The Prescription Playboy. Grayson Reyes-Cole

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      “Okay, Hunny. I don’t want to fight with you about this. I realize it’s a problem, and I’m going to do all I can to help you fix it.”

      “I do feel like we have a fantastic opportunity to do something for this company. And even if he doesn’t know it, Kevin Carter may endanger the company he’s worked very hard for by failing to give it the right image.”

      “I know, sweetie,” Gina offered. “But, this is not the end of the world. It’s only an industrial hygiene inspection, there’s nothing sexy about industrial hygiene. A very brief write up on it dealt mostly with Nicky. No one’s interested in the story for more than entertainment. The media isn’t holding this against the company. For that matter, no one’s holding it against Kevin either. Nicky is the one who is now scholar-come-stalker. As long as we are clean—and we are—there’s no problem. It will be fine.”

      Huntington opted to let it go for the time being. “So do you think we’ll settle this thing this week or not?” she asked in a decidedly lighter tone.

      “I should hope so, Hunny. It’s wearin’ me out.” Gina used one hand to shake Huntington’s and put the other to her chest in a marvelously affected gesture.

      “Then let’s get to it. We have some phone calls to make and some interviews to script.”

      * * * *

      Gina left Hunny in her temporary office. Though she knew it was a mistake of mammoth proportions, Huntington called Arthur to give him the direct phone number. At least she would have a brief respite from Rule Britannia! She put her phone on mute as she printed documents for her meeting with Carter. Arthur, it seemed, was trying to give her pointers on how to conduct her first encounter the man who was fast becoming her nemesis.

      Huntington half-listened. She’d been doing her job for years, and she’d heard this pep talk from Arthur more times than she could count.

      After she got off the phone, she stood and stretched looking around the office. Yep, about the size of a tidy, self-contained cell. She checked her watch. Arthur had managed to talk her through another hour. Honestly, what did he do with his day besides dog her every step?

      With a deep breath to bolster her courage, Hunny ventured out in search of the enigmatic Kevin Carter. It was time for their first meeting.

      She’d been told at the desk that his office was off one of the laboratories. She checked the light above the door of Lab Two. Green. She pressed on the door, squaring her shoulders as if she were about to do battle.

      At first, she didn’t think anyone was there. The lab seemed absent of any organism not growing in a Petrie dish or beaker. It smelled clean, sterile even, the counters were neatly organized with their trays and vials and tubes and fascinating machines all in order. She heard a squeak as the door opened behind her. The hairs rose on the nape of her neck. Huntington recognized him right away. Oh, this was cruel.

      This chemist was like none she’d ever met. He was tall and big, much more so than she’d thought from the pictures. She watched with fascination as he shrugged out of his white lab coat. His black golf shirt—hanging the right way off his body—showed off thick, sinewy muscles in his wide back bunching with each smooth motion. Shoulders as broad as they come led to arms that were thick and defined and strong. He possessed a narrow waist and hips. Hunny could see the curve of a healthy bottom leading down to strong thighs and calves she could sense even in his loose-fitting pants. He turned toward her, sensing her presence, and she could see the power in his chest. Just a quick, unconscious contracting of the muscles there that drew her eyes and dried her throat.

      Hunny swallowed. She hadn’t seen a body like that in a long, long time. She hadn’t had such a powerful physical reaction to a man in…well, never. The body was perfect, but she hesitated before looking at a face she’d only seen in pictures. However, Hunny had never been a coward. Slowly, her eyes traveled up and up until she absently pressed a hand to her chest.

      Huntington didn’t know if she had ever seen someone so delicious looking and so…so… damn. His skin was dark chocolate, smooth, and shining with a young, healthy glow. He had high, proud cheekbones and a straight, firm nose. His jaw was strong and square. His chin was just as adamant. His lips were full and seemed soft and warm and ready to kiss. And his eyes—Good Lord, they had not left her since he came in—his eyes were the deepest brown, black even, and mesmerizing with their almond shape. They were warm eyes that held amusement and intelligence and just a hint of something else that was more than a little intimidating. They were talking to her, and Hunny didn’t know if she was ready for what they were saying. She took a step back. The amusement in those brown orbs kicked up a notch, and Hunny swallowed.

      Hunny had to look away for a moment. Her throat was dry and her insides felt like they were all stirred up. She needed to clear her head so she took a deep breath then—pure accident—cast her gaze back his way. His arms crossed over his chest as he leaned back against the counter. He smiled a brief, appraising smile that gave Hunny a glimpse of incredibly straight, white teeth, with the barest hint of a gap between the front two. Goodness, even that was sexy. And, as if that wasn’t enough, the chemist started to speak. His voice was heavy and hot like a caress. It was familiar and… She realized what he’d said and her eyes widened. “Hello, Honeybee.”

      She knew immediately why he’d chosen that silly moniker. Her butter-colored skin, sand-colored hair, and light brown eyes were frequently enough commented on. But, only her mother ever called Honeybee. Most people shortened Huntington to Hunny, not Honeybee. She didn’t like the name or the liquid warmth that had pooled inside her at the sound of it rolling off his tongue.

      It was going to be pretty damn hard to get through this first meeting if he was going to keep heating her up with those scandalous gazes. And she couldn’t for the life of her figure out why. Why was this gorgeous man so obviously attracted to her? Sure she looked all right enough—she’d have to be slow not to know that—but this guy dated models. Unless it was the chase? Or perhaps he was one of the guys who was just into quantity. Huntington found herself frowning. She was not looking forward to the next couple of days working in close quarters with this coffee-complected Adonis.

      For a moment, she considered running. Maybe her best bet would be to leave the laboratory, find Gina, and tell her she could present the work they’d done earlier that day. She would call Arthur and tell him…tell him… Well, she didn’t know what she would tell him. All she knew was, she couldn’t work with Kevin Carter. She had to be realistic. This man was dangerous to every part of her person. He held her career in the balance, and he was making her body go haywire while she needed all of her mental energy to land this troublesome contract.

      Quickly, with as much composure as she could muster, she explained, “I’m sorry, were you expecting me?” She pushed out her hand and stepped forward. “I’m—”

      “Huntington Lewis, of course.”

      “Yes,” Hunny answered nearly embarrassed by the breathy sound of her own voice. “Huntington Lewis.”

      “I’ve really been looking forward to meeting you,” he stated, clasping her hand. For a moment, she couldn’t look away from his face. He was so masculine and beautiful… That’s when she realized she should be shaking his hand back.

      “Shall we go to my office?”

      Huntington nodded. She started toward the door and turned to leave. However, when she hazarded a glance behind her, she found that Adonis—Carter—hadn’t СКАЧАТЬ