Oh Stupid Heart by Liza O'Connor

“You can think about it while I tie you
down.”
    He sighed. “I miss
you. If you get bored or your instructor gets fresh with you, tell me and I’ll
demand your return.”
    “I’m staying here. It’s
a great seminar.”
    “I know.”
    “Have you taken it?”
The possibility shocked her. If he had, he must have been shunted to the
hopeless team and played soccer for two weeks.
    “No, but I made some
calls and verified everyone thought it the best before I sent you there. Giving
you up is hard on me, so I wanted you to actually get some benefit from my
misery.”
    “You haven’t fired
anyone have you?”
    “No, but I’m still
mad at Mars for letting you see Coco kiss me.”
    “That’s unfair. Not
only was he not at fault, but we’ve resolved the issue.” She’d almost cost the
poor man his life with her Europa turtles. She couldn’t cost him his job too.
    “Have we? Can you
forgive so easily?”
    “Yes.” She meant it,
especially since she’d endured a similar situation. “How’s the hiring going?”
    He groaned. “I’m sick
of all these perky people. However, on a happy note, the shoe salesman who went
out of his way to find you stylish, yet comfortable shoes for our dinner at
Chelsies is going to join my sales staff. I told him to stay at Macy’s until we
replace the sales guy.”
    “When will that be?”
    “The moment you
return. I’m not pulling these triggers without you.”
    “Good. I’ll be up to
the challenge when I leave here.”
    “Moving on to more
important issues. Have you ever had phone sex? I’m guessing not.”
    She sat on the bed.
“No, I never have.”
    “Ah, a virgin. Well,
remove your ghastly sweat suit and lie down on the bed.”
    “How’d you guess what
I’m wearing?”
    “I know you.” His
voice softened. “Better than myself.”
    ***
    After two intensive
weeks, Ian declared the class to be his best students so far. He whispered in
Carrie’s ear, “I want to speak to you before you leave. Give me a moment with
the guys.” When she nodded, he focused on the boys, charming and complimenting
Brian, Sander, and Charles, reminding them great leaders have great people
working for them. “So send me your best men, and I’ll make them better.”
Preening with high ambitions, they assured him they would. Then they hugged
Carrie and wished her well and hurried to their limo waiting outside.
    Carrie glanced at her
watch. She needed to leave, as well.
    Once the door closed
Ian tugged her hand to his chest, bringing her closer. She eyed him with
concern. While she’d grown fond of her instructor, she was not about to be manhandled.
    When she retrieved
her captured hand, he sighed heavily. “You are destroying my longstanding reputation
of being irresistible. Why? I know you like me.”
    “I think you’re a
great instructor.”
    He grinned and tilted
his head. “And…?”
    “And my heart is
already taken.”
    “Lucky person. Male
or female?”
    She thought it an odd
question, but they were in San Francisco. It probably made sense to ask. “Male.”
    He rolled his eyes.
“I was afraid of that.”
    “You wanted me to have
a girlfriend?”
    “No, but I don’t like
losing to Trent Lancaster.”
    She tilted her head.
“I don’t recall telling you who I worked for, and I know I didn’t say he was my
boyfriend.”
    “No, you’ve been most
discreet. But I received two emails the day before you arrived. One from Trent,
telling me if I dared lay a hand on you he would flatten me into the ground.
The second from a horrid creature named Coco offering me a bonus of twenty
thousand dollars if I could seduce you and get pictures.”
    “Are you kidding me?”
The blood vessels in Carrie’s head threatened to blow. The conniving bitch! The
things she’d like to do to the Prada Viper would land her in jail.
    He eyed her
cautiously. “Which one of those is pissing you off?”
    “Coco’s.”
    “Well, speaking for
myself, I found them both insulting, but Trent’s