Leather Pants by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
“I’m going to come inside you.”
She quickly understood what he meant and nothing could make her hotter.
“Good.” She quickened her pace, pouring herself into their kiss, squeezing his strong shoulders to ride him harder. How had she believed she could live without this, without him? For the first time in her life, everything felt right.
His gripped tightened on her hips, triggering the explosion. She threw back her head and dug her fingertips into his shoulders. Colt thrust violently with his cock, pushing against her womb.
Bursts of lights flooded the inside of her lids. Fireworks.
He exploded, flooding her with his hot cum, and her body relapsed, orgasming in intense waves. She felt his body inside her, felt his heart beating, and felt her mind soaring with his.
She rode and rocked, sliding his dick in and out, pulling every ounce of pleasure from them both.
No longer able to move, Sarah tipped her head forward and pushed their foreheads together. “That was amazing.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed that, because we still have four hundred miles to go.”
“Sorry. But you’re wrong. We’ve got a lifetime.” She smiled and ran her thumb over his eyebrow, enjoying the view of gorgeous man. Mine. All mine.
He looked into her eyes. “As always, you’re right. And my next new song is going to be about that.”
“About me being right?”
“No. About showing you how much I believe in you.”
“I love you, Colt.”
“And I love you, my naked judge.”
THE END
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Hello, my Happy Pantsers!
I hope you enjoyed the story and that it gave you a little laugh when you needed it most. I so, so loved writing this story and am already having Colt withdrawals! The next story, SKINNY PANTS, (the story of an overweight nurse who takes extreme measures to snag the attention of a hot surgeon—Jack!) is now planned for an early 2018 release, but I’ll let folks know for certain via my newsletter.
You can sign up here:
http://bit.ly/28QNv3u
Or check out updates on my HAPPY PANTS Series page:
www.mimijean.net/happy-pants-cafe-series.html
AND…as always, I have signed bookmarks (while supplies last!) for all of you folks who love to collect mementos from my books! Just email me ([email protected]) with your shipping address, and DO, DO, DO mention if you posted a REVIEW! I’ll be sure to include something fun.
BIG HUGS and HAPPY READING!
Love,
Mimi
P.S. Keep reading for the PLAYLIST and STORY INSIGHTS!
PLAYLIST
“Closer To Love” by Mat Kearney
“Two Weeks” by Grizzly Bear
“Stolen Dance” by Milky Chance
“2 Heads” by Coleman Hell
“Come A Little Closer” by Cage The Elephant
“First” by Cold War Kids
“Spirits” by The Strumbellas
“Shovels & Dirt” by The Strumbellas
“We Don’t Know” by The Strumbellas
“Gold Digger” by Kanye West
“Start A Riot” by Banners
“Gone” by JR JR
“Light It Up (Remix) [feat. Nyla & Fuse ODG]” by Major Lazer
“Frontier” by Doctor Vox
“Sabotage” by Beastie Boys
“My Eyes (feat. Gwen Sebastian)” by Blake Shelton
“Ain’t Misbehavin’” by Ella Fitzgerald
“You & Me featuring Eliza Doolittle (Flume Remix)” by Disclosure
QUICK NOTE ABOUT THE STORY
I won’t do my usual big breakdown of the story, because I feel like this one had some fairly obvious themes. (Don’t judge a book by its cover. You are bigger than the sum of your parts. Sometimes life throws you curveballs and you have to adapt. Embrace it and move on! But above all, tell anyone who gets in your way to SUCK IT.)
