High-Powered, Hot-Blooded (6 page)

“Interesting party,” she murmured to Duncan as they stood by the main entrance to the hotel ballroom. While she thought it was nice Duncan wanted to greet everyone who attended, his presence wasn’t helping the situation. He was big and powerful, which made relaxing even more difficult.

“These things are always tedious.”

“Maybe if there’d been some music.”

“Maybe.” He looked over her head. “There’s Jim in accounting. I need to go speak with him. I’ll be right back.”

She retreated to a private spot by a fake potted plant and called home. Jenny picked up on the first ring.

“Can you and Kami bring the karaoke machine?” she asked in a low voice. “I have a dead party that needs help.” She gave the name of the hotel and which ballroom.

“Fancy,” Jenny said.

“Disaster. Please hurry.”

“We’ll be there, Annie. Just keep sipping the wine.”

“I’m not sure it will help.” She pushed the end button, then put her cell back in her purse.

Across the ballroom, Duncan talked to several men. Probably his executives, she thought, noticing how everyone else also kept their eyes on the group.

Three nights ago, he’d ended up leaving before the pizza was cooked, claiming he was going back to work. It was probably true, she told herself. Work was an escape. Not that she was anyone to complain. While she didn’t work the crazy hours he did, she spent plenty of time avoiding what was wrong with her life. Her cousins and Kami kept her busy, not to mention all the projects through school and the various classes she’d signed up for. If she was constantly running, she didn’t have to think about the fact that she hadn’t been on a date in nearly six months. Not counting Duncan, of course.

After the holidays, she promised herself. She would get back out there and start dating. She would look for someone who saw her as more than a sister or a friend. Tim had offered to set her up with a couple of guys he knew. Although that had been before he’d gone into rehab. She wondered if her brother was still angry with her. Because he wasn’t able to get calls or have visitors for a couple more weeks, there was no way to know.

For the next twenty minutes, she sipped her wine and tried to talk to people at the party. They were all too tense to do more than say they were fine and yes, this was a great party. Just as nice as last year. Finally Jenny and Kami appeared with the karaoke machine and microphone.

“I put in songs from the eighties,” Jenny said as she helped Kami set up the machine on a table by a plug. “I figured everyone here would be really old.”

“Nice,” Annie told her. “You’re kidding, right?”

Jenny grinned. “You’re so serious about everything. Yes, I’m kidding. There’s mostly Christmas music loaded.” She looked around at the dying party. “How are you going to get this started?”

Annie took another sip of wine. “I plan to sacrifice myself.”

Kami winced. “Tim doesn’t deserve you looking out for him the way you do.”

“Tell me about it.”

Annie nodded and Jenny flipped the switch. An electronic hum filled the room. Everyone turned to look. Annie waved weakly, then scrolled through the songs until she found “Jingle Bell Rock.” Maybe that would put people in the holiday spirit.

The music came on. Kami turned it up, then mouthed, “Good luck.”

Annie picked up the microphone and began to sing.

She had a modest voice, at best. Soft, without a lot of range. But someone had to save the party and everyone else was too afraid. So she did her best and ignored the waver in her voice and the heat burning her cheeks.

At the chorus, Jenny and Kami joined in. Then a couple of people in the crowd sang along. A few more sang the second chorus and by the third time around, most of the people in the room were nodding along.

A couple of women came up and said they wanted to sing. By the time they were done, there was a line of people waiting. She gratefully handed off the microphone.

She grabbed her wine and finished it in a single gulp. She was still shaking. The good news was people were actually talking to each other and she saw a couple filling plates with food.

Duncan joined her. “You were singing.”

“I know.”

His expression was hard to read. “Why?”

“Was it that bad?”

“No, but you were uncomfortable.”

“The party was dying. Something had to be done.”

Duncan looked around at his employees, then back at her. “This wasn’t your responsibility.”

“People should have a good time at an office party. Isn’t that the point of giving it? So they can hang out together, talk and learn about each other in a way that isn’t about work?”

He stared at her blankly.

She pointed at the people in the room. “Go talk to them. Ask questions about their lives. Pretend interest.”

“Then what?”

“Smile. It will confuse them.”

He looked at her quizzically, then did as she said. She watched him approach a group of guys who were drinking beer and tugging at their ties.

The employees weren’t the only ones who were confused, she thought, staring at Duncan. She was, as well. She was with him for a reason that had nothing to do with caring or being involved. He’d basically blackmailed her into pretend dating him so he could fool the world into thinking he was a nice guy. So why did she want to be next to him now, helping him? Why did the sight of his smile make her want to smile in return?

Complications she couldn’t afford, she reminded herself. She wanted forever and Duncan wanted to be left alone. She was staff, he was the boss. There were a thousand reasons why nothing would ever work out between them.

And not one of them could stop her from wishing for the very thing she could never have.

“Just say it,” Annie said calmly, when they reached the car.

He pushed the button to unlock the doors, then opened hers. “I have nothing to say.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re practically frothing at the mouth. You need to just say it.”

“I’m fine,” he growled, waiting until she got into the car, then closing her door.

He walked around and got in on the driver’s side. She put her hand on his arm.

“Duncan, you’ll feel better.”

He angled toward her, staring into her wide blue eyes, nearly vibrating with rage. “You had no right.”

“So you
are
mad.”

“What the hell were you thinking.”

She sighed. “So much for the warm fuzzies.”

He narrowed his gaze. “Excuse me?”

