But tonight… In the strapless dress that hugged her curves like a second skin, there’d been nothing prim about her. He was filled with the sight, sound and scent of her. If those were the only senses she’d engaged, he might have been able to hear his sensible side trying to warn him about rocking this particular boat. But the taste of her was still on his lips and that was his undoing.
When the door to their suite was closed and locked, Jack turned. “So, where were we?” he murmured. He reached out, and pulled her into his arms, then felt her tremble and heard a throaty little moan that turned the blood in his veins to fire. He knew women as well as he knew money and Maddie wanted him as much as he wanted her. “Now I remember,” he said, just before settling his mouth on hers.
Another tremor of desire rippled through her and he felt wonder and a deep satisfaction at tapping into the unsuspected depths of her passion. Their bodies were molded together and her breasts pressed into his chest. Her hips tilted up against him in an almost instinctive movement that signaled her melting into him, a sure indication that he could make her his.
Jack continued to kiss her as he toyed with the little tab that would lower the zipper and part the back of her dress.
“Jack?”
He trailed kisses over her cheek as he slowly slid the closure down. “I like this much better than zipping it up.”
“We better stop.” Her voice was breathless.
He touched his tongue to a spot just beneath her ear and felt her tremble. Her body said everything he wanted to hear.
“That’s enough, Jack.”
It was the way she tensed, not the words, that finally penetrated his sensual haze. He straightened and met her gaze. “What?”
“We can’t do this.” With her palms on his chest, she exerted gentle pressure to push him away.
“Yes, we can.”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to you.” She swallowed.
“But?” He didn’t like the sound of this.
“It can’t happen.”
“Why? We’re consenting adults. I want you. You want me.” With his hands at her waist, he brushed his thumbs up and down, just beneath her breasts.
“You want another conquest.” The words were soft and laced with that damn primness.
“That’s not fair, Maddie. Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you didn’t kiss me back.”
Something shattered in her crystal-clear blue eyes and she looked ready to run. Then she said in a brittle voice, “I can’t. And I’m sorry, but it was a mistake.”
Jack shook his head to clear the rushing sound in his ears. “It didn’t feel like a mistake. It felt honest, and pretty damn good.”
“I agree. But we have a special relationship and this would spoil it.”
“How?”
“I can’t believe I have to explain this to you.”
“Believe it,” he all but growled.
She sighed. “Women are wired differently. Unlike men, we don’t treat sex like a competitive sport. We don’t jump in and out of bed without our feelings being engaged.”
“So you don’t like me?” Good God, now he sounded as if he were in high school. This wasn’t at all what he’d envisioned.
“Liking you isn’t the issue. I’m saying that when you move on to the next woman, and everyone in this room knows you will—”
“How do we know?”
“It’s what you do, Jack. As soon as a woman gets the least bit serious and wants more from you, you are so out of there.”
As usual, she was right. But that didn’t sweeten his temper or take away the ache of wanting her. “But this could be fun while it lasts.”
Maddie’s hands were shaking as she crossed her arms over her breasts, holding the front of her dress up. “And what happens when it’s over? Think about it. There could be hurt feelings. That could lead to tension in the workplace. I like my job, Jack. And I know how it feels to be disposable. I don’t need another lesson from you. Tonight’s been fun. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Jack felt a lot of things, but fun wasn’t one of them. However, the need to put his fist through a wall was on the top of his list.
“What makes you think men view sex as a competition? Who made you feel disposable?” It was a shot in the dark, but there was a bruised look in her eyes and he didn’t like it.
“College.” She looked down for a moment. “I was away from home for the first time and fell in love. I thought he loved me, too, and felt it was time to show him how much I cared for him. I’d made up my mind to take the step.”
“What stopped you?”
“One of his fraternity buddies slipped up and I found out he’d made a bet that he could get me into bed. All I was to him was a wager. And the whole time we were together he was dating someone else so he was two-timing me on top of everything else.” She held up her hand to stop him when he opened his mouth. “Before you say it, I did try again. A brief fling with another fidelity-challenged man. That’s when I realized the type of man I’m attracted to is bad for me. He didn’t just break my heart. He broke my trust.”
Her mouth trembled and for just a moment she caught the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth. Emotions kaleidoscoped across her expressive face. Betrayal. Bewilderment. Disillusionment. But, most of all, a hurt that went soul deep. The primitive need for retribution slammed through Jack. He wanted to hurt the bastard who’d put that look in her eyes.
“The thing is, Jack, your track record with women proves that your relationships are all about quantity instead of quality. You send roses and think that makes it okay. But it’s not okay for me.”
She thought he was just like the bastard who’d put that look in her eyes? Good God. She thought so little of him? “Maddie, I—”
“What else is there to say? You made it clear that you don’t want anything permanent. And I won’t settle for anything less.”
“You mean marriage?”
“It’s not a dirty word.”
“It’s not a guarantee,” he ground out.
“Maybe not. But I guarantee you’re a bad risk. You’ll never settle down with a woman you love, because you’ll never love any woman. As they say, the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
“Meaning?”
