"It was email, I didn't really give her much of a chance."
"So...we are both resolved to figuring this out. I wish I knew what came next."
"Dinner," Paige said.
"Dinner?"
"Yes. I can't believe I can even think about food, but I am actually starved."
"Then dinner it is." Nathan said, not at all sure he could eat.
"Who knows, maybe if we can figure this out over dinner, I can still make the first day at my new job," she said with a nervous giggle, her smile more than a little forced.
Nathan did his best to smile and nod, but deep inside they both knew it was a lie.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
He watched her for a moment. Her strawberry blond hair, tied back in a ponytail, hung down and around her left shoulder. She chewed on a pencil as she read over the notes scattered on her desk. He found himself strangely envious of the pencil. He knew her file said she was forty-two, but she didn't look a day over thirty. If anything, he found her more attractive now than when he'd first inherited the project nearly seven years ago.
The soft knock on the door drew her attention from the notes. She didn't offer him a warm smile, that even now he hoped for, or even try to hide her mild look of disgust.
"Not now Cameron, I'm much too busy."
He felt his face flush with barely controlled anger. He clenched his fists tight, causing his knuckles to crack and cleared his throat.
"Mr. Kassar. I am still your superior, Merrick."
She silently cursed herself. If he hadn't already been in one of his moods then she'd just pushed one of his buttons by trying to dismiss him. She shook her head and sighed. She had no desire for his bullshit today.
"Fine, Mr. Kassar. And if we are going to be formal then I would appreciate the same courtesy."
"Forgive me, Doctor."
She winced at the tone in his voice. What the hell was it now?
She stood up, making sure to slip into her heels before rising. She now stood two inches taller than Cameron's six-foot height.
"How is it that I can help you, Mr. Kassar?"
She knew she was asking for it. She'd seen Cameron in this mood on more than one occasion. She knew that the man found her attractive and resented the fact that she had long ago made it clear the feelings were not mutual. Though even now he continued to try every now and then, as if he didn't comprehend how his actions only flamed her hatred. She also knew that her height, which without the heels equaled his, annoyed him for some reason.
She did her best not to act totally repulsed as he ran his eyes up and down her, as he almost always did. She now regretted standing up. She wasn't really dressed for work. She was dressed in a white button down blouse and a blue skirt, cut to accentuate her features, which she knew were nice enough to draw more than a passing glance from most men. She at least had on her white lab coat. Unfortunately, it was her short coat and so Cameron was still afforded a decent view of her slender, shapely legs.
She had to admit that Cameron himself was not a bad looking guy. He likely didn't have trouble finding female company. He was trim and athletic, but not buff in a body building sense. He had steel-blue eyes, which more than one of her assistants had described as intense, sexy bedroom eyes. His short trimmed black hair was rarely out of place and he was always dressed impeccably, but she had long ago decided that he likely looked just as good in blue jeans and a T-shirt. In fact, before she had come to know the man she would have said he was definitely her type. But then one day he had made a fatal mistake that had irrevocably changed her view of him. He had opened his mouth.
He smiled at her, his too white, too perfect, laser polished teeth almost seemed to give off their own light. It was meant to be charming and disarming and was no doubt long practiced. It made her skin crawl.
"Come on Julie, don't be that way."
She had to fight to keep her mouth from dropping and throwing up her arms in frustration. What was with him?
"Cameron, I am serious. I don't have time. You know I wasn't even supposed to be here today, but I needed to catch up on a few things before tomorrow, before..."
"Yes, yes I know. How is he?"
"Like you care."
He did his best hurt expression, which she had to admit was getting better.
"You know I do. I..."
"I do not believe that my personal life is of any..."
"Concern to me? Now you are well aware that my interest is not entirely personal."
"He's fine, Cameron. Okay? He is the same as always. And thanks to you, he'll stay that way."
Kassar held up his hands as if shocked by her outburst.
"Easy. I was only inquiring. And it is not thanks to me. It is thanks to you."
She winced at his comment. She hated that she did, but she couldn't help it. His words stung like hell. Mostly because they were the truth.