“Oh yeah.” Joe dropped into a chair across from Nick. He ran his hands through his hair and sighed.
“So, you’re doing your boss.”
Joe scowled. “She is not my boss,” he said. “Let me just make that perfectly clear. I do not work for her.”
Nick held up his hands. “Ooookay. Sorry.”
“She is, however, my boss’s granddaughter,” he continued with a groan, dropping his face into his hands. “What the hell was I thinking?”
“Apparently you were thinking with your other head,” Nick said helpfully.
“Yeah, thanks, buddy. Christ. I’ve probably just screwed up the only job I could get, besides maybe waiting tables.” He leaned his head back against the couch, closing his eyes.
“Must have been good,” Nick said. “You look exhausted.”
“Yeah.” He expelled a long breath. “It was better than good.”
“Was it worth it?”
Joe considered that. If it changed the dynamic between them and led her to trust him with business decisions, then yeah, it had been worth it. Christ, a whole weekend of hot sex with a gorgeous woman? Of course it was worth it!
But there was one other small problem. His intention had been to teach her a few submission lessons, for the sole purpose of gaining her cooperation at the office. But somehow the inner vulnerability, the generosity and passion she usually kept hidden, had done some kind of number on him, because he hadn’t had that much fun in a long time. Not just in the bedroom. Tasting wine with her, sitting in the olive groves talking, hearing about her parents…it had been fun. And although he’d dominated her, he’d done it without any tricks or toys—no cuffs, no flogger, no ropes. Which was weird for him, the guy who’d gotten so bored and blasé about sex he’d sought out fetish clubs for excitement.
“I hope so,” he finally said.
“She’s not likely going to run home and tell Grandpa she slept with you, is she?”
“Jesus Christ.”
Nick laughed. “So what’s the problem?
“No problem. It’s just a job.” Yeah right.
“You can get a job anywhere,” Nick said, waving a hand.
Joe shook his head. “Nice try, buddy,” he said. “Where were you when I was pounding the pavement in San Francisco a few weeks ago? Nobody wants to hire me. I’m damaged goods, man.” He shook his head in disgust. “If I can just get back on my feet, eventually people will forget what happened, but right now…I’m borderline desperate.”
No borderline about it. Yet somehow his career problems seem to have ducked into the far recesses of his mind, forgotten and unimportant. Somehow Tara had become not just a problem to be solved, but a treasure to be won.
“Her sister is uh…acting kinda weird,” Nick said. “Have you met her?”
Joe focused on his friend. “Yeah. She didn’t seem weird. Kind of slutty princessy, but not weird.”
Nick frowned. “She’s not slutty.”
Joe bit back a grin. “Why’d you say she’s acting weird?”
“She…ah…asked me out.”
Joe laughed. “That’s not weird.”
“Well, in a way it is—she’s on the fundraising committee. Of course I turned her down, and then Friday she stayed after the meeting and hung out with the kids.”
Joe quirked a brow. “The kids in the center? Why would she do that?”
“I have no idea. Like I said—weird. None of the other committee members do that.”
“You know why she did it.” The grin broke free. “She’s hot for you.”
“Fuck.” Nick rubbed his face. “Maybe. But I don’t want anything to do with her.”
“Maybe she’s not like Erin.”
“Oh yeah. She’s exactly like Erin.”
“Well, hell. Don’t piss her off. Remember, I work for her family.”
“I’m not going out with her just to save your sorry ass!”
“I never said that. Just…be nice to her. She can’t be that bad.”
Nick’s grimace made him laugh again. “The thing is, she can’t just do that. She can’t just hang out and work with the kids. We have to make sure anyone who works with the kids is screened properly. Liability issues. She’s actually really good with them and they love her…” He shrugged. “But I can’t let her do that.”
One corner of Joe’s mouth deepened. “Shit.”
Joe was already at the office, standing at Paige’s desk looking at some papers when Tara got there at seven-thirty Monday morning. He glanced up when she walked in and his smile was so warm it melted her. She smiled back uncertainly.
He looked so damn good in his casual pants and shirt, the sleeves rolled up over his strong brown forearms.
“Good morning,” he murmured and moved purposefully toward her. God, he was going to kiss her. She sidestepped him and returned his greeting, ducking into her office. He followed her to the door with a little frown.
“You okay?” he inquired, lifting a brow, leaning against the door frame.
“Yes, of course!” she said, a little breathlessly. “I’m fine. But we need to talk.”
A faint smile curved his lips.
“Sure.” He stepped into the office and closed the door.
“We need to be sure we’re on the same page. You know….”
He met her gaze neutrally.
“I’d rather people don’t know about…us,” she said, struggling with the words. “It’s just better, since we work together….”
“Of course,” he said. “Don’t you trust me to be discreet, Tara?”
“Yes, yes, of course I do,” she hurried to assure him. “And I just wanted to make sure you know this doesn’t change anything.”
“What do you mean?” The silkiness in his voice alerted her and she eyed him warily.
“I mean, what happened at the ranch doesn’t make any difference to what happens here. In the office.”
She felt the stillness of his body even though the expression on his face barely changed. She started to shake a little inside.
“That was just sex,” she continued. “It has nothing to do with us…here…this…” She waved a hand between them. “Business.”
He stared down at her for several thudding heartbeats. “Of course not. You’re right.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Just then her grandfather walked into her office and Joe stepped back.
“Tara,” Tyrone said. “I didn’t see you last night. When did you get home?”
“Around six.” She swallowed. “I went to bed early.” Joe had carefully taken a few steps back, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“You must have. How was your weekend?” He was looking at her curiously and her cheeks grew warm again. Handle this, Tara, handle this.
“It was fine,” she shrugged, avoiding Joe’s eyes. “How was yours?”
“Good,” he said. “I had a visit from an old friend.” His eyes slid over to Joe. “Your grandmother.”
Joe’s brows snapped together above his nose. “Grandma was in town?” Tara could see his mind working at a furious pace.
“Yes. She was here on some business, but she stopped in to see you and was told you were out of town for the weekend.”
Shit, shit, shit. Now Tara met Joe’s eyes, communicating silently.
“Yeah, uh….I went to LA for the weekend,” Joe said. “Nick must have forgotten to tell me she came by.”
“Ah. Anyway, she stopped in to see me and stayed for dinner Saturday night. It was quite pleasant. We caught up on some news. She was wondering how you’re doing. I told her you seem to be catching on quickly here. Right in the thick of things after only three weeks.”
Joe smiled at Tyrone. “Thanks. I’m sorry I missed her. I’ll give her a call today.”
Tyrone left and Joe and Tara faced each other again.