Bethany moved toward her new office like a zombie, her mind trying desperately to work through the last few words her stepbrother Damon had spoken to her. His voice had been filled with conviction, the seriousness of his gaze leaving her to wonder if he hadn't meant everything simply from a business perspective.

He had certain needs, and she would be required to know them and fulfill them, as it seemed every other woman in the company was busy trying to do.

Did Kent know that his son was pimping out the women of their accounting firm for his own perverted desires?

Or had Damon simply meant that, as the CFO, he would need her to be on her toes, to work fast, like he did, and keep on top of things? Those were needs, too… Maybe she was trying to make something sexual out of it because he was by far the most good-looking man she'd seen in her short life.

"Here's your office. The laptop is yours to take with you. The cords are all there, and the phone is already set up." The receptionist turned and extended a golden key, her long nails almost covering up the small item. "Here's your key. You'll need to go tomorrow and get a badge. You're not in the system yet, but Linda will work on that later today for you."

"Thanks." Bethany took the key and moved into the large office, looking over her shoulder as the woman lingered in the doorway. "Do all of the interns have offices this big?"

"No, but you must have impressed someone. Usually, three of them share an office this big." The other woman smiled, lipstick staining her teeth. Bethany almost told her but thought better of it.

"Okay. Thank you again. I'll reach out if I need help."

"Your best bet is to call Ben. He's the intern coordinator for the audit side. I would think you'd be starting off there."

"I'm not entirely sure, to be honest, but I'll call Ben." Bethany smiled as the receptionist shrugged and turned to go.

Her thoughts slipped back to Damon, her conversation with him raring back to life in her mind. Perhaps he hadn't meant that she'd be filling his sexual needs, but his reference to putting her in various positions and making it stimulating and enjoyable for them both?

"Come on …" she whispered, taking a seat and leaning back, her skin flushed with the idea of being naked beneath him. He was far too much man for her. Of that she was sure.

"He's your freaking stepbrother too. Get ahold of yourself." She huffed, looking up to see Ben standing in her door with a friendly smile on his face.

"You always talk to yourself?"

"Yep. Only person I've found that isn't quick to disagree with my opinions." She laughed and motioned for him to come in.

"Oh really? Seems like the greatest struggle I have is convincing myself to do something." He sat down in the chair in front of her, his expression open and calm.

Bethany let her thoughts of Damon go by the wayside; the inappropriateness of having those thoughts at work caused her no small amount of discomfort.

"Too funny. So the receptionist told me that you're the intern coordinator."

"That I am. I asked Damon if I could have a few more things on my plate, and he was happy to supply them." Ben shrugged, his cheeks coloring pink.

"You don't have enough work around here?" She smiled, jabbing at him about the overload of work he was probably pushing around. If she'd learned one thing in school, it was that accounting firms of all sizes were sweatshops. You got in and killed yourself until you limped out. The dark circles under Ben's swollen eyes told her his story was in line with her assumptions.

"I have plenty of work, but I'm a single guy, so it's important for me to get out and socialize. I'm originally from Seattle and haven't met too many people yet. Kent brought me down here to help establish a special service line that we'll be starting later this year."

"Interesting. So managing the interns gives you a chance to get out of the office for happy hours and get to know people."

"Exactly." He smiled and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his portly stomach. "Speaking of … there’s a new club in town that the interns are wanting to check out as a group on Thursday night. We thought instead of happy hour at one of the local pubs we'd go see what the rage is all about."

"What's the name of the place?" Bethany leaned forward, pressing her forearms to her desk, her interest piqued. Having been in college just down the street for the last few years, there weren't too many places she didn't know about.

"It's called Masquerade." He shrugged, his smile the only thing giving away his level of excitement. "You don't have to dress up special, but if you get on the dance floor, then you're required to wear a mask like you would at a ball."

"Weird. Is it new?"

"Yep. Just opened two weeks ago. I swear, it’s all anyone’s talking about."

"I'm in. I need to get out, and I'd love to meet the rest of the interns. Does anyone go with us, or is it just interns?"

"Sometimes the boss man will make an appearance, but I highly doubt it since it’s a club. His party days are over, I think. He works far too hard to enjoy life much." Ben shook his head as if disappointed in Damon for his unwillingness to live a little.

Bethany sat quietly for a moment, the thought of Damon not living seeming impossible. From the conversation he’d had on the phone with his girlfriend, it seemed that he was living a lot. To tell a girl to wear a certain dress and heels was one thing, but to command her to leave her panties at home? Hot and disturbing.

She could see her and Damon in her afternoon fantasies.

