Eight
Jennifer thumbed through the mail she’d collected from her mailbox as she waited at a red light. At a discreet white envelope, she stopped. The return address of the fertility clinic glared back at her. Ripping the letter open, she scanned it, the last line drawing her attention.
Please call at your earliest convenience to set up your consultation.
Her heart gave a hard thump. Before she’d gone away with Alex, she’d eagerly anticipated hearing from the clinic. She’d wanted to start the process of being inseminated to take away any temptation of sleeping with Alex. But that hadn’t worked to her advantage. Crumpling the letter, she tossed it to the floorboard of her car as the light changed and drove the rest of the way to work. The idea of using a fertility clinic no longer held appeal. Even if it did, she couldn’t return the call and set a date for her consultation.
Because you might already be pregnant.
Pulling into her parking space, she went into her office, tossing her purse and briefcase into a chair. Dropping into her desk chair, she rested her chin on her hands. If she was carrying Alex’s child, she would always know the child was conceived through deception. She’d had every opportunity to tell Alex she wasn’t protected. But she’d waited until she and Alex were making love. Not exactly the right time to confess the truth. Even after they’d made love, she should have come clean and told him she’d… What?
Made a mistake? Oh, yeah, that would have sounded great.
Sorry, Alex, but when you made love to me, I guess I forgot I wasn’t on the pill.
How lame would that have been? she thought with disgust.
You should have told him the truth.
If she had, he would have hated her.
If you really cared about him, you wouldn’t have made love with him again.
That was true, but she’d wanted him for so long. And she hadn’t been able to resist the chance to be with him—even if it was only for a weekend.
And maybe she wasn’t pregnant. They’d only had unprotected sex a few times. Considering her cycle, there was just as good a chance she wasn’t going to have his baby.
And if she wasn’t pregnant, was there a possibility she and Alex could have a real relationship? Perhaps, she thought with hope, they could start over. Alex was attracted to her. Maybe she wasn’t special to him, maybe it had been lust, but she felt his passion. He had to feel something for her. Even if it was lust, if they entered into an affair, maybe his feelings for her would change.
He dated a lot of women. What made her think she would be the woman who could win his heart? The idea was unfathomable, wasn’t it? Because Alex didn’t want marriage and commitment. He’d told her so.
But nothing could be decided until she knew whether or not she was carrying Alex’s baby. They’d only returned from Vermont a few days ago. Jennifer hadn’t yet bought an at-home pregnancy test. Oh, she knew they were all the rage. She’d studied them at the drugstore. The packaging promised valid results soon after conception, but she wanted to wait for an absolute confirmation of the test. A couple of weeks, at least.
Then she’d know for sure whether or not she was carrying Alex’s child.
Since they’d returned from skiing, she’d done her best to avoid being alone with him. They’d been back at work for a few days and she’d spent most of that time holed up in her office. She’d timed her appointments out of the office to coincide with the times he was here so she wouldn’t have to see him. Because every time she looked at him, her heart ached a little more.
Alex hadn’t acted as if he’d even noticed. His manner had been pretty much the same as it had been before they’d gone on the ski trip.
So much for her hope that he held feelings for her.
Even if she wasn’t pregnant, she wasn’t going to be able to go through with being inseminated. She no longer wanted to conceive a child in some sterile medical setting. Being with Alex had ruined that idea. In her previous relationships with men, she’d never felt the kind of passion she’d experienced with Alex.
What was she going to do?
“Busy?”
At the sound of his voice, Jennifer looked up to see Alex in the doorway to her office. His jacket was off, the sleeves of his silver-gray dress shirt rolled up to expose the sprinkling of dark hair on his arms. Oh, my, that ache inside her worsened at the sight of him. “I just got back from meeting with the Baker sisters,” she said, careful not to make eye contact. She got up and reached for her briefcase, then fished through it. “Here’s a rough draft of their contract if you want to take a look at it.”
