CHASING TROUBLE

Embarrassed, she looked away. He was being just obnoxious enough for only her to notice, she told herself. He could tap those fingers on the table all day; she refused to look at him. This is going to be horrible. She knew it, but no matter what she felt, she knew that the kissing incident could not be repeated. She had to make sure of it.

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Barely thirty minutes after Caroline returned to her office from the meeting she’d left in a hurry, Frank Connelly came into her office, followed closely by Nicholas.

Frank barely came into her office. Whenever he needed her, he called her into his office, so she was a little surprised when she saw him come in. Caroline stood up, ignoring Nicholas who stood beside her father, “I’m sorry, Mr Connelly, did you need me?” she asked with concern,

Frank shook his head, “Oh, No not at all,” he said, “I’m just showing Nick around… You know… Meeting the managers in person. He didn’t think the introduction earlier was enough to create the needed connection with most of the staff,”

Caroline nodded, knowing that Nicholas was watching her keenly. Of course Nicholas would want to meet everyone in person… He was probably prepared to use those charms of his on everyone…. Just like he’d done with her. She refused to look in his direction and instead kept her eyes on his father.

Nicholas on the other hand watched her with both awe and amusement.

Her reaction to see him walk into the meeting had been hilarious, and although Nicholas had been prepared to see her again after their brief encounter, his reaction when she stood up and left the room after the meeting could only be described as nothing but pure lust. He’d known that Caroline was a beautiful woman, but the mere sight of her in a pencil-slim navy skirt and a high-necked white blouse with a trim navy blazer should have called to mind visions of repressed Catholic schoolgirls. Instead it played havoc with his hormones and gave them decidedly inappropriate ideas. Inappropriate ideas were the last thing he needed right now.

“Now I know you guys have already met,” Frank Connelly said,

“Yeah, of course we have,” Nicholas suddenly interrupted, and he stretched out a hand to her, “Miss Caroline Anderson, am I right?” he asked, savoring her name as if it were some rich chocolate dessert. “It is nice to see you again”

Was that supposed to be a question for her to answer? She knew they hadn’t been around each other for too long, but he should definitely remember her name. Two weeks wasn’t such a very long time, and even if it was, what kind of person made out with someone like he had with her and forgot their names after two weeks? Probably someone who made out of lots of women that it was hard to keep up. What was the name of that woman on the phone again? Rachael right? She almost rolled her eyes in disgust as she stretched out her hand to meet his.

“Yes, you’re right,” she replied, hoping that he could read the look in her eyes and understand that she was only being nice to him for his father’s benefit. Judging by the amusement in his eyes, he understood perfectly. “It’s good to see you again, Mr Connelly,” she concluded.

Nicholas smirked. Mr Connelly… How formal and professional, he thought. There was nothing professional about the way she’d clung to him when he kissed her senseless weeks ago. Her hand felt warm in his. A lot smaller than his and soft too. He held her hand longer than necessary, and he let his thumb brush against the back of her hand…. Once… Twice, and he smiled. Heat rushed up her chest and throat and poured into her face. She looked away from him and swallowed hard, trying to conceal the flush that surely stained her cheekbones, then she pulled her hand away with more force than necessary.

But he saw.

The bastard, she thought. She wanted to kill him.

Oblivious to what was going on, Frank continued, “You’ve been working hand in hand with me since we started this whole thing with Kay Corp, so I thought that you’d be the best person to brief Nick on it while I attend to other things. Hope it won’t be a problem?”

“Not at all sir,” Caroline replied and shook her head. What was she supposed to say? Yes, I think it would be a huge inconvenience for me to stay and hang around your ridiculously handsome son who I made out with weeks ago?

“Good,” Frank concluded, “Then I guess I better leave both of you to it then. I hope you enjoy working together,”

Nicholas smiled at that last comment. Oh, he planned to enjoy working with her alright, he thought.

___________

After Frank left the office, Caroline took her seat, but Nicholas made no effort to leave. He remained standing and took the opportunity to look around her office. It wasn’t a large office, but it was the right size and it served its purpose.

There were white blinds on the windows, two flower vases…. The smaller one on her desk and the other on the other end opposite her chair and brown tiles on the floor.

Caroline watched him look around and wondered what he was thinking. This man had the annoying ability to read her like a book and she winced when he took the framed picture of her family from her desk and stared intensely at it.

The picture was taken five years ago at a family vacation and it had Caroline, her parents and her sister in it.

Nicholas placed it back on her desk and finally met her gaze, “Didn’t know you had a sibling,”

Caroline swallowed before she responded, “I do. She’s currently in her final year in college but she visits me whenever she has the chance,”

Nicholas nodded, “Must be nice,” he said.

Caroline shook her head. This was her office. She was here to work and she certainly didn’t have time to make small talk with Nicholas Connelly. Honestly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to, so she said, “Mr Connelly, Would you like to discuss Kay Corp right now or would you like to schedule a time when you’d be less busy?”

Nicholas frowned, “Mr Connelly?” he repeated, “That’s too formal for my liking, besides my father is not here anymore so you don’t have to continue with the act.”