“And twice your size,” Dana retorted, laughing with Claire. The diminutive woman had been like a mother to her since she’d started at the company four years earlier and they had a close relationship that many in the company envied. Claire was the public relations manager for the firm, and it was largely due to her efforts that the company had done so well over the last few years. Richard French never ceased to sing Claire’s praises and Dana was one hundred percent in agreement with him.
“On a diet?” Claire cocked an eyebrow at Dana’s tray on which all she’d placed was a salad and a small bowl of tomato soup.
Dana shook her head as she reached for the spoon. “I just didn’t feel like having lasagna today. I need to petition our new boss. We need more options in this lunch room.”
“Glad you brought up the subject,” Claire said and leaned forward. “I’ve been dying to ask you about him,” she whispered. “What’s Rockford St. Stephens like? He’s been with the company two weeks now and I’ve only seen him twice, once at that staff meeting he held the day after he arrived, and another time in the hallway.” She gave Dana a mock glare. “Are you deliberately keeping him in the executive suite, all to yourself?”
Dana rolled her eyes. “Please. Does Rock look like someone I could hide away against his will? He’s no Richard French, I can tell you that.”
Claire cocked an eyebrow. “So it’s Rock, is it? No Mr. Stephens? You always used to say Mr. French even when I said Richard.”
“That’s different. Mr. French was almost like…my uncle. But with Rock it’s different.” Dana shrugged. “And anyway, he was the one who told me to call him Rock.”
Claire slid back in her seat and folded her arms. “And you still haven’t told me what he’s like. Is he the bear we met at the staff meeting, or did he tone it down once he got to the executive suite?”
“No, he’s a bear,” Dana said, dousing the glimmer of hope in Claire’s eyes. When she saw her friend’s look of horror she laughed. “Okay, maybe I’m not being totally fair. He hasn’t been around long enough for me to give him that title.”
“He’s been here two weeks,” Claire said with a frown. “That’s more than enough time for you to form an opinion.”
“Sure, if he’d really been here all that time.” Dana stabbed at her lettuce.
“Meaning?” Claire gave her a pointed look.
“He’s hardly been around.” Dana couldn’t keep the hint of peevishness out of her voice…which was weird, seeing that she’d told herself it had been a blessing to have the executive suite to herself all this time. “Since that day he held the staff meeting he’s been in all of four days. I swear, the man must be moonlighting as an airline pilot, he’s gone so much.”
“Well, he did say this is just one of the many companies he runs.”
“But still…” She paused, realizing it was beginning to sound like she missed him. And how could you miss a man…a boss…you hardly even knew?
“So, apart from being drop dead gorgeous and tall to boot, what’s he like?” Claire put up her hands before Dana could protest. “Based on your four days with him, I mean.”
“To tell the truth, he’s not as bad as I thought he’d be. Before I even met him I was prepared to hate every bone in his body.” Dana gave Claire a rueful smile. “Turns out I misjudged him-”
“Hey, there, lovely ladies. May I join you?”
They looked up to see Jason Blake, tray in hand, smiling down at them. Dana gave Claire a quick glance then almost rolled her eyes. Just what she needed – Jason and his chatter. He liked her – he’d made that very clear – and he seized every opportunity to be in her presence. But she’d made it equally clear that she didn’t like him. Not like that, anyway. Much good that had done her. Persistence was Jason’s middle name.
“Feel free,” Claire said and jerked her head toward the empty chair.
As Jason laid his tray beside hers and plopped down in the seat, Dana gave Claire a quick glare, but then she softened her glance. How could she blame Claire when any other response would have come across as rude?
“So how’s it going, Dana? Haven’t seen much of you lately.” Jason reached for the ketchup bottle and gave his French fries a good dousing in the red stuff. “New boss keeping you super busy, huh?”
“I’m always busy,” she said then dipped her head, feigning intense interest in her salad.
“Don’t worry,” he said as he sprinkled salt all over his fried chicken. “I’ll put in a good word for you. I’m not scared of Rockford St. Stephens.”
Yeah, right. One look from Rock and Jason would be shaking in his shoes. They were such a contrast, these two men. Where Jason was of medium height and slender, with a shock of jet-black hair and dark-rimmed glasses that made him look like a young professor, Rock was strong and solid and very much the corporate executive, exuding power from his very pores. She could never be interested in a man like Jason, so indecisive and immature, a man she could twist around any finger she chose. But Rock, on the other hand, would be a serious challenge to a woman who was used to having her way, and that would make things all the more interesting. Not that she had any interest in him, mind you. She was a professional and thoughts of a romantic rendezvous with her boss had never crossed her mind.
Yeah, right. She almost smiled as she remembered her body’s reaction at their first meeting – and at every meeting thereafter. Racing heart, sweaty palms, shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating – if a sexy man hadn’t been in the room she would have sworn she was having a panic attack. And who could blame her? Any red-blooded girl would react the same way to Mr. Tall, Dark-Blond and Incredibly Handsome.
“Jason’s waiting,” Claire said, pulling her out of her reverie.
Dana blinked. “For what?”
“Your answer,” Jason said, looking slightly annoyed. “Do you want to go to The Jade Palace with me or not?”