“If you don’t have plans tonight, I’d like you to sit in on our conference call,” I say when Rose comes back into the office. “We’re speaking with the Takei board at nine.”

She’s already put in a good sixty hours this week, and I hate asking her, but Rose has been so involved, I want her feedback when the board presents their counteroffer. Besides, Leo hasn’t shut up about her since I brought her in on this project. He’s been wrapped up with other projects the last few weeks, but I get the impression he’d like to be more involved with our work. Actually, I get the impression he’d like to be more involved with Rose. Not that I can blame him. There’s something enticing about the woman. At first blush, I’d assume she was some innocent Midwest co-ed, but the more I talk to her, more I get to know the real Primrose Morningstar, the more I realize there’s a darkness in her I’d like to explore.

Rose looks up from the stack of papers she’s carrying and wrinkles her brow. “I’m happy to stay, but I’m not sure why you need me?”

“I might need you to explain something,” Leo says as he takes the papers out of her hands. “Financials were never my strong suit.”

Rose shoots him a disbelieving look. She’s smart and isn’t buying his stupid act. I’m not sure what’s been going on with him lately. Usually, he’s more direct and doesn’t play games. There’s something about Rose that has him changing all his normal plays.

“Ignore him. I’d like your input. You’ve got a better handle on the markets in China,” I add.

That cute crease between her eyes deepens as that incredulous gaze turns to me, and I have a sudden urge to go over and kiss it away. She doesn’t say a lot, but those big doe eyes are so expressive.

“They want to discuss a counteroffer, and I need you to tell me if it’s fair,” I say, trying to talk her into staying. “I need you to talk us through the exchange issues and make sure you fill Leo in about the bribe issue you were telling me about.”

“That’s way above my pay grade. I’m just a clerk.”

“That’s a cop out. You more than qualified. Besides, the brothers like to discuss things in Chinese. I’d like to know what they’re saying when they don’t think we understand. Now, sit down,” I say, making it a demand rather than a request.

Regardless of whether or not she wanted to stay, Rose sits back down and licks her lips. Her compliance is so automatic, I can’t help but wonder if she’s into that kind of thing. Would she fall obediently to her knees and take my cock in her mouth if I commanded it? I’m not sure where that thought came from, but now I can’t get it out of my head. And naturally, my dick takes notice.

As if reading my thoughts, Rose blushes and crosses her arms over her chest. Ah, prim and proper is back. I really like that, too. See, it’s that naughty and nice thing.

“Great,” Leo says, looking up from the report. “I’ll text Marc at La Rossa and have dinner sent up for all of us. How about six?”

I look at the clock. That would give us three hours before the conference call. More than enough time to for us to eat, but not enough to time for much else. It’s been a long fucking day, and I wouldn’t mind relaxing a bit before we start the negotiations. A long dinner, one shared with my new favorite assistant, is just what I need; especially, after the cozy lunch, we shared. The longer I spend time with her, the more I’m drawn in. Rose is a puzzle I’m dying to solve.

“Make it five,” I say. “Or we can always go out. I need some time to decompress, and we can show Rose our appreciation for all the hard work she’s put in.”

Not exactly how I would like to show her my appreciation, but it will have to do.

Rose frowns and shakes her head. “You don’t have to do that. I’m just doing my job.”

She has gone above and beyond her job and she knows it, but then again, maybe spending a Saturday evening with her boss isn’t high on her list of fun activities. I know there are a dozen other things I’d rather be doing. Most of them involve her bent over the arm of that chair with a lot fewer clothes. Like the asshole that I am, I can’t help but push a little harder to see her reaction.

“I’m sorry. Are we keeping you up past your bedtime?”

She meets my gaze and her eyes spark with the fire I hoped was under the surface. “It’s not past my bedtime. As a matter of fact, I can go all night if need be.” She crosses her legs, flashing the lacy tops of her stockings, and leans back into the sofa.

Leo chokes back a laugh. He shoots me a knowing look as if to say, I think you’ve met your match. “Five it is,” he says with a chuckle and dials the restaurant.

Over the next few hours, we make short work of her spreadsheets. Leo has a lot of questions, but Rose is quick to fill in the blanks. She starts to relax again now that we are on familiar ground. Her quick wit and wry humor are back.

The break for dinner is exactly what I need to recharge.  Even though Rose and I have been working closely for weeks, I realize that this is the first time all three of us have worked together for any period of time. And I can’t help but notice how well the three of us worked. It’s nice—this working relationship we have going on, but of course, my mind wanders back to the bedroom. Would it work just as well?

As the night goes on, Rose moves to the sofa, spreading out her work on the coffee table. Leo is next to her, leaning over a spreadsheet. It’s so easy to imagine the two in a more intimate setting. It’s easy to imagine myself right there with them.

I go over and sit down on the other side of Rose, and that spark of a thought catches fire in my mind. I can see her taking and giving, playing off both of us as if it had already happened.

“Thank you for all your hard work this week,” I say and squeeze her hand. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“It was my pleasure,” Rose says, looking away.

There’s a sadness coloring her voice, and I’m a bit confused by the change in mood. Just a few moments ago, she’d been relaxed and joking. But now she is withdrawing right before my eyes. I shoot Leo a look. He shrugs, just as confused as I am.

“I’m glad I was able to help you come to a deal. I hope the board’s counteroffer is acceptable,” she says, glancing over to the corner. “I should pack up my desk and move my things back to my cubicle.”

I almost smile at her words. She thinks this is the end of things. Little does she know, we’re just getting started.

“You’ve been a big part of this, and even if we come to an agreement, I’m going to need you for another month. I’ve really enjoyed working with you,” I say, tossing a hand over the back of the sofa.

“I have, too,” she says, a pink blush coloring those cheeks.

God! Does she even know what that blush does to me?

“I don’t know if Asher has mentioned this, but we’d like you to head up the transition team,” Leo says, setting the papers down and leaning back. “We were lucky to have you on this deal. You saved us from walking away. And if things go the way we want, this acquisition is going to make us a lot of money.”

“I didn’t—” Rose blushes again, then shakes her head. “I was just doing my job.”

“You did a lot more, and you know it,” I lean in and say.

This cat and mouse with her is killing me. If we’d met her out at a club or event, I wouldn’t hesitate to find out. But she isn’t just some girl we picked up. Rose is an employee, and I have to tread carefully. But damn, I want to lean in and taste her, make her moan as I devour those plump lips.

“Asher,” she says on an exhale, “what’s going on here? Why did you really ask me to work on this project?”

“I asked you to work on this project because of your expertise,” I say without hesitation. “And what’s going on? I’m just telling you how much I appreciate working with you.”

“Why?”

Leo, picking up on the electric current, leans in too. “Because,” he says and brushes a knuckle down her bare arm, leaving gooseflesh in his wake. “You’re special. Rose, would you like to—”

Leo’s words are cut short by the ringing of the phone. The heady sexual tension pops, and it’s back to work.