BEVERLY BARTON – Nine Months (страница 7)

“I don’t intend to ask. I’m not going to break my rule for anyone, not even the charming Ms. Thompson.” Jared could have added that if he broke the rule for anyone, it would be for Paige Summers, not Kay Thompson. But no one knew about the evening he’d spent with Paige, trapped in the elevator. No one except Paige and him. And that’s the way he wanted it. That little incident had created enough problems in his life without other people knowing and spreading gossip around the office.

“I don’t know how you do it.” Greg shook his head. “You’re surrounded by attractive women in every branch office and yet you’re able to resist temptation. I’m afraid I don’t have your willpower.”

“Yes, I know.” Jared grinned. “That’s why you have a reputation for being the company Lothario. Besides, there are more than enough beautiful ladies who don’t work for me from which to choose.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Greg agreed. “But how any man could resist your assistant is beyond me. Our Ms. Summers is one hot little number, don’t you think?”

Jared pivoted sharply, his green eyes boring into Greg. “What do you mean by that!”

“Whoa! Have I hit a nerve?”

“Explain what you meant by your remark about Ms. Summers.” Had Greg come on to Paige? Had she succumbed to his charm? Had the two of them made love? Jared hated the unaccustomed feeling of jealousy that suddenly raged inside him.

“Isn’t it obvious? I mean, just look at her. She’s young, beautiful and build like a brick—”

“Shut up!” Jared slammed one big fist down on top of his desk. The force of his blow shifted the telephone and several items neatly arranged on the smooth oak surface.

“Well, well.” Greg rubbed his chin, mocking a meditative gesture.

“I’m surprised your shenanigans haven’t gained us a sexual harassment suit before now.” Glowering at Greg, Jared knotted his hands into tight fists. If Greg had touched Paige, he’d kill him!

“What’s got you so riled up, old buddy? You know damn well that I never cross the line. Besides, if you’d just told me that you’d already staked a claim on Paige Summers, I wouldn’t have asked her out.”

“You’re dating Paige…that is, Ms. Summers?”

“No, but not for lack of trying,” Greg admitted. “After the fifth try, I gave up. I had to accept the fact that the lady isn’t interested.”

“Then she has a boyfriend,” Jared said, uncertain whether or not he wanted to believe his statement.

“Well, when I asked if there was someone else, she said that there was.”

“I see.”

“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” Greg asked.

“There’s nothing going on. I just don’t want you pestering my assistant. From now on, stay away from her and don’t make any more remarks about her…er…physical attributes.”

Jared realized, too late, that his reaction to Greg’s comment about Paige had been a mistake. Greg was no fool. He knew how uncharacteristic it was for Jared to lash out at him over a woman—any woman. In the past, their common code had been live and let live.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so…possessive.” Greg stared at his boss, as if seeing him for the first time. “What I can’t figure out is why. You’ve only seen the woman twice. The first day she came to work here and again a few minutes ago. Come on, old pal of mine, fess up. What’s going on with you and Paige?”

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” Greg wasn’t buying it, but Jared could hardly tell him the truth. “After I finish with Ms. Summers, we’ll need to discuss the particulars of the Rocky Springs Ranch deal. Until then, go get some work done and leave me the hell alone.”

Holding up both hands in an “I surrender” pose, Greg whooshed out a breath and backed toward the door. “I’ll tell Ms. Summers you’re ready for her.” Greg grinned, but before Jared could respond, he jerked open the door and exited quickly.

Willing himself into an uncertain calm, Jared stood and waited for Paige to enter his office. A moment later, carrying a stuffed file folder, she appeared in the doorway.

“Are you ready for these now, Mr. Montgomery?” she asked.

He’d been a fool to think that seeing Paige again would break the spell she’d cast over him. In person, she was even lovelier than he remembered. Her dark red hair shimmered with a healthy burgundy glow. Her creamy skin beckoned for his touch. She lifted her eyes and looked directly at him. He’d never forget those huge brown eyes gazing at him with such passionate longing four months ago. But not now. Not today. Her look was cool, distant and wary.

