Lucy Monroe - Satisfaction Guaranteed

She allowed herself to lean into him, telling herself she was trying to look natural, but underneath she knew she did it because she simply couldn’t help herself.

Beth looked forward to going to work for Prescott as much because it would get her away from Ethan’s presence as that she could start doing the job she’d been assigned. Ever since the walk, Ethan had continued the policy of “looking like lovers” whenever they were in a position to be observed. By the time they had closed the curtains the night before, she’d been a walking mass of oversensitive nerve endings.

And she’d missed his touches-the freedom to touch him-until it was a gaping ache inside her. On the other hand, besides a couple of speculative looks she could not read, Ethan acted as if he wasn’t affected at all. He’d simply spent more time going over strategy and what they knew about Prescott.

She’d gone to bed determined to do a better job today of maintaining her emotional distance. So far, so good.

After being waved through the gate, Ethan pulled up in front of Prescott’s house and stopped the car. He turned to Beth, reaching to cup her nape. She realized he was going to kiss her a scant second before he did so. His lips covered hers with possessive tenderness that felt all too real. He didn’t linger, but he was thorough so that when he pulled away, she sat dazed for a couple of seconds.

“Be good today,” he said.

She nodded and got out of the car, forcing herself not to feel her still-tingling lips. The man really knew how to kiss.

The job was very much as she expected and Beth actually found she liked the full-time secretary, Audrey Fisk, as well as the security guard assigned to the house.

“Mr. Prescott has a lot of security,” she said to Audrey at one point.

The older woman shrugged pencil-thin shoulders. “He’s a very wealthy man. In today’s world, he needs it.”

Prescott allowed his secretary to brief Beth on her job, but made a point of stopping by her desk to ask how things were going later that day.

“Great. I should have a preliminary analysis of your portfolio to you within a couple of days.”

“Good.”

He didn’t linger, but he stopped by her desk twice more for small talk before she left for the day. The rest of the week fell into a similar pattern and Ethan made no bones about the fact that he didn’t like how much personal attention Prescott was showing her. Since Beth wasn’t encouraging the man, she didn’t feel she was going against the agent in charge on the case.

But she thought that it was a good thing. Ethan would think so, too…if she’d been an actual agent. She was the conduit, though, and common sense dictated that the more personable her relationship with Prescott, the better chance she would have of opening doors for Ethan’s investigation.

That Thursday, Prescott came in to see her and leaned against her desk. “How are things going? Do you like the job?”

“It’s familiar…easy, if you don’t mind my saying so.”

“No. I’m glad to hear it.” He smiled, the look not quite warming the depths of his eyes. “I’m impressed with your recommendations on diversification already.”

She’d created a report for him the day before with some basic changes recommended to his investment plan. “I’ll give you a more detailed analysis next week, but I need to research your investments and markets of interest more thoroughly before I do.”

He leaned a little closer. “I knew you were the right woman for the job.”

“I’m glad you think so.” She scooted her chair back a little.

Where Ethan’s sensuality could reach out and wrap around her like a blanket, this man’s masculine presence choked her.

Mocking amusement filled his eyes at her movement. “You remember I told you about some possible after-hours work time?”

“Um…yes.”

“I’m having a little get-together with some business associates tomorrow night. I’d like you to be there to offer your advice.”

She bit her lip, having no problem manufacturing an image of nervousness. “I don’t suppose my boyfriend could come?”

Prescott’s eyes narrowed, but he surprised her by nodding. “Certainly. An author might make an interesting addition to the gathering…keep things more social than business.”

When she told Ethan on their way to Portland to pick up his car and the kittens, he frowned.

“I thought you’d be glad for the invite in.”

“I am. I’m just wondering why he’d let me come.”

“He said he wanted to keep the evening more social than business.”

“But he invited you on the pretext of business.”

“As to that, I’m not sure it was business he was thinking about.”

“Was he coming on to you?”

“No, but-”

“What?”

“It was nothing, but he’s not a man who respects the normal barriers of personal space. I shy away from him when he gets too close. It amuses him. I think he likes to play with people.”

“I think you’re right. That might be another reason he’s letting me come. He sees me as the controlling boyfriend…he might get a perverse pleasure out of showing me that he has some control over you, too.”

“I could see him doing exactly that. Lucky for us, we don’t have a real relationship and his twisted games can’t hurt us.”

“I think they can hurt you.”

“Not a chance. He gives me the willies, but I can handle it. You should have met some of the men my mom tried to hook me up with since the big wedding fiasco. There is a lobbyist or two and more than one aspiring politician who would make a great piranha fill-in on a nature special.”

“But none of them would have physically hurt you given the chance. I’m not so sure about Prescott. There’s too little information available on his sexual preferences for my comfort level.”

“Maybe he’s just discreet.”

“Or his preferences make discretion to the point of cover-up a necessity.”

“I’m not about to get involved that way with him.”

“Stay out of situations where you might end up alone with him.”

“We’ve had this discussion.” Each day when she got off work, in fact.

Ethan sighed. “My gut is telling me the man is dangerous to certain types of women. The fact that he specifically advertised for the quiet type raises a red flag for me.”

“I’ve thought about that, too,” she admitted.

“Good instincts.” He smiled at her, their eyes connecting for a millisecond before his went back to the road.

Warmth pervaded her whole being at his praise. “Thanks, but although I can be shy, I’m not weak.”

“I know that, baby. But I don’t think Prescott is as astute a judge of character. I’d hate for you to have to do him bodily harm because he’s cocky. It could put a real crimp in our case.”

She grinned, liking his assessment of the situation and agreeing. She’d never tolerate being manhandled, but if she got into a situation where she had to draw the line, Prescott wouldn’t bat an eyelash at firing her. She was sure of it.

“Tomorrow night would be a good night to plant bugs,” she ventured.

Ethan had refused to let her do it because he said if the bugs were discovered, they could be traced back to her since she was the only new person in the household. But after a party with several business associates, probably all of whom were as dirty as Prescott, they would fall under suspicion before her if the bugs were discovered.

“Yes, it would. The long-range listening devices don’t work.”

“He’s jamming them like we are?”

“Only he makes no effort to mask his jamming device. It’s as if he’s so arrogant he doesn’t care who knows he’s taken measures to keep his conversations private. He doesn’t think anyone can touch him.”