Читать книгу In Bed With Her Tall, Sexy Handsome Boss: All Night with the Boss / The Boss's Wife for a Week / My Tall Dark Greek Boss - Natalie Anderson, Anna Cleary - Страница 8

GRUMPY from lack of sleep she popped a fizzy vitamin tab into a glass of water and knocked it back. She’d have a more substantial breakfast later.

‘What happened to you last night?’ Gina was sitting at her desk munching through a bowl of cereal, her computer switched on and already running through a complicated-looking search request.

Lissa looked at her in surprise. She was almost certain Gina would have spoken to Karl already. She decided to play for time. ‘I wasn’t really up to it. I sat outside for a while and then went home early. What about you?’

Gina eyed her speculatively. ‘I’m sure there’s more to it, you have a guilty look.’

Lissa felt her face flush but dampened down the feelings of embarrassment and focussed on Gina’s own exploits. ‘Well what about you? You must be feeling pretty happy this morning!’

‘Why? Complete opposite, actually.’

‘Why? It looked like things were going great! You guys looked totally hot for each other!’

Gina looked at her, perplexed. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘You and Rory,’ Lissa said impatiently. ‘He couldn’t take his eyes off you.’

‘Rory? He wasn’t even there!’

Lissa’s head snapped back. ‘Yes, he was. I saw him talking to you; tall, dark, wearing a black leather coat.’

‘Oh!’ Gina started to laugh. ‘That wasn’t Rory, that was Karl.’

The earth tilted under Lissa’s feet. ‘Karl? The guy you were talking to? That was Karl?’

‘Of course!’

‘Oh, God,’ Lissa breathed, her heart pounding. ‘Then who was—’ She broke off.

Gina watched her curiously. ‘Who was…?’

Voices came louder along the corridor and Gina hurriedly put her bowl of cereal behind a stack of books on the corner of her desk. Lissa reached behind her to put another magazine on the pile to hide it effectively. They stood side by side as a group of consultants came in with Hugo, the head researcher.

‘Gina, Lissa,’ he began with an evil smile, ‘we have some fresh blood for you. Gina, you must remember Rory—he’s back from the New York office.’

Lissa saw Gina’s sharp glance at Hugo. Hugo was by no means deaf and was fully aware of the numerous times Gina had discussed The Return with Lissa. There wasn’t much Hugo didn’t know. Oh, the joys of working in an open-plan environment.

Then she looked at the tall man stepping out from behind Hugo. Oh. My. God. Tall, devastatingly handsome in a suit and smiling straight at her was ‘Karl’ of the previous evening. He was Rory? Those fabulously unforgettable green eyes were now honed in on her with wicked laughter lurking in their glowing depths. She stared, unable to think anything but that he was even more handsome first thing in the morning freshly shaved and suited.

Hugo was going on to introduce the other men but Lissa didn’t catch any of their names. Her legs were as wobbly as a newborn lamb’s. Finally she dragged her gaze away from him and tried to start breathing again. She smiled in automaton fashion at the others and simply wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. Snatches of conversation came back to her: ‘God’s gift’, ‘when he looks at you…’ Oh, my God, what had she said?

She became aware that they were moving off to inspect the database terminals in the main library area. Lissa stood right where she was, looking down at Gina’s swivel chair.

‘I should have told you.’

She looked up, horrified to see that Rory had not moved away with the others, but instead had moved closer to her, too close. He was still smiling and she watched as he looked over her with a glint of appreciation. A trace of anger flicked through her, raising her temperature even higher. She eyeballed him, refusing to acknowledge the flicker of attraction that also sky-rocketed unbidden.

‘Yes, you should have,’ she whispered.

Annoyingly his smile widened further. Charming, cajoling, overwhelmingly attractive. ‘I’m sorry; it was irresistible.’

‘It was unforgivable. You must have known I’d mistaken you for someone else.’

‘Mmm.’ He looked back at the group of consultants before asking with seemingly genuine concern, ‘Have you got a headache this morning?’

‘Certainly not.’ Irritation caused her to raise her voice louder than she had intended. She looked across to the others and saw Gina was watching, round-eyed.

