“This is my floor.” I pushed through the throngs of confused faces and wasn’t surprised at all when I heard someone mutter. “Who’s that?”
“Only been riding the same elevator for the past eight years, but no sweat,” I muttered under my breath, hobbling toward the glass doors of Platt Publicity.
“Jordan!” Ren, my boss, flashed a pearly white smile and then frowned. “Did you get in a car accident?”
“Don’t own a car,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Did you get run over by a taxi, then?” He opened the door for me, and his concerned expression choked me up a bit. He was nice and the only man who noticed me. Then again, he was like sixty and married with five kids. So there was that.
“No,” I huffed. “Just a rough start to the morning.” I stopped at my office and tossed my things onto the nearest chair. “Tell me they’re late, Ren. Tell me I have time to change clothes and tame my hair and—”
“They’re here!” Ren’s assistant rounded the corner and ushered us toward one of the meeting rooms. I was half-tempted to dig my broken heel into the ground, but knew it was pointless. I was going to meet one of the biggest clients of my career looking like roadkill.
“Just smile,” Ren said under his breath.
I smiled.
He winced. “Less aggressive, more . . . friendly.”
I tried again.
He patted my hand, his kind brown eyes looking me up and down with pity. “Why don’t you just let me do the talking?”
“Fine,” I grumbled. The silver-haired fox of a boss could charm anyone and anything with a pulse, so it was probably best he did the talking anyway. After all, it was his company, and I was just one of his favorite publicists.
At least I could do something right.
I averted my eyes as he’d instructed and made my way to my usual chair, only to find it occupied.
I blinked, my gaze narrowing on an athletic, lust-inducing body that definitely knew how to fill out an Armani suit.
The body was attached to large hands that looked strangely familiar.
I continued my appreciative stare all the way up his broad chest and stopped when my eyes zeroed in on his mouth.
It was a nice mouth.
One I wouldn’t forget.
Even after the oddness of the night before.
“Handsome Stranger?” I blurted.
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t you mean Gay Handsome Stranger?”
I smirked. “How is Max?”
“You two know each other?” Ren asked.
“Yes,” we said in unison while I continued sizing him up. I wondered if it was a bad sign that he recognized me after the chaos of the morning. Why even try, am I right?
“Good.” Ren took a seat. “That will make things so much easier, don’t you think, Ella?”
“Yes!” Ella, who I recognized as an agent, reached for Ren’s hand and squeezed. “So good to see you.”
They were of similar age.
And started talking about their kids.
While I took a seat next to the handsome guy and tapped my chin. “You look . . .”
“Handsome? Not gay? Take your pick.”
“Bummer, I was going to say sober.” I smiled sweetly.
He rolled his eyes. “For the last time, I’m not gay. It was a mistake; if you knew my insane brother, you’d understand.”
I held up my hands.
“So does that work out?” Ren asked from the front of the table.
“Er.” I cleared my throat. “Absolutely.”
Handsome Man narrowed his eyes. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. Care to reiterate the conversation?” This he directed at me.
I felt myself flush from head to toe.
Ren slid a folder across the table. “Everything should be there. The contract isn’t your usual, Jordan.”
I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“Jordan.” Mr. Handsome rolled my name around on his tongue like he wanted to take a taste. I shifted in my seat and shot him a glare. Total self-preservation move. “Isn’t that a guy’s name?”
“Reid.” Ella coughed from her end of the table.
I smiled sweetly. “Reid, hmm, what an interesting name.” Isn’t that something that grows out of algae-infested water? That’s what I wanted to say, but because I needed him as a client, I refused to comment further. Not that it mattered, since it seemed like he could read my thoughts.
His lips twitched with a suppressed smirk.
“Ha-ha.” Ren laughed uncomfortably, breaking the silent stare-down Reid and I were having. “So we’ll just let you two discuss the details of the contract. I assume you’re able to do that now, Jordan, or did you want to reschedule?”
What? Because I looked like I’d been the unlucky recipient of swine flu? No, thanks. This was my job, and regardless of how I looked, I could do my job.
I nodded as Ella and Ren exited the room.