Natalie Anderson - In Bed With the Enemy

Early in the morning he rolled out of bed, completely unrefreshed, took a freezing shower to try and wilt the raging erection he’d been crippled with the last twelve or so hours, then went to work and tried to concentrate. But it, like his body, was too hard.

Finally he picked up the phone. He’d watched the comments appear—yeah, some of his cruder team-mates were getting vocal now. He drew a deep breath, discomfort niggling over some of the things they were suggesting he do. Well, he wasn’t uncomfortable with the suggestions themselves—hey, he’d been thinking those exact same things and several hundred more—but he didn’t like it being out in the public like this. Another comment pinged up—really crass. He turned away from the screen as he waited for her to answer, damn glad her real name wasn’t out there in the blogosphere.

‘Hammond Insurance. Nadia speaking.’

His fingers clamped the phone harder, responding to that hint of ruthlessness in her voice. The tough lady tone hinted at the tiger within.

‘Good morning.’ He didn’t give his name—knew he didn’t need to. She was as alert to him as he was to her.

Yeah—all he got was silence.

‘How’s your head?’ He decided to provoke her. He had a nagging pain in his—a nagging that drilled down the rest of his body too, because it still resented the way he’d ripped away from her last night.

‘I’m not going out with you again. The deal’s off.’

He’d expected it, but even so her words winched his stiff muscles even tighter. ‘You’re such a coward,’ he said softly.

‘No, this is just a waste of time.’ She sounded crisp. ‘You’re everything those women said and then some.’

‘Not true.’ He sat back in his seat, smiling at her illogicality and her determination to resist the challenge. ‘If I was really a user I’d have taken everything you offered last night. And be honest, Nadia, you offered everything. But instead I was chivalry incarnate. Shouldn’t I get recognition for that?’

‘You’re the devil incarnate,’ she snapped, the ice barely covering her volcanic reaction. ‘This whole thing is over.’

‘So you’re going to identify yourself? You’re going to pull your forum?’

‘I’ll pull your thread. You can do whatever you want. I don’t care.’

‘You’ll risk your job?’ He frowned. Was she really going to give in so easily? That didn’t sound right. And it was exactly what he didn’t want. No way did he want this battle to be over—not now it was getting so interesting.

‘Is your thirst for revenge so great you’d see me on the street?’

Ethan tensed. She was calling his bluff—and, no, he wouldn’t expose her. He didn’t want her to lose her job. He needed some other kind of leverage. Fortunately he figured he had it. ‘But you care about your site.’ He clicked his computer to refresh the screen. ‘Haven’t you seen the number of hits on my little blog this morning? And all the comments on yours?’

Nadia buried her head in her hand, closing her eyes, wishing she could close her ears to his charismatic voice—she couldn’t halt the response in her bones to the smile she could hear.

‘Nadia?’

She pressed the phone closer to her ear and sank lower into her seat. Just the way he said her name made her wet. Maybe it was some kind of hormone imbalance or something? Maybe it was because she hadn’t had a date or sex or anything remotely romantic for so long? Maybe she’d subconsciously fixated on that one bit of his reputation—the “best sex ever” bit? Okay, not even subconsciously—it was right up there in the forefront of her brain, flashing neon-sign-style.

‘Have you seen them?’ he asked again.

‘No.’ For the first time in years she hadn’t checked her computer on waking. And now she was at work. The only people in the company who had access to social networking sites on their computers were those in Human Resources, so they could check the online presence of employees and possible recruits—yes, they checked the profiles of applicants, and their posts. They didn’t hire people who made fools of themselves or who had loose lips. That meant she could check his page now. She glanced behind her—no one could see her screen. Super-quick she typed in the URL. It only took a moment to load. She gasped—there were over a hundred comments. She read the first few and her lungs froze.

‘Isn’t that why you run your site, Nadia? To feel important? To be popular? Don’t you want to get all these hits and all these comments? Isn’t this the whole point?’

No, it wasn’t. And there were hits and there were hits. And there were some really awful hits on there. Personal, derogatory, mortifying comments. As she loaded the second page to read more, another couple were added. She read them. They were getting worse. Nadia’s eyes stung and she tried to blink the acid away.

‘I hate you for this.’ She couldn’t keep the emotion out of her voice.

‘Doesn’t feel nice, does it?’ he said, in his hatefully compelling voice.

‘You should be moderating the comments.’

‘Like you moderate the lies on your website?’ He chuckled. ‘Surely this is the best thing ever? All this extra traffic making the world more aware of your site.’

Nadia didn’t answer. She flicked to WomanBWarned and saw the number of comments there—with much nicer, “go-girl”, supportive words. She breathed out—they were good, and her hit rate was incredible.

‘So it’s not over, is it, Nadia?’ Ethan purred. ‘I don’t think there’s any going back now. And I’m really looking forward to whatever it is you have planned for our day date.’

Was he, now? Nadia grinned, her confidence and courage streaming back after the “we love your blog” and “take him down” boosts.

‘I really don’t want another date with you,’ she said, lying to them both.

She went back to his blog post and added a comment beneath all the phnaar, phnaar macho innuendo—

Typical boys, you can only think south of the belt buckle.

‘You know you don’t have a choice. You know you can’t resist.’

Her hand froze on the mouse, because he was right and she couldn’t think straight. ‘In three days’ time I’ll wake at four in the morning with the perfect plan to take you down eighty pegs.’

‘And for now?’

‘Kiss my ass.’

‘Ask me nicely and I might oblige.’

Nadia responded the only way she could think of. She hung up.

WomanBWarn ed:

Progressing to second & third dates …

The day date is the perfect way to get to know each other without the pressure of romantic expectations that can be present in the evening. So it’s a good option for early on in your dating relationship. Suggestions for fun day dates:

A picnic in the park

A walk in the local botanic gardens or zoo

Visiting an art gallery

Beachcombing

Something adventurous—paddling a canoe in the park, paintball if you’re that way inclined.

But here’s a tip—don’t choose something that one or other of you is an expert at if the other is a complete novice. No one likes to look a fool.

Also, while it’s nice to be getting to know each other, and it’s understandable to want to see if he’ll integrate well with your friends, go easy. It can be intimidating to be introduced to a ton of strangers who are all sizing you up. And definitely don’t introduce him to your family too soon!

ETHAN studied the list and wondered which of those things she was going to inflict on him on Sunday. Actually, he thought it was a damn good idea. The cold light of day would be the perfect place for her to face some undeniable truths—like the sizzle between them. There’d be no wine for her to hide behind.