High-Powered, Hot-Blooded by Susan Mallery Page B

arrangement. A deal. This isn’t part of the deal.”
    “You’re complaining because I’m giving you more?”
    No. She was worried that if he was nice, if he was approachable and kind, she wouldn’t have a chance of getting out of this with her heart in one piece.
    The truth slammed into her and it was all she could do to stay standing. Of course. Why hadn’t she realized it before? Duncan was a force of nature and she was just a regular person. He was rich and strong and powerful and unlike anyone she’d ever known. She’d been in trouble from the second they’d met.
    “I…” She swallowed. “You didn’t have to do this.”
    “I wanted to.”
    “It will make things a lot easier. Thank you.”
    He moved close and cupped her face in his large hands. “Was that so hard?”
    “No.”
    He was going to kiss her and she was going to let him. It was already too late to try to protect herself. The best she could do was see this to the end and pray she wasn’t totally devastated when it was over. A test of strength, she thought. A trial by fire.
    His mouth moved against hers in a way that had become familiar. There was always the taking, but it was tempered somehow. Maybe by her own hunger, her need for him.
    She released the papers and let them fall to the floor so she could wrap her arms around his neck. He drew her against him and she went willingly. The kiss deepened. Passion swept through her. Now, she thought, burning with hunger. She wanted him now.
    She squirmed to get closer and felt his arousal, thick and hard against her belly. It would be so easy, right here on his big desk. The one in the room with all the windows. Where anyone could see or walk in.
    He drew back and looked into her eyes. “Reality check.”
    She nodded. “There are a lot of people all around.”
    “At the time, the windows seemed like a good idea.”
    Now it was her turn to smile. “And today?”
    “Not so good.”
    He kissed her again, more lightly this time. Then he released her.
    She stepped away reluctantly. He picked up the papers she’d dropped and handed them to her.
    She folded them and put them in her purse. “Thank you for doing this. It really helps.”
    “You’re welcome.” He put his arm around her and guided her to the door. “My uncle Lawrence wants to meet you.”
    “I’d like to meet him, too.” she said. Maybe find a moment to ask what Duncan had been like when he’d been younger.
    “How about Sunday for dinner? My place?”
    “I’d like that.”
    She’d like a lot more, she thought as she made her way back to her car. A chance to make this all real. A foolish wish, she reminded herself. Duncan had been clear about what he wanted from the beginning. From all that she knew, he wasn’t the kind of man who changed his mind about anything.

    After Annie left, Duncan found it difficult to refocus on work. The report on his computer was a lot less interesting than it had been before she’d stopped by. He found himself wanting to go after her. Maybe take her to his place for the rest of the afternoon…and the evening. But he had meetings and something inside him warned him that he would have to be careful. He didn’t want her reading too much into their relationship. He appreciated all that Annie had done and didn’t want her getting hurt.
    At four, his assistant buzzed to tell him a Ms. Morgan had arrived for their meeting. Duncan glanced at his calendar, then frowned as he couldn’t place the name. Someone from accounting, the note said.
    “Send her in.”
    Seconds later a short, fifty-something woman walked in and smiled shyly. She wore her hair short and had on a drab suit and sensible shoes.
    “Ms. Morgan,” he said, pointing to the chair on the other side of his desk.
    “Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Patrick.”
    The woman had a folder in her hands. She looked both determined and nervous.
    When she was seated, he offered her coffee, which she refused. She cleared her throat.
    “I talked to