Chasing Temptation (3 page)

“You work here?” she asked again.

“Yes,” he said and moved forward, concern etched on his face.

Nathan would go batshit. Or worse, ask her to get information out of Jeremy. This had to be a nightmare. The dream state would explain why she stood there with her hands over her face not attempting to do damage control. Talk about losing one's edge.

“I have to get out of here,” she muttered.

She wrenched open the door and walked back out of the store. His heavy footsteps echoed behind her and
within a few strides, he'd caught up.

“Wait a minute,” he said. “I would like to know what's going on. Dramatic and you don’t reside in the same universe.”

“You don't know me,” she said.

“Wait,” he said.

She didn't. Though his right leg rubbed against hers with each sway of her hips, Sylvia refused to acknowledge him. She'd have to cut him out of her memory. She was here to put him out of a job. She knew with exacting detail his boss' fate and she couldn't speak a word of it.

That was the worst part. He'd talked of his boss in such a way Sylvia knew he respected the woman and considered her a confidante. Sylvia would have a hand in taking the business down. She picked up her pace to get away from him.

“I know every inch of you.” He grasped her elbow, but didn't slow down.

She sucked in a breath and then forced the words out of her mouth, because it had to be done. “Fucking me doesn’t mean you know me.”

The ebony ring of his irises darkened further. She'd seen them go opaque before, but this time it had nothing to do with desire.

How could she blame him? They’d had more than sex. She'd told him about growing up with a single mother, who turned bitter after the divorce from her father. She told him about the dreams of one day owning a business that did the exact opposite of what she did now. Nathan and she took down businesses with the intent to sell them to the highest bidder.

Goodness, she told him about the covered-up tattoo on her left butt cheek. Not to mention he'd seen the tat and then sank his teeth into the skin and the cover-up ink.

Just sex? What a great argument to present. Clear, quick thinking had gone out the window the moment she saw him.

But she'd said and had to stick with the lie. “We had sex that's all.”

“You're going to tell me what’s going on, and now. This isn't like you.”

“A day,” she said and hated herself for it. “One whole day and you think you know me. Like you have some sixth sense into who I am? Do you even know my last name?”

“Martin.” He moved in front of her. “The moment you saw me you turned tail and ran. Was it so bad to see me with clothes on?”

“No.” In fact, it was better because she could now imagine the grooves in his chest moist from sweat. Wanting that, wanting him was going to get her fired.

And why did he care? She'd given him a weekend of no-strings sex.

“No,” she said stronger this time. “Leave me alone. I'll be fine, and I appreciate that you're worried about me.”

He would find out soon enough she was here to make his boss' life a living hell. Then he'd understand, but she couldn't fix her mouth to tell him. What a coward.

He let her go for a moment, and that's all she needed. Sylvia had strode to the corner before he stood in her way again.

“Why are you dressed like this?” He lifted one starched lapel with his forefinger.

“Leave it alone, Jeremy.” She stepped to the left and he moved with her. “We're done.”

“I thought you pretty much lived in sweats in your free time, especially while on vacation.”

“See? You don't know me. Vacation is over.”

He crossed his arms, legs spread, and Sylvia wanted to kiss him. In his own way, he was fighting to keep her, though they had never said things would go further than the weekend.

“I know enough about you to know something is going on. I'm not stupid, but you're the last person I'd think to be a snob.”

She stepped back at the accusation. “A snob?”

“I know I'm not putting my European History degree to use, but I enjoy working for Lynne. I never thought being a store clerk, in a successful store, is something I should be ashamed of.”

Sylvia blinked. The laugh escaped before she could stop it.

But wait, if he believed that's why she no longer wanted anything to do with him...

“It's completely beneath me.” She nodded, because really this turn of conversation had to be divine intervention. “I can't believe I had sex with a store clerk. I only seriously date millionaires.”

She gave him her best sneer, turned on her heel, and started back down the street.

“I've seen better performances in a porno,” he said.

She stopped. Had to with a comment like that. “Then I must have done well on Saturday.” The words hurt coming out of her mouth.