But what I did want to give you was the background on how I came up with Colt Young. Funnily enough, he was inspired by a discussion I had with a friend about trophy wives. You know the type: beautiful, young, perfect bodies, rich husbands. But it made me start thinking about the lives of others and how hard some people work to put up a front (like Colt, right?). They convince the world that their lives are perfect, when in reality, the truth is a different story. Everybody has problems. Everybody. And nobody has a perfect life, marriage, kids, or financial situation. There’s always something. I’ve met a few trophy wives who worry constantly about losing their looks and their husbands along with it. They’ve become accustomed to a lifestyle, and it terrifies them to lose it. I’m not judging, I’m just saying that even those with a “perfect” life aren’t always happy, and they’re searching for a way to be, just like anyone else. Anyway, that’s what inspired Colt. To many, he had it all. The fame, wealth, talent, and incredible looks. But just below the surface was a man trying to hang on to his sanity and find meaning in his life.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed his journey!
Mimi
LOOKING FOR MORE?
Read an excerpt from the USA Today bestselling novel, FUGLY
CHAPTER ONE
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And while I can’t argue with that, I can say the same holds true for ugly. Especially in my case.
I used to think I was beautiful—on the inside, anyway—and he was the monster. A horrible, unscrupulous, arrogant prick hiding behind the face of a bona fide, modern-day sex god. CEO, model, a man who had everything.
I was wrong. About both of us. And my blindness has led us to the edge. A pivotal cluster fuck.
My name is Lily Snow. I am twenty-five years old, five foot six, weigh one hundred and twenty pounds, and I have just fucked up my life. Along with his.
Good God, I never should have put him in a position like this. But what else could I do? I’m just an ugly girl in love with a beautiful man.
I’m so sorry, Max. I’m so, so sorry.
Two months earlier
Do not be afraid. He’s just a person. Do not be afraid. He’s just a person. As I fidgeted on the white couch in the middle of the minimally decorated lobby—bright white walls, floors, and furniture with a few oversized photos of red juicy lips on the walls—I quietly prepared for the most important interview of my life: a role as junior sales manager at Cole Cosmetics—aka C.C.—in Chicago where I now lived. Getting this job would symbolize walking through a door people said would never be open to someone like me. And once I got in, it would serve as a stepping-stone for everything I wanted in life, mainly starting my own cosmetics company.
Someday.
In the meantime, I needed this—the experience, the prestige—and to prove to myself I had what it took to work at the world’s most edgy, glamorous cosmetics company that had set every trend for the last six years. One whisper from C.C., and the stylish masses of A-list actresses, pop divas, and fashion designers scrambled to catch up. This summer, sea-foam-green eyeshadow and orange lips were God, but I didn’t dare wear anything so bold. Calling attention to my face was not a smart move.
“Lily Snow?” I heard a woman call my name.
I looked over at the slender, gorgeous redhead, not much older than me, wearing a fitted blue dress and strappy blue heels. Her smoky, mascara-caked eyes scanned the nearly empty lobby, looking right over my head.
“Hi. I’m Lily Snow.”
Her eyes fell on my face with a spark of shock she quickly tried to conceal. “You’re…Miss Snow?”
I gave her a quick nod.
“Oh,” she said stiffly. “Don’t you have lovely hair.”
Her comment was what I liked to call a “conscience clearer.” It was when someone realized they just acted like a coldhearted ass and then quickly tried to make it up to me with a compliment. Usually about my long, wavy blonde hair or my “cute little body.”
I stood from my chair and extended my hand. “Thanks. I’ll trade my
hair for your shoes. Your Manolos are to die for.” They were a limited release made just for Oscar season. Very expensive.
My shoes, for the record, were Franco Sarto heels I’d found on clearance at The Rack, black and simple, just like my pencil skirt and blouse. I would’ve loved to wear something more expensive, but the job I’d been in—a one-year consulting project at B&H Cosmetics—was for the experience rather than a big paycheck. I could’ve done better, but I’d had my sights on C.C., and I knew Mr. Cole, the owner, worked at B&H right after college.
I’m on your heels, big man.
A little smile popped on the redhead’s face. “My boyfriend got them for me,” she said, doing a little pivot to show off the shoes. “He works for Babs Levine.”
Uh. Wow. Babs was the world’s top formal dress designer, who once worked for some of the biggest names in fashion before going out on her own. She practically owned the red carpet this last season.