“Before, at the party, when I brought in the karaoke machine and humiliated myself by singing and saved the day, there were warm fuzzies. But now, all because I make a simple little suggestion, you’re upset.”

“A simple suggestion? Is that what you call it? You have no right. This isn’t your business. Our bargain in no way gives you any kind of authority over me or my decisions. You don’t know what you’re talking about and because of that, I have to deal with your mess.”

She nodded slowly. “Feel better?”

“I’m not a child to be placated.”

“I’ll take that as a no.”

She wasn’t afraid of him. In the back of his mind, he appreciated that she was sitting calmly while he ranted. Most people couldn’t do that. They were too aware of his size, his background, his ability to physically rip them in two if the mood struck.

She shifted toward him. “It’s not a bad idea.”

“You’re not the one who has to pay for it.”

“You’re paying for it already,” she said reasonably. “Parents have to miss work because their day care isn’t available. Or they can’t stay late because of the hours. It’s out of their control and that makes people worry. Worried people don’t do as good a job.”

“I’m not offering in-office day care. It’s ridiculous.”

“Why?”

“It’s expensive and unnecessary.”

“Do you know that for sure?” she asked.

“Do you know that it really helps?”

“No, but I’m willing to find out if it does. Are you?”

“I don’t come into your classroom and tell you how to teach. I would appreciate it if you didn’t come into my business and tell me how to run it.” The anger bubbled again.

“I’m not doing that. I was talking to a group of your employees and they spoke pretty passionately about it. I said it was an interesting idea and something you’d look into.”

“You do not speak for me.”

“What was I supposed to do?” she asked, a slight edge to her voice. “As far as they’re all concerned, I’m your girlfriend. The entire point of this exercise is to make the world think you’re a nice guy. Nice guys listen to good ideas.”

He couldn’t take much more of this. “It’s not a good idea. I listen when the person talking has something worthwhile to say.”

“Oh, and I don’t?” Now she was glaring. “Do I need an MBA to be worthy of a meeting? No wonder everyone was afraid to speak at that party. You don’t allow them to communicate without your permission. Do they have to get it in writing in advance? Not listening to anyone else must make for short meetings. But why have a meeting at all? You’re so damned all-knowing. That must make their jobs easier. You issue proclamations and they go forth and produce. What a concept.”

She was seriously pissed. Her eyes flashed and color stained her cheeks. She actually leaned forward and poked him in his shoulder.

“Don’t be a jerk,” she said loudly. “You know this idea has merit. Other companies have put day care in place successfully. Maybe you’re right—maybe it won’t work, but the current system is causing problems. So fix it. Contract with a couple of day care places so they’ll stay open later. Offer a program that allows employees to pay for day care with pretax dollars. I’m saying that if people who work for you think there’s a problem, then there’s a problem, whether you like it or not.”

He leaned back against the door. “You about done?”

“No. The people at that party tonight were scared of you, Duncan. That’s not a good thing.”

He knew she was right about that. A frightened workforce put more energy into protecting themselves than into the company.

“I don’t want them to be afraid,” he admitted. “I want them to work hard.”

“Most people can be motivated by a common goal a whole lot better than by intimidation.”

“What intimidation? You’re not scared of me.”

“I don’t work for you. Well, I guess I kind of do, but I know you. They don’t. You can be a scary guy and you use that to your advantage. Maybe that was a successful strategy at one time, but now it’s getting in your way.”

“I’m not going to get all touchy-feely. I don’t care about their feelings.”

“Maybe not, but you don’t have to be so obvious about it. You know I’m right about the day care problem. You should look into it.”

She was right, dammit. Even more frustrating, he wasn’t pissed anymore. How had she done that?

“You’re a strange woman, Annie McCoy.”

She smiled. “Part of my charm.”

It was more than charm, he thought, reaching for her hand. He laced his fingers with hers, then pulled her close. She came willingly, leaning across the console. He stretched toward her, then pressed his mouth to hers.

Annie had never experienced makeup sex, but she’d heard it was terrific. If the fire shooting through her the second Duncan’s lips touched hers was any indication of what it could be like, it was something she was going to have to look into.

Her body was energized from their argument. She’d enjoyed battling with him, knowing she could stand up for herself. While he could easily overpower her physically, emotionally they were on equal ground. And they would stay that way. A feeling in her gut told her Duncan fought fair.

She tilted her head, wanting more from the kiss. He tangled his free hand in her hair and parted his lips. She did the same, welcoming his tongue. He tasted of Scotch and mint. Heat from his body warmed her. She leaned closer and wrapped her arm around his neck.

They kissed deeply, straining toward each other. She ached inside—her breasts were swollen and there was a distinct pressure between her legs. If the car console hadn’t been between them, she would have had a tough time keeping herself from pulling off his jacket and tearing off his shirt.

But instead of suggesting they take this somewhere else, he straightened, putting distance between them.

In the dark, she couldn’t see his eyes and wasn’t sure what he was thinking.

“You’re a complication,” he said at last.

Was that good or bad? “I’m also a Pisces who enjoys long walks on the beach and travel.”

He laughed. As always, the sound made her stomach tighten.

“Dammit, Annie,” he muttered before kissing her again. When he pulled back, he said, “I’m taking you home before we do something we’ll both regret.”

Regret? She had no plans for regrets. But not being sure of his response, she stayed silent. Wanting Duncan was one thing. Wanting Duncan and having him flat-out say he didn’t want her back was more than she was willing to take on.

Courage was a tricky thing, she thought as she fastened her seat belt. Apparently she needed to work on hers.