“Hmph.” Mataeo North’s responding grunt held a playful undercurrent and he shook his head at the stunning sixty-something woman seated on the sofa opposite him.
“I swear it,” Claudia persisted in a tone that was just as breathy as it was sensual. “Many of the clients feel the same as I do.”
“Are we about to have problems, Claudia?”
“Why no, dear.” Claudia half turned toward the tall, lovely, coffee-complexioned woman seated to her left. “I’m only here to open the floor for discussion.”
“You mean to warn us.” Temple Grahame smiled knowingly while Claudia patted her knee.
“Honey, no.” Claudia gave a saucy toss of her frosted wheat-colored bob. “Mataeo runs a first-class operation. You both do incredible work.” She gave Temple’s knee one final pat and then settled back to her side of the sofa. “It’s just good business to let the clients know they’re appreciated.”
“By renegotiating already competitive rates?” Temple queried.
“By…patting our backs a little.” Claudia recrossed her legs and smiled at Mataeo.
He wasn’t humored. “North Shipping’s a private company, Claude, and it stays that way.”
“Calm down, darlin’. Everyone knows you have no intention of going public, but many of the clients would be open to discussing current rates—in this economy that’s fair to at least entertain, isn’t it?”
A muscle flexed along Mataeo’s square jawline. Propping a fist to his cheek, he looked toward Temple.
“Well, Claudia, it appears that we’re on the same wavelength.” Temple waited for the woman to turn to her again. “Mataeo and I have been working to put together a client weekend to begin with a dinner and round out with a series of individualized meetings to review the higher-end shipping agreements.”
Claudia’s mouth was in the shape of a perfectly glossy red O. “Why, Temple, that’s…that’s a marvelous idea.” Her tone sounded more awed than sensual then. “Is this a secret or may I—”
“Oh, no, feel free to discuss it,” Temple said, knowing Claudia would waste no time doing so regardless. “We haven’t gotten all the particulars in place yet so it’ll be several months into the future.”
“Sweetheart, I certainly understand.” Claudia leaned over to pat Temple’s knee again. “This is a huge deal and will take quite a while to prepare. The mere promise of it will be great news for the clients. Oh—” She paused to retrieve her vibrating cell phone from the sofa cushion. “Excuse me, darlins. I need to take this.”
Temple’s hazel gaze locked with Mataeo’s chocolate one and they headed to the other side of the office to give Claudia a measure of privacy.
“Client weekend?” He whispered when they stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows along the wall behind his desk. “Nice,” he added.
“Thanks.” Temple shrugged and glanced toward Claudia.
“So how much planning have you done?” He leaned against a window and settled both hands into his blue-gray trouser pockets.
“None.” She joined in when he chuckled. “Just came up with it to pacify her.” She tapped a rounded nail to her chin and appeared thoughtful. “But it is a good idea. Don’t know when I’d have time to plan something that extravagant, though.”
“Thanks, anyway.” Mataeo took her hand and tugged until she leaned close for the kiss he placed on her jaw.
She patted his cheek. “My job, remember?”
“No, really, Temp. Thanks.” He squeezed her hand as his warm, deep stare shifted in Claudia’s direction. “She’s been a lot harder to take lately.”
“Taeo…” Temple’s entrancing eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You haven’t slept with her, have you?”
Grinning, Mataeo laid Temple’s hand against his chest. “No. I swear it,” he added when her brow arched a notch higher. He winced a little. “I swear I’ve never slept with her. Just don’t ask me to take any more meetings at her lake house.”
Temple laughed.
“Damn.” Mataeo checked the inside jacket of his suit coat. “Now I’m vibrating.”
The timing was perfect. Claudia Aspen had finished her call and was avidly observing the couple near the window.
“You two look lovely together,” she mentioned when Temple approached.
“Claudia…we work together, that’s all.”
“I’m sure it is, honey.” Claudia kept her eyes on Mataeo while he handled his call. “I don’t think I’d be quite as professional working under—I mean with that.”
Temple rolled her eyes. “Claudia, has anyone ever told you that you’re too much?”
“A time or two.” Claudia shrugged as if it were of little consequence to her. “But even you can’t deny that is too much man to go…untested.”
“Well, you help yourself.” Temple bent to grab Claudia’s portfolio. “I’m afraid you’d be among the masses.” She handed Claudia the leather-bound book. “That is not a one-woman man.”
Claudia shrugged, tucked the portfolio beneath her arm and squeezed Temple’s elbow. “Well, darlin’, that depends on who the woman is, now doesn’t it?”
Temple set both hands on her hips. She watched as Claudia blew a kiss toward Mataeo and then sashayed out of the room.
“Would you please?”
Temple knew her below-the-breath hiss would do nothing to still the man who stood before her. A full-blown bellow would do nothing to encourage cooperation, either, she was sure. As usual, her boss had requested her “assistance” while he did nothing to assist.
“Dammit, Nev.” Mataeo’s sandpaper tone surged and his grip tightened on the phone receiver. “Forget it, I’ll handle it. Forget it, Nevil.”
Temple leaned back where she sat on the edge of the desk when Mataeo moved close to slam the cordless back to the mount.
“So what am I handling?” she asked after his breathing had filled the office with sound for more than five seconds.
“What?” His response held an absent tinge.
Temple’s long, light gaze softened with a mix of humor and mild agitation. “Whenever I hear you tell someone that you’ll handle it that means I’ll handle it.”
“Ah, Temp.” The easy charm Mataeo seemed to possess in droves came through for him then. “You know you’re so much better at most things than I am.”
Unfortunately, the charming effort fell short of his right hand. Right arm seemed a more fitting description.
“Just