“Well,” I smiled, “if you ever get tired of your boyfriend, I’m single.”
She laughed so loud her voice echoed off the sterile-looking walls of the lobby. “I don’t think so.”
I wasn’t sure if she’d meant she’d never give the guy up or that he’d never go for me in a million years.
Both. Definitely both. I didn’t take offense, though. I’d made the comment to break the ice, and it worked. She introduced herself as Keri and became all smiles and warm chatter on the elevator ride up. I liked her immediately.
“So what’s it like having Maxwell Cole as your boss?” I asked.
The stainless steel doors slid open, and we entered the executive lobby on the top floor of the Chicago high-rise. Holycrap. Everything had an epic, larger-than-life feel—the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, sleek black furniture, and five pairs of red lips with the C.C. logo etched onto the cement floor. I half expected angels to come fluttering from the walls, blowing their horns. It’s like meeting a real live god.
And a god I would meet.
Maxwell Cole, the founder and CEO, was thirty-three, a marketing genius, Stanford grad, and handsome as hell. And he had morals. No, I’d never met the man, but I did my thesis on his company’s business model, and he was the heart and soul of the place, which was why he handpicked his corporate office salespeople even if they’d report to someone else. Which I would. Something like three levels down.
Still, I wanted to know everything about working for the man. I was ready to please him, bow to him, and make little origami shrines at his feet while he sat in meetings. The chance to work with a legend like this, even from afar, was a dream come true. And exactly what I needed if I were to run my own cosmetics company—one that I’d dedicate to making women feel beautiful and special no matter what they looked like.
Someday.
Keri’s smile melted away into something I’d describe as a polite smirk—like she knew something I didn’t. “Working for Mr. Cole is…great. Demanding, but great.”
For some reason, the only part of her comment I bought was the word “demanding.” I found that strange.
She added, “But you’ll get to see for yourself in two minutes.” She showed me into a small conference room in the corner, just big enough to seat four around the tiny orange table. The room, though it had an amazing view of Chicago and Lake Michigan, felt far too cozy and instantly put me on edge. I realized how close I’d have to sit to Maxwell Cole. And while I wasn’t ashamed of myself, I wanted him to focus on my words and my résumé, not on my face.
It’s Maxwell Cole. He’d never judge you like that. How’d I know? In an interview he’d done for Money Magazine, Maxwell Cole talked about how he only dated women whose “souls turned him on.” Anyone who followed celebrity gossip knew he’d meant it, too. That man had been seen dating some of the least attractive women in Hollywood. Okay, some pretty ones, too. But he didn’t seem to care one way or another. More importantly, he’d built his entire company on one philosophy: “When it comes to your looks, the only opinion in this world that matters is yours.” C.C.’s in-your-face, anti-idealization of women went as far as frequently featuring some pretty imperfect models in their ads. Definitely not your standard Victoria’s Secret gals. Of course, the C.C. women—wrinkles, gapped teeth, very average looking—were all runway beauties compared to me. But that was something I’d come to grips with years ago.
“Thank you,” I said to Keri and took the seat that put my back to the view of the city so I wouldn’t get distracted during the interview.
“Can I get you anything, a water or coffee?” Keri asked with a warm smile before taking her leave.
She seemed like a genuinely sweet person, which felt encouraging. I wanted to work with nice people. It was why I came here.
“Thanks,” I replied. “Water would be great.”
“I’ll be right back, then.” She left, and I looked up at the clock above the doorway. Four o’clock on the dot. Interview time. Okay, stay calm. You are smart, overqualified for this role, and have a perfect résumé. And you’re nice.
As I gave myself a pep talk, I noticed a large figure looming in the doorway, and then, just like in the movies, everything around me dissolved into nothing. There was just him.
Holy shit.
His beauty was pure male magnificence—high cheekbones and strong jaw that gave his face a masculine sculpted look; and lips that were full and sensual, surrounded by a wash of dark brown even though I could tell he’d shaved this morning.
