It was true that she instigated what happened between them. But if she hadn’t, he surely would have. Once he was in her room with the phone in his hands, he knew that the fever they both experienced could not be treated by a medical professional. He knew it was a physical ailment that only the two of them could resolve.
Trouble was—it hadn’t done a damn thing to make him better. Their night in bed had only scratched an itch that needed a whole lot more scratching. She glanced his way, and their eyes collided. She froze and her beautiful face paled.
He set down his coffee cup before he dropped it. His hands were unsteady and his breathing quickened but he couldn’t look away. Neither, it seemed, could she. He wanted her to come over. He wanted to hear the sound of her voice. Perhaps find an excuse to touch her. No, it wasn’t want. He needed her near. How odd was that? When was the last time he needed a woman? Shortly after his divorce. But that had been purely sexual, and had assuaged itself the moment it was over. He’d had no interest in seeing that woman again, or any of the others he’d taken to his bed in the two years since.
Jennifer was different. He felt a burning deep inside of him, a strong desire to take her, to protect her, to claim her and make her his. It was ridiculous. He’d have to fire her to do that. And she would never let that happen. She probably wanted another night of sex with him as much as she did a case of herpes.
Actually speaking, this beautiful lady could make his life extremely difficult. He doubted she would, unless he tried to fire her, in which case she’d counter with a sexual assault charge and likely win. Whether it was consensual or not, she was off limits, and he knew it. She knew it. But that hadn’t stopped either one of them from tearing their clothes off and going after each other like two cats in heat.
That would not—could not happen again. Breaking eye contact, he spoke to the woman standing a few feet away, and straightening his navy blue jacket, he stepped around the table to circle the room.
His senior developer, John Barnes, came up beside him. He wore a brown suit, the jacket open to allow for his considerable girth. “You’re looking better than you did last night,” he said, “but your color is still high. How’s the blood pressure?”
“It’s never been a problem. If it continues,” Hunter said, “I’ll have myself checked out when we get back.”
“Good idea. It’s probably nothing serious. You might have caught something flying over here. Seems every time I fly, I catch a cold. Last time I was down with it for nearly a week.”
“I hear you. Hotels are bad too. My ex-wife used to clean the telephone and remote control before she’d ever touch either. And scour the toilet as well.” Hunter laughed and John nodded in sympathy.
“How are they doing? You going to New York for Christmas?”
“I’m having Cameron here for the week. Can’t wait to see his face when he opens his gifts.” He grinned. “I’m getting him an iPad just to tick Adrienne off. She says he’s too young, but it isn’t so. The younger generation is growing up with this stuff. My brother’s kids both own their own.”
“Yeah. She might not like it, but that’s just too damn bad.” John grabbed a cookie from the table and poured himself half a cup of coffee, black. “Good thing he’ll be with you. I know how much it hurts. I don’t see my two kids much these days. Teenagers, ya know? They’re busy. I’m busy. That’s how it is.”
“Right. I’m not looking forward to the years ahead.” Hunter heard the sound of Jennifer’s laugh, and he turned in her direction.
John’s gaze landed on her too. “How’s Jennifer this morning?”
“Don’t know. I haven’t spoken to her.” Hunter spoke sharply, then modified his tone of voice. “She seems all right. I’m sure she would have called me earlier if she’d still felt ill.”
“I doubt it,” John answered, nodding in her direction. “She’s out to prove something. Sick or not, she’d be here.”
“Why do you guys resent her so much?” He’d picked her because she was the best-suited candidate for the position.
“We don’t. At least I don’t. “John crossed his arms and widened his stance. Six feet five, about two hundred and fifty pounds, the man was built like a bodyguard. “She’s good. At the beginning I was skeptical. Figured she was in over her head. But not so.” He took a slug of his coffee, and wiped his mouth before continuing, “She expects a lot, but gives even more. If any of us have a problem she’ll help us work through it. I like her. She’s tough, but fair.”
