Unless he was in a mood to prove to his son that he needed some excitement. Then hed send a cute young blonde with far more physical assets than mental capabilities. Maybe even a redhead or a brunette, but Reilly always knew when Eddie was messing with him because the temp would bat her eyes and giggle a lot and not know the difference between a debit and a credit, much less what a general ledger was.
If Eddie pulled that today, hed just send her away. He was headed down the brick hallway toward his private office when the elevator doors dinged and opened.
Expecting Marge, he turned, but the greeting died on his tongue when one Tessa Delacantro stepped through the double glass doors.
7
TESSAS STOMACH LODGED firmly in her throat, she stepped into the office shed been assigned to for the next four days. The place was quiet and understated, with wood and glass accents and gorgeous views of the San Gabriel Mountains through the north windows, but that wasnt what made her freeze.
It was the man standing there staring at her as if she were a ghost.
It was the last person on earth shed expected and the one most on her mind.
Reilly Ledger, looking pretty much exactly as she remembered him-long, lean and attitude-ridden.
He wasnt half-naked today. He wore black trousers, a black, soft-looking shirt and, big surprise, black athletic shoes. Black from head to toe. His short midnight hair still stood straight up and his eyes still reminded her of glittering blue diamonds. Trouble personified. She had no idea why he was here at her job, but a little part of her sparked to life. Had he somehow come for her? What are you doing here?
I was about to ask you the same thing. His voice was not necessarily soft or kind, but rough and serrated, and absolutely demanded an answer.
He hadnt come for her. Of course he hadnt. Clearly, hed hoped to never see her again.
As for what she had hopedshe had no idea.
Eddie had been surprised shed wanted to work today, but shed needed to. There was no reason to sit in her apartment and feel sorry for herself. Sure, shed had a bit of a trauma, but she wasnt a wilting flower. She could dive right back into her life.
Needed to dive right back.
Eddie had promised her in his gentle, warm, reassuring voice that this job would be good for her, it would be a challenge, yes, but the boss was someone special, who would take good care of her.
She certainly didnt need taking care of, but she could appreciate a soft-spoken boss, a kind soul, someone whod just let her be and do what she did best-work with numbers. Im here to work, she said.
He stared at her bleakly. Youre the temp.
Yes. Im supposed to be at an accounting business for the next four days- Oh God. She looked into his taut, unhappy face. Yours, she whispered. Im supposed to tempfor you? I never imagined hed-
Neither did I. He shook his head. And I ate his gift of breakfast this morning. I should have known the no-good, meddling bastard was up to something when he brought me McDonalds. Hes such a health nut. It was a damn bribe.
She didnt have to wonder at his edgy, unpredictable mood. As a rule, she was open to herself and all experiences and to other people being who they were. But in this case, hed been manipulated, and a man like Reilly would hate that. Because of what happened the other night, she felt overwhelmingly conscious of him. He wasnt bulky and he certainly didnt come close enough to invade her space, but she felt an almost over-the-top awareness of him anyway. As if her every nerve ending had been exposed by just looking at him. A product of what shed let him do to her. Begged him to do to her.
She knew why she was uncomfortable looking at him. He brought it all back-her neurotic behavior, the way shed flung herself at him, everything. Oh, yes, she knew why her face was heating up even as she stood there.
But she didnt understand what was bothering him. He had nothing to be ashamed of; he hadnt thrown himself at her. And if it was about the work, she was a fine worker, a hard worker and a good person to boot, damn it. I dont understand, Reilly, why youre so upset.
He just stared at her with those light eyes that so easily hid his every thought.
I mean, yes, Eddie was a little sneaky about sending me here without telling us, but you did request a temp, right? She purposely looked through him instead of at him because looking at him directly was like looking straight into the sun. Beautiful and dangerous all in one. Or is it because itsme?
Its nothing personal, he said. I just work best witha grumpy, old temp. He propped his shoulder up against the door frame and folded his arms as he eyed her. Youre not old and I doubt you have a grumpy bone in your entire body.
Wait- Was there a compliment in there somewhere?
Wheres Marge? he asked. I like Marge.
Marge is maybe fifty-five and one of the nicest people I know. Hardly old and grumpy.
She is when shes here. She smells like mothballs and snaps my head off when I talk to her.
Maybe you bring out the worst in people, Tessa suggested, feeling a little grumpy herself now. She moved toward the reception desk and dropped her purse next to the computer, phone and adding machine. She could see down the hall where there were four doors, all closed. Glass and brick dominated the office. Not a plant or a splash of color in the place that was cool and a bit reserved.
