A Calculated Seduction(17)

She was ripe for the picking, he was sure of that.

* * * *

Dulcy shivered as she hurried through the parking lot to her car. November in North Texas could be warm to freezing, depending on Mother Nature. The day had started out balmy, but at close to six that evening, the blue norther had caused the temperature to plummet.

Even by the time she reached her car, her heart was still beating out of control. After several attempts, she finally managed to unlock her car door. Dulcy’s hands still shook as she sat in the driver’s seat. Her whole body hummed. In all her life, she’d never been kissed like that.

Jason, her ex-fiancé, had been sweet and gentle. Her one and only lover had not prepared her for the overpowering sensuality of that one kiss with Ethan. Kissing Ethan had been more erotic than sex had ever been with Jason.

Shaking her head, she started her car and drove out of the parking lot. She needed to quit thinking about it. Just move on. Forget everything that happened after Pete left them alone. Forget his hands skimming down her back, his lips hard against hers.

Forget that she was ready to jump on her desk, strip off her clothes and...

She slammed on her brakes to avoid the stopped car in front of her.

Good going, Menendez.

Explain that one. Oh, officer, I’m so sorry, but I was thinking about jumping my boss’s bones and lost track of where I was.

Sighing, she followed the car in front of her to eight twenty. What she needed was a good night’s sleep. But thinking about his hands on her bottom and his lips on her neck, she knew sleep would be hard to come by that night.

* * * *

Thursday afternoon found Ethan in another meeting about the upcoming promotion with Gerry Dillon. Ethan hated meetings. Irritation built into a headache. He thoroughly detested being cooped up in an office with people he found more boring than his ex-fiancée’s parents. The only thing worth it was Dulcy’s presence.

As the various departments reported on various projects and promotions linked with Gerry Dillon, Ethan kept his anticipation of Dulcy’s report in check. She handled the planning of the Gala, all the little details everyone else hated. He sat there, just waiting for her to take control of the meeting so he could stare at her without people speculating.

Anticipation curled through him. She was next on the agenda.

Sad, MacMillan. Real sad.

He studied her, patiently listening to some whiny department head nervously explain about the influx of orders that would inevitably swamp them after their national campaign began next week. She smiled reassuringly at the man, who stuttered when he noticed. Ethan saw red. Why the hell did the woman have to give her attention to someone other than him? He knew he was attractive. He’d have to be stupid not to notice the looks, or the offers he received from women. And he didn’t care if he sounded like a three-year-old. He wanted to be the only one Dulcy smiled at like that.

But she hadn’t smiled like that at him lately. She was apparently sticking to her absurd idea they would both forget about what happened last week. He’d been a perfect gentleman, trying his best not to arouse her temper, or her suspicions. She had no reason to be suspicious of him. Well, he was investigating her. She didn’t know that. All she knew was he wanted her.

She sat to his left, taking notes with Anderson on her left. Each time she moved, a wave of her scent reached him. Musky peach. He leaned closer, trying to drink in the essence of her.

She licked her lips, then grazed her lower one with her teeth. Heat singed a path to his dick and his balls tightened. Lord, he wanted her. For the first time in his career, he seriously thought about breaking ranks. Maybe if he confronted her about the embezzling, she’d come clean and they could stick Pete Anderson in jail. And he really relished the thought of doing that.

It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact Dulcy sat next to Anderson. And, if you asked Ethan, she was sitting a little too close. Of course, no one asked his opinion, but if the idiot didn’t quit leaning over and whispering in her ear, Ethan was going to break his nose.

“Mr. MacMillan?”

Belatedly, he realized everyone, including Dulcy, was staring at him.

Good going, MacMillan. He centered his attention on Danny Conners, the department head giving the presentation.

“Yes?”

“I asked if my ideas for handling the problems with distribution and sales after we launched the campaign worked for you.”

“Oh.”

Brilliant, MacMillan.

Dulcy shifted beside him and another cloud of her scent reached him. More blood drained from his head and shot straight to his dick. He was thankful for the conference table. He glanced at Dulcy. She was staring at him as if he’d grown another head. Great, now she thought he was an idiot. A low chuckle caught his attention. He looked past Dulcy to Anderson, who wore a smirk Ethan would gladly have smacked off his face.