Free Cinderella's Christmas Affair by Katherine Garbera Page B

believe it or not. I’m supposed to get a feel for your company’s work ethic. All of CJ’s team is here tonight.”
    He was surprised to hear it but shouldn’t have been. For CJ the job always came first. He had a feeling that if they had dinner tonight it wouldn’t be just the two of them. “CJ’s a hard boss.”
    “You have no idea the half of it. Women are…demanding.”
    Tad laughed. “You should know.”
    Rae-Anne muttered something under her breath and reached for a string of lights testing them. “What’s the point in doing the event?”
    “One hundred percent of tonight’s profits go to area schools’ nonvarsity sports programs. We get a lot of traffic and this gives the customers’ kids something to do while they shop.”
    “I’m impressed.”
    “Let’s hope CJ is too,” Tad said.
    “Still waiting for hell to freeze?” Rae-Anne asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Anything I can do?” Rae-Anne asked.
    “Mind your own business,” CJ said, coming up behind them.

    CJ knew that old chestnut about listening at eaves but she’d never been able to help herself. Rae-Anne shrugged and walked away. “Talking about me?”
    Tad pivoted to face her. His eyes lingering on her lips. She knew he wanted to reach over and kiss her but wouldn’t with all the people around them. She was tempted to lean over and kiss him instead. Anything to shake him up in this environment where he was way too confident.
    He shrugged and gave her a half smile that went straight to her heart. “Just soliciting help from your faithful secretary.”
    “You need help?” she teased, moving closer to him. He’d changed and was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. He looked like the buff sports guy he was and she wanted him.
    He leaned down, his cologne surrounded her and when he spoke his warm breath brushed her cheek. “Not really but I figured any extra couldn’t hurt.”
    Awareness spread throughout her body pooling in her center. She wished she could go back in time to this morning in the elevator. She’d hit the stop button and make love to him. Then there wouldn’t be this anticipation running through her veins and filling her with excitement. Then she’d be able to concentrate on her job. On learning everything she could about P.T. Xtreme Sports instead of focusing on the sexy co-owner.
    But that wasn’t going to happen, so she patted his butt and scooted away from him. “I don’t think you’re going to need anything extra.”
    He threw his head back and laughed drawing many, appreciative feminine stares.
    “You like what I’ve got?” he asked, closing the gap she’d opened between them.
    “What do you think?” She’d forgotten what it was like to play this teasing game. To let anticipation build until it was a fevered pitch and neither of them could wait a moment longer.
    “Cathy Jane, you always keep me guessing.”
    That made her feel in control and more sure of herself than she should around Tad. “Good. You’re too cocky for your own good.”
    “Too cocky?” he asked, arching one eyebrow at her.
    She titled her head to the side and gave him the once-over. His athletic shorts revealed his muscled runner’s legs. She skimmed her gaze over him starting at his well-worn climbing shoes and not stopping until she reached his head. “Yeah, you know that attitude that says I’m a buff-macho-man-in-control-of-his-environment.”
    He canted his hips to one side. “I’m giving all that off?”
    Now she felt a little silly. “Well, not all that but you know what I mean.”
    He cupped her face and kissed her quickly but fiercely. She shivered as he pulled away. “I know you make me so hot I can’t think of anything else but you.”
    “Really?” she asked.
    “Really.”
    “Good. It’ll keep you on your toes.”
    He chuckled again, turning to adjust his harness and then step into it. “Better watch that sassy mouth. It’s going to get you in trouble.”
    The vee of the straps on his thighs drew attention to his