I Brake For Bad Boys (13 page)

“Yes, I have.” She stirred lemon and sugar into her iced tea, and slanted him a curious look. “Did they send you to try to sway me?”

He grinned, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. “I know my powers of persuasion might work in certain areas,” he said meaningfully, “but you're a woman with her own mind, and I doubt I could force you to do anything you don't want to.”

Oh, he was very astute, and clever, considering his words held a double meaning. “I really do appreciate their offers and extra incentives to stay on permanently, but I'm not interested in going back to work for a large advertising firm.”

“Can I ask why not?”

She shrugged, and stated the obvious. “For one, I've got Creative Consulting to think about.”

“Which is just getting off the ground. We both know it's a whole lot of work and expense maintaining your own agency.”

“True. That's why I've been freelancing.” She smoothed her napkin onto her lap. “This bonus will go a long way in helping me to establish myself more firmly in the advertising industry. Right now, I'm working on projects out of the office I have at home and I have a small client base, but within the next six months I should have my own office leased and employees on the payroll.”

He tipped his head, regarding her thoughtfully. “You really want all the crap and headache that goes with owning a business when you can make a six-figure salary at Massey without the hassles?”

For her, it wasn't a money issue, but a personal one. “I can deal with those kinds of hassles just fine, especially when
I'm
the boss.” There was humor in her tone, but she was dead serious about being able to manage the ups and downs of running her own business compared to working for someone else. “What I can't handle is office politics and all the backstabbing that goes along with climbing the corporate ladder and maintaining your position when you're on top.”

His dark brows lifted in surprise at her admission. “Is that personal experience talking?”

She hesitated, then decided there was no reason why she couldn't reveal that bit of truth to him. “As a matter of fact, yes, it is.”

His gaze held hers steadily. “Care to enlighten me?”

She sat back in her chair as their lunch orders were served, which gave her a few extra moments to consider his question, and her response. Did she really want to apprise him of her past, one that not only explained the business decisions she'd made for the last year and a half, but also touched on deeper personal issues, like the relationship that had cost her so much, professionally and emotionally?

His interest seemed genuinely sincere, as did the concern reflected in his eyes. While she hated dredging up those painful memories, she figured he'd be better off knowing the reasons why she was so adamant about keeping business and pleasure completely separate, as well as why she wasn't interested in working for anyone but herself.

He took a big bite from his burger, indulged in a long drink of his soda, and continued to patiently wait for her reply.

Picking up her fork, she stabbed it into the potato salad accompanying her turkey sandwich, ate the bite, then started her story from the beginning. “I went to work for my first advertising agency, Ad-Logic, fresh out of college. They hired me in the marketing department, and in five years time I'd worked my way up to creative director.”

A grin creased one corner of his mouth. “Have you always been so ambitious?”

“You have to be driven in this industry. You know that.” She chewed a bite of her sandwich, and licked a smear of sauce from her finger. “If not, you'll get crushed by the competition.”

“True.” He dove into his French fries, drenching them in ketchup. “Go on.”

“Anyway, one of the associates on the creative team I was supervising started flirting with me. Since Jeremy was a subordinate, I turned down his advances, even though the firm didn't have a no dating coworker rule. But he was very persistent, and before long I was hooked. We went out on a few dates, one thing led to another, and the next thing I knew, we were an item.” She glanced up at Eric, and without thinking, she said, “He was good-looking, and charming, much like you are.”

He frowned, seemingly taking offense by the comparison. “Sweetheart, don't make the mistake of comparing me to any other man in your life. Especially when I have a feeling this guy screwed you over in one way or another.”

She exhaled a slow breath, amazed by Eric's ability to read her so well. “You're right, and I apologize.” The man sitting in front of her was open, honest, and very straightforward in his intentions. Important qualities she realized, belatedly, Jeremy had lacked.

“Tell me what happened,” he said, prompting her to go on.

She picked at her lunch, while Eric devoured his. Then again, there was no reason why her tale would ruin
his
appetite. “During this time, a big account came in for the firm, and I was also up for a promotion to senior art director, which left my position open to be filled. Jeremy made it clear he was interested in my job, and taking on the big account. Except, quite honestly, he wasn't the best person for the position, and I gave it to a woman who was better qualified. He wasn't happy about my decision.”

Eric cringed. “Oh, man, don't tell me this guy was using you to get the promotion.”

“Yeah, he was,” she admitted, feeling her stomach cramp at how stupid she'd been to believe his interest had been genuine—and that she hadn't figured out his agenda because she'd been so caught up in his romantic pursuit. At least she realized her affair with Eric for what it was—great sex and pure fantasy.

Pushing those niggling thoughts aside, she continued. “One way or another, Jeremy was determined to get that promotion, and he figured I'd give it to him because we were sleeping together. When I passed him over, he cried sexual harassment and told the partners that I'd promised him my job and the big account in exchange for sexual favors.”

Eric gave another grimace of commiseration, though he declined to make any comments.

“It turned into a big, awful mess,” she said, and pushed her half-eaten lunch aside. “The partners
said
they believed my side of the story, but instead of facing a lengthy and expensive legal lawsuit, they settled the issue in-house. They made Jeremy an associate creative director, as well, and put him in charge of the account he wanted and claimed I promised him. As for me, I lost the promotion to senior art director to someone else, and because everything in the office was so tense, awkward, and stressful, I ended up resigning.”

“Jesus,” he said in disgust. “I'm sorry about that.”

