Baiting the Boss (11 page)

Softly he blew onto her lips. Her mouth and tongue tingled. She never imagined something so innocent could be so erotic.

“You like that?” he murmured.

She nodded, pulses hammering.

“Say it, then, Grace.”

“Yes…I like that.” The naked hunger in her voice made her gulp. She kept her eyes shut, hardly daring to breathe as she wondered what he would do next, where he would caress her.

The tip of his hot tongue whisked across one sensitized nipple. She gasped, arching her back, desperate.

“Do you want more?” His velvet-gravel voice wrapped itself around her spine.

Damn, he was making her pay for running away from him. And she would pay if only he would touch her, take her. Quickly. Hard. Now. “Yes, I want more.”

“How much more?”

The last vestiges of her pride evaporated. “Everything.”

She heard him inhale.

“Okay, then.” The mattress bounced as his weight suddenly lifted off the bed. “You know where to find me.”

The air around her felt horribly cold. She blinked open her eyes to see Jack backing away, a triumphant curl to his lips.

“What?” she stammered, thoroughly confused.

“You heard me. If you want me, I’ll be in the bedroom across the hall.” He opened the door.

Dazed, she propped herself up on one elbow. “But…but why are you doing this?”

“Hell, I wouldn’t want to be accused of being a caveman, now would I?” His mouth twisted into a taunting little smile as his eyes raked her naked, spread-eagled body. “Even if you are laid out for me like an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet.”

He gave her a sardonic salute before shutting the door behind him, leaving her flushed and aching for his touch. Jack had well and truly made her eat her own words. She’d behaved like a tease, leading him on and then accusing him of being a caveman when in reality it was her own confusion that was holding her back.

Why couldn’t she just give in to her cravings and make love with Jack? Why did she have to be so boringly prudent? It was because she knew that the more time she spent in Jack’s bed, the harder it would be to get over him when he left. Because he would leave. There was nothing to hold him here in Sydney and everything to drive him away.

Especially if he suspected she was developing feelings for him. Powerful, unmistakable feelings. No, as much as she’d love to give in to her wantonness, in the end her common sense was too strong. She couldn’t succumb to her passion for Jack. It was a matter of self-preservation.

…

Jack pummeled his pillow and tossed about beneath the sheets, horny as hell and ready to erupt with frustration. It was all his own fault. If he hadn’t been such an idiot, he would now be in Grace’s bed, making hot, steamy love to her. If only he hadn’t been so arrogant. He’d wanted to prove a point, and now it had backfired on him, because contrary to all his expectations, Grace had not come to his room, panting for his body.

Oh, she’d wanted him, all right. She hadn’t been able to hide her arousal, and she’d been his for the taking, but he’d backed off, given her a chance to have second thoughts, and now here he was with a stubborn erection, tormented by vivid memories of her lush, gorgeous curves spread out before him.

He punched the pillow again. Damn, he couldn’t remember being this sexually frustrated since he was a teenager. There was something about Grace that snuck under his defenses and caught him unawares, and every day she seemed to occupy more and more of his thoughts.

Sanity edged back into his brain, cooling some of the sexual hankering. As luscious and inviting as Grace was, he really shouldn’t continue lusting after her. That day they’d spent at Atea Falls had been an interlude from reality, but having an affair with her here in Sydney was asking for trouble. She wasn’t the type of woman for a no-strings, unemotional fling. She had always been honest about how she craved security and stability.

That was why she collected all those animals and bottles and fossils. She needed permanence and a bricks-and-mortar kind of guy, someone who would stay in one place. Not a light-footed rover like him who had no intention of putting down roots. If he slept with Grace, she would get hurt, and he didn’t want to hurt her. He liked her and admired her, and she deserved to have someone worthy of her.

He rolled over yet again. The illuminated clock on his bedside table told him it was almost midnight, yet sleep remained elusive. He had a full day ahead of him tomorrow. With his typical high-handedness, Lachlan had organized a midmorning meeting with him and the Malaysian team, but before that he’d need several hours to familiarize himself with the project.

The call earlier that night that had interrupted his steamy interlude with Grace had been Lachlan informing him that a spare office had been made available for him, plus anything else he might require. Jack could see a mile off where his grandfather was heading, but despite that, he wanted to lend his expertise in construction in foreign countries to the Macintyre employees.

