Out of the Ashes by S.M. Lynn Read Free Book Online

get a cab.  I’ve taken too much time getting ready to catch the train and even then I would still have several blocks to walk to get to the tower and in these shoes, several blocks would not be pleasant. 
    As my cab nears Jacobs Tower, I see a sleek black Audi Q7 pull up out front.  Ian Jacobs steps out of the backseat.  This gorgeous man strikes me immovable.  I can’t get the memory of his hands on my body and his lips pressed to mine out of my mind.   Shaking these thoughts from my head, I see him turn offering his hand to a gorgeous auburn haired woman in a designer sheath dress as she climbs out of the car.  He guides her into the building, his hand on her back, followed by the burly security guard that kept me company yesterday.  I feel a sudden twist in my gut at the sight of the two of them together.  The gestures were innocent enough but clearly they have a close relationship.  I completely forgot about the possibility that he could be married by now though the articles in Page Six clearly contradicted that.  So maybe this is just a girlfriend, either way it’s very clear that they’re more than friends.  My chest aches at the thought of him with someone else.  Why am I even thinking about this?  If I accept the, job he’ll be my boss not my boyfriend.  Besides I couldn’t imagine anyone calling him their boyfriend, lover maybe but boyfriend is just too juvenile for this man.  The man is sex on legs.  Oh, there my mind goes again.  If I can’t get it together enough to handle the next few hours, how am I ever going to work day in day out with this man?
    Shaking off the slight pangs of jealousy I ’m feeling, I walk into to the lobby and let the receptionist know I’m here for my meeting with Mr. Jacobs.  She gives me another look, very similar to the one from yesterday and directs me to have a seat.  After a few minutes, the dark and, I must say, intimidating security guard is back and escorts me up the elevator to the penthouse conference room.  Once we arrive, security guy, I really should come up with something to call him, invites me to have a seat at the table, which is already set for lunch.
    “Mr. Jacobs will be with you momentarily.”
    “Thank you.” Then I realize that this is my chance to put a name with that hulking frame. “Oh I’m sorry; I don’t think I caught your name when I was here yesterday.”  Or when you drove me and Mr. Jacobs back to my apartment the other night, I want to add but don’t.  It occurs to me in that moment that there is someone at the office who knows I met Ian the night before the interview.  In fact, I would go so far to say that he probably knows exactly what happened between us because Ian doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to call a cab.  So my money is on Ian calling the hulk here to pick him up when he was done with me.
    “It’s Connor, miss.  Mr. Jacobs’ personal security so I guess we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.”
    It’s very presumptuous of Ian Jacobs to tell his other staff that I’ll be working here when I haven’t accepted his offer.
    “If I decide to take the job.”  I retort and I’m sure that my foul mood is showing through.  Poor Connor; it's not his fault that his boss is such an arrogant ass.  With that he smiles and turns to leave the room.
    A few minutes later, Ian walks into the room.  The air seems to change with his arrival and I feel his presence long before I see him.  Once I turn to meet his eyes, he gives me a smile.  Oh what this man and his smiles do to my panties!  I would do anything he asked for one of those smiles. 
    “Celeste… May I call you Celeste?  I feel that with us working so closely together we should probably be on a first name basis.”
    My name rolls of his tongue like a caress.  I almost don’t hear the rest of what he’s saying; I’m so focused on my name coming out of that mouth.  Oh, and all the other things he can do with that mouth.  Wait, did