Unwrapped (Unwrapped and Unraveled 1)

"Why didn't you?"

"Because we were close friends, and I didn't want any favors when I started out. I wanted to do it on my own. Make sense?"

"Yes. It does."

She was studying him. He wondered what she was thinking. Or maybe he already knew. "I'm not using you, or sex with you, to advance my position at the firm, Amy."

"I wasn't thinking that."

"Yes you were. It's no secret there's been a competitive animosity between us for years."

She nodded. "It's true. We didn't start out on the right foot."

"You feel threatened by me."

"I do not. I just find your tactics aggressive and over the top."

"We don't approach bringing in clients in the same way. It doesn't mean my method is wrong. It works, doesn't it?"

48

www.samhainpublishing.com

Unwrapped

She glared across the table at him. "It does work. But it borders on unethical."

He snorted. "Just because it isn't your way doesn't mean it's the wrong way." He grasped her hand. She snatched it back.

He grinned. "It makes my dick hard when you get all high and mighty like that."

Her eyes widened, then narrowed. "Are you playing with me?"

"Not yet, but I'd like to. I didn't know you liked it in public, Amy. How kinky."

She rolled her eyes. "Justin, I don't know what to make of you."

He held up his hands. "What you see is what you get. I won't lie to you. Ever. Amy, I've wanted you since the moment I walked into the firm."

"Yeah, right. I didn't like you at all."

"Is that the truth?"

She paused. "You're five years younger than me. You were a kid when you first started."

"Honey, I wasn't a kid then and I'm not now. Or haven't you figured that out yet?"

Her eyes went smoky. "Yeah, you're definitely all man. But this isn't going to work between us."

"Why not?"

"Age difference. We work together. Those two alone spell disaster."

"It would work if we make it work. You're just reaching for excuses." And he wasn't going to let it happen. Now that he had her, he wasn't going to allow her to walk away.

"What do you want from me, Justin?"

Now it was his turn to pause. He wanted her full attention.

"Everything, Amy. I want it all."

Amy stared at her laptop, trying to get the brief written, but it wouldn't cooperate.

Justin had wanted to come into her room after they'd finished dinner. He'd wanted to take her to a club. He'd wanted to do a lot of things. With her. She'd said no to everything, claiming she needed to get a little work done because she was behind schedule.

www.samhainpublishing.com 49

Jaci Burton

That much was true. She had a brief to write, her schedule to update. She wanted to go over Mitch's paperwork--the rest of it--one last time before they finished it all tomorrow, since she'd been utterly distracted this morning.

Bad news--she was still distracted--her dinner conversation with Justin occupying her mind this time. Which was the main reason she'd begged off spending any more of the evening with him.

She needed some distance, some time to think about what had happened between them.

What she'd done was irreversible. She'd slept with a coworker. He'd never take her seriously now. She knew that no matter what Justin said, he was ambitious. He wanted a senior partnership at the firm, and she knew he would let nothing get in his way.

Especially her. Which meant he was going to use sex as a stepping stone. Whether that was thinking he could warm her up as a way to gain access to the partnership, or blackmailing her into advancing, she didn't know.

Being with him had been fun...oh God it had been more than fun. It had been everything she could have imagined, and more. Justin was an incredible lover.

Considerate, passionate and making sure her needs were taken care of.

She wanted more. A lot more. But that wasn't going to happen. She had to forget about it and hope to God things could go back to the way they were before.

The problem was, she couldn't stop thinking about him. About the two of them together. They fit so well. Not only sexually, but in other ways, too. Both driven, competitive, their backgrounds were even similar. They made a good pair.

Too bad it was never going to be. She simply wouldn't allow it. It would be a dangerous career move, and her career was everything. She'd spent the past fifteen years thinking of nothing but her career. She'd sacrificed. She wasn't going to throw it all away now simply because Justin was good in bed.

Oh, man was he ever good in bed.

Stop it, Amy. Work.

She focused on her laptop and the brief outlined in front of her.

50

www.samhainpublishing.com

Unwrapped

But it wasn't at all what she had on her mind.

www.samhainpublishing.com 51

Jaci Burton

Chapter Six

Amy was already in Mitch's boardroom the next morning at the designated time. She hadn't waited for Justin, and the look on his face when he walked into the conference room told her he was irritated.

She always knew when he was mad. His jaw clenched tight and he barely spoke.

Yes, she'd deliberately avoided him. She'd eaten breakfast in one of the hotel restaurants, then wandered around outside until it was time for their meeting. And she knew Justin would come to her door in the morning wanting to have breakfast. Or maybe more than that.

Too bad. He was going to have to get used to business as usual, because that's the way things were going to be from now on. They'd had their fun, but after yet another sleepless night, Amy had come to the realization that she couldn't possibly jeopardize her future on an affair. And that's all she and Justin could ever have--an affair.

What else could they h

ave--a relationship? The firm would never allow it, which meant that either one of them, or both, would lose their jobs. She'd worked too damn hard to walk away now, and she knew Justin wouldn't either. That left a stalemate. Best to end things now before they got too involved.

At least the air conditioning was working in the conference room today. Because looking at Justin made her hot. And she'd dressed appropriately this time. Sleeveless top, no jacket, and a cotton skirt. Casual. Comfortable. And a good, sturdy bra that would reveal no traitorous nipples.

"Good morning," she said to Justin as he slid his briefcase across the table.

"Morning." He went for the coffee. Didn't even look at her.

She felt a twinge in her stomach, but brushed it aside. She had nothing to feel guilty about.

52

www.samhainpublishing.com

Unwrapped

Amy busied herself with the paperwork, setting them up where they'd left off yesterday so they'd be ready to dive in as soon as Mitch arrived. It was Christmas Eve. If they were lucky, they could wrap this up and catch a commercial flight home. Not that she had anything to do. Her family was on a ski trip in Vail and she wasn't the least bit interested in skiing over the holidays. She intended to catch up on work. But spending Christmas in Hawaii? With Justin? Too--romantic, which meant risky. No thanks. She'd rather jingle her bells alone and watch reruns of It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story and a few of her other favorites on television. She'd call her family on Christmas Day which would take care of the familial obligations. Then she'd dig into more work.

By the day after, she'd be ready to head back to the office, the entire messy holiday thing behind her.

Ho, ho, ho. Or maybe she was humbug. Whatever.

"Maybe we'll finish up early today and can catch a flight," she said to Justin.

"Can't wait to get away from me?" he asked. "Was it so bad, Amy, that you need to run?"

"No. No, it's not like that. Justin, please."

"Forget it. I thought you were an adult, Amy. I was wrong. I thought you could handle this--us--that maybe...forget it." He grabbed one of the portfolios and pulled it in front of him, flicking open his pen.

Never mind what? What was he going to say? "Justin, what--"

"Morning, everyone."