Mr. Cole was so goddamned beautiful it hurt to look at him. But how the hell is it possible he’s better looking in person? And his cologne was…was…I never knew a man could smell that good.
It’s really him. Then my blasted brain kicked on and urged me to mentally strip away that perfectly tailored, navy-blue power suit covering his lean, muscular, exquisite body—the one he’d shown the world last season in the “Get Naked. Get Real” campaign for their new Nude and Natural makeup line. With the exception of his penis, which had been tragically blocked by his large hands, he’d displayed every ripped inch of his abs, chiseled pectorals, bulging arms, and tats.
He is un. Real. I mentally sighed. And those eyes…
As I basked in their hazel beauty, his eyes met mine, and it felt like a cold slap. I saw that same look on everyone’s faces the first time they saw me. Pity or revulsion. Luckily, most tried to mask it once the first wave of shock passed. Then they got to know me, and I won them over.
However, before I could utter a word, his superbly masculine face went from having a subtly sickened expression to a displeased one—a slight hardness in his eyes and firmness of his lips. Body language says a lot, too, and the tension in his tall frame said he didn’t want to waste his time with me.
But wait. Why is he put off by my looks? That didn’t make sense given who this was. Had I imagined it?
“You must be Lily Snow,” he said, still standing in the doorway, his voice cold, hypnotically deep, and authoritative.
I smiled nervously and stood, extending my trembling hand. “Mr. Cole, it’s an honor to meet you. I did my master’s thesis on your company.”
His hand reminded me of an old, rusted-out clunker with a stalling engine, painfully chugging its way to meet my awaiting handshake. When his reluctant palm finally made contact, I couldn’t help wanting to interpret the human warmth of his skin as reassurance I had imagined his reaction to me.
Yes, he’s an important man with a lot going on. With a company this large and billions on the line, it was very possible he had a few fires on his plate. His mood had nothing to do with me. It couldn’t.
I shoved my nerves down a deep dark hole and gave his hand a firm, confident squeeze to demonstrate my assertive nature.
He jerked his hand away.
What in the…? My mind scrambled, reaching for an explanation, any at all, as I sat and laced my fingers together in my lap. I couldn’t make sense of this.
“So.” He took his seat and scooted back against the wall. He’d
put himself only a few feet away, but it was an unnatural distance that left a space between the table and his long legs. “You are interviewing for the junior sales position.”
“Yes,” I replied, trying to hold it together and hoping to God I was wrong about what was happening. Perhaps he was a germophobe or one of those people who hated to be touched?
With an unsteady hand, I slid my résumé from my black leather portfolio and passed it to him. I’d sent a copy of my CV to his HR person, but who knew if he’d had time to read it.
Nope. I guess not.
His intense hazel eyes began skimming while I sat there staring, mortified and unsure of what to say or do.
“You’re not qualified.” He threw the sheet of paper on the table and shot me a harsh look before abruptly standing.
“But I—”
“Thank you for coming,” he said in a tone that told me he wasn’t thankful at all. More like put out, annoyed, maybe pissed off.
My mouth hung open as he walked out of the tiny conference room, not bothering to shake my hand or look at me or hear anything I had to say.
My emotions fell somewhere between epic rage and heartbreak. He’d treated me like a leper or some mangy dog with rabies. And as my mind quickly digested everything that happened in the last sixty seconds, I could only come up with one reason for his behavior: my looks. And, hell no, I wasn’t crazy or making it up. That expression on his face when he’d walked in the door? The way he’d shaken my hand?
I covered my face and let out a shaky breath. This can’t be happening. I expected this sort of behavior from a shallow, pompous asshole that only valued women for their beauty, but from Maxwell Cole?