With a sigh he leaned back against his maligned pillows. Inexorably, his thoughts drifted back to Grace lying naked before him, her soft amber eyes wide, her lips plump and parted, her breasts full and sweet, her nipples pert and inviting, the snatch of hair between her thighs glossy and dark. Blood pounded painfully in his groin. He groaned, and as his hand fastened around the base of his hard shaft, he finally succumbed to the fantasy dancing through his head.

…

At seven the next evening, Jack stepped into the elevator and punched the number for his grandfather’s penthouse apartment. As the lift swiftly ascended, he kneaded his temples, wishing he could skip tonight’s dinner, and knowing he couldn’t.

He’d had a long day. The meeting with the Malaysian team had stretched for several hours. They’d all grabbed a quick lunch together and carried on afterward. Then he’d met with his lawyer to discuss his nonprofit venture and the timeline for setting it up. From there he’d gone straight onto his grandfather’s.

He hadn’t seen Grace all day. She’d left her apartment early, and when he’d casually inquired at the office, he’d learned that she was again at a university campus interviewing students. He didn’t want to admit it, but he missed her, and he would far rather have been spending the evening with her than having dinner with the Macintyre family.

He arrived at his grandfather’s apartment to find everyone else already there. In the living room, his two aunts rose to greet him, looking almost identical in smart designer suits, high heels, and chunky jewelry. They fawned over him, both vying for his attention, plying him with drinks and questions about what he’d been doing with himself, although neither seemed too interested in his answers. He wasn’t taken in by their attentive behavior. He knew he was just another item to be argued over.

Lachlan and Cameron emerged from the study to rescue him. Drink in hand, Jack tried to make himself comfortable in the cavernous surroundings of the living room. With its antique furnishings and panoramic views, it was more a room to impress than to relax in.

“How did it go with the Malaysian team?” Lachlan asked him.

“Well enough,” Jack replied. “I think I’ll be of some use to them.” He didn’t want to admit it in front of his grandfather, but he’d enjoyed briefing the team more than he’d expected. Until then, he hadn’t realized how much he’d missed some aspects of his former job at Macintyre’s. The employees were talented, and the construction project was complex and challenging.

Lachlan nodded in approval. “It’s a world-class project. You’d get a lot of kudos if you took it on full-time.”

Jack tensed up. Give Lachlan an inch, and he’d take a mile. He should have remembered that, but he wasn’t going to react to Lachlan’s none-too-subtle pushing.

He gave his grandfather a bland smile. “Thanks, but I’ll leave the kudos to someone else.”

Lachlan hunched his shoulders and pursed his lips but seemed to take the hint. He turned away and began talking to Kirsten and Louisa. Cameron drew Jack aside.

“As you can see, the old man hasn’t changed much,” Cameron said with a wry smile.

Jack studied his younger cousin with fresh eyes. “And how’re you coping working under him? I never thought you’d be interested in Macintyre’s.”

“Me neither, but circumstances change.” Cameron shrugged and strolled toward the glass doors looking out onto a sweeping balcony.

Sensing his cousin wanted to confide in him, Jack followed. “Oh yeah? What kind of circumstances?”

Cameron lowered his voice. “Complicated ones. Back in Perth, I had a brief affair with someone. It wasn’t a relationship, just a couple of dates, but she became pregnant, and I’m a dad now. Twins, actually.” He dug into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a mobile phone. “Sophie and Pia. Look, aren’t they beautiful?”

Bemused, Jack flicked through photos of two blue-eyed, dimpled babies just a few months old. “Son of a gun. I never knew. Congratulations, mate.”

“Thanks.” Cameron beamed, fatherly pride written all over his face. His expression grew wistful as he repocketed the phone. “I only see them every two weeks. Their mother and I…well, there was no question of us being together. I offered to marry her, but she declined. Said she wouldn’t be forced into a marriage of convenience. We agreed it would be in the twins’ best interests if we tried to be civilized about the whole thing. I came to work at Macintyre’s so I could provide for them all.”

“And you fly back to Perth every two weeks to see them?”

Cameron nodded. “I have enough frequent flyer points to go to the moon and back, but it’s worth it.”

“What about your rock band?” Jack asked. “You don’t regret giving that up?”