‘You’d better go and join the others.’ Her body chose that exact moment to reminisce on how well his frame had melded to hers. She felt the fire in her cheeks and swallowed hard. She began to realise the full implication of his true identity. The situation had taken a total dive. He worked here. She couldn’t avoid him and she really needed to. She couldn’t be into this guy, not if he worked here, not at all.

‘I’ve only been away six months,’ he replied. ‘I think I can still find my way round the library OK.’

‘Well, I have work to be getting on with.’ Too mortified to be able to see even the smallest funny side.

‘Please don’t let me stop you.’

Miraculously she gained the use of her legs and marched over to her desk and sat down, hating the fact that he was there to see that she hadn’t even turned her computer on yet.

He leaned nearer. She felt his closeness with every cell. It was almost a pain. Her body yearned for him to reach out and touch her.

‘Bye, beautiful,’ he whispered.

Flushed with anger, embarrassment and desire, she stared at her computer screen as she felt him rise and walk away. She could just picture his grin.

Rory only just managed to stop himself running his fingers through her hair by jamming his hands into his pockets and striding back to where Gina and the new consultants stood. He couldn’t help the grin on his face, though, and knew it was wholly because of wicked thoughts, not excitement about new computer systems.

First day as partner and all he’d been able to think about was getting to the information centre as soon as possible to see if she really was there; if she was real.

Well, now he knew. Definitely real. Definitely gorgeous and definitely ought to be off limits. He yanked his mind back from its determined wanderings into extremely dangerous territory and thanked God she’d been wearing trousers. He rolled a pen between his fingers, trying to stop the memory of the sensation when he’d crossed from stockings onto bare skin.

He was on the fast track, just made a partner and had worked damn hard to get there. The last thing he needed was distracting by a lust-on-legs temp.

Then again, just because he had career ambitions didn’t mean he had to live like a monk. It wasn’t as if he were thinking anything serious here. Marriage and kids were in the long-term plan, but short-term? Hey, he was a man, after all.

Office affairs did get complicated, though. He’d seen it a million times. Never got involved himself as a result—part of his unwritten code. Work was for work, play came after.

But she was a temp—and a New Zealander at that. She’d be onto another temp job or another country in no time. Perfect match for a full-throttle, fast-burning fling.

A partner and a temp, though? Dodgy waters.

He smiled his thanks at Gina—absolutely none the wiser about any of the new databases she’d just run through for him.

‘Tell. All. Now.’

One look at Gina’s face and Lissa knew she couldn’t fudge it. ‘I thought he was Karl.’

‘What?’

‘Rory. I thought he was Karl. At the party.’

‘At the party?’ Gina echoed. ‘Rory was there?’

‘On the balcony.’

‘You didn’t come in?’

‘I went home early. He gave me a lift.’

‘O-K…’ Gina stood, positively agog. ‘So what happened?’

Lissa felt the heat in her cheeks again. She fussed with her mouse. ‘I, er, told him I wasn’t interested.’

‘What?’

‘I thought he was Karl and that you’d set him up to come flirt with me, so I told him I wasn’t interested.’

Gina started to laugh. ‘And a fat lot of notice he took of that! I knew it would happen like that. Man, that’s why I wanted Karl to keep you out of the way so I could have just one chance with Rory before he saw you.’

‘What?’ Now it was Lissa who couldn’t keep up.

Gina sighed. ‘Look, babe, I’ve known Rory for ages and he’s never shown a flicker of interest in me or any other girl here. We all drool over him and he’s just Mr Charming to everyone. I was hoping that maybe when he got back he’d see me in a new light. I wanted Karl to eliminate you from the scene.’

‘Eliminate me?’

Gina rolled her eyes. ‘Look at you. Tall, legs that go for ever, curves in the right places. Long, beautiful hair. Frank and funny. You’re a bloke magnet. Look how many of the guys have tried to chat you up and yet you won’t go out with any of them. You’re the female equivalent of Rory. Gorgeous and unattainable. It was obvious you two would hit it off.’

‘Unattainable?’

‘Yes, and even if you aren’t that’s the vibe you give off.’ Gina looked at her slyly. ‘But I just saw the way he was looking at you and, let me tell you, I’ve never seen him look that way at anyone before. And I’ve never seen you look flustered before. And you definitely look flustered.’

