FallingforSharde_MLU (7 page)

When they ventured out for a walk Sunday, he held her hand, even when there was no danger of her slipping or falling. She was soft and warm, exciting and wonderful.

Ben often told him that if he expected to be happy in a relationship with a woman, he was going to have to start to ignore the trees and search for the forest, meaning he thought Jefferson placed too much emphasis on a woman’s looks.

Considering how badly his last two relationships had ended, he supposed Ben was right. Not that Ben would approve of his sleeping with Sharde. Ben was a big believer that business and pleasure should not be mixed.

He grinned. Oh well. Ben could sleep with who he wanted and allow him to do the same.

The weekend seemed to fly past and his lovemaking on Sunday night had a tinge of desperation. He woke several times during the night to hold and kiss her. On Monday morning, they woke early, had sex, ate a quick breakfast, had sex again, and then packed up to head home.

As they left the cabin, he felt as if he were leaving an important part of himself. He could detect no reluctance on her part to leaving. Yet she’d hinted at having feelings for him that went beyond the purely physical... feelings she’d also implied she’d held for a while. Or had he, carried away by lust, read more into what she’d said than she’d intended?

They didn’t talk much on the drive back to Philly. He kept his gaze on the road and his thoughts on her. They had agreed that when they returned home their relationship would return to normal. The road ahead was clear. He cast a quick look at her. She had her head turned away from him, staring out the passenger window.

It was warm inside the cab of the SUV and she had removed her coat. Her neck was bare and he felt a sudden urge to lean over and lick the side of her neck. He gave himself a mental shake and turned his attention back to the road.

They had another two-hour drive before they got home–unless he could find a way to lengthen their time together. “Do you want to stop for dinner?”

“Sounds temping, but I’m tired. I’m looking forward to a long hot soak and an early night.”

Was he the only one dreading their arrival home and the end it would mean for their physical relationship? “How about a coffee pit stop?”

She yawned. “I’d rather not, Jefferson.”

She sounded eager to get away from him. And he’d been vain enough to fear her wanting to extend their relationship once they returned to the office.

“Why not?”

“I’m tired. It’s not like I got much sleep this weekend,” she pointed out.

“Are you complaining?”

“No. Just explaining why I’m tired and want to go straight home without any unnecessary stops.”

They made the rest of the drive in silence. At her condo, he got out and went around to open her door. She ignored the hand he extended and slipped out, making sure not to touch him.

He got her suitcase from the back. She reached for it. He shook his head. “I’ll carry it inside.”

“That’s not necessary, Jefferson.”

“I know, but I just want to do it.”

She shrugged. “Thanks.”

He used his remote to lock the SUV’s door and arm the alarm before he followed her inside. Her condo was on the third floor. He followed her inside, setting her suitcase just inside the door.

She hesitated before turning to look at him.

“Are you sorry?” He hadn’t meant to ask the question and was annoyed with himself.

She smiled and shook her head. “No. Are you?”

He looked at her; her hair was in its usual, unassuming bun. What had happened to the uninhibited woman who had given him one of the most incredible weekends of his life? “No.” He felt awkward because he wanted to kiss her but knew that was out of the question.

She took off her jacket and held it over one arm. “I’d offer you coffee, but all I have is instant and I’m really tired.”

And longing to be rid of him. He nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you in the office in the morning.”

She nodded. “I’ll be there.”

He stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets and looked at her. He really wanted a last kiss. There was nothing in her cool gaze to indicate she would welcome that. He sighed and headed for the door.

She followed and he turned to look down at her. She met his gaze briefly before looking away. He bent his head.

She placed a hand against his shoulder, shaking her head. “Good night, Jefferson.”

“What will one last kiss hurt?” He didn’t wait for her reply, but leaned down and pressed his lips against the corner of her mouth. She made a soft sound and turned to face him, slipping her arms around his neck.

He licked her lips, holding her close. “Can I spend the night?”

She shuddered against him. “No.”

“Okay. How about a few hours? I promise I won’t stay long. I just want one last... kiss.”

