“Look, I’ve never been involved in it. It was my older brother Jacob’s job, and he’s currently”—Ethan’s mouth tightened briefly—“unavailable to continue, so I have to deal with it. Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to leave Global Strategies right at the moment.”
“I see.”
She wasn’t too worried about the job itself. She had yet to find the corporate position that she couldn’t handle, and it’d keep her mind occupied, might even provide some challenge. Plus, she was going stir-crazy without anything to keep her busy. And wouldn’t it annoy Barron to know she was working for one of Sterling & Wilson’s rivals?
But a no-strings-attached temporary arrangement with a guy who made her wet with just a look was something else. She was sure this wasn’t going to end up being one hundred percent work.
“I need to think about it,” she said.
“I understand.” Ethan glanced at his watch. “I’ll give you a minute.”
“A minute?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Not really a difficult decision, is it? Just a yes or a no.”
A one-page employment contract and a pen appeared next to her plate of fruit. The document was in surprisingly plain English and matched everything Ethan had said—minus the sex part of course—plus a fairly standard non-disclosure clause. At the bottom of the sheet was Ethan’s signature, dated today. It only needed hers to become valid.
He rose and came over to her seat. One large hand rested on the back of her chair and another on the table, the same “you aren’t going anywhere until you give me the answer I want, lady” move he’d used the night before. The blood in her veins warmed and surged. If he pulled back just a little and bent his head, he could kiss her mouth. That seemed like a delicious option, and she angled her head just so, letting her lips part slightly in invitation.
He didn’t even flicker an eyelash. No, he wouldn’t kiss her no matter how blatant the signal…not unless she gave him what he wanted.
Did she want to completely sever their connection?
Manageable or not, he wasn’t going to be a permanent fixture in her life. He’d be a temporary arrangement—a fling. After her doctor’s orders had rendered virtually all of life’s other pleasures off-limits, surely she could indulge a little. Barron would have no idea where she was. No one in her family—not even Justin—knew about Natalie, and given Kerri’s education and work background, they would assume she’d pursue opportunities in banking.
Most importantly, she wouldn’t be in Virginia long enough for Barron to find her. TLD couldn’t be that complicated, certainly not compared to the kind of international conglomerates she was used to dealing with. It wouldn’t take more than a few weeks to go through their books. And in the meantime, Ethan would most likely prove to be just like every other man she’d dated: interesting at first but increasingly boring as the affair went on. Why would he be any different?
Yes, why would he? Except for the fact that he’s the only man who can make your pulse race with just a look?
“Time’s up,” he said. He hadn’t even glanced at his watch.
His eyes were locked on hers. In the morning, they seemed darker—more gray than silver-blue—and more introspective.
Whenever she went with her feelings, she started to long for things she couldn’t have and acted foolishly to reach for them. Whenever her brain got involved, she ran.
Right now, she didn’t want to run. Not yet.
“All right,” she murmured.
*
Elation flooded Ethan’s body. Women with as many options as Kerri tended to be both particular and difficult to snare.
But she was going to be worth it, both professionally and personally.
She didn’t seem to notice, but men admired her. He’d seen the way they’d checked her out at the airport. That was one of the reasons why he’d decided to take her to the penthouse instead of out to a restaurant. He’d wanted her all to himself. Thank god for cooking classes—and grandma.
All right. But it would be a mistake to let his feelings show on his face. Not just yet.
“Sign,” he said.
She scrawled her name and dated it in silence. He smiled, folded the contract and stuck it into his pocket.
Feelings were one thing, but there was no reason to deny himself.
He dipped his head and covered her rosy mouth with his. The soft scent of her shampoo teased him, even with the towel around her head, and he pulled it off, letting her wet hair down.
He loved her face freshly scrubbed, without the mask of makeup. The morning sun filtered through the gauzy curtains, adding an otherworldly glow to her soft skin, her cheeks delicately flushed. Her fingers dug into his forearm, leaving small half-moon marks on him.