My mind went into a tailspin of anger, despite my conscience urging me to take the high road—a road I knew like the back of my hand. After all, I was a nice, caring person. I didn’t yell at people—or hadn’t in years. But that had been back in school, and only when some jerk decided to mess with one of my painfully shy friends or my disabled brother.
She quickly understood what he meant and nothing could make her hotter.
“Good.” She quickened her pace, pouring herself into their kiss, squeezing his strong shoulders to ride him harder. How had she believed she could live without this, without him? For the first time in her life, everything felt right.
His gripped tightened on her hips, triggering the explosion. She threw back her head and dug her fingertips into his shoulders. Colt thrust violently with his cock, pushing against her womb.
Bursts of lights flooded the inside of her lids. Fireworks.
He exploded, flooding her with his hot cum, and her body relapsed, orgasming in intense waves. She felt his body inside her, felt his heart beating, and felt her mind soaring with his.
She rode and rocked, sliding his dick in and out, pulling every ounce of pleasure from them both.
No longer able to move, Sarah tipped her head forward and pushed their foreheads together. “That was amazing.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed that, because we still have four hundred miles to go.”
“Sorry. But you’re wrong. We’ve got a lifetime.” She smiled and ran her thumb over his eyebrow, enjoying the view of gorgeous man. Mine. All mine.
He looked into her eyes. “As always, you’re right. And my next new song is going to be about that.”
“About me being right?”
“No. About showing you how much I believe in you.”
“I love you, Colt.”
“And I love you, my naked judge.”
THE END
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Hello, my Happy Pantsers!
I hope you enjoyed the story and that it gave you a little laugh when you needed it most. I so, so loved writing this story and am already having Colt withdrawals! The next story, SKINNY PANTS, (the story of an overweight nurse who takes extreme measures to snag the attention of a hot surgeon—Jack!) is now planned for an early 2018 release, but I’ll let folks know for certain via my newsletter.
You can sign up here:
http://bit.ly/28QNv3u
Or check out updates on my HAPPY PANTS Series page:
www.mimijean.net/happy-pants-cafe-series.html
AND…as always, I have signed bookmarks (while supplies last!) for all of you folks who love to collect mementos from my books! Just email me ([email protected]) with your shipping address, and DO, DO, DO mention if you posted a REVIEW! I’ll be sure to include something fun.
BIG HUGS and HAPPY READING!
Love,
Mimi
P.S. Keep reading for the PLAYLIST and STORY INSIGHTS!
PLAYLIST
“Closer To Love” by Mat Kearney
“Two Weeks” by Grizzly Bear
“Stolen Dance” by Milky Chance
“2 Heads” by Coleman Hell
“Come A Little Closer” by Cage The Elephant
“First” by Cold War Kids
“Spirits” by The Strumbellas
“Shovels & Dirt” by The Strumbellas
“We Don’t Know” by The Strumbellas
“Gold Digger” by Kanye West
“Start A Riot” by Banners
“Gone” by JR JR
“Light It Up (Remix) [feat. Nyla & Fuse ODG]” by Major Lazer
“Frontier” by Doctor Vox
“Sabotage” by Beastie Boys
“My Eyes (feat. Gwen Sebastian)” by Blake Shelton
“Ain’t Misbehavin’” by Ella Fitzgerald
“You & Me featuring Eliza Doolittle (Flume Remix)” by Disclosure
QUICK NOTE ABOUT THE STORY
I won’t do my usual big breakdown of the story, because I feel like this one had some fairly obvious themes. (Don’t judge a book by its cover. You are bigger than the sum of your parts. Sometimes life throws you curveballs and you have to adapt. Embrace it and move on! But above all, tell anyone who gets in your way to SUCK IT.)
