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Chapter One
It was a cliché to say their eyes locked across the crowded club, and everyone else disappeared Sondra’s lips quirked, happy she had gotten a bachelor’s degree in business adht fled her mind as he moved closer
Stalking her The thought gave her a pleasant little thrill She watched the dark-haired white guy heading toward her with single-h the crowd like a big cat on the savanna She was his prey, and when he caught her, he would eat her up
Licking her lips, she straightened the hem of her red dress and s forward to meet him
“Can I buy you a drink?” they asked each other simultaneously
She s as they e to be so attracted to someone so abruptly, when she was norlasses of chairlfriends upon their arrival, since that had barely given her a buzz It had to be the man himself
Discreetly, she inhaled his scent as she was forced to press close against hi couple He s unidentifiable but crisply masculine As he placed orders for their drinks—screwdriver for her and scotch on the rocks for himself—she studied him
His hair was short and businesslike, but the light dusting of stubble ruined the corporate look His tight jeans and black T-shirt were deceptively casual, but could have been designer That was the odd thing about expensive clothes If done properly, they often looked bargain basement It still confused her even after her friend Maevyn had tried to explain it to her
When he stretched across the teak bar to grab their drinks, she got a quick glance at his butt Molded by tight deniirl’s fingers could dig into and hold on for the ride
As he turned to hand her the drink, she went for an innocent s out his backside just by the twinkle in his eyes and the satisfied smirk on his lips
There were no free tables, and asthe yu at the table her group had snagged earlier Instead, they found a quieter corner and leaned against the wall, sipping their drinks andsmall talk
“Do you come here often?” he asked a few minutes later
She shook her head, ainst her cheeks Normally, she let it curl as it ont to do, but had taken a little extra tiht the attention of thebeside her
The man… Lord, she didn’t even know his na for a few minutes “I’ve been here a few tihtclub person—especially on a work night Um, what’s your name?” She extended her hand “I’m Sondra”
He took her hand slowly, his fingertips caressing hers before brushing across her palms in a sensuous rasped her hand firmly, her heartbeat increased, and she didn’t protest when he kept hold of it instead of releasing her
“Jake”
“Jake” She repeated the na it out from one syllable to a purr “What about you, Jake Do you come here often?”
He lifted a shoulder “It’s near my apartment, but I don’t often have the time Maybe a couple of times per quarter”
She giggled at the business-speak “I can tell you’re another corporate drone”
His ears reddened slightly, and his brown eyes darkened “I…what?”
She squeezed his hand “I ah I suppose I’m a little less of a drone as of today I start my new job tomorrow as a personal assistant to the executive assistant of the CEO”
“Oh” He sipped his drink “Is it your first job?”
Sondra snorted “Hardly I’ away in the bowels of WWJ Industries since I finished college”
He froze for a second before saying, “I guess you iet promoted so quickly”
She could have gone for false modesty, but decided to be direct instead “Yes I’m very impressive in many areas”
Jake quirked a brow “I can iave her frobacks left no doubt exactly what he was i
Iulp, partly for courage and partly to dispense with it Then she et out of here, Jake?”
He hesitated for just a second before setting down his half-finished drink on sohtly on her hand pulled her against hi a chuckle at the outraged comments from the table’s occupants
She seelide on air currents as he hurried her from the club She lifted her hand to hail a taxi, but he captured it with his, holding both of hers for a second
“My place is just a couple of blocks up the street”
“Okay” Briefly, she considered the idea of running back into the club to let her friends know she was leaving, and ho recklessly, but since she never did, it was an experience she deserved to fully enjoy
They walked briskly down the street It was a war occasionally, but she was in noJake looer for it
As she walked into his building with hiant lobby, she had aout of her ele up in a tiny apartment in a seedy area of town Even her current apartment, shared with Mae and Dani, was a hovel in comparison—and this was just the foyer
“Good evening, Mr Jac—”
“Hello, Thomas” Jake sped by the luxurious reception desk, co her behind him as they entered the elevator
She was nearly surprised not to find an attendant waiting to press the button for the him for a second as he selected the top floor, she said, “Hmm, maybe not a drone, Jake”
“What?”
Sondra smiled “You aren’t a corporate drone”
He lifted a
shoulder “I’ement”
Immediately, she pictured the lead of the admin department and the woman she would report to with her new proe, he looked nothing like a junior executive She was grateful for that, not wanting to think about Clevage when they were having sex
Having sex
The words circulated in her mind, and the voice of co to have sex with souy you just met?
Yes
It’s a terrible idea
Yes