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  Jack is deep in conversation with Miles, the boss at Devlin’s branch in Florida. They’re discussing the new line of personalized pens we’ve made available recently. I let out a quiet sigh of boredom and go back to my dessert.

  While I’m cutting a piece of the cheesecake with my fork, I catch Devlin watching me. Not just watching me, he’s staring me down. I blink rapidly as heat washes over me. Why is he looking at me like that? It’s causing sensations in my lady parts that I forgot were even possible. He winks and somehow I know that he knows this. Bastard. I give him a slight head shake and lift my fork to my mouth, thinking he’ll look away.

  He doesn’t.

  Fine. Two can play at this game. I match his gaze as I place the cheesecake in my mouth, slowly pulling the fork out. I lick my lips seductively, never looking away. He stiffens in his seat, leaning forward slightly. I toss him a quick wink and go for the last bite. Taking my time, I slip the silky dessert between my open lips. After I use my forefinger to wipe my mouth clean, I place it in my mouth, licking the remainder of the chocolate off. At this point, his formerly open hand has turned into a fist. I’m getting to him. This makes me smile in victory.

  The victory is short-lived because his eyes are still on me, remaining there as if they can’t look away. Somehow, neither can I. Our eyes stay locked for the longest time, refusing to veer away. Finally, I break the spell, turning my head to the side, letting go of the breath I was holding. What is happening to me? Why am I taunting him with sexual innuendo? And why is this whole thing turning me on?

  Now that I’m finished with my dessert, I have no reason to stay at the table. Touching my napkin to my mouth, I say, “Excuse me a moment.” Jack gives me a nod, allowing me to leave. I stand and walk off, not even giving Devlin another glance. I’m afraid to look at him with the power he seems to have over my body.

  I go back to my vantage point from earlier and call Sonya back. She answers on the first ring. “What the hell happened? Why did you hang up on me?”

  “Devlin Pierce is here!” I say through clenched teeth.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Remember that guy from last year—”

  “The one you caught kissing the blonde bombshell with the big boobs?”

  “Wow, that’s a lot of B words,” I mumble as I try to block the visual that comes with her words. “Yes, that’s the guy.”

  “Holy shit. What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. Get out of here before he starts to break down my defenses.”

  “Oh man.” She whistles. “He’s pulling you in again.”

  My jaw drops. “What? He is not.”

  “He is. You’re obviously attracted to him still. I already know he’s attracted to you.”

  “No, he isn’t.” The thing is, I know she’s right based on the way he watched me just a couple of minutes ago. What I did probably caused him to get a hard on. The thought of being able to elicit that kind of response from a man gives me a thrill. Damn my body! Stop trying to do the job of my brain and heart.

  “The guy did chase you down last year.”

  “To make excuses,” I insist.

  She audibly sighs over the phone. “I know you’re going to hate me for this, but I think Devlin might very well be the best thing to do right now. Pun intended.”

  “Are you kidding? The bastard would enjoy it too much.”

  “From how you described him, so would you…So would I, engaged or not.”

  Shaking my head, I say, “You can have him.”

  “Please. I don’t really want him. I’m quite satisfied with my prince.”

  “You know, I have half a mind to hop on a plane and teach you some manners.”

  A voice behind me says, “Leaving so soon?”

  Spinning around, I find Devlin standing only a couple feet away. How long has he been there? What did he hear? My nostrils flare. “I’m not planning on staying long.”

  “Is that him?” Sonya asks.

  “Yes.”

  Devlin asks, “Who are you talking to?”

  “None of your business.”

  He snatches my phone from me and says to Sonya, “Miss Allegra is being evasive and she won’t tell me your name…Ah, Sonya. Perhaps you could help me out by explaining why she’s in such a hurry to escape.”

  “Give me my phone back!” I reach to grab for my phone but he holds me at bay with a hand on my shoulder. I flinch at his touch and step away.

  “Uh-huh,” he says, raising his eyebrows at me. “I see.”

  “What do you see?” I ask him.

  “Thank you, Sonya, you’ve been very helpful.”

  Helpful? He holds out my phone and I grab it from him angrily. I put the phone back up to my ear, not taking my eyes off Devlin. “What did you say to him?”

  “Nothing!” she says.

  “Liar,” I say. Devlin continues to stand in front of me, a classic devilish look across his face. I sigh. “I need to go, Sonya.”

  “Live out the fantasy for me, please. I live vicariously through you.”

  “Hanging up now.” I end the call, toss my phone back in my clutch, and glare at Devlin.

  He tilts his head and frowns. “That was rude of you.”

  “Me? What about you?”

  “I apologize for taking your phone, but I needed an answer.”

  The audacity of this man! “What did she tell you?”

  He smirks. “Exactly what I expected.”

  I let out a groan of exasperation. “Excuse me.” I turn on my heel to the elevator.

  “We’re not done yet, Allegra,” Devlin calls after me.

  “Oh yeah, why’s that?” I ask as I push the button to go up.

  He stands in front of me, blocking the elevator. “Jack sent me out here to make sure you were okay.”

