A Calculated Seduction(26)

“That’s borderline sexual harassment.” She crossed her arms.

“No, sexual harassment would be if I threatened your job. I’m not suggesting that. What I would like is you on my desk but there is no threat to your job if you disagree.” His eyes were almost black. “But coming back late from lunch with Anderson is not a good idea.”

“First of all, it really wasn’t a date.” He grunted but said nothing else. “And second of all, I needed a dress for Saturday night. That’s what I was doing at lunch and it took a little longer because I had to find shoes to match and a...” strapless bra. She didn’t want to tell him that though. It’s not like he would be seeing it. Well, probably not. No, he would not see it. Maybe.

“And a what, Miss Menendez?”

She cleared her throat. “Well, something I’d rather not talk about. Now that we seem to have that settled, I need to double check with the catering department at the hotel and make sure they have the final head count.”

As a dismissal, it was lame, but she couldn’t think of anything else while he stared at her mouth. Tingles crept down her spine as her whole body heated. Nervously, she licked her lips, then worried the bottom one. His nostrils flared and she remembered the night he’d stared at her lips.

“Stop it.”

He finally lifted his gaze. What she saw in those eyes sent another tumbling wave of heat through her, sinking into her belly, warming her skin from the inside out. Passion so hot, so unbearably raw, darkened his eyes. She had to get away from him, put some distance between them.

Turning abruptly, she sat behind her desk and tried her best to ignore him. She knew he studied her and she could feel the scrutiny as a whisper of hot breath on her skin. She had to ignore it. If she didn’t, she would fall for the man and he was way out of her league. Handling a warrior like Ethan took finesse and a lot of guts, neither of which she possessed in great quantities.

He walked past her desk, paused for just a second, and then continued to his office. She jumped when he slammed his door. She stuck her tongue out at the closed door.

Good, maybe if he stayed mad at her, he wouldn’t kiss her again. Because that wasn’t something she wanted. Not really. Unfortunately, she remembered the taste of his lips, the touch of his tongue against hers. Her shoulders slumped. She shouldn’t want to be kissed by him again, but she did. The way he looked at her, all that hot passion darkening his eyes...

She shifted in her chair. The ache between her legs increased. Mooning over the boss wasn’t a smart thing to do. She knew she would forget those kisses and his hands soon. But a little part of her didn’t want to forget. It had to be her hormones. Grumpy, yummy executives were not her type.

* * * *

Ethan paced his office. He couldn’t believe he’d made such an ass out of himself. Dulcy Menendez was just a suspect. He had been on his best behavior all day, but seeing her walk down the hall with Anderson...

He took a calming breath, but it did no good. Jealousy pumped through him when he relived Anderson brushing his lips against hers. It took every bit of control Ethan had left, and that wasn’t much, to keep from grabbing the slick dressed pretty boy and punching him. The memory of his smug smile and the proprietary arm on her shoulders boiled his blood.

His intercom buzzed, interrupting his vivid fantasy of breaking Anderson’s arm.

He strode to the desk and pressed the button.

“What?”

“Mr. MacMillan.”

He ground his teeth. The fact she could act so professional after that kiss rubbed him the wrong way. “Miss Menendez.”

“Mr. Denison is on line one.”

Without a word of thanks, he picked up the phone. “Todd, what did you find out?”

“Well, hello to you too, Ethan.” The amusement in his voice irritated Ethan.

“Don’t screw around with me and tell me what you have.”

“Pete Anderson has been working for the company for three years. Before that, he was employed by the family business.”

“And that would be?” Ethan bit out.

“Anderson Technologies.”

Ethan whistled. Anderson Tech was the one of the biggest software companies in Texas.

“Yeah. Apparently there was some kind of a rift between him and Daddy and he left. Y our Uncle Bill snapped him up. ”

“Good?”

“Well, yes. I mean he was trained by one of the best in the business. ”