“You just had one.” She drew her mouth away from his. “We agreed once we were home we’d go back to normal, Jefferson. We’re home and we don’t normally sleep together.”

He swallowed, thoughts of one last night with her filling him with a feverish longing. “We could do normal tomorrow when we get to work.”

“Or we could stick to our agreement and do it now.” She pushed against his shoulders.

“Sharde–”

“Jeff! Please.”

Sighing, he released her.

She walked to the door and held it open. “The weekend’s over.”

“Didn’t you enjoy it?”

“You know I did, but we had an agreement and we need to stick to it.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s the only way this will work.”

He shook his head. “We’ve been very close for eight of the nine years we’ve known each other. We can make anything we want to work.”

“Right now you’re thinking with your cock and that always gets you in trouble, Jeff.”

“What the hell is that suppose to mean?”

She closed her eyes briefly. “I’m sorry. That comment was way out of line.”

“Damn right it was.”

“We’re both tired and saying and thinking things we shouldn’t. Let’s say good night while we’re still friends.”

“Friendship is overrated.” Annoyed that he’d be going to bed with blue balls, he turned to leave.

She touched his arm. “Jeff, please... don’t leave angry... not after we shared such a great weekend.”

“I’m more horny and frustrated than I am angry.”

“You set the rules.” She squeezed his arm. “Good night.”

“Good night, honey.”

He left and she closed the door. He stood waiting until he heard her locks sliding into place. Then feeling as if he’d been kicked to the curb, he left the building. He drove home, had a couple of hot dogs and several beers, took a shower, and went to bed. He lay awake for a long time thinking of Sharde before he finally drifted to sleep.

* * * * *

The next morning, after a restless night, Sharde sat in her office going over résumés for systems analysts with Darbi. Darbi had chosen twenty out of the hundred e-resumes for Sharde to give closer consideration.

She was tired and had trouble focusing. “Who did you say I should take closer looks at again?”

Darbi sat back in her chair. “You don’t seem very rested or very happy. How did the weekend go... or shouldn’t I ask?”

Sharde sighed and sipped her coffee. She could hardly admit that she and Jefferson had spent the majority of the weekend having sex. Nor could she confess that she had spent most of the previous night wishing she’d allowed Jefferson to stay with her.

She frowned. If she couldn’t tell Darbi, who could she tell? She shrugged. “There was no power and that made for chilly nights.” Not that she’d felt much chill wrapped in Jefferson’s arms. “Or it would have... if we hadn’t...”

“Wasn’t he worth... did he disappoint?”

“In bed?” Her cheeks burned. “No! But he’s only interested in sex... nothing more.”

“Are you sure you can’t make that enough?”

“Yes!” She shook her head. “I thought it might be enough... but making love with him just made me want his love.”

“And you don’t think that’s possible?”

She sighed. “I don’t know... I just don’t know. I’ll see what the coming weeks bring. But right now I feel as if I just need a mini vacation to recover from my mini vacation.”

“Do you regret spending the weekend with him?”

“No. I might find later that I do, but right now, no.”

“Then why are you sure sex won’t be enough?”

“Because I love him and while the sex was great, I need more than that.”

Darbi sighed. “I think when I’m ready for another relationship, I’m not going to look for or expect love.”

“I know you’ve been hurt, but surely you’re not giving up on love.”

“Love hurts and I have no desire to be hurt again. The next time I will be content with a man who’s interested enough to wait for marriage before the sex, who treats me well and excites me physically.”

Sharde blinked. “Where are you going to find a man willing to wait for marriage before he insists on sex?”

Darbi shrugged, a smile tugging at her lips. “I have no idea. Maybe that’s why I’m feeling lonely and soooo horny.”

Their gazes met and locked and they burst into peals of helpless laugher.

A knock on Sharde’s office door finally silenced their laughter. She wiped tears from her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. “Come in,” she called.

The door opened and Jefferson walked in. He paused when he saw Darbi. “Am I interrupting?”

“Ah... well actually Darbi and I are deciding on analysts to ask to come in for interviews. Was there something you needed from either one of us?”