“You’re just like your father.”
He’d lived his life trying to be different, struggling to overcome Robert Valentine’s DNA. It seemed everyone made a point of telling him that he’d failed. He was sick and tired of hearing it, but most especially hearing it from her.
“Don’t ever say that to me again, Maddie.”
“I thought you always counted on me to tell you the truth.”
“I count on you in business.”
“Then we agree.” Her mouth pulled tight. “Our relationship needs to stay strictly professional. That’s settled, then. I’m tired, Jack. I’m going to bed.”
When she turned and left the room, Jack saw her smooth, satin skin in the vee of her half-open dress. His hand ached to touch her, the rest of him ached to take her. All of the above proved he was a scoundrel.
He was no good for her; he’d only make her unhappy. As his father had done his mother. She was right to walk away from him.
But something told him he would regret letting her go for as long as he lived.
Chapter Seven
CHAPTER SEVEN
MADDIE knew Jack must never find out she’d exhausted her willpower in resisting him. They were a week into the new year, but she couldn’t forget the way his kisses had made her hot all over. She’d never wanted the way Jack had made her want and the strain of not letting him know was taking a toll.
Jack had put on his charming face and never said a word about what had happened, but she could feel an invisible wall between them. Sometimes, when he didn’t know she was watching, his eyes would grow dark and questioning, tortured, and she wondered what he was thinking.
He’d told her they would work in London until Max de
livered his business plan. And every afternoon, Jack took her to see whatever touristy thing she wanted.
What she wanted was to get back the easy, working relationship she and Jack had once shared. What she wanted was to rewind to the moment when Jack had asked her to come with him on this trip. This time she would say no. Because he was different here.
And she was different, too. She’d kissed him back and wanted more.
Since that night she’d given it a lot of thought and realized he hadn’t taken her to the embassy party to be nice. Although, buying her that gorgeous dress was definitely nice, but beside the point. The party was about reaching out to his sister—to family—and he probably didn’t even realize. The differences in him had to be about his past, the part of his life he’d never discussed. Maybe if—
When the phone rang, Maddie set the untouched file she’d intended to review on the coffee-table and rose to answer it. “Hello?”
“Maddie, it’s Emma.”
She looked at the closed door to Jack’s room. “Emma, I’ll get Jack for you. He’s on a conference call, but he’ll—”
“Don’t bother him. Since I’ve got you,” Emma continued, “I just wanted to say that I hope you enjoyed your visit to the embassy and had a good time at the party. You and Jack disappeared so suddenly we never had a chance to say goodbye.”
A flush crept into Maddie’s cheeks. Etiquette had been the last thing on her mind after Jack’s kiss. “It was— I’ve never had such a— I’ll never forget it,” she finally managed to say.
It was the truth. She wouldn’t ever forget the breathtaking kiss. Talk about chemistry! Unfortunately it had changed everything with Jack, making it an uphill battle to salvage their former working relationship.
“Is everything all right, Maddie? Did something happen?” There was concern in Emma’s voice.
Oh, yeah, she wanted to say. But then she’d have to provide details. “Not really,” she lied.
“It’s about Jack, isn’t it?” There was a slight pause on the other end of the line before she said, “Let me put a finer point on the question. Are you in love with my brother?”
“Good heavens, no.” Maddie sincerely hoped that was the truth. “Emma, I know you’re trying to be nice, but Jack doesn’t do commitment and that’s what I want.”
“Sorry. I’m prying. But,” Emma added, “you should know that our—Jack’s and mine—formative years were difficult. Be patient with him, Maddie. He could very possibly be worth the effort.”
“He’s not going to change.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.” There was a pause, before Emma said, “Do me a favor, will you? Tell Jack I talked to Mum. It took me a while, but she told me what he did for her twelve years ago.”
“And?”
“You’ll know what to do. Goodbye, Maddie. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
Before Maddie could say anything, there was a click on the other end of the line. Just then the bedroom door opened and Jack was there. His hair was mussed, as if he’d dragged his fingers through it. His sweater and jeans were charmingly casual. And her heart stuttered and bumped at the sight of him.
“Who was on the phone?” he asked.
“Your sister. She didn’t want me to disturb you. She and Sebastian are going home and called to say goodbye.”
“I see.” He frowned. “That sounds pretty innocuous. Why do you look like the stock market just crashed?”
Maddie repeated what his sister had said and had a clear view of Jack’s face. The intense expression put every nerve in her body on alert. What made him look as if he’d lost everything, as if he had no one? As if he were empty? Her heart squeezed painfully tight and made her want to put right whatever it was. Damn. She wanted to hug him again.
Hugging would lead her into temptation, a place she couldn’t afford to go. But she had an alternative destination in mind. Emma was right. She did know what to do.
“So, is it cold in Dublin this time of year?” Maddie asked.
“Why?”
Maddie stared at his stubborn expression for several moments. His past was catching up with him. His grievances with his family were surfacing and she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was at the heart of his restlessness. Maybe if he resolved his conflict—whatever it was—the two of them could go back to the perfect boss/assistant relationship they’d enjoyed. The relationship where she kept him in line and he didn’t cross it and kiss her. The one where she didn’t wonder if she was falling for him.
