The Geek Gets The Girl by Michele Hauf Read Free Book Online Page A

And also, a challenge. Because, truthfully? He’d like her to need him.
    Just a little bit.
    *
    For some reason, work seemed to grow easier. Rachel couldn’t be sure why the computer apps she normally found confusing suddenly seemed to remind her of meetings or due projects. Nor could she figure why she could actually find the design files for which she’d been searching days.
    She’d mark it off as getting her groove on and finally tapping into her creativity.
    Because, seriously? Zac had stoked her fire last night. Call it orgasm mojo. This morning she’d flown out of bed, showered, and sang at the top of her lungs. She was surprised birds hadn’t helped her dress while squirrels bounced down the sidewalk accompanying her on the walk to the metro.
    She sipped coffee and blushed. Yes, Rachel Parker was sitting alone in her office, getting all hot and bothered as she considered the intensity of Zac’s tongue tracing her skin and arriving at the sweet spot that he had known how to control. Was it because the man was already a master of various other kinds of buttons? He was certainly snapping the office computer system back into shape.
    Amelie popped her head into the office and waved a stack of pink messages. Her bouncy ponytail thwapped her cheek. “You look pleased,” she said, though voiced as an uncertain question.
    “I am pleased.” Rachel indicated her nearly clean desk. “LeTrec’s accounts are balanced, thanks to my clear head this morning. Now, I’ve just a few shipping invoices to approve and when I’m finished—”
    “You’ll work on the design ideas for Friday’s meeting?”
    “Crap.” She set the coffee mug down sharply on the glass desktop. “I forgot about that.” No, she hadn’t, she’d simply set it aside mentally until her coffee could be enjoyed. “Have you heard from the home office? When is that guy supposed to be here?”
    “No idea. The person who sent me the memo heard it from another person who heard it from another person, who thinks they overheard a phone conversation.”
    “Seriously? So this is all hearsay?”
    Amelie winced. “I do trust my source.”
    Rachel splayed out her fingers on the glass desktop, seeking calm. “Fine. I’ll deal with that disaster if and when it crosses my path. Now. The ad.”
    “If you need some ideas for the meeting…”
    She tilted her head at Amelie. “What do you mean?”
    Amelie shrugged that sheepish little girl movement that always angered Rachel. Women should stand up for themselves and not shrink into the wallpaper at the mere opportunity to stand out.
    “Spit it out, Amelie. Do you have ideas?”
    “Actually, I have a few sketches. I like to doodle when I have downtime. They’re nothing really.”
    How many times had Rachel used that phrase ‘nothing really,’ when inside, her soul had been beaming, waiting to break free and show the world what she could do?
    “Show me.”
    Amelie nodded and bounced out.
    Curious, Rachel strolled out to her secretary’s desk, and when Amelie handed her a sketchbook, she poked her at the base of her spine, a move her mother had made many a time to make her stand up straight.
    “Your voice is stronger when you stand up straight. And you look better when you hold your shoulders back. Work it like you mean it.”
    “I try. I just…what do you think?”
    Rachel paged through the spiral-bound book, which featured sketches of shoes, and even a few pages of ad ideas. It was remarkable. “You’ve got the storyboard process mastered. This one is interesting. The couple on the couch, talking about her shoes. But not sexy enough.”
    “I have trouble with the sex,” Amelie confessed. “I never know how far is too far.”
    Rachel handed her the sketchbook. “I know what this pitiful office has to do to survive getting axed. We need to sex up the company’s campaign.”
    “I’m afraid I’m not very sexy.”
    “Nonsense.” She took in Amelie’s proper black slacks and white dress shirt.