“Actually, I was hoping for a word with you, Sharde.”

Darbi gathered her folders and cup and rose. She looked at Sharde. “I need to check on my plans for the trip to L.A. Call me when you’re ready to go over these again.”

She nodded. “Thanks, Darbi.”

Darbi nodded at Jefferson. He nodded back, holding the door open for her. He closed it after her, leaning back against it.

During the night Sharde had decided that the next phase in Operation Seduce Jefferson would be playing hard to get. He’d had a taste of her passion and now she was going to make him want more so badly he’d realize she had more to offer than just sex. She forced herself to meet his gaze. “What’s up?”

“How are you?”

“I’m fine. How are you?”

He raked a hand through his hair. “I’m tired. I didn’t sleep well last night as you might imagine. What about you?”

She shrugged, looked him in the eye, and lied. “I had a bath, a sandwich, a glass of wine, and slept all night.”

“Did you?”

“Yes.”

“I wish I could say the same.”

She looked down at the printouts on her desk. “Was there something I could do for you?”

“I want to get the budget set. I thought maybe we could crunch figures over lunch.”

She glanced up at him, not quite meeting his gaze. “When?”

“Today. Are you free?”

“No. I have plans.”

He thrust his hands in his pant pockets. “Can you change them?”

“I’d rather not. They’re longstanding.”

“What about after lunch? Coffee?”

“I really need to decide who to ask in for interviews. We need to get people hired and up to speed as soon as possible if we’re not going to be outbid again by Fra-Tech.”

The muscles in his face tightened. “We are not going to come in second to them again!”

She wondered how much of the determination she saw in his gaze was based not only on having lost a big contract to Fra-Tech, but also on having lost Vanessa to the handsome owner, Clayton Frazier.

“Then we need to be ready.”

“I know that, but the budget is important too so we’ll know how much we can afford to offer in terms of salary and benefits.”

“I know. Tell you what. I’ll get together with Nelson in accounting and we’ll crunch the numbers, and I’ll get a report to you ASAP.”

He shrugged. “Fine.” He hesitated, his gaze sweeping over her face. “Or we could do dinner.”

She deliberately misunderstood him. “Fine. I’ll see if Nelson is free for dinner. If he is, we’ll burn the midnight oil and have the numbers for you sometime tomorrow. How’s that?”

His gaze narrowed and his lips tightened. “That’s not what I had in mind, Sharde.”

She went on misunderstanding him. “I don’t see how we can get it done any sooner.”

His gaze cooled. “Fine. Enjoy your dinner with Nelson.” He turned, pulled the door opened and left, closing it softly behind him.

She sat back in her seat, a small smile tugging at her lips. He’d looked ready to blow his stack. How long would it be before he came right out and asked to see her without the pretense of it being work related? Her smile vanished. That could take weeks unless she gave him another push.

But business first. She checked the office phone list on her computer and reached for the phone. “Accounting. Nelson,” a male voice announced in her ear.

“Hi, Nelson. This is Donovan in administration. Are you free to work late tonight with me?”

Chapter Five

“How long are you going to keep pulling his chain?”

“Pulling his chain?” Seated next to Darbi in a sauna several nights later, Sharde frowned. “Jeff? What makes you think I’m pulling his chain?”

“He’s asked you out three times this week and you’ve refused each time.”

“So how is that pulling his chain?”

Darbi shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean... well, he just looks so tense and frustrated lately. And he’s taken to lying in wait for me.”

Sharde stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“I mean lately I’m nearly tripping over him. If I go into the coffee room, he’s right behind me. When I arrive at work in the morning, he’s hanging in the parking lot waiting to hold the door open for me. Today, he asked me to have lunch.”

Sharde swallowed. “Did you?”

“No. I had plans, but he implied he’d ask me again.”

“I didn’t know he was...”

“Interested in me? He’s not. He wants to pick my brain about information about you. I think maybe you need to give him a break before he explodes.”

She closed her eyes briefly. “Oh, girl, you scared me. For a moment, I thought you and he...”