Pleasure After Hours

“I never forget that, Temp. My guess is that Norman knows who has the better business. I could see it in his eyes when he said it.”

Temple shook her head in response to Mataeo’s confidence, but offered no comment. She turned the heat down to low and rubbed her hand across his chest when she passed on her way out of the kitchen.

“Congratulations,” she said.

“Not so fast.” Mataeo shut off the TV and followed her to the living room. “I still want you to go with me to this cocktail party.”

“You say this like I know what you’re talking about.” Frown lines marred Temple’s brow. “What cocktail party?”

“Party and dinner. Yates and his wife are giving it.” Mataeo strolled back to the record player where a vintage Isaac Hayes cut played. “I can’t risk Sanford being there with his wife on his arm while I come alone.”

“I’m sure you won’t be alone.”

“Temple, please, you know I can’t take any of them.”

“Then take somebody new. With you there’s always somebody new.” She sighed while straightening magazines on the pine coffee table in front of the love seat.

“Temple, we both know Yates is no fool. Taking someone new won’t matter. Taking you is the right move.”

“Why?” Her hands stilled over the straightening.

Mataeo went back to the kitchen for his juice. “You’re my right hand. My go-to person. Taking you would keep it about business and not on some love affair, personal slant.”

“Right.” The disappointment flashed so briefly on her dark face that it could have been imagined. She chased the look away with a smug smile. “I must say that I’m impressed by your cunning thoughts,” she teased.

“Well, don’t sound so surprised.” His tone was gruff.

“Hey, forgive me. I’m always surprised when you come up with complex plans without my help.”

“Funny. So can I count on you to be there?”

Temple tapped her nails on her hip and considered the request. “Why not? But Taeo, even my attending a cocktail party won’t mean much if there’s nothing to follow it up with. We need to set meeting times to get all our ducks in a row for this survey expedition. We haven’t even set up a date for that.”

“Right.” Mataeo grazed the back of his hand along the angle of his jaw. His mind had returned to the true business at hand. “Have you done anything with that yet?”

Temple smirked. “Since you gave it to me this morning? No.”

“Watch it.” He took his spot on the sofa and Temple followed suit. His thumb stroked the cleft in his chin as he watched her settle down next to him. The fabric of her housedress carried a light fragrance.

“First thing we need is a meeting of the crew. The crew chief especially.” She tucked a few thick strands behind her ear. “Will you hire new people to handle this?”

Mataeo reclined on the sofa and brought his feet to the coffee table. “I don’t see the need. We’ve got a top-notch crew—they can handle whatever I dish out.”

“All right…” Temple reached for the notebook she kept on the high table behind the sofa and began to jot reminders. “Since we have no idea what the man needs to see, a brainstorming meeting with the crew is crucial.” She chewed on the cap of the pen. “What’s our time frame for this?”

“I think it plays in our favor to have Yates see things at the beginning stages and what lengths I’ll go to ensure his clients are pleased.”

“Hmm…” Temple’s brows rose as she made the notation. “More great thinking— You really are impressing me.”

“That’s it.” Mataeo grabbed a fistful of her housedress and made a play at attacking.

Temple moved quick and laughed all the way back to the kitchen.

“Yates needs to be there but I think it’d be good for Sanford to see the place, too.”

Temple whirled around just after she cleared the doorway and brought both hands to her hips. “Are you insane?”

Mataeo placed his hands behind his head. “You know I am, but this isn’t about that. I’m hoping to send a message.”

“Which is?”

“Sanford’s already intimidated by me—that’s not overconfidence, that’s fact,” he said when she opened her mouth to argue. “When he sees what lengths North Shipping is willing to go to, he’ll start making an even bigger fool of himself.”

“Well then, the two of you will be a matched set because this is definitely your most foolish idea.”

Temple continued to grumble in the kitchen while Mataeo hummed contentedly on the sofa.

Chapter 3

“These are standing meetings. Mr. North enjoys holding them over the course of each week with every department.” Temple eased a sheet toward the young man seated next to her on the sofa in her office. “Your job will be to contact everyone and let them know what’s on the agenda.” She leaned back to judge his reaction. “I know this isn’t quite as meaty as you were hoping for but it’s a terrific way to familiarize yourself with such a large staff, which will definitely be important as you move up in this place.”

“Ms. Grahame, this is fantastic.” Edmund Jansen held the departmental list as if it were a priceless document. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Temple grinned and scooted closer to the coffee table for another portfolio. “Then let’s move onto the layout of the meetings.”

Temple and Edmund were wrapping up their conversation when Mataeo walked into the office.

Introductions weren’t necessary; Edmund took care of greeting the boss and thanking Mataeo for giving him the chance to prove himself. Temple came to her feet slowly and watched Mataeo accept Edmund’s adoration with a genuine smile. All the while she prayed the younger man’s enthusiasm wouldn’t have him blurting out the extent of his new chores for the boss.

“So what’s up?” Mataeo closed the door behind Edmund when he left.

“Just wrapping up a meeting.” Temple took folders from the coffee table and went about filing them in her desk.

“Kid seemed pretty excited about planning my events.”

“He um…” Temple cleared her throat and wondered just how much Mataeo had overheard. “He’ll just be handling a few things for me when I head down to Charleston. Remember I told you Mama’s working with that Realtor?” She looked up at him from where she knelt near a desk drawer. “I want to be there.”

“You sure there isn’t any more to this, Temp?” He eased a hand into his pocket and moved closer to the desk. “If Miss Aileen needs my help—”

“She doesn’t. I promise. Thank you, but it’s nothing like that.” She shut the drawer and stood. “Honest, Taeo, I’d tell you if it was.”

“I don’t get why you have to head down when there’s plenty of family around.”

“Because she’s my mother,” Temple snapped and then closed her eyes and produced a brief smile. “Nothing’s gonna go lacking around here. I’ve got tons of people around to handle whatever you’ll need.” She appraised the walnut trousers and unbuttoned vest he wore over a cream shirt. “Sorry I haven’t been able to find anyone to tie your ties but you’ll survive.”

Mataeo blocked her path when she moved from the desk. “I’m sorry.” His sharp features had softened by concern. Lightly, he brushed his hand against her jaw. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You didn’t.”