LITMIR.BIZ

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love to.”

      She tingled all over, reacting not to his sarcastic tone, but to his choice of words. And his sizzling gaze. Her argument went numb.

      “And the fact that we’re sharing the suite.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Why are we sharing the suite, by the way?”

      “We’re not sharing the suite. My room adjoins yours. The door between us has a lock.” That last bit sounded somewhat foolish. As if she didn’t trust him. As if he couldn’t persuade her to let him in. “You could have told them that I got drunk and quit. That I came on to you because I’ve had a thing for you for years.”

      His gaze rested heavily on her, weakening her knees.

      “No.”

      “Don’t be a …” She bit her lip before the rest of that sentence came out. Had she almost called the imposing Sebastian Case a fool? “What about the deal? Are you still going forward with the purchase of his company?”

      “I don’t know.”

      Her breath caught. She scrutinized Sebastian’s impassive features, searching for anger, frustration, disappointment, but she saw nothing.

      “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

      “Just that.” His lashes lowered, giving him a sleepy look until you noticed the intensity of his watchful gray eyes.

      “Yesterday, he was ready to sign the contract once one or two points were ironed out.”

      “Some things have come up since then.”

      “Like him thinking you make a habit out of seducing your employees?” Missy couldn’t believe how angry she was at the moment. Angry with herself for lingering in Sebastian’s suite because of some silly romantic hope that maybe last night had been the start of something. Angry with his father for showing up this morning with Lucas Smythe. But most of all, angry with Sebastian for his stubborn refusal to make explanations. “You need to tell him the truth. And if you don’t, I will.”

      His fingers wrapped around her upper arms and bit deep. “Stay out of it.”

      Eyes blazing, he pulled her onto her toes and bent down until inches separated his mouth from hers. Memories of their night together swamped her. Her fingers loosened their grip on the towel, ready to discard it if he showed the slightest hint of wanting to pick up where they’d left off in the wee hours of the morning.

      He must have read her thoughts because he lowered his head still farther. Missy closed her eyes in anticipation of his kiss. When it didn’t come, she blinked in surprise. Sebastian had his own eyes closed. Tension pulled at his features, drawing his mouth into a grim line.

      His chest lifted as he sucked in air. A second later she was free. Her heels hit the floor with a jarring thud that loosened her grip on the towel. It slipped off one breast before she caught it.

      Snarling a curse through clenched teeth, Sebastian shifted his gaze to the pile of clothes spilling out of the trash. When his attention resettled on her, the only emotion he let her see was cool curiosity.

      He used his chin to gesture toward her former wardrobe. “What’s going on with you?”

      “Nothing.”

      “You’ve thrown away your clothes.”

      “I don’t need them anymore.”

      Iron-gray eyes swept down her body once again. “Planning on spending the entire week naked?”

      “No.”

      He’d buried his mood beneath a neutral tone and an impassive expression, but her stomach muscles tightened. Getting caught half-dressed in Sebastian’s suite meant their encounter was no longer a complete secret. Were they to be boss and assistant or secret lovers? She tingled in anticipation of the latter.

      “I thought I would buy some new things,” she continued.

      He shook his head. “You don’t have time to shop. I need you to go over the arrangements for tonight’s cocktail party.”

      Missy’s mood deflated. As far as Sebastian was concerned the night was over. He’d paid his debt. Time to get back to work.

      “There’s no need,” she said. “I double-checked everything yesterday. We’re good to go. Let’s go down to the casino and have some fun.”

      “This is a business trip.”

      “And you can’t mix business with pleasure?” She cocked her head.

      “I’ve already done that,” he retorted, biting off each word. The way he stared at her mouth, she could almost feel the firm pressure of his lips against hers. She swayed into the gap between them, brought up short by his next words. “Get dressed and let’s go over the arrangements.”

      “I quit, remember?”

      “You gave me your two-week notice,” he said. “Time to get back to work.”

      He pivoted and left her staring at his retreating form. With a huff, she shut the door. She kicked at the pile of business attire that lay on the floor. At the thought of wearing any of it, a frustrated shriek built in her chest.

      The phone on her nightstand rang. Summoned already? It had only been a minute since he’d left. She glanced at the door to Sebastian’s suite and imagined him pacing. She understood his impatience. This was his first time leading the summit. In past years, his father had been the CEO of Case Consolidated Holdings. Since taking over, Sebastian had made numerous changes to the business that involved selling off two companies that hadn’t fit their new business model and looking for new investments that were a better fit. He was growing into the CEO role and had a lot riding on this week in Vegas.

      In the month leading up to the annual event, months of planning had gone into every presentation, every speech. Months of hard work and not just by Sebastian. When he worked hard, so did she. Sixty-hour work weeks meant late nights and weekends.

      No wonder her boyfriend had strayed. She was never around when Tim wanted to get together. A part of her didn’t blame him for dumping her. She just wished he hadn’t done it the day before her birthday and that it hadn’t taken him less than a month to decide to marry someone else.

      When the phone refused to stop ringing, Missy snatched up the handset.

      “Missy? It’s Susan.” Sebastian’s mother sounded unfazed by Missy’s cranky greeting.

      Over the years, Missy had grown close to Susan. And Brandon for that matter. They practically treated her like one of the family instead of Sebastian’s employee.

      “Because my husband insists on golfing today,” Susan continued, “I wondered if you had any plans.”

      “Sebastian expects me to work.”

      Susan made a dismissive sound. “Tell him I need you to keep me company by the pool. I’m sure he’ll give you some time off.”

      Missy ran that conversation in her head and didn’t arrive at Susan’s conclusion. “He really wants to make sure the conference goes smoothly.”

      “And with you behind the scenes, it will. Now, you’ve done enough. Grab your sunscreen and meet me by the pool. I’m not going to take no for an answer.”

      The people who thought the Case brothers got their determination from Brandon had never met Susan. “Sure. Give me ten minutes.”

      “Wonderful.”

      Feeling squashed between a rock and a hard place, Missy replaced the phone and scooped up her bathing suit. If she told Sebastian about his mom’s request, she would be in for another argument. She dropped the towel and stepped into the suit. Sebastian was already accustomed to her flaky behavior on this trip. And it wasn’t as if she hadn’t already decided that she wanted to go have some fun. Susan had just given her the nudge she needed to act.

      She

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