They sat in the fancy restaurant, Bethany's mind far from anything that might help her future and more attuned to the things that would wreck it. The desire to climb into Damon's seat and drown in the scent of him played through the recess of her mind over and over, her stomach aching from tensing it so many times on the short drive over.

The waiter approached, and Bethany lifted her menu, trying to blink the haze away from her eyes. Damon had ahold of her in ways that birthed worry. Years of not having sex or time to find the right guy to share herself with had left her a bit too needy. The show of desire by the relentless man across the table from her had destroyed her resolve to leave well enough alone. It would take the attention of someone else to get her mind off of him. Maybe Philip was a good idea. He was cute and safe, attractive and seemed to like her already.

"Bethany, what are you having to drink?" Kent's voice tugged her from her thoughts.

"Oh sorry. Water and a glass for whatever you ordered."

"I ordered whiskey. You sure you want a glass?"

Damon chuckled and shook his head. She narrowed her eyes, tilting her head a little.

"Yes, I'll have a glass of whiskey. No problem." She would just sip it. The NRL wouldn't be happening on her shift. Sex, as much as she wanted it with him, would undo them. What happened after the night of passion? How would they act around each other for the rest of their lives?

"Bring the girl a glass then." Kent chuckled and pulled them into a conversation about the audit committee meeting. Bethany turned toward him and forced herself to mentally make notes, ignoring the glances from Damon. She needed help with her master’s program, and Kent was the answer to that or at least the easiest answer. She would think through things and make some decisions, but with a project this important, she had to do well.

Finally gaining her footing, she asked questions and peppered Damon and Kent with scenarios and what ifs. By the end of lunch, they were both seemingly impressed, Kent having laughed loudly at her "brilliance" several times during the meal. As the bill was brought over, Damon excused himself to take a call.

"I'm so glad you'll be with us next week. It should be a great experience for you." He stood and pulled back her chair, Bethany standing and moving toward the front of the restaurant. Damon stood near the bar; a gorgeous blonde pressed to the front of him. He touched her face, leaning into her as she moved up to kiss his cheek. He laughed and said something, turning and walking toward Kent and Bethany.

Bethany averted her gaze as he rushed over her, sickness rolling in her stomach. Jealousy was a horrid emotion and one she wasn't used to feeling too often. Damon opened the door and smiled at them.

"Ready?" He moved back, and Bethany nodded, wanting to ask who the woman was and yet just not willing to let on about her feelings.

Kent and Damon said their goodbyes, talking briefly about last-minute wrap-ups as Bethany got into the car and waited. Damon slid in moments later, his black slacks hugging his strong thighs, the large curve between them making her eyes widen.

"You all right?" he asked, looking over at her as he buckled up.

"Yes. Not used to having liquor at lunch, but I can't say that I won't try it again."

He laughed and pulled the car out, his hand moving to his thigh as he beat out a rhythm that must have been in his head. They drove in silence, his desire to tease her seeming to have been sated. She was almost grateful as they pulled up to the front door of the office, a valet rushing out to help them.

Damon moved beside her and took her hand, Bethany looking down at it in surprise. She looked up as a group of interns moved out into the bright sunlight, Sadie at the front of the pack. Philip wasn't part of the crowd, and for that she was grateful.

"Hi, Damon!" The tacky girl spoke seductively. All of the interns waved at Damon.

"It's Mr. Bryant, and hi, guys. Behave, and no liquor at lunch." He pulled Bethany closer, releasing her as he opened the door for them.

"You know they are going to find out that we're family, and then you'll have a lot of explaining to do." Bethany looked over her shoulder at him as he shrugged.

"I don't have to explain anything to anyone. I'm in charge."

He was right. She walked toward the elevator, moving in and turning to see Damon hover over the opening, shaking his head to people as they walked up to get on. The doors closed, and it was just the two of them. He turned and took two steps toward her. He slid his hands along the wall behind her and pressed the fullness of himself against her, nipping at her mouth.

"Only twenty ways? Where is your imagination?"

Her breath caught in her chest, her body aching for so much more than he would give her. He was a tease, and she hadn't become any better herself.

"Twenty ways?"

He leaned down and kissed her, one hand moving to tug at the budding nipple of her breast. She gasped, swatting at him as he laughed and rolled his hips a few times, forcing her to open her legs a little more as she stood trapped between him and the back of the elevator.

"You want me to fuck you twenty ways. I'm thinking of so many more than twenty. Let's not put a cap on it, hmmm?" He nipped at her again and moved away, the door opening to his floor. He turned to walk from the elevator, grabbing himself and shifting his appearance as he glanced back with hooded eyes.

