Spotilicious (Jaguartow)

Adam studied her. Watching her chew on the inside of her lip was making him want to chew on it, too. He wasn’t sure this was the best idea, but he didn’t want to turn her away.

“Fine.” He exhaled loudly. “I think we can make this work. We’re all adults, all professionals, and we’ll all act like it. Do your job and stay out of my way.”

Eva was still staring at him, an unreadable expression in her eyes. “Right. I’ll stay out of your way.”

“Actually,” Adam added, “let’s keep the fact the we know each other between us.” He gestured between the three of them. “I think it would make your transition into the company smoother if everyone else didn’t know that we’re old, uh, friends.”

Eva raised her eyebrows at Adam’s words. “Sure. Old friends. Got it.”

Dean jumped up and put his hand on Eva’s shoulder, steering her towards the door. “And I’ll help her get settled into the outer office, cousin.”

“And then get your ass back in here,” Adam ordered.

Dean gave him a mocking salute and grinned before following Eva through the office door.

Adam settled back into his chair and twisted around, not seeing the skyline spread out before him. He never thought he’d see Eva again and he wasn’t sure how to feel about the fact that she just showed up in his office, in his life, again. They’d been engaged, a marriage arranged by their grandfathers when they were still cubs, but he’d fallen in love with her over the years. She’d been beautiful, smart, and sassy even as a teenaged girl. She was even more so now. She’d broken his heart though, when she stopped talking to him after her junior year homecoming dance and then disappeared a few months later. All he’d been told was that the engagement was over. Nothing had ever crushed him more.

He never thought seeing her again would bring all those feelings rushing back. He’d thought he was over her. He’d certainly tried to crush out the image of her face over the years the only way he knew. With other women. But over the past couple of years he’d mostly sworn off women all together. He didn’t want a woman who only wanted him because of his family name and connections or because of his money, he wanted a woman who wanted him.

Just him.

Adam ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, exasperated at the thoughts tumbling around in his mind.

He finally figured out two things. First, he’d have Dean’s head for a midnight snack for pulling this frivolous little stunt. And second, Miss Eva Carey was still heartbreakingly sexy and still a massive pain in his ass.

***

Eva was still in shock from her unexpected encounter with Adam.

After Dean showed her to her new office, she dropped into her desk chair and stared at the computer without really seeing it. How did that happen?

Adam was her boss.

Her ex-fiancé Adam was her boss.

Her cheating, heartbreaking, ex-fiancé Adam was her boss.

I should leave, there’s no way for this to turn out okay, she thought impulsively. She grabbed her bag and pushed back her chair before she realized there was no way she could turn down the job. The pay was too good. The benefits were too good. Now that her little sister, Bella, was going to attend NYU this fall and was living with Eva, she felt the added pressure of responsibility. Another mouth to feed and an apartment in New York City were no small things. The weretigresses of the Carey clan took care of their own. Their parents were retirees and had done a lot over the years for her. Eva felt that Bella was her responsibility now.

Eva sighed and dropped her bag back into a desk drawer. There was no way for her to get out of it. She had to stay and make the best out of it. She’d never find another job that would pay as well as being Adam Frost’s executive assistant. For the time being, she was stuck.

She turned on the computer and started to familiarize herself with the company system and set up her email account when she noticed two women standing just outside the glass doors that led into her office. They were giggling like schoolgirls and talking behind their hands. Eva huffed, annoyed at what she knew was coming. Still, she felt like she needed to make friends in the office so she lifted a hand and wiggled her fingers at them. That was all the invitation they need. They pushed open and tripped into the office.

“Hi!” a bleached-blonde chirped. “I’m Irena.”

“Hello. Eva.” She gestured to herself.

“I’m Andrea. Nice to meet you, too,” said the brunette with steely blue eyes as she offered her hand to Eva.

“Eva,” she said again, and gave Andrea a polite handshake.

Irena perched on the edge of Eva’s desk, grinning at her like an overly perky cheerleader. “Soooooo, you’re the new girl, huh?”

Eva eyed her new co-worker carefully. “I guess I am.”

“You meet the boss yet?” Andrea joined Irena on the edge of the desk. They were both staring at her, anticipating her response. Eva fought the urge to roll her eyes. No need to alienate her officemates just yet.

“Yes. I’ve met him,” she said, keeping her voice as neutral as possible.