~ ~ Beatrix ~ ~

This damn thing wouldn't load.   Argh!    Muttering a few more obscenities to myself.

My new team was sitting, patiently waiting, whispering between themselves.

Count to ten.

I'd had this whole thing prepped in my head. Load presentation. Welcome and introductions and lastly, lay out my plan for the next twelve months.

Simple, right?   Wrong.   Here I stood, looking like a complete amateur!

"Sorry, I had a girly emergency. Move over, let me look," whispered Ivy, slightly out of breath.

Thank Christ!  I would chew her ear off later for being late. I side-stepped and dragged the manual toward me, flipping through the pages just in case she couldn't get it working either.

Ivy leaned toward me, pressing her warm lips to my ear. "Sexy ex alert."

I shut my eyes. This was all I needed.  I was flustered enough, and now Cam had arrived to watch me fail at the simplest of tasks!

Bollocks!

"Don't sweat it, hun.  It just needs some Ivy magic."  I kept my fingers and toes crossed. 

Looking up, my presentation flashed in full bright colour.  Yeesss!   I resisted a fist pump. "Genius, Ivy."

"You got this," she mouthed.

Time to face the room, but I hesitated for a fraction.  Afraid it wasn't him.  Afraid it was.  Heart banging, I turned.

Don't look at him.  Don't look.  Don't look.

Shit, I looked.  My throat dried as our eyes locked.  Okay, you looked—now stop staring!

But I couldn't look away. He was there, staring back. And Ivy hadn't lied when she said he looked hot in his suit. Hot was an understatement, and an awareness I hadn't felt for a long time rushed up to the surface. I felt like an addict staring at my fix.

My cheeks flushed. Unable to deny the attraction was up front and centre—like a tangible thread in the air not needing to speak a word to know it drew us together and I accepted in those few seconds I'd been sleepwalking through the last four years, stupidly thinking I'd put him behind me, conquered his ghost.

Thank Christ my memory slapped me upside the head with a dose of harsh reality.

He cheated.  That man broke your heart.  You weren't enough for him.

It was enough to stop me from doing something crazy, like crawling along the desk and planting my lips on his... for now, at least.

My spine stiffened and my guard shot up. But I still watched him sit as if he was the only person in the room.

Head in the game—think about the end game.  Yet in truth, I knew I couldn't run, couldn't hide. I was going to have to deal with these ghosts and put them to bed.

Bed?  Fuck!  That conjured up many images, some more sordid than others... the feature attraction being us entwined, touching, kissing... fucking.

Perhaps my memories weren't my friend after all.

Think of something else... someone else.  Finn Wilder!  Yes, Finn. The hot, very sexy and delicious man who wanted me just as much as I wanted him.

A wash of calm and sanity seized my brain.

I could do this.  Cam was the past. History.  Carving out a name in publishing was my present and future.  And Fin... well, he was my distraction... a little or perhaps a lot of fun.

Breathe.

"Good morning, everyone. Thanks for being patient." I had their undivided attention.  "I hate to admit to this, but as you will soon figure out—technology isn't my friend."  My smile travelled around the table. "But I can say with the utmost sincerity how excited I am to be joining you here in the London office."

Thank Christ, my voice was confident, normal. I just had to remain focused on the entire room and not just one man.

Easier said than done.

~ ~

"You slayed them, girl," Ivy whispered.

Staff filtered from the room.  I nodded to Ivy, relieved that it was over with but confident I'd come across well and eased some of their worries; me being the outsider. And I'd done all this under the intense regard of Cameron Harte. His eyes hadn't left me for a single moment.

Ivy's eyebrow raised as she flicked her head.  Turning, everyone had left... except for him.

Christ!  My insides liquified.

I could do this. Be calm, strong and, above all else... professional.

He pushed up from his chair and walked around the table.  Each step had my pulse double tapping.  He stopped within an arm's reach. Our eyes clashed; the look in his was indiscernible.  But the heat rising between us was not. It was like a palpable heat in the air, wrapping us in its presence.  Breaking contact, mine dipped to his lips... I was staring at his mouth.

Ivy nudged me. Shit! Had he said something? "Sorry, I didn't catch that?"

"I said you're here," he repeated.

