Page 49 of Tristan’s Temptation

“It’s a weekend. No one will notice.”

Her tongue darted out, wet her lips. He fixated on the sight. “What did you have in mind?”

Why did his heart leap like that? God, he was nervous. “How does a cruise to Ensenada sound?”

“A cruise?” Her tongue peeped out and wet her lips, distracting him. “I’ve never been on a cruise.”

“Do you have a passport?”

“Yes. But…” Her face fell. “Tristan, I can’t go away for the whole weekend.”

“Why not?”

“Bosco!”

Bosco? Tristan gaped at her. “Can’t you get a sitter?”

“Who? Kat? Sara? How do I explain where I’m going?”

“Don’t you have a sister?”

“She’s allergic.”

He was starting to panic. He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. He hadn’t realized how much he wanted this until now. And man, did he want it. “Can’t you tell Kat you have to visit your sister for the weekend?”

“Lie to my friend?” Shannon stilled. Every muscle in her body went tight. Her eyes, large and limpid, were laden with sadness. “Tristan. I hate this.”

“This?” His heart shot up into his throat, pounding hard. “You hate…this?”

“Not this, this. I hate all the lying and sneaking around. I hate pretending like we’re nothing but coworkers. It’s just not in my nature to prevaricate.”

Hell. He hated it when she got all British and used big words. “Shannon…”

“Tristan, I just… I don’t know if I can do this anymore.”

The throbbing moved up into his head. A big fat Viking pounded on his temple with a hammer.

“Shannon. Please.”

“I’m sorry, Tristan. I just can’t. Not right now.” Were those tears on her lashes? God. He hoped they weren’t tears.

When she stood and left, rushing to the ladies’ room, he didn’t follow. He sat at his desk, fiddling with his letter opener and feeling like a worm.

Several hours later, she poked her head into his office. Her eyes were red, her skin pale. “Tristan?”

“Yes, Shannon?”

“Do you have a minute?”

He began to rise, to sprint to the door to help her in, help her sit. And then he remembered. That was something a concerned boyfriend would do. Not a boss. “Sure.”

She came into the room but didn’t close the door. Didn’t sit. She stood before him, mangling a piece of pink paper. “It’s about this weekend.”

“Yes?”

“Um.” She cleared her throat. “My vet says he’ll take Bosco.”

A wash of relief flooded him. But then concern arose. She didn’t seem happy about this. Certainly not as happy as he was. He would have her to himself for three whole days. On a boat. In the middle of the ocean. And she would have him. So why did she look so peaked? He reached across the desk and took her hand in his. She stilled, glanced over her shoulder into the hall and slowly drew her fingers away.