“You’ve been busy the past few days,” Alex commented, taking the papers from her. He scanned them quickly, then tossed them onto her desk. His gaze slid over her. She was wearing a dark red jacket. He’d seen her wear it before, but he’d never been so tempted to strip it off of her. The jacket did a good job of hiding the shape of her breasts. Alex’s fingers itched to dip inside it to stroke her silky skin.
“I’ve had a busy schedule,” she said, glancing briefly in his direction. “My secretary had to change some of my meetings for last Friday when we—” She stopped speaking, mortified she’d made a reference to their time in Vermont.
“Went skiing?” Alex finished for her, knowing full well why she’d hesitated.
“Um, yes.”
He glanced at his watch. “So are you free for dinner tonight?” he asked.
Her gaze shot to his. “Dinner?”
“I want to discuss the Vinson proposal.” The Vinson Corporation, located in California, was the most well-known aeronautics company in the U.S. Getting a contract from them to update their computer system would establish Com-Tec’s reputation on the west coast. He wanted Jennifer’s take on the deal.
“I, um, have plans tonight.” Oh, God. There was no way on earth she could go to dinner with him. It was hard enough being in the same room with him. Every time she saw him, she was tempted to ignore her promise and to touch him. And if she did, she wouldn’t be able to stop there.
Plans? Alex had to stop himself from demanding to know who her plans were with. Was she going out on a date? His jaw tautened. “Change them.” Hell, had that charge come from him?
Jennifer stared at him in disbelief. “What?”
“You’re the one who said your career is important. Change your plans.”
“I can’t.” Her lips twisted. “How about we meet tomorrow morning?” she suggested, still shocked by his request. No, not request. His demand.
He shook his head. “I have a meeting with marketing.”
Frustrated, she tried again. “I’m free in the afternoon.”
“I can’t do it then. I have a heavy schedule tomorrow.” He dropped into the chair in front of her desk. More than ever, he was convinced she was avoiding him. “Is this how it’s going to be, Jen?” he demanded.
She straightened some folders in front of her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Alex sat up straight. “I think you do,” he said, an edge to his voice. “I think you’re avoiding me.”
“I’m not.” To convince him, she met his gaze. “I’m just busy.”
Like hell, Alex thought. “I want to talk with you about the Vinson proposal. Over dinner. Change your plans.”
“Alex—”
“Be ready at six.” Irritated, he got up and walked out. By the time he reached his office, he was steaming. He threw himself into his chair and slouched, his teeth clamped together.
Who was she kidding? She hadn’t even looked at him when they were talking. And who the hell was she going out with? Not knowing was killing him. How could she see someone else so soon after making love with him?
Restless, Alex got out of his seat and paced. He blamed himself for this mess. Jennifer had said she was concerned their working together might be affected if they had an affair. Because he wanted her so badly, he’d ignored his inner warning to keep his hands off of her.
He’d really screwed things up. Ne
ver in his life had he ordered a woman to do anything she didn’t want to do. He just couldn’t stop thinking about her. Every time he saw her, he wanted to touch her. He’d already imagined making love to her. On his desk. In her office. Hell, even in the elevator!
And dammit, she was acting as if the adjustment back to their business-only relationship wasn’t difficult! She came to work and performed her responsibilities perfectly. Then she left for the day, never giving any indication she was bothered by being around him at all. From her actions, he would have believed she’d put their weekend out of her mind.
The only clue she hadn’t was that she’d done her best to stay busy all week and not be around him. More determined than ever to figure her out, he’d decided to take matters into his own hands by forcing her to have dinner with him. He wanted to talk to her, to see if she was going crazy with need inside like him.
The intercom on his phone rang and Alex punched the button on the telephone to activate it. “Yes?”
“Mr. Daughtrey from the Vinson Corporation is on line three,” his assistant, Karen, informed him.
“Thanks.”
Alex took the call and for the next hour was tied up on business. The remainder of the afternoon disappeared under the pressure of work. At five-thirty, he asked Karen to hold his calls.