Damn, that deep sexy voice which never failed to stir emotions I would rather forget, but still I wondered if he had the same emotions, causing havoc. His grey eyes sharpened, darkening, reminiscent of stormy skies. But something was different... Ah, yes, "glasses?"  He wasn't wearing them.

He shrugged, following with a small smile. "Contacts."

"I always liked you in your glasses."  What the fuck was I doing?  My cheeks flushed as his eyes widened.

"I'll make sure I wear them tomorrow."

"Phew, hot-damn." Ivy fanned herself.  "Someone needs to ramp up the central air, because I'm feeling some heat in here!"  she said—subtle as ever.

Her statement was the slap I needed. I swallowed, licking my lips.  "Yes, well, I need to be cracking on.  Was there something I could do for you?"  For the love of Christ—Say No. Turn around and walk away.

He ran his hand through his hair. "Do you have five minutes Bea, alone?" His eyes flicked to Ivy before shifting back to mine. "—Please."

No. No. No. The warning bells screamed in my head. I bit my lip, pretending to think about his request. "I'm sorry Cam, but my calendar is back-to-back today.  Perhaps Ivy can send you my availability. Possibly for the end of the week?"  Or never.   I turned to Ivy, my eyes almost popping from their sockets, begging her to save me—which she completely ignored.

"Right." His face fell but recovered just as quickly as he scrubbed his hand across his chin. "Yeah, sorry.  Stupid me.  It's your first day. You need to settle in—and congratulations on the job."

"Thanks.  And it's good seeing you—to see you, and I hope we can get together. No, I meant us work together."   My god!  Someone save me from my own idiocy.

I forced a smile and bolted from the room, my feet moved quicker than my mind as I headed straight for the door opposite.

Fuck!   My eyes fixed on the urinals.  I'd fled into the men's bathrooms.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

I chewed on my nail, praying that Cam didn't need the bathroom. Sucking in a breath, I heard him talking to Ivy as they left the boardroom.  I stepped up to the door and opened it ever so slightly so I could listen.

"Do you think you can squeeze me in today, Ivy?"

Silence.

"Please Ivy. It's important I talk to her. Just five minutes. That's alls I'm asking."

Apparently, he wasn't giving up easily, and I wouldn't deny it teased a small smile.

Silence fell between them, and I knew this was Ivy's way of making sure she remained in charge of the situation.  Make him sweat it out before she gives him her response or, in this case, told him no.

"I like you Cam.  So I'm going to do you a solid. You get your five minutes," she said.

What?   I clamped my hand over my mouth.  What in hell was she doing? Ivy knew damn well I didn't want to be alone with him.

Ivy continued. "But let me warn you, Cameron." Her heels clacked on the tiled floor, no doubt getting right in his face.  Ivy could intimidate the devil himself. "I know the history between you two, and I'm giving you one shot to make this right. Therefore, I suggest you make every second count." She paused. "So, if you fuck it up, I will make sure you never get within two feet of her."

Wait till I got my hands on her. I would kill her slowly... very slowly.

"Are we on the same page, Cam—yes?"

"Brilliant.  Five minutes is all I need and thank you Ivy. I owe you big time." I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Yes, you do. But go...run along and I'll get back to you." I pictured her swishing her hand, dismissing him.

Gently closing the door, I stepped back, waiting for them both to leave... I only heard one set of footsteps.

"You can stop hiding now," said Ivy smugly.

Rolling my eyes, I opened the door. "What game are you playing, Ivy?  I told you in no uncertain terms that I wanted nothing to do with Cam."

"Pfft!" she spat out, walking back into the boardroom as I followed. "Didn't you feel it when you were both in this room?"

"Feel what?"

"The tectonic plates shifted."

I bristled, placing my hands on my hips. "What are you talking about?"

She turned, packing away my presentation, but kept on talking. "The insane chemistry between you two. And don't bore me with any denials Beatrix Anders."

I threw her a withering stare. "That wasn't chemistry—it was shock." My fingers curled, digging into my hips. "Jesus, Ivy. I know you listened when I told you what happened."

"Yes, but to be frank—something's off about that. And I've never seen a man look at a woman as he did just then. He's been waiting for you."

I scoffed.  "Don't be so—"

Ivy held up her hand, quietening me with one of her don't mess with my supernatural mojo stares, puffing up her chest. "Okay. If it's true and