“No worries,” she murmured with a braver smile. She found herself completely charmed by his easy-going manner even if in the back of her mind, she was ripping his underwear off with her teeth. She blushed furiously at the thought and stammered, “I-I’m always available for you. I mean, for the business. If you have business that needs attention, of course.” More rambling. Fabulous. Penny calmed herself and tried again, saying in a more reasonable tone, “I don’t mind picking up some additional hours if I’m needed.”
“Great. You are definitely needed,” Vince said with a wider grin. “Follow me. Nolan is waiting for us in the den.”
Penny couldn’t stop her gaze from going straight to Vince’s perfect behind as she followed him dutifully through the large house. His tush was something angels probably sang about. It was nicely rounded with plenty of muscle but lean, too. Frankly, Penny wanted to take a bite out of it. She swallowed and focused on being professional and polite when her hormones were starting to do terrible things to her ability to remain either of those things. Would it be totally out of line to beg Vince or Nolan — or both! — to throw her down on the sofa and plunder her body like two pirates bent on obliterating her precious treasure?
Good lord. She was going to hell. But before that, she was going to get fired. Get a hold of yourself, she chastised the inner vixen clawing and scratching and bellowing to be free. Her poor dead father would likely turn five different shades of mortified if he knew the thoughts Penny was having right that moment about her hunky bosses. I’m sorry, Papa! But they’re gorgeous!
Nolan was standing with his back to them, staring out the darkened window with a drink in his hand. He turned when they entered the room and drained his glass before heading to the bar for another. Perhaps he was still eaten up over his break-up with Beautiful Blonde, though it seemed out of character for the man who could easily replace the woman without blinking an eye. “Would you like a drink?” Nolan asked, pausing long enough to shoot her an assessing glance that she felt down to her toes. Had he just…no, impossible. She was most definitely imagining things if she thought Nolan Buchanan had just slid his gaze over her curves as if wishing she were standing there in her skin. She realized she hadn’t answered and stammered a polite refusal even though a shot of whiskey might steady her nerves. The last thing she wanted to appear was unprofessional. Then, he graced her with a brief, yet charming smile, and said, “Are you sure? No one here will mind, I assure you.”
She glanced at Vince and he nodded in agreement. Bolstered by their apparent approval, she amended her previous answer. “If you don’t mind,” she said, watching their reactions as she quickly clarified. “I mean, I never drink on the job. Of course, I’ve never worked from someone’s home either but the same rules apply I would assume.”
He chuckled and handed her a short glass with a finger of something dark. She took an exploratory sip and nearly choked. “What is this?” she gasped, feeling as if her lungs were seizing. A slow burn began creeping up her throat and suffusing her body nicely. When she could breathe again, she murmured with a shaky smile, “Oh, I guess that’s not too bad. I’m not used to the good stuff, apparently.”
“Scotch, even the good stuff, can be an acquired taste,” Nolan said, lifting his drink in a toast and then drained his glass. Vince accepted a glass from Nolan as they both took their seat and gestured for her to do the same. She wanted to slide in between the two brothers but she demurely took a seat across from them in a large, overstuffed chair that nearly swallowed her, which was a feat seeing as she wasn’t what one would call a petite flower of a girl.
“So what can I help you with?” she asked, pushing her glasses further on her nose to regard them with what she hoped appeared to be a professional and capable stare.
“Penny…we have a job proposal for you. A business partnership, if you will, that we think you would be perfectly suited for,” Vince began as he quickly shared a look with Nolan. “We’ve searched a long time for the perfect candidate and well, we can’t think of anyone we’d rather enjoy this particular partnership with than you.”
“Me?” she repeated, her brow furrowing. “Why me?”
“We’ve been watching you for quite some time,” Vince admitted.
“Watching me?” Penny repeated, confused. “I don’t understand.”
“Well, first, let’s talk about your qualifications,” Nolan said. She nodded, openly perplexed. She felt decidedly out of her element and pushed her glasses further on the bridge of her nose out of nervousness. “You’re funny, quick-witted, with a dry sense of humor that suits our personalities; you’re smart and quick to learn; but aside from all that…your most valued asset is…your gorgeous body.”
Penny stared. Were they mocking her? Was this a joke? Her lip trembled but she managed to keep the tears at bay. Somehow she’d thought those days where she was the brunt of everyone’s jokes were over. Suddenly the painful memories of high school rose to jeer at her and the Buchanan brothers were no different than the jocks who had thrown food at her in the cafeteria while making pig noises. She rose stiffly and clutched her satchel tightly as she said, lifting her chin. “I may not be as beautiful as the women who usually parade in and out of your lives but I’m pretty in my own way and I don’t deserve to be mocked by you. Goodnight, Mr. and Mr. Buchanan.”
“Who says we are mocking you? We’ve said nothing that wasn’t true,” Nolan said quietly, his intense gaze causing her to falter. He leaned forward, pinning her with that gaze. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?”
“N-no…well, I mean, my dad, but I don’t think that’s who you mean,” she answered. “You think I’m…beautiful?”
“Let me amend my choice of words,” Nolan said. “I think you’re drop-dead, fucking gorgeous with a soft curvy body that was made for a man’s cock. I’ve laid in bed fantasizing about what I’d like to do to you, Miss McDaniel. Does that sound like someone who’s interested in mocking you or fucking you?” His brow arched when she gasped at his bold choice of words. She swallowed, her cheeks heating as the insides of her stomach did a funny flop. She ought to leave. Her boss shouldn’t talk to her like that. It was improper and wrong. Probably illegal, too. But she liked it. Goodness gracious, she liked it. And she wanted to hear more just like it. She sank down in the chair, waiting. Nolan’s lips curved in a sensual grin as he shared a look with Vince. “Here’s the situation, Miss McDaniel…we want you. And we’re willing to pay for the privilege.”