The Intern: Enemies To Lovers

I placed the receiver back in the cradle and pushed myself out of my chair, finding a steadiness on my heels before I hurried to his door. I didn’t bother to knock-it would only waste more time-and I found myself no longer breathing the second our eyes connected.

Since it was nearing the end of the day, his tie was slightly loosened, and his jacket was off. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, revealing muscular, veiny, dark-haired forearms.

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Rather than waiting for his order, I sat in a seat in front of his desk. “Hi. What’s-”

“I had a meeting with Jenner.”

I knew that. Monitoring his schedule was one of my job duties.

“Walter Spade, the owner of Spade Hotels, is in some hot water over a land dispute. The conflict has gone into litigation, and the case will now be going to court, which means I’ll be taking over from here.”

Walter was Jenner’s future father-in-law, which meant this wasn’t just a business matter for Jenner; it was a personal one too. Jo, Jenner’s fiancee, also worked for her father, so the layers of this story just kept adding up.

“I need you to pull county records and titles and-” He zoomed in on my hands. “Where’s your little pad, Hannah? Shouldn’t you be writing this all down?”

I was so frazzled by Declan’s phone call that I’d forgotten to grab something to write on.

Of course, he was calling me out over a minor slipup.

“I’ll remember,” I told him. “Keep going.”

“I doubt that.”

As I recalled my conversation with Ford, I gave Declan a smile. “Don’t believe me? Then, quiz me after.”

He leaned on his desk, the dark hair on his arms drawing my attention.

The guys I’d dated, mostly during my undergrad years, hardly had any chest hair; it was never something I’d really found attractive.

Until Declan.

His wasn’t extreme, but the dusting across the top of his chest and the line that ran down the center of his abs, dipping below his waist, were an incredibly sexy sight.

As were his arms.

He was all man.

Every bit of him.

“An associate at my other firm had a mouth just like yours, and you know what happened to her?”

I shook my head.

“She became unemployed.”

I made my voice nonchalant as I said, “If you don’t want to deal with me anymore, then I’m happy to communicate through your paralegal.” I recrossed my legs, like this conversation was boring me. “Feel free to reiterate the things you need to her, and I’ll make sure you get them.” I shrugged. “Whatever works, just tell me what you decide.”

It was time the dominant fell.

But inside, I was screaming at how much of a dick he was, how he shouldn’t have been blessed with good looks because he didn’t deserve them.

His fingers clenched into fists.

His mask had broken, but only for a second as he instantly straightened his fingers and flattened them on the desk.

I tilted my head. “Is that it? Are you done?” I waited. “Should I get to work?”

With eyes that were boring through me, he handed me a folder. “The paperwork on the Spade case. Read every word. Don’t leave this building until you’ve finished.”

I was supposed to leave in an hour.

The folder was at least a hundred pages thick.

He was punishing me.

“I want your findings on my desk before sunrise.”

The dick had upped the ante.

I smiled. “Anything else?”

He opened his mouth to respond and got interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Come in,” he said through gritted teeth.

Declan’s assistant opened the door, a bouquet of flowers in her hands. “Hannah, I was hoping to find you in here. These just arrived for you. My goodness, girl, someone certainly loves you. These are positively gorgeous.” The flowers were so tall and thick that I could barely see her face through the blooms. “Would you like them-”

“Put them on her desk,” Declan snapped.

The door shut, and we were alone again.

If I’d thought he was angry before, his expression was now boiling. “You have a lot of work to do.” He nodded toward the door. “You can leave now.”

I wondered if my smart mouth was what had set him off this round or if it had anything to do with the flowers-a delivery I hadn’t expected. I recalled the way he’d acted when he overheard the phone call I had with Oaklyn, telling her I loved her.

Is this Declan’s jealous side that I’m seeing?

“Would you like the door open or closed?” I asked once I reached the doorway, turning around to face him.

I was surprised to find him still looking at me rather than at his computer screen. I assumed that meant he’d also watched me get up and walk here, taking in my ass with each step.

Everything I wanted.

“Open.” His lips were tight, his eyes narrow slits.

I smiled. Fluffy and extra-large this time. “No problem.”

I returned to my desk, putting my back toward Declan, and knowing he could see everything I was doing, I grabbed the card that was tucked into the bouquet. What I wasn’t letting him see was the way he had worked me up, the slight tremble in my fingers, the way it was impossibly difficult for me to take a deep breath.

My grin grew as I read the inscription.

Hannah,

You’re the best babysitter in the whooole world. I’m gonna miss you tons and tons now that I have a nanny. You’d better come by often to make cupcakes.

Daddy says he’s proud of you for kicking butt at the trial.

Love you,

Eve

The warmth on my face was as honest as ever as I held the card against my chest. I would certainly miss seeing Everly as often as I had been, but this decision was best for the both of us.

I set the card inside my purse and took out my phone.

ME

The flowers are absolutely gorgeous. Thank you. That was such a thoughtful gift, Ford.