Romance Warfare: a Tigress' Guide to NOT Secure a Mate(2)

Her mouth dropped, forming a little O of shock as she shifted her gaze back and forth between Adam and Dean.

“You.” She finally croaked out.

“How’s it going, Evie?” Dean grinned at her. “You’re looking lovely these days…very, very lovely.” He winked at her.

Adam shot him a look that said knock it off.

Eva ignored Dean. She stopped in the middle of offering her hand and was staring across the desk at Adam.

He saw the confusion and the anger move across her face.

“Eva. Hi.”

“Hi? Is that seriously what you’re saying to me after all these years? Hi?”

She crushed the papers she was holding in her hand into a crinkled bundle. She lobbed them across the desk at Adam. “Is this a joke? Because it’s a really bad one.”

Adam wasn’t sure whether to be amused or pissed. She was still a fiery little tigress. She’d swept her cinnamon-colored curls up into a prissy bun, but tendrils of hair escaped and were brushing over the nape of her neck, right where it was burning red with her anger. Adam wondered briefly what it would be like to nibble over the soft skin. He wondered if she still smelled like peaches. His gaze drifted over her, her buttoned-up silk blouse couldn’t hide her firm, upturned tits any more than that knee-length skirt could hide the generous curve of her ass, pushed out even further by the heels she was wearing to make herself taller. A picture of her in nothing but the heels flashed across his mind, his thoughts interrupted by Dean’s not-so-subtle cough.

“I’m afraid it’s not a joke. Your clan called, we answered. We’ve always been allied, no reason to start breaking alliances now. If you need this job, we can help with that.” Adam pushed back and crossed his arms over his chest, almost daring her to turn him down.

“I can’t work for you.”

“Why not?”

“You’re an *.”

Dean dissolved into choking laughter and almost slipped out of his chair.

“Dean, would you get the hell out of here?” Adam barked.

Dean grinned again and settled back into his chair. “And miss all of this? I don’t think so.”

Eva had her arms crossed and was staring at both of them with fury in her eyes. Adam thought it was sexy as hell, but he had no intention of telling Eva that. He’d forgotten she always looked prettier when she got mad. He had no idea if this would work or not. He’d forgotten how beautiful she was and how intensely he was attracted to her. Eight years had stunted his memory, but it was all flooding back now. She’d broken his heart when she left with no warning, but he still loved her. He wasn’t sure he could work with her—not because he didn’t want her around, but because he wanted her around too much.

“Eva…” he started.

“So,” she said, voice icy, “are you still a cheating asshat?”

“I…what?”

Eva studied her surroundings, cynical smile on her lips. “I bet the panties start dropping when you say ‘CEO, Frost Industries.’ Worked your way through the entire office yet?”

A muscle twitched in Adam’s cheek and he clenched his jaw tightly. “Yeah, that’s why I needed a new secretary; I keep running through them.”

“I hate to disappoint you, Mr. Frost, but I won’t be sleeping with you.”

Dean chortled to himself and earned another icy stare from Adam.

“I haven’t asked you to.”

“Yet.”

“What makes you think I want you, Ms. Carey?”

“I can smell it.” Eva inhaled deeply, nostrils flaring as she caught the testosterone-laden scents of both virile males in the room.

“I assure you, I can control myself.” Adam wasn’t sure, but he deigned not to admit it.

“First time for everything, I suppose.”

Adam turned to Dean. “This isn’t going to work. Get her out of here.”

“Whoa, whoa.” Eva stepped back and raised her hands in defeat. “Wait. I...I really need the job. I need the money. Bella’s tuition isn’t cheap.”

Adam studied her. Watching her chew on the inside of her lip was making him want to chew on it, too. He wasn’t sure this was the best idea, but he didn’t want to turn her away.

“Fine.” He exhaled loudly. “I think we can make this work. We’re all adults, all professionals, and we’ll all act like it. Do your job and stay out of my way.”

Eva was still staring at him, an unreadable expression in her eyes. “Right. I’ll stay out of your way.”

“Actually,” Adam added, “let’s keep the fact the we know each other between us.” He gestured between the three of them. “I think it would make your transition into the company smoother if everyone else didn’t know that we’re old, uh, friends.”

Eva raised her eyebrows at Adam’s words. “Sure. Old friends. Got it.”

Dean jumped up and put his hand on Eva’s shoulder, steering her towards the door. “And I’ll help her get settled into the outer office, cousin.”

“And then get your ass back in here,” Adam ordered.

Dean gave him a mocking salute and grinned before following Eva through the office door.

Adam settled back into his chair and twisted around, not seeing the skyline spread out before him. He never thought he’d see Eva again and he wasn’t sure how to feel about the fact that she just showed up in his office, in his life, again. They’d been engaged, a marriage arranged by their grandfathers when they were still cubs, but he’d fallen in love with her over the years. She’d been beautiful, smart, and sassy even as a teen-aged girl. She was even more so now. She’d broken his heart though, when she stopped talking to him after her junior year homecoming dance and then disappeared a few months later. All he’d been told was that the engagement was over. Nothing had ever crushed him more.