LITMIR.BIZ

       Four

      By six o’clock, the offices and cubicles around Rachel were dead quiet. Executing a slow head roll to loosen her shoulder muscles, she gusted out a sigh and saved the spreadsheet she’d been working on for the last couple of hours. Max had asked her to analyze the operations budget for one of the companies Case Consolidated Holdings owned in Pensacola, Florida. The company had been struggling with profitability for the last five years, and Max wanted her to figure out where they could trim expenses.

      Whether Max knew it or not, she was the perfect person to figure out how to cut the fat. Ever since she’d lost her father and taken on the responsibility of her sixteen-year-old sister, money had been tight. She’d learned how not just to pinch a penny, but to turn it inside out and scrape every last bit of value out of the thing.

      She cast a glance toward Max’s office. Should she sneak out or say good-night? The kiss earlier had rattled her more than anything else she’d experienced in the last seven days and with Brody’s unexpected reappearance and outrageous demand, it had been a doozy of a week.

      As if summoned by her thoughts, Max appeared in the doorway.

      “Leaving?” His low question boomed into the silence.

      “It’s six o’clock. We’re the only ones here.” She gulped as her words registered.

      Pointing out to him that they were completely alone was probably not the brightest move after what happened between them today. The discovery that he intended to rekindle their affair made maintaining her cool a big challenge. If he’d decided this would be the perfect time to assault her willpower, it wouldn’t be much of a skirmish.

      That he still wanted her both worried and excited her. The heat between them remained as fierce as ever, and as much as he seemed to despise her for not being truthful five years ago, he was right when he said the passion between them hadn’t been allowed to run its course back then.

      Their four days together had been like an appetizer. One of those fancy ones that awakened the palate, but when you finish sampling, you’re still hungry.

      How long would the main course last?

      A month?

      Two?

      Max leaned his shoulder against the door frame and regarded her through narrowed eyes. “I thought maybe we could have dinner and discuss your problem.”

      Translation, he wanted to probe her for more information about the phone call with Brody he’d eavesdropped on.

      “You’re the only problem I have,” she muttered.

      “I sincerely doubt that.”

      Rachel decided to let his remark pass unchallenged. “I can’t have dinner with you. I have plans.”

      “A date?” His smooth tone gave away nothing, but his gaze gained an edge as he awaited her answer.

      “Dinner with my sister.” Why Rachel felt compelled to assure him she wasn’t seeing anyone, she had no idea. Max wouldn’t care if she was involved with someone. As long as she wasn’t married, in his mind she was fair game. “She does all the cooking at home so I take her out once a week as a treat.”

      “I seem to recall she was in college when we first met. Did she graduate?”

      “Right on schedule.” Pride coated Rachel’s voice. She might have done a lot of things wrong in her life, but somehow none of it had tainted Hailey. She’d turned out just fine. “She works for a CPA firm not far from here. Between work and her boyfriend, she’s pretty busy, but we always make time one night a week.”

      An invitation to join them tickled the end of her tongue. Hailey would love to meet Max. Her sister fussed over Rachel’s lack of a social life as if it was the worst thing in the world and would be giddy to know she’d spent four days in Gulf Shores, Alabama, having the most amazing sex of her life with a hottie like Max Case.

      “I’ll bet she’s not as busy as you.”

      Was that a note of admiration in his voice? Rachel gripped her purse strap and fought the impulse to cross the five feet of space that separated them and smash her body against his. A throb of need pounded through her. Longing tightened her chest. Her breath grew shallow. If she met his gaze would she risk standing up Hailey for the first time ever?

      His next words answered her question.

      “Have a nice evening.”

      With her emotions a muddle of disappointment and relief, Rachel stood by her desk and watched him disappear into his office. Breathing became easier with him gone. Rachel muttered a curse.

      She was way too infatuated with Max’s tall, solid frame, smoky gray eyes and devilish smile for her own good. But as compelling as his sexy looks were, she could guard her heart against his outward charms. Her marriage to Brody had taught her that beauty was only skin deep.

      A strong work ethic was another matter. His dedication to Case Consolidated Holdings touched a chord in her. A workaholic herself, she understood the need to put in long hours. It made her like him.

      Which led her into dangerous waters.

      This was bad. She’d been working for Max less than a week and almost every hour she caught herself featuring him in her daydreams. Pressure built beneath her skin every time they occupied the same space. How long could she hope to resist the hunger for his touch? Or should she?

      That she’d asked the last question told Rachel it was only a matter of time before she wound up back in Max’s bed.

      She had to pass his open office door on her way to the lobby. Naturally she looked in as she went by. The image of him rubbing the back of his neck as exhaustion swept his features tugged at her, but she kept walking.

      Nearing the elevator, she savagely shoved her thumb against the button with the down arrow. Damn him for getting under her skin. So what if he’d looked tired? So what if he’d been working late every night this week?

      She cursed the urge to march back to his office and bully him into knocking off for the day even as she retraced her steps, poked her head into his office and asked, “Do you want to join us for dinner?”

      Max looked up in surprise. For a split second, a smile tugged at his lips. “I don’t want to intrude.” But he was already getting to his feet.

      “I’m sure Hailey won’t mind.” Her pulse accelerated as he advanced across the room. His gaze bored into her, and Rachel fought to subdue her body’s reaction to the questions lurking in his gray eyes. “Aren’t you going to grab your coat and briefcase?”

      “I need to come back and finish up some things later.”

      A man after her own heart. “Okay.”

      With an entire elevator to themselves, he chose to set his back against the wall beside her. His shoulder grazed hers. The urge to lean against him swelled in

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