Numbers, numbers, and more numbers … freelance bookkeeper Callie Davis is surrounded by them. When she meets billionaire Jay Thorpe, who is contracting her for a project, she reveals her secret desire to him—she would rather be surrounded by words.
Jay takes this to heart, buying her a bookstore! She decides to turn it into a library. To her surprise, that's not the end of their interaction, as he helps her to renovate it.
As they grow closer, Callie finds herself wrapped up in a love story of her own.
Her eyes cast around the main hallway. Nothing. Nobody. Not a soul. Until there was. A gorgeous man standing right in front of her.
Completely shirtless.
She screamed.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she blurted out, covering her eyes like a naughty school child who’d seen something they weren’t supposed to.
When he didn’t reply, she peeked through her fingers. Nope. Still there. And still very much shirtless.
A lazy grin spread across his face, making him look even more devastating. She looked closer this time. He was older than her, maybe in his late thirties, with dark stubble, olive skin and dark eyes.
“Why? Do you see something that offends you? Something you don’t like?”
No, I very much like.
She swallowed. “I just wasn’t expecting to see a shirtless man, is all. This is supposed to be a business meeting. That’s if you are who I’m here to meet, Mr…” Callie trailed off.
A half smile. “Mr. Thorpe, but you can call me Jay.” He reached out a hand, and she shook it.
“Jay. Nice to meet you. I’m Callie.”
Something in his eyes danced. It made her shiver.
“I know.”
She cleared her throat. “Good, well now that introductions have been made, perhaps a shirt? Then we can begin our meeting.”
“Of course, I apologize.” He disappeared into a nearby room and came out wearing jeans and a plain black t-shirt that hugged him in all the right places. He glanced at his watch. “Although, you are ten minutes early and I was just finishing up a workout.” He walked past her. “Please, follow me.”
She followed him down the hall and into an office. Her eyes widened. It was as big as her whole apartment. A glass desk sat in the center with a flatscreen computer sitting on it. It gleamed like it had just been freshly cleaned. There were a few plants bringing the room some color, one was even taller than her. Jay gestured for her to take the seat opposite him. He sat behind his desk. She suddenly felt very small. Very insignificant. She shifted in her chair. He caught her movement, eyes tracing back up to meet her gaze.
“I thank you for coming here under these mysterious circumstances. It must all seem very odd, but it’s extremely basic, I’m afraid. I need a bookkeeper I can trust for a project, to run the numbers for a range of hotels I’m going to be launching, and I need someone I can trust. Someone with absolute integrity.”
She’d gotten out her notebook and had begun making notes. “I’m sure the NDA would see to that.” She froze like a deer in headlights, pen poised above her paper. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
But he laughed. “And I need someone who isn’t afraid to speak their mind.”
She frowned. Oh, I am afraid, she wanted to say, I’m very much afraid, and when it comes to losing clients, I will put up with whatever shit they throw my way.
Instead, she offered him a small smile.
He continued, “It should only take you roughly two weeks to complete. But due to the sensitive nature, and the press attention, you would have to complete it here, I’m afraid. You can’t take the work home with you. Your pay is outlined in your contract.” He pulled a sheet of paper from his desk drawer.
$40,000. For two weeks’ work! How could she say no?
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