Lissa put her elbows on the desk in front of her and rubbed her temples.

Unattainable? She hadn’t exactly been unattainable last night. She’d been easy, almost. Until now her desire to be unavailable in the office had succeeded. But Rory had shown that shield to be worthless. He’d shattered the illusion just by looking at her. This couldn’t be happening.

He wasn’t Karl the flirt. She needed to snap out of it and fast. He was a partner—one of the bosses. Been there, done that, and complicated wasn’t the word. She’d had one of the best graduate jobs on the market and had ruined it by having an affair with her boss that had turned really nasty.

She forced herself to concentrate, and like the others worked through lunch. Come two o’clock everyone was beginning to flag.

‘Coffee?’ Lissa asked. ‘I’ll go.’ She was eager to stretch her legs.

Both Hugo and Gina looked up; Lissa grinned at the desperation on their faces. ‘I’ll be back in ten.’

She braced against the chilly wind and got there in record time. Glancing around as she entered, she froze on the spot as she saw Rory with two consultants sitting on the far side deep in conversation and coffee. As she looked across his head lifted and their eyes met. His were glittering green and she felt lanced by them, feeling the impact all the way through to her marrow. She told herself the heat in her cheeks was from the cold air not that hot look.

Placing the order quickly, she stood determinedly watching the barista do his stuff, trying not to listen to any sounds from the seated area behind her. Once she had the coffees she couldn’t help a swift glance to the corner where he’d been sitting with the others. To her immense relief, the chairs now stood empty. Breathing out for the first time since she had entered the shop, she left it.

He was waiting by the door. She hadn’t seen him and nearly dropped the coffee when he said straight into her ear, ‘Let me carry those.’ He had the tray from her before she’d computed what he’d said. She had no choice other than to turn and fall into step with him.

‘Have you forgiven me?’ He was watching her with those dancing eyes.

She said nothing.

‘Are you going to talk to me?’

She stopped and growled at him. ‘No and no.’

He smiled back at her. She looked away crossly and continued walking. Damn him for having such a gorgeous smile. It made it hard to stick to her resolve—impossible, in fact. ‘You should have told me who you were.’

‘Probably,’ he admitted. ‘But it was so much fun not to. It was very enlightening.’

‘Gina will never forgive me. I hadn’t told her everything.’ The last part came out as a mumble and she was annoyed to feel the tell-tale heat rise in her cheeks.

‘And I won’t either,’ he said easily. ‘She never needs to know. Have dinner with me.’

The change in tack was a surprise. ‘No.’

‘Lunch?’

‘No.’

‘Coffee?’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘I don’t do office affairs.’

‘Neither do I.’

‘Then why are you asking me out?’

‘I’m willing to make an exception in your case. Anyway, who said anything about an affair?’

She bit back her smile. She’d walked into that one. She didn’t blame him. Different time, different place, she might have been saying yes. But not in this universe. He was a workmate, more than that, he was one of the bosses. But she didn’t want to drag up old issues and decided to deflect him with a different excuse. ‘I don’t like office gossip.’

He laughed aloud. ‘What? You told me a fair bit last night.’

That one hurt because she knew it was true. She battled to bolster what she knew was a weak argument. ‘I thought we were discussing a mutual colleague. I said nothing malicious.’

He stared at her thoughtfully. She bore the scrutiny as long as she could before glancing around, unable to take the heat and promise that glowed in his eyes. ‘No one has to know,’ he said softly.

For a moment she was tempted. Then reality slammed back. No, the best thing was to stay as far away from this man as possible. His gaze didn’t leave her face.

‘That would be impossible.’

‘What others think is really that important?’

‘Of course.’ She frowned, knowing damn well it wasn’t. Her mother had taught her to live life by her own rules, with dignity, without hurting others, and then no one had the right to judge. Of course, never date a workmate was one of the rules.

‘That was no ordinary kiss, Lissa.’

She was glad she wasn’t holding the coffee. She would certainly have dropped it then. He’d spoken so softly for a moment she wondered if she’d dreamt it. She didn’t reply, couldn’t. Damn, it would have been easier if he had been Karl, the flirt who she should definitely steer clear of. But he wasn’t, he was Rory, an altogether different proposition, an altogether different danger and no less inappropriate.

