Business Affairs

by Shirley Rogers

  “To the kitchen.”

  “Uh-uh. I want you back in bed.” He just wished she was up for what he really wanted.

  Her.

  Naked beneath him.

  For hours.

  Alex reminded himself he was here to help her, not to take advantage of her. And surely her illness would prevent him from trying anything with her should he lose his faculties and touch her.

  Jennifer flushed. His words caused all kinds of tantalizing images to flash through her mind. She didn’t argue, though, when he steered her in the direction of her room. “It was nice of you to stay, Alex, but I’m fine now,” she told him as she climbed into bed. If he didn’t leave, she was going to do something crazy—like make love with him.

  Whoa, she really was better if she was thinking about making love.

  “I think I’ll stay a while longer,” Alex told her, wanting to be sure she would be okay. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. You should rest up this weekend. Don’t think about work or anything you’ve missed. I’ve talked to Paige. She’s handling everything.” He tucked the covers around her. “How about trying to eat some soup?” he suggested.

  “I don’t think I can.”

  Please go home.

  But he didn’t. He’d found the serving tray she kept in one of the cabinets and he brought her soup and more toast. And water. She picked up the glass and drank, then tasted the soup.

  “You’re quite a chef,” she commented, finally accepting the fact that he wasn’t leaving until he was good and ready. She managed to get down quite a bit of the soup. Her nausea had subsided, but no doubt it would be back the next morning. And the morning after that. And the morning after that.

  “Opening a can is the extent of my talent in culinary matters.” When she put down the spoon and shoved the remainder of the soup away from her, Alex picked it up and finished the soup she’d left in the bowl.

  “Alex!”

  “I won’t get sick.”

  Jennifer groaned silently. Of course he wasn’t really in danger of catching the flu. And he couldn’t catch morning sickness.

  “How’s your father doing?”

  “Better, my mom said.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Alex picked up the tray and carried it to the kitchen. He was losing the battle with his self-control. If he left now, he’d have accomplished what he’d come over for. To make sure she was all right.

  You wanted more than to make sure she was all right.

  Yeah, he did. He wanted to kiss her luscious mouth, to touch her gorgeous body. He wanted to slip into the bed with her and make love to her. The smart thing to do was to leave. Right now. Before he broke another promise to her.

  Instead he went back into her room and sank beside her on the bed. “Feeling better?” he asked, his gaze raking her face. All day, he’d been holding himself back from touching her. Now, he thought he’d die if he didn’t.

  “Yes.” Jennifer’s heart slammed against her ribs. When his hand touched her cheek, her pulse took off at breakneck speed. “Alex.” She’d meant to say his name with warning. It came out sounding like yearning.

  He leaned over her, his mouth hovering above hers. “I know I made a promise not to touch you, but hell, Jennifer, I was worried about you today.”

  She sucked in a breath of air, her gaze falling to his mouth, inches away, tempting her. She could feel his hesitation, knew all she had to do was to say no. Alex would have gotten up and walked away from her.

  But, oh my, she just couldn’t. She wanted to be with him one last time, wanted to feel him inside her. She lifted her head ever so slightly and their mouths met.

  He kissed her tenderly, so sweet and gentle, she thought she’d disintegrate right here in his arms. Then his body was crushing her to the mattress. Jennifer wasn’t aware of how his clothes had disappeared or even how she’d come to be naked against him. She didn’t care. He was here beside her and that’s all that mattered.

  His hands stroked her, caressed her, as his lips found hers again. Her hands were busy, too, sliding down his back, cupping his butt, pulling him more fully against her.

  His erection pressed against her thigh and her need for him spiraled out of control. Then his lips touched her breasts, kissed her belly. As she tried to absorb the ecstasy spiraling through her, he opened her legs, spread them wide and tasted her.

  And, oh yes, he knew just how to make her his.

  “Please.” The rush of desire spiraled through her. She squirmed beneath him, arching her back, begging him to take her, reaching for him with her arms.

  “I’m right here,” Alex whispered, then kissed her mouth, her face, her throat. He shifted himself between her legs, entering her slowly, dragging out their pleasure.

  Leaning down, he angled his head and kissed her deeply. He loved her mouth. The way she felt in his arms. Her exotic, addictive scent. Her silky smooth skin. He wanted to keep her like this forever.

  “Now, oh, Alex, now,” she pleaded.

  He kissed her again, felt her muscles tighten around him. Moving his hips faster, he sank deeper and deeper inside her. She felt so good.

  So perfect.

  So right.

  The phone rang, startling Jennifer as she lay in the aftermath of Alex’s lovemaking. Not wanting to think about what she’d done, she reached for it and checked the Caller ID.

  Her sister.

  Thinking Lil could be calling about their dad, Jennifer pushed the talk button. “Hey, sis.”

  “I called your office. They said you’ve been sick for two days.”

  “Yeah. I think I have the flu or something.”

  “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” Jennifer tried to sound convincing. She was exhausted. Making love did that to a person when they’d been ill for two days.

  “I’m coming over.”

  Panicking at the thought of her sister finding Alex in her bed, Jennifer quickly said, “No. I don’t want you to get sick. You’ll just take this bug back home to your family.”