Leaning back in his chair, he rubbed the back of his neck and stretched his shoulders. Expecting to see Jennifer in half an hour, he walked into his private bathroom, shaved, then slapped on some cologne. Jeez, he was acting as if he was sixteen and going on his first date.
Hearing the door to his office open, he stepped out of the bathroom expecting to see Karen. He stopped when his gaze landed on Jennifer. The little throb of anticipation in his gut grew to a full-fledged stab of desire.
“I’d like to speak with you.”
Alex didn’t like the sound of that. He walked over to her, stopping about a foot away. “Sure.” He kept his tone casual, but the blaze of anger in her eyes warned him of trouble.
Stepping farther inside his office, she closed the door behind her. Though most everyone was gone for the day, she didn’t want to take a chance on a straggler or two still in the building hearing them.
Straightening her shoulders, she met his gaze. “I’m not going to dinner with you.” She’d never let a man domineer her, and she wasn’t going to let Alex be the first. If he wanted to discuss legitimate business, they could do so right here in the office. At least she’d stand a chance of keeping him at a distance.
“I thought I made myself clear,” he answered, the muscle in his jaw twitching. Great. He was digging a deeper hole for himself. Pretty soon he wouldn’t be able to climb out of it.
“You can’t order me to go to dinner with you,” she stated, her tone defiant.
“I told you—”
“If you want to talk business, we can do it here,” she said, interrupting him. “Right now, if you want.” Her lungs felt starved for air. She managed to take a short breath.
“I see.” Alex twisted his lips as he thought about how to proceed. It was hard to argue with her when she was right. “And your plans for the evening?”
“I canceled them.” She pressed her lips together when she read the look of satisfaction in his expression. “I didn’t do it to please you, so you can wipe that smug look off your face.”
“You didn’t?” He’d underestimated her, he decided as he studied her defensive stance.
“I canceled on the pretense that you had business to discuss with me.” Of course, her plans had only included going to her parents’ house for a visit, but Alex didn’t have to know the truth.
“And you can’t discuss business over dinner?” He had wanted to discuss the Vinson deal, but it hadn’t been the real reason he’d wanted to take her to dinner. He’d wanted to ask her what the hell was going on, why she wouldn’t even look at him.
She bristled. “That’s not the point and you know it. Sleeping with me for a weekend doesn’t give you the right to make demands on my personal life.” Inside, Jennifer was shaking. She didn’t know how she’d ever gotten that last statement out.
Alex actually choked. Whoa, he hadn’t seen that coming. But he should have. He hired her knowing she was a tigress when it came to negotiating. He just hadn’t thought he’d be the one negotiating with her.
Again.
Okay, so he wasn’t going to win any points with her by debating his conduct. He’d behaved badly. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t known it. But he hadn’t been able to stop from making a fool of himself just the same.
He reached out and took her hand before she even realized what he was doing. “I’m sorry, Jennifer.” Looking into her eyes, he shook his head. “You’re right.”
“What?” Jennifer stared at him, her pulse racing from the way his thumb was making circles on her skin. His touch sent tingles of pleasure racing through her.
Alex stepped closer to her. “I had no business ordering you to go to dinner with me.”
His humbled expression stole the irritation right out of her. She looked into his eyes. “Why did you, Alex?”
He gave her a sad smile as he touched her hair. She had worn it up today and he’d done nothing but think about taking it down and running his fingers through it. He brushed a strand away from her face. “Because I can’t stop thinking about making love with you.”
Her heart stopped. She hadn’t expected to hear him admit he still wanted her. “Alex—”
Stepping closer, he slipped his hand around her neck. “Can you honestly say you haven’t thought about what it was like between us?” he asked, his voice husky.
She wanted to shake her head, to deny his suggestion, but God, she couldn’t. Because she had thought about him. So many times she couldn’t even count them. “What we had was…”
“What, Jen?” He moved closer. “Exciting?”
