Business and Pleasure (Lavender Lace, Book One) by Lynn Lafleur

smirk back on her lips. “Would you be willing to help Keefe?”
    Two more of her vice presidents entered the room. Marci sighed with relief. The distraction meant she didn’t have to answer Peggy’s question. She hurried forward to greet Cierra and Leo. Dara, Harold and Larry entered the room moments later. They all wandered to the kitchenette for coffee and donuts. Marci knew from previous meetings that it would take everyone a good ten minutes to get settled into their chairs so she could start the meeting.
    She stepped up to her place at the conference table and perused her agenda. It would be a long meeting, probably running into lunchtime. She jotted down a note to have Lauren order lunch around eleven-thirty.
    Keefe joined her and held out a full mug of steaming coffee. “I hope I put enough cream in it.”
    He remembered how she liked her coffee. For some silly reason, his thoughtfulness brought a lump to her throat. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” He gazed at the conference table. “Which chair is mine, boss?”
    “That one.” She pointed to the chair to the left of hers.
    “Okay.” He glanced over his shoulder at the group of VPs huddled by the coffee area, then leaned closer to her. “I wish I could bend you over the table and lick your pussy.”
    He moved away from her before she had the chance to respond. That was good, because Marci had lost the ability to speak with his comment.
    Peggy wandered by on the way to her chair. She stopped at Marci’s side long enough to whisper, “”Don’t even think about leaving today until we talk.”
    She took her place at the foot of the table, her hands folded on top of the agenda, her face set in the stern don’t-mess-with-me expression Marci recognized as the one Peggy usually reserved for her husband. Or her children.
    Marci caught herself before she twisted her hands together. That would be a dead giveaway to her friend that she had something to hide.
    The rest of her vice presidents slowly made their way to their chairs. Marci waited until everyone was seated and settled before she spoke.
    “Good morning. As you can see by my agenda, we have a lot to discuss today. You might as well think about what you’ll want for lunch, because I promise you we’ll be here a while.
    “First, I want to introduce all of you to our newest vice president, Keefe Donegan.”
    Keefe nodded his head when everyone applauded.
    “Keefe comes to us from Los Angeles and I consider us very lucky to have him. Keefe, the lady seated next to you is Cierra Adkins, VP of Marketing. Next to her is Larry Bagby of Public Relations. You already know Peggy. On the other side of Peggy is Dara Nash, in charge of Finance, Harold Pape of Legal and Contracts, and seated to my right is Leo Whitaker, our incredible IT guy. There isn’t anything on a computer this man can’t find or repair.”
    “So when do I get a raise?” Leo asked, humor shining in his eyes.
    “Sorry, raises aren’t on the agenda today.”
    The group laughed, and that helped Marci to relax. She was back in president mode, in charge of her employees. No more thinking about how Keefe’s sweater made his eyes look so blue, no more remembering his touch on her skin, his mouth on hers. Professional only.
    If she told herself that at least fifty times today, she’d eventually believe it.

Chapter Nine
     
    She was a total professional on the job. Keefe knew that ten minutes into the meeting. Marci controlled every aspect of Marshall Media, but relied heavily on her vice presidents’ opinions and advice. She listened when someone spoke, wrote down what he or she said. She didn’t put down anyone’s ideas or overrule them simply because she was the boss.
    His respect for her grew with each hour that passed.
    His desire for her grew too. She’d worn her hair down today, held with a clip at her nape. Soft tendrils fell over her left shoulder. If he reached out, he could twirl a tendril around his