“The weather in Dublin matters very much because I need to know how to dress when we’re visiting your mother, Jack.”
Jack wasn’t sure how Maddie managed to have her way with him, but she damn sure didn’t use sex. Yet here he was in Ireland. He’d called his mother and she was expecting them.
After flying to Dublin, he’d hired a car and driver and they were heading up the long road to Cathy’s place, about fifteen minutes from the city. The house was just coming into view. A patchwork of white-fenced corrals fanned out behind the barn. On the gently rolling green hills, scattered horses lazily nibbled grass. The setting was bucolic and made him uneasy.
Cathy O’Brien Valentine’s family home was a modest, two-story structure nestled in the center of a shallow valley. It was a tranquil and serene setting, not at all the way Jack remembered his mother. High-strung, unstable—emotionally needy would describe her best. If, as his father had said, he was his mother’s son, what did that make him?
In his earliest recollections, he could recall her making it clear she needed him—to behave. Be quiet. Listen to her or his father would make him listen. And he had behaved, and worked harder than ever before, after listening to his father tell him hell would freeze over before he would get another chance to screw up Bella Lucia. Max was right. Fate had given him the ultimate means of revenge.
Maddie sat silently beside him in the car. He glanced at her and saw the rigid set of her shoulders, the tension in the delicate line of her jaw.
“You’re not nervous about this meeting? Are you?” he asked.
“No.” She waved her hand dismissively, then clasped her fingers in her lap. Tightly. “Are you nervous?”
“Of course not.” But he wanted it over.
After the driver stopped in front of the house Jack got out of the car and held the door for Maddie. As he waited he heard voices and laughter. A couple, side by side with their arms around each other’s waists, came around the house.
His mother’s blonde hair was much as he remembered—long and wavy. She was still plump in her jeans and thick, baggy olive-green sweater. But her smile made her seem younger somehow as she looked up at the tall, black-haired, blue-eyed man who grinned down at her. What love looked like…
Jack’s guard went up instantly.
Cathy saw him then and glanced up at her companion who gave her what looked like an encouraging nod, followed by a supportive squeeze. The two of them stopped on the cobblestone walkway in front of Jack.
Cathy studied his face. “The last time I saw you, you were a mere boy. You’re all grown up, Jack.”
“Hello, Mum.”
“It’s wonderful to see you. You look really good. So handsome.” The Irish accent was thicker in her voice. She lifted her hand, as if to reach out, then dropped it. When she looked at Maddie, a speculative gleam slipped into her light blue eyes. “Who’s this, then? Your wife?”
Maddie’s mouth thinned for a moment as she held out her hand. “Madison Ford. Maddie. I’m Jack’s assistant.”
Jack eyed the tall stranger. “Your turn.”
“Aidan Foley.” The deep tone was thickly accented and couldn’t hide that he was Irish through and through. “Your mother and I are—”
“Good friends,” she interrupted, putting her hand on his arm. “Please come in, Jack. Maddie. I’ll make a pot of tea. We can catch up.”
“We’d like that,” Maddie said. “Right, Jack?” She nudged him in the ribs with her elbow.
They went in the house and Jack saw that it was comfortable and cozy, not flashy, not the way it had been when she’d been with his father. Photographs of him and Emma were scattered on the end tables and hung on the walls. A brightly colored afghan was slung over the back of the floral-covered sofa and reading glasses were carelessly resting over a facedown book on the coffee table.
In the kitchen, Aidan poked at the banked embers in the fireplace and coaxed it into a small blaze before adding several logs. Cathy invited them to sit at the pine table, then set about putting tea together. Her good friend helped in what clearly was an intimately familiar choreography, movements that showed they made tea together often.
They smiled at each other and their hands touched, bodies brushed. This was a long-term connection and the realization had unreasonable anger coursing through Jack.
The man in question watched carefully even as he stood back, folded his arms over his chest, and leaned against the counter. Cathy poured from the teapot, then set steaming mugs in front of him and Maddie.
“That’ll chase away the chill,” she said, smiling brightly, as if determined to ignore the awkwardness.
“Thank you.” Maddie wrapped her hands around the cup.
“What’s it been? Twelve years?” Jack rested his arms on the table and glanced at his mother’s lover. Tension crackled in the air and Jack didn’t give a damn. “So, how’ve you been, Mum?”
Aidan’s deceptively casual manner disappeared when he moved and stood by Cathy, pulling her against him. “You’re a guest, Jack. And Cathy’s son. But when you speak to your mother you’ll be puttin’ some respect in your tone or I’ll ask you to leave our home.”
Jack stood and faced them both. “And I’d like to know who you are to my mother.”
Aidan met his gaze without flinching. “I’m the man who loves her.”
“So do I.” Jack took a step forward.
Cathy put herself between them. “Aidan, why don’t you take Maddie down to the stables and show her our horses while Jack and I talk?”
Crazy About The Boss Page 8
