“And…” His gaze wandered over the women, who were probably holding their breaths for his reply. “And, is there a place we can speak in private, Mia?”
“No.” She had no idea precisely what prompted her to deny him, but she liked seeing him out of his element. His discomfort made him seem human and reachable. “The Queen B’s are like family. Anything you say to me can be said in front of them. What does the meeting have to do with me?”
He glanced down at his feet for a moment, which made him look like an unsure child, then he raised his chin, and all traces of insecurity were gone. “We have a business deal. I realize it doesn’t extend to this early hour, but I would appreciate it if you could come to the meeting. The client is a dog aficionado, and as you know, I’m not good with animals. He will expect the dog to be there, but after its behavior today, I’m worried it will act up during the meeting and cost me the deal. Or rather, my reaction to its acting up will cost me the deal.”
Well, at least Michael was taking most of the blame. That was certainly a step in the right direction. Too bad he still saw the dog as an “it.” “What did Clancy do today?”
“It toilet papered my office.”
Mia couldn’t help but laugh. The image of any kind of mess or fun in Michael’s office was hilarious. Obviously, Michael didn’t find it amusing, as his demeanor remained stoic. She cleared her throat. “So, you want me to dog wrangle while you wheel and deal.”
“Yes. I realize it’s outside of our business agreement, but it would be a great help to me.”
“Business agreement, my backside,” Gladys grumbled. Blanche pinched her and she cried out, then added, “Well, it’s true. Business partners don’t have sex dreams about each other.”
Michael’s eyes widened for a moment before his calm fa?ade slipped back in place.
Stifling an embarrassed groan, Mia stood and untied her paint smock. “I’ll go.”
“I appreciate it.”
Gladys snorted. “I hope he plans to show her just how much he appreciates it.” She yelped as Blanche pinched her again. “He needs to do more than kiss her on a bridge this time,” she added as Mia grabbed her coat and scarf and ushered Michael out the door as quickly as possible.
Chapter Ten
Seated in the lobby of Anderson Auctions, Mia smoothed a wrinkle out of the coat folded over her lap. Everything about the place fit her image of where Michael would work: opulent, stylish, and perfect.
Michael had been super quick on the uptake when she gave him a brief dog handling lesson in his office before the meeting began, and Clancy reacted with surprising enthusiasm to Michael’s caresses. Maybe he’d been acting out to get his interim owner’s attention. She certainly couldn’t blame the dog. Being the center of Michael Anderson’s attention would be a heady thing.
Stroking the sleeping dog next to her, she studied the lobby for the millionth time. Polished marble floors reflected the high-end furnishings strategically placed for the highest impact… Just like the man. High impact. Yep. That fit Michael Anderson perfectly.
With a sigh, she checked the time on her phone. He’d been in there with Mr. Kawashima and his interpreter for over an hour. She’d been invited to join, but had decided against it. She’d contributed everything she possibly could by visiting with the man about his dogs during the introductions. Michael had performed brilliantly through the whole conversation, following her earlier instructions to the tee, and Clancy had reacted better than expected to the staged show of affection from his reluctant temporary master. Heck, if she hadn’t been the one to instruct him on exactly how to hold and stroke the dog, she might have believed the act herself.
The dark set of wooden double doors swung open, finally, and Clancy leapt off of her lap and bounded toward the three men. Mr. Kawashima crouched down, and to Mia’s amazement, the dog blasted right by him and skidded to a halt at Michael’s feet.
His panicked expression almost caused her to laugh out loud, but instead, she made a gesture with her arms. Michael took the cue and picked Clancy up, cradling him just as she had indicated. He didn’t even flinch when Clancy licked him on the face.
Lucky dog.
She shook herself mentally. No! Absolutely not, Mia. That man, no matter how adorable he looked holding the wiggly Shih Tzu, was not for her—or any woman, probably. Men like Michael Anderson were for themselves. His single-minded pursuit of his business image and success knocked him right out of the running for any place in her heart…or her bed, regardless of how much her body disagreed.