Eli

ELI

Good God, when did Patrick's daughter get so hot? That form-fitting navy suit shows off the shape of her calves and thighs, accentuates the taper of her hips to waist, showcases her full chest and highlights the arresting blue of her eyes.

I knew that little girl I'd seen around Patrick's house on football Sundays would be working here, but she's not a little girl anymore. And yes, logically, I was aware of that, but I was not prepared for what walked through my office door.

Paige meets my gaze, and I'm drowning in heat. She is absolutely stunning. Why didn't Patrick warn me? Surely, he is objective enough to see that his daughter is smoking hot. And the sharp mind blazing behind her eyes only adds to her overall allure.

Her attention shifts to Jake, and I take a leisurely lap around her body. Fuck, I'm a creep, but I can't help myself. My hands itch to crawl under her suit jacket, to smooth over the silky material of her top and smash all of that softness against my hard body.

Sipping my coffee, I warn my cock to stand down before it gets me in trouble. So much trouble where Paige is concerned.

Henry shoots me a warning glare like he's reading my mind. I'm sure he can. Because I'm also sure that he's thinking the same things I am. Or he did when he saw her first thing this morning.

I clear my throat and step forward, offering her my hand like I would any new employee. Her fingers are delicate, but her grip is strong. "Welcome to Rockwell International, Miss Monroe."

A hint of a smile hits the corners of her mouth, but it blazes in her eyes. Mesmerizing. "Thank you, sir."

I grin at her as she pulls back. She's present but reserved, and the desire to tease her sinks its claws into my back.

Jake stands to shake her hand as well. "Nice to see you again."

"You too, sir."

Jake's nostrils flare, but he gives no other indication that she's affected him. If only she knew how that simple word sets him off. "Jake, please."

She nods but doesn't seem convinced. That must have been drilled into her during her degree.

"Would you like something to drink? Water? Coffee?" I lift my own cup in an offer for her to join me. I order top quality Kona beans from Hawaii and grind them myself, so the coffee has a rich, bold but smooth flavor with tropical notes. A small splash of milk and my morning is perfect.

"No. Thank you." The soft pink of her cheeks is the only indication of her youth and vulnerability. It amplifies my want to touch her. Mentally slapping myself, I need to behave, but I can tell already that it will be a struggle.

"Take a seat, and we'll get started," I tell her and gesture to one of the open spots around the seating area.

Paige chooses a lone chair and crosses her long, shapely legs before opening her portfolio and setting it in her lap. A pen appears in her hand with a snap, and she's poised to take notes.

I like her gung ho attitude and how prepared she is already.

Slipping into the chair beside her, I drain half of my coffee before setting the cup aside. Henry sits with Jake on the couch, reclining like a man in his element, although I think all three of us are on edge.

We learned to control our body language long ago. It's a necessary trick of the trade. Business deals are made off of those minuscule nonverbal cues.

Crossing my ankle over my knee, foot pointing toward Paige to keep from appearing closed off, I rub a hand across the beginnings of my beard. "I'm not sure how much you were told about the job or the project we would like you to manage, but I figure a full rundown is in order."

"A full rundown would be welcome, sir."

I hold back a laugh but give her my panty-dropper grin. If it affects her at all, she doesn't show it. Her pen is poised and ready to take notes.

"As you may or may not be aware, Rockwell International has a strong hold on the upper echelon of the hospitality market. Business professionals, politicians and celebrities that frequent our hotels make up the majority of our clientele."

She nods, maintaining eye contact like a champ.

"Our hope is to break into Airbnb's market for young professionals, entrepreneurs, influencers, and other niche under-thirty clientele."

Her pen is moving, scribbling more than what I've said.

Henry rubs a hand down his thigh and picks up the mantle. "Based on the preliminary research, we're leaning toward smaller, cozier accommodations with more individuality."

Paige glances at him but stares at her page of notes as he talks, like she's freezing him out. It's subtle, but everything about her tenses as he talks. What's that all about?

Jake fills her in on some of the financial aspects, basic budgets for construction, advertising and the prices we plan to offer for lodgings.

Once we've given her the research, I smile at her again. "What do you think?"

She reviews her notes and takes a deep breath. "Well, I have several ideas already. Creating an Airbnb feel is going to require a lot more real estate, but we can take what's appealing from their business model and the types of amenities they provide and transform that into an inviting hotel experience."

Clearing her throat, Paige continues, "Creating shareable spaces—in both the physical sense of sharing the space with other like-minded people as well as a space that people want to capture and share online—is at the top of that list. We should also consider creating unique rooms for more one-of-a-kind experiences. I know these will increase construction and design costs as materials won't be in the kind of bulk you usually purchase them in, but there are ways of mitigating those costs if we get creative."

She flips a page and makes a small note. "Where possible, offering bungalows at your current locations can also cut into the target market without the same upfront costs that building an entirely new hotel would bring."

I find myself nodding along. Jake leans forward, elbows on his knees, and Henry is trying to hide his smile. As much as this began as a favor to Patrick, Paige seems to be the right fit for this project. Each of her ideas holds merit.

I don't know if she came prepared with all of this or if these came to her during this meeting, but I am impressed.

"Transforming at least one of your event rooms in the hotel to offer a fresh but professional space for the ideal customer may also help." Her eyes angle up for a moment, as though she's chasing ideas.

I share a look with Jake and Henry, and they seem to agree. It's time to jump right in. My hands come together in a soft clap before I rub them.

Paige catches the movement and focuses on me again.

"I can see the wheels still turning in there, and what you've offered us so far is right on track. So, here's what we're going to do. I want you to pick your top ideas and write a prospect for each, so we can review and narrow them down."

"How many ideas would you like to see?" Her pen is moving again.

"I'll leave that up to you." Because I want to see how she handles this without any input. It's her first test. And a lot of work. How will she prioritize? What kind of details will she include? Her shoulders square and awareness sharpens her gaze. My intention has been caught. I can't help but smile at her, a small, knowing one.

"When would you like them?" Her tone is even, controlled, expecting a challenge. Smart girl.

"First thing tomorrow. I'm usually in my office by nine."

I have a good feeling about what she's going to come up with.