and authoritative about her business. She’d never been any man’s fantasy. Too tall for most boys. Too flat-chested and skinny for the rest, the best she’d been able to hope for from her male classmates in high school was best friend or buddy. She’d grown up playing soccer, basketball and baseball with the guys.
Which is why it continued to blow her mind that a man like Maxwell Case, who could have any woman he wanted, had wanted her once upon a time.
An enormous cherry desk dominated a position in front of the windows. The piece seemed too clunky for Max. Rachel pictured him behind an aerodynamic glass and chrome desk loaded down with the latest computer gadgets.
Instead of leading the way toward his desk, Max settled on the couch that occupied one wall of his office. With a flick of his hand, he indicated a flanking chair. Disliking the informality of the setting, Rachel perched on the very edge of the seat. Her briefcase on her lap acted as both a shield and a reminder that this was a business meeting.
“I need an executive assistant here first thing tomorrow.”
Rachel hadn’t been prepared for Andrea to have her baby two weeks early. She had no one available that was skilled enough to fill in starting in the morning. “I have the perfect person for you, but she can’t start until Monday.”
“That won’t do.”
With her commission slipping away, panic crept into her voice. “It’s only two days. Surely you can make it without an assistant until Monday.”
“With Andrea gone today, I’m already behind. We’re up to our necks in next year’s budgets. I need someone who can get up to speed swiftly. Someone with world-class organizational skills.” His focus sharpened on her. “Someone like you. You’re exactly what I need.”
Her gut clenched at the flare of something white hot in his eyes.
A matching blaze roared to life inside her. Five years ago, that similar fire had charred her self-protective instincts and reduced her sensible nature to ash. She’d flung herself headlong into his arms without considering the repercussions.
The last time she’d lost herself that way, he’d ended up hating her. Meeting his gaze, she realized that his anger hadn’t been blunted by the passing years. Time hadn’t healed. It had honed his resentment into a razor-sharp tool for revenge.
Rachel braced herself against the earthquake of panic that threatened her peaceful little world and set her jaw. “You can’t have me.”
Her declaration hung in the air.
But he could have her …
As his assistant.
In any of the dozens of ways he’d had her before.
His choice. Not hers.
Energy zipped between them, fascinating and unsettling. The scent of her perfume aroused memories. Reminded him how sharp and sweet the desire was between them.
“Are you really ready to risk disappointing a client?”
“No.” A rosy flush dusted her high cheekbones. Had she picked up on his thoughts? “But I can’t abandon my business to be your assistant.”
“Hire someone to fill in for you.” He bared his teeth in an unfriendly grin. “Even you can see the irony in that.”
For the last few minutes, cracks had been developing in her professionalism. “You’re being unreasonable.”
“Of course I am. I’ll call someone else.” The telltale widening of her eyes was gone so fast he nearly missed it. This is where he challenged her reputation for providing excellent customer service to test how badly she wanted his business. “I’m sure another agency would have what I need.”
“Lansing Employment has what you need,” she countered, the words muddy because she spoke through clenched teeth.
He held silent while she tried to stare him down. Every instinct told him to send her on her way as he would any other supplier who couldn’t provide him with exactly what he wanted.
But they had unfinished business. At some point in the last five minutes he’d decided he needed closure. Four days with her hadn’t been enough time for the passion to burn out. Much to his dismay, he still wanted her. But for how long was anyone’s guess. From past experience he knew his interest rarely lasted more than two months.
And when he grew tired of her, he would end things on his terms. On his schedule.
“Fine.” She glared at him. “I’ll fill in for two days.”
“Wonderful.”
She stood, ready to stalk out of the office, but something held her in place. Her eyes were troubled as they settled on him. “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Demanding that I act as your assistant until I can find a replacement.”
“You’re here. It’s expedient.”
His current workload was crushing him. His managers had finalized their forecasts and forwarded next year’s budget numbers a week ago. With the economy slow to recover, controlling spending and increasing sales was more important than ever. Case Consolidated Holdings owned over a dozen companies, each one with very different markets and operations. It was an organizational challenge to collect and analyze data from the various sources given that each entity operated in a completely unique environment with it’s own set of parameters and strategic plans.
Andrea knew the businesses as well as he did. Losing her now threw off his entire schedule.
“Are you sure that’s all it is?” Rachel demanded.
Max stopped worrying about deadlines and reminded himself that his desperate staffing situation was only half the reason he’d insisted Rachel fill in for a few days. “What else could it be?”
“Payback for how things ended between us?”
“It’s business.” That she was suspicious of his motives added spice to the game.
“So, you’re not still angry?” she persisted.
Yes. He was still angry.
“After five years?” He shook his head.
“Are you sure?”
“Are you challenging whether or not I know my own mind?”
His irritation had little effect on her. “Five years ago, you made it very clear you never wanted to see me again.”
“That’s because you never told me you were married.” He kept his tone smooth, but it wasn’t enough to mask his dangerous mood. “Despite my telling you how I felt about infidelity. How it nearly destroyed my parents’ marriage. You involved me in an extramarital affair without my knowledge.”
“I’d left my husband.”
He breathed deep to ease the sudden ache in his chest. “Yet when he showed up, you went back to him fast enough.”
“Things were complicated.”
“I didn’t see complications. I saw lies.”
“I was going through some tough times. Meeting you let me forget my troubles for a while.”
“You used me.”
She tipped her head and regarded him through her long lashes. “We used each other.”
Max’s gaze roamed over her. She wasn’t the most beautiful woman he’d ever met. Her nose was too narrow. Her chin a bit too sharp. She hid her broad forehead with bangs. Boyishly slim, her body lacked the feminine curves he usually appreciated in a woman. But there was something lush about the fullness of her lips. And he’d adored nibbling his way down her long, graceful neck.
He wasn’t surprised to be struck by a blast