The elevator doors sat open. He gave her a soft shove, scooted in beside her, then jabbed at the button.
“If I didn’t know you better, Mr. Harley, I’d think you were up to something.”
He took the bags and leaned over to kiss her quickly on the mouth. “Maybe I am.”
The doors slid shut. “I guess I don’t know you well enough to decide.”
“We’ll have to correct that over lunch.” He put the bags together and set his free hand on the small of her back.
Ignoring the instant heat spreading straight to her pussy was nearly impossible but she still managed to speak reasonably. “I need to ask you something in regard to our arrangement.”
“It can wait,” he said, moving her out of the elevator.
He guided her through the lobby and outside to the busy sidewalk. Workers on their lunch hour rushed through the blazing Texas sun making a mass of colors and shapes.
“Come on.” He took her hand to weave her through the blur of suits and career dresses.
After dodging through an alley, between two skyscrapers, they arrived in front of the tiny park.
The graceful arch of trees and shrubs offered seclusion from the hectic sidewalks. Except for a woman stretched out under a tree, the grassy oasis was vacant.
Jack let go of Elizabeth’s hand and pointed to a picnic table in the far corner of the park. She tagged along behind.
“Turkey and cheese okay with you?” she said, taking the bags from him.
“Girl food.” He made a point of scowling dramatically. “Where’s the beef?”
She grimaced. He laughed.
“Just kidding. Sounds great. Very nutritious. Any chips?”
She tossed him one of the small packs that came with the sandwiches.
“Thanks.” Jack opened the cans of pop and handed her one.
She took a sip and half-smiled as she swallowed, pleased that she had his full attention but tongue-tied. Was there a polite way to ask, were you faking it?
—
Just looking at Elizabeth was making Jack’s mind wander into x-rated territory. Not the place to be until he cleared himself. “Were you waiting in the reception area long?”
“No, not really.” She put some mustard on her sandwich. “Just long enough to think everyone had gone to lunch.”
Jack kept his hands busy with his food. If she’d seen any damning evidence, she would’ve spoken already. Apparently, she had something else on her mind.
The general noise of the city whined around them while they ate, until she said, “I’m going on a business trip tomorrow.”
He set his sandwich down. “Long one?”
“Not more than ten days. I’m trying to win over a new client. Anderson Airways. Ever heard of it?”
“Nope. Never heard of it.” Ten days. If he told her the truth now, she’d have ten whole days to forget about him.
“Anyway, I have to visit each of the offices. Look over some accounts, that kind of thing.” Elizabeth picked a pickle out of her sandwich and dropped it into her mouth. “If I get this client on board, I have a good chance at being promoted to partner.”
“Impressive.” But she didn’t sound all that thrilled and she didn’t look it either. “Is that what you want?”
She stared at the crust in her hands. “Being a partner has been my goal from the beginning.”
A glimmer of understanding worked through his now cynical self. He dropped his voice to an outlandishly authoritative tone. “Part of the master plan.”
She smacked his shoulder but smiled anyway. “Don’t say it like that. There’s nothing wrong with having goals and working toward them.”
He’d once had a good, solid collection of goals and a firm understanding of right and wrong to go along with them. Look what had happened to him. He’d left a high-paying, working-his-way-to-the-top position at a prestigious firm to become one of the few starving attorneys who actually wanted to do something that mattered.
Elizabeth sounded the way he had a year ago. He’d hate to see her make mistakes that would be painful to fix. “Do you have a backup plan? Or an alternate in case you change your mind?”
Her pretty mouth twisted. “Change my mind? Why would I do that?”
“Sometimes you think things are going one way and then they don’t. Jobs can disappoint you.”
She fixed him with a steady gaze. “You’ve been disappointed?”
Disappointed was putting it lightly. He’d questioned his whole career choice after all that brown-nosing and hours spent getting liars out of jams they’d stuck themselves into.
“Did you have a job that didn’t go the way you wanted? Is that why you’re an escort?”
“Are you asking why I’m an escort, or if I had a different job before?”
“Either. Both. Whichever.” She stuffed her wrappers into one of the white bags and flopped onto the ground before rolling onto her back. “I just want to know something about you.”
With his gaze, he traced the outline of her body from her tidy hair to her solid shoes. He chuckled. “You look a little out of place lying on the grass in that suit.”
She titled her head back enough to wrinkle her nose at him. A woman who wasn’t overly concerned with appearances. Intriguing.
A swig of panic ran down Jack’s throat. He’d never reacted to a woman the way he constantly reacted to Elizabeth. Each minute he spent with her, he wanted to know more about her. Not only physically but personally.
He wanted to be her friend.
Her friend.
Crap, that was scary. The next thing he knew, he’d be adding the word relationship to his vocabulary.
Still, he wanted to be someone she could count on. Not someone who lied to her. “I did have a job in Dallas but it didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped. It wasn’t what it should’ve been.”
“What do you mean?”
He gulped the last bite of his sandwich and scooted over to lie next to her. Overhead, leaves shifted, imitating his disorderly sentiments as they whirled and dipped. “I ended up surrounded by people who only wanted to win, no matter the cost or even if they were on the right side. I must have left a piece of myself behind, because I haven’t been the same man since leaving.”
