Page 34 of The Merger

She nods, lifts the phone receiver, and presses a couple of buttons. “Mr. Brewer? Carys Johnson is here to see you.” She pauses, hiding a smile. “Sure. Thank you.”

My heart pounds.

“Go on back,” Amanda says.

“Thanks.” I pick up the pot again. “Wish me luck.”

She laughs in response.

I make my way down the hallway, catching my reflection in the glass. My overalls and sneakers are no match for the woman coming the other way in a smart suit and perfect makeup.I could’ve at least pulled my hair back again before I came up here.

My heart beats harder as I reach Gannon’s office. The door is cracked, leaving a sliver of visibility leading straight to his desk.

I stutter a breath.Damn.

He’s sitting with one hand in his hair and the other holding a pen. His sleeves are rolled part way up his muscled forearms. Without his jacket, his shoulders are even broader. Thicker. Sexier.

“It’s rude to stare, Miss Johnson,” he says without looking up.

Shit. I take a deep breath and push the door wider. “I was trying to decide whether to knock or just say hello.”

His hand slips off his head, and he sits upright, his eyes finding mine.

A shiver coils slowly up my spine, spreading through my limbs as I absorb the heat and intensity of his stare.

“I came by this morning at nine o’clock on the dot,” I say, entering his office like I do it all the time. “Amanda said you had just left.”

He doesn’t respond. Instead, his gaze drags down my chest, over the plant in my arms, and down the length of my overalls. A small smirk toys at the corner of his lips before he lifts his eyes to mine again.

Get it together, Carys. Ignore the pheromones and save the philodendron.

I shift from one foot to the other. “I know this isn’t exactly a Fortune 500 outfit, but I’m literally digging around in dirt all day. I hope that’s okay.”

“That seems practical.”

“Here.” I extend the snake plant toward him. “I brought you this.”

He quirks a brow.

“It’s a sansevieria trifasciata, also known as a snake plant,” I say. “It improves air quality, reduces stress, and some say it even reduces inflammation and strengthens your immune system. Plus, it attracts money and good energy, and you can practically forget it exists, and it still won’t die. It’s a jack-of-all-trades, plant style.”

He nods as if he’s slightly confused. “Um, thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Where should I put it?”

I take a quick look around the room.

Gannon’s office is half again larger than Tate’s and is situated in the corner of the building. Bookshelves line the wall behind his desk. Two doors on the far side of the room are closed.Where do they go? A small table with two chairs is situated in front of them. The long wall opposite the entrance is glass, giving a breathtaking view of Nashville.

“How about on the table behind me?” I ask.

“That works.”

“I can bring you a plant stand the next time I come if you want,” I say, getting the pot in place. “I have a black metal one that would look really nice in here.”

“Thank you, but that’s unnecessary.”