Free Burned Deep by Calista Fox

“I want you to work for me, of course.” He gave a half shrug of his broad shoulders and added, “We’ll have to figure out the rest, naturally.”
    The rest aroused my interest even more than the job offer and sent a wave of heat rushing through me. But I focused on the first issue at hand.
    â€œDoing what, specifically?”
    â€œEvents Director. In charge of everything. Reporting straight to me.”
    My palms turned clammy. I wrung them in the napkin in my lap.
    â€œI think there’s been a mistake in HR. I applied for the manager position.”
    â€œAnd I see you as the director.”
    I swallowed hard. My mouth turned as dry as dust. I reached for my champagne and sipped. Then I started small. “Events Director with no VP above me?”
    â€œNo. Just me.”
    And damn if that little sentiment didn’t hold all kinds of innuendo. Didn’t help that lust, raw and intense, flashed in his eyes. I swear he fought a suggestive crooking of his brow.
    I returned my glass to the table because my fingers trembled. I brimmed with a burning desire unlike anything I’d ever known. And he hadn’t even touched me.
    â€œSo, um…” I tried to concentrate on the topic on deck. It was next to impossible to get my mind moving in the right direction, but thankfully, I spoke coherently. “I don’t think I have the qualifications for something of that magnitude.”
    Sure, I’d pulled off some amazing weddings, but I still needed to cut my teeth on other functions. And the Delfino-Aldridge soiree was the largest one I’d handled so far. 10,000 Lux would host thousands of celebrity and other VIP guests. I wasn’t on par with that. In fact, the mere thought scared the shit out of me as much as it excited me.
    â€œAri,” he said as he leaned forward with a serious look on his face. I got lost in his deep-green eyes for a few moments. He continued, despite my mental stammering that matched the crazed beating of my heart. “Anthony Delfino is a very, very important man. One of the wealthiest in the country. You skillfully executed an event under the intense scrutiny of someone significant. A man who wouldn’t want a hint of a flaw to mar his only daughter’s big day.”
    â€œHe has two other receptions planned,” I informed Dane. “One at his home in Scottsdale and another at the Plaza. He didn’t ask me to coordinate either. And, the truth is, the Aldridges had heard of me from friends. Of course they’d hire me.”
    With a sharp shake of his head, Dane said, “Don’t for a second think that Anthony Delfino would go along with anyone’s suggestion without investigating all possibilities and coming to his own conclusions. He was the one footing the bill, after all. He could have easily flown in a premier planner from New York. Delfino chose you . The additional receptions are basically for networking purposes, a great way to appease and connect with business associates. Also,” he continued rather forcefully, “his little girl’s happiness on her wedding day would be nothing to discount. He wouldn’t risk it.”
    Dane’s intensity was enthralling. My breathing slowed to a paltry crawl.
    He added, “Once again, I’ve done my research.” His tone became more insistent, ever more entrancing. “This is the position I want you in, Ari.”
    Events Director? Beneath him? Both?
    Needing a moment to collect myself, I pulled a classic avoidance move by digging into my steak. When I felt his gaze boring into me, I said, “I’m not really sure about this.”
    As much as his job offer, and everything else about him, enticed me, I had to admit I wasn’t ready for something on this scale. Something so … grandiose.
    Dane sat back, obviously knowing he’d pushed boundaries. He reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and extracted a dark-gray