How much more could he tell her without revealing everything?
“Were you on some kind of sports team?”
He laughed with relief. Half of the attorneys at that huge firm probably thought of law as a sport, something to be played but to him it was a way of sorting out right and wrong, black and white. It was about the pursuit of justice.
He rolled back over to watch the seductive rise and fall of her chest. Was he using her departure as a justification for not speaking up? “Never mind that.”
“Okay, I get the message. You don’t want to talk about your work. What about family?”
There he could tell her whatever she wanted to know. “Three sisters, a mom and dad. They all live in Ohio. I visit at Christmas, or Thanksgiving and sometimes during the summer.”
“Three sisters?” She lifted her head to catch his eye.
He nodded. “Two younger and one older. Lucky me, huh?”
She dropped back to stare at the trees. “That must be why you’re so good with women.”
Not quite. His sisters would beat him senseless if they knew what he was up to and he wouldn’t blame them one bit.
If she noticed his silence, she ignored it to ask another question. “How did you end up in Texas?”
“My cousin Denton. After he came out for a job, he called me and said I’d like it here. I do, so I’m staying.”
“You don’t plan on ever moving home?” There was a hint of ambiguity in her tone. He peered at her out of the corner of his eye but her expression didn’t give him anything to interpret, so he answered openly.
“No. I love them, but out here, it’s just me.”
Chapter Nine
Just me.
Reality is knocking, open
the door. He doesn’t want a commitment.
There was no future for her and Jack. Whether he was faking his attraction to her or not—it didn’t matter.
“Just you, huh?” She stretched to stuff the wrappers from his food into the other white bag. “We better get going. I’m sure you have to get back and—” Get ready to go out with some woman? There didn’t seem to be an unembarrassing way to finish that comment, so she rambled on with, “Take care of things. At your office. I know you have better things to do than lie around on the grass. And, me, I have to go talk with Mr. Harrison about Andersons, send a fax…”
Jack rolled to his feet and took the bags from her. After he trotted over to a trash can, he picked up her hand and led her from the park.
When he reached the sidewalk, she stopped. “I did want to talk about our arrangement. I guess we’ll—”
“Pick up where we left off when you get back.”
He made it sound so simple when to her it was anything but. “I don’t want to mess up your schedule. I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back. Something may come up for you.”
He tugged her across the sidewalk into the alley and pressed her against one of sky-high brick walls, flattening her shoulders until her breasts jutted upward. “I want to do it, Elizabeth.”
Trying to deny her attraction to Jack was like trying to shovel sunshine. Still, spending more time with him didn’t seem to be making things clearer. Instead of moving closer to her goal, she seemed to be losing control of herself and her thoughts. “I, um, we never worked out the arrangements and—”
Instead of replying, Jack stared at her until her pulse rate doubled and her body turned liquid. The grumble of buses and the honk of the occasional car horn broke through the silence. A pigeon hopped by, eyeing Elizabeth. Jack set his palms on either side of her shoulders and leaned close, forcing her to pay attention to him.
“Call me as soon as you get back in town. We’ll work everything out.”
Everything.
Did he mean everything about the deal? Them?
Stop playing tricks on yourself.
He’d just made it plain he didn’t want any commitments, so there could be no them.
Space.
She needed space. To think.
If she agreed, he’d probably step back and let her go. “I’ll call you when I get back to town.”
Instead of easing back, he shifted closer and slipped his right hand under her jacket. The instant he fitted his palm around her rib cage, her knees wobbled and her lungs constricted. Wetness heated her center.
“You don’t sound so sure of that,” he murmured into her ear.
The swell of her breasts and the flash of fire that followed his touch forced a response out of her. “I’m sure,” she said, meaning it.
Apparently satisfied with her answer, he angled back far enough to look her in the eyes. “Don’t disappoint me or I’ll have to come to your office again.”
She grinned, wiggling to put pressure on her swollen clit. “Maybe that’s what I’m hoping for.”
One of his eyebrows arched. “We did that one already. Next time it’ll be different. Maybe I’ll dress up like a circus clown and parade by your apartment until, out of desperation, you drag me in.”
In spite of the flames flickering between her legs, she laughed.
His grin widened. “That’s more like it.”
The sooner she left town, she sooner she’d get back. “Do we get to go now?”
“I’m sorry.” He brushed his leg against hers. “Am I keeping you against your will?”
Elizabeth chuckled as she shoved him, then brushed past. “Some of us have day jobs, you know.” She flashed him a smile over her shoulder, then spun and marched ahead.
Jack Harley was not a basic man, the easily manageable, predictable kind. She’d known that from the start.
It was one of the things that had drawn her to him. He didn’t let her walk all over him. Somehow he always managed to keep her slightly off balance and teetering on the edge of control. No man had ever made her feel that way.
Longing to be with him was absolutely counterproductive. He didn’t want to be her forever man. If only she could convince her body to ignore his sexy glances and insistent touches.
Crazy as it was, he made her feel radiantly alive. Even though spending time with him was a waste and didn’t have anything to do with her goal, she couldn’t get herself to cross him off her list.