But what I did want to give you was the background on how I came up with Colt Young. Funnily enough, he was inspired by a discussion I had with a friend about trophy wives. You know the type: beautiful, young, perfect bodies, rich husbands. But it made me start thinking about the lives of others and how hard some people work to put up a front (like Colt, right?). They convince the world that their lives are perfect, when in reality, the truth is a different story. Everybody has problems. Everybody. And nobody has a perfect life, marriage, kids, or financial situation. There’s always something. I’ve met a few trophy wives who worry constantly about losing their looks and their husbands along with it. They’ve become accustomed to a lifestyle, and it terrifies them to lose it. I’m not judging, I’m just saying that even those with a “perfect” life aren’t always happy, and they’re searching for a way to be, just like anyone else. Anyway, that’s what inspired Colt. To many, he had it all. The fame, wealth, talent, and incredible looks. But just below the surface was a man trying to hang on to his sanity and find meaning in his life.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed his journey!
Mimi
LOOKING FOR MORE?
Read an excerpt from the USA Today bestselling novel, FUGLY
CHAPTER ONE
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And while I can’t argue with that, I can say the same holds true for ugly. Especially in my case.
I used to think I was beautiful—on the inside, anyway—and he was the monster. A horrible, unscrupulous, arrogant prick hiding behind the face of a bona fide, modern-day sex god. CEO, model, a man who had everything.
I was wrong. About both of us. And my blindness has led us to the edge. A pivotal cluster fuck.
My name is Lily Snow. I am twenty-five years old, five foot six, weigh one hundred and twenty pounds, and I have just fucked up my life. Along with his.
Good God, I never should have put him in a position like this. But what else could I do? I’m just an ugly girl in love with a beautiful man.
I’m so sorry, Max. I’m so, so sorry.
Two months earlier
Do not be afraid. He’s just a person. Do not be afraid. He’s just a person. As I fidgeted on the white couch in the middle of the minimally decorated lobby—bright white walls, floors, and furniture with a few oversized photos of red juicy lips on the walls—I quietly prepared for the most important interview of my life: a role as junior sales manager at Cole Cosmetics—aka C.C.—in Chicago where I now lived. Getting this job would symbolize walking through a door people said would never be open to someone like me. And once I got in, it would serve as a stepping-stone for everything I wanted in life, mainly starting my own cosmetics company.
Someday.
In the meantime, I needed this—the experience, the prestige—and to prove to myself I had what it took to work at the world’s most edgy, glamorous cosmetics company that had set every trend for the last six years. One whisper from C.C., and the stylish masses of A-list actresses, pop divas, and fashion designers scrambled to catch up. This summer, sea-foam-green eyeshadow and orange lips were God, but I didn’t dare wear anything so bold. Calling attention to my face was not a smart move.
“Lily Snow?” I heard a woman call my name.
I looked over at the slender, gorgeous redhead, not much older than me, wearing a fitted blue dress and strappy blue heels. Her smoky, mascara-caked eyes scanned the nearly empty lobby, looking right over my head.
“Hi. I’m Lily Snow.”
Her eyes fell on my face with a spark of shock she quickly tried to conceal. “You’re…Miss Snow?”
I gave her a quick nod.
“Oh,” she said stiffly. “Don’t you have lovely hair.”
Her comment was what I liked to call a “conscience clearer.” It was when someone realized they just acted like a coldhearted ass and then quickly tried to make it up to me with a compliment. Usually about my long, wavy blonde hair or my “cute little body.”
I stood from my chair and extended my hand. “Thanks. I’ll trade my
My shoes, for the record, were Franco Sarto heels I’d found on clearance at The Rack, black and simple, just like my pencil skirt and blouse. I would’ve loved to wear something more expensive, but the job I’d been in—a one-year consulting project at B&H Cosmetics—was for the experience rather than a big paycheck. I could’ve done better, but I’d had my sights on C.C., and I knew Mr. Cole, the owner, worked at B&H right after college.
I’m on your heels, big man.
A little smile popped on the redhead’s face. “My boyfriend got them for me,” she said, doing a little pivot to show off the shoes. “He works for Babs Levine.”
Uh. Wow. Babs was the world’s top formal dress designer, who once worked for some of the biggest names in fashion before going out on her own. She practically owned the red carpet this last season.
