There. She’d managed to find the end of the rainbow, the pot of gold and all that. And she felt much, much better about it. This was a workout she was getting paid to do. Yay for her.
“You know you’re working entirely too hard,” a co-worker told her. “The boss is tied up for at least the next few hours. I saw his aristocratic bride-to-be bringing in the big book of wedding planning.”
“I saw that. But just because Mr. Storm isn’t watching, that doesn’t mean I’m going to slack off,” she told the fellow.
“I say we take a little dive into the water and cool off — and then warm back up … at my place.” Weston said this with a giant wink.
Her co-worker had been flirty since she’d joined the crew. As a matter of fact, most of the men were pretty dang open with their catcalls. Plus their sexual double entendres had been less than subtle. But the guys were generally harmless. Weston, on the other hand, had made it beyond clear that he wouldn’t mind a romp in the sack.
He was about her age, and he’d been giving her the eye and putting the moves on her ever since she’d arrived on the docks. She really wished she felt something for him — he was great-looking, with sun-kissed blond hair, Miami Vice stubble on his jaw, and twinkling blue eyes. He was also tall — who didn’t love that in a male? — and he had a smile that could replace the sun.
But so far, the man hadn’t inspired her to actually accept a date. Dang it!
“I think it’s safer if I just finish my work so I can take a long shower and then make it out to my deck to stargaze later tonight while I drink a beer.”
“Don’t most women prefer wine?” he asked, edging a little closer.
“I don’t do stereotypes,” she informed him. “And after a hot day, nothing tastes as good as an icy-cold beer from a can.”
“But you can always suck harder from a bottle,” he told her with yet another wink.
Savannah couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing. If she’d actually felt threatened by the man, it would be an entirely different story, but she knew she was safe. Sure, he’d like to date her, and bed her, but his pride wasn’t wounded when she turned him down.
“I wonder why you’re still single, Weston, with suave lines like that,” she finally said as she patted his arm.
“Is this a brothel, or do either of you actually do any work?”
Savannah froze. Crap. Just what she needed right now — to be busted by the boss. She threw a quick but savage look to Weston, who’d told her only a little while ago that the boss would be tied up for hours. Her co-worker had been wrong. Weston just winked for the third time and scampered off, out of the line of fire. Traitor!#p#分页标题#e#
Now she was alone with Ashton and something was wrong. Big surprise.
“Yes, Mr. Storm. I have been working, as you can see,” she said. “However, the longer you stand here scowling at me, the longer it’s going to take for me to do what I’m being paid to do.”
He seemed taken aback by her boldness. Why was that? Hadn’t he seen it at their first meeting? She did her best to be sociable, but she did have a backbone, and it was almost always in evidence now. She’d grown it from the fists of her father and from her years of study. She wasn’t going to be pushed around anymore. That time was over.
“Did you happen to forget that I’m your boss? If I need to speak to you, don’t you think it wise to listen?”
“Of course, Mr. Storm.” She could play the obedient little employee if that was the role he wanted her to play. But he’d better not expect her to cower. That would be asking far too much.
“Good. Now come with me. Some of your forms are incomplete.”
He turned, and once again the man had no doubt that she was going to follow him. And there was no reason for doubt. She had to do what he wanted and that was the advantage he held over her. But she couldn’t stay completely silent.
“Shouldn’t I tell Tom? He’ll wonder why I’m not on the job.”
“It’s been taken care of,” he replied, and he didn’t slow his stride.
Savannah had to fight to keep herself from exploding. Dang it. This man wasn’t really doing anything any other boss wouldn’t do. But the two of them hadn’t gotten off to a great start, and she certainly knew how to hold on to a grudge.
She promised herself that she’d work on that.
When they stepped into his office, Savannah’s eyes immediately went to the spot on the floor where they’d been tangled up less than a week ago. No, nothing had actually happened. The two of them had fallen into each other. Nothing more. He hadn’t been about to kiss her. That had all been in her head.