by Anne Oliver
Satisfied—and relieved—that the next couple of hours would be no different, she’d lifted the documents and files she’d organised for the evening’s session off her desk and turned…to find Jared watching her from the doorway.
And looking anything but business.
The sun had set but the high-rise office was still bathed in the sky’s ruddy reflection, painting his skin a swarthy bronze, contrasting with his shirt, which glowed like a white-hot coal. Against the files, her fingers twitched with the itch to stroke his skin and discover if it was as warm and firm as it looked.
As it had felt in her dream.
Sophie inwardly moaned that if she hadn’t dreamt about him she wouldn’t be having these totally inappropriate thoughts. She prided herself on being a professional. She did not gaze at her boss as if she wanted to lick her way up the side of his throat, over his prominent Adam’s apple, along his firm afternoon-shadowed jaw to that luscious-looking mouth…
She barely refrained from darting her tongue out to moisten her newly glossed lips courtesy of the quick pit-stop in the Ladies. Which would be a disaster since Jared’s gaze seemed to be focused on them with what looked like impatience. Probably waiting for her to explain why she’d been taking so long with the files.
‘I do love sunsets, don’t you?’ she said into the loaded silence and hefted the documents higher against her chest as a kind of barrier.
‘Yes. Especially when it’s shared with a nice bottle of wine and good company.’ He didn’t so much as glance towards the window.
‘Shall we get started, then?’ No, she wailed silently as soon as she voiced the words. That came out wrong. Particularly since he was still looking at her lips and she was still drooling over that dusky jaw.
He walked towards her and didn’t stop until he was one skinny latte away from her personal space. She didn’t move. Just breathed in the scent of his shirt—a day’s work mingled with man.
His gaze rose from her lips to meet hers and she realised the one thing she hadn’t noticed in her dream was his eyes. That unusual blend of olive and navy. The creases that fanned out from the corners and the long, long eyelashes. How his irises took on the colour of the sunset…or was that gleam she saw there now something else? Speculation? Attraction?
An intimate knowledge of the contents of her diary?
She shivered, caught between desire and dread, but then he reached out, relieved her of the files, thank goodness, because the shiver had spread to her limbs.
If he noticed, he hid it well, suggesting, ‘How about that coffee first before it gets cold?’
Rubbing her fingers over the goose-bumps on her upper arms, she murmured, ‘Good idea.’ The tone in his voice brought everything back to a business level and Sophie forced thoughts of her diary away. ‘I hope you like latte—I asked Mimi and she said she thought you did.’
He nodded. ‘Anything with caffeine will be welcome around now.’
She followed him into his office, pulled up a chair in front of the paperwork, curled her fingers around her mug for something to grip. To avoid any personal questions or to fill the silence in this strange electrified atmosphere that had sprung up in the past few moments, she asked, ‘So…does Melissa have your keen business acumen?’
Jared sat too, drawing his mug close with both hands. ‘If she does, she’s keeping it to herself. At the moment she’s studying design. For her it’s all about colour and taking her inspiration from the environment. She’s very talented, if I do say so myself.’ He smiled. ‘A big brother’s prerogative.’
Was it? she thought darkly. Hers hadn’t thought so. ‘Your parents must be very proud of all their children.’
‘Our parents are dead.’ The dispassionate way he said it sent a chill down her spine.
‘Oh…I…’ She trailed off, sensing that beneath the utter lack of emotion on his face there was sorrow and anger he no doubt didn’t want to share with his temporary employee. ‘I’m sorry,’ she muttered and immediately could have bitten off her tongue for that tired cliché.
He looked at her as if he’d heard that platitude one time too many, then brought the mug to his lips and swallowed. ‘It was a long time ago.’
She should leave it there but she couldn’t. She wanted to know more about this man who’d obviously been more than just a brother to his sisters. And now she knew why. He’d taken on a responsibility few other guys would have been willing to do. ‘Was…it an accident?’