“I’ll always have my music, but my girls come first. And surprisingly, I’m enjoying my job. I used to be the manager of my band, and believe me, handling a bunch of stroppy, drunk, egotistical musicians is just as difficult as managing engineers and accountants.”

“I’m surprised I didn’t hear about your children earlier.”

Cameron cast a sidelong glance at his mother. “Mum doesn’t approve, of course. She thinks it’s a scandal.” He shrugged, making it clear he didn’t agree with Louisa. “But she’s over the moon that I’ve joined Macintyre’s. She thinks I’m a shoo-in to be the next CEO after Granddad retires.”

“She may be right.” Jack glanced at his grandfather. Lachlan’s eyes were as alert as ever, but his shoulders seemed more stooped, his hands more gnarled. Age was finally catching up with him. “It’s no secret he wants to relinquish the day-to-day running of the company, and he’s determined that someone in the family should always be at the helm. So that means you, coz.”

“I’ve only been in the business just over a year. I’m not ready.” Cameron studied the contents of his wineglass. “And besides, I’m hoping to transfer back to Perth so I can be closer to my kids.” He looked up at Jack, his face determined. “I don’t want to be CEO. Never did. That’s why I’m so glad to see you back in the fold, so to speak.”

A sinking feeling drained Jack. Not Cameron as well. Why did everyone seem hell-bent on shackling him here in Sydney? He set down his own glass.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I have no plans whatsoever of returning to Macintyre’s.”

“You don’t?” Cameron’s shoulders sagged a fraction. “But the welcome lunch and the Malaysian project…”

“Just Lachlan up to his usual bulldozing tactics.” Jack’s lips tightened. The disappointment in his cousin’s face nicked his conscience. He could well imagine the kind of pressure Cameron was under, from his grandfather as well as his mother. Louisa would love it if her son stayed in Sydney. Not only would she have the reflected glory of him being Macintyre’s’ heir apparent, she would also keep him away from the children she viewed as scandalous. Poor Cameron. But he couldn’t afford to let sympathy for his cousin’s plight cloud his judgment.

“I’m only in Sydney for a few days.” He raised his voice to emphasize the point to everyone in the room.

“Oh, but you have to stay for the inauguration,” Aunt Kirsten called out, tripping across the room in her stiletto heels.

“What inauguration?”

“Of the Macintyre Foundation, silly.” Kirsten pressed her red-tipped fingernails into Jack’s arm. “The inauguration ball is next week. You simply have to be here.”

“I’m sure Jack doesn’t want to be held up by a charity ball.” Louisa stalked after her sister.

“But it’s the highlight of the social calendar. Everyone who’s anyone is fighting to be there. It’s going to be a
stunning
evening!” Kirsten spread wide her hands in exaggeration.

“It could also be a colossal embarrassment if we don’t get the finer details sorted out,” Louisa retorted.

Kirsten rounded on her sister. “Oh, must we bring all that up again?”

“You insisted you’d take care of the prizes and the auction, and you’ve done nothing! All you care about is what dress you’re going to wear.”

“And you’re just jealous because I bagged the Galliano dress you were after!”

The two sisters faced off, almost spitting at each other. Before they could continue, Lachlan thrust himself in between them.

“I’m sick of this constant bickering. You two will be the death of me. Why can’t you cooperate? It’s not hard, is it, organizing a charity ball?”

“It is when I have to work with someone as incompetent as her,” Louisa spat out.

Kirsten sniffed and stuck up her nose. “Well fine, you don’t have to. You can do it all by yourself now. I resign from the organizing committee.”

“You can’t dump me with everything at the last minute!”

Kirsten folded her arms. “I have no choice. I can’t work with you.”

Furious, Louisa turned to her father. “See what I have to put up with all the time?”

Lachlan lifted his hands in a gesture of weary exasperation. “If Kirsten doesn’t want to do it, then fine. There’ll be less arguing. Louisa, from now on you’re in charge of the ball.”

“But how am I going to get all her tasks done on top of mine?”

“I’ll get someone to help you.” Lachlan huffed for a moment, his forehead furrowed, before he snapped his fingers. “Grace. I’ll get Grace Owens to help you. She’s good at this sort of last-minute crisis stuff.”