“Yes.” His scent surrounded her, pulling her toward him. She let her eyes drift downward as she took a deep breath. Drugged. This was what it felt like to be drugged.
“Seductive?” He lifted her face, his gaze sweeping it before they landed on her luscious lips. They were beautiful. And tempting. So damn tempting.
“Yes.” Jennifer opened her eyes as the heat from his body encircled her. She put her hand on his chest, moving closer to him.
Alex leaned down, his lips just a breath away from hers. “Hot?” His other hand cupped her chin as he pressed even closer to her, his body touching hers. He could feel the pressure of her palm against his chest, but she wasn’t pushing him away.
Jennifer’s lips parted. Her gaze strayed to his mouth, his beautifully sculpted lips. “Oh, yes,” she breathed, and then she was kissing him. Long, deep, provocative kisses she could feel all the way to her toes.
“Jen.” Alex breathed out her name as he came up for air, then kissed her again. His arms went around her, then his hands cupped her bottom, lifting her against him.
She slipped her arms around his neck and didn’t even think of protesting when he sat her on the desk and moved between her legs. Her hands were busy loosening his tie, unbuttoning his shirt. He already had her blouse open.
And then he touched her. Someone moaned. It might have been her. She wasn’t sure, didn’t care. His hand found her breast.
Oh, yes.
Alex’s hand grazed her thigh and she thought she would die from the sheer pleasure of his touch.
“Alex—” Her words were swallowed by his mouth as it covered hers. He leaned against her, encouraging her to lie back. She did, then was vaguely aware of something falling to the floor as his body covered hers.
Aching for her, Alex pressed his body against Jennifer’s. Her hands were in his hair as his mouth traveled from her lips to her shoulder to between her breasts. Her skin tasted salty and so sweet. He pulled the cup of her bra down, baring her breast. Unable to wait another moment, he tasted her, taking her nipple into his mouth and sucking hard.
He caressed her thigh,
slowly moving his hand higher, until his fingers touched her panties. His palm covered her there and her hips moved as she pressed herself against him.
Alex looked up at her as he eased her legs apart. “Easy, sweetheart,” he whispered as he started to move over her.
A sudden crash made them both still. Jennifer’s eyes opened and she stopped moving. “What?”
“The lamp,” Alex rasped, his breathing ragged. “Don’t worry about it.”
Her body throbbing, Jennifer pulled her arms from around his neck and pushed him away.
What was she doing?
“Let me up.” Desperate, she looked away, unable to face him.
“Jennifer.”
Her name came out sounding more like a warning than an endearment. She didn’t care. Mortified she’d succumbed so easily to his kisses, she stilled. “Please, Alex.”
Alex moved off of her, then held out his hand to help her up. “Don’t do this,” he said quietly, knowing she was pulling away. He wasn’t sure why. But, damn if he didn’t want to know.
As she came to her feet, she couldn’t look at him. “I’m so sorry,” she said quietly. Quickly she adjusted her bra and buttoned her blouse. “This shouldn’t have happened.”
“Jennifer, baby, please look at me.”
Instead of looking at him, she closed her eyes. Heat rushed to her face. “I can’t. Oh, Alex, please…” She covered her face.
Wanting to understand why she was so upset, Alex reached for her. She shrank away from him. Startled, he let his hands fall to his sides.
“I need to leave,” she said. “Please don’t try to stop me, Alex.”
“Talk to me, Jen.” Alex suddenly felt helpless. “Please. I didn’t mean to—”
“I know.” She did look at him then. Tears stung her eyes. “I know.” As much as she wanted to throw herself into his arms, she couldn’t. Oh, she wanted him. More than ever. Wanted to feel his arms around her. Holding her.
But this would never work between them. A hot affair was all Alex wanted. Sex. Not commitment. Not marriage and forever.
But she wanted so much more. More than he was willing to give.
Business Affairs Page 10
