Business Affairs by Shirley Rogers Page A

Regardless of whether she’d had second thoughts, the fact remained that she’d misled him. She’d been trying to confess to him, but then he was inside her, moving, his hot body giving her so much pleasure she couldn’t think.
    If you tell him the truth now, he’ll never believe you.
    The damage had been done. It was irreversible. She could be pregnant right now with his child. To tell him now would only ruin things between them.
    What should she do?
    Don’t say anything.
    What could she say? If she told him they needed to use protection the next time, he’d know she lied.
    She leaned back and raised her head, her gaze traveling slowly over his face until she met his eyes. Without speaking, she moved out of his embrace, reaching for something to cover herself the moment her feet hit the floor.
    Alex watched her movements with a mixture of frustration and surprise. Becoming fully alert, he asked, “Where are you going?”
    Barely glancing at him, Jennifer edged toward the bathroom. “I’m going to, um, use the bathroom. Why don’t you order us something for dinner? I’ll be out in a few minutes.” Not waiting for him to answer, she rushed into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
    Practically growling, Alex climbed from the bed and pulled on his sweatpants. What the hell had just happened? If he didn’t know better, he’d have thought Jennifer was trying to distance herself from him.
    Why?
    You know why.
    Alex sucked in a breath, then blew it out hard. He’d felt her hesitation. Right before he’d taken her, he’d sensed her indecision. Instead of pulling back, instead of letting her speak, he’d kissed her. A long, drugging kiss meant to seduce her.
    Hell, he hadn’t wanted to give her a chance to ask him to stop. Because if she’d asked him to stop, he would have. And he would have regretted not sleeping with her for the rest of his life.
    Feeling lower than scum, he stared at the closed door. He heard her turn off the faucet. His heart in his throat, he waited for her to come out so he could apologize.
    Apologize. As if a few remorseful words could make amends for what he’d done. She was probably furious with him, and rightly so. He deserved so much more than her anger. Snatching up the telephone, he called room service and ordered dinner.
    Still, the bathroom door remained closed. The woman who was assertive and confident in a conference with some of his toughest customers, the woman who had been an energetic and exciting partner in bed, didn’t want to face him.
    Cursing under his breath, Alex paced to the bathroom and knocked on the door. “Jennifer.”
    â€œJust a minute.”
    Alex tried to judge what she was thinking from the tone of her voice, but he came up blank. He wanted to see her face, needed to know he hadn’t ruined everything between them.
    There was a click, then the doorknob slowly turned. Seconds later Jennifer came out, wrapped in his robe.
    His robe. She looked so right, so absolutely breathtaking, he’d never forget this moment. Her hair was wet, slicked back from her face, her skin glowed.
    God, she was beautiful.
    She looked at him then, her hazel eyes soft and so endearingly shy. His breath dammed up inside his lungs. Fascinated, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. “Are you all right?”
    â€œOf course, Alex.”
    Her eyes brightened for just an instant, but then she turned away. As if she wasn’t even aware of him watching her, she retrieved a pair of slacks and a sweater from her suitcase. Then she looked at him. Well, looked in his direction. Her eyes avoided his.
    â€œI need to dress. Do you want the bathroom?”
    She didn’t say anything more. Alex didn’t want to push her. But he did want to talk about what happened between them. Clear the air.
    Beg her forgiveness.
    â€œSure.” But not just yet. Right now he’d give her a few