Too late, Lexie realized the sexual pose she presented.With her foot lifted behind her, her back was arched and her breasts were pressed tightly against the silk tank she wore.The slit in the side of her skirt split wide, showing a generous amount of thigh.He was standing so close, his pant leg brushed against that tender vee of skin.Yet all that paled in comparison to the feel of his fingertips against her vulnerable Achilles tendon.Firm, hot and intimate, it startled her.
She grasped for the chair to steady herself.She clutched his arm instead.He’d reached for her, his free hand catching her waist.
Tension still crackled in the room, but its focus had shifted.
He was touching her.
He cleared his throat, the sound rough.“You could do better than this, Lexie.”
Her mouth went dry.She didn’t think so.
The thought pinged around her head like a snapped rubber band, and her cheeks heated.She fumbled with the strap of the stiletto but lost all remaining air when his caress slid down to her heel.
“Let me.”
His touch traveled over the side of her foot, searching for the spot where the strap had gotten trapped underneath.Her toes pointed reflexively when an inquisitive finger stroked her arch.Her hold on his arm tightened, but he managed to hook the strap.He gave a tug and it popped loose.Slowly, he retraced his path, guiding the elastic band into place.
“Breathe,” he whispered.
Her lungs caught fire when she remembered to inhale.Oh, dear Lord.She’d known he was dangerous to her, but she’d had no idea in how many ways.Heat blazed up her leg, settling in her core.The tingle she’d felt before in her toes was nothing compared to this.Nothing.
His caress circled her ankle, his thumb still tracing that mischievous strap.His dark gaze hadn’t moved from her face.“I’m trying to do what’s best for everybody.”
And what was best for her was apparently tossing her out on her rump.
The surprising arousal she felt was quickly doused.
Talk about an Achilles’ heel.What was she doing?
The mush in her leg hardened back into muscle.Breaking his hold on her, she set her foot firmly back on the carpet.Why?Why did she have to react to this man, of all people?He wanted to toss her out like a toy that had been used and abused but was no longer shiny enough for show and tell.
She sidestepped away from his touch on her waist.“It sounds to me like you’re taking the easy way out.”
“You think this is easy for me?”
She needed to get away from him.She had to get somewhere she could think.Snatching her other shoe, she dropped into her chair to put it on herself.There was no way she could take another Prince Charming performance—only her hands were unsteady and her fingers were clumsy.
“Lexie.”
The sound of her name coming from his lips rubbed just a little too raw.The strap of the shoe was twisted as it settled into place, but she ignored the discomfort and popped out of her chair.She grabbed her jacket and jerked it on.
“Listen to me,” he said.
She’d listened enough.
She powered down her computer and snatched her purse out of her desk drawer, but paused as she looked at her stack of proposals.
“Leave them,” he nearly growled.
But…
Her chin snapped up.That might be the answer.Her idea.If it had any merit whatsoever, it could bring in more sales and a new target audience.Staff would be needed, and marketing would have to kick in immediately.She reached for the proposal, realizing it was more important now than ever.
She gasped when he caught her hand.
“No.You need a break, and we need to talk.”
She stared at her hand in his.One touch.One touch was all it had taken.For months, they’d barely spoken.Now her personal space was gone.“I just want to go home,” she said hoarsely.