  Lil thought about that for a moment. “Okay, you’re right.”

  Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief. But it didn’t last long.

  “I’m calling Tony. He should be leaving the hospital soon. He’ll swing by and check on you tonight.”

  “No!” Jennifer protested.

  “Don’t argue,” Lil told her sister.

  “But I’m fine,” Jennifer said, then stole a look at Alex. He was sitting up beside her, watching her. She didn’t want her brother anywhere near her. She couldn’t lie to him. He would know in a heartbeat she was pregnant.

  “Then you won’t mind Tony confirming it.” She hung up.

  Jennifer sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. Then she turned to face Alex. “My brother is coming over. You’d better leave.”

  Alex protested. “I’ll get dressed,” he said. “But I don’t have to leave.”

  She bit her tongue. “You have to leave, Alex. If you’re here, he’ll draw conclusions. I don’t want him to get the wrong idea. You know, like there’s anything going on between us.”

  But there was, Alex silently protested. He wasn’t sure what. But he was damned sure he wanted to explore it. “Jen—”

  “Please,” she pleaded.

  Alex wanted to argue with her but it was obvious she wasn’t ready for her family to know they’d slept together. “All right. If that’s what you want me to do.” He got up and jerked on his clothes, not happy that she seemed ashamed of being with him.

  Well, what could he expect? With his record of short, shallow relationships with women, could he blame her for not wanting him to stick around?

  “I’m sorry,” she said because he seemed upset.

  He shrugged. “It’s okay.”

  Clearly it wasn’t. As he buttoned the last button on his shirt, she started to get up. “Don’t.”

  “I’ll walk you to the door.”

  “No, I don’t want you to get up,” he said, unable to remain an
noyed with her. His gentle expression tempered his stern tone. “Stay there until your brother arrives.” He leaned over and kissed her, letting his lips linger long enough to stir the desire inside him again. Pulling away, he said, “I’ll come by tomorrow and check on you.”

  She nodded, but she knew she’d made a grave mistake by making love with him again. If he came over tomorrow, he’d find her sickness was a routine reoccurrence. As smart as Alex was, it wasn’t going to be long before he figured out the real reason she was ill before she was even able to return to work long enough to type out her resignation.

  Jennifer lay still and listened as Alex walked through her apartment, then left through the front door. Sleeping with him again had been unwise. But she was weak where he was concerned. She wanted to be with him. Forever. She laughed bitterly. The odds of that happening were laughable.

  There was only one way she was going to be able to control her feelings for him.

  She had to quit her job.

  Eleven

  Jennifer lay in bed the next morning curled in a ball, her stomach in turmoil. She’d gotten up really early to use the bathroom, then brought hot tea and a plate of crackers back to her room. Reaching for one, she groaned when she managed to knock the entire plate off the dresser, scattering the crackers on the floor. Inching to the edge of the bed, she fumbled around for one, congratulating herself when she captured one between two fingers. Just as she was about to eat it, the phone rang.

  She took a bite of the cracker, then reached over and picked up the receiver, glancing at the Caller ID.

  Alex.

  No surprise there. She should just let it ring. No, if she didn’t answer it, he’d charge straight over. If she talked to him, at least there was the possibility she could head off his appearing on her doorstep.

  “Hello?” she said, making an effort to keep her tone natural.

  “How are you feeling this morning?” Alex asked, sounding as if he really cared.

  “Better,” she answered. She didn’t read anything special into his warm tone. Maybe his concern was genuine, but once his attraction to her subsided, she’d end up with a broken heart. She didn’t think she could stand a full-out affair that would, no doubt, end badly. Alex didn’t want the same things in life that she needed. He didn’t want children. And not having them wasn’t conceivable to her. “The crackers have helped. Thank you for getting them.”

  “You sound tired,” he remarked.

  She was amazed at his ability to judge her condition through the phone. “I am a little,” she admitted. “I’m sure I’ll be able to come to work tomorrow, though. I might even go in for a few hours this afternoon.”

  “Don’t you dare,” he ordered, his voice bordering on impatience.

  “Alex—”

  “I want you to take care of yourself.”

  “I am,” she insisted. “Tony came by last night and gave me something for the nausea.” She didn’t tell him her brother had diagnosed her condition within minutes. He’d known without asking that the father of her child was Alex. Jennifer had given her brother the bare essentials of her relationship with Alex, to which Tony had demanded to know if Alex was going to marry her.

  Furious barely described her brother’s demeanor when she’d told him that she and Alex weren’t in love and that marriage between them wasn’t a possibility. Clearly upset, he’d driven back to the hospital, returning promptly with some medication safe to take during pregnancy. He’d also given her orders to see a doctor immediately. Jennifer had assured him she would and had made him promise not to tell anyone about her pregnancy until she was ready. Grudgingly, he’d agreed.

  “So is the medicine helping?” Alex asked.

  “Yes,” she answered, wondering if he was planning to come by. He would want to see for himself that she was better. She was going to have to find a way to discourage him.

  “Jen, is something wrong?”

