I'd never been to an accountant before, never needed to. But in the past six months my vintage dress agency had really taken off and a couple of friends advised me to sort out my finances before the IRS picked up on my juicy new income. Mike Greene was recommended all over town, so I thought I'd give him a try.
"Take a seat Miss Hathaway, and I'll get you some coffee," the young receptionist smiled as she led me into a plush, purple carpeted office, then closed the door on her way out. The room was fresh and bright with Matisse prints on the walls, not the stuffy old fashioned dΓ©cor I'd expected of an accountancy firm. A large oak conference table dominated the room -- eclectic rather than out of place.
The door opened behind me. "Hi Maura... can I call you Maura?" I turned to face a very tall, intelligent looking man in his mid to late forties. Dark hair washed through with silver and a tan that made him look like he'd stepped off a Caribbean beach.
"Yes, yes of course." I was almost dumbstruck -- it had never occurred to me that someone as boring as an accountant could look so hot.
"I hope my secretary Samantha looked after you?"
Mike seated himself opposite me and we spent the next twenty minutes talking through the intricacies of my business; he showed such an interest and seemed intent on making me feel relaxed. He poured me a glass of water and, as he passed me the glass, our fingers touched in an electric way I'd only ever read about.
"Let's work through some of these spreadsheets," he suggested. "I'll come round there so we can look at the computer screen together and makes notes as we go along." He moved to the chair beside me and, as his leg grazed mine, I wasn't sure how accidental it was.
I know Mike was speaking, explaining things to do with tax and income, but I suddenly realised I hadn't heard a word he'd been saying. But I definitely heard the next line: "That's why I like to give a hands-on service."
His right hand slowly dropped from the table and tentatively brushed my thigh and I felt a shiver cross my skin. Feeling daring, I asked, "How hands-on?"
Taking that as his signal he swivelled round to face me and his left hand was suddenly in my hair, holding my head as he kissed me more passionately than I could remember being kissed in a very long time. It seemed never-ending, but he eventually whispered: "I like to give a really personal service."