“Yeah, well, it was a valuable lesson learned in many ways. One of which is that I'm better off on my own.” That, at least, had been a decision she'd never regretted. “With my own agency, I call the shots, and the responsibilities are all mine. Best of all, I'm in control, and I depend on no one but myself in terms of my success. I have no desire to plant myself permanently into that kind of dog-eat-dog situation ever again.”

While his gaze softened in understanding, his corporate, bargaining expression remained in place. “You know, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the position the partners are offering you pretty much puts you at the top of the creative department, which means no dogs to deal with,” he said humorously.

“That position is one rung below you, which would technically make you my boss and
top
dog.” And she was already sleeping with him, which made the entire situation too controversial for her. Not that she was considering accepting the job.

“I have bigger aspirations and plan to make partner in the next year or two, which will eventually leave my position open for someone as intelligent and creative as yourself.”

She ignored his sweet-talking compliment. “And let history repeat itself? No, thank you.”

His sensual lips pursed with annoyance, and she knew he wanted to argue her point about history repeating itself with them, but that meant dragging their intimate relationship out into the open in the light of day and breaking the vow he'd made to keep their affair private.

He sighed heavily. “I truly understand your reservations and reasons for being so hesitant, and I'm glad you told me about what happened,” he said instead, taking a more sensitive approach to the issue. “A whole lot more makes sense to me now. But I promised Gary that I'd talk to you, and now I can say that I did.”

A part of her was shocked that he wasn't pushing her harder to take on the position at Massey, yet she was grateful, too, for his easy acceptance. He seemed to genuinely care about her reasons for declining their offers, and his understanding of the situation touched her in places she didn't want to acknowledge for fear of letting those feelings take on a life of their own—if they hadn't already. This new connection between them was unique and special, and had nothing to do with sex or their fantasy world. It was about a man and a woman talking and relating to one another, and she liked the warm, heartfelt bond they'd established more than was wise.

“Tell him I said thank you for the offers, but I'm not going to change my mind.” Her tone was firm.

“Fair enough,” he said, conceding defeat without further prodding. “At least I can tell him that I tried my best.”

 

 

Jill attempted to give the Enchanted advertising package another thorough proofreading and review, making sure all the materials were in place and perfectly coordinated for the client presentation scheduled for Wednesday of that week. She made a few last-minute notations for changes before her mind started to wander to other more personal issues, and the lack of concentration where it should be focused,
on work,
infuriated and frustrated her.

So did Eric's no-show at her place over the weekend. And therein lay the crux of her irritable mood.

Three days had passed since her lunch with Eric Friday afternoon. Granted, she'd been a bit distant after their business conversation because it had encompassed too much of her personal history, but she'd never expected him to forgo their agreed-upon affair . . . for the entire weekend.

And here it was, close to quitting time on Monday, and she was beginning to wonder where she stood with Eric. If maybe her story had turned him off to their affair, or if her final refusal to accept the position at Massey had also contributed to his decision to keep
his
distance. But that would make him no different than Jeremy, and she knew Eric had more character and integrity. Still, the possibility that he'd changed his mind about her made her chest hurt with an emotion she refused to analyze too closely.

She'd seen him briefly in passing throughout the day, had even consulted with him in regards to the media proposal for the Enchanted account. Yet not once did he mention his absence over the weekend. Not that he owed her an explanation as to his whereabouts or how he'd spent those evenings, but she'd assumed there would be more than just one night of sex with him.

He'd been his normal, amiable self all day long, treating her with the same flirtatious, easy charm as he always did, but he never crossed the line into anything remotely personal. She'd found herself continually searching his eyes and expression, but neither gave away what he was feeling. Or if he planned to visit her ever again. She was dying to ask, but she wasn't about to be the one to break the rule they'd established to never mix their business relationship with their fantasy world.

Closing her eyes, she pressed her fingers to her temples, where the beginning of a headache began a steady throb. Thank goodness the day was nearly over, because she needed fresh air, freedom, and a better perspective on the entire situation.

A half hour later she headed home, and discovered a long, white flat box topped off with a big pink bow on her doorstep. She picked up the gift, unable to stop the warm glow of hope and excitement tingling through her. Once she was inside, she plucked the pink envelope attached to the bow, withdrew the card inside, and read the succinct sentence written in a bold, masculine scrawl:
Wear all these things for me tonight.

There was no name signed to the note, but she knew who the gift was from. Unraveling the ribbon securing the sides of the box, she lifted the lid, separated the pink tissue paper, and felt her stomach flutter when she discovered the sexy lingerie he'd sent.

Jill would have pegged Eric as a man who would have gone for something black and racy and possibly in leather, but what she found instead caused her breath to catch and her heart to quicken. Her fingers glided over white satin and lace, the color of purity and innocence, which was such an incongruous choice since their illicit affair was neither. He'd selected an ensemble for her which included a demi bra in see-through floral lace with matching
crotchless
panties, and sheer white, lacy banded stockings accompanying a garter belt set.

A flush stained her cheeks and she bit her bottom lip. The outfit was incredibly provocative and decadent, more so than anything she'd ever worn before, and she appreciated his thoughtfulness in providing a pale pink silk wrap for her to wear, too. Not that she'd be wearing the robe for long, she knew, already anticipating the fantasy Eric had in mind.

Another smaller box caught her eye, and she gasped as she revealed the contents. She stared in stunned disbelief at the exquisite double strand of gleaming pearls nestled in a bed of burgundy velvet. Picking up the necklace, she rolled the smooth, polished pearls between her fingers, the texture cool, luxurious, and sensuous to the touch.