He made her confident. Happy. Most of all, he made her feel sexy. That wasn’t bad. Was it? Those things would help her find Mr. Right. Wouldn’t they?
Yes, they would. She should learn from him and move on.
Feeling more self-assured than she could ever remember, she spun, blew him a kiss, then left him by the curb to saunter to her car.
—
Forty-five minutes later, Elizabeth hung up the phone just as Mandy slipped into her office. All the details were in place. The call to Mr. Harrison went just like she’d figured. He was thrilled. Well, as thrilled as he ever got.
Her friend plopped into one of the guest chairs. “Harrison’s happy with the news, I’ll bet.”
Elizabeth tucked her chin in and dropped her voice to imitate the top boss. “Make the most of it, Sewell. I had my secretary check out that webby site. The Anderson woman is a sharp tack. You do a bang-up job and we’ll talk when you get back. You and me and Rawlings.”
Mandy pulled her lips back and rolled her eyes. “I don’t envy you. That little get-together sounds like as much fun as peeling potatoes.”
Elizabeth nodded. “With a spoon.”
“So, you’re leaving right away?”
“First thing tomorrow.” To get that partner spot, she’d give it all she had, even if it meant hop-scotching around the county. “Lucky me, I have to solve some big problem and all Steve has to do is drink beers with his high school buddy.”
“Hardly fair.”
What had her dad always said? Who said life was supposed to be fair? Elizabeth stood up. “Got a minute to get some coffee?”
“Yep.” Mandy backed into the hall. “Then it’s back to payroll.”
“Whose are you working on today?”
Her friend chuckled. “Pecan Patty’s.”
“Ever eat any of those candies?” Elizabeth wrinkled her nose.
A fake shudder shook Mandy’s shoulders as she stepped into the break room. “No way. Who can trust a candy that comes in a turquoise box with red polka dots? Not me.”
“Me neither.”
As usual, the coffee pot sat empty, so Elizabeth dug out a filter pack while Mandy took care of the water.
Once the coffee was started, Elizabeth pulled out a chair. “My cousin, Kali, is getting married.”
Mandy cooed as she slid over to the table and sat across from her. “A wedding, how perfect is that? Weddings are a fantastic place to meet guys.” Her smile was so big her eyes crinkled at the corner. “Where? When? To that same guy? When did you find that out?”
“Wait, wait.” Elizabeth waved her hands and laughed. “Yes, she’s marrying the smart guy. I found out last Friday night and the ceremony will be right here in Houston, on the thirty-first.”
Mandy grimaced. “The thirty-first, as in like two weeks?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?”
“You just found out?” Mandy’s vivid eyes went wide. “Is she, are they—”
“I hadn’t even thought of that.” Elizabeth got up to pour two coffees. She handed one to Mandy, who immediately dumped two sugar packets into it. “No, I don’t think she’s pregnant. I bet the rush is for something else, like a move for a job or something.”
“I guess that could be it. What’re you going to wear?”
Elizabeth’s creamer dissolved as she stirred it in. “Oh, I don’t know.”
“What’s wrong with you, girlfriend? You’ve had days to think about it.” Mandy eyed Elizabeth’s light gray suit with dismay. “You need to buy someth
ing new. Something hot. Even though it’s here in town, there’s bound to be some men you haven’t met.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “If my mom, my sister, or my Great-Aunt Alice has met them, I’ve met them. Or at least heard of them.”
“Don’t be pessimistic. You have to be open, look for opportunities.”
Too late for that. “I told my mom I was bringing a date.”
“You’re taking that guy? The mystery man?”
“Ms. Sewell has a mystery man?” Steve loomed in the break room doorway. “This day is full of surprises.”
Mandy’s laughter halted and the smile fell off Elizabeth’s face. “Let’s go Mandy,” she said, getting to her feet.
Mandy scrambled out of the chair.
Steve smirked. “Don’t leave on my account, ladies.”
“Some of us have work to do.” Elizabeth stepped over to stand in front of Mandy.
“That’s right.” He tipped his head back and peered down his nose. “I heard you’re on your way out of town. Something about some big important problem you have to solve,” he said, lifting his eyebrows. “Old Harrison wouldn’t tell me the details. What’s up, Sewell?”
She wasn’t going to get sucked into his stupidity. “I’m not going to discuss my clients with you.”
When he didn’t budge from the doorway, she glanced from the hall to him. “Excuse us, Mr. Rawlings.”
He relented by moving into the break room. His mumbled comments chased them into the hall.
Once they were out of earshot, Mandy moaned. “Ugh, that guy is such a loser. I know I should stand up to him… I think all the words but I just can’t get them to come out of my mouth.”
“You shouldn’t have to defend yourself at work.” Elizabeth presented what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “And you’re stronger than you think.”
“I guess.”
As tempted as she was, Elizabeth knew pressuring Mandy to take legal actions wouldn’t help. Her friend had to do things at her own pace.
Elizabeth stepped back. “I’ll send you postcards from the exotic ports of call.”
Mandy’s smile came back. “Where’re you going?”
“First stop, Cleveland.”
Satisfaction Guaranteed Page 9
