He walked out of the office and past Underhill’s secretary.The hallway was dotted with people, most of them gossiping about Lexie and not doing their work.One look at his face changed that.The crowd dispersed, but he took a shortcut through the main conference room anyway.
Power plays didn’t sit well with him.Never had, never would.
He flexed his fingers, feeling them itching to curl into fists.He’d lost his first job when he’d decked the sixteen-year-old grocery store manager who’d treated him that way.He’d jammed two knuckles and forfeited his last paycheck in the process, but he’d learned a lot.
There was always some unethical, manipulative bastard who liked to lord it over the quiet, hardworking types.The only way to deal with them was to beat them at their own game, outwit them and out-mean them.Then move on to the next.
The philosophy had served him well.By the time he’d hit college, his mother hadn’t had to worry about the electricity bill or the heat or the water.He’d had them covered, as well as having built a nice nest egg for something of his own—business school.
When he left a job, he always moved on to something better.He’d detoured in the case of Underhill Associates, but never again.
Never again.
He was about to exit out the other side of the conference room when he noticed something on the floor behind the potted plant.It piqued his temper all over again.Even the cleaning crew was slacking.He bent down to pick up the folder when he realized he’d seen it before.
It was Lexie’s proposal, the one she hadn’t had a chance to pitch.
He swept his fingers along the clear plastic cover, folding it back from where it had creased.He remembered how possessive she’d been about this thing—and how excited.Opening the document, he started to read.He was on page five before he felt his thighs burning.He was still in a crouch.
Standing slowly, he considered what he held in his hands.Opening the other conference room door, he headed down the far hallway and into his office suite.He was reading again as he passed his administrative assistant.
“Hold my calls.I don’t want any interruptions.”
Chapter Eight
The hatchet man was waiting for her when she got home.Fatigue and uneasiness settled over Lexie when she recognized the black SUV parked in front of her house.Twilight had long since given way to a warm summer night, yet the big vehicle seemed to soak up whatever light remained around it.She slowed as she made her way up the private road.Underhill Manor and its grounds were gated from unwanted guests, yet somebody had let him in—or given him the gate code.He didn’t normally come to the family house to do business, but things were obviously changing.She pulled into the little turnaround drive and saw him sitting on her front steps, looking patient yet observant.
Like a wolf watching careless prey come too close.
Heartbeat speeding up, she shifted into park and braced herself.She was too tired to deal with the man.Any time he came near, electricity seemed to spark and sputter.It left her feeling drained by the time he walked away, and the day had been long already.
Yet in some ways, not long enough.She missed Roxie, even though she’d just left her.
Pushing away the unfamiliar separation anxiety, Lexie killed the engine.She could still feel Cam watching her as the dome light shone down upon her.It made her feel as if her innermost secrets were being exposed, and she leaned over to grab her things.She hesitated when she saw the carryall with her proposals on the passenger seat.She’d forgotten about them until Roxie had found them when they’d gone to get their DNA tests.Looking at them now, Lexie couldn’t believe how the idea had consumed her for the past month.It seemed like such an inconsequential thing after the day she’d had.
Still, something deep inside her didn’t want Rowe to see them.Leaving them where they were, she grabbed her purse and got out of her car.The dome light turned off, but the headlights took longer.They bathed her in artificial light as she circled the car to approach her enemy.
If that’s what he was to her anymore.
Her cheeks warmed.She’d let him get too close during her walk on the wild side.Way too close.
He watched her silently.The little black dress she’d borrowed from her sister had looked simple and comfortable on the hanger, but she hadn’t realized how the soft material would cling to her curves or how low the scooped neckline would sit on her breasts.
Rowe saw it all in one quick sweep.“You’re getting home late.”
“What are you doing here, Cam?”
“Waiting for you.You didn’t call.”
“Neither did you.”
The timer on her headlights went off and they dimmed, leaving the two of them alone in the dark.The moon was at a low crescent stage, and its bluish light was more tactile than illuminating.It only hinted at lushness in the foreground or danger in the shadows.
Lexie’s heart began beating double time.Was he here to tell her that she didn’t have time to figure out what her next move would be?That the family had decided she needed to leave the company immediately?
Or was he going to kiss her again?
He rose from his seated position to stand on the steps in front of her, a hard, dark presence she could feel more than see.The air stirred, and she felt his fingertips brush over her cheek.“Are you feeling better?”
