Page 19 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast

My hands clenched into fists. Clearly, he was still an asshole. Even knowing I needed to be on my best behavior, I couldn’t stop myself. “I amalsoqualified to be a part of this conversation, Dr. Beast,” I spat out.

His brows lifted in surprise.

I scowled, barely stopping myself from crossing my arms over my chest and tapping my foot in frustration.Why do men always think they can discount women?

He gave me the briefest glance before he sighed, like I was the one annoying him. “Your father is spearheading this project. You, from what I understand, are here in the capacity of an intern. I doubt you know everything I need you to do.”

Anger boiled within me, scorching my veins. My chest and face burned as I seethed. I marched over to him. My neck muscles strained as I jutted out my chin, forced to stare up at him as he towered over me.

I poked my finger into his very hard, very muscular chest. “I’ll have you know I have seven degrees.Seven. And have been learning how toproperlyrestore books since I was a child. I knoweverythingI need to do this job.” I poked his chest again for good measure. “In fact, this degree, this internship, is a formality.”

He picked up my finger and lifted it from his well-defined pectoral, immediately dropping it as though I set him on fire. I sucked in a breath at the zing that went through my finger. My cheeks flared with heat again. This time for an entirely different reason.

“Are you finished?” His tone once again dismissive.

I blinked. His words were a bucket of ice water thrown at my face.What have I done?

“Yes,” I whispered, cleared my throat, then repeated myself a little louder. “Yes, I am.”

“Ms. Ketill, perhaps you can show Dr. LeBeau in, so I can begin this meeting.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Jaxon, only Dr.LilyLeBeau has arrived.”

His eyes, now a stormy gray, landed on mine, spearing me in place. It was then I realized how close we still were. The heat from his body enveloped me, wrapped around me, making me want to stay right where I was.

Forcing slow breaths in and out, I took a step back, then another, and one more. He was infinitely too close, but I didn’t back up any further, afraid he’d sense these strange feelings bubbling up inside of me.

How am I going to get through this?

Chapter Six

Jaxon

“What do you mean, he’snot here?” I roared, the vein at my temple pulsing. Was the university fucking with me, or perhaps just Nivens? That bastard.

The woman before me flinched. Her hands smoothed out the imaginary wrinkles in her black and white checked pants, and I had a hard time pulling my gaze away as one of her hands smoothed over her curvy hip.