Free Nightie Night: The Lingerie Series (Stir Sticks & Stilettos) by Yvette Hines

Love is not a sprint but a marathon
and the gift of it is given to those that endure to the end.
     
     
    “Finally,” I proclaimed.
    “Kalan, I thought we’d never finish
these preliminary audit reports.” Aaren Reston exhaled a loud breath as he
leaned back in the chair that he’d pulled to the other side of the coffee table
across from me while we worked.
    “Six weeks on any project is way too
long.” Uncrossing my legs I let that foot fall hard against the floor and
shoved my fingers into my hair. The topknot I had quickly pulled the loose
strands into four hours ago was probably a mess. I had given up worrying about
my looks during the long nights Aaren and I had been sequestered in his office.
    However, the man across from me
didn’t have the same problem. No matter the grueling hours, he always looked
hot and sexy. I allowed my gaze to take in his appearance. Aaren normally wore
a suit and tie, looking immaculate.  Now his tie was discarded on the top of
his desk and his jacket was draped on the back of his chair. At six foot four,
his broad shoulders and strong body had all the women in the uptown corporate
office sighing when he walked by. His dark brown hair and light green eyes just
made him even more irresistible.
    Aaren was one of three senior
executives in the Pace Men’s Select corporate office in Charlotte. The big boss
had given Aaren the task of going through all the one hundred and forty-seven
stores’ records for as a pre-audit. Now that there were going to be major
changes coming up in the company with the shareholders having an outside
auditor coming in at the end of the month, Mr. Pace wanted an internal one
performed first. The boss didn’t want any surprises he said. I had been shocked
when Aaren came to me requesting my assistance. I would have thought he'd go
for my supervisor, senior executive of accounting, but that wasn’t the case.
Sharene Stone had told me I was a specific request by Aaren. Until we started
the project six weeks ago, I didn’t realize that Aaren even knew I existed.
There was no reason he should since we worked in two different departments.
    Sharene made it plain to me that if
I did well on this project, there would be a promotion in the works for
me—district manager with more stores under my watch. If that wasn’t reason
enough for me to dive in with both feet, the opportunity to work up close with
Aaren was definitely an incentive.
    It was two years ago when Aaren was
brought on board at the corporate office. He’d come from doing sales at one of
the big soda manufacturers in Charlotte. I would never forget the day I had
brought breakfast in for a co-worker and he walked into the Human Resources
office to complete his paperwork. The man had looked like he’d just walked out
of one of the company’s catalogues as a model. Tall, handsome and dressed well.
    Dragging my eyes away from the
mouth-watering man, I leaned forward and picked up my cold coffee. “Mr. Pace
never considered having a few less big men’s formal and casual wear
stores.”Sipping the drink, I winced; when hot, the salted caramel mocha was
sublime, cold, it was appalling.
    Aaren chuckled. “I’m sure we are
both tired of the faithful diet of coffee. I know my stomach is starting to eat
me from the inside out, hyped up from the caffeine.”
    I laughed. My food intake had been
at an all time low since starting the in house audit. Forgetting myself, I took
another swig of the coffee and winced again. “Yuck. I forgot the horrid brew was
still in my hand.” I set it down and pushed the mug toward the center of the
table.
    “How about I treat us both to
dinner?” He pointed an accusing finger at his cup. “Something a little
healthier and tastier.”
    My mind played an image of me
sitting in a restaurant at an intimate table for two, the lights low as we
stared at each other over candlelight. The image morphed into me wearing the
wrinkled blouse and pencil skirt I currently had on and