Absorbing George’s company into his portfolio would mean staff changes—that was standard with any acquisition, but he’d try to keep them to a minimum, just as he always did. Frankly, he was proud of the low turnover and high staff satisfaction rates in his company reports. But there could be no accusations ofbiasin any restructuring process.
It shouldn’t be a problem. They’d shared a moment, that was all. He’d never wanted anything more—still didn’t—especially now he was effectively her boss. But his libido now hit worse than it had the night after their afternoon together. They’d had spectacular sex three spectacular times in quick succession and he should have beenspent. He hadn’t been. He’d paced like a caged animal. In the end he’d drunk the best part of a bottle of whisky so he couldn’t possibly go to her. So he couldforget. Unhealthy as all hell. And he’d been unable to resist visiting the cottage the next afternoon but she’d already left. He hadn’t known anything more than her first name—not where she lived or what she did for work—which was good, because by then he’d been even more desperate to forget her. The intensity of his attraction to her was too much. Knowing he couldn’t find her should have helped end it. It hadn’t.
He couldn’t forget the snowdrop-turned-siren. And now her employment at one of his companies was utterly abhorrent. Even when he was back in Italy, he would know where she was. What she was doing. That he could get to her…
Pull it together.
He didn’t want emotional entanglements. Ever. He certainly didn’t want complication. He would have a direct, calm conversation with her here in the soundproof boardroom with that one wall of windows, yes the glass was frosted, but it was still better than the full privacy—intimacy—a smaller office would invite. It was only a few days before Felipe should get here. It was going to be fine. Manageable. He would sort it out now and restore his focus on important things. He wouldn’t let anything distract him from work.
He sent an email summons and waited in his preferred position—seated with his back to the wall, table between them, eyes on the door. She arrived moments later. She’d changed her top.
Of course she would have a spare in her office. She was prepared for any eventuality—why, she’d had condoms in the bottom of her bag when she’d been on holiday, had a Botticelli print coin-purse stuffed with plasters and paracetamol as well—a miniature medical kit in case of emergency. She was the first aid queen—she probably also had a torch and batteries and who knew what else in there. She was every bit the efficient assistant George had praised. She was also stunning—her long limbs tailor-made to coil around him, her soft curves hidden now but his to reveal.
Edo didn’t—couldn’t—stand as she entered. Didn’t offer his hand or smile. Her presence was pure provocation. He tensely battled the urge to walk round the table, pin her against the wall and kiss her everywhere until she was hot and breathless, breathing his name in that broken way she did just before she came. He didn’t of course. But only just.
Appalling to be so debilitated bylust. It had never happened to this extent before—aside from that afternoon in Italy.
‘Take a seat.’ He jerked his head.
The desk was an enormous plank of wood between them. She perched on the edge of her chair and didn’t smile either. He forgot how to speak, never mind what he’d intended to say. He just stared—how she had this impact on him he didn’t know. But her eyes mesmerised him.
‘I wasn’t sure what you wished to discuss given you gave no indication in your immediate summons, so I brought a selection of senior management reports for you.’
‘You know this isn’t about any reports,’ he said more roughly than he meant to. ‘We have a situation.’
Her deep-blue eyes widened. ‘I disagree.’
‘How?’he muttered bitterly.
‘I don’t think anything that’s happened prior to today needs to be relevant going forward,’ she said bravely. ‘I don’t allow my personal life to interfere with my work.’
‘Really?’ Did she honestly think they couldignorewhat had happened? Even though that was exactly what he’d intended they do.
‘There’s nothing between us.’ She added stiffly. ‘In fact I’d forgotten all about it until I saw you here earlier.’
‘You’dforgotten.’
‘Yes, and I think it best we both forget it again immediately.’ She shrugged her shoulders and avoided his eyes. ‘I won’t let some little incident from months ago jeopardise my job.’
A warning if ever he heard one. Was she thinking of blackmailing him into keeping her employed? The thin hold he’d had on himself frayed. ‘Well, I won’t let some little incident jeopardise my reputation in the industry.’
‘Then we’re in accord.’ She pressed her lips together.
Yeah, no.They weren’t. He couldn’t sit still. He rose and paced away from the windows to the back corner of the room where he rested against the wall—trying to get as far from her as possible. Even so, he homed in on her tension. She was worried about her job and he knew he ought to reassure her.
‘I’d been told you’re very good,’ he muttered.
She went impossibly more stiff. Yeah, that hadn’t come out quite the way he’d wanted.
‘Does that surprise you?’ she asked coolly.
He couldn’t answer. Wouldn’t lean into the innuendo he knew they were both hearing.
‘Iamgood at my job,’ she added. ‘I like my job. And Ineedmy job.’
Frustration raked like nine-inch nails down his back. ‘I’m good at my job too,’ he growled.
Somehow this had devolved into a combat situation where they verbally went toe-to-toe, and it was worsening by the second.
