“What are you doing?” she snaps.
“She applied for an intern position. I knew she wouldn’t get it. She’s the daughter of a childhood friend of Susan’s. It was a final favor.”
Julie doesn’t say anything right away. She knows that the attorney’s papers were drawn, signed, and delivered. Considering she’s the one who sent the go-ahead to have Susan served.
As my secretary and office manager, she oversees every aspect of my business and personal life. In fact, I think that Julie knows more about me than Susan ever has. She lifts a brow, her eyes focused on me.
“Just… be careful, Landry,” she warns.
Giving her a small smile, I nod my head once, then turn away from her and head into my office where I’ll be as careful as I possibly can. Also, where I know it is going to take all of the restraint in the world to keep from wanting this girl, craving her—taking her.
Chapter Seven
TENNESSEE
Mr. Astor walks past me as he makes his way toward his desk. I try really hard not to sniff the air as he breezes past my body. I try really hard and I fail. He smells so good, like cedarwood and something spicy.
Crossing my legs, I squeeze my thighs together as I wonder why I feel this attraction toward him. It’s weird, I don’t understand it at all. Not only have I not felt attraction toward a man in years, but why would I feel it for someone who is his age?
It must be that whole daddy issue thing. I don’t know my father, never have. So maybe because this is someone in a position of power, someone who I can look up to, I have an attraction toward him?
But if that’s the case, wouldn’t I have felt anything over the dozens of male professors I’ve had throughout the years?
I’ve never felt anything for any of them, for any man, not until I walked into this office last week and laid eyes on Landry Astor. Even his name sends a thrill of desire up my spine. It’s hot, just like he is.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I wonder if he looks as good as I think he does beneath his clothes or if I would be greatly disappointed? I’m never going to find out, it’s silly to even think the thoughts, it feels wrong, forbidden—taboo.
“Here, I have an iPad for you and a new laptop will be arriving today. Also, this is your phone.”
He slides the items across the desk. I stand and make my way toward them, taking them in my hands before I turn and walk back over to the chair. Sinking down in the seat, I look at the brand new, in the box, Apple devices.
Lifting my eyes, I blink, then shake my head. “These are new,” I whisper.
His lips turn up into a small smile. “They are. So is the MacBook. As my assistant, I need you to be available at all times. I also need you to be able to have access to my calendar. This way, I know that you have the tools I need. Now the phone has unlimited data, and if you don’t have internet access at your home, you can just use its hotspot.”
“I have internet,” I say, interrupting him.
His smile widens, my heart hammers against my chest. He’s so handsome. Shifting in my seat, I uncross, and switch legs, crossing them. I don’t miss the way his gaze flicks to my legs, then quickly shifts back up to meet my own.
He clears his throat, shifting in his seat as well. I don’t know if it’s possible, but maybe he’s attracted to me as well? Biting on the inside of my cheek, I try not to think about it. I can’t. He’s married, with children my age. He’s very married and he’s my new boss.
I do not want to jeopardize my position here. This is my shot, my big chance, and no way am I going to screw this up by coming on to my new boss. Not that I would. Honestly, I don’t even think I would know how anymore.
“Good. These are all yours free to use as you see fit, personally as well as for work.”
I stare at him in disbelief. I’m just some lowly assistant, no way is he just giving me these things to use. No freaking way. He clears his throat, then slides an envelope across the table.
“I had this overnighted. This is your company credit card. Sometimes I will ask you to go and buy things for me, to pick up something, to order something. You will do all of that on this card, along with buying yourself lunch every day.”
My breathing stops. It completely stops in my chest. Lunch every day? For me? Me? My lips part and I snap them closed as I watch him.
“This is too much,” I whisper. “I can’t. It’s too much.”
His lips twitch into a grin. “It’s not, Tennessee. These are the tools for the job and the lunches are just a perk. Julie monitors all of the accounts, so she’d tell me if there was an issue. But I’ve never really had one before.”
“Okay,” I breathe. “Okay.”
I don’t know what else to say. There are a million things that I could say, but instead, I just murmur a thank you. He continues to explain my duties to me, all of which sound way too easy.
Granted, I don’t know how to use all of the systems that he’s talking about, but I can figure it out. And I haven’t told him yet, but being available to him twenty-four-seven could be an issue.
“Mr. Astor?” I ask when he finally finishes. He hums, his eyes finding mine as he waits for my question. “You haven’t asked, and I’m not sure if you know,” I say, stumbling over my words. “But I have a child.”
His eyes widen. He sits back in his chair and he watches me for a long moment, too long. “He’s two and he’s in the childcare downstairs. It’s just the two of us, but I swear it won’t inhibit my ability to do my job and do it well.”
“It’s just the two of you?” he asks.
I don’t want to go into detail. I don’t want him to know the truth of my pregnancy, how it happened. I honestly don’t want anyone to know, not ever again.
My therapist knows, my mother knows, and a few people from college. But I don’t want Holden growing up his whole life hearing about the way he was conceived. I don’t want him to think that he is wrong or bad, because he’s not. He’s perfect.
Nodding, I smile. “Just the two of us.”
His lips turn down, his gaze flicks from mine to his desk and then back to meet mine again. “Okay, Tennessee. It won’t be a problem, your personal life is just that. Yours.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He smiles softly. “Don’t thank me. That’s just the way it is. We’ll be working closely together, we’ll be getting to know one another personally, but I don’t want you to feel as if you owe me any explanations about your personal life.”
Nodding, I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as my mouth turns up into a small smile. “I do appreciate it, Mr. Astor. More than you could ever know.”
“Landry,” he grunts. “You can call me Landry.”
I can feel my face heat as I say his name. “Okay, Landry. Thank you.”
He grins, his eyes searching mine, but he’s kind enough not to mention my heated face, no doubt bright red in color. He clears his throat, then continues.
“You don’t have a desk yet. I’ll see about getting something set up. You won’t need it immediately, I’m sure that Julie will keep you on your feet filing for the first week. I am going to have some time-sensitive documents that I need hand-delivered to my attorney’s office. Can you do that for me?”