Chapter 6

• Going over, she flipped open the case and started to read through the pages, slowly, wanting to take in everything so she could make the most informed decision possible. Her thoughts might be clouded by the man, but business was business no matter how well the suit looked on him. What she read wasn’t at all what she’d expected. This was nothing like what she was working with now. Sports, fashion for the young, and two other gossip-like rags were what she had been dealing with since the day Wes had hired her. Pausing she turned and held up the mock name and logo for him to see. “This is the new magazine?” He nodded. “Pagan Times?” Another nod. Leaning back against the table she studied the title. “There’s a market for this?”
• “More than you could imagine.”
• “Really?” Turning back, she moved sample page layouts aside until she found the statistics. “So there is.”
• “This is not the sixteen hundreds, Teegan, Christianity is not the only religion.”
• She grinned over her shoulder at him. “I’m pretty sure it wasn’t then either, but we’ve grown to allow and accept things in the last several hundred years.”
• “So, you’re not a devote Christian then?”
• “Oh, most definitely not.”
• “May I ask what your spiritual beliefs are?”
• Picking up the portfolio she carried it over to the end of the table he sat on. “I don’t have one.” Setting it down, she pulled out a chair and sat facing him.
• Leaning forward, he studied her with those dark serious eyes for several heartbeats. “You don’t believe in God or Gods either?”
• Grinning she shook her head. “Really? If there were Gods, do you think they would allow things like bell bottom pants and platform shoes to happen?” He smiled then, and her heart stumbled a few pumps just looking at him, the man had a killer smile that made her want to sigh.
• “A very valid point.” Clearing his throat, he leaned over the table so his face was only a few inches from hers. “Maybe I should be asking if you’re open-minded enough to take on a project like this.”
• With him that close it took her longer to come up with words to answer him. “If people buy it, I’ll put it on the shelves. I don’t believe in half the maniac sports fanatics we publish, but I still do it.” She couldn’t stay this close to him and focus. Reaching over, she pulled the portfolio in front of her and sat back, pointing to it. “Show me what you’ve got.”
• His grin was fast and it led her to believe his mind went in the exact opposite direction of work… just as hers did.
• “I’d love to.” He flashed one more heart-stopping grin and then flipped open the portfolio.
• Time went by unnoticed as she spun her ideas at him. She could take this outline and run with it. An almost untried territory, that she knew of, something that she could sink her teeth into and make it scream success. The table was now scattered with more pages, ideas she put into order. Among those were empty food containers from the takeout dinner, which she didn’t remember eating. Since starting to work in this industry straight from college, she’d always wanted to take on more. Over the last few years, she’d helped in areas that weren’t her expertise, but she wanted to do more than oversee the art side of a publication, and this was the perfect opportunity.
• Placing her hands on the table, she leaned on it and looked at him where he stood on the other side looking over the scattered papers. “I want it.”
• His eyes moved slowly from the table to look at her. He put his hands in his pockets and stood there. She bit her lip, trying to wait. Not wanting to seem too excited, but at the same time wanted him to know she would make it work.
• “There’s one condition.”
• Straightening up she studied him seriously. “What?” Please don’t let it be something I can’t do.
• “I want to oversee it for the first five issues.”
• “Monthly publication?” He nodded. “Three issues.”
• “You don’t want to work with me for six months?”
• She laughed. “Not at all, you won’t want to work with me for six months. Five issues.”
• “Four is my final offer.”
• Nodding slowly, she glanced at the papers for a few minutes. “I want three new researchers, a few writers that know the field... my art department can deal with it the way they are.” She paused and put her hands on her hips. “Give me that and it might work.”
• “You’ve got it.”
• They stood across from each other grinning for several minutes. Finally, he cleared his throat and glanced at his watch. “Teegan, what time does this place come to life in the morning?”
• “Depends on which publications are due, but usually by eight, it’s humming. Why?”
• Leland blew out a long breath. “I was just thinking we should call it a night and try to get a little sleep before we have to be back here again.” He tilted his head to the side. ‘It’s almost midnight.”
• Her mouth dropped open. They’d been doing this for seven hours.
• Feeling tired after the drive, she didn’t argue when he insisted he make sure she made it up to her second-floor apartment. Digging in her purse, for her keys, she glanced at him. “Thank you for the opportunity and the ride home.”
• Leland leaned against the wall beside her door. “Sorry, the time got away from us. I’m going to blame you for most of it though,” He smirked, “your ideas ignited the whole motion of it.”
• Grinning, she stabbed the key into the lock. “I’ll take some of the blame when you put it that way.” When the door opened, she stood there and looked up at him. His hair wasn’t as neatly contained now, his face more relaxed. His eyes looked softer, telling her that he was as tired as she was. Say something, her brain prompted. No words formed. If he didn’t move or say something soon, she was going to drown in the look he was giving her. Maybe it was just because it was late and he was tired, but the dark lethal look had turned into something softer, something inviting.
• He continued to lean there and even though her brain told her to say good night, she still didn’t say anything. When he moved a few inches closer, all she could think was how good the man smelled. Without touching her, he lowered his mouth to hers and brushed his lips lightly over hers. Her heart jumped from the gentle touch. Leaning back against the doorframe, she looked up at him, his eyes were locked on hers. Inside her head, she was saying things like she didn’t want this, a bad idea, but the words didn’t reach her mouth.
• Clasping her purse tightly, she fought to not reach out and wrap her arms around his neck and pull his mouth back to hers. She shouldn’t be feeling things like this about him. As if he could read her thoughts, his mouth touched hers again and it wasn’t in a light feathering way. His lips were hard and demanding and she answered his challenge with a need she didn’t know she possessed.
• When flames shot through her whole body from the heat of his mouth, she gasped. Taking advantage, his tongue invaded her mouth and she had no choice but to grasp a handful of his jacket when her knees threatened to give out.
• His hand held the back of her head, pulling her closer as his mouth ignited against her own. She heard a moan and didn’t know if it was from his throat or hers. When she started to lean into his body, he lifted his mouth and rested his forehead against hers, his hand still grasping her hair.
• “I, ah…” He inhaled deeply. “I think I better go.”
• Where she was, who he was, all came back to her. She cleared her throat and released his jacket as he straightened up. “Yes. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
• He nodded and studied her for another second before turning on his heel and going down the hallway.
• Huffing out a breath, she went inside quickly and locked the door before she did something completely insane like call him back.
• A dangerous, dangerous man.