He shook his head, a faraway look in his eyes. ‘Mum died two weeks after Lissa was born. Liss turns eighteen in three weeks.’ Then it was as if a winter wind swept over his gaze. ‘Dad was killed driving under the influence twelve years ago.’ His voice turned brisk and he rose. ‘And if we don’t eat this rice now the aroma’s going to be a distraction.’ His quick glance her way told her they had enough distraction to deal with already. ‘We can share while we get down to business.’
So he’d changed his mind about a sociable coffee break. Sophie knew it was because the conversation had hit an exposed nerve. She opened the nearest file.
They sipped on their lattes and dipped their forks into the fluffy rice mixture while she brought him up to speed. Rather, he drank and ate while she talked. Which was fine because it helped calm her.
He was a courteous listener, focused on the work spread before them and what she was saying. Putting her at ease. He even asked her opinion on a couple of major proposals he was considering.
Temping wasn’t the most satisfying of jobs, but today, thanks to her boss, she felt as if she’d made a contribution. He’d made her feel welcome, and, more importantly, she felt valued as an employee, even if it was temporary.
‘We’ll call it a day.’ He closed the folder they’d been working on.
‘Already?’ She glanced up, noticing the sky had turned black and the glitter of city lights twinkled below. Where had the time gone?
‘It’s after eight. That’s enough. I’ll take it from here.’
She glanced at her watch, incredulous, and gave a half-laugh as she rose. ‘You know the old saying about time flying.’
‘Thanks for your competent help over the past couple of days.’
Then he smiled. With genuine warmth. And, oh, my, was he drop-dead gorgeous or what? And not only that. How many of the people she’d worked for over the past couple of years had bothered to acknowledge her efforts? She couldn’t help but smile back as she met his eyes. ‘It’s been a pleasure.’
She realised she was still smiling when his eyes turned dark, his pupils expanding till they almost touched that rim of navy. Hotter, spreading warmth over her skin, and she got that he was thinking of pleasure too.
Warning bells clanged in her ears, echoing in the tiny part of her brain that wasn’t focused on the pleasure she had no doubt he could provide. She needed to leave. Now. Before something happened that changed…everything. ‘If there’s nothing else, I’ll say goodnight…’
He didn’t reply and a shivery sensation swept through her. She stepped away from the chair and through the doorway, then grabbed her bag from the drawer in Pam’s desk. With only the reflection off adjacent high-rises, the glow from Jared’s office and a security light at one end of the bank of elevators, the entire floor was cloaked in semi-darkness.
The back of her neck prickling—he hadn’t said goodnight so what might that mean?—she set a brisk pace past the deserted office cubicles. Her pulse rate stepped up and she had to force herself not to break into a run. She was short of breath by the time she pressed the button to summon the lift.
‘Wait up, Sophie.’ His voice was nowhere near far enough away. ‘Where are you parked? I’ll walk you to your car.’
She scowled up at the floor numbers as the lift approached from the ground floor with what seemed like agonising slowness. She knew she’d never make sanctuary before he reached her and she said, ‘A couple of spaces away from where we parked this morning. I’ll be fine,’ over her shoulder.
&nbs
p; ‘I’m sure you will but it won’t hurt to make sure.’
I wouldn’t count on it. The lift doors opened on a cushion of air and she stepped inside. So did Jared. The doors closed, silence and intimacy surrounded them and their eyes met again.
Her feet moved towards the back of the lift, but her gaze remained locked with his and she realised this wasn’t just about last night’s dream or whether he’d read her dirty diary or not. The glimpse of promised pleasure she saw in his eyes was real—and would have consequences.
She didn’t want a man unless he was the kind that faded with dawn. And yet, standing here within Jared’s aura and being bathed in his gaze was a naked sensation of heat and desire and imminent surrender, stripping away not only clothing, but denials and reasons.
Beneath her blouse, her skin felt slick, tight. Her blood turned syrupy and throbbed through her veins to a place deep down in her belly and she wanted him with every female cell in her body.
