Camera Shy (Lessons in Love, #1)(76)

After hours of scouring our common LinkedIn connections, I determine that Hunter Mahan is the marketing director at Legacy Resorts. Due to our numerous contacts in common, I’m able to snag his email address.

Misogynist or not, surely, he’s capable of responding to an email.





From: Avery Scott, Arrow Consulting

To: Hunter Mahan, Legacy Resorts





Dear Mr. Mahan,





My name is Avery Scott. I’m one of the principal owners of Arrow Consulting. It’s very nice to meet you. It’s my understanding that Legacy Resorts has requested a proposal presentation from Arrow Consulting at the end of the summer.





First and foremost, thank you for the opportunity. I know you’ve been in touch with my business partner, Mason Richards, but in an effort to make sure I’m thoroughly prepared with a strategy suggestion, would you kindly send over your current marketing reports? Mainly, I’m interested in the click traffic so I can assess your current customer demographics and how many leads are resulting in sales.





If necessary, please feel free to send over an NDA. I’ll be more than happy to sign. I’ve included my number if you have any immediate questions or concerns. I will make myself available.





Thank you.





Regards,

Avery Scott





A soft knock at the front door sounds and I click send in a hurry before I can talk myself out of going over Mason’s head. I shut my laptop and head to the front door, the butterflies in my stomach kicking up.

It’s been a few days since I’ve seen Finn. I decided after our last encounter, he’s more than holding up his end of the bargain. It’s time for me to do my part. I’ve spent the last few days immersed in boudoir photography and all things freelance photography income related, and I have some initial ideas on how Finn can get his business on track.

I open the door to see Finn’s broad back. He’s wearing a thin T-shirt that hugs the bumps and ripples of his well-defined muscles. I know what these muscles feel like. I’ve caressed them, licked them…scratched them. He whips around, two blueberry Red Bulls in his hands.

“Surprise,” he says with a charming smile.

“My hero.” I reach for the drink in his right hand. “These will go great with dinner.” After spinning around, I make my way down the hall, hearing Finn’s heavy footsteps behind me.

“There’s dinner?” he asks. “I thought this was just a business meeting.” I did in fact specifically tell him there would be no sex tonight. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t taking advantage of him, so tonight all we’re doing is talking shop.

“Dinner might be a stretch.” I stop in place and rotate, facing Finn head-on. “I can only really make three things.”

He looks amused. “Being?”

“Baked potatoes, cereal—”

“Does cereal count as making something?” he asks with a teasing smile.

I proceed to roll my eyes. “And dip,” I finish, pointing to Dex’s kitchen table that is currently displaying five different bowls of various dips.

“Holy crap.” Finn follows my finger and assesses the table. “That’s a lot of dip.”

I nod so enthusiastically, my hair falls over my face. “I’m pretty passionate about dip.”

Finn chuckles. He smacks my ass casually, ignoring my girlish yelp as he passes by me. Finn sets his drink down and proceeds to pull the Saran Wrap off each of the glass bowls. “You made these just for me?” he asks, cocking one brow.

“Yep.” Slaved away all day.

He immediately shoves his finger into the first bowl, then shamelessly sucks it clean. “What the hell is this masterpiece?” He dunks his finger in again.

I proceed to fetch the new bag of pretzel rods off the kitchen island and hand it to Finn. He opens it with ease, gleefully dunking the thick pretzel stick into the dip once more. “Honey mustard but with a twist—I use spicy brown mustard and dijon. I know—it shouldn’t work, but it’s tasty, right?”

Mouth full, he nods and gives me a cheesy thumbs-up.

“Don’t fill up,” I say. “We still have buffalo chicken dip—yes, with actual chicken so I can try to pass this off as a real meal, French onion dip for the potato chips, I have French baguette for the bacon cheddar chive dip, and for dessert, banana cream pie dip with Vanilla Wafers.”

Finn looks at me the way you’d look at a puppy tripping over its big ears. Adorably…with a little pity. He’s silent, but his shoulders are shaking, so I know he’s laughing at me.

“What?” I ask. “Look, it’s the best I can do. I struggle in the kitchen…”

He shakes his head, a goofy expression on his face. “You are so cute. Never have I been treated to a feast of dips. This is a new standard for date night, by the way.” Grabbing the bowl of banana cream pie dip, he places a quick kiss on the top of my head as he passes me. “Can we start with dessert?”

Wait, date night?

“Of course.” I collect both of our drinks and a box of crunchy vanilla cookies and join him in the living room. He scowls at me when I join him on the couch, leaving at least a foot of space between us.