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But that picture was taken o and his dirty-blonde hair had been short then Now it flowed, fra his features like a portrait fit for display in a museum For an instant all I could think about was hoould feel to run h those silky locks

My footsteps slowed, antly rise and circle his large oak desk, closing the space between us with econo Richard’s hand, he stood in front of eous eyes bored into ely vulnerable and exposed under the weight of that stare, like I was undressed and naked before hi that hs ache What was it? Cologne, after shave, his phero so close, the raw netism he exuded jumbled my senses and made my pulse erratic I felt compelled and pushed all at once; it was a potent male force that could never be bottled or captured on filh and subsequent nudge on my arm broke the spell

My lips were dry so I licked the "Hello Mr Sorenson Kristen Daley It’s a pleasure tolike the appendage didn’t belong to me I watched him take it with his own and squeeze firraphic ies I neither approved of nor realized existed within ainst a wall or on my knees

"Vincent," he said, the velvety rasp of his voice flowing over me The way he spoke his own name made it seem evenfroot to squeeze back

When he released his grip and shifted his gaze away from me, I was both relieved and disappointed to have the dirty ether You’re here for business

"Great weather today," Richard re into the script

It was then I noticed Vincent earing a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals--just as Richard predicted The effect of the co than I could have predicted and I figured he was the only uring the beach bu enough to allow me to resu because I could feel Vincent’s gaze slide overarea of his office

Vincent gestured and we took two accent chairs near the large glass wall facing the beach It was a spacious office, bigger than any I had ever seen

"I’d like to work on reat spot," Richard said He had never surfed in his life

Vincent sat across fro hi, he exuded primal confidence "It’s one ofa restless energy inache betweenso Vincent’s attention was trained on him

Richard nodded enthusiastically "Fro those waves" This was part of the plan Richard would open up with a softball about the weather then progressively useit back to investies It was like a children’s education program I’d been skeptical--concerned the approach could be --but when he spelled it out, the effective sie was actually kind of brilliant

Vincent’s demeanor was i the anticipated signal, Richard continued, "The thing I admire most about him is his ability to read the water They called hi Vincent and Richard playing hi s the lines of "I’ part of lanced at his expensive sea-diver watch "I have another ht to the point Why should I trust you with my money?"

Shit This wasn’t part of the plan In a flash, I saeeks of work flushed into oblivion Panicking, I looked to Richard, hoping he’d pull so from a deep place of wisdom and experience

Richard sed a hard lu his brows I’d never seen hi to let Kristen tell you ies"

I reeled in horror when I realized where that deep place was

My mouth opened to protest, but I quickly shut it to avoid ruining what remained of our facade of professionalism I didn’t dare look at Vincent, but I could feel his intense focus on h the docu fingers If I screwed this up, Richard would blame me; he’d leftthe key benefits you’ll receive froed in a steady tone I rose fros to hand Vincent the briefing materials we had planned to leave with hi? Where was I taking this?

Stressed out by the situation as it was, I ling theelse proved to be too co up with ainst his shirt, papers strewn across his lap