“Exactly right.” Hunter wondered why the resistance, if that was how her team felt. He’d watched them close ranks at the bar last night. Was it really something as old-school as sexism? “Nothing gets by her. When it comes to production, only perfection is good enough. She has to balance the speed, cost, quality with the amount of risk. Jennifer is sharp. She’ll go places.”
It occurred to him that she already had. She’d moved her way around his body like a woman who knew what she wanted, and just how to get it. Yet, there was a vulnerability about her. An innocence. He had a strong hunch that last night’s indiscretion was out of character for her.
If he were a betting man, he’d put ten bucks on the table that she’d never had a one-night stand before. And not for a minute did Hunter believe she’d slept with him to further her career. Jennifer wasn’t that kind of woman. Friendly, yes, but she never flirted. Never went out with the guys on a Friday night for drinks after work. She kept to herself. Last night joining them for a drink was the first time they’d seen her in a social environment.
And he and her co-workers had seen plenty. The great legs, great cleavage. He remembered how her eyes had watered after her first sip of scotch. Like she wasn’t used to drinking a stiff drink straight up. Perhaps last night she’d been putting on a show. Looking for approval. Acceptance. Then she’d stumbled into him, and the fireworks had started. By the end of the evening, she’d got a whole lot more than she’d bargained for.
Poor girl. He really needed to apologize. For all those things he’d done to her—and while he was at it, he’d accept the blame for her behavior too. It had been unacceptable. And remarkable. She had grabbed him by the tie and kissed him senseless, then pushed him backwards onto the bed. She’d kicked her heels off and straddled him, bending forward for more deep-throated kisses. He’d unzipped her dress, and cupped her breasts…
He cleared his throat and glanced at John who was determined to hover near the cookie tray. “Got any idea how many to expect in your work shop?” A change of subject was good. He needed to stop thinking about his sexy co-worker and the delightful surprise attack. She’d been a one-woman sex machine.
John swallowed his cookie and answered the question. “I’m set up for around one fifty to two hundred. I expect most will show up for the slideshow and talk, and a few will hang around for the hands-on lab. But you never know how these things go.”
“Good. I’ll be circulating around the rooms, so if you need anything, I won’t be far away.” He buttoned up his jacket and patted John’s sleeve. “Better go make the rounds myself.”
The ballroom easily hosted several hundred people, and it was as if Hunter and Jennifer did a separate minuet, a graceful maneuver around the room without coming into contact. Had it been orchestrated they couldn’t have done a better job.
After an hour of this, Hunter stopped. His throat was parched from talking to people and he needed a bottle of chilled water. He swung around, heading for the refreshment table and who did he bump into but the devil herself.
“Jen,” he said, sounding breathless to his own ears. “I didn’t see you behind me.”
“I wasn’t following you, don’t you worry.” She would have swept by, but he put a hand out to stop her.
“I know. I wasn’t accusing you of anything. I just wanted to ask how you were feeling? Is everything all right?”
“Everything is perfect. Shouldn’t it be?” Her green, cat-like eyes gave nothing away as she held his gaze. She reg
arded him steadily and he was the first to blink.
“Of course. Today is like any other first day of a national conference. Busy. Lots of people around.” His lips curved into a half smile. “Isn’t that so?” He should have simply walked away, gotten his water, but her un-frazzled, haughty air infuriated him. To. No. End. He wanted to see her blush. Just a spark, a little something that alluded to what had happened between them last night. Or to him. He’d been consumed with lust, and unless she was a supreme actress, he hadn’t been the only one affected.
“It is a wonderful turnout.”
He gritted his teeth. He wanted to do something totally self-destructive, like grab hold of her and plant a big one right on her luscious coral lips. She was not immune to him, and he’d prove it. “Most wonderful,” he drawled, and raised an eyebrow. “This is a very pleasant conversation we’re having. Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Definitely. Chatting with my boss is one of my favorite pastimes.”
