Counterbalance

Chapter 3

Desperately needing a caffeine boost, Peyton stopped at a vendor to grab a coffee on her three-block walk to Xavier's office. Thinking about his job offer had kept her awake all night and she was dragging this afternoon.

She breathed in salty, damp air from the Bay and smiled as she passed others strolling by. The Financial District was alive with business people and tourists alike, and she enjoyed the buzz. Restaurants, shops, and skyscrapers blended together in a mishmash of unique. Sunshine filtered through a thin cloud cover, and she got a little more pep in her step. It was a gorgeous day and, despite leaving work early to meet with Xavier, she was free tonight. She had a date with Thor and her couch via Netflix. Maybe she'd make it a threesome by adding Ghirardelli.

Though she'd been shocked by Xavier's offer, it couldn't have come at a better time. With Harrison announcing his senate bid next week, it was now or never to get out. She'd loved working for him and his wife, plus the job security, but politics just wasn't her cup of tea. Gaines Industries' potential government contract was exactly the kind of thing she could get behind. Especially if it aided injured vets.

A flash of Brian's face swam to mind, and her gut clenched. She missed her older brother every single day. His death during his service had left her with no family, but he'd died doing what he'd loved. Mark's memory, however, made her throat close. Her deceased fiancé had served with Brian, but he'd finished two tours and retired. Severe depression, mixed with a mild case of PTSD, had led to his suicide. She'd been struggling with his decision the past year, and it was still difficult to get out of bed some mornings. Guilt clawed at her at the most inopportune and random times.

God, she should've done more, been more aware of his situation. But he'd shut her out, hadn't wanted help, and had slipped inside his mind. Then he'd put a bullet in his head while she'd been at a press conference.

She drew a deep breath and shoved the pain away. She couldn't change the past or bring him back. Thus, Xavier's plans were ideal. A project close to her heart and one she'd love to rally behind.

Xavier Gaines, as a man separate from his company, had warning knells banging her temples. Sure, she'd known him in high school, and a rare glimpse of what lay under his surface had poked out last night, but she just wasn't one-hundred percent positive working for him was a good idea. For her, she had to have a connection with someone. Private PR meant getting inside the client's head, spending oodles of time one-on-one, and all but sharing air with them.

She'd decided last night, after tossing and turning for hours, to get a read on him today and go from there. Feel him out during her tour of the company. After laying her ideas on the table, issuing a plan, she'd watch his reaction and let her gut make the choice. What he'd said last night about trusting her and being nice to him before he'd become rich had stuck with her. The vulnerability in his eyes had nailed her right in the breastbone.

Stopping outside her destination, she tossed her cup in the trash and glanced up at the white fortress. Gaines Industries was in bright blue block letters over the door and, she knew from looking out her office window, also spanned the roof on a grander scale for an aerial view. The building wasn't as huge as some of the others in the vicinity, but twenty floors was no peon.

Popping a mint in her mouth to erase coffee breath, she pulled the handle and stepped inside. She showed her credentials to security and signed a guest badge. As she walked to the bank of elevators, she was reminded how clinical the decor was throughout the public areas. A topic for later. She rode the elevator to the top floor and checked in at the desk.

"Mr. Gaines said you should go right back when you arrive. Do you remember the way?"

Peyton smiled. "I do. Thank you, Fern."

The secretary blinked several times as if surprised Peyton remembered her name. "You're welcome."

She walked down the hall and past a conference room. There was only one other office on this floor, which was across from Xavier's, and it appeared vacant. The low rumble of his voice caught her attention, and she moved to the doorway of his office. He leaned against the desk, facing the wall-to-wall windows, his back to her and phone against his ear.

Since he was occupied, she waited on the threshold and watched him at work. Lord, but did he grow up nice. Gone was the lanky boy she'd known who used to get picked on. Back then, she'd tried to befriend him outside of tutoring, but she couldn't be everywhere at once and suspected he'd been subject to kids' cruelty. If those bullies could see him now, they'd regret their actions.

