Amber Page - All's Fair in Lust & War

Forcing herself out of the hormone-induced fog his presence induced, Becky pulled away. How was it possible to be so attracted to someone so infuriating?

“Fine,” she said, holding her hand out. “You’ve had your peek. Hand ’em over.”

He did, looking at her with a strangely intense expression.

“Don’t you want to know what I think?”

Of course she did. “No.”

“Well, I’ll tell you anyway. I think they’re pretty awesome.”

“Oh.” That wasn’t what she had expected him to say. “Really?”

He nodded. “It’s a really original idea. One I never would have come up with. The only thing is...”

Instantly anger sparked in her brain. Of course he couldn’t let the compliment ride. Men never could. “The only thing is what?”

“Hey, don’t get mad. I was just going to say that you might try to push the design. The copy carries it, but I think your art directors could give you more.”

She looked down at the ads in her hands. He was right. She’d been thinking the same thing.

“Thank you for the advice. But I think we’re doing just fine. Jessie is killing herself for me.”

“Suit yourself.” He shrugged.

She nodded and turned to leave.

“Don’t you want to see what we’ve got going on?”

She stopped. “You’re willing to show me?”

“Sure. Fair’s fair. But you’ll have to look at them on screen. I haven’t printed them out yet.”

Wow. A man playing fair. That was a first.

She padded across to his computer, prepared to hate whatever she saw. But when she saw what he was working on she couldn’t help but smile. This guy sure seemed to know women.

“This is good,” she said. “Funny. But...”

“But what?”

“It’s just the headline. It’s a little too much. Too smug. Tell your copywriter to dial it back a little.”

He nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. Thanks.”

She headed back to the door, but stopped before she turned the knob. No need to leave on too much of a friendly note.

“I’m still going to beat you,” she said.

“Keep dreaming,” he retorted.

“Oh, I will.” She smiled. “But no matter how good my dreams are, the reality will be even better.”

* * *

Becky sat staring at her blank computer screen, exhaustion beating at the backs of her eyelids with every blink of the cursor. It was eleven-thirty p.m. on Thursday, and although her team was giving her their all she still worried that it wouldn’t be enough.

Three days just wasn’t enough time. Not when there was a quarter of a billion dollars on the line.

As tired as she was, she couldn’t keep the memories from invading. Couldn’t keep from hearing the sneering voice telling her she’d never get anywhere without him. That she was a hack, and always would be. That the only way she’d ever attain any success would be if she kept warming his bed...

A gentle hand clasped her shoulder.

“Hey, space cadet? Did you hear a word I just said?” Jessie asked.

Becky blinked, shaking her head to clear it.

“No, I...”

“You were listening to the mini-Pence in your head again, weren’t you?” she said, sympathy plain in her bright blue eyes.

Becky forced a halfhearted smile. “What? Of course not. How could I when I’m surrounded by such a fantastic group of talented women?”

Jessie snorted. “Liar. When was the last time you slept?”

Becky thought for a second. She honestly couldn’t remember.

“I can tell by your silence that it’s been too long. Go home. Rest. You need to bring your A game tomorrow. It’s D-day, you know.”

As if she could forget.

“I know. I’ll go soon, I promise.”

Jessie gave her a long look. Becky could tell she wanted to say something else.

“Really. I will. Don’t worry about me.”

“All right,” Jessie said. “Well, I’m heading out. And I’m taking mini-Pence with me. You don’t need him being a backseat driver.”

This time Becky smiled for real.

“You’re right. I don’t. Get him out of here, and good riddance.”

After Jessie had left Becky headed for the kitchen, and the free coffee that awaited her there. As she waited for her mug to fill with the magic brew she laid her head on the cool metal of the stainless steel countertop and closed her eyes. Just for a second...

Next thing she knew a big hand was shaking her awake. She bolted upright, trying to get her bearings.

“I’m on it, Pence. Don’t worry. I just...” she blurted, her mind still in dreamland.

“Hey, it’s all right. There’s no Pence here. It looks like you just drifted off for a second,” a familiar voice said.

Becky blinked. Sure enough, Mark was standing there, smiling gently at her. And in his hand was the cup of coffee she’d been waiting for.

“Here. It’s still hot,” he said, handing it to her.

She took it silently, waiting for him to comment on what he’d heard her say. He didn’t disappoint her.

“Who’s Pence?”

She looked at him, expecting to see ridicule in his eyes. But there was only compassion.

“He’s the reason I don’t do workplace relationships. Or relationships at all, for that matter.”

“Ah. Why?”

Without knowing why, Becky found herself wanting to confide in him.

“He was creative director at the agency where I interned during grad school. He was my mentor, and then he became...more. Much more.”

That was the understatement of the year. But Mark didn’t need to know how bad things had gotten—or how far she’d run to get away from him.

She shrugged her shoulders. “The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. So I decided to focus on my career instead. And now here we are. Competing for the promotion that should be mine.”

Mark smiled ruefully and lifted his coffee mug. “Indeed we are. Although I have to admit I’d rather be competing to see how fast we can make each other come.”

Becky raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want this job?”

“Of course I do,” he said with a heated smile. “And I’m going to get it. But I’d also like to hear you screaming my name again. Creating killer ads makes me hot.”

Becky couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up. “Well, that’s nice to know. But I’m afraid I can’t help you. I’ve got an equally hot campaign to finish.”

Mark slowly got out of his chair and walked over to where she stood. “Okay, but just so you know, I’ll be thinking about you,” he said, dropping a kiss on her neck.

Her blood sizzled at his touch, and she found herself hoping he’d keep going.

Instead he turned and walked away. “Sweet dreams,” he called.

Grabbing her still-warm coffee cup from the counter, Becky started the trek back to her office. Sleep would have to wait. She had a campaign to perfect—and a devil of a man to vanquish.

* * *

Mark took a deep breath, straightened his black sport coat, and walked into the crowded conference room. He had timed his entrance carefully, so that he was almost late but not quite. He needed every tool in his arsenal to keep Becky off balance.

“Nice of you to show up!” David boomed.

“I was just putting the finishing touches on our concept,” Mark answered. “Nothing less than perfection will do, after all.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” David said. “Now, since you’re so sure of yourself, how about you go first?”

Mark took a deep breath, then snuck a look at Becky. She was sitting quietly at one end of the giant conference table, her emerald-green dress the only bright spot in the overly industrial room.

She looked at him mockingly. “Yes, Mark, why don’t you go first? We’re dying to hear what you’ve come up with.”