How to Resist Prince Charming(11)

She shook her head. “I’m sure I’ll find it. But thanks for the heads up.”

Taking her answer as the dismissal it was, Braxton nodded and stepped back outside. “Good luck on your game,” he called just as the glass doors closed between them.

Lenna whirled away and lifted her hand to her racing heart. Whew. That had been a close one.

What exactly it’d been close to, she had no idea. But she felt like she’d just narrowly escaped something huge.

As she hurried toward her father’s office, Lenna realized she really needed to work on her resisting skills.



Braxton thought about Davenport’s daughter throughout lunch.

He didn’t get it. Out of all the fathers in the entire world, how was it possible she’d ended up with Satan as hers?

Braxton figured the biggest barrier to surmount in his becoming a successful president over the company was Tom Davenport. He needed to get the crotchety old coot in his corner because too many people respected and looked up to Tom for leadership.

Braxton knew if he could win Tom over, then everyone else would slip neatly into place behind him. But banging the man’s daughter definitely would not win him any brownie points.

Unfortunately.

That didn’t stop him from thinking about her, though. And boy did he think. She’d looked really good in the sporty gear she’d been wearing at lunch. It was a complete one eighty from the classy apparel she’d worn to the Christmas party. But it looked equally sexy on her. Lenna Davenport had a body that could wear anything. He liked that versatile feature about her.

Jesus Christ. Just listen to him. He sounded like some kind of lovesick fool. He liked the versatility of her clothing? Could he possibly be any more of a dweeb?

Braxton glanced at the people deep in discussion around him. It was late afternoon, and the meeting he’d scheduled was running way past the time he thought it would. But he was pleased they were making progress. His employees had actually relaxed in the past hour. They kept throwing out all these ideas and Braxton loved it.

And he should probably be paying more attention to what was being said.

His eyes strayed toward Tom Davenport instead. The man would kill him if he knew how much Braxton had been daydreaming about Lenna lately. But hey, it wasn’t as if he was ever going to see her again. What harm were a few wet dreams?

A lot, apparently.

Visions of her already kept him up at night, cutting into his sleep and making him groggy and drained during the day. Now, he was losing his concentration during meetings and phasing out when he shouldn’t be. Next, he’d probably make all sorts of bad business decisions and totally wreck his father’s company.

“Okay,” he announced, tossing his pen on the table and letting out a breath as the anxiety built. “That should wrap it up for today. You guys had some great ideas.”

He glanced at the legal pad in front of him, glad to see he’d actually jotted down a number of the comments and thoughts made. Good. At least his writing hand had been paying attention.

Everyone still talked, arguing pros and cons, as they filed out. His employees looked satisfied and challenged. Well, most of them did.

Braxton glanced at Tom, who lingered behind, gathering a file he’d brought in. The moody scowl on Davenport’s face had Braxton’s eyes narrowing. He didn’t think he’d ever forget his encounter with the older man that first day he’d started as acting president.

He’d called all the top executives of the company into a meeting to discuss his plans for the future. He was starting his first speech as the new company leader and he hadn’t even gotten through his greeting, thanking everyone for coming, when Tom interrupted him, right in the middle of a sentence.

“Just how much experience with selling aftermarket automobile parts do you have, Braxton?”

If the condescending tone in Davenport’s voice wasn’t bad enough, the distaste in his gaze definitely nudged things over the edge.

But Braxton had patiently responded to Tom’s question...and then to a few more. But as he spoke, he continued to make himself look less and less qualified for the position he’d just filled. Realizing he was losing all hope of gaining any respect, Braxton put a stop to Tom’s interrogation at question number four.

“You know, it doesn’t really matter how many years I’ve been graduated from college, or how old I am, or how much experience I have, Tom. I’m already here, I’m already in charge, and you can’t change that. If you have specific issues with me, personally, and want to address them further, why don’t you stay after the meeting where we can discuss it in private, away from company time.”

Okay, fine, he hadn’t responded with any sort of aplomb. All his diplomacy had gone straight out the window. He freely admitted his mistake.

Company presidents weren’t supposed to lose their tempers. But damn it, the guy had pushed the wrong button. He’d pushed, period. And Braxton needed to let his people know he couldn’t be pushed. What kind of leader would he be if he let bullies harass him?

So, he’d laid down the law with his first bully.

And Tom had puffed himself up with righteous indignation, proceeding to glower at Braxton throughout the rest of the meeting. He’d been nothing but obstinate, confrontational, and defiant ever since.

Staring at Davenport now, Braxton’s gut burned as if he’d swallowed a liter of acid. He didn’t like this man, didn’t think he ever could. But Lenna...he liked.