"Learn your part for the meeting next week, and make sure you wear a dark shirt and black pants, no skirts. Leave your hair up like that, and don't wear lipstick."

"What? Why?"

He chuckled. "Because with your hair down and your innocent green eyes, no one will pay attention to anything. They'll all be seducing you in their heads. You're much too beautiful for that. Wear your hair up. If it's down, they'll like it far too much."

"How about you? Would you like it far too much too?" She bit her lip, the demand to seduce him and drag him down to his knees in front of her flooding over her.

He smiled and let his eyes drag across her, licking his mouth and groaning softly as if tasting something delicious. "Wouldn't you love to know, pussycat?"

Bethany sat in her office, flipping through the files for the meeting, her mind wandering back to each and every encounter with her handsome stepbrother.

"Soon-to-be stepbrother," she mumbled and leaned back in her chair, turning to face the window behind her. She was turning into a nymph. All she’d thought about the last few days was Damon—and even more so, sex with him. Did she have real feelings, or was it just lust? Just the demanding need to feel something as sweet as ecstasy?

"Hey, Bethany. How's it going?"

She turned and stood up, brushing her skirt to remove the cracker crumbs from her latest snack. She smiled at Ben and moved around her desk, crossing her arms over her chest.

"It's going. How about you?"

"Great. I'm looking forward to our event tonight. I swear we all live for Thursday nights instead of Fridays just because of getting out together. The group has started to gel. I think you're just going to be a great add to that."

"Yeah, well, Damon's been giving off the message that he and I have something going on, so not so sure about your hopes of my gelling at all."

"He told me. I think it's smart actually. Sadie and a few of the other girls have been nothing but a pain in the ass since getting here." Ben leaned against the doorframe, his belly hanging a little too far over his slacks. Bethany ignored it and focused on his face, the friendly smile giving her comfort.

"Why not just get rid of them? Wouldn't that be easier?"

"Yeah, but with the labor laws today you have to have a real reason. Who's going to believe that someone who performs at work really well and has high marks from school is sexually harassing someone like Damon? He looks like a predator, not her. Just have to deal with it really."

"That's ridiculous."

"I agree, but it is what it is."

"Is he coming tonight?" Bethany asked, lifting her thumb nail to her lips as she nibbled at it. Damon had already said no, but maybe he was bluffing. Hopefully?

"I was going to ask you the same thing."

"I don't know. We're just pretending to be together. We're not together." Bethany dropped her hand and laughed sardonically. Ben's lips lifted in a goofy grin.

"Of course not, silly. You're family. Anyway, I'm making my rounds to see how you're doing on your workload. Also wanted to remind you that it is an office get-together and, as such, we need to make sure our dress and attitudes represent McKenzie and Bryant as we're out."

She chuckled, Damon's reminder coming from her little black dress comment, no doubt.

"Sounds good. I'm an accountant. I don't own anything that would be considered inappropriate."

Ben smiled and moved from his reclined position. "Doing okay on your workload?"

"Yes, it's going great. Just wrapping up my review for this meeting that Kent and Damon want me in next week."

"The audit committee stuff?"

"Yeah, that's it."

"Yeah, so don't mention that to anyone else. It would seem unfair, and I'm the only one who understands that it's because you’re family that they have plans to move you up the totem pole pretty fast." Ben looked behind him in the hallway.

"Oh okay. Thanks for the advice."

"You bet. See you tonight, and remember: No work talk tonight. Only good times to be had by everyone."

"I'm there, and I will do my best to follow the rules." She lifted an eyebrow as Ben left, the sound of his soft laughter warming her. He was a good guy, one she needed to get to know better. He knew Damon pretty well, so if she was going to get any sort of scoop on who Damon really was or what his past relationships looked like, most likely it was going to be from Ben.

The last few hours of the day passed too quickly. She wrapped up her review and took the zip drive back up to Linda, Damon's secretary. She nodded toward the door and smiled toward the pretty blonde.

"Is he in there?"

"No. He left just after getting back from lunch. I assume he went to see his girlfriend, but don't tell him I said that."

"He has a girlfriend?" Bethany couldn't hide the emotion on her face.

"He has lots of girlfriends." Linda stood up and took the zip drive. "Have a great evening, and enjoy the intern party. If you have your sights set on Damon, don't bother. He's a bastard and a half when it comes to women. Best boss in the world, but his sex drive is insatiable, and he's gotten in loads of trouble thanks to it. Do yourself a favor and stay far, far away."

Bethany nodded, whispering, “I will” as she turned to go.