  Stepping closer to him, I press a finger to his chest. “You can tell him I was feeling out of it and had to go back to my room.” I lift my hand away only to have him catch it in his. Holding my hand over his heart, his fingers curl around mine. My palm soaks in the heat of his chest through his clothes. A powerful sensation spreads down to my toes, and my heart skips a beat, the intoxication of his scent holding me there.

  “Is that the truth?” he asks, his eyes searching mine. “Or is it something else?”

  I stare into the deep pools of his eyes. There’s a shift in the atmosphere. I’m barely aware of him moving in closer, leaning toward me, toward my lips. My eyes are closing of their own initiative, completely ignoring the warning siren blaring in my skull. It’s not loud enough. I’m no longer listening. It isn’t until the elevator chimes that I realize what is happening. I jerk away from him, yanking my hand from his chest. The spell is broken and I’m not going to let him drown me in it again.

  I give him a slight shove to push him out of my way, and rush into the empty elevator. I push the button for my floor and look at him. He blinks a few times as if he’s trying to register what just happened. “I’ll never tell,” I say as the doors close between us.

  Chapter Four

  Once I reach my floor, I take a brief moment to catch my breath from what just occurred between us. It was potent, almost tangible. A shiver runs through me, but I shake it off.

  I walk over to a different elevator that isn’t near the dining hall and go back downstairs to the hotel lounge. It looks a lot like the rest of the hotel, only slightly less of a throwback, and different color scheme. I sit on a dark blue cushioned barstool that matches my dress and order a Long Island. As I wait for my drink, I glance around and notice the music I’m hearing isn’t from speakers but from an actual band of musicians on a stage. I close my eyes to listen closely to see if I can remember what it is. It’s instrumental and familiar, but I can’t quite place my finger on it.

  Once I get my drink and take a few sips, I allow myself to relax for the first time this evening. I peruse the prospects in the bar, finding a couple possibilities. Maybe tonight isn’t over for t
he mission after all. I almost went back to my hotel room alone, no thanks to that troublesome bastard.

  Ever since I started with the company, Jack wanted to introduce Devlin to me. Unfortunately, Devlin kept missing out on the annual meetings until last year. Right before the dinner, we had an extensive staring contest from across the room. The electricity from that stare alone could have powered the hotel for the rest of the night. Before Jack could introduce us, Devlin waltzed over to introduce himself to me, neither of us even knowing who the other was. We didn’t say much—it amounted to mostly business and small talk. But then, right before he walked away, he leaned in close and whispered, “Allegra, I would very much like to do more than just talk about work with you.”

  I shivered at his words. I didn’t need Taylor Swift to tell me he was trouble; his gaze alone told me that. Still, I said to him, “I would love that.” We spent the majority of the evening exchanging glances from across the table, glances that sent shivers through me and created dampness in my panties. It wasn’t long after that he—

  I don’t want to think about it. It’s in the past. Devlin is in the past. How dare he mess with my head? He lied to me before, so I can’t tell what is really going on in that big head of his. As much as I force myself to be mad at him, I can’t stop fantasizing about him. About his body on top of mine, his lips caressing my…

  No. I need to just stop thinking about him and relax. Put the earlier part of this night behind me and enjoy myself. Live in the present. Find someone to get my mind off my life. I can think about the future tomorrow.

  I make eye contact with a somewhat cute guy across the room and lift up my chest, winking. He smirks, standing up with his drink and walking this way. Well, at least this night won’t be a total loss. I face the bar again and take a deep breath. Here we go.

  “You do realize they’re serving liquor at the bar in the dining hall, and on the company’s dime no less.”

  I snap my head to the right and find Devlin standing there. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  He sits down casually on the stool next to me. “I’m just here for a drink. Oh, and to talk about that almost kiss in front of the elevator.”

  I twitch almost imperceptibly. The guy from across the room is already retreating now that Devlin has effectively claimed me by stealing the stool next to mine. I might as well count on a night alone at this point. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I return to my drink.

  “Cut the bullshit.”

  I jerk my head toward him. “It’s no bullshit. We didn’t kiss.”

  “I didn’t say that we did, I said we almost did. After that and the stunt you pulled at dinner, you expect to leave without me seeking you out?”

  “Yes,” I grumble, turning back to the bar.

  “Well, you thought wrong.” He leans over, his jacket brushing against my bare arm. “For someone who allegedly has no interest in me, you sure as hell enjoy teasing me. Why?”

  “Because I’m a shameless flirt?”

  “I don’t think that’s it.”

  “Cocktease?”

  “You’re too nice to be a cocktease.”

  I turn to him, my eyes flashing. “Then what do you think it is?”

  He moves in closer, enough that the tingly feeling you experience right before a kiss looms inside my stomach again. He stops about three inches from my face. He’s so close I can make out flecks of blue in between the emerald of his irises. “You’re attracted to me.”

  I can’t move. I can’t even turn my head away. “That’s not it.”

  “You were attracted to me before,” he says in a low voice, his eyes darkening. “You can’t deny it.”

  “Yes, I was,” I concede. “Doesn’t mean I still am.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “A lot can change in a year, you know.”

