, is no business of mine. I hope we can still have a successful meeting despite our initial one.”
“Let’s pretend it didn’t happen.”
Even though I was still replaying her words in my head. I could listen to her talk about sex all day. If we weren’t interrupted by Margaret, I would have pushed further to hear what else she heard abouttheDaniel Jacobs. The wayplayboyrolled off her tongue like that. It was like porn for my ears. And the way she said she wasn’tthattype of girl. It was already a challenge I had accepted in my head. We would see about that.
“Let’s start over. Would that help?” I offered.
She gave me a weak smile.
“That would be great,” she replied.
“I’m Daniel Jacobs,” I said, holding my hand out.
“Addison Heartly,” she said, placing her hand in mine.
It was soft and small, and her touch caused the hairs on my neck to stand up.This is new, I thought to myself. I shook her hand and reluctantly released it. Her eyes fell to her hand and I wondered if she felt the same sort of electric shock I had. It took me a moment to collect myself before I spoke.
“So, what can I do for you today, Ms. Heartly?”
Her name was made for her.
“Well, I’m with Leading to Learn. We’re a nonprofit that provides learning toys for children in third-world countries. Have you heard of it?”
“I have.”
I haven’t.
“Then you know our mission is to make learning and education accessible for all children, despite their location or economic situation.”
I didn’t know that, but I was doing my best to pretend like I was listening intently when really all I was thinking about was getting her into bed. Hell, on this desk. Anywhere she’d have me. I was probably an awful person for thinking about sex when she was pouring her heart out about kids who had nothing, but I couldn’t help it.
She was still talking about their mission and my eyes were straying to the small amount of cleavage that was peeping out of her white button-down top. I noticed the white lace trim of her bra. I felt myself growing hard and was glad there was a desk in front of me at this moment. I liked women, but they didn’t normally have this much of an effect on me.
I noticed she stopped talking and my eyes snapped up to hers, hoping she wasn’t onto me or my lack of self-control in this moment.
“What you’re doing is very admirable,” I said, playing the part. This seemed to appease her.
“Thank you. I think everyone has a right to the opportunity to learn.”
“I agree.”