“Well,” I smiled, “if you ever get tired of your boyfriend, I’m single.”
She laughed so loud her voice echoed off the sterile-looking walls of the lobby. “I don’t think so.”
I wasn’t sure if she’d meant she’d never give the guy up or that he’d never go for me in a million years.
Both. Definitely both. I didn’t take offense, though. I’d made the comment to break the ice, and it worked. She introduced herself as Keri and became all smiles and warm chatter on the elevator ride up. I liked her immediately.
“So what’s it like having Maxwell Cole as your boss?” I asked.
The stainless steel doors slid open, and we entered the executive lobby on the top floor of the Chicago high-rise. Holycrap. Everything had an epic, larger-than-life feel—the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, sleek black furniture, and five pairs of red lips with the C.C. logo etched onto the cement floor. I half expected angels to come fluttering from the walls, blowing their horns. It’s like meeting a real live god.
And a god I would meet.
Maxwell Cole, the founder and CEO, was thirty-three, a marketing genius, Stanford grad, and handsome as hell. And he had morals. No, I’d never met the man, but I did my thesis on his company’s business model, and he was the heart and soul of the place, which was why he handpicked his corporate office salespeople even if they’d report to someone else. Which I would. Something like three levels down.
Still, I wanted to know everything about working for the man. I was ready to please him, bow to him, and make little origami shrines at his feet while he sat in meetings. The chance to work with a legend like this, even from afar, was a dream come true. And exactly what I needed if I were to run my own cosmetics company—one that I’d dedicate to making women feel beautiful and special no matter what they looked like.
Someday.
Keri’s smile melted away into something I’d describe as a polite smirk—like she knew something I didn’t. “Working for Mr. Cole is…great. Demanding, but great.”
For some reason, the only part of her comment I bought was the word “demanding.” I found that strange.
She added, “But you’ll get to see for yourself in two minutes.” She showed me into a small conference room in the corner, just big enough to seat four around the tiny orange table. The room, though it had an amazing view of Chicago and Lake Michigan, felt far too cozy and instantly put me on edge. I realized how close I’d have to sit to Maxwell Cole. And while I wasn’t ashamed of myself, I wanted him to focus on my words and my résumé, not on my face.
It’s Maxwell Cole. He’d never judge you like that. How’d I know? In an interview he’d done for Money Magazine, Maxwell Cole talked about how he only dated women whose “souls turned him on.” Anyone who followed celebrity gossip knew he’d meant it, too. That man had been seen dating some of the least attractive women in Hollywood. Okay, some pretty ones, too. But he didn’t seem to care one way or another. More importantly, he’d built his entire company on one philosophy: “When it comes to your looks, the only opinion in this world that matters is yours.” C.C.’s in-your-face, anti-idealization of women went as far as frequently featuring some pretty imperfect models in their ads. Definitely not your standard Victoria’s Secret gals. Of course, the C.C. women—wrinkles, gapped teeth, very average looking—were all runway beauties compared to me. But that was something I’d come to grips with years ago.
“Thank you,” I said to Keri and took the seat that put my back to the view of the city so I wouldn’t get distracted during the interview.
“Can I get you anything, a water or coffee?” Keri asked with a warm smile before taking her leave.
She seemed like a genuinely sweet person, which felt encouraging. I wanted to work with nice people. It was why I came here.
“Thanks,” I replied. “Water would be great.”
“I’ll be right back, then.” She left, and I looked up at the clock above the doorway. Four o’clock on the dot. Interview time. Okay, stay calm. You are smart, overqualified for this role, and have a perfect résumé. And you’re nice.
As I gave myself a pep talk, I noticed a large figure looming in the doorway, and then, just like in the movies, everything around me dissolved into nothing. There was just him.
Holy shit.
His beauty was pure male magnificence—high cheekbones and strong jaw that gave his face a masculine sculpted look; and lips that were full and sensual, surrounded by a wash of dark brown even though I could tell he’d shaved this morning.