  “No, not at all.” He asked the question as if he had some inside knowledge of her plans. Jennifer knew he couldn’t possibly, but she took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. So far he hadn’t mentioned coming to see her. Which was good. She needed some time alone to decide what to do. She couldn’t think with Alex here.

  “All right.” But he sounded as if he didn’t believe her. “Look, I hate to do this now. I mean, with you not feeling well, but I have to go out of town. Joe Daughtrey called about the Vinson Corporation proposal. They’re set to offer us the contract, but Ted Vinson wants to meet and talk with me personally before they sign. I’m flying out to Los Angeles today.”

  “That’s great, Alex. I mean, that Com-Tec is getting the contract.”

  “I have to be at the airport in an hour. I thought I’d run by and check on you on my way.”

  “No, don’t,” she insisted. “You’ll just run late for your flight.”

  His tone deepened. “I want to see you.”

  “I’m doing better. Really, I am. I’ll see you when you get back.”

  “I don’t know how long I’m going to be gone. Probably a few days.”

  “All right.”

  His apprehension seemed to spill through the phone. “Jen…I’ll see you soon.”

  “’Bye, Alex.” Without waiting for him to answer, she hung up.

  And never felt more like crying.

  Alex got to the airport just in time for his flight, which proved Jennifer right. He’d wanted to see her, but if he’d gone by her apartment, he would have missed it.

  However, something about their conversation continued to nag at him as he accepted a beverage from the flight attendant. Jennifer had sounded distant, as though something was definitely bothering her.

  Was it because they’d made love? He promised not to touch her, but she’d been a willing participant. She’d wanted him as much as he’d wanted her.

  Hell, he’d made a mess of things between them. Within the space of a few days, he’d broken his word again. Even now, he wanted her more than ever. What was it about Jennifer that was different from every other woman he’d been with?

  You’re in love with her.

  Alex felt as if he’d been hit by a two-by-four.

  Was he? Hell, he didn’t even know what love was.

  You want her to distraction. You can’t stop thinking about her. You want to be with her every minute of every day.

  Making love to her for the rest of your life wouldn’t be long enough.

  Okay, if all those feelings were symptoms of love, he was in a world of trouble.

  Because even as the airplane taxied onto the runway, he wanted to forget his obligation to business and go to her.

  What if he loved her? What would it mean?

  You want to marry her.

  No, Alex denied to himself. He didn’t do marriage. Hell, he didn’t even do commitment! And even if he did, what reason did he have to believe that he had anything emotionally to offer Jennifer? She wanted a lifelong arrangement. Children.

  Alex shook his head. His parents were the only example he had for what it took to make a marriage work. He’d learned from an early age that love didn’t last.

  He thought about the night he’d spent with Jennifer’s family when her father had become ill. Meeting them, watching them interact together, had forced him to reevaluate everything he’d believed. The support and love they’d shown each other was nothing short of amazing.

  And eye-opening. Could he give Jennifer that kind of love and devotion? Alex wasn’t sure. The only thing he knew for damn certain was that he wanted to be with her.

  And he was stuck on some airplane headed to California.

  “Paige, please ask William Stanton to come to my office,” Jennifer said into the intercom on Monday once she’d arrived at her office. Against Alex’s warning, she’d gone into work for a few hours yesterday while the office was unoccupied to make preparations for her departure.

  That done, she was ready to begin phasing in someone to temporarily take on her res
ponsibilities. As senior vice president, William Stanton was more than qualified to handle her workload. Convincing him he could might take a little work. Especially since Alex was still in California.

  Jennifer had taken her brother’s advice and had called her doctor’s office this morning. After explaining her symptoms and what the pregnancy test indicated, they’d worked her in as the first appointment. The doctor had prescribed something to ease her nausea, which she hoped would do the trick. As it was, she felt as if she’d lose the contents of her stomach every single minute.

  No doubt when William saw her, he’d take over her workload just because she looked like death warmed over.

  Her office door opened and she looked up. “Come in, Bill,” she said, and invited him to take a seat. Without hesitation she forged into why she’d needed to see him. “Something personal has come up, and I’m leaving Com-Tec.” She paused a moment for him to digest her words.

  He stared at her in disbelief. “Leaving?”

  “Effective immediately. I’d like to bring you up to date on my work, and I’m asking you to take over my position until Alex returns from California.”

  Bill Stanton sat forward. He was a nice man whom she respected and had enjoyed working with. Which made it easier to make this decision in Alex’s absence. She was leaving the company in good hands.

  She had to be gone by the time Alex returned from California. The only way to avoid a confrontation with him was to break all ties with her job.

  With him.

  Immediately. Cut her losses before she did something really foolish—such as beg Alex to love her. But she couldn’t do that because she didn’t deserve his love.

  And if he learned she was pregnant, he would feel obligated to help her.

  She didn’t want his help.

  She wanted his love, and she refused to settle for anything less.

  Bill Stanton gave her a long look. “Jennifer, are you sure you want to do this? Maybe a leave of absence—”

  “I’m sure,” she said, cutting him off. She gave him a polite smile. “My decision’s made.”

  “Of course I’ll do anything I can,” he said. “But Alex—”