They reached the building and she looked at him expectantly, wanting to take the tray from him. He shook his head and, clenching her teeth, she opened the door. Her heeled shoes clipped on the floor as she strode ahead to viciously press the button to summon the lift.

‘You’re very quiet today,’ he commented. ‘Funny, when you seemed to have so much to say last night.’

Oh, she had plenty to say all right, but she sincerely doubted her ability to say it without resorting to a number of four-letter words. But she’d been tactless enough last night. He was a partner, a boss.

They rode the lift in silence. Lissa tried to ignore his nearness and failed miserably. She stole a glance at him and was flustered when she encountered him looking straight at her. She looked away again instantly and watched the floor numbers light up. Unable to stop herself seconds later, she glanced back. He was still watching her. He looked amused and a hint of satisfaction crossed his face. She seethed.

The doors opened on their floor and she burst out of the lift like a jack-in-the-box, desperate to get away from him.

‘Don’t forget your coffee!’ His call brought her up sharp. Damn. She wheeled around. He was standing just in the foyer holding the tray out. Conscious of the receptionist not five feet away, she stalked back. She stopped a foot away from him and reached for the tray. He took a step nearer and placed it in her hands. His eyes not breaking from hers, he carefully put one hand on hers, then the other hand. Her skin sizzled and her fingers moved unsteadily. He curled his own fingers around hers, ensuring she held the tray securely. Thus they stood for a fraction too long. His hands on hers felt wonderful and she knew his full embrace would be equally dynamic. She pressed her lips together—how could this be? He was a man, like any other.

‘Thank you.’ Oh, was that eager whisper really hers?

‘Bye, beautiful.’ He gave her hands a little squeeze. Her heart and stomach contracted. He flashed her a heart-stopping smile before letting go and exiting through the staff door to the back offices.

Lissa stood immobile. He’d just taken her breath with him. She could still feel the pressure of his fingers on hers and his blazing smile was all she could see.

‘Got a minute?’ Hugo strode back into the information centre from a planning meeting. Gina and Lissa spun on their chairs to face him.

‘We’re reassigning researchers for the teams because of a new project.’ Hugo was straight to the point. ‘Its very sensitive with major client confidentiality issues. Initially it’s just a two-week job and they want a dedicated researcher. Lissa, you’re it, starting Monday.’

Lissa stared at him.

‘You can’t work on other stuff at the same time because you’re going to be locked away in a meeting room. It’s all very top secret; the IT guys are setting it up now. It’s a small team—one partner, two consultants and you. You’ll be expected to prepare the final presentation and proposal. Typing and overtime. You OK with that?’

Lissa nodded, fighting the bitter disappointment. She’d spent most of the time working on a project for a company based in Portugal. It was due to wrap shortly and as a reward the team were going to be flown to Bilbao for a weekend and a party at the Guggenheim. She’d been told she would be included if still there at the end of the project. She’d been looking forward to it so much. She hadn’t had a chance to go on her own travels there and now had run out of time. Her return ticket to New Zealand was already booked.

‘Go straight to Meeting Room Two on Monday,’ Hugo continued. ‘You can do the searches no problem and your computer skills are excellent. The partner thought you’d be a great asset.’

She smiled, partly soothed by the compliment. ‘Really?’

Hugo nodded. ‘He hand-picked you. You’ll be working directly for Rory.’

After a predictably atrocious night’s sleep she arrived fifteen minutes early on Monday morning embarrassed to discover she was the last to arrive.

‘It’s OK you’re not late, Lissa.’ Rory stood and walked around the table towards her. ‘We started earlier to generate some work for you.’

She nodded, glancing at him. Their eyes met and held. She could see nothing in his other than professional politeness, but that didn’t stop her pulse from accelerating as she registered how brilliantly green his irises were. As their gaze held his pupils dilated. Heat emanated and a rush of feeling rose from her belly to her breast. She snatched a breath and quickly resumed her contemplation of the computer set-up. ‘I just want to check I have access to all the databases.’ She tried to overcome her breathy tone and inject some professional assertiveness.

He nodded and gestured to the lone computer on the far side of the table. He followed her to her seat. ‘We’ll have breakfast and a debrief in fifteen, OK?’

