you need a date.”
Her assistant groaned with frustration. “Don’t I know it.”
“Are you bringing anyone to the party tonight?”
She answered with a sad shake of her head. “I’m really looking forward to it, still. You’re very sweet to host one every year.”
Being sweet really had nothing to do with it. Carli loved throwing that regular yearly party. She’d been planning and shopping for it since October.
“Well, in any case, you need to stop focusing on Justin Hammond’s looks or his appeal,” she admonished the younger woman, though part of her was addressing herself. “For all intents and purposes, the man is our boss.”
Jocelyn pulled out the chair across from Carli’s desk and plopped into it. “I know, I know. I’m just admiring him from afar. I wouldn’t dream of going after the man who owns part of the company I work for.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear it.”
A mischievous smile formed on Jocelyn’s lips. “Besides, he hardly glanced in my direction when he was here. He was much more focused on someone else.”
Carli didn’t like where she was going with this. “I want no part in where you’re trying to take this conversation.”
Jocelyn leaned forward in the chair, gave her a smile that could only be described as wicked. “Oh, come on! You had to notice.”
“Notice what?”
“The way he was looking at you. Or more accurately, how he couldn’t look away.”
“All I noticed was how to make sure I gave him all the information he needed to get himself situated. He just needed more info about how the company operates.”
Jocelyn looked skeptical. “Right. Just admit it.”
“I don’t see the point.” The last thing she wanted to talk about, in her office no less, was the way men looked at her. The way Justin had looked at her. Recalling the way his eyes had roamed over her sent a shiver down her spine even now.
“Does there have to be a point to everything?”
Carli couldn’t help but smile. Had she ever been that lighthearted? She couldn’t remember a time. Not even as a child. There was always too much to do. Always a mess to clean up or a sibling to look after.
“I’d just like to figure out why he’s really here. After all these years,” she said, trying to change the subject back to business.
Jocelyn shrugged slightly. “I thought it was just because James is going to be away for a while. And that Mr. Hammond, as both their father and CEO, decided it would be a good time to bring him on board with his older brother otherwise occupied.”
Carli knew that’s how things looked on the surface. But it still didn’t explain Justin’s sudden appearance. She was more than capable of holding down the fort while James Hammond was away. That wasn’t self-aggrandizing or conceit. The eldest Mr. Hammond had expressed the notion in countless ways over the years.
“I’m glad he is here!” Jocelyn exclaimed. “Things were getting way too droll around this place. We needed some excitement.”
“You just like looking at him.”
“No doubt!” Jocelyn actually giggled. “I mean, what’s not to like? He’s downright dreamy. I’ve been watching him for years in all the tabloids. With one exotic model after another. Or that actress, what’s her name. She was in that romantic comedy last year. I hear he’s single now though.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Personally, I’m of the opinion that he should try to find someone with more substance. I mean, what are the chances he would ever fall for an everyday, average woman though, right? Men like that never do. He’s way too glamourous and worldly for that. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Carli’s request to finally terminate this conversation died on her lips when she noticed someone had arrived at her open door. The blood left her brain when she realized who it was. Justin.
How long had he been standing there? And how much had he heard?
If the floorboards opened up and swallowed her whole, it wouldn’t be enough to lessen her mortification.
This was just fabulous. On top of everything else, now he was going to see her as nothing but an office gossip.
* * *
His reputation preceded him yet again, Justin thought as he hesitated outside Carli’s office door. He’d caught just enough of the women’s conversation to realize it was absolutely about him. Also that it was mostly one-sided. Carli had barely spoken a word. In fact, she appeared ready to give her assistant a hard shake.
The other woman’s back was turned to where he stood, but Carli had clearly seen him.
Damn.
This was awkward. Unable to come up with anything appropriate to say, he simply cleared his throat. Jocelyn, the assistant, actually jumped in her chair.
Carli didn’t take her disapproving eyes off her when she spoke. “Justin, something else I can do for you? Jocelyn was just leaving.”
“Yes, yes, I was.” Jocelyn bolted up and ran out of the room, making sure not to look Justin in the eye.
Carli motioned to the newly abandoned chair in front of her desk. “Please, have a seat.” She glanced at her watch. “Though we don’t have a lot of time before the staff meeting.”
Her cheeks were flushed, and she wouldn’t meet his eyes either. Still awkward.
“It’s okay,” he began, then sat. “This won’t take long.”
“What can I do for you?”
Justin swore under his breath. This was going to be even more uncomfortable after he’d walked in on the previous conversation. But it was too late to back out now. Besides, he owed her an apology. He took a deep breath. “Listen, I know we got off on the wrong foot. I mean this morning. At my father’s house.”
She quirked an eyebrow in surprise.
“I’m not usually so...”
“Rude?” she supplied as he trailed off.
“That’s probably an accurate description. In my defense, I’d been traveling all night. Not that it’s any kind of excuse.”
“I agree. It’s not any kind of excuse.”
Wow. She was a tough one. He didn’t need this; he was only trying to apologize. Albeit doing a terrible job at it. But instead of being annoyed by her directness, he found it somewhat intriguing. Refreshing in a way. Most people didn’t bother to challenge him under any circumstances. Carli Tynan was clearly not like most people. Her gaze pinned him where he sat. He hadn’t noticed before just how her eyes appeared to go from deep chocolate
