All Night With The Boss

Lissa had just reached the railing when she heard the footsteps behind her. Quickly turning, she sat on the bench in the shadows, hoping she couldn''t be seen, just wanting five minutes'' cool-down time.She watched the approaching figure knowing full well she wasn''t invisible and that he was heading right towards her. She didn''t recognise him. She''d been at Franklin and Co. for five months now and knew everyone. Long legs wrapped in navy denim casually strode out with a grace that signalled a natural athlete. He was tall with dark hair. With the only light on the balcony being the thin streams escaping from the boardroom windows she couldn''t see much more. She sighed, her heart sinking. Gina must have sent her friend Karl out to sit with her. Why was it that people thought set-ups were a good idea?Unable to take her eyes off him she decided to ignore the tightening in her stomach and her promise to Gina to be ''open to possibilities''. Instead she would just get it over with. Tell it to him plain and then she could have some space again.''Did Gina tell you I was out here?'' She used her most decisive, not-to-be-messed-with tone.''No.'' She caught a flash of white teeth as he smiled in the darkness. He sat down next to her with a companionable nod, setting his glass beside him. He''d positioned himself across from her, at right angles. His face was in shadow and he was close, too close. His presence radiated out, his legs near hers and she caught a faint citrus scent. Lemon, fresh and cool.''Look, I''m sorry,'' she began, trying for kind yet firm. ''I don''t know what Gina told you, but I''m really not interested.''''Oh.'' He paused. ''Really?'' He sounded quite surprised. She took a deep breath and ploughed on, the words tumbling over each other in their rush to get out. ''It may seem hard to believe, what with everyone else so keen to get it on, but I''m really not looking for a bit of fun. I''m sure you are a great guy and all and you''ll have no trouble finding someone else. Especially in there.'' She emphasised by waving wildly at the window. ''After all, Gina says you''re an amazing flirt.''His sharp burst of laughter surprised her. Even more surprising was the way it resonated within her. It was deep, warm and dry.''Does she? How nice of her.''He took a careful sip from his glass. ''But you know I don''t think I want anybody else. Especially not "in there",'' he mimicked her tone.Her fingers tightened around the cool glass. She still felt hot and bothered and this interruption wasn''t helping.''Please yourself,'' she said in resignation. ''But let''s get one thing clear. It''s not going to happen so we''ll just chill, right?'' She winced a little at her crabbiness, not intending to have spoken quite so baldly. She snatched a deep breath, trying to overcome it, but breathing properly seemed more tricky than usual when seated next to this guy.''Suits me.'' He was agreeable. ''Are you always this blunt?''She frowned, her cheeks heating. ''Mmm. I''m sorry if you thought I was rude. I don''t mean to be, but I don''t want to have any misunderstandings.''''OK.'' He laughed, a shade too heartily for her liking.She glanced at him, thinking he was pretty relaxed about being rejected from the outset. She could see a broad smile, an inviting smile. The kind of smile that made you want to smile right back and move closer to its warmth. She looked back to the windows and watched with cynical amusement as two consultants vied for Gina''s attention. Lissa flicked a quick look sideways at Karl again, wishing Gina had warned her he was the most physically attractive man on the planet and not just a super flirt.''Now that we have that settled,''he said easily, ''why not tell me something about yourself?''''What do you want to know?'' Lissa asked. She''d just shot the guy down before he''d had a chance to start his engine, she didn''t need to be totally rude.''I don''t know.'' He stretched out a leg. It crossed in front of hers, a barrier between her andAnderson, Natalie is the author of 'All Night With The Boss', published 2008 under ISBN 9780373820627 and ISBN 0373820623.