her even more than that first day she had met him.
“Zach, I should quit this job right now,” she whispered. He gave her a startled look and she could feel her face flush.
“Over a few meaningless kisses?” he asked.
She didn’t want to answer him. He stood there looking at her in that sharp manner he had while she struggled to get the right words.
“The kisses—” She paused. She didn’t want to admit more to him, but he wanted an answer. “Kisses weren’t like others. This was different. We have something—” She waved her hands helplessly.
He inhaled, drawing deeply, his chest expanding as longing flared again in his eyes.
“Common sense tells me to walk away now,” she whispered. “You have a reputation for never going out with an employee.”
“I never have,” he answered. “That doesn’t mean I can’t.”
“That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I want this job.”
“We’ll do something,” he replied, his voice raspy and quiet. “Don’t quit. We’ll try to stick to work.”
She shook her head, looking at his mouth and feeling her pulse speed as they talked. “I can’t. I’m quitting. I don’t think you need more notice than that. You can find a wonderful, efficient secretary soon enough.”
“No,” he replied, jamming his hands into his pockets while a muscle worked in his jaw. “I’ll double your salary and you stay.”
“Double my salary?” she repeated, shaking her head.
“You don’t need to pack and go because we kissed. We’re adults. If we kiss, it’s not that big a deal. There’s nothing between us—no history, no ties. If you don’t want to get involved, we can both exercise control. With my offer, you’ll earn twice as much. Don’t walk out on that over a few casual kisses.”
Exasperated and stung over his dismissal of kisses that had shaken her, she stared at him. “There’s no relationship between us. There’s not even any emotional bond. We’re practically strangers. But those kisses weren’t casual to my way of thinking,” she whispered.
She stepped close, put her arm around his neck and placed her mouth on his, kissing him with all the heat and fury she felt over his dismissive attitude. After one second that probably was his surprise holding him immobile, his arm banded her waist and he returned her kiss. Fully. He pressed against her, his tongue going deep while she kissed him, trying to set him on fire. In seconds she broke off the kiss and looked up with satisfaction.
“I’d say your body’s reaction isn’t casual.”
With his eyes darkened, his breathing was ragged. She had felt the hard throb of manhood against her and his heart pounding.
“Okay. Kisses damn well aren’t casual, but I’m trying to get us back there,” he said. A muscle worked in his jaw. When his attention focused on her mouth, she stepped back.
“Do you still want to double my salary—or do you want me to go?”
“I’ll double your salary,” he replied, grinding out the words.
“You’ll double my salary to get me to continue as your secretary. You know I can’t turn that down.”
“I hope not. You’re a good secretary,” he answered in a more normal tone of voice.
Inhaling deeply, she promised herself she would exercise better control.
“Against good judgment, I’ll stay. I can’t say no. I need the money for my college plans.”
“That’s settled.” They stared at each other until she realized what she was doing.
“I came over here for something,” she said, feeling foolish, struggling against stepping into his arms again, yet determined to regain her composure. She looked around and spotted the small box on the corner of Zach’s desk. She retrieved the box, clinging to it as if it were a lifeline.
“Look at this.”
He was still gazing at her and his blue eyes had darkened again. His expression no longer appeared as impersonal. Her heart drummed while her lips tingled. The urge to reach for him tormented her. With a deep breath he looked down, picked up the watch and turned it in his hand.
“This is a find,” he said, his voice deep, becoming hoarse, and she was certain the husky tone was not caused by the watch he held. “This watch is worth going through the box of stuff.” Turning it in his hand, he studied the gold back. “These are my great-great-grandfather’s initials,” Zach said, extending it to her and she looked down, stepping closer to gaze at the watch, which she had already studied. “Warner Irwin Delaney,” Zach read. “This we’ll keep, thank you, Emma.”
“It’s a beautiful pocket watch. I’m glad you’re keeping it. I’ll research to find one like it to pinpoint how old it is. For the moment, I’ll see what else I can find.”
“I’ll help for a while,” he said. “The watch makes poking around in all the old stuff more interesting.”
She returned to her chair, mindful of him pulling one up nearby. The awareness of him was sharp, intense and disturbed her concentration. She wanted to take a long look at him, but she didn’t want to get caught studying him.
She tried to focus on a letter and realized her concentration was on Zach only. His kisses had been fantastic, setting her on fire in a blaze that still burned. She wanted more kisses, wanted to dance and flirt and make love—reactions that shocked her. Ones she had never experienced before in this manner. The men in her life had always been friends, family-oriented guys she had been comfortable with. Never anyone she had been very serious about either. Why did he hold such appeal for her?
She could barely think about the jump in salary for thinking about the man. Any other time in her life she would have been overjoyed at the increase in pay, but now it kept slipping her mind, replaced by thoughts about Zach.
The wise thing to do would be to pack and go no matter what salary he offered. She couldn’t do it. The salary was important. College—and her classes on the internet—was expensive. This boost in salary filled a great need. Without thinking, she glanced at him. He was studying her openly and she felt her face flush as they looked into each other’s eyes.
The glance had the same effect as a touch.
They worked in silence. As he methodically shoved aside letters, she realized he was looking for more things like the watch. She became absorbed in her reading.
“I feel as if I know part of your family,” she said, folding a letter. “After the Civil War, Warner Delaney started building this ranch house. He brought his family out here. Earlier, he met a woman in Kansas City and is going to ask her to marry him.”
“My great-great-grandmother? Her name was Tabitha, I think.”
They heard a commotion in the hall and a tall man in Western boots, jeans, a navy sweater and a Stetson entered the room. He held the hand of a little black-haired girl who smiled broadly at Zach and then glanced shyly at Emma.
“Will. Caroline. How’s my prettiest and favorite niece?” Zach asked, lifting her up and holding her to kiss her cheek. She laughed and giggled as he set her on her feet. “Hey, Will. Where’s Ava?”
“Stopped to talk to Rosie and leave Muffy with her. Muffy is a dog,” he explained, glancing at Emma.
“Emma, this is my niece, Caroline, and my brother Will Delaney. Ah, here is Ava. Emma, meet Ava Delaney. This is Emma Hillman, my secretary.”
As she shook hands with the adults, Emma gazed into warm welcoming green eyes of a sandy-haired blonde. Caroline, holding a small brown bear, could not stop smiling.
“C’mon, let’s go into the family room where it’s