JAKE
Gabi never responded to my last text message. I assumed she was busy. It was a Friday night, after all. And most sane, normal, family-oriented people like Gabi were most likely out spending time with family or friends.
Or doing laundry.
I smirked at my own joke.
Today had been rewarding in its own right. After diligently working on the proposal to the sneaker company with Gabi, all our hard work had paid off, and I was thrilled. This business was going to be hugely successful. I could feel it in my bones. Not only that, but it was something I was excited to work on, and I had a feeling Gabi was too. I wanted to give her a bit of power in this and see where her mind took things. She had a unique way of looking at things and I was curious to see what her perspective could bring to the table.
The two young men who’d started the company, Banner and Theo, seemed just as appreciative of her enthusiasm, and when they’d contacted me this evening with questions, one of them had been if Gabi would be involved in the work. I promised she’d be as hands on as me, and after a few more questions, they’d asked me to send them the digital paperwork for them to sign.
I had a feeling this would be my biggest deal of the year.
Gabi definitely deserved the Lambo.
I thought about her sitting behind the wheel, wind pouring through the open windows and sunroof and tousling her hair, music blasting through the speakers, lip gloss glittering in the sun.
Damn.
I gave my head a shake. I’d been fantasizing about my assistant a little too much for comfort these days. Some mornings she was the first thing I thought of. Some nights, she was on my mind when I fell asleep, and she walked through my dreams in skimpy clothes or nothing at all. Somehow, I’d have to rein in all this sexual energy because, despite how charged she made me feel, it wasn’t appropriate. She was my assistant, nothing more. I had to remain conscious of that regardless of how sexy she was.
I eyed the sneakers on my desk. I’d worked them into the negotiation with Theo and Banner, explaining that Gabi was always out and about, and if she wore them running errands, people would ask questions, and she was so damn personable that she’d basically be a walking and talking ad campaign who could hand out business cards.
They’d immediately agreed. I’d spun it how I had to, and it was the truth, but to be honest, I just wanted her to have a pair because I knew how much she liked them.
With a tired sigh, I pushed up out of my chair. It had been a long day. Hell, it had been a long week. I hadn’t gone home on time a single night this week. I’d stayed almost every day until after nine o’clock, and tonight was no exception. It was closing in on ten.
I turned off my monitor, grabbed my suit jacket from where it was draped over the back of my chair, and moved around my desk to go to the door.
It swung open.
Assuming it was security, I didn’t look. “I’ll be out of your hair in just a second, man.” I put the sneakers back in their box to tuck out of the way for the cleaners, who usually came in around midnight.
A woman cleared her throat.
I looked up. “Gabi?”
She bit her bottom lip and clasped her hands together. “Erm, hi.”
“Hi. What are you doing here?” I moved around my desk, abandoning the sneakers. “Is everything okay?”
She stayed where she was as if she were planting roots. “Umm.” Her brows drew together, and she shook her head. “I… I don’t actually know why I came here.”
I left my jacket on my desk and moved toward her, concern lacing through me. “Did something happen?”
Gabi shook her head.
What was going on?
Standing right in front of her, I tried to get her to look me in the eyes, but she looked everywhere but up at me. So, I placed two fingers under her chin and lifted her face so I could see her gorgeous eyes. Stunning. I cracked a wry smile. “Don’t tell me you’re becoming as attached to this office as I am.”
She licked her lips.
God, she was killing me. I hadn’t seen her dressed like this before. She wore a short, flattering summer dress covered in little white flowers with ruffles on the sleeves. It cinched at her waist, showing off her shape, and her tanned legs looked killer. Her high heels had ribbons that tied around her ankles.
“You’re making me nervous,” I said. Why wasn’t she talking to me?
Her eyes danced back and forth between mine. “I am?”