In Bed With Her Tall, Sexy Handsome Boss: All Night with the Boss / The Boss's Wife for a Week / My Tall Dark Greek Boss. Natalie Anderson
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worry, I’m not into sexual harassment.’ He glared at her, his hands on his hips. ‘I promise I won’t touch you again unless you ask.’ He stuffed his hands in his pockets as if to emphasise it. ‘If you keep freezing me out like you are today, then the rumour mill will swing into overdrive. And I know how desperate you are to avoid any sort of gossip.’ Dripping with sarcasm.
She pressed on her lips again, deciding on her reply. ‘Well, if you keep making comments like that one the other day, the tongues will already be wagging furiously.’
He raised his brows and looked mystified.
‘The one about not being “just” a temp,’ she explained crossly.
The brows shot down and a lazy smile stretched across his lips. ‘Well, you’re not “just” anything. You’re just amazing.’
She looked away, attempting to diffuse the power that smile had over her. ‘That’s not helpful, Rory.’
‘No, but at least it’s honest.’
‘Meaning?’
‘Why not try being honest about why you’re really refusing to go out with me?’
Too astute. There was more to it. She knew it and he knew it. She opted for denial.
‘I have been honest. I don’t like being talked about.’
He shook his head. ‘No, I think there’s more to it than that.’
‘Like what?’ Her heart banged even harder.
‘I think you’re scared.’
‘Of what—you?’ She tried for sarcastic but knew she’d failed. She sucked in a deep breath. He did frighten her, but she frightened herself more.
‘No. Maybe. Yes.’ His eyes bored into her. ‘Scared of this pull between us. It’s damned strong, and don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean. I see it, Lissa. I see it in your eyes.’
Hell. She wondered if it would be OK to wear sunglasses in the office. She shrugged, deciding not to try to deny something that was so obvious to both of them. She knew he was right, about everything. This was Rory. Everyone got on with him, considered him an all-round good guy. The partner everyone wanted to work for. Her attempt at a reserved professional approach was too pointed, too icy to be unemotional. It would be misconstrued or, more likely, construed correctly. She needed to smarten up.
‘It’s new to me too,’ he said softly.
She closed her eyes. She sensed he spoke honestly but it terrified her. She couldn’t let her guard slip. She felt like a tiny metal pin attempting to resist a giant magnet. The laws of physics would deny her. But she knew she had to try. To jump into a fire this hot with her boss, when she had only weeks in the country? No. Not unless she wanted more heartbreak in her life. Which she didn’t.
‘I’m sorry. We’ll try to be friends.’ She looked around the room, wishing for another exit. ‘Are we done?’
He looked at her sardonically. ‘Not by a long shot.’ But he stood aside and opened the door for her. She made her escape knowing he was only two steps behind.
Lissa rubbed at the pain in her temples. Last night she and Gina had spent a reasonably quiet couple of hours over a bottle of wine, and a plate of pasta in the corner of their favourite bar alternately discussing men—Gina’s favourite topic—and travel opportunities—Lissa’s. She’d needed to escape the office and her own thoughts and had hoped that a night out with Gina would help her achieve just that. She frowned as her computer clunked through processing her latest request. It hadn’t worked. She utterly distracted; the cause of her headache was over six-feet in height and a force looming beside her, captivating her thoughts to the exclusion of all others. It was so frustrating. She sighed. Marnie noticed and guessed about her head.
‘You’ve had your hair scraped back so tightly all week it’s no wonder you have a headache.’ Without further ado she came and stood beside Lissa, undid her clip and loosened her hair so it tumbled around her shoulders.
‘Marnie!’ Lissa protested.
‘It’s for your own good. Now…’ Marnie sank her fingers into her hair and pressed on her scalp. Lissa had to admit it felt fantastic.
‘I did a massage course to learn to relax.’ Marnie explained. ‘Is that OK?’ she asked Lissa as her hands kneaded her skull right where the bands of pressure had been building.
‘Oh, it feels great.’ Lissa closed her eyes, the pain receding. ‘That’s amazing.’
‘Don’t I get one too?’ James asked with a randy light in his eye impossible for anyone to ignore.
‘No.’ Marnie was basically rude.
‘I can just watch,’ he said, unabashed. ‘I’m happy to watch.’
I bet you are. Lissa glanced at Rory to see what he was making of this bizarre situation. He was resting his jaw in his hand and watching too. A small smile flickered round his mouth.
Marnie finished. ‘There you go. All better.’
‘Can I have my clip back?’
‘No, I’m confiscating it. You should wear your hair down. It looks nice.’
She didn’t want it to look nice.
Rory looked thoughtful. ‘Anyone got special plans for lunch?’
No one answered in the affirmative. Lissa assumed he wanted them to work through, again.
‘Right, we’re going out, then. Our missed team-building date.’
Lissa suppressed a sigh. Marnie and James were already grabbing their jackets and heading out the door, eager to escape the dungeon. Lissa sat fiddling with her mouse. Rory looked at her in inquiry.
‘Do you need me?’ she asked. ‘I mean,’ she continued hesitantly as she watched the dark look grow in his face ‘you guys are the consultants. I’m just here to research and type.’
‘I’ve told you already, Lissa—’ his eyes glinted as he walked towards her ‘—you’re not just anything. You’re as much a part of this team as I am.’ He stood right next to her and bent so they were eyeball to eyeball. ‘You’re coming even if I have to make you.’
He would make her come, all right. Of that she was certain. She sat stunned at her thoughts. Cursed that her mind should interpret his words in such a James-like fashion. She simply couldn’t stop the wry twist to her lips. He saw it and his attention dropped to her mouth. Her lips softened and parted under the heat of his gaze. She heard his indrawn breath. She badly wanted to lick them they felt so dry and needy. Even more badly she wanted to taste his. Every fibre in her sprang to life as he inched tantalisingly closer.
Marnie popped her head back around the door. ‘Coming?’
Rory’s head lifted sharply. Their eyes met again and Lissa saw her own amusement reflected. He spun round. ‘Just as soon as we can.’
Marnie glanced at Lissa. Lissa smothered her appreciative chuckle, met her gaze as coolly as she could and walked out the door after her.
They went to a small Italian restaurant not far from the office. James sat next to Lissa while Marnie and Rory were across from them. It was not a large table and as they sat Lissa felt Rory’s knee press against hers. Hurriedly she moved back a little, studiously perusing the menu and avoiding the smile she knew would be on his face.
They ordered and ate and Lissa sat quietly letting the leisurely work chat wash over her. The food was delicious and she was starving. The main course passed by in a flash. She smiled at the waiter hovering near, nodding for him to hand her the dessert menu. She licked her lips as she mentally debated between the white chocolate and raspberry torte and the lemon syrup cake with raspberries. She adored raspberries. She perked up the instant the waiter reappeared, welcoming him with