Emilie Rose - The Jarrods - Inheritance

He eyed her. “You have plenty of connections. You could use them.”

All at once she had an ache in her throat. It sounded like he was beginning to accept her decision. And that more than anything showed he really didn’t care about her. She was just another employee to him. Nothing more.

“I’m thinking I might get right away from this type of work.”

“And do what?”

“I don’t know.” She took a breath. “In any case, I’d really like to leave Aspen as soon as possible, so that I can wrap up things in Vegas before going home. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of days.” She’d make sure it didn’t.

He scanned her face. “You’re not telling me everything,” he said, sending her heart bumping against her ribs.

“There’s nothing else to tell. I do have a life and a family away from you, Blake, as hard as that may be for you to believe.” She couldn’t take much more of this. Going over to the desk, she picked up the letter. “So I’d appreciate it if you would accept my resignation.” She walked toward him. “Ideally I’d like to leave here as soon as possible. Tomorrow even.” Reaching him, she held out the letter.

He didn’t take it.

There was a measured silence, then, “No.”

The breath stalled in her throat. “Wh-what?”

“No, I won’t accept your letter of resignation and certainly not on such short notice. I need you here with me.”

His words sent a jet of warmth through her until she remembered this evening. It had been torturous watching him and that actress flirt with each other. How could she stay and keep up the pretence that she didn’t want Blake for herself?

She continued to hold the letter out to him. “I can’t stay, Blake. I really need to leave.”

Now.

Tomorrow.

Certainly no later than that.

He ignored the sheet of paper until she lowered her hand. “I’m the new CEO here, Samantha. It wouldn’t be professional of you to leave me in the lurch like this.”

She felt bad but it came down to emotional survival. “I know, but there are others quite capable of replacing me. Just contact a high-end employment agency. I’ll even do it for you before I go. Someone else would love to work here in Jarrod Ridge. They could be here by Monday.”

His mouth tightened. “No.”

She lifted her chin. “I’m afraid you have no choice.”

“I don’t?” he said silkily, inching closer. “You can’t quit without a month’s notice. It’s in your contract.”

She sucked in a sharp breath. “Surely you could waive that for me? I’ve given you two years of my life, Blake, and I’ve done the job exceptionally well. I’ve been at your beck and call 24/7. I think you owe me this.”

“If you insist on leaving before your contract is up then I’ll see you in court.” He gave a significant pause. “I don’t think that would look good on your résumé, do you?”

“You wouldn’t!”

“Wouldn’t I?

“This is business,” he continued. “Don’t take it personally.”

She almost choked then. That was the problem. Everything was business between them. Nothing was personal.

Her hands shook with anger as she began folding the letter in four. Then she leaned forward and tucked it into his jacket pocket. “Fine. You’ve got your month. Two weeks here and then two weeks back in Vegas to finish up. After that I’m leaving for Pasadena.” She went to step past him.

In a flash he grabbed her arm and stopped her, looking down into her eyes. It was the first time he’d ever touched her with meaning and something passed between them. She saw his spark of surprise before he dropped her arm. It surprised her, too.

“I never take no for an answer, Samantha. Remember that.”

“There’s always the exception to every rule. And I’m it, Mr. Jarrod .”

* * *

She was still shaking when she got out of the SUV and back to her room at Pine Lodge. She was angry at Blake’s refusal to let her go without giving a month’s notice, and excited by the awareness in his eyes when he’d touched her. Was she crazy to look more into this than she should?

Her heartbeat stretched into a gallop at the thought that he was attracted to her. A split second was all it had taken and she’d known what it was like to have this man want her. Would he let himself take it further? Remembering the way he’d immediately dropped his hand and withdrawn, she knew he wouldn’t.

Yet he’d wanted to, and that was the difference between him and Carl. Oh, she’d had a physical relationship many years ago as a teenager, but looking back, that had been so adolescent. Since then it had only been Carl, and he hadn’t wanted her beyond a kiss or two.

But with Blake tonight, she’d known for a moment what it was like for a man to really desire her. And that gave her hope that with a bit of encouragement he might make her his. What did she have to lose now? If she went home without taking this opportunity to become Blake’s lover she’d always wonder what it would have been like to be kissed by him, to be held by him, to have their bodies joined. And she’d always ache inside for what might have been.

She frowned. How could she capture his attention again and keep it? So far she’d tried everything and nothing had worked. She’d made herself as attractive as possible for him, to no avail. She’d even tried flirting over dinner earlier, but it had fallen faster than a lead balloon. Instead she’d ended up jealous of that actress’s ability to flirt so naturally. If only she could act like …

Just then a thought clicked in her mind. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of this before now, but if flirting with Blake hadn’t made him sit up and take notice of her, maybe he needed to be stirred up. Maybe he needed an award-winning performance. And a little taste of jealousy.

Yet Blake wasn’t the type of man who wanted things made easy for him. Making it appear at least a little difficult to catch her had to be the way to go. He wouldn’t be interested otherwise.

And what better way to get his attention than letting him see that other men wanted her? Blake wouldn’t be able to resist the challenge. This past week at least two good-looking men had asked her out to dinner but she’d turned them down. She hadn’t wanted to be with any man but Blake. She still didn’t, but he didn’t need to know that.

Starting tomorrow, she’d let herself be wined and dined by men who desired her. She wasn’t about to take it any further than that, but she wasn’t going to sit around any longer and be uptight Samantha for the rest of her time here either. Sam Thompson was about to break out of her shell.

After Samantha left his office, Blake stood there for a minute, stunned by his encounter with his assistant, and not only because she’d wanted to resign. When he’d touched her he’d had the strongest urge to pull her into his arms and make love to her. She’d felt it, too. He’d seen an acknowledgement in her blue eyes she hadn’t been able to hide. Strangely, it excited him. He wasn’t used to beautiful women holding themselves back. Women usually gave themselves to him.

Clearly it had taken Samantha by surprise as much as it had him. Equally as clearly, she wasn’t about to act on it. She probably didn’t know how to act on it. Over the two years that she’d worked for him he’d rarely seen her date. She was a beautiful woman who socialized with grace and class at functions they both attended, but there had never seemed to be a permanent man in her life. Admittedly he kept her busy, but he’d often wondered if she’d had a bad relationship somewhere along the way.

None of that mattered right now, he told himself as he strode over to the window, catching sight of the SUV taking Samantha back the short distance to their private lodge. He waited until the car drove past the cabins and lodges then weaved around a corner and out of sight before letting his thoughts break free.