Part 9 (2/2)
”Right,” Holly said, wondering if working with your best friend was almost as dangerous as sleeping with a client. ”Anyway, I do think First Impressions could end up with a lot of business out of this Langley deal. They have corporate offices all over the world, and a budget big enough to make your head spin.”
”Does each division handle their own marketing?”
”It all runs through corporate headquarters, but individual branches have budgets for promotional initiatives and marketing campaigns. Ben sent me a little info about it yesterday, and I couldn't believe the numbers. If we could get a piece of that-”
She stopped short, waiting for Miriam to point out that she'd already gotten a piece. When she didn't, it occurred to her that her potty-mouthed pal wasn't the only one with s.e.x on the brain.
”Anyway,” Holly said. ”If things go well with this CEO rebrand, maybe there's potential for First Impressions to do some work for other Langley divisions.”
All the more reason not to bone your client, her inner voice pointed out. You don't want to screw that up by s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g the CEO.
”Sounds good,” Miriam said, tucking a crumpled napkin and an apple core into her empty yogurt container as she stood up. ”I have to run to that meeting for Mountain Medical Group. You want to chat later about the bid for that cable company?”
”Let's aim for tomorrow. My calendar's up to date, so just pick a time that works.”
”Sounds like a plan.” Miriam squeezed her shoulder. ”Now get out there and bone that CEO.”
”I will do no such thing.”
”Whatever you say.”
As Miriam walked away, Holly crumpled her napkin onto her salad plate and sighed.
She felt confident in her ability to juggle multiple clients and to run this business the way she'd been doing the last couple years. She even felt confident in her ability to rebrand Ben Langley into the sort of alpha male CEO he needed to be.
If only she felt half as confident in her ability to resist him.
Chapter Seven.
Ben glanced at his watch for what had to be the hundredth time in the last hour. When he'd emailed Holly the previous afternoon to request a two o'clock meeting the next day, he hadn't considered the fact that having thirty-six hours pa.s.s before seeing her again would feel like an eternity.
It's strictly business.
Except his brain kept veering to images of her naked and breathless on his living room floor. Maybe this was supposed to be strictly business, but there was a lot more than business on his mind.
He glanced at his watch again. Two minutes until she was due to arrive.
”Dude!”
Ben looked up to see Parker standing in the doorway shaking his head. His best friend wore athletic shorts, a T-s.h.i.+rt from their boxing gym, and a look of intense annoyance.
”You stood us up again.” Parker ambled forward and dropped into the seat Ben had hoped to see cupping Holly's firm backside in mere seconds.
”s.h.i.+t, I'm sorry,” Ben said. ”I'm working around the clock on this new deal and-”
”And becoming your dad with every pa.s.sing day. Nice suit.”
Ben sighed. ”I'm sorry. Seriously, I'd love nothing more than to hit the gym with you guys, but this job is important.”
”You're aware the rest of us have jobs, too, right? Some of our t.i.tles even include words like president' and chief executive.'”
”You're clearly a better man than I am.”
Parker shook his head. ”Wow, the stress is really getting to you. Did your dad have your sense of humor surgically removed before he granted you a key to the building?”
”Sorry.” Ben raked his hands through his hair. ”It's just-this is my shot, you know? To take the company in a new direction and make up for some of the s.h.i.+t my dad pulled when my mom was still alive.”
”That's an awful lot of weight to put on your shoulders.”
Ben shrugged. ”It is what it is.”
”Fine. We'll cut you some slack for now, but if you start growing ear hair and slapping people on the back like your dad, we're hosting an intervention.” Parker grinned. ”It'll be like that time in college when you wanted to go to that insect convention and we had to kidnap you so you'd come with us for spring break in Cancun.”
”And I missed out on seeing a rare Dryococelus Australis.”
”Yeah, but the margaritas were outstanding.”
”I did have a good time,” Ben admitted, glancing at his watch again. ”Speaking of time, I have an important meeting starting any second now.”
As if on cue, the intercom buzzed on his desk. ”Holly Colvin is here to see you?”
Parker raised an eyebrow, and Ben tried to ignore him. ”Thanks, Carol,” he said. ”You can send her in.”
He looked at Parker, who was shooting him a knowing grin. ”What?” Ben asked. ”My meeting happens to be with a woman.”
”Who happens to make you grin like you just won a gift certificate from the b.l.o.w.j.o.b-of-the-month club.”
”Very nice. You can go now.”
Parker stood up just as Holly strode through the door looking flushed and beautiful in a slim skirt with a crisp green blouse that looked like it would be silky to touch.
Stop thinking about touching her.
Ben stood up and stepped around his desk to greet her. ”Holly,” he said, extending his hand. He realized belatedly that offering a handshake to a woman he'd seen naked thirty-six hours ago was the most socially awkward greeting he could have managed, but she met him with a firm grip and a smile.
”Ben. Good to see you again.” Her gaze drifted to Parker, and Ben realized he should probably introduce his oldest pal instead of standing there like an idiot.
”This is Parker,” he offered. ”He was just leaving.”
”No I wasn't,” Parker said, extending a hand to Holly. ”You'll have to excuse my friend. He's completely devoid of charm and social skill.”
”Which is precisely why Holly's here,” Ben said. ”That's top secret, by the way. You say a word to my dad and I'll beat you to death with my paperweight.”
Parker smiled at Holly with renewed interest. ”You're his life coach?”
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