At six feet, he towered over her five-seven frame, even with her wearing heels, and his shoulders were wide, filling out his suit. Trim waist, large hands, chestnut waves of thick hair that was somewhat longer on top and trimmed neatly on the sides. She could envision the slight ripples of muscle under his pressed white shirt, like a runner's build.

"I'll have accounting send you a report." He paused. "I'm actually working on that now. I have a meeting..." He glanced at his watch and, as if sensing her, turned to look over his shoulder. His gaze locked on hers, and he slowly straightened. "Right now. I'll give you an update by next week. Thank you." He set the phone in the cradle, gaze never leaving hers, and a muscle ticked in his jaw.

In high school, his glasses had masked the potency of his golden brown eyes. Without the barrier? Assessing and aloof in the same beat. She mentally fanned herself. He could be doing quantum physics in his head or undressing her in his mindshe'd never know the difference. He was that hard to read. But to be the focus of all his attention, no matter what he was thinking, was unnervingly sexy. Prickles of awareness crept up her spine.

"Peyton." It wasn't the first time he'd said her name like a rough caress, and it seemed each instance pulled a deeper tremor from her. His gaze traveled quickly over her fitted sea foam green dress to her white heels and back up, too fast to take it as a perusal. He cleared his throat. "Come in, please."

She smiled and walked to stand in front of his desk, forcing her arousal back into a box. With padlocks.

Again, he grabbed the phone and hit a button. "Please put in an order for..." He looked at Peyton. "Do you eat Chinese food?" After she nodded, he spoke into the receiver. "Chinese, an hour from now. When it's delivered, you can leave for the day." He suddenly closed his eyes. "No, I'm not ill. Yes, I'm certain. I'm giving Miss Smoke a tour" He pinched the bridge of his nose. "By myself, yes. Hold all my calls."

Peyton rolled her lips over her teeth to avoid grinning. She very much doubted his little tick of frustration was something most were privy to see. He got bonus points for not getting snippy with Fern, and he always said please or thank you. "I take it Xavier Gaines showing potential employees around is out of the ordinary?"

He inhaled in what she figured was an attempt to collect himself and stared at the desk. "Very, but I prefer to do your tour personally. Unless...?"

"I would prefer that, as well." She offered a relaxed smile when he looked at her, a wrinkle between his brows. Not for the first time, she sensed his careful control was a mask for something else. In the barest of flashes, he didn't seem like the cold business mogul the media portrayed. "Shall we?"

They started on the first floor and worked their way up. Technicians, programmers, and engineers had several departments dedicated just to them. Accounting, legal, and human resources utilized a lot of the other floors. Xavier definitely made his employees uncomfortable, judging by the way conversation stopped when they drew near and the utter avoidance of eye contact. Still, he knew most of their names, even though he had to have upwards of four hundred staff, and the accommodations were first rate. He even had a cafeteria and daycare inside the building, plus a media room. His dictations were clear and concise, but there was pride in his voice when he paused to explain aspects of the company.

The top floor was quiet when they returned a couple of hours later, and takeout waited on the coffee table in his office.

He rifled through the bags and removed a couple cartons. "Let me run to the conference room and grab plates. What would you like to drink?"

"Water is fine, thank you."

He nodded and strode out, returning moments later. He passed her a bottle of water and a fork. "They only sent chopsticks."

"I'm okay with those."

Pausing a beat, he gave a barely perceptible shake of his head. "Of course, you are." He gestured to the couch and took a seat next to her. "I, however, am not as skilled as you." Dishing a small amount of everything, he handed her a plate, then loosened his tie, removed his coat, and rolled his sleeves to the elbows before serving himself.

She got caught up in the corded muscles of his forearms and light dusting of hair, then stared at her food. "Thank you for dinner." She'd anticipated a tour and swindling, not an informal sit-down.

"You're very welcome. It's the least I can do for keeping you late. I suspect we have a lot to discuss. Right off the bat, I'll double what you're making now, plus full health benefits, if you join Gaines Industries. Two weeks paid vacation a year. One of the job requirements might involve travel, fully on company expenses, but I want you to be aware." He reached for a fork, but she stopped him by covering his hand.

