numbers light up. Unable to stop herself seconds later, she glanced back. He was still watching her. He looked amused and a hint of satisfaction crossed his face. She seethed.
The doors opened on their floor and she burst out of the lift like a jack-in-the-box, desperate to get away from him.
‘Don’t forget your coffee!’ His call brought her up sharp. Damn. She wheeled around. He was standing just in the foyer holding the tray out. Conscious of the receptionist not five feet away, she stalked back. She stopped a foot away from him and reached for the tray. He took a step nearer and placed it in her hands. His eyes not breaking from hers, he carefully put one hand on hers, then the other hand. Her skin sizzled and her fingers moved unsteadily. He curled his own fingers around hers, ensuring she held the tray securely. Thus they stood for a fraction too long. His hands on hers felt wonderful and she knew his full embrace would be equally dynamic. She pressed her lips together—how could this be? He was a man, like any other.
‘Thank you.’ Oh, was that eager whisper really hers?
‘Bye, beautiful.’ He gave her hands a little squeeze. Her heart and stomach contracted. He flashed her a heart-stopping smile before letting go and exiting through the staff door to the back offices.
Lissa stood immobile. He’d just taken her breath with him. She could still feel the pressure of his fingers on hers and his blazing smile was all she could see.
‘Got a minute?’ Hugo strode back into the information centre from a planning meeting. Gina and Lissa spun on their chairs to face him.
‘We’re reassigning researchers for the teams because of a new project.’ Hugo was straight to the point. ‘Its very sensitive with major client confidentiality issues. Initially it’s just a two-week job and they want a dedicated researcher. Lissa, you’re it, starting Monday.’
Lissa stared at him.
‘You can’t work on other stuff at the same time because you’re going to be locked away in a meeting room. It’s all very top secret; the IT guys are setting it up now. It’s a small team—one partner, two consultants and you. You’ll be expected to prepare the final presentation and proposal. Typing and overtime. You OK with that?’
Lissa nodded, fighting the bitter disappointment. She’d spent most of the time working on a project for a company based in Portugal. It was due to wrap shortly and as a reward the team were going to be flown to Bilbao for a weekend and a party at the Guggenheim. She’d been told she would be included if still there at the end of the project. She’d been looking forward to it so much. She hadn’t had a chance to go on her own travels there and now had run out of time. Her return ticket to New Zealand was already booked.
‘Go straight to Meeting Room Two on Monday,’ Hugo continued. ‘You can do the searches no problem and your computer skills are excellent. The partner thought you’d be a great asset.’
She smiled, partly soothed by the compliment. ‘Really?’
Hugo nodded. ‘He hand-picked you. You’ll be working directly for Rory.’
After a predictably atrocious night’s sleep she arrived fifteen minutes early on Monday morning embarrassed to discover she was the last to arrive.
‘It’s OK you’re not late, Lissa.’ Rory stood and walked around the table towards her. ‘We started earlier to generate some work for you.’
She nodded, glancing at him. Their eyes met and held. She could see nothing in his other than professional politeness, but that didn’t stop her pulse from accelerating as she registered how brilliantly green his irises were. As their gaze held his pupils dilated. Heat emanated and a rush of feeling rose from her belly to her breast. She snatched a breath and quickly resumed her contemplation of the computer set-up. ‘I just want to check I have access to all the databases.’ She tried to overcome her breathy tone and inject some professional assertiveness.
He nodded and gestured to the lone computer on the far side of the table. He followed her to her seat. ‘We’ll have breakfast and a debrief in fifteen, OK?’
She looked up at him, her insides flip-flopping all over the show. This time there was a knowing smile in his eyes. This was going to be much harder than she’d imagined. She stiffened and began checking the systems. She was acutely aware of him moving behind her to the other end of the table.
Sheesh. How was she going to cope with two weeks of him right by her side when she was so aware of his every move? When her whole body answered with such responsiveness to a simple look?
Ten minutes later she was satisfied IT had done a good job. Rory called for her to join them. She smiled warmly at Marnie, and then nodded coolly at James. He’d asked her out on a date months ago and had professed his devastation when she had refused. She’d soon learned that he made it his business to ask every temp worker out.
James filled the mugs from the coffee-pot while Rory outlined the project to Lissa. ‘Our client wants to find a takeover or merger target asap in top secret.’
Almost immediately her thoughts went AWOL. It must have been the idea of merger. She watched him as he spoke, hoping her outward appearance reflected her concentration. Sure, she was focussed, but not on what was being said. His shoulders looked so darn broad. Fantastic for holding onto. She watched his hand as he tapped a pen on the notepad in front of him. Large and strong. She bet he didn’t battle with the lids on jam jars the way she did. But she knew just how gentle they could be. Could imagine only too well how deliciously tormenting they might be on other parts of her body. She shuffled in her seat, a warm flush invading her nether regions.
James handed her a coffee. She took a deep sip, hoping the caffeine hit would clear her befuddled brain.
It worked. Momentarily.
‘We’ll be working round the clock for the next two weeks, but I’m sure that’s not a problem for anybody?’ Rory glanced at them.
Lissa was split. More hours with Rory, but her overtime rate was superb. Pots of money for a situation in which she had to fight the most powerful attraction she’d ever known.
He gestured towards the paper on the windows blocking the view to the corridor. ‘The secret-squirrel stuff is for real. Save your social lives for lunch breaks, please.’
‘What lunch breaks?’ interjected James.
Rory grinned. ‘I know, but it’s only a fortnight and this is worth it. We do a good job and we could win a huge contract for the company. There’s a lot riding on this and it could be good for all of us.’
Lissa wasn’t at all sure how this could be good for her—locked away in a tiny room for hours on end with Rory? An intense, artificial atmosphere, the perfect breeding ground for an intense but artificial relationship. She had to be strong.
‘So,’ Rory continued. ‘Lissa, we need you to research these companies and type up meeting notes, compile reports and the final presentation.’
‘All that typing OK with you, Lissa?’ Marnie asked.
Lissa smiled. ‘It’s fine. I’m just the temp,’ she reassured.
‘You’re not “just” anything.’ Rory interrupted. Lissa’s mouth fell open. On the surface she felt embarrassed, but underneath the reaction was volcanic, the heat bubbling, desire swirling upwards.
