Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
But it’s only the janitor.
“Why, it’s Mr. Templeton!” the elderly man exclaims, setting aside the paperwork I can see he’s been lifting and replacing as he wipes and dusts everything meticulously.
“Hiya, Hank! Long time no see,” Zak calls out, gripping my hand and taking me across the room with him.
“This is Jade, Hank,” he says, sounding and looking bashful.
Not ashamed or embarrassed, but the kind of shyness you get when you introduce someone special makes me blush redder than a beet as the janitor offers his hand.
“Well, I’m pleased to meet you, Jade,” he says warmly, “I was just finishing up, so if there’s nothing else?” he asks, shooting Zak a sly wink that makes him smile and makes me wonder if Zak’s ever had a girlfriend either.
He’s as interested in me as I am in him. But there’s just something about how he’s acting that makes me feel like he’s making an extra effort.
If that’s even possible.
Zak’s pretty laid back, and very friendly with those he trusts.
But I don’t see him slipping his hand into the janitor’s.
I don’t know. It just feels nice to be treated extra special for not doing anything except being here, I guess.
“Hank’s another guy I trust,” Zak lets me know once he leaves. “Everyone you’ll meet used to work for the same guy I used to trust, and once it was clear how he operated, they all came over to me,” he says with nothing short of pride in his voice.
Not ego-pride. But the kind of pride you get when you earn it. When someone respects you for being you.
Kind of like how Zak made me feel from the minute we met.
“Okay, I’ve got some stuff to look at here. You want to poke around?” Zak asks, but I’m more interested in anything that involves staying close to him.
I already miss his hand in mine, which he let slip while looking for something on the desk.
“Can I see?” I squeak, feeling more than nervous that I might not even be a good ‘fit’ for Zak’s company after all.
I mean, all the tech I’m looking at is alien to me. I’m just wondering if the software is equally intimidating.
“Sure.” Zak smiles. “I’d value your input.”
And I’m starting to feel like I’d value his input…into me. More than any job or software challenge.
But I don’t want to come across as that kind of girl.
It’s funny, but as soon as Zak took my hand, it was like we had already said a thousand things to each other.
But I know he’s waiting for his moment to make a move beyond just holding hands.
I know I’ve just walked in the door and met the man today, but I’m already hoping I don’t disappoint him or make a fool of myself.
CHAPTER TEN
Zak
Jade’s wide-eyed at our set-up, and I’m keen to have her take a look over the changes Miles has made. Always open to fresh ideas compared to what we already have in place.
But it’s more than a little hard to concentrate on anything else except her once we’re alone again.
Great to see Hank again too, but I do a quick sweep of the place to make sure we’re really alone once he’s gone.
“We shouldn’t be bothered again,” I murmur to myself, but glad when Jade has a little smile playing on her lips when I do.
Reaching for her hand has felt like the most natural thing in the world so far, but it’s nothing compared to what I really want to be doing with her.
So when my hand brushes hers as I move some papers to get to a running laptop, it’s like the spark that sets off the powder keg of feelings I know we both have for each other.
Jade makes a tiny mewing sound as if she’s losing her ability to hold back as much as I am, and before either of us can say a word, my mouth is over hers.
It’s a hard, long kiss. And although I’m a gentleman, holding doors open, ladies first and all that, I can’t deny the beast she brings out in me once our mouths lock and my tongue is circling hers.
Her hands hook around my waist, and mine have wasted no time in pulling her close.
Holding her face as I feel her leaning into me, both of us graduating from hand holding to kissing pretty damned quick, and both of us wanting more.
A lot more than just hands held and kisses.
The papers and other equipment I was mindful to tell Jade to be careful of get pushed aside as I lift her up, setting her down on the wide desk so she could reach me better.
All that stuff I wanted her to take a look at has just ended up on the floor, and we might too before long.
But I don’t want Jade to think I only brought her here to have my way with her. Even though that’s part of it, it’s not the only reason.