Kate straightened her pencil skirt around her hips anxiously, she hated job interviews, but she hated not working even more. The door to the elevator closed and she turned to fix her blonde hair back into a smooth ponytail in the mirrored back wall. The wind from the storm outside had not made it easy to get to her interview downtown, the prestigious Barnes Tower was smack dab in the center of New York. She sighed in annoyance, hoping she would ride unaccompanied, as the elevator came to a moaning stop.
She was relieved as she turned around, for actually being alone despite the busy tower until a large hand sneaked inside to push the doors back open. Her breath caught in her throat as a large man appeared in a very well tailored black suit, his long dark hair tucked neatly into a small bun at the back of his head and piercing blue eyes staring right at her as he entered the elevator. His sharp jawline was covered in dark stubble and for a split second, she wondered how that stubble would feel against her skin.
Kate gripped the wall of the elevator to keep herself upright as her knees threatened to knock together, and the stranger turned his head to raise an eyebrow, giving her a glimpse of those beautiful eyes one more time.
"Everything alright?" he asked her with a deep voice as he pressed the button for the ninth floor, not leaving her gaze.
She blinked quickly trying to awaken herself from the trance his eyes had locked her in. "Perfect", she squeaked. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, a flash of something mischievous in his damningly blue eyes. With a spike of anxiety, Kate bit down on her bottom lip—surely, he hadn't noticed her attraction?
Kate gulped hard as she noticed she hadn't even pushed a button on the elevator. "Where ya headed, doll?" the tall dark-haired man smoothly asked.
She forgot for a second, her eyes widened a fraction before her brain caught up, "Uhh... the thirtieth floor. Job interview." Kate stuttered out an answer.
He chuckled quietly to himself, "interview, aye?" He smirked. Kate's cheeks were burning, she prayed he didn't notice.
"That'll explain why I haven't seen your pretty face around here before." He added, eyes lighting up devilishly, making no attempt to hide how much he enjoyed watching her blush.
Kate stared for a moment, not believing the words that left his plush pink lips. Who was this guy? "I—I'm sorry?"
"How rude of me," he extended a hand toward her, she took note of the ring on his pinky finger, "I'm James Barnes." How had she not realized? Kate bit her tongue trying not to swear in front of one of the most famous lawyers in New York.
She grabbed his hand to give it a light shake, feeling his thumb stroking hers which made her forget to breathe for a second. " Kate," she whispered, feeling herself melting from his gentle action.
A low chuckle left James' throat, as he brought her knuckles up and placed a light kiss on the back of her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kate" her name dripped perfectly out of his mouth.
It felt like her insides melted into a puddle of goo, his voice was dark, a bit raspy and she couldn't help but let her x-rated imagination run wild.
James raised his eyebrow as if he could read her mind, a smirk pulling at his lips as he let her hand drop. "Same," Kate breathed, heart, pounding so loud he could probably hear it.
He kept staring at her - really staring - like his eyes were digging into her soul and she couldn't stop blushing. He smirked and said in that low, velvety tone, "So I'm assuming you're my 9:00 am interview?"
His presence alone was so intimidating, that she didn't know how to act around him. "I guess that's right," she gulped as she tried to appear as confident as possible.