She'd expected him to lure her with money. Though the salary alone made her heart thump, wealth wasn't everything. First test? Xavier may be a genius, but a man willing to learn new things and adapt to change was someone she could work with.

She set her plate on the table and handed him a set of chopsticks. "Humor me and try these."

He studied her a careful beat and dipped his chin in a nod.

Demonstrating how to wield the utensils, she wrapped her fingers around his. He frowned, but it seemed more out of concentration than irritation. Together, they raised a spear of pork to his mouth and their gazes locked. His full lips parted and an uneven breath escaped. Down toppled a brick in his wall, and she swore attraction looked back at her through the intensity of his eyes. Bourbon and fire, his irises.

After a moment, he glanced at the food and bit into the pork, severing the heated exchange. He had some difficulty with the chopsticks, but he never reached for a fork. Okay, so he passed the first test.

She dragged oxygen into her lungs and focused on her own plate once again, ignoring the pang in her belly. They ate in silence, barring a few pleasant exchanges about the staff packets he let her look through. Wages were competitive and he was good about yearly raises.

She took a healthy drink of water and recapped the bottle while he cleaned up. "I have some questions that might seem unconventional. If I'm to consider your offer, I need to understand you."

His lips curved in that smile which wasn't really a smile, and sat facing her on the couch. "I was serious about hiring you, so lay it on me."

Making a point, she removed her shoes, crossed her legs, and clasped her hands. "I hope you don't have plans. We're going to be here awhile."

He huffed an uncommitted version of a laugh. "I'm all yours."

"Do you date?" When he just stared at her, she elaborated. "Aside from your recent breakup with that model, I don't recall photos of you with a woman splashing the society columns."

His gaze dipped to her necklace. "I don't know if date is the right word. I've had relationships, yes. Nothing serious."

"Is it because you're gay?"

His gaze flew to hers. "I'm not gay."

She shrugged. "It's okay if you are. I just need to know to prepare."

"I'm not."

"Nothing to be ashamed about, especially in this day and age, and in California, no less."

"Peyton." He closed his eyes and sighed. "If I were gay, I'd tell you. I wouldn't be ashamed because I don't see anything wrong with the lifestyle. In fact, I support equal marriage. But," he leaned forward, "I'm. Not. Gay."

Oh, yes. Now she was getting somewhere. He had no idea how much he just inadvertently revealed. Xavier Gaines was open-minded, unbiased, and his armor could be c*****d.

She grinned. "Didn't think so. Just checking."

Eyes narrowed, he ran his tongue over his teeth, amusement in his direct gaze. "The two areas of my life where I excel are the boardroom and the bedroom."

Rawr. Blow her over with a feather, but he had an alpha side next to his brains. She'd be turned on if he weren't a potential boss. Never mind. She was turned on, anyway. "Noted."

Resting his elbow on the back of the couch, he rubbed his jaw. "I have difficulty straddling the personal and professional line. Trust is an issue, too. I tend to keep my s****l encounters brief and quiet."

She could only imagine. He had more money than she'd ever see in a lifetime, and women were bound to use whatever tactics they had in their arsenal to land him. His good looks were just a bonus. However, humanizing him in the media would be part of her job, so they'd have to figure something out.

Moving on... "Do you have any hobbies?"

His gaze drifted. "Not really. I like computer games, if only for the programming aspect. I get ideas from them."

"Play any sports? Or watch them?"

"Uh, no." Again, he glanced at her necklace and she wondered why. "I work out and run, but I'm not very athletic. On occasion, I'll watch baseball."

Running, huh? "What's your average distance?"

Confusion hit his eyes as if he had no clue what she was after. "I just do it for exercise. I run about five miles twice a week."

Nice. Which meant she could get him involved in charity marathons to boost his image. Between this conversation and witnessing him with his employees, not to mention glancing at his staff packets, she was leaning heavily toward an answer. Yet, she needed to know if he could bend.