Mr. Cole was so goddamned beautiful it hurt to look at him. But how the hell is it possible he’s better looking in person? And his cologne was…was…I never knew a man could smell that good.
It’s really him. Then my blasted brain kicked on and urged me to mentally strip away that perfectly tailored, navy-blue power suit covering his lean, muscular, exquisite body—the one he’d shown the world last season in the “Get Naked. Get Real” campaign for their new Nude and Natural makeup line. With the exception of his penis, which had been tragically blocked by his large hands, he’d displayed every ripped inch of his abs, chiseled pectorals, bulging arms, and tats.
He is un. Real. I mentally sighed. And those eyes…
As I basked in their hazel beauty, his eyes met mine, and it felt like a cold slap. I saw that same look on everyone’s faces the first time they saw me. Pity or revulsion. Luckily, most tried to mask it once the first wave of shock passed. Then they got to know me, and I won them over.
However, before I could utter a word, his superbly masculine face went from having a subtly sickened expression to a displeased one—a slight hardness in his eyes and firmness of his lips. Body language says a lot, too, and the tension in his tall frame said he didn’t want to waste his time with me.
But wait. Why is he put off by my looks? That didn’t make sense given who this was. Had I imagined it?
“You must be Lily Snow,” he said, still standing in the doorway, his voice cold, hypnotically deep, and authoritative.
I smiled nervously and stood, extending my trembling hand. “Mr. Cole, it’s an honor to meet you. I did my master’s thesis on your company.”
His hand reminded me of an old, rusted-out clunker with a stalling engine, painfully chugging its way to meet my awaiting handshake. When his reluctant palm finally made contact, I couldn’t help wanting to interpret the human warmth of his skin as reassurance I had imagined his reaction to me.
Yes, he’s an important man with a lot going on. With a company this large and billions on the line, it was very possible he had a few fires on his plate. His mood had nothing to do with me. It couldn’t.
I shoved my nerves down a deep dark hole and gave his hand a firm, confident squeeze to demonstrate my assertive nature.
He jerked his hand away.
What in the…? My mind scrambled, reaching for an explanation, any at all, as I sat and laced my fingers together in my lap. I couldn’t make sense of this.
“So.” He took his seat and scooted back against the wall. He’d
“Yes,” I replied, trying to hold it together and hoping to God I was wrong about what was happening. Perhaps he was a germophobe or one of those people who hated to be touched?
With an unsteady hand, I slid my résumé from my black leather portfolio and passed it to him. I’d sent a copy of my CV to his HR person, but who knew if he’d had time to read it.
Nope. I guess not.
His intense hazel eyes began skimming while I sat there staring, mortified and unsure of what to say or do.
“You’re not qualified.” He threw the sheet of paper on the table and shot me a harsh look before abruptly standing.
“But I—”
“Thank you for coming,” he said in a tone that told me he wasn’t thankful at all. More like put out, annoyed, maybe pissed off.
My mouth hung open as he walked out of the tiny conference room, not bothering to shake my hand or look at me or hear anything I had to say.
My emotions fell somewhere between epic rage and heartbreak. He’d treated me like a leper or some mangy dog with rabies. And as my mind quickly digested everything that happened in the last sixty seconds, I could only come up with one reason for his behavior: my looks. And, hell no, I wasn’t crazy or making it up. That expression on his face when he’d walked in the door? The way he’d shaken my hand?
I covered my face and let out a shaky breath. This can’t be happening. I expected this sort of behavior from a shallow, pompous asshole that only valued women for their beauty, but from Maxwell Cole?
My mind went into a tailspin of anger, despite my conscience urging me to take the high road—a road I knew like the back of my hand. After all, I was a nice, caring person. I didn’t yell at people—or hadn’t in years. But that had been back in school, and only when some jerk decided to mess with one of my painfully shy friends or my disabled brother.