“Is that a fact?” He bumped his shoulder into hers and leaned to whisper next to her ear. “Anything else you like to do with your boss?”
“Why sir,” she exclaimed, eyes wide and alarmed. “I’m not sure what you mean.” She glanced at the people around them. “If you don’t mind I was about to get myself some water. Enjoy your morning.”
“I was heading there myself.” Angrily, he placed a firm hand on her back, directing her toward the end of the hall. Both sides of the ballroom had long tables with refreshments, but this one seemed less busy. Time to cut the act. Who did she think she was? Scarlett fucking O’Hara?
“You are pushing me,” she hissed.
He liked that better. Now she sounded real. And nervous. Good.
“You need water. I need water. We will have it together.” She stiffened and he pressed. “If you can’t act natural around me, everyone is going to know that something is up.”
“Nothing is up. We did it once. A short office indiscretion.” She lifted her thumb and finger spreading them about an inch. “Very short.”
“It wasn’t that short,” he said, his masculinity threatened. “It took most of the night.”
She refused to look at him. Her throat tightened and she swallowed with difficulty. “Everyone is allowed one mistake without getting fired.”
“You’re not getting fired. And it wasn’t once. It was twice.” He had her elbow in his grip and turned her to look directly into her eyes. He needed to make it clear who was the boss around here. When he made a comment, she needed to confirm it, not challenge him on every little thing. “Once was a mistake. The second time was because I liked it.”
He should be ashamed of himself. He’d meant to warn her away, but couldn’t stop poking at her composure.
Her eyes narrowed and her cheeks flamed, giving him a moment’s satisfaction. She shook her head. “No.”
“You did too,” he added more softly, “if your shrieks meant anything.”
She lifted her shoe off the carpet and dug her heel into his toe. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Her green eyes sparked fire. “Clumsy of me.”
He winced with pain, but accepted it as his due. “That hurt.” His toes throbbed.
“Not as much as if I kneed you in the balls.” Her voice was sweet as honey wine.
“You wouldn’t dare.” But he knew she would, if cornered. He released her arm and grabbed two bottles from the table. He unscrewed her cap and handed it to her. “Drink.”
With defiance in her eyes, she gulped half the bottle down, then put a finger to her wet lips. “Why are you here, talking to me? We agreed to stay apart. And there are hundreds of people you should be schmoozing instead of me.”
“Did that.” He’d tried to stay away. “Then I turned around and there you stood.”
“I did my best to keep things level-headed between us.” She looked out at the milling people, her expression neutral. Just chit-chatting with the boss. “You’re the one digging up all this old stuff.”
“It’s not old.” He guzzled his water and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes never leaving her face. “It’s new. And exciting. And scary. Kind of like Halloween. You know when you enter the haunted house that bad things are going to happen, and maybe you shouldn’t go in, but there you are. Moving bravely toward unknown dangers. It’s stupid. But it’s a rush.”
“This is not Halloween, and we’re not a couple of kids.”
He was as randy as a teenager, but he kept that comment to himself.
She sipped on her water, glancing everywhere but at him. “I don’t need a rush. I need this job. Security. And common sense. I have obligations and I can’t afford that kind of excitement.”
“What kind?”
“Risk. Stepping across the line. We have boundaries for very good reasons.” She huffed. “I respect them.” She lifted her chin and glared at him. “I won’t do it again.”
“No one’s asking you to. I’m glad you’re sensible. Someone has to be.”
“And that means what? You’re not advocating that we should have a repeat performance, are you? A third round?”
“No. Certainly not.” Would anybody notice them if they left the ballroom together? “That would be incredibly foolish.”
Her lips twitched in a smile. “So glad you agree. Now, let me pass. I have to circulate.”
He nodded. “Just one more thing. I need to say this and then you can go.” His eyes met hers. “I like you. And I want you to continue to work for me for a very long, long time.” In fact, the idea of not seeing her on a daily basis didn’t seem right.
