All's Fair in Lust & War. Amber Page
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was picture Sandra on the day she’d married his stepbrother to remind himself that the only kind of marriage that worked was one based on money. And he was hardly sugar daddy material.
All he needed was a distraction. Pulling out his phone, he scanned his contacts for one of his favorite sex buddies. A little sexting would straighten him right out.
* * *
Becky stood in front of the big laser printer in the central creative area, hands on hips. All her senses were on high alert. She was printing out her team’s latest concepts and she didn’t want anyone from the opposing side to get a glimpse.
Fortunately it was quiet in the agency. Most of the office doors were closed, and those stuck in the wall-less cube maze were plugged into their headphones. The only sounds were the click-clacking of keyboards and the occasional muffled curse word.
Finally the printer started to hum. Becky took another quick look around, but saw no movement.
She relaxed her guard, pulling out her phone to take a quick peek at her Twitter feed. She’d lost all track of what was going on outside the advertising bubble she lived in.
Suddenly she heard paper shuffling behind her. She whirled just in time to see Mark snatching her ads off the printer.
“Hey, give those back!” she snapped, reaching for the papers in his hand.
“In a minute,” he said, turning his back on her. “But not before I see what you’re working on.”
“That’s none of your business,” she said, making another grab for them.
“That’s what you think,” he said, then strode off down the hall with her printouts.
Swearing silently to herself, she hurried after him, hoping with every fiber of her being that no one was watching them. She didn’t need her team to see how easily the other side had managed to outwit her.
Once he reached his office he sat down on the front of his desk, still staring thoughtfully at her designs. She slammed the door, then launched herself at him.
“Give. Them. Back,” she said, trying to snatch them from him.
He easily deflected her attack, then surprised her by pulling her against him. She went still as she registered his closeness, the heat emanating from his body putting her nerves on high alert.
Damn, he smelled good. Like grass and clean air with a hint of musk.
“Just chill out,” he said, from somewhere over her left ear. “I’m not going to steal your ideas. I’ve got plenty of my own. I just wanted to sneak a peek.”
Forcing herself out of the hormone-induced fog his presence induced, Becky pulled away. How was it possible to be so attracted to someone so infuriating?
“Fine,” she said, holding her hand out. “You’ve had your peek. Hand ’em over.”
He did, looking at her with a strangely intense expression.
“Don’t you want to know what I think?”
Of course she did. “No.”
“Well, I’ll tell you anyway. I think they’re pretty awesome.”
“Oh.” That wasn’t what she had expected him to say. “Really?”
He nodded. “It’s a really original idea. One I never would have come up with. The only thing is...”
Instantly anger sparked in her brain. Of course he couldn’t let the compliment ride. Men never could. “The only thing is what?”
“Hey, don’t get mad. I was just going to say that you might try to push the design. The copy carries it, but I think your art directors could give you more.”
She looked down at the ads in her hands. He was right. She’d been thinking the same thing.
“Thank you for the advice. But I think we’re doing just fine. Jessie is killing herself for me.”
“Suit yourself.” He shrugged.
She nodded and turned to leave.
“Don’t you want to see what we’ve got going on?”
She stopped. “You’re willing to show me?”
“Sure. Fair’s fair. But you’ll have to look at them on screen. I haven’t printed them out yet.”
Wow. A man playing fair. That was a first.
She padded across to his computer, prepared to hate whatever she saw. But when she saw what he was working on she couldn’t help but smile. This guy sure seemed to know women.
“This is good,” she said. “Funny. But...”
“But what?”
“It’s just the headline. It’s a little too much. Too smug. Tell your copywriter to dial it back a little.”
He nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. Thanks.”
She headed back to the door, but stopped before she turned the knob. No need to leave on too much of a friendly note.
“I’m still going to beat you,” she said.
“Keep dreaming,” he retorted.
“Oh, I will.” She smiled. “But no matter how good my dreams are, the reality will be even better.”
* * *
Becky sat staring at her blank computer screen, exhaustion beating at the backs of her eyelids with every blink of the cursor. It was eleven-thirty p.m. on Thursday, and although her team was giving her their all she still worried that it wouldn’t be enough.
Three days just wasn’t enough time. Not when there was a quarter of a billion dollars on the line.
As tired as she was, she couldn’t keep the memories from invading. Couldn’t keep from hearing the sneering voice telling her she’d never get anywhere without him. That she was a hack, and always would be. That the only way she’d ever attain any success would be if she kept warming his bed...
A gentle hand clasped her shoulder.
“Hey, space cadet? Did you hear a word I just said?” Jessie asked.
Becky blinked, shaking her head to clear it.
“No, I...”
“You were listening to the mini-Pence in your head again, weren’t you?” she said, sympathy plain in her bright blue eyes.
Becky forced a halfhearted smile. “What? Of course not. How could I when I’m surrounded by such a fantastic group of talented women?”
Jessie snorted. “Liar. When was the last time you slept?”
Becky thought for a second. She honestly couldn’t remember.
“I can tell by your silence that it’s been too long. Go home. Rest. You need to bring your A game tomorrow. It’s D-day, you know.”
As if she could forget.
“I know. I’ll go soon, I promise.”
Jessie gave her a long look. Becky could tell she wanted to say something else.
“Really. I will. Don’t worry about me.”
“All right,” Jessie said. “Well, I’m heading out. And I’m taking mini-Pence with me. You don’t need him being a backseat driver.”
This time Becky smiled for real.
“You’re right. I don’t. Get him out of here, and good riddance.”
After Jessie had left Becky headed for the kitchen, and the free coffee that awaited her there. As she waited for her mug to fill with the magic brew she laid her head on the cool metal of the stainless steel countertop and closed her eyes.