‘I don’t have time for this, Sophie, and nor do you. We need to do something about it.’ He wanted to touch her so badly he had to fist his hands at his sides. ‘Whatever you’re doing tonight, cancel it.’
‘I can’t. Not tonight.’
He narrowed his eyes while trying to read hers. ‘Can’t or won’t?’
‘I’m spending the night with Pam.’ Her lips firmed and her eyes flashed a defiant topaz. ‘She’s family to me and she’s ill and on her own. So call me unprofessional or sack me on the spot but an understanding boss knows which comes first.’
Yes, he knew. He had to admire her for standing up for herself. ‘Okay.’ Rising and stepping down to her level, he breathed out his frustration. Slowly. ‘Tomorrow night, then.’
She took her time responding, as if trying to come up with another excuse. He decided to let her off the hook for now and said, ‘Listen, why don’t you finish here early today since you worked back last night? Buy some flowers from the staff at the florist around the corner on your way. You’d know what Pam likes. Put it on my business account.’
Her tensed shoulders softened. ‘Okay. Thanks. Pam’ll love that.’ A smile lit up her whole face and reflected in her gold-flecked eyes. It brought a glow to the moment. It made him think of the sun dancing on a sapphire sea. It made him forget he was her boss and this was his place of work.
‘Summer,’ he murmured. Heat. Bared, bronzed bodies. Playtime and passion. He wanted it all with Sophie Buchanan.
The images his mind seemed determined to conjure up both startled and aroused. He breathed in sharply and his nostrils filled with her familiar fresh scent. Her smile faded as they continued to stare at each other. His heart pounded like a fist on a drum. Her shoulders tensed up again and she gripped the metal banister with her free hand, the other clutching at the files.
‘Hey…’ Seriously aiming for detached, he grinned, then…somehow…his thumb was sliding along her lower lip. ‘Relax, I’m not going to ravish you on the stairwell no matter how hard you beg.’
She didn’t smile or move a muscle, didn’t react in any way. A block of wood. His inappropriate touch and humour drained away, leaving him feeling confused, unsteady and…damn exposed… What the hell was wrong with him? With his body already rock hard, he shifted closer, desperate for one taste of that generous mouth, just one…
She didn’t move away. She didn’t resist as he leaned in and the instant their lips met her whole being seemed to sigh with satisfaction. He knew because he felt the same way. Her mouth, so warm, so soft, so rich. So right. His body tightened further.
The sound of the upstairs door opening echoed in the stairwell. He reacted instantly. What in hell was he doing? This wasn’t so right, this was all wrong. His hands instinctively rose to Sophie’s shoulders—to steady her, that was all—but she shot backwards, still grasping the files, wide eyes flashing with accusation.
‘Jared?’ an impatient voice called. ‘Are you down there? Some of us haven’t got all day…’
‘Be there in a jiff, Liss.’ His voice reverberated off the walls.
He heard a strangled sound coming from Sophie, who was shooting upwards like a rocket and already a few stairs above him. She turned, looked down on him and whispered fiercely, ‘That’s what happens when you don’t stick to the rules.’
He was uncomfortably aware of the tent in his trousers. Sophie would be too. And Melissa, if she noticed. And Melissa would be bound to notice. He ground his teeth. Sisters. He threw out a hand, snapped his fingers. ‘Give me the files, Sophie.’
She passed them down to him with…was that a hint of smoky humour mingled with the agitation in her eyes? ‘I’ll let Melissa know you’ll be right along,’ she said, and resumed her ascent.
‘Tell her I’ll meet her in the car park. And check the agenda for next Wednesday and familiarise yourself with the details,’ he informed her retreating back, trying to get some sort of business rapport going between them again.
‘Next Wednesday?’
‘I’ve left you an email.’
‘I’ll get right on it.’
The door above swung shut. He drew in a ragged breath and tried to bring his wayward body under some sort of control. He couldn’t believe what he’d just done. During office hours. With his PA, for pity’s sake. What an ass.
His professional self had never done anything remotely like it. Never been tempted. Sophie Buchanan was the first. The one-off.
When he’d kissed her last night he’d not anticipated she’d still be his PA today. He reassured himself that in less than a month everything would be back to normal.