“Ditto that.” She tapped her water bottle to his. “To a long, successful career together.” Her eyes drifted to his mouth, then lifted again. She licked her lips and his heart gave a sudden lurch. “Catch you later.”
His gaze settled on the slight sway of her hips as she marched off to mingle with their conference attendees. He didn’t like the fact she zoomed in on two young, good-looking men who greeted her warmly.
Heartless wretch. Tormenting him so cruelly. She’d selected these poor saps on purpose, to make him jealous. Jennifer knew he wanted her, but she was smart enough to say no. Still, he hoped she’d turn her head and make eye contact, showing him she shared those feelings. Instead she tossed her hair back and laughed with the young men from Chicago.
Her words came back to him. She’d said “catch you later.” Did that mean she wanted to hook up after the workshops were over? Dare he hope?
If you tossed the boss thing out the window, he couldn’t remember why it was a bad idea.
CHAPTER FIVE
The morning drifted into the afternoon, and Jennifer was thankfully busy. Her workshop was well attended and she gave a power point presentation, followed by a Q & A. It was four o’clock before she got through. Her feet hurt. Her head ached and she was physically drained. She’d attended several conferences and conventions and they were all the same. Exhausting, exhilarating, and hard work with very little down time. She would need to be “on” for questions on their software product twenty-four seven.
As the last person left, she realized she didn’t have the energy to make it back to her room. She poured herself a cup of strong black coffee from the refreshment table, skipping the cookie, and went out to the quiet lounge area where she could relax and let the caffeine give her a much needed boost before she had to get ready for tonight.
Over eight hundred people were attending the event with a keynote speaker, a sumptuous meal, an open bar and dancing. She could slip away once the dinner was over, but not before nine or ten.
Jennifer sank back in the cushioned armchair, sipping her coffee. It took a moment to realize that two long legs were standing in front of her. Her gaze slid upward over the gray trousers, the dark blue jacket, and landed on a face she didn’t want to see.
“I’m tired. Go away,” she told Hunter.
“I’m tired too. And I’m staying.” Hunter slid into the second chair next to the small round table
and offered her a cookie. He’d wrapped several in a napkin and stuffed them in his pocket—now he seemed eager to share his private stash.
It was easier to just grab the damn cookie than argue, and she bit in with resentment. However, her mouth watered as the chocolate chips melted on her tongue. The cookie tasted like heaven and she realized that she’d gone the day without eating lunch. “Oh, that is so good.” She reached for another.
“You worked through your lunch break,” he said with a frown. “Three days of this is exhausting and you need to eat to keep up your strength.”
He’d been watching? “I know. I just got busy answering questions, that’s all.”
“Well, don’t let it happen again,” he said, giving her a look of concern. “I don’t want to have to wipe you off the floor.”
“You say the sweetest things.” She took another drink of coffee.
He laughed. “How did the presentation go?”
“Great.” It was the truth. Her presentation had gone without a hitch, and she knew the software as if she’d invented it. She studied and practiced to make sure she was prepared. “I’m a rock star. But enough about me. How did my team do?”
“Good. I caught a little from each of them, and everything went smooth as silk.” He gave her a look. “They respect you, you know.”
“Then why do they shut me out? I don’t mean so much at work. They are fine, polite, never challenge me or anything. But they get quiet the moment I walk into the lunch room, or catch them leaving after work. Is it the simple fact that I’m a woman? Or do they resent me because I’m their direct superior?”
“One and the other. Guys expected me to choose John, not go outside the company to hire. But no one was a good fit for this particular job. I try to hire within. This time I didn’t.” He shrugged. “It’s not personal.”
“It feels personal to them.”
“John said some very nice things about you today. He’s the one who should resent you if anyone had a mind to, but he doesn’t. He says you demand a lot, but give more.”
DOUBLE TROUBLE: TROUBLE IN VEGAS series Page 13