“I better get back or Simon will have my head.” Raven’s words and nervous laugh filled the highly-charged room.
“What?” Casey said, forcing herself to turn away.
“You know, our director. He’s driving us harder the closer we get to opening night.” She pushed away from the desk, mouthed “Hell yeah” to Casey with a slight jerk of her head toward the man in the doorway, then sauntered out of the room.
“What are you doing here?” she said, forcing her voice to be steady and nonchalant.
“I could ask you the same thing.” He pushed away from the door jamb and walked over to the desk. The air between them tightened. She could smell the oily sweetness of gasoline, the deep, earthy scent of fallen leaves, and the crisp freshness of mountain air.
He picked up the gold-toned nameplate and ran a finger over the letters. “Casey Reese.” His voice was low with a slight edge to it.
She reached out and snatched the metal plate from his hands. “May I help you with something?”
“That’s a loaded question.” His low, husky voice slid over her, setting every nerve ending alive.
Damnit. Stop acting like a schoolgirl.
“Am I bothering you?” There was a glint of humor in his voice.
Sitting up straight, she shook her head. “Not at all. I’m busy and wondering why you’re here.”
“Is this your new job?”
“No. Look, I’m swamped with a lot of projects right now. I don’t have time to engage in small talk.”
“Is that what we’re doing, engaging in small talk?” His voice rumbled with a low, sexy timbre.
“Yes, I mean no.” She leaned back in the desk chair and brushed away a few unruly strands of her hair. “I don’t know. All I know, Mr. Kendrick, is I have work to do, and you’re disturbing me.”
“I can see that I’mdisturbingyou.” He leaned forward. “I like that you took the time to get my name off the receipt at the nursery.”
Shit. That was a rookie slip.“Don’t flatter yourself. I make a note of all customers’ names in case there’s a problem with their card or purchase.”
“I bet.”
Her temper sparked. “Again, don’t flatter yourself. You’re far too smug for—”
“Save it,sweetheart. I’m not interested. I just like teasing you because you get so pissed off.”
Casey stared hard at him. “What the hell are you doing in my office? I don’t have time to engage in childish games with a guy so full of himself, he’s ready to burst. Get out of my office. Now.”
His gaze narrowed and his jaw tightened.
She laughed. “You can dish it out but you can’t take it.”
“Woman, you’re one know-it-all pain in the ass.”
“Then why are you here? And how did you know where I worked? Are you some kind of a stalker?”
Anger shone in his eyes, and he stiffened as if he were a coiled spring, ready to snap. “I don’t stalk chicks; they come after me.”
“Well, thischick”—she jabbed a finger hard against her sternum—“is not interested. Leave my office before—”
The door flew open. “Casey, can you help me with this?” Clara stood in the middle of the room, holding a folder, her gaze darting between Casey and Chase Kendrick. “What’re you doing here?” she asked.
Does Clara know him?
“Mom said you’re having car trouble. I came to check it out,” he said, softness replacing the anger in his voice from just a few seconds before. “Are you parked out back?”