She looked up at him, her insides flip-flopping all over the show. This time there was a knowing smile in his eyes. This was going to be much harder than she’d imagined. She stiffened and began checking the systems. She was acutely aware of him moving behind her to the other end of the table.

Sheesh. How was she going to cope with two weeks of him right by her side when she was so aware of his every move? When her whole body answered with such responsiveness to a simple look?

Ten minutes later she was satisfied IT had done a good job. Rory called for her to join them. She smiled warmly at Marnie, and then nodded coolly at James. He’d asked her out on a date months ago and had professed his devastation when she had refused. She’d soon learned that he made it his business to ask every temp worker out.

James filled the mugs from the coffee-pot while Rory outlined the project to Lissa. ‘Our client wants to find a takeover or merger target asap in top secret.’

Almost immediately her thoughts went AWOL. It must have been the idea of merger. She watched him as he spoke, hoping her outward appearance reflected her concentration. Sure, she was focussed, but not on what was being said. His shoulders looked so darn broad. Fantastic for holding onto. She watched his hand as he tapped a pen on the notepad in front of him. Large and strong. She bet he didn’t battle with the lids on jam jars the way she did. But she knew just how gentle they could be. Could imagine only too well how deliciously tormenting they might be on other parts of her body. She shuffled in her seat, a warm flush invading her nether regions.

James handed her a coffee. She took a deep sip, hoping the caffeine hit would clear her befuddled brain.

It worked. Momentarily.

‘We’ll be working round the clock for the next two weeks, but I’m sure that’s not a problem for anybody?’ Rory glanced at them.

Lissa was split. More hours with Rory, but her overtime rate was superb. Pots of money for a situation in which she had to fight the most powerful attraction she’d ever known.

He gestured towards the paper on the windows blocking the view to the corridor. ‘The secret-squirrel stuff is for real. Save your social lives for lunch breaks, please.’

‘What lunch breaks?’ interjected James.

Rory grinned. ‘I know, but it’s only a fortnight and this is worth it. We do a good job and we could win a huge contract for the company. There’s a lot riding on this and it could be good for all of us.’

Lissa wasn’t at all sure how this could be good for her—locked away in a tiny room for hours on end with Rory? An intense, artificial atmosphere, the perfect breeding ground for an intense but artificial relationship. She had to be strong.

‘So,’ Rory continued. ‘Lissa, we need you to research these companies and type up meeting notes, compile reports and the final presentation.’

‘All that typing OK with you, Lissa?’ Marnie asked.

Lissa smiled. ‘It’s fine. I’m just the temp,’ she reassured.

‘You’re not “just” anything.’ Rory interrupted. Lissa’s mouth fell open. On the surface she felt embarrassed, but underneath the reaction was volcanic, the heat bubbling, desire swirling upwards. She looked down at the papers before her, willing someone to fill the pregnant silence. After a moment Rory quite calmly began outlining further details of the project.

She found it fascinating to watch him in action. The master of charm and attention, he seemed to enchant the others, made them want to do their best to please him. Slightly distanced, Lissa watched him weave this magic, witnessing their seduction. It totally irritated her.

When it came to giving Lissa instruction there was a flash of unholy enjoyment in his eyes that she couldn’t miss. And a slight chink in her professionalism where she couldn’t help but feel as if she wanted to do the exact opposite of what he requested.

Late on Tuesday afternoon only the two of them worked in the room. The silence sat heavy. Lissa tapped the keyboard and frowned at the screen, determined to pretend he wasn’t there. As if.

Suddenly he stood. Well, she had to look then, didn’t she? He stretched a little, the gesture emphasising his length. She knew she should look away, but it was impossible. He smiled at her—and the need to look away became imperative. Instead she couldn’t help the small smile back.

‘Come on, team-building.’

Her surprise must have been evident.

‘Team-building,’ he repeated, the dizzying smile widening. ‘Some corporate R’n’R.’

She didn’t trust him; that smile had turned a little wicked. ‘Half the team isn’t here.’ She felt nervous about alone time with him outside the office. Memories of that hot embrace flooded her. Excitement trammelled through her, but she bolted it back down in her emotional cellar labelled ‘do not enter’.

‘They’re coming once the meeting is over. Shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes. We’ll only have time to get there and order the first round.’

