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She faltered, tensed, her blood threatening to ignite. Of course he was going to arrogantly check her out—she should have expected it.
‘I’m obviously at a disadvantage here, Miss—?’ he asked smoothly, his voice as smooth and rich as chocolate, sliding over her with a warmth that sent ripples through her.
Her skin tingled, but she met his gaze without flinching, ignoring the traitorous response in her body. This was it. The moment she’d waited for. The one she’d envisaged, planned and rehearsed a thousand-million times over.
She opened her mouth, but the truth wouldn’t come.
It shouldn’t be like this—shouldn’t be just words. It should be so much more. He deserved so much more. How could a few choice curses make up for what he’d done to her and her family?
His sensuous mouth tipped at the corners, his blue eyes smiling at her. ‘Yes?’
She tore her attention away from him and stared at the ceiling, struggling to stay in control. She took a gulp of air and dropped her gaze back to his, which was glittering with amusement.
It was like a punch in the gut. He was laughing at her! Probably thought she was keen to worship the ground he walked on, that she was just another bimbo wanting to join his fan club, or—worse—he thought she was in love with him.
The concept raked at her.
She lurched the remaining distance, then stumbled, her hand jerking. Kath’s fruit cocktail drenched his chest and splattered his face.
Jess sucked in a quick breath. ‘You…you rotten, self-serving, malicious, manipulating, arrogant jerk!’
CHAPTER TWO
ALEX stared at the young woman in front of him, the droplets of her drink running down his jaw, the damp patch on his shirt sending mixed signals.
Did he deserve that? Probably.
Did he know her? Must.
He stroked his jaw, wiping off the moisture, running through the possibilities. But for the life of him he couldn’t place her. He was sure he’d remember this woman. She was too fine, too sassy, and far too brazen to forget.
Long chestnut-coloured hair fell around her shoulders with stunning blonde streaks that gave the impression that she spent a lot of time in the sun. It was loose and free, like the words that had burst from her mouth. And what a mouth. Her lips were full and alluring, sending sharp bolts of desire hurtling through his body.
She appeared to be office material, but she wasn’t wearing a shirt under the white waistcoat she wore—a bit of a turn-on—and the skirt was tight around her hips and thighs, enticing his imagination as to the perfection of the body underneath.
Alex raised his gaze to meet her large emerald green eyes, wide and sizzling.
If he knew her, he would go all out to make up for his mistake—including not recalling her. If he didn’t, he’d change her mind about him…so he could experience that sharp tongue and passion first hand.
‘Do I know you?’ he offered, focusing only on the beautiful stranger, subtly aware of the stir of his colleagues behind him.
‘I…I—’ she choked, looking away from him to the floor. ‘I’m—’ she started backing away ‘—not…sorry.’
‘If I’ve done anything to upset you I’d really like to sort it out.’ He tipped his head, trying to catch that fiery look in her emerald-green eyes.
Never had he seen such passion in someone’s eyes. It was as though she was going to throw herself into his arms—or kill him. Either way, she seemed far more exciting to consider than another Friday dinner meeting with his executives.
Hell, he could really do with something a bit more challenging than this everyday routine he was drowning in.
She lifted her chin suddenly, staring him straight in the eyes unflinchingly. ‘Really? You’d like to sort out my problems?’
He couldn’t fight smiling. He loved helping women, solving their problems and making their lives easier. And they were so welcoming to his knight-in-shining-armour gestures. ‘Sure—it’s not every day that a beautiful woman comes up to me and initiates a conversation like this.’
Her nod was almost imperceptible.
He slipped his hands into his trouser pockets, rocking his weight back on his heels. ‘Maybe I can buy you another drink?’
She straightened tall, her full red lips pressed tightly together. ‘I don’t think so.’ She backed away, straightening her jacket.
‘Who are you?’ he asked, taking a step towards the beauty in front of him.