This had to be done. Jeremy was a nice guy. He'd made her laugh and made her stomach go all weightless when he looked at her. She couldn't use him. On top of that, if Nathan ever found out, her job would be gone, just like that.

Gone because she had wanted to have a real human connection, even if only for a short weekend. Nathan would see this small attachment as a weakness. Neither of them could afford any vulnerability the opponent might be able to use.

What a mess. “It's over,” she said. “Deal.”

She blinked and found her chest crushed against Jeremy's. Her protest didn't get a chance. His lips covered hers. She moaned, giving in. Without thought, she gripped his shirt because her knees weren't as steady as they should have been. The familiarity of his warmth, his scent filled her with comfort. And so much damn heat.

He pulled back, his lips brushing hers. “Tell me that moan was fake.”

Lying had been the way she stayed on Nathan's payroll, but now she couldn't. Hell, she really didn't want to. Yet telling the truth made her want to take a shower.
I'm married to my job and have been for the last eight years. My heart has hardened. My soul, blackened.
Sylvia could go on, but already she should buy stock in soap and call it a day.

“Trust me,” she said. “This will only end badly.”

He finally let her go. “I'm going to find out what you're hiding.”

Because he would, and things would definitely end between them, Sylvia placed a kiss on his cheek and walked away.

Lynne prowled in front of the glass doors as another customer went into Nathan's store. Someone she didn't recognize, probably a tourist. How in the hell did he have tourist shoppers already? She muttered to herself when a group of women crossed the street, bypassing Hart and Style and heading right into Nathan's.

“It might be more productive if you go over there to see what the fuss is all about,” Jeremy offered.

She ignored him and moved to the other side of her shop, turning her back on the best view of the entrance to Craine's Fashions. Leslie walked by sans daughter and that meant serious shopping.

Lynne straightened and held her breath. Leslie waved and passed the store. Lynne didn't have to turn around to know Leslie had crossed over to the dark side and gone into Nathan's store.

She checked just to be sure. Yup. The dark side.

“We've been open for two hours and not one customer,” she muttered

“I'll go over there if you want me to.” He slid off the counter.

She took in his appearance. Today's shirt had
Inconceivable!
across his chest. Jeremy might find a suit he couldn't turn his back on. He might find reasonable prices in tune with a siren’s song and fall in love with the store.

“No.” She glanced out the window only to see Theodore going into the store. She couldn't take another moment of this. “I'm going to start on this quarter's numbers.”

Jeremy raised a brow.

She explained, “I've decided it might be a better business practice to start early and not wait until the last minute.”

Jeremy crossed his arms. “I didn't say anything.”

“Your expression says everything you're dying to speak aloud.”

“You're right. I'm dying to say a lot.”

Lynne glared at him then went into the office, making sure to slam the door to make her point. Once there, she kicked off her heels and frowned at the pile of paperwork.

Rounding the cherry wood desk, a gift from her predecessor Megan, Lynne sat in the Star Trek-like chair.

“If you can't beat 'em, bookkeep,” she murmured.

The routine of filing old invoices soothed her unsteady nerves. The fear of losing the store receded, and ideas began to form on how to outsmart the man and keep her business. Soon she had a smile on her face. By the time a knock came at her door, she was downright chipper.

“Come in.” Since she had found a groove, Lynne didn't glance up.

The soft thud of a popcorn bag hit the papers on Lynne's desk. She grabbed the bag before butter ruined that quarter's newly printed worksheets.

“Thanks for the snack.” The hairs on her neck stood up as they always did when someone looked at you in hopes of getting your attention. She saved the document and then gave Jeremy her full attention.

“What is it?” she asked.

“What's today's wager on our ten pounds of mutt and forty pounds of crazy?”

“Suzie? She's at the bush?”

Her life, as she knew it, might be crumbling around her, but there was no way she was going to miss out on their local mascot. Lynne scowled at the clock on the computer screen. For two hours she'd buried her head in the sand. Yeah, she had the skeleton of a plan, but still it was embarrassing that Nathan could inspire such concentration.

