Cathryn Fox by Regina Page B

under her skin.
    Fully aware that Jamie was watching her, she twisted back around and said, “I’m fine.”
    “Okay,” Jamie dropped the subject for the time being. “We still on for lunch?”
    Allison smoothed down her white, knee-length pencil skirt and tried to sound casual. “Koko’s?”
    Jamie raised a brow. “We haven’t been there in a while.”
    Allison shrugged. “I’m in the mood for noodles.” She was almost positive her choice of restaurant had nothing to do with Carter, or the fact that they had met there a little over a year and a half ago and it had been their favorite spot to dine ever since.
    “Okay,” Jamie said. “I have a few errands to run so I’ll meet you there.” She tossed the words over her shoulder as she disappeared from the doorway.
    Allison followed Jamie into the reception area and tried to get her nerves under control as she made her way down the long hall.
    When she approached her office, she wrapped her palm around the cool knob and looked through the narrow windowpane fringing the door. As she focused on the man lounging on the plush chair facing her desk, every reason they’d had for splitting up some four months ago, right around the time he recklessly got involved in a shoot-out, suddenly seemed so insignificant.
    But it wasn’t insignificant.
    After a quick consultation with herself, she returned to professional mode, determined to stop thinking about him as anything but a client. Cripes, if she couldn’t get him out of her head, how the heck was she ever going to get him out of her heart?
    She tamped down her emotions, pushed open the door and made her way across the gleaming porcelain floor. Looking for a distraction, she concentrated on the click of her heels as she hurried toward her large masculine desk, one she’d inherited from her late father and treasured with her life. Before she could safely make it to the other side to put some well-needed distance between her and the man who could fire her blood with a simple smile, Carter jumped to his feet and turned to face her, blocking her path.
    Her steps slowed and she didn’t miss the warmth in his dark eyes as they moved over her. Nor did she miss the fine shiver of need teasing her senses, reminding her that, while they’d had their fair share of fights, there had been some good times too.
    “Carter,” she greeted him and noted that his sun-kissed hair was a little longer than usual. She also noted that it didn’t matter how he wore his thick, tangled locks, which always looked sexy and mussed like he’d just crawled out of bed. Carter could even make bald look good.
    “Ally.” He took a small, cautious step toward her, and his tone was soft when he asked, “How’ve you been?”
    She sidestepped him, walked around her desk, and tried not to sound breathless when she answered, “Good. You?”
    Okay, she could do this. She could keep things professional and get straight to business, despite the fact that her insides felt like they were being tossed around like a hat full of bad ideas at a marketing meeting.
    “I’ve been…okay,” he answered, and that was when she noticed the deep lines beneath his eyes.
    For a brief second she wondered if he was okay. Then again, maybe he was tired because he’d been up late… entertaining .
    Allison tightened, hating how that thought bothered her so much. The truth was she had no claims on Carter. Not anymore. And she had no reason to be jealous.
    Gathering her wits, she placed her briefcase and laptop on her desk. “What can I do for you?”
    She addressed her agenda as she gingerly lowered herself into her chair. “Your shoot isn’t for a few more hours.”
    “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
    He leaned across the table and planted his palms on her desk. Beneath the scent of his warm, earthy skin, she caught a whiff of his spicy soap, and heated memories rushed to the forefront of her brain. Her blood pulsed hot and it took all her effort to