He nearly missed his turnoff. But Tessa isnt my office manager. You are.
And I need a day off.
To work for Eddie.
Thats right.
This made no sense. You want to work for the man who deserted you when you were a pregnant teenager.
Oh, for Gods sake, Cheri said, making an annoyed sound. Look, its time you knew this. Im the one who jumped his bones when I was sixteen. And Im the one who-
Jeez! He nearly rear-ended the car in front of him. Over-share!
I knew the chance I was taking, she said calmly. Weve long ago established how naive I was, but if you think I have regrets youre the naive one.
Mom. She was certifiable. He has a hundred other women he could use for today.
Yes, but he wants me. And lets face it, Im the best.
What about whoever he took to Cabo?
Well, I doubt whoever she was knew accounting.
True.
Stop acting like an old man, Reilly. Ill be back in a few days. Live a little while Im gone, okay?
You sound just like him when you say that, he said, broodingly.
Have a good day, honey.
He stared down at his cell after she hung up on him, then tossed it onto the passenger seat. Live a little. Hed lived plenty. Hed lived long and hard, and frankly, was happy with how things were going. Nice and quiet and even-keeled. No surprises. No being konked over the head by idiotic burglars. No being kissed stupid by a little hottie who had somehow-and he was still dizzy over this one-ended up working for him.
By the time he got into his office, he was ready to bury himself in numbers. Lots of numbers.
Tessa sat behind the front desk on the phone, her brown hair swinging as she turned to watch him walk in. Her big, bright-green eyes gave away her every thought, as usual.
She was thinking she would have been happier if he hadnt shown up.
Join the club, baby.
She recovered nicely, even gave him a little wave accompanied by what seemed like a very genuine smile. So genuine he nearly waved right back.
Ill be sure to note the changes to the payables, she said sweetly into the phone. Oh, why, yes, Ill tell Mr. Ledger that you think Im the very best temp hes ever had, she said, laughing. Just so happens that I think so, too. Bye, now. She hung up and sent him a saucy look that dared him to say otherwise.
Maybe you should tell Eddie you need a raise, he suggested.
Then hell charge you more.
I can handle Eddie.
She smiled. So can I.
I dont imagine there isnt much you cant handle, he heard himself say.
Nope. That comes from being the baby of the family, she said proudly. My sister and brother like to worry about me, but its their own fault Im this way. They created me.
So youre close to them.
Very.
They probably dont try to run your life, he muttered, thinking of his mother.
She laughed at that. Are you kidding? They live to run my life. Thats what loves all about, Reilly.
Yeah. Love. He forced his eyes off her and the sunshine-yellow suit dress she wore and looked around the counter that just yesterday had held a bag of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
Oh, Im sorry, she said, reading his mind. Im fresh out of cash until payday.
Ah, hell. He came back toward her. Dont buy me doughnuts with your own money. Theres no need. Theres petty cash in Cheris desk.
But then itd be you buying you doughnuts.
Yes, and then no one owes anyone anything.
She just looked at him.
Resisting the urge to squirm, he walked past her and headed down the hall toward his office.
Good thing Cheri told me you werent a morning person, she muttered.
Which stopped him in his tracks.
She also said youre not an afternoon or evening person, she said. In case you were wondering.
He had to ask, even knowing he shouldnt. What else did she say about me?
Her smile widened just a little bit wickedly.
He did squirm now.
She said youre egotistical, grumpy, stubborn and innately suspicious.
Okay, that he could handle, as it was true.
But then she put a finger to her chin as she thought. Oh, and that she felt none of those things were your fault.
Really? Why not?
Because she and your father screwed you up and what they didnt screw up, working for the CIA finished off.
10
CHERI TOLD YOU all that, Reilly said slowly.
Yep. Tess nodded. But I already knew you werent just some ordinary accountant. You had big, tough, alpha male written all over you the moment I first laid eyes on you. Even half-naked and holding your bruised head, I knew.
He really should have stopped for caffeine. In his present state, he wasnt equipped to deal with this. He rubbed his temples. What else?
She said you need kindness and compassion.
Because, apparently, he was pretty damn pathetic. You know, for future reference, when someone asks you a question like what else did they say? and when that something else is so blatantly negative, you should probably just keep it to yourself.
She cocked her head and said, I didnt realize you werent looking for the truth. You seem like a guy who appreciates the truth.
He moved toward her yet again, because apparently he hadnt tortured himself enough when it came to her. I know Im going to regret asking this, but why were you two talking about me in the first place?
