She gripped the cigarette between her lips as the terrace door was pushed open from the inside. Even though she had her back to him, she knew it was Adam. She could smell him. His masculine aroma sizzled in her thighs, enhancing the desire that she knew was pointless. She tried to get a grip on her lust-drenched body but it was already straining with arousal. Keep cool, Amy. You’re here to do a job. You’re a professional.
She lit the cigarette and inhaled the calming smoke as she gazed at the twinkling skyline. Adam stood next to her and gripped the metal railing with his perfect fingers. Amy hoped he’d be disgusted by the fact that she smoked and leave. But instead, he delivered a grin that crackled in the air between them.
“Do you know, Ms Carter, I’ve lived here in NYC for three years and I’ve never visited the Empire State – can you believe that?”
Amy shrugged. “I’ve lived in London for seven years and I’ve never visited Buckingham Palace.”
“We should do some sightseeing. Wanna take a ride with me?”
“No. I don’t mix business and pleasure.”
“Come on, it’ll be fun – we can go tomorrow after the meeting. And then you can show me London when I come over.”
He spoke as if the arrangement had already been made and all she needed to do was turn up. But she wasn’t letting him order her about, no way. She shook her head and took a drag on the cigarette. Then she blew out the smoke, trying to calm her pounding clit.
She realised that she needed to get out of here, away from temptation, so she took a step towards the door, but in a cool, commanding voice he asked, “So you didn’t grow up in London, then, huh?”
Amy halted. She grimaced as she suddenly realised that moving towards the door had inadvertently brought her closer to him. “I don’t feel it’s appropriate to discuss my personal life with you.”
“Why not? I’m just asking an innocent question. What are you afraid of?”
She turned and glared into his eyes. “I get the distinct impression that you’re trying to make me feel vulnerable so you can talk me into bed. I may be blonde, but I’m not stupid.”
“I don’t think you’re stupid, Ms Carter. In fact, I know you’re very intelligent. You certainly saw right through my sly intentions.”
He threw her a playful grin, which caught Amy by surprise. She smirked, suddenly enjoying the attention. “And flattery won’t work either.”
“Okay, I’ll bear that in mind.”
They shared a smile. Adam’s expression flashed with concern. “Hey, Amy, has anyone paid you a visit today? Othe
r than me?”
“No. Why?”
“That guy from earlier – Tariq Shard – he’s trouble. I think he might try to contact you.”
Amy suppressed her fear for Tariq, not wanting Adam to think she had feelings – she knew he’d only try and exploit them. “Well, I’ll just give him the same as I’m giving you. Nothing.”
He grinned. “You really are a spiky one, aren’tcha? Why don’t you let people in?”
“You want my life story?”
He smiled sincerely. “I’d honestly like to get to know you better.”
Amy scoffed – his tone implied an unspoken ‘before I get you into bed’. She spoke gruffly, hoping to put him off. “Alright fine. My mother died when I was seventeen, so I moved to London and found work as a child-minder while studying at university. The father of the family – Frank Grafton – needed an assistant, so I took the job. I worked my way up to operations director. The end.”
“Well, thank you for sharing. See that wasn’t too hard, was it?”
She fiddled with her cigarette, refusing to look into those sparkling eyes. Amy could feel her resistance slowly eroding. She turned away from him, and took a long drag, filling her lungs.
Her body froze with hot lust as Adam stepped close behind and rested his strong hands on her shoulders. Her heart squirmed with desperate passion. Come on, Amy, get a grip. She took a huge step away from his commanding touch, determined to steel her body against him. But it was becoming harder.
“Mr Quinlan, please don’t touch me. I’m here to do my job.”
“I know. You’re a hard worker. But I sense there’s something else that drives you, right?”
She sneered. “Psychologist, are you?”