Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“This is where you’ll be working.” Tanner’s voice sounded just outside the door to the conference room, and I turned just in time to see Anne walk through the door after him.
Fucking hell, she looked divine in a pair of black pants that hugged her long legs, tapering off at the ankles right above a pair of black stilettos that clicked against the tile as she walked inside. She wore a royal blue blouse that climbed up her delicate neck, making her blue eyes practically glow. Her long golden hair hung over her shoulders in waves, and those full, luscious lips turned up in the most adorable little surprised smile.
I had to focus extremely hard on not falling to my knees, she was that breathtaking.
“Officer Harlowe is heading up the program,” Tanner continued. “He’ll let you know what you need to do.” Tanner tilted his head at me. “Harlowe?” he asked. “You good?”
I cleared my throat, blinking out of the stupor Anne’s sudden appearance put me in. “Yes,” I said. He nodded and headed out, leaving us alone in the room.
Was it hot in here? I tugged at my uniform shirt, desperately needing some air.
“Sorry I’m late,” she said, striding over to the small desk in the back corner of the room. She set down her bag, then turned to lean against the desk. “I couldn’t decide what to wear.”
My lips parted, a response totally tangled in my throat.
Fuck man, speak.
“I mean, what does one wear to a forced volunteer program?” her voice was all tease, and I cocked an eyebrow at her. She shrugged. “I highly doubt my father knew I’d be working directly under you when he pulled strings to get me in here.”
The mention of her father shifted everything inside me, transforming me into the pissed off teenager that wanted nothing more than to run away with the girl I’d been forbidden to see. I took a step closer to her, unable to keep the distance between us.
“From what I recall,” I said, my voice low. “You never minded working beneath me before.”
Her lips parted, a small gasp rushing from them. I tracked the reaction, satisfaction rolling through me right before reality slapped me across the face.
I was at work and that comment was incredibly inappropriate. I opened my mouth to apologize, but she smiled up at me, her eyes shining with something close to joy.
“I missed that mouth of yours,” she fired right back, never one to miss a beat.
Fuck, this woman could hit all of my buttons with just a handful of words. Hell, she didn’t need words, she could bring me to my knees with a simple look. It didn’t matter that ten years had passed since we’d been together, it didn’t matter that we’d never gone all the way in our relationship—one look at her and she still felt like mine.
But she wasn’t.
She wasn’t anything more than my volunteer.
“You’ll be working over here,” I said, clearing my throat like it would help clear my head. I needed to get a fucking grip. I wasn’t a love-starved teenager anymore, I was a grown ass man.
“Cute,” she said as I motioned to the desk behind her. She walked around it and took a seat. “What exactly do you need me to do, James?”
The way she said my name had lightning streaking through my veins. She only ever called me that when she wanted to get a rise out of me. I was Jim through and through and would never be the formal James her family wanted me to be. Not that any of that mattered anymore.
“I’ve written down a list of tasks here,” I said, handing her the notebook I’d prepped last night while watching the Reaper game.
She took the list and quickly read over it. I didn’t bother asking her if she could handle it, I knew she could. After a few seconds, she glanced up at me. “How long is this program again?”
“Six weeks.”
She visibly swallowed, her eyes churning with something I couldn’t quite place.
“Is that okay with you?” she asked. “Working with me for that long?”
Her question made the reality of the situation sink in.
I’d see her every single day. Work with her. Listen to her. Smell that delightful perfume she’d always worn, the floral and spicy scent hitting me as we spoke.
Fuck me.
“Yes,” I finally managed to say. “As long as you’re comfortable with it?”
She smiled, coming around the desk, stopping so close I could’ve reached down and captured that grin between my lips if I wanted to.
Which I didn’t…couldn’t want that.
“If you are, I am,” she said.
“Good,” I said, then just stood there staring down at her because I could. She didn’t squirm under my gaze, didn’t try to back away. She met my eyes with the unabashed strength that had always drawn me to her in the past. She’d changed a little, but she was still the same in so many ways.