“Huh?” Natalie’s heart smacked against her ribs as she rushed to shut the folder before he could see it. “Oh, yeah.” She smiled a bit too widely. “Although sometimes that’s not always the case either. Again, it all just—”
“Depends.” The GQ-looking CFO finished for her with a grin.
Damn. Even the slash of a dimple caving in on his left cheek did nothing to spark interest in her underwhelmed libido.
Because he’s not the one you really want.
And just like that, all thoughts of mystery files and cryptic notes vanished, replaced by the image of Logan’s tempting face.
Sexy, rugged, panty-dropping Logan. And in her mind’s eye, she was back in that moment in her kitchen. Back to noticing every shade of blue and green in those incredible, soul-stealing eyes of his.
Eyes that had been looking down at her as if she were his world.
“Natalie? Are you okay?”
The hand waving in front of her face erased the memory’s imagined visual, snapping her back to the present.
“I’m sorry, what?”
Dennis slid his hands into his pockets and tilted his head just so. “Everything okay?” His attentive gaze slid to the box and back up to her.
“Oh, yeah.” Another forced chuckle. “Everything’s great. I-I just thought I put a file in the wrong box. That’s all.”
“And the audit? I trust all is as it should be on that front?”
Like I’d risk my career by telling you if it wasn’t.
“I’m sorry. I’m not really allowed to—”
“Say no more.” Dennis raised a hand to keep her from continuing. “My apologies. I guess you’ve spent so much time here this past week, I feel like you’re a permanent part of the team.” When Natalie didn’t respond, he added, “You could be, you know? One phone call, and you’d have your own office, company expense account, credit card…”
Was this guy serious?
“I sure hope you aren’t suggesting I accept a bribe, Dennis. Because something like that could get us both in a lot of trouble.”
“A bribe?” He threw his head back in a pretentious laugh. “Oh, heavens no. I was trying to offer you a job.”
“I already have a job.”
The man smiled. The same hand she’d shook minutes earlier running across his smooth jaw. “I know. I’ve asked around about you, Natalie. And I know the kind of employee you are for Schwartz. I think, and Glenn agrees, you’d be an even more valued part ofourteam.”
He’d spoken to Glenn Frost about her?TheGlenn Frost?
Okay, even Natalie could admit that made her feel pretty cool. Still…
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m not looking to leave Schwartz and Associates anytime soon.”
“Understood.” Dennis tipped his head her way. “And respected.” An awkward pause in conversation blanketed the room before he asked, “On a totally different note, there’s a retirement party starting downstairs in about….” He paused to check a watch that probably cost more than her car. “Now, actually.” Dennis’s chest shook with a huffed laugh. “You’re welcome to join the crew in our celebration. All the food you can eat and an open bar, courtesy of Frost Avionics, of course.”
“Of course.” She grinned. “I appreciate the offer, but again, we’re not supposed to socialize with the clients or their employees outside the office while we’re actively conducting official business for said company.”
And before he asked, yes. Shehadmemorized almost every policy in her own company’s employee handbook. Because that was the type of woman she was.
When she was in something, she wasallin. Work…relationships…it didn’t matter.
Nope. We’re not going back to the topic of relationships. That is off limits for…the rest of the year. At least.
The voice in her head was right. She was done with getting caught up in her own head, done with stressing over this audit, and more than ready to be done with this bizarre day.