Stupido.
She closed her eyes to lessen the impact. It didn’t work because now her senses focused even more acutely on her body’s reaction and her surroundings. She could smell his scent in the confined space and, with all external sound extinguished, she could almost hear him breathing. Worse, she could almost hear him thinking.
‘Sophie…’
Her eyes snapped open and were immediately drawn again to his as if there were some kind of force at work. ‘Did you press the button?’ she asked, and heard her words come out high-pitched and breathless. ‘How come the lift’s not moving?’ And how come she hadn’t noticed that? She leaned against the wall. Were they stuck in here?
His gaze glittered with something like amusement. One elbow and forearm was casually propped against the lift wall. ‘You’re not claustrophobic, are you?’
No, they weren’t stuck…at least the lift wasn’t. ‘I don’t think so.’ Except that the walls seemed to be closing in, or maybe it was Jared’s height, the breadth of his shoulders that made it seem that way. And the air…she dragged it in slow and deep…she couldn’t seem to find enough.
‘Good. Because work’s over for the day. In fact your short tour of duty at Sandersons is over.’
Still a little breathless, but a lot relieved, she nodded. Over. Good.
His eyes didn’t reflect his body’s lazy stance. There was alertness and heat in the amusement now, too. Not so good.
He seemed to consider, then spoke slowly. ‘So now maybe it’s time to confess that I’ve been thinking about you all day.’
Her heart skipped a beat then pounded so loudly she was sure he’d hear it knocking against her ribs. But did he mean he’d been thinking about her or that cursed diary entry? She glared at him. ‘Me? You don’t even know me.’
‘I know I’d like to.’
‘Then you’d learn that I don’t get involved with my employers on a personal level.’
‘I don’t do office flings either. This…thing…whatever it is, is a first for me.’ He leaned closer. ‘I told you, work’s over. We clocked off a good five minutes ago. Correct?’
The warm scent of his skin had her sucking her breath in deeper when she should be exhaling and backing away. ‘Yes.’ She swallowed. ‘But…’
‘No “but”. I’m attracted to you, Sophie.’ He ran a forefinger lightly down the side of her face. ‘And the attraction’s mutual.’
Blood rushed to the spot on her cheek like iron filings to a magnet. Even when he removed his hand the hot tingly feeling remained and she heard herself asking, ‘What have you been thinking?’
‘I’ve been thinking about how your hair would look if I just unclasped it…’
She couldn’t move, could only stand there and let him do it while goose-bumps chased over her body. She had no idea where the clasp vanished to. Was only aware of the weight of her hair tumbling over his arm, then she felt the soothing—soothing?—touch of his fingers against the back of her scalp. She didn’t feel the least bit soothed and she barely resisted arching against his hand and sighing with pleasure.
She could feel his breath against her face as he leaned closer, could see the faint sheen of damp on his brow, above his lip. And there was no mistaking the arousal smouldering in his eyes.
Her mouth went dry, her heart rate sped up. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Never with her boss. And with this man, Jared Sanderson? Not in real life. The paradox was that he might have well and truly brought her undone last night but she’d only met him today.
She was in too deep, too fast. She dragged her gaze from his. ‘I should go…’ Since he wasn’t inclined to shift, she slid a hand past his midriff in search of the control panel behind him.
A subtle but swift move on his part brought her palm into contact with a hard wall of muscled torso instead. Trapped. Yet his arm was still propping up the wall while the other one played loosely with her hair. He was making no attempt to keep her there and she was shocked and furious with herself for not trying harder to leave. Couldn’t she see where this was heading?
She could—that was the problem. And he knew it.
‘You’ve been thinking about me, too.’ He caught her hand, held it in a relaxed grip.
‘No.’
His thumb whisked over knuckles. ‘Admit it, Sophie.’