Apparently not unlike the man she was going to work for. She forced a smile. In any case, it looks like youre stuck with me. Where do I start?
He just let out a long breath, his big body looking quite tense. Which actually made her mad. She made him tense? Ha! Look, if it helps, I can be grumpy all day, she offered. Oh, and by the way, its really nice to see you again.
That got him. He swore softly as he shoved his fingers through his short spiky hair, making it stick up all the more.
She had no idea how in the world she ever imagined this man had a secret beta side, but one thing she knew was that shed let him see far too much of her when theyd been at Eddies house. Furthermore, she regretted finding him sexy, even for one little moment. Shed let him in, shed shared some of herself and she regretted that, a lot. Shedshed let him kiss and touch her and she didnt even really know him.
She didnt usually do that sort of thing and knowing it had been the fright, the trauma, didnt help. She just wanted to forget the whole thing and there was only one way to do that. Without pondering it further, she grabbed her purse. Look, I dont know why Eddie sent me over here without telling you, or me for that matter, but clearly, he made a mistake. She went back through the glass doors toward the elevator, grateful that when she punched the down button, the doors opened immediately.
She stepped inside and hit the close button, which it did, also in a timely fashion. She waited until she heard the doors touch before she turned around to face them. Slowly she let out a breath, which halted in her throat when the elevator stopped on the fourth floor.
No matter what the little hitch in her heart told her, it wasnt Reilly coming after her. Not even a superhero could have run down a flight of stairs that fast and besides, he wasnt coming after her, he wanted her long gone.
A couple got on the elevator and it began to move again, far sooner than her heart rate returned to normal. Telling herself that she was fine, that shed made the right decision, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Eddies office. Shed need a different job, pronto.
Jeannie, she said when Eddies secretary answered the phone. Can you tell Eddie I need another assignment? This one didnt work out after all.
Oh, dear, Jeannie said. Hold please.
The elevator opened onto the lobby floor. The couple got off first, arm in arm, lost in each others eyes. Love you, the man mouthed to the woman as he drew her close and the woman let out a dreamy smile in response.
Something deep within Tessa tightened at the sight. What a lovely man, so incredibly over the moon for his lover. It touched her, watching him allow his every feeling to show.
That would be something, she thought with a little sigh, having a man let his every emotion show.
Tessa. Jeannies voice was replaced by Eddies in her ear. Whats the matter with my idiot son?
Um This wasnt a subject she wanted to touch with a ten-foot pole. Well-
Because I already assigned everything else. There is no other job at the moment.
You dont have anything else for me at all? Her heart fell. She needed to work. Are you sure? She stepped off the elevator and ran smack into a solid brick wall of a body.
Reilly.
Mouth tight, his jaw bunching all sexylike- No, not sexy, she told herself. He was not sexy.
He gripped her shoulders in a firm grip. Tessa.
Had she said she wanted a man to show his every emotion for her? Because here was a man doing just that, unfortunately the emotions he felt toward her were quite different than the ones shed envisioned.
Tessa? Eddie said in her ear through the cell phone. You still there?
Yes. She stared at Reilly. Just call me when you have work. She shoved the phone in her purse, deciding to deal with one worry at a time. How did you get down here so fast?
Stairs.
She eyed him. He would have had to haul ass down those five flights of stairs and yet he wasnt so much as breathing heavily. You know, you really dont seem like an accountant to me.
Thats what I am.
She eyed his black clothes, his intense eyes, his incredible stillness, which alluded to an edgy but undoubtedly dangerous air. Shed kissed this man, shed touched this man and looking at him this morning horrified her because she still didnt know who he was. You look like you could be a bad guy.
Weve already established Im not.
Not a bad guy, then. ABond. Thats it, you look like a secret agent or something. It would explain the gun you carry.
Youve got an overactive imagination.
Let me go, Reilly.
He sighed, a sound that managed to perfectly convey his wistful thinking. I cant.
Of course you can, you justlet go.
Yes, but Eddie doesnt seem to have anything else for you.
So?
So I wont be the one responsible for you being out of work. Back upstairs. Then he motivated her to step back onto the elevator by taking a single step toward her.
When he followed her in, he hit the fifth-floor button and crossed his arms, staring at the closed door, completely ignoring the fact she was staring at him.