Cheri said I should forgive you for being such a jerky boss, that you didnt mean to be so short and abrupt all the time.
And she said this because?
Because youd just reminded me that you needed the Morrow file, when youd already told me three times, and I was still on the phone with another client. You didnt appear very happy with me, even though I was doing my best.
He stared at her. Had he done that? Obviously he had, but coming out of her mouth he sure sounded like an ass
She also said that despite your impatience, your rudeness and your temper, you have a heart of gold and, if I stayed long enough, Id see it for myself. She told me not to let you scare me off.
Suddenly, he was glad his mother wasnt there because he had the urge to wrap his hands around her meddling neck.
And then I said that not much could scare me off- She broke off and looked away for a moment, as both of them clearly remembered what exactly did scare her.
Armed burglars.
And then I told her, she whispered, that I already knew you had a heart of gold and I wasnt going anywhere until the job was done, which it will be in two more days.
He stopped fantasizing about strangling Cheri and took a closer look at the woman in front of him. She was small, almost deceptively fragile and yet, he knew damn well how much inner strength she had. More than any woman hed ever met. I dont have a heart of gold. Not even close.
We met under unusual circumstances, she said, still very quietly. It accelerated everything. Dont say that isnt true.
Tess-
You saved me that night.
Anyone would have done the same.
No.
He let out a disparaging breath, and she got up out of her chair and came around the desk to stand right in front of him. You saved me and Ive never even thanked you.
Dont. God. He couldnt take that. Without even knowing why, he reached for her hand. And dont make me out to be someone Im not.
I just want to know more about you. She lifted her face. Cheri told me something bad happened to you on your last job. That youve been messed up because of it.
Cheri talks too much.
Her other hand came up and sandwiched his, then she brought it up between her breasts, against her heart, which he could feel beating strong and steadily.
I promised myself I wasnt going to touch you, she said. But then you touched my hand and She smiled a little. And I cant seem to resist.
I shouldnt have touched you at all. Ever.
Its too late. Did you know?
What?
That Ive been the one to kiss you, every time?
He couldnt take his eyes off her mouth. Have you?
Yes. And next timeif there is a next time, youll have to kiss me.
He absolutely was not going to do that. Her lips were naked and parted, and now he had to close his eyes. Probably. He probably wasnt going to kiss her.
Tell me what makes you sostoic, she said softly.
Just because I dont talk every moment of the day doesnt mean Im stoic.
She let out a little laugh and said, Okay, maybe stoic isnt the right word. But distant isnt either, or cold. She tilted her head and dropped her gaze to his lips, which reminded him of how they felt on hers.
Definitely not distant, she whispered. Or cold.
He groaned; he couldnt help it. His hands dropped down to her hips and dragged her closer. You drive me crazy.
Why?
You make me want. He dropped his forehead to hers. I dont want to want, damn it.
Because of what happened to you? She cupped his face. Oh, Reilly. Did you get your heart broken?
Broken, tromped on and destroyed, but that was another story. She shouldnt have told you I was in the CIA. She shouldnt have told you that my last job went bad, that I was betrayed by a double agent who just happened to be sleeping with me at the time.
Her eyes softened even more and she slid her arms around his neck. She didnt tell me that part, she never said How badly were you hurt?
I dont want-
Please, Reilly. Please tell me.
It was the last thing he wanted to do, but he had to tell her something so it might as well be the truth. Look, I was stuffed in a trunk for a few days and left to die, he said, shrugging. Im over it.
Now those eyes went suspiciously bright. Wet, shiny moss. My God, she whispered on a wavering breath as she hugged him so tightly he could barely breathe. No wonder.
No wonder what?
No wonder you dont like people close. You were hurt by someone you let in.
Not that hurt.
And no wonder youre an accountant. You get to work alone. With numbers instead of people, for the most part.
He didnt know what to do with the fact she saw him so clearly. I was an accountant for the CIA, too, before the field stuff. I was an analyst.
Everything makes so much sense now. Like why youre afraid of the dark.
He wasnt afraid of the dark.
He wasnt afraid of anything.
She skimmed her mouth over his jaw, leaving soft, short sweet little kisses as she worked her way over his flesh.
In reaction, his stomach tightened. Other parts did, too.
And as it turned out, he was afraid of something.
He was afraid of her. Tess, I thought you werent going to kiss me-
I havent, not really. It doesnt count unless I touch your lips with mine, which if youll notice, I didnt do.