“Keep telling yourself that, buddy.” He laughs and pats me on the shoulder.
Before I can try to convince him that he’s wrong, the movers appear with the first of many pieces of furniture. It’s probably better; one who protests too much looks guilty, right? Better to let the subject drop and work on my poker face.
Finally, the lead guy seeks me out. “There are only a few more pieces. You want to come down and sign the invoice?”
“Zane, you got this?” I ask.
“Yeah.” He’s already directing which office gets the next piece.
I follow the lead guy downstairs and review the packing slip he hands me. “Thanks,” I say, signing and handing it back to him. He nods and heads back out to his truck.
Realizing we’ve been at it for over an hour, I decide to check on Berklee. That’s what a good boss would do, right?
What I find has me biting back a curse. Berklee is perched up on the bar, her feet bare, those sexy heels thrown haphazardly on the floor. Her skirt’s hiked up, showing the creamy skin of her thighs, and her curls hang over her shoulder. I walk toward her hesitantly when all I really want is to rush her and pull her into my arms.
She hears me and looks up from her laptop. “Hey.” She smiles. “All set?”
I walk closer. “Yeah, just a few more pieces.” I don’t stop until I’m standing next to her. So close I’m sure it’s deemed inappropriate. I look down at her laptop, sitting atop those creamy thighs. My dick twitches. “You?” I ask, nodding to her lap.
“Yes. I actually started making a list of things we’ll need staffing-wise. Do you know if you want to do checks or direct deposit?” she asks, all business, while all I’m thinking about is stepping between her legs and kissing the fuck out of her.
I move closer. It’s wrong and I know it, but being this close to her, it’s my undoing.
Sensing that I’m now closer than professionalism allows, she looks up from her lap. An errant curl hangs over her eyes and without thinking, I reach up and tuck it behind her ear. It’s so fucking soft, like silk, just as I imagined. Her breathing accelerates, causing me to inch a little closer. She’s nervous, her expressive blue eyes giving her away. I can see this is a struggle for her too.
“Crew.” She breathes my name and I have to fist my hands at my sides to keep from taking her into my arms.
“Hey, guys!” Zane yells from the top of the steps.
Fuck! I forgot about the two-way mirrors. I can only hope he was too busy to be watching me, us.
“Come on up and take a look,” he calls out.
Berklee sets the laptop on the bar beside her and starts to move.
“Wait,” I say, placing my hand on her bare knee. Fuck, her skin is soft and warm. Bending down, I grab her shoes and place them back on her feet. Rising to my full height, I stand directly in front of her. Reaching out, I place my hands on her hips and move in close. “Ready?” I whisper. That one word has so many meanings.
A blush coats her cheeks. “Yeah,” she says, her voice low and sexy as fuck.
Gripping her hips, I fight the urge to wrap her legs around my waist. Instead I lift her from the bar and place her on her feet.
Looking up at me, she gives me a shy smile. “Thank you.”
Now that she’s on her feet, I tower over her. I’m still standing close, my hands on her hips. Looking down, her shirt is unbuttoned just enough that I can see the swell of her breast in her white lace bra. I swallow hard and force myself to release her.
“After you,” I say, my voice gruff. She doesn’t say anything, just turns on visibly shaky legs and heads for the stairs. It’s not until I stare at her as she walks up in front of me that I realize being a gentleman in this case scored me a major view of that incredible ass.
Berklee stops in the doorway of the first office. “Wow, this looks great.”
“Which one do you want?” I ask.
She turns to look at me over her shoulder, and her beauty takes my fucking breath away. “I don’t have a preference.”
“I think this one should be mine,” Zane says from behind us.
I close my eyes and school my features before turning to look at him. “Once Berklee chooses, you can have your pick of what’s left.”
“You can have this one. Like I said, I really don’t care either way. They’re all the same size and have the same furniture.”
“Yeah, I was just thinking that, even though it’s not by much, this is a shorter distance to get downstairs should something security related happen.”
“Makes sense,” Berklee agrees. “Crew, maybe you should take the one at the end of the hall? Being the owner, you’ll be bothered less being there. The employees should come to Zane or me, then you by last resort,” she suggests.
“It’s settled, then,” I say.
“I’m going to get my computer and try it out.” She grins at me.
“I’ll get it,” I offer, already turning to leave the room. I don’t need her falling down the steps in those heels.
I grab her laptop and the box, plus Zane’s as well. “Here you go,” I say, giving Zane his. “I’ll put yours on your desk,” I tell Berklee.
She smiles and follows me into her office, watching as I set everything on her desk. “Let me know if there’s anything else you need. We can make a trip to the office supply store and pick it up.” Ordering online is just as easy, and from what I’ve read they have next-day local delivery, but I’ll keep that tidbit to myself. It’s an excuse to get her back in my truck. I have to take my doses of the sexy Berklee where I can get them.
“I started a list for that too.” She blushes. “We’re going to need employee files and things like that.”
“Whatever you need, we’ll get it.” I watch as she bites her bottom lip and nods. Fuck me. I need to leave her alone. “Here’s yours,” I say, handing her the laptop box. Her hand brushes mine when she reaches for it and I feel that same zing of attraction. It’s something that I’ve come to expect when it comes to her. “Right, so I’m just going to get my stuff and put it in my office.” Reluctantly I release my grip on the box and slowly back out of the room.
Stopping at Zane’s door, I see him with his computer out and sitting on his desk.
“What else you got on the agenda today?” he asks.
“We need to set up some more interviews. Berklee nailed the last ones, so I’m just going to let her handle it. You can do the security staff if you want or leave it up to her. It doesn’t matter either way.” I don’t wait for a reply before jogging down the stairs to gather my stuff from the makeshift desk I’ve been using in the main part of the club.