Management Skills Read Online Free PDF Page A

“I suppose. But I’m not trying to seduce him, Pilar.” If Allie wanted to give him a thrill, she’d slither into her old Silver costume, now stored in a shoe box on the closet shelf. “I just want to get to know him.”
    “Maybe we should go buy something new?”
    “We don’t have enough time,” Allie said. “I’m meeting him in less than two hours. I have to shower and all.”
    A soft smile played on Pilar’s fuchsia lips. “I have an outfit that would be perfect on you. Brand new, hanging in my closet.”
    Allie blinked at her. The girl was wearing a bright green tube top and skintight lederhosen, along with a hundred necklaces of multicolored beads. “Something of yours?”
    Pilar’s black eyes sparkled with humor. “Oh, stop looking at me like that. The outfit I’m thinking of is not my style at all.”
    “So that automatically means it’s going to be perfect for me?”
    “Yup. Continue rummaging through your blues, girlfriend. I’ll be right back.” Pilar ran off, leaving behind her scent of vanilla.
    Pilar was a treasure, but she had zero taste.
    Pilar returned with a shimmery periwinkle-blue dress, tags waving from a seam. “Mom bought it for me a long time ago. Supposed to be an interview outfit. I told her, ‘I’m a machinist, not a secretary,’ but she bought it anyway. It’s a stretchy knit, so it should fit.”
    Pilar laid it on the bed. The simple nubby knit sheath was sleeveless with a square neckline. Allie loved the color and texture.
    “I told you,” Pilar said. “It’s perfect. It’s even blue.”
    Allie stroked the dress. “It is gorgeous. Feels gorgeous, too.”
    She tried the dress on. It felt tight. She looked at her curvy reflection in the mirror. The dress was tight. And more low cut than she normally wore. Sexy, but pretty. “I really like it. Thanks!” She gave Pilar an exuberant hug.
    “Have fun for me. And call me when you get back.”
    An hour later Allie walked into Tapas Barcelona, looking relaxed. Her appearance gave no clue as to her real internal state. Which was anxious. Grant’s handsome virility did strange and unwelcome things to both her body and mind.
    Grant looked elegant and downtown in a gray-striped suit with a gray shirt open at the neck. Just seeing him made her sex pulse with searing, slick bolts of fire. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. He smelled wonderful, woodsy-sexy.
    “Hello, Sir,” she said.
    “I do like how you call me Sir.”
    She didn’t even realize she’d called him Sir. She obviously had some automatic and inborn regard for him. No wonder he thought she craved his domination. But she didn’t crave his domination. She craved his bod. And once they became fuckbuddies, she’d break the Sir habit.
    The hostess led them to a handsome private dining room. The dark wood floors and deep-red walls were aglow with candlelight. Grant pulled out a tall leather chair for her at the intimate wooden table. The faint strains of guitar music drifted in from the main dining room.
    The hostess took their drink order, then returned with his scotch, Allie’s sangria and a platter of cheeses with wedges of crusty bread.
    “Are you originally from California?” Grant asked, taking a nibble of the appetizer.
    “Yes.” She sipped on the fruit-heavy sangria.
    “And your family?” The flickering candlelight hit the planes of his face, making him look even more masculine.
    “It’s just been me and my mom since forever. She’s in Japan now, teaching English.”
    “Japan. How wonderful. Have you visited her there?”
    “I plan to. Maybe this summer.”
    “Do you enjoy travel?”
    “Oh, I love it. I love that part of my job. I’m really happy being a production manager.”
    “This isn’t supposed to be a job performance review, Allie. I really want to get to know you. As a person. Not an employee.” He smiled and reached across the table to delicately stroke her fingers.
    His touch sent a shockwave of desire pulsing through her body.