Page 5 of Tempt the Boss
CHAPTER 3
Chris
Oh, shit. When Ali Hartman walks into my office, I’m positive she’s an intern looking for a job. She looks that young.
“Hi,” the curvy brunette says shyly. “I’m Ali.”
She holds out her hand, waiting for me to shake it. I hesitate for a second. My eyes are being drawn to her large breasts. I’d estimate them to be DDs. The dress she’s wearing accentuates her voluptuous figure. What I would give to dig my fingers into her delicious thighs while my tongue….
What the hell am I thinking? Good thing I’m behind a desk because my immediate hard-on would be visible. Yeah, I’m a fucking dog and won’t apologize for it. Besides, no woman has ever made me hard just by walking into my office. I could really get used to this.
But like a champ, I shake her hand like nothing’s wrong. “Nice to meet you,” are my smooth words. “I’m Chris.”
She smiles shyly again. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Carmichael.”
“Please call me Chris,” comes my low voice.
The woman nods and awkwardly like she’s nervous. I sit back down in my leather chair, my groin well hidden by my mahogany desk. I will my erection to subside, but Ali’s curves and her red, full lips are making that impossible.
“Please, sit,” I drawl casually, gesturing to the chairs across from my desk. “Thanks for meeting with me on such short notice.”
That curvy form perches itself tentatively on the edge of a chair. “Of course,” the woman says, biting her lip. Oh, fuck. It makes her mouth rosy, and I’m so fucking aroused. “I’m so glad your editors liked my book.”
“I liked your book,” I growl, holding up a copy of the manuscript. “I’ll be honest with you, we have never had a manuscript this good come to us before. We’re hoping you’ll agree to sign our contract immediately.”
Ali blushes and my cock twitches. What the hell? This is out of control, but something about Ali’s presence is making me want to do a lot of things I’ve never done.
“Tell me, what inspired the book?” I continue like nothing’s wrong. “The rich atmosphere of the small town, the family dynamics, the raw emotion. There has to be a story behind the story.”
She smiles sweetly. “Well, I grew up in a town just like Smithville.”
I raise my brow. “I thought you were from the city?”
“I’m from about thirty minutes north of the city, but it’s easier to say I’m from NYC,” she says with a gentle laugh. “I went to school here, anyways, so I guess I just got used to saying it after four years.”
“I see.”
She continues to smile nervously at me. I’m tempted to jump over my desk and kiss those beautiful lips.
“So I drew a lot of inspiration from my hometown, though we don’t have unsolved murders and my dad isn’t a serial killer. The human relationships and dynamics are real, but the plot is all me.”
I can see that in the writing. I’m surprised I didn’t pick up on it before. Only someone from a small town could nail small town life so well.
“Your book is incredible, Ali.”
She beams. “It means so much to hear you say that.”
“Do you think you’ll sign the contract? No pressure, of course. And you’re not legally bound by anything you say in here.”
She blushes again, biting her lip.
“I hope so. My agent is looking it over and requesting changes. We’re going to discuss it when she’s back in town next week, and I’ll have an answer for you.”
Ali shifts in her seat, causing her dress to ride down just a bit further. The mounds of her breasts threaten to pop out of the tight bodice of her dress. I lick my lips and quickly tear my eyes away from the delicious sight.
She catches my eyes as they fight to meet hers again. I avert mine when I see her gentle smile. Does this woman know what she’s doing to me? Normally, I’d say yes, but in this case, she’s so innocent. It’s possible Ali has no idea.
“Tell your agent we’re willing to make any reasonable changes to the contract if it means we can get to work on this project.”