Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
I was honest. “It’s okay. Like I said, it wasn’t unwelcome.”
Grant seemed to avoid looking at me. He nodded and finished rolling up the other sleeve before standing. “Thank you for your candor.”
I stood. “Of course.”
A moment of awkwardness settled in between us. I was acutely aware of how much my body liked being this close to him. The air had a crackle to it whenever he was near, and I didn’t think I was the only one who felt it—probably not the best thing to be thinking about right after the meeting we’d just had.
“Okay…well…I’ll see you at the next meeting, I guess.”
Grant nodded. He looked like he wanted me to leave his office almost as much as I wanted to leave…which was not at all. Nevertheless, I took a few steps toward the door. Then I changed my mind. If I could be candid, so could he.
“Can I ask you something?” I said.
“What is it?”
“Did you make up the women’s committee while you were on the phone with me? Or was it something you had in the works?”
Grant raised one brow. “You’re very full of yourself, aren’t you? The president of a multinational company makes up an entire initiative just to have the chance to spend a little time with you?”
I felt my cheeks heat. I knew how egotistical it sounded... I laughed nervously. “I guess that is a little insane.”
Grant stepped closer to me. “It would also be highly inappropriate, wouldn’t it now?”
I could’ve sworn there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. Damn, my imagination was really having a field day. I needed to get the hell out of here. “Yes. Yes, I suppose it would be.” I shook my head. “I should get back to work.”
I suddenly had the urge to flee and headed for the door.
As I reached the doorway, Grant called after me. “Ireland?”
I turned back. Dear God, the man was handsome. He was the kind of gorgeous your eyes snagged on while walking and made you trip over your own two feet—basically the dangerous kind women should keep away from, particularly with the cocky smile he wore on his face.
“I’m glad we’ve cleared up that any advance wasn’t unwelcome. I’ll see you around…soon.”
My brain felt like it was misfiring as I walked out of his office. What the hell had just happened? I’d admitted that I welcomed any advance by him, and he’d admitted what…?
I played the conversation over in my mind as I headed for the elevator. While I had been forthcoming, Grant hadn’t actually admitted anything. In fact, when I asked him if he’d created the meeting just for my benefit, he’d turned the question around on me. He never did give me a straight answer, did he?
Chapter 9
* * *
Grant
“A committee on women’s initiatives? Seriously?”
I sighed as my sister Kate helped herself into my office. “We already did this dance after the meeting ended, remember?”
“I’m not done discussing it.”
“Of course you’re not,” I mumbled under my breath.
“Why the committee? There’s a reason.”
I shuffled papers on my desk. “It’s an initiative I’ve been thinking about for a long time. I thought I’d mentioned it to you.”
Kate squinted. “How long?”
“How long what?”
“How long have you been thinking about this initiative?”
“A long time.” I stacked the papers I’d gathered into a pile in the middle of my desk and straightened them. My sister stayed quiet. She was waiting for me to look at her. I took a deep breath and raised my eyes to meet hers.
She studied my face before speaking again. “Why don’t I believe you?”
I rolled my eyes. “Because you’re a man-hating narcissist.”
“True. But that’s not it.”
I knew all of my sister’s tones. There was the pissed-off one when she thought I was an asshole and was starting to lose patience, and there was the warm and caring one she used when she discussed subjects like our parents. Most commonly I was on the receiving end of the snarky tone, which I generally deserved. But the tone right now? This was her bloodhound tone, the one where she sank her teeth into every word I said to look for underlying meaning. She knew I was full of shit about my interest in a women’s initiative, and it was killing her not to know the real reason I’d done what I did.
I opened my desk drawer and pulled out a file. Plopping it down on the desk, I said, “I have a meeting in five minutes, so why don’t you go play detective in your own office. If you come up with any more clues, have your assistant send a memo to my assistant.”
My sister scowled at me. “You’re an ass, you know that?”
My lips curved to a genuine smile. “Love you, too, sis.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Don’t forget about the One World Broadcasting fundraiser Friday night. Are you bringing Arlia?”