This couldn’t be all there’d be between them…she’d approached him. Alex straightened his tie, watching her carefully, his mind abuzz. What was happening? He was smiling, he was charming, he was saying all the right things and he looked okay… ‘What’s this all about?’
‘I—’ she started, and a shadow passed over her face.
He moved closer to her, the call to answer the mystery of this woman throbbing through him, the strange pull in his chest impelling his legs to move, to follow. ‘Let’s sit down somewhere quiet and talk about this…us.’
She jerked her chin up, her eyes flashing fire. ‘I’m from…Women Against Womanisers,’ she said, pursing her lips and nodding strongly. ‘Just doing my bit.’
All thought left his mind.
Alex stared at the woman, words failing him.
A soft smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she turned and walked away, leaving him standing there.
‘What on earth was that about?’ Lucas asked, stepping forward and slapping his hand on Alex’s shoulder.
‘I have no idea.’ He forced his feet to move. ‘But there’s not a doubt in my mind—she’s just what I need.’
Jess walked directly to Kath, trying not to break into a run. She could hardly breathe, hardly think for the jumble of words in her head, the heat in her cheeks, the pounding in her ears.
What had possessed her to be sucked in by Kath’s needling and march up to the one man in the world she’d had no intention of being anywhere near?
Kath swung around on her stool, feigning innocence with wide eyes and raised brows. ‘How’d it go?’
Jess threw up her hands, her stomach tossing as the conversation flooded back to her—every word of her crazed babbling crashing into his calm responses. ‘Don’t ask.’
‘It looked good.’
Jess shook her head. How could a person with four years worth of hatred, wimping out in the face of her evil nemesis, look good?
Her cheeks burned. How was she going to exact her revenge on the guy with a shred of dignity now he knew she was the total twit who’d lost it, tossed a drink on him and spoken absolute rubbish to him?
Women Against Womanisers? Where had that come from? Sure, if such an organisation existed she’d be the first to sign up—giving support to other women who’d been screwed over by men. And there’d be a lot.
She bit her bottom lip. She just hoped he believed it, and forgot all about her.
Jess straightened her jacket, willing her pulse to slow. It was over. So over. And there was no way she was going to be eating anywhere tonight—least of all here. ‘Let’s get out of here.’
‘Did you get it all off your chest?’ Kath stood up slowly, her gaze probing Jess’s face. ‘You have to feel better now that’s over?’
‘Sure,’ Jess choked, looking towards the front door, hoping she sounded more convincing than she felt. ‘I told him.’
Kath hooked her handbag over her shoulder, tipping her head to one side, looking past Jess as though she wasn’t there. ‘I don’t know…I don’t think you made your point very clearly at all.’
Jess sucked in a deep breath. ‘You weren’t there. You have no idea.’ So she’d barely scratched the surface. But now wasn’t the time. She had to work out a way to get their company playing ball with the big guys, to get the clients that Alex Calahan coveted and to drive him broke—as he deserved.
‘So, if you saw Calahan again…?’
She lifted her chin. There was no way she was going to let Kath know the truth about the encounter. It was better to let her partner in business believe she was over the ‘Crush Calahan’ crusade and that she was in no way as idiotically vulnerable as any other woman to the man’s evil charms.
‘Not a problem,’ Jess said easily, seeing as she didn’t plan to see the guy ever again. Unless you counted giving change to him in the street after she’d turned him into a pauper.
‘Good. Because he’s behind you.’
She stiffened, then relaxed. Kath had to be joking. There was no way Calahan would come begging for more of the same—she’d acted like a total idiot.
‘I’m not joking, Jess,’ Kath said from between clenched teeth, imitating the smile of a Cheshire cat, her attention behind Jess.
‘Jess,’ said a distinctly male voice, rich and smooth behind her. ‘Nice name. Short for—?’
Jess’s heart leapt into her throat.
She stared at her friend, flexing her fingers as his warm friendly tone slid through her, doing strange things to the nerves in her body.
She wanted to turn around and shove the guy into next week. But she was frozen to the spot, her breath coming short and ragged.
‘I’m Katherine,’ her ex-friend said, reaching past Jess, offering a nervous sort of smile.
Jess saw Kath’s hand vanish in his large hand beside her, out of the corner of her eye, and her mind darted to how strong and smooth and sensuous his hand probably felt against hers.
‘Alex,’ he said smoothly. ‘But I’m guessing you already knew that.’
Kath nodded. ‘So…’ she offered, glaring at Jess, widening her eyes.
What could he possibly want? Her mind rattled through the possibilities. To give her a dry-cleaning bill? Or a date?
She bristled. He’d better get used to disappointment.
She swung around to face him, her breath snagging in her throat at the sheer presence of him, so close to her, watching her with his deep blue eyes as though he was searching her very soul.
The corners of his mouth tipped. ‘Hello.’
‘Hi,’ she whispered, forcing air into her lungs. ‘I’m sorry…if I gave you the impression that I wanted something from you. I don’t.’
He touched his jaw, his eyes sparkling. ‘Good.’
She stared at his mouth, trying to understand the meaning behind the word, his presence, the strange tingling in the pit of her stomach.
‘I’d like to propose—’
Kath gasped.
‘—that you may have a unique viewpoint to offer, and I’m more than interested in exploring it to the full.’
‘Really?’ She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at the man. What sort of pick-up line was that? She’d expected more from a guy with the reputation of wooing the ladies the way she’d heard he did.
‘I’d appreciate your perspective.’
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I have no intention of spending one more minute of my time finding out.’ Jess snatched up her bag from the bar. ‘I’ve said my piece.’ She shot Kath a look. ‘And I won’t waste my time or my breath on self-serving womanisers who are out to exploit everything and everyone around them. Good night.’
She snagged Kath’s arm and lurched towards the exit.
‘Jess?’
Her name on his lips hit her deep in the chest. She swung around to face the last man on earth she wanted using it.
‘That’s exactly the perspective I need. I’m looking to change my image…and I need some honest advice.’
She sucked in a deep breath.
‘I’ll pay you for your time.’
‘Of course you will,’ Kath piped up, stepping forward. ‘And I expect you’ll want her to incorporate herself into your day-to-day routine, so she can point out exactly what’s happening on a minute-by-minute basis?’
He blinked, and nodded. ‘Yes, that would be a good idea. I hadn’t thought about it. I just figure I need some guidance from one of your members when it comes to my attitude with women.’
Kath shot Jess a questioning look.
She swallowed hard. Kath had no idea what was going on—that she hadn’t vented it all on Calahan, that she’d fed him a false line. She looked at her friend. ‘I did my bit for Women Against Womanisers—seeing as he qualifies as a prize-winning jerk in the first degree. I told Calahan here as much, and exactly what I thought of him.’
Kath’s eyes widened, glinting. ‘Right.’ She swung to face Calahan. ‘And I’m sure your womanising activities extend far beyond dating and into every part of your life, Mr Calahan?’
He frowned. ‘No. Maybe. Possibly.’
‘So if my fellow member of our organisation here took time out of her valuable schedule to instruct you in the ways of the sensitive New Age man…?’
Jess stiffened, glaring at Kath, who’d cottoned onto the conversation far too quickly and was taking full advantage.
Calahan smiled at Kath, adjusting his tie and pulling back his shoulders. ‘Exactly what I’m after.’
What in heaven’s name was Kath getting her into? And why on earth would she want to follow Calahan around all day telling him what he was doing wrong?
She paused. It could be fun, screwing with his head. But, no—nothing could induce her. She had a business to run, clients to seduce away, and campaigns to wage against the Calahan empire. ‘Not a chance. You’re an arrogant son of a—’
Kath grabbed Calahan’s hand again and pumped it enthusiastically. ‘She’d be happy to help you out.’
Jess’s heart leapt to her throat. ‘Kath?’
