Perfect Fit - Brenda Jackson [8]
Erol frowned. “Are you sure you weren’t dreaming about that, sweetheart?”
She shook her head as she pulled herself up and drew her knees up to her chest. “No, I’m positive that I heard what you said.”
Erol shrugged as he stood. “In that case,” he said, crossing the room to get his keys off the dresser, “it must have been because I thought I may have been a little too rough with you last night.” He turned around and looked at her. “Was I?”
She smiled as she adjusted the bedspread around her raised knees. “No, in fact I rather enjoyed it that way. God knows I needed it. Yesterday was a bear at work.”
He nodded. “I gathered as much when you called me. Did you and your staff get things finished last night?”
She inhaled deeply as she ran a hand through her hair. “I hope so. Mr. Poole has been rather picky about stuff lately. But then, I guess he has every right to be since he’s worked there forever and has helped make the company into the success it is.”
“Yeah, it’s not easy climbing the ladder of success,” Erol said, rubbing a hand over his face.
There was something in his voice that pulled at Sage, alerting her that something was bothering him. She knew that although his business was flourishing, he had yet to reach that level of success he was pleased with. Erol’s dream was to be the most sought after landscape architectural firm not only in the region, but in the country as well. He’d often shared with her his dream to see his company grow nationwide. And that was one goal he planned on accomplishing.
“Are things going okay with the company, Erol?” she asked with concern.
He smiled wryly as he walked back over to the bed and pulled her into his arms. “Yeah, don’t worry, babe. Things are going fine.”
She hugged him back with the same fierceness that he was hugging her. “And you would tell me if they weren’t, wouldn’t you? You would let me know if something was bothering you?”
He slowly released her and tilted his head back to look down at her. He reached out and cupped her chin. “Yeah, babe, you would be the first to know.”
Sage held her breath as she watched Mr. Poole thoroughly read the new proposal, hoping it was what he wanted. Moments later, she let out a sigh of relief when she saw him smile.
“This is excellent, Ms. Dunbar. I knew you and your staff would come through. There’s no doubt in my mind that both Mr. Dell and the board will be pleased.”
Sage couldn’t help but beam in delight. “Thanks, sir.” She then watched as he leaned back in his chair and gazed at her thoughtfully. She wondered what he was thinking.
Nervously, she shifted in her seat and crossed one leg over the other. “Is there anything else you wanted, Mr. Poole?” After asking her question, she quickly wondered if he’d considered her words as a come-on. She definitely hoped not. Since coming to work for the company two years ago, she had been nothing but professional in her dealings with him, unlike some of her coworkers who she knew had all but stamped the words “I’m available if you’re interested” on their foreheads.
“Yes, there is something else, Ms. Dunbar, and I believe you would be just the right person for the job.”
She lifted a dark brow. “What job, sir?”
“To do a presentation at a meeting in Alaska.”
“Alaska?”
“Yes, Anchorage, Alaska. We were awarded a contract to handle the marketing for a company that’s having an exclusive ski resort built there. The owner, John Landmark, wasn’t impressed with the ideas our first group put together and needs another proposal presented. He wants us to meet with the Regency Corporation, the company he’s hired to build the resort, and work with them to come up with some good marketing and promotion ideas.”
He leaned forward. “I believe the trip will provide us with an opportunity to evaluate several suggestions Mr. Landmark has and to come up with a few of our own. Another team from our West Coast office is being assembled to ultimately take over the handling of this project, but right now they need us to fly out there