Putting that on the back burner, Lynne didn't bother hanging up the closed sign on the shop. People who lived here knew of the dog's antics. Enough so, egg crates were lined up and down the street for the coming show. Wild honks of people driving down and away from the coming mayhem made her smile.

Taking in her daily view of the city she called home, she sighed with contentment. Picturesque wasn't the right word. She'd never accuse Peggy Wathers of creating a homey atmosphere with her
Don't Rot Your Brain―Read Something
sign outside the store across the street.

Maybe Grannies Who Quilt, with its wares hung up in the window for display was more in that line. The quilts made her think of fireplaces and stew in the winter, even though the store’s owner, Lorelei, spent her free time at the local bar doing her best to meddle, and keep her husband from making wagers while drunk.

She really smiled since Nathan had opened up his store. Yes, only twenty-four hours, but the man was already a thorn in her butt, killing any good mood on the horizon.

Suzie definitely didn't speak of welcoming or homey as she crept out of the bushes. Her chestnut-colored fur was a bit ragged, but nothing like mange, and despite the homeless assumption, no one could see a rib cage. If Lynne had to use two words to describe the dog they would be small and deranged. The animal fit right into this town.

“Earth to Lynne,” Jeremy said.

She held out the bag of popcorn to him.

He said, “I say five bucks, someone catches her today.” Jeremy threw out the first wager.

“God, you're heartless,” Lynne said what she always said to assuage the guilt of making the bet. “How can you put money on freedom?”

“Like any of us can ever actually tame her.”

She snorted, because he was right. “Twenty says she does her usual jaywalk, plays dead if anyone gets close and just as they reach down to pick her up, she makes a break for it.”

“On.”

Lynne checked the street to see who would volunteer for the thankless job of trying to corral Suzie. Her gaze caught on Joe making his way down the street. He worked at the bank, but today he had on jeans, a shirt and running shoes.

“He's got a net,” she said.

“Hell. I'm going to lose.”

He was. Kindness, food, nets and cornering had been all the methods the folks in town had tried to save the dog. None had ever worked. And, really, watching all walks of life try to outsmart an insane dog
and lose
was the entertainment factor.

Joe slowed his step when Suzie trotted to the middle of the street. Their gaze's clashed. Suzie crouched low, no bark or sign of aggression. Joe stepped out into the street and prepped the net to grab her. He got the net around Suzie and as Lynne predicted, the dog went stiff then belly up.

Jeremy cursed at her side, probably already feeling his lighter wallet.

Cautious now since everyone had seen this tactic before, Joe kept the net down and inched toward the dog. The only way to pick her up was through the net.

Lynne shook her head and waited for the great escape. It would come. Joe got a hold of the dog's middle and dropped the net. He lifted Suzie and the dog thrashed out of the hold and was a streak of fur as she crossed on their side of the street. Joe tried to follow but tripped over the net. He went down hard on one knee and there wasn't no catching her now.

A loud whistle to her right had Lynne jumping, spilling half the bag of popcorn on the ground. The dog let out a yelp, and froze on the sidewalk. The shock of the sound seemed have everyone's attention.

Lynne's heart still pounded but she whipped her gaze around. Nathan had two fingers in his mouth. He whistled again while stepping toward Suzie. Lynne turned around just in time to see the dog take flight back across the street and into the bushes. The empty field hid her home, if it was there.

Again she looked Nathan. His forehead creased as he frowned in the direction Suzie vanished. A moment passed before he turned his gaze to her.

Deep down, with one of those wishes she wouldn't dare tell anybody, she wanted him to look at her like a woman. Not like a business proposition, but like she had soft curves, pouty lips, and eyes he could drown in.

But he didn't. Nathan straightened his lapels and marched toward her with his usual purpose.

“I'm not selling—” Lynne said.

“Do you know who owns that dog?”

His question made stopped her short. She'd mistaken the determination for single-mindedness, not concern. He had stopped looking at her, his focus back on the bushes.