Chapter 10

Claire had barely cleared the front doors of the office when she called Sonja again to finish their conversation. She told her all about how things had gone with working with Harper all day.

“I can’t believe this. Only you would wind up in such a pickle. It is so unlike you, too, the one-night stand and all. Just dumb luck he turned out to be your boss. How crazy is that!” Sonja exclaimed after she had caught her up on what all had happened.

Of course, Sonja couldn’t resist trying to coax details about her sexy encounter with Harper last night, but she refused to give out any naughty specifics.

“All she can tell you is that it was intense and I’m going to have a tough time concentrating on work when he’s nearby.”

“You won’t be able to concentrate. How do you think I feel?” came a voice from behind her.

It was playful, but Claire suddenly felt her heart fall into her feet. She turned to see Harper standing behind her on the sidewalk, smiling at her with that same smile that continued to melt her. Once again, she told Sonja she had to go and ended the call.

“Are you stalking me?”

Claire tried to recover from her obvious mortification with a playful accusation. How much had he overheard and why was he behind her? How long had he been following her?

“No. Are you stalking me? I mean, you are on the same sidewalk that I’m on,” he replied.

His smirk was widening and Claire couldn’t decide if she wanted to wipe it from his face with the backside of her hand or cover it with her lips.

“I didn’t realize you were leaving right after I did.” It was all she could think of to say. It was a public sidewalk and Claire had no way of knowing he would be headed in the same direction right behind her.

Had it been purposeful or was it coincidence? Hadn’t he made it clear he intended to maintain a professional relationship and forget last night ever happened? It wasn’t as if Claire had any choice but to maintain a business relationship with him at this point.

“I tell you what. You had a great first day. How about I buy you a drink to celebrate?”

“No.”

“No? Turning down the boss for a mere congratulatory drink?”

“I just don’t think we should put ourselves in awkward situations. Today was awkward enough.”

“Granted it was quite a surprise, but we are both adults. We’re going to have to get past it and being social is a very big part of the advertising business. You’ll be called upon to socialize with clients often. Most people think your job operates sort of on the back end, but I prefer that you be involved, hear what the clients want first hand.”

“That is all well and good, but there are no clients to be out with tonight.”

“That is correct. There is only a boss asking his new employee out for an innocent drink to show his thanks for her arduous work today. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“I just think it best that we don’t, not so soon after last night.”

“Playing hard to get. I get it. Okay. We’ll maintain our distance so you can concentrate on work.”

The disappointment wasn’t hard to discern in his voice and the way he was looking at her was enough to make any woman putty in his hands, but she wasn’t going to let him diminish her resolve with those baby blues. Why was he doing this, anyway? He’d already been clear about not mixing business with pleasure.

“Very good. I’m going to get back to my hotel then. It’s a bit of a hike.”

“Let me at least walk with you. I have my mind on a drink and I rather liked that little rooftop bar of your hotel.” He didn’t seem to be implying anything other than what he was saying.

“That would be nice of you, but I’m going to be blunt and admit that the last thing I need to do is be alone with you, even on a public sidewalk, or tempted to invite you to my room again.”

There, Claire had said it. Round two was too big a risk for her to take and if she were given the opportunity, she might forget that.

“Understood and I’ll respect that. I told you that I don’t mix business with pleasure, so you are perfectly safe from me. So, let’s be on our way, shall we?”

“That would be very nice of you. Thanks,” she said, resigned to letting him walk with her and parting ways once they arrived on her floor, where he continued on up toward the bar.

Later, back in her room and taking a nap on the bed, Claire dreamed about how he had felt the night before, awakening with a fine bead of perspiration all over her body and an ache that wouldn’t go away until she took matters into her own hands, relieving the built-up longing with her trembling fingers.