“Yes, please, come in, Ms. Summers.” If he acted purely on instinct, he’d reach out and grab her, pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. Then he’d take her, here, on his desk.

She laid the folder on his desk instead of handing it to him, obviously not wanting to risk their touching. “I think you’ll find everything you need in there.”

What I need is you, Paige. Naked, lying beneath me and sighing my name as I give you pleasure. You’re what I’ve needed for the past four months. Every day. Every night.

“I’m sure the file is complete,” he said. “Mr. Addison tells me that your work here is exemplary. I hope you’ve found working for Montgomery’s challenging and satisfying.”

“Yes, I have.”

“We reward good work. Performance like yours deserves an increase in salary.” The moment the words were out, Jared wished them back. God, how would she interpret what he’d said? Would she think he was referring to their one-night stand instead of her excellent work record?

“I—I… Thank you.”

“I understand that Greg…Mr. Addison, has asked you out several times.” Jared took a deep breath and swallowed hard. “I want to assure you that he won’t bother you again. One thing we pride ourselves on at Montgomery’s is a sexual-harassment-free workplace for our employees.”

“I understand, and I’m sure all your employees are grateful. But Mr. Addison didn’t offend me in any way. He was a perfect gentleman every time he asked me for a date.”

Unlike you. Jared heard the words she left unsaid. Greg had always acted like a perfect gentleman, whereas he, on the other hand, had acted like a barbarian. He—a stranger—had taken her, passionately, standing up, in a stalled elevator. And afterward, told her to forget it had ever happened. No doubt Ms. Summers didn’t think much of him. And he couldn’t blame her. He didn’t think much of himself and his actions that Friday evening four months ago.

“I’m glad to know that Greg didn’t offend you.” Jared picked up the folder, sat down behind his desk and opened the file. “I want you to be happy here, Ms. Summers. If you ever have a problem of any kind, I want you to come to me. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.”

For the next twenty minutes, Jared went through the motions, putting on his best Big Boss facade. He’d been fooling himself to think getting Paige out of his system would take nothing more than seeing her again. If anything, being around her again made him want her all the more. Hell, if she wasn’t his employee and if she wasn’t so damned young and sweet, he’d rush her into a torrid affair and let the fire between them burn itself out. But as things stood, he would have to take an alternative route.

Jared decided he’d have to suffer through more withdrawal symptoms and try to find solace in the arms of another woman. Maybe tonight. He sure as hell hoped so. He couldn’t go around the office every day blatantly aroused. That was something he couldn’t pretend didn’t exist.

* * *

“Have you got things wrapped up?” Kay asked as she stopped by Paige’s desk.

“Just about. Give me another five minutes. Mr. Montgomery is trying to make up for lost time today.” Paige didn’t admit to Kay that her inability to finish up on time had more to do with her frame of mind than with Jared’s workload.

“I know why I don’t have a dinner date tonight and am going out with a female friend,” Kay said. “But why aren’t you dating someone?”

“I—I…uh…there’s someone. I mean, there was someone and I’m not quite over him.”

“Oh, brother, do I know how that is. As bad as my marriage was, I sometimes find myself thinking about that bastard I stayed with for five years. I loved him so much when we first got married.”

“I always thought love—real love—was meant to last a lifetime, even forever.”

“Yeah, well, so did I. But when love is one-sided, it can’t last. My ex-husband loved me, I suppose. In his own way. The only problem was that he loved half a dozen other women just as much.”

“Oh, Kay, I’m so sorry. You’ve never said before what happened.”

“And you were too nice to ask.”

“My college boyfriend left me for someone else, too,” Paige said. “I guess I should have known it would happen. The whole time we were dating, he kept trying to change me. He hated that I was so emotional and naive. He wanted me to be someone I wasn’t. If he had truly loved me, he would have accepted me for who I was.”

The outer office door opened and a tall blonde sailed in, swaying her slender hips and smiling warmly at Kay and Paige. The woman was beautiful. She was dressed in the height of fashion, and diamonds and gold accented her ears, fingers and wrists.

“May I help you?” Paige asked.