Page 4 of Ever Mine

Ford whistles. “You read that already?”

“It’s a gift.” I sign the margin and hand it back. “Tell them we’ll renegotiate the mileage clause.”

“God, I love having a lawyer who can read faster than I can think.”

I smile. “That’s a fairly low bar.”

He chuckles, but his gaze lands on the stack of handwritten pages by my laptop. “Working on one of your secret projects again?”

I arch a brow. “You mean the quarterly compliance report?”

Ford grins. “Sure. Is that what the kids are calling them now? Maybe I should try to woo Mia with some quarterly compliance.”

I snort. “You only wish you were smooth enough for that.”

“Mia likes my unconventional romancing.”

“Romance is easier in theory, anyway,” I say.

He leans forward, eyes gleaming. “That sounds like something Rosie Thorne would say.”

“Pure coincidence,” I lie smoothly.

He lets it go — for now. Ford’s too smart not to suspect, but he’s decent enough not to press.

“So,” he says, standing. “What did you think of the new social media girl?”

Addison’s cleavage swims through my mind. I shake my head to try to clear it. Her bright eyes, nervous energy, and self-deprecating laughter had me completely off guard.

“Poor kid was embarrassed, but covered well,” Ford says.

Kid. The word grates against me. Yes, she looked young, but I don’t think she’s a kid.

“Blurting out something about porn in your very first corporate meeting is definitely a day one on the job memory for the ages,” I say.

Ford laughs. “Mia took her to lunch to ease her mind.”

“That’s good.”

“You didn’t form any other opinions?”

“She seems…” My mind unhelpfully supplies an entire catalog of adjectives: fresh-faced, clever, far too pretty, tempting, a walking fucking fantasy. I clear my throat. “…enthusiastic. That should make her good at her job, I suppose.”

Ford smirks. “You mean you noticed she’s cute.”

“I mean,” I say evenly, “that I hope she can handle our unique brand of creative chaos without suing us for emotional distress.”

“Uh-huh.” He heads for the door. “Just remember, this company does not have a no-fraternization policy. But try not to break her heart before she’s been here a month.”

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” I say.

Ford scoffs. “Oh, okay. I’m talking about your incessant flirting.”

“I do not flirt,” I say.

“Sure you don’t.”

When he’s gone, I quickly write down the notes for the contract amendment. Then I open my laptop.