It sounded harmless enough. They were meeting the others there. Besides, he was the boss. She didn’t really have much choice. She nodded acquiescence and logged off her computer while he did the same. She got her jacket from the stand in the corner. She pulled it around her and secured the belt firmly, looking up in time to catch him watching her. A definitely sinful smile played on his lips.

Provoked, she deliberately pulled the ends of the belt a little tighter, pinching her waist, emphasising her curves, defiantly holding his gaze. Desire washed over his face, his eyes burning, the skin across his high cheekbones reddening, and she knew her own face mirrored his reaction. Her head tipped back a fraction, she felt the pulse in her lips, felt the longing for him to touch her bared neck. Sharply he turned to exit the room.

They walked to the lift in a silence that hummed with awareness. Mentally she berated herself for the flaunting gesture. Only the tiniest spark could cause an inflammation. Her lower belly and her breasts felt tight from the moment of blatant sexual encouragement. For an instant she’d let her control lapse and now she was paying for it. With every step she felt conscious of his nearness, knowing she wanted to be closer. Much closer. Bad, bad, bad.

Out on the street he surprised her by heading away from the usual company haunt. She tried to recover her equilibrium.

‘We’re not going to Jackson’s?’

‘Well, it wouldn’t be much of a team-building exercise if we went to the local and had the whole company join us. This is just for us, Lissa.’

Just for us? Her pulse raced, beating off kilter again.

He kept walking, and talking. ‘We’re going to be working in close quarters for long hours. We need to be a tight unit. There isn’t room for any issues or…’ he paused ‘…distractions.’

Despite her flirt moment minutes ago, she had no intention of being a distraction. Nor was she going to be distracted. Uh-uh, no way.

‘Marnie and James are competitive with each other. For the most part this is good, but I want the quality of our work to be the primary goal, not one-upmanship or point-scoring or—’ he cleared his throat ‘…scoring at all, for that matter.’

‘Scoring?’ She stopped and stared at him.

His face was slightly reddened, but he met her look squarely with a gleaming one of his own. ‘Lissa, I’ll be honest with you. I’m attracted to you. Have been since the minute I laid eyes on you. That attraction only seems to grow the more I’m around you. But I cannot afford to screw up this project by spending my time chasing you when I should be working. Believe me, it’s damn tempting. So I’m telling you now. I’m interested in you. If you feel the same, then let me know.’

Vaguely she sensed the movement of people passing them on the footpath, of buses and taxis slowly advancing along the street, but it was as if the world had subsided into fuzzy focus leaving only Rory before her, impacting on her with brilliant clarity.

Time held suspended as she saw him watching her as her brain ran through every ugly reason why she couldn’t be honest with him or herself. She couldn’t let anything happen, even though minutes ago she’d practically asked for it. He was her boss. Power plays couldn’t help but enter the equation and she knew nothing about him. She couldn’t risk it.

Finally she spoke, the raw sound embarrassing her. ‘Rory, I can’t. I just can’t.’

He stepped an inch closer. ‘Is that can’t or won’t, Lissa? I know you’re single. I know you enjoyed kissing me.’

Denial was futile, her flush confirmed everything, and so silently she waited him out.

He blew out a deep breath. ‘I’m taking it as a won’t, Lissa. That’s fine. So for now we concentrate on work. But once this project is wrapped then I think we revisit this conversation.’

The blood pounded through her body, her cheeks were still hot, her lips felt full. But she couldn’t be a slave to her desire like this. She’d screwed up one good job already. She wasn’t going to do that again.

He took her arm and gave her the benefit of a full-wattage Rory Baxter smile. ‘Don’t look so worried. It’ll all work out just fine.’

He ushered her into the bar.

‘You choose the table. I’ll get the drinks—apple or cherry?’

She frowned at him.

‘Alcopop? Which flavour?’

‘Oh.’ She felt the heat in her cheeks increase and the small smile popped out without her permission. ‘Actually, I’ll just have a lemonade, please.’

‘Going straight tonight?’

Yes. Straight home. Alone. She nodded. She watched his authoritative stride to the bar. The barmaid leapt to attention, flicking her hair and offering a flirtatious smile.