"Why the faraway look?" Ben asked, his short chuckle bringing Bethany back to the present.

"Hmmm?"

"You look like you're lost in thought."

"Oh, just trying to deal with all of the transitions in my life. Sorry. Didn't sleep too well last night. I was nervous like crazy about this morning."

"I bet. It's not only graduation for you but a new family and your first accounting job, right?"

"How did you know?" She tilted her head to the side, her smile dropping as she tried to understand who else knew about her and Damon being family soon.

Ben held his hands up, standing and shaking his head as he backed toward the door.

"I'm the only one. I get a full rundown on you guys from the boss man because I'm in charge of the program. I only know what I just shared, though, so no worries about a bulletin board being up with your info for all to see." He laughed, and Bethany did too, liking him for his transparency, above all.

"Damon told you about his father and my mother?"

"Yeah, and a little about you. I'm pretty excited to have you join us. Graduating near the top of UT's accounting program is a big deal."

"Thanks. It felt like a great accomplishment. I'm starting my master’s in a few weeks. Just trying to pay for it."

"I totally understand." He moved just outside of the door, his hands reaching up to grip the frame. "So, you're with us on Thursday night?"

"Yeah, sounds good."

"Any questions so far?"

She bit her lip, wondering if she should ask Ben about Damon's sensual responses, question him on how Damon plays ball in the office. She could tell the man before her respected their boss, but she wondered if part of that wasn't a bromance in the works. Damon had looks and money, prestige and power—everything any man would want.

"What's the story with Damon?"

"What do you mean?" Ben took a few steps back into her office, moving to lean against the bookshelf. It groaned under his weight but held him.

"I just mean that he has a sexy secretary and he seems to be dating a very attractive blonde … I don't know. Never mind." She shrugged, heat rising to her face. She reached up and rubbed her cheeks, her embarrassment obvious.

"No, I don't mind answering. I think Linda was someone Mr. Bryant, Damon's father, hired. I honestly didn't think Damon was dating anyone, but it's good to hear. He needs to spend a little bit of time away from this place. His dad is looking at retiring in a few years, and Damon is the next in line, I guess."

"What about Seattle? Did you work for them up there or for someone else?"

"Them. They have a small accounting shop up there, mostly taxes, but it's a good learning experience. I'm originally from Seattle, so it was a natural transition to go to work for them. Damon and I spent some time in college together, though he's a lot older than me. He was a Kappa Alpha, and I was pledging his last year as president."

"He was Kappa Alpha?" Totally made sense.

"Yeah, we both were." He shrugged and looked around the empty office. "You need to put your diploma and a few pictures up in here. You dating as well?"

"Me? No. I wish … I just haven't found the right guy."

"I hear you. I'm looking for the right girl, but when you put in a million hours, it's hard to meet her." He paused and let his gaze fall back on Bethany. "Did Damon do something that made you uncomfortable, or were you just questioning his loving on blondes?"

She stood, stretching and reaching up to cover her mouth as she yawned.

"He just said a few things that seemed kind of … suggestive, but maybe that's because I don't know him. He's my stepbrother or will be soon, so I’m just trying to figure out who he is."

Ben laughed and moved back to the door, looking over his shoulder. "He's a great guy, very professional. If he seems to be flirtatious, it's just because he's a friendly guy. Half the interns would sell their souls to the devil to have him glance at them, but he's just not willing. I've never heard him say, or seen him do, anything that would cause me to question his ethics."

"Very good. I'm happy to be here, and I'm in for Thursday."

"Call if you need anything. You have lunch plans today?"

"I'm going to catch up on getting this stuff together. I had a huge breakfast."

"Suit yourself. I'll see you later, I'm sure. Just down the hall if you need me."

"Thanks, Ben."

She smiled and waited until he was gone before plopping down in her chair. Ben would have a heart attack if she repeated the panty conversation she'd overheard. He'd been playing with her, talking like that in front of her. He wasn't the perfectly professional guy that Ben thought he was. Did that make him a creep?

Maybe he was just interested in her.

"He's your stepbrother, for fuck’s sake."

She growled and turned to her computer, her phone buzzing with a new text message. It was her mother letting her know that they'd be having company for dinner. Her new brother would be dropping by to get to know Bethany better.

Damon was coming to dinner?

"Crap," she whispered. The handsome alpha was already on her mind much more than she was comfortable with. Too bad she wasn't blonde. She tugged at a strand of her hair, wondering what she'd look like as a blonde.

She rolled her eyes at her wayward thoughts and dove into the complicated accounting technology the firm used—no guide available or needed.