  “A lot can stay the same, too.” He pulls away finally, and I feel a tug in my heart that’s disappointed at the loss.

  Damn it, now my heart’s trying to ruin me.

  “So, why are you down here?” he asks. “You’re a smart girl. I don’t know why you would let an opportunity for free booze go to waste.”

  I close my eyes. Why won’t he just go away? It’s as if he’s intentionally poking me until I wake up to tear him a new one. “Well, up until a minute ago, you weren’t in the lounge, so…”

  He lets out a chuckle. “Ah, I see.”

  “Good. Now do me a favor: make like a tree and leave.”

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

  “That’s why I suggested it.”

  In my peripheral vision, I sense him coming near again. “You claim that you want me to leave, but I have a feeling you don’t want me to.”

  I angle my head in his direction. “What makes you think that?”

  “I saw the way you were looking at me earlier…and despite the anger in those eyes right now, I can feel the lust radiating off your skin.” He lifts a finger to my lips to keep me from responding. “You can deny it all you want to me, but you need to stop lying to yourself.”

  He pulls his finger away and I say flatly, “Attraction means nothing if I can’t trust a man.”

  He leans back. “You can trust me, Allegra. The only reason you don’t is because you won’t give me the chance to explain what happened.”

  “But—”

  “Stop.” He holds up a hand to keep me from cutting him off again. “Please afford me the opportunity to tell you the truth.”

  He’s pleading with me and I can’t imagine why. Unless what I thought I saw wasn’t really what I saw. However…I did see the kiss with my own eyes. Would it really hurt for me to let him explain? Maybe he’ll leave me alone if I do. “Fine. Tell me.”

  He lets out a sigh of relief. “Last year, my branch in Florida invited one of the interns to come with us. Her name is Jenna. She had a thing for me since her first day. I needed to tread lightly; I didn’t want her to think I was interested, but I didn’t want her to think I was a jerk either. She misread my signals of just being nice as something more. She was the one that cornered me to steal a kiss.” He rubs the back of his neck and looks away. “As soon as I saw you, my heart sank. I knew you would misunderstand what you saw.”

  My hand goes to my mouth. “That’s why you chased after me.”

  He looks back up at me and nods. “I don’t cheat—never have, never will. It was tearing me up inside that you probably thought that. When you brushed me off, I was crushed.” He rubs his cheek. “Sometimes I still feel the sting from where you slapped me.”

  A powerful urge to kiss that cheek overcomes me, but I hold back. “I’m sorry, Devlin. I shouldn’t have assumed the worst.”

  “You probably had your reasons.”

  “Maybe.” He’s right; I did. But that part of my life is behind me, too.

  “I’m aware of my reputation as a womanizer. That claim is founded on baseless evidence, yet it still seems to follow me wherever I go. The worst of it is that I had turned over a new leaf right before I met you.” He shakes his head, and then our eyes meet. “Allegra?”

  “Yes?”

  “Can we call a truce?”

  He sincerely wants to make things right with me, and that I can admire. I still don’t know if I can trust him, but it’s not because of what I thought happened. It’s because I don’t really know him yet. Despite that, I have this feeling inside telling me that I should give him a chance. Like he said earlier, we can at least be cordial with one another. Colleagues. Acquaintances. Maybe even friends eventually.

  I answer, “No.”

  He frowns. “Why not?”

  “Because you only call a truce when there’s something to fight about. I have nothing against you.” I give him a warm smile. “The real question is can you forgive me for being a bitch?”

  He shakes his head. “No. That would require you to be one in the first place.”

  We laugh together. It feels nice to leave the animo
sity behind us. “Stay and have a drink with me,” I tell him.

  “That’s what I was planning on doing.”

  Chapter Five

  After Devlin orders our drinks, he turns to me and says, “So, now that we’re friends—”

  “I never said we were friends.”

  “—we can be upfront with each other, right?”

  I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt that he’s telling me the truth about last year. I only saw the kiss from a distance, so I couldn’t see the look on his face to know whether she caught him off guard or what. He seems sincere, but it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t know him. “I can be honest, but I don’t open up to everybody.”

  “Fair enough.” The bartender places our drinks in front of us, and Devlin hands him some cash. After he walks away, Devlin takes a swig of his scotch. He looks at me closely and, leaning forward slightly, says, “You look absolutely stunning tonight.”

  I roll my eyes, but flush at his words. “Stop,” I tell him, even though I want him to continue with the flattery.

  “There’s something about it, though.”

  “What about it?” I sip at my drink, not wanting to be too liquored up while I’m near Devlin. There’s no telling when my brain will choose to give up control to my body. Better not take away the last shred of sanity holding me—and my legs—together.

  He sets his drink down, but swirls it around. “The way you’re dressed to the nines tonight—it’s not because you needed to. It’s because you wanted to.” He pauses to peek up at me. “Almost like you’re on a mission.”

  Holy hell! My eyes widen and my fingers clench into a fist. “Sonya did tell you! I’m gonna kick her ass on Monday.” I slam my fist on the bar. How dare she tell Devlin of all people about my mission? This quite possibly could have been the worst thing to happen tonight.