Turning away before she acknowledged the sudden burst of irritation, Lissa chose the table under the brightest light in the middle of the room. No tiny dark corner to be secluded in, no hint of romance, of intimacy or intensity. She should have known it wouldn’t work. Her brain had slipped a gear out of professional mode and into seduction. Her seduction. His approach on the street had surprised her, his unashamed acknowledgement of his attraction to her. But he had made it clear; work came first. This was good. What had he called it? A ‘distraction’. That was all it would be. She needed to remember that. Men who had office affairs weren’t thinking marriage and kids. More a bit of fun to liven up long hours at the office and more often than not they’d say anything to get it.

He came across to her, a drink in each hand, and selected the chair directly opposite her. No escape from his handsome face and penetrative eyes.

‘You like working at Franklin?’

She had until recently. But her thoughts were interrupted by the harsh beep of Rory’s cell phone. With an apologetic look he answered, yes-ing and no-ing for a few minutes. Flipping it shut, he looked at her with a twinkle in his eye that she was unable to interpret.

‘That was James. They’re held up in the meeting and want to rearrange.’

‘Oh, OK.’ Lissa knew more time alone with Rory couldn’t be allowed. ‘I should get on home.’

He gestured to her three-quarters-full glass and his own barely touched wine.

‘Can’t go wasting company money, Lissa. At least stay and finish your drink.’

It would be churlish not to, but danger signals beat strongly within her. She picked up the glass and had a long swig.

He chuckled. ‘Do I make you that nervous?’

‘Of course not.’ She was more nervous of herself and her own silly weakness. She couldn’t let herself be such a fool a second time, but the attraction to him threatened to overwhelm her.

‘The indecision in your eyes just about kills me, Lissa.’

She looked down immediately. His soft-spoken bluntness slipped under her defences again. She bolted them down. He was direct at work as well. But was he honest? Or was it all just a line practised time and time again to perfection? Flash the green eyes, flatter the lady and raise curiosity to breaking-point. It would be so easy.

‘I really should get home.’

‘Should you?’

‘Yes.’ Definitely.

‘Why don’t we get something to eat before you do that?’

She couldn’t stop the sly smile. ‘Nice try, Rory.’

‘What?’ He put up his hands, all mock innocence. Smiling, he lowered his voice. ‘We will reschedule, Lissa.’ The serious note struck a chord within her and she knew he wasn’t referring to team-building.

Declining his offer of a ride home, she escaped the bar and his breathtaking presence. Never one to miss the opportunity of seeing a few landmarks on the way, she took a bus. She only had weeks left to enjoy the sights. But as she sat in the window seat her eyes were unfocussed, and she was so intent on her own thoughts she missed her stop.

She had thought Grant was honest. Older, only by ten years, but infinitely more experienced. He’d known exactly how to pursue her in a way that didn’t scare her off. He’d given her the works; attention, flowers, the romance she’d never experienced, never seen her mother enjoy, only knew of from the movies. That should have told her it had all been an act. She’d thought she loved him, that he’d loved her. That she was going to get the happy-ever-after her mother had missed out on.

Then she’d found out about Melissa. His fiancée. The sordid truth had become humiliatingly obvious. He’d never taken her to his apartment, had encouraged her to keep quiet about their relationship with other workers because he hadn’t wanted any hint of favouritism, they’d never gone out—he’d come over to her place instead, cooking for her, flattering her and all the while just using her.

Immediately she’d ended it. Or tried to. Only he’d turned nasty. He’d made her work a living hell—denigrating her in front of colleagues, giving her all the dogsbody jobs instead of the work she was trained for and, occasionally, he had still tried to touch her.

She could have taken a harassment case against him, but she’d felt too bruised already, ashamed by the knowing looks of her co-workers, the mortification of being the ‘other woman’—albeit innocently. What a fool.

So she’d packed her bags.

Now she’d met Rory. She knew nothing about him either except, in a matter of only hours and days, he’d breached her defences. She wanted him, plain and simple. Wanted to run her hands over his body, wanted to feel him hard against her, entwined with her. But she couldn’t risk ruining another job on her CV. The only way she could think to prevent it was to freeze him out. Retreat behind a frosty veneer, not look at him, not talk to him, only when necessary for work.