Could I be around Lucas day in and day out and be professional?Look at him and remember the hurt?Ignore my craving for his body?
My fingers itched.So not good.I pushed my feelings away and straightened.This would not be easy, but I would do it.I needed to prove to myself that Lucas’ spell over me was broken.Maybe I could finally move on with my life.
Curiosity as to why Fantasies, Inc.needed a forensic accountant hit me.I’d read the contract they sent my employer.They wanted me to do a deep dive into the books of a company they were acquiring, but it hadn’t said much else.Financial deep dives during corporate acquisitions weren’t unusual, but forensically?That usually signaled issues on a much deeper level.
Actually, my curiosity was more about the company they wanted to acquire.It shouldn’t matter, but it did.What made this job feel different than any other I’d done before?
Lucas.
The contract said I would be working with the Director of Finance but didn’t name him directly.This assignment happened so fast, I had to prepare open projects before I handed them off, so there was no time to do more than the most superficial search on Fantasies, Inc.That search didn’t include the C-suite.Surprise!And a question: Lucas knows his stuff.In fact, he’s recognized as one of the best.So why hire out?
Well, forensic accounting looked at data differently, but that was well within Lucas’ capabilities.I rubbed my forehead, wondering about the real reason I was here.Fresh eyes?Objective evaluation?Possible conflict of interest?No sense in getting a headache over all this.I’d find out soon enough.For now, I was here to work and nothing more.
When I arrived, Lucas had the initial advantage since all I knew was someone from Finance would meet me.I hoped my shock at seeing him didn’t show too much.I leaned my hip against the wall as my mind went back to when we met six years ago.I was fresh out of college, just starting with Smith, Rogers, and Associates.Lucas had been there for a few months.The company held a Friday night mixer so new employees could meet the veterans without the pressure of being in the office.
That’s where I first saw Lucas.He’d shed his jacket, and his white shirt clung to his arms and chest.Instantly, I knew the man worked out.There was no way those muscles came from sitting behind a desk.The ends of his dark hair curled, as if he needed a trim.A stubby beard I wanted to run my fingers over just to feel those prickly hairs.And those piercing blue eyes.
A shiver went thought me.Those eyes made me feel as if he could see deep inside me and find out all my secrets.Not that I had many.I could barely stand still when he approached me, and we started talking.
That had been the beginning of it all.A week later, we were dating, then after four months, living together.And the sex…
Enough.I’m here to do a job not chase after Lucas.
Blowing out a breath, I straightened.The past was the past no matter how much my body tingled, and my hands wanted to sink into his short hair to see if was still as soft.There was no stubble on his face now, but it didn’t detract from how good he looked.
The object of my thoughts walked out of HR.I took a calming breath and tried not to react.
Get a grip.He could be married for all you know.
Ice filled my veins.Had he married the woman he left me for?Oh God, this was not good.If he was married… I glanced at his left hand.No ring, but that didn’t mean anything.A lot of men didn’t wear rings.If he was married, that was reason enough to keep my heart sealed off.
“All set?”My voice was firm, thank goodness.
“Yes.”His gaze roamed over my face before he pressed the button for the elevator.Did he see my interest?God, I hope not.The doors opened, and we stepped inside.He swiped his key card.“Our office is on the fourteenth floor.”
I fingered the cards Miles gave me.“You need to swipe the key card every time?”Talk about security.
“Only if you’re not going to the first floor.”
That was interesting.I wondered how often the cards needed replacing if an employee was swiping multiple times a day.The elevator pinged, and the door opened into a mid-sized reception area.A red-headed woman sitting at a desk smiled as they walked in, then rose and held out her hand.
“Ms.Ray, I’ve heard so much about you.I’m Hazel, Lucas’ executive assistant, so if you need anything while you’re here, just ask.”
“Thank you, Hazel.”I shook her hand.At least she was friendly, many women weren’t always so friendly with other women in their space.Plus, I really don’t know what Lucas is like anymore.It has been five years and a lot has probably changed.
“Is everything ready?”Lucas asked.
“Yes.IT finished the last of the setup.Asher said if you have any issues to give him a call.”
“Great, thanks.Shall we?”Lucas gestured to the large wooden door.I turned and walked toward the door, and in an instant, he stepped close to me and opened it.“Welcome to our office.”
“Our office?”Everything inside me froze.
“Yes.”
Oh hell, we were sharing.I stepped into the room.“Is this a good idea?”The words were out of my mouth before I looked around.He called this an office?This was more like three offices put together.I’d noticed Miles’ office was bigger than most, but this one… There were large windows on two walls, letting in natural light.
God, I loved having natural light as I worked.I spied part of the Sound in a gap between buildings.My heart lightened; I so wanted to just go sit and stare at the water.Water helped me stay calm and kept my thoughts from chasing each other around.My fingers tightened around my bag.
