Peter was a handsome man. I’d say early forties with salt and pepper hair that complemented his deep blue eyes. He wore a light grey suit that was tailored to his six-foot stature.

“Why Seattle?” he asked.

“Excuse me?”

“Why did you move to Seattle?”

I sat there, poised, with my head held high. I needed this job and I wasn’t about to fall apart and tell him that I moved here because of Brendon.

“Well, it was time for a change. There was nothing more for me in New York City since Kendra laid me off, and my best friend lives here, so I thought ‘why not?’.” I smiled a smile so fake that I prayed he wouldn’t see right through me.

Suddenly, there was a knock on his office door. Without warning, it opened. My heart started racing and I gasped when I turned around and, standing there, was him. “Him” being the hot guy from the plane.

“Simon, I would like you to meet Gabrielle McCarthy. I’m interviewing her for the marketing associate position.”

He held out his hand and, with the corners of his perfectly shaped lips curved upwards, he spoke in a low and modulated voice. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Gabrielle.”

I nervously extended my hand until it was in the palm of his. An overwhelming feeling came over me when we touched; an electricity that sent thousands of lightning bolts throughout my body. There was something about the way he said my name that sent chills down my spine.

“I’m Simon Young, CEO of this fine company you’re interviewing for.”

I swallowed hard, and the only words that could escape my lips were “Nice to meet you.”

He walked over to Peter’s desk and picked up my resume. “I can take over from here, Peter. I’ll let you know when we’re done.”

Peter looked at him strangely as he got up from his chair. “Okay. I’ll be down the hall.”

Simon took a seat in Peter’s chair and leaned back, studying my resume. He looked up from the white paper he was holding and then studied me. He looked just as sexy as the first time I saw him on the airplane and the second time I saw him at the gala. I felt uncomfortable as his bright blue eyes stared into mine. I looked down.

“So you want to work for my company and you want to move to Seattle?”

“I—”

“There’s no need to be nervous, Gabrielle. I don’t bite, regardless of what you may have heard about me. At least not hard.” He winked.

I tightened my already crossed legs because the sensation down below was getting out of control. I needed to pull it together and stay focused on getting this job. I took in a deep breath.