She stopped herself before she smoothed her skirt. She’d worn a suit, as she always did to work, but had picked out the one that flattered her figure the most. “Thank you.”
He glanced around her empty office. “First one here, huh?”
“Yes. Most of my VPs straggle in here right at nine.”
“I didn’t want to be late my first day.”
“I appreciate that.”
End of small talk. Marci wanted so badly to step into his arms, lift her lips for his kiss. She cleared her throat and motioned toward her kitchenette. “Would you like coffee? Peggy brings the donuts and pastries, so they aren’t here yet.”
“Coffee sounds good.” He nodded toward her mug. “Need a warm-up?”
“I let this cup get cold. I need a fresh one.”
“I’ll get it for you.”
He stepped closer and reached for her mug. Their fingers touched. Marci sucked in a sharp breath. Keefe’s fingers slid over the top of hers, his thumbs gently caressing.
“Marci.”
“Good morning,” Peggy said in a singsong voice.
Marci jumped back from Keefe as if he’d suddenly turned poisonous. Peggy stopped in her tracks, looking from Marci to Keefe and back again.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Marci knew her cheeks had to be flaming. “Of course not. Keefe and I were about to have coffee.” She hurried on before Peggy could ask any more questions. “You brought the donuts. Good.”
“I always bring the donuts. You know that.”
“I hope you brought lots of chocolate. I’m in a chocolate mood today.”
“Any reason why?”
Keefe moved to the kitchenette. Marci watched him turn over a thick black mug that bore Marshall Media’s logo and fill it with regular coffee. He leaned against the cabinet and looked at her while sipping the hot brew.
Marci forced herself to turn away from him. Her gaze clashed with her friend’s. Peggy continued to look between Marci and Keefe, a smirk touching her lips. “So, how was your weekend?” she asked Marci.
“Great.”
“Anything…unusual happen?”
Her friend might suspect Marci had been with Keefe, but there was no way Marci would admit it. “No. Everything was great.”
Peggy looked at Keefe. “How about you? Are you getting settled into the area?”
“I am. I even unpacked some boxes yesterday afternoon after the game.”
“Moving is such a hard job. You should put out a call for help. I’m sure there are a lot of people on staff who would be willing to lend a hand.”
“I might do that. Thanks.”
“How about you, Marci?” Peggy asked, that smirk back on her lips. “Would you be willing to help Keefe?”
Two more of her vice presidents entered the room. Marci sighed with relief. The distraction meant she didn’t have to answer Peggy’s question. She hurried forward to greet Cierra and Leo. Dara, Harold and Larry entered the room moments later. They all wandered to the kitchenette for coffee and donuts. Marci knew from previous meetings that it would take everyone a good ten minutes to get settled into their chairs so she could start the meeting.
She stepped up to her place at the conference table and perused her agenda. It would be a long meeting, probably running into lunchtime. She jotted down a note to have Lauren order lunch around eleven-thirty.
Keefe joined her and held out a full mug of steaming coffee. “I hope I put enough cream in it.”
He remembered how she liked her coffee. For some silly reason, his thoughtfulness brought a lump to her throat. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He gazed at the conference table. “Which chair is mine, boss?”
“That one.” She pointed to the chair to the left of hers.
“Okay.” He glanced over his shoulder at the group of VPs huddled by the coffee area, then leaned closer to her. “I wish I could bend you over the table and lick your pussy.”
He moved away from her before she had the chance to respond. That was good, because Marci had lost the ability to speak with his comment.
Peggy wandered by on the way to her chair. She stopped at Marci’s side long enough to whisper, “”Don’t even
think
about leaving today until we talk.”
She took her place at the foot of the table, her hands folded on top of the agenda, her face set in the stern don’t-mess-with-me expression Marci recognized as the one Peggy usually reserved for her husband. Or her children.
Marci caught herself before she twisted her hands together. That would be a dead giveaway to her friend that she had something to hide.
The rest of her vice presidents slowly made their way to their chairs. Marci waited until everyone was seated and settled before she spoke.
“Good morning. As you can see by my agenda, we have a lot to discuss today. You might as well think about what you’ll want for lunch, because I promise you we’ll be here a while.
“First, I want to introduce all of you to our newest vice president, Keefe Donegan.”
Keefe nodded his head when everyone applauded.
“Keefe comes to us from Los Angeles and I consider us very lucky to have him. Keefe, the lady seated next to you is Cierra Adkins, VP of Marketing. Next to her is Larry Bagby of Public Relations. You already know Peggy. On the other side of Peggy is Dara Nash, in charge of Finance, Harold Pape of Legal and Contracts, and seated to my right is Leo Whitaker, our incredible IT guy. There isn’t anything on a computer this man can’t find or repair.”
“So when do I get a raise?” Leo asked, humor shining in his eyes.
“Sorry, raises aren’t on the agenda today.”
The group laughed, and that helped Marci to relax. She was back in president mode, in charge of her employees. No more thinking about how Keefe’s sweater made his eyes look so blue, no more remembering his touch on her skin, his mouth on hers. Professional only.
If she told herself that at least fifty times today, she’d eventually believe it.
