“What are you saying?”
“I am saying that I am very attracted to you and I want to explore it,” he told her frankly.
“You are going to confirm what they have been saying at the company.”
“That you are sleeping with me?” he asked her in amusement.
“Exactly.” She tried to move out of his grasp but he would not let her. “I could do without a reputation like that.”
“No one has to know.” He moved closer to her and she went weak.
“Jason-”
“Shh,” he murmured as he took her lips with his again. This time he brought her up against him allowing her to feel the contours of his muscled body and the erection that was rapidly growing against her. ’s hands went around his neck as she opened her mouth to allow him access. She moaned into his mouth as his tongue went deeper inside her. All reasonable thoughts flew from her mind as the emotions swamped her and trembled through her body. He eased her away a little bit and looked down at her, his dark blue eyes darkened to almost black. “I want to make love to you,” he told her hoarsely.
“No.” She took a deep breath and stepped back. “I have to go.” She backed away from him and ran to get her jacket.
“We are going to have to deal with this,” he warned her as she grabbed her pocketbook and jacket.
“Not today,” she told him as she ran out the door.
He stared at the closed door for a moment and then plunging his fingers through his hair he strode into his office, his appetite gone.
*****
For the entire day on Sunday, she jumped each time the phone rang expecting it to be him! She had spent the night before agonizing over what had happened and what she was going to do about it. She was not Lucinda who had found it very easy to jump into bed with a married man who was also her boss in order to advance her career no matter the consequences. She was not that sort of person and she would never be that sort of person.
The phone rang just as she was about to prepare something to eat and she looked at it before answering. “Mom, what’s going on?” she asked in genuine delight. She had not spoken to her since she had been back.
“How are you, honey?”
“I am fine. I have been busy.” She told her mother about the takeover by Collins Holdings.
“Are you okay? Is your job safe?” her mother asked her anxiously.
“I am, but all the directors are leaving.” She also told her about the threat of bankruptcy.
“I know that Collins Holdings have company all over the world. They were the ones who took over the supermarket chain. They have a penchant for taking over a company and turning it into something that makes a profit.”
“I have been working with Jason Collins and I admire his strategy.”
“I have seen his picture often in the papers. He is quite a handsome young man, isn’t he?” Her mother’s tone was suggestive.
“Mom, where are you going with this?”
“Just that it is time you settle down, honey, and start having children.”
“Mom, I am not over the hills yet,” said dryly.
“Time is going, honey, and I need to see some grandchildren before I am dead.”
“You are going to live forever,” teased her.
“Are you sure you are okay, honey?”
“I am fine. Just tired.”
“Okay, get some rest. I will talk to you soon.”
She hung up the phone and went to finish making the salad. He did not call her and she told herself that she was happy but that night she went to bed thinking about him and reliving his lips on hers. She moaned and pulled the covers over her head trying to blot out the thought of him and the emotions racing through her body. It had been a huge mistake that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon!
*****
But before she could tell him that she did not want to be with him that way, he did it first. As soon as she got in on Monday, he called her into the office. She had dressed with extra care this morning. Her dark brown pants suit teamed with a blush pink blouse and her hair caught up into a neat chignon at the nape of her neck.
The secretary Lacy nodded for her to go right in and she did so. He was sitting behind his desk dressed in a dark blue suit with a pale pink shirt underneath. He looked up, his expression cool as he gestured for her to take a seat. He looked very different from the man who had kissed her at his apartment on Saturday. In fact, he looked like a complete stranger.
“You were right,” he said as he looked over at her. “I think we should forget what happened between us and be strictly professional. I have no interest in mixing pleasure into what I am doing here. I am sorry I led you to believe otherwise.”
Even though she had been about to tell him that it was not a good idea, felt the crushing blow of his callous rejection bracing her back! Lifting her chin in determination she addressed him. “I have no problem with that. Anything else?”