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‘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.