Chapter Nine
She was a total professional on the job. Keefe knew that ten minutes into the meeting. Marci controlled every aspect of Marshall Media, but relied heavily on her vice presidents’ opinions and advice. She listened when someone spoke, wrote down what he or she said. She didn’t put down anyone’s ideas or overrule them simply because she was the boss.
His respect for her grew with each hour that passed.
His desire for her grew too. She’d worn her hair down today, held with a clip at her nape. Soft tendrils fell over her left shoulder. If he reached out, he could twirl a tendril around his finger and pull her closer for his kiss.
Keeping his mind on business hadn’t been easy. Images from Saturday night and yesterday would flash through his mind without warning. His cock swelled when he remembered the way Marci had taken it in her mouth, the way she’d ridden him here in her office and in his living room. Those perfect breasts had bounced with her movements, her nipples hard and begging to be sucked.
He was thankful the table hid his lap.
Shortly after two o’clock, Marci adjourned the meeting. Keefe gathered up his paperwork, Marci’s handouts and the legal pad on which he’d made copious notes. A gentle touch on his left arm made him turn his head. Cierra smiled at him.
“I want to personally welcome you to Marshall Media, Keefe.”
“Thank you.”
“I think you’ll be an asset to the company.” She slowly ran her fingertips up and down his arm. “If there’s anything I can do to help you, just let me know.”
He couldn’t mistake the interest in her eyes. Cierra was a beautiful woman with shoulder-length dark hair and a curvy body. He didn’t doubt she’d say yes if he asked her out. Two weeks ago, he might have considered that. Now, after being with Marci, dating another woman held no appeal at all.
“I appreciate that, Cierra.”
She gathered up her own paperwork, then gave him a seductive smile. “Remember if you need anything, anything at all, my door is open.”
“I’ll remember.”
He watched her saunter toward the door. She glanced at him over her shoulder before leaving the office.
Peggy walked up to him, a teasing grin on her lips. “Looks like you made a conquest.”
“She was being friendly.”
“Ha! Cierra doesn’t do friendly when it comes to men. Cierra does conquest. Unless you want her claws in you, I suggest you stay away from her.”
“I’m not interested in Cierra.”
Keefe looked at Marci. She stood by the window, speaking to someone on the phone. If he hung around until she was through, maybe he could convince her to have dinner with him.
“Do you need to speak to Marci?” Peggy asked. “I have some things to go over with her.”
No matter how much he wanted to be with Marci, he wouldn’t interfere with her job. “It isn’t important. I’ll catch up with her when she isn’t busy.” He smiled at Peggy. “See you later.”
He stopped in the doorway and looked back at Marci. She was still on the phone, but gazing at him. He dipped his head and left.
* * * * *
Marci drew out her phone conversation as long as possible. She knew Peggy would pounce as soon as she hung up. She’d never been able to lie to her friend, and didn’t want to admit she’d broken her rule about getting involved with an employee and slept with Keefe.
Luckily, Anne Marshall was in a talkative mood today. Marci called the owner of Marshall Media every Monday after the meeting to give an update. Anne always listened, praised Marci for her good work and said she’d talk to her next week.
Peggy approached her desk as Marci hung up the phone. “Anne okay?”
Marci nodded. “She’s going to Arizona tomorrow to visit her son. She said she hasn’t decided yet how long she’ll be gone.”
“With her money, she doesn’t have to worry about budgeting a trip.”
“That’s true.”
“So.” Peggy sat in one of the chairs before Marci’s desk and crossed her legs. “Did you have a good time with Keefe?”
Denying she’d gone out with Keefe would be useless. Marci sat in her own chair behind her desk. “We had dinner together Saturday.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“I saw the way you two looked at each other. Don’t try to tell me the evening ended with dinner.”
Marci clasped her hands together on top of her desk. “I went home with him.”
Peggy grinned. “Was he good?”
“Amazing.”
Peggy’s grin widened. She snuggled down in the chair as if she had no intention of leaving for a long time. “Details. Tell me
everything
.”
“I’m thirsty. How about you?”
Marci stood and walked to the small refrigerator before Peggy had a chance to answer the question. Assuming it would be yes, she took out two Pepsis.
“You do realize I’m not leaving your office until I get answers.”
“Yeah, I realize that.” She handed Peggy one of the cold sodas. She popped the top on hers and took a long drink. “I really screwed up.”
“Why? You said he was amazing.”
“He was. He is. He’s an amazing lover and a wonderful man. Kind, charming, funny, considerate.” She sat in the chair next to Peggy. “He said he wants to keep seeing me.”
Peggy opened her can of soda. “I fail to see the problem.”
“I
told
you the problem.”
“You told me some bullshit about not getting involved with an employee.”
“It isn’t bullshit, Peggy. It isn’t professional for me to date an employee.” She laughed without a trace of humor. “I shouldn’t talk to you about my personal life. That isn’t professional either.”
“That’s even more bullshit, Marci. You and I were coworkers and friends before you ever became my boss. You know you can tell me anything and it’ll never be repeated.”
“Yes, I know that. You’re a very special friend.” She ran her thumb through the condensation on the can. “I can’t get involved with Keefe. You know what happened with Ben. Everyone in the building knows what happened with Ben.”