She made one final, albeit half-hearted, attempt to pull away, but his gaze held hers and he lifted her hand to his chest. His heart thumped strong and deep. ‘You’ve been wondering about our first kiss all day,’ he continued in that low seductive tone. ‘Like when…’ Still massaging the base of her scalp, he leaned in, touched warm, firm lips to hers. Oh, my. ‘And where…’ Heat flowed like honey as he slid the tip of his tongue over her bottom lip. ‘And how…’
His mouth moved over hers once more and her lips parted at his gentle coaxing. It perturbed her how easily she let him persuade her, then he released her fingers so that both his hands cupped the back of her skull and she stopped analysing and simply enjoyed the moment.
He slid his tongue against hers. She tasted the sweetness of the coffee they’d drunk, the saltiness of the rice. He made a rough sound that seemed to come from deep in his chest and she sensed the slow smouldering edge of impatience.
Oh, the ‘how’. The slide of his hands over her shoulder blades and all the way down her spine reminding her of her dream. Shifting closer, tucking her against him and, oh…how she could feel the hard ridge of his desire.
She leaned into the deepening kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and momentarily forgetting everything but Jared. She wanted more. More of that heat, that taste and that rock-hard body against hers. A kiss to build a dream on…
Or a dream to build a kiss on?
No. No. No. She didn’t need this complication. She needed to focus on her goals. Her trip. Nothing and no one was going to get in her way. She made one last-ditch effort. ‘I need to go,’ she snapped out, and reached for the lift panel.
CHAPTER FIVE
‘WAIT.’ Jared moved like lightning, positioning himself in front of the control panel for the second time. Sophie opened her mouth to argue but he spoke over her. ‘There’s no need to rush off.’
‘You don’t think?’
Her voice held a slight edge—hysteria or humour? He didn’t know her well enough to be sure. She closed her eyes on a soft groan that sounded suspiciously like surrender. His body clenched at the sound and he wondered if she made that noise when she had sex. And just for a moment, looking at her—head tipped back, throat exposed, eyes shut—he could imagine… When she opened them again they were wide and dark gold and…well, simply irresistible.
He reached out to let his fingers glide through the midnight silken waterfall over her shoulders. ‘I think you should give it further serious consideration before you decide,’ he murmured, bringing her hair to his nose and inhaling the soft herbal fragrance.
Eyes fused with his, she stepped away and he followed until he had her against the elevator wall. He wasn’t backing off unless she
told him to…and she wasn’t saying anything at all. In fact, whatever it was that was flaring to life between them now was as much from her as it was from him.
He caught both her hands, raised them level with her head, and, with her wrists against the wall, he slid his hands over hers. Palm to palm where heat met heat. Still watching her face, he drifted his fingers down. Slowly, so that he could absorb every tiny line and ridge in her palms, then lower still to the rapid beat of her pulse at her wrists.
Enclosing her hands in his, he worked his thumbs deep into her palms—lazy circles, over and over, then slid his fingers between hers, a slow, sinuous rhythm. An erotic imitation of how their bodies would move together when he got her into bed. He saw her gaze widen, her pupils dilate. He leaned close to linger at her mouth, just enough to remind himself of her taste—
‘You!’ Her whole body stiffening, she reared back. She yanked her hands away, rubbing at her wrists as if they’d been bound. Her eyes flashed hellfire while the air inside the elevator seemed to plummet. ‘You—’
‘Sophie. Calm down.’ He hesitated then reached out but she shrugged him off.
‘Don’t. Just don’t.’
He blew out a slow breath. The hand massage was a dead giveaway. He’d intended it to be because the charade was over. It was time she knew he knew. ‘You…read it.’ Her voice gathered intensity like a low-pressure system crossing the coast. ‘Not the first couple of lines, oh, no, you didn’t stop when you realised it wasn’t meant for you. You read the whole freaking chapter!’
‘I couldn’t put it down. I’m sorry. I should’ve told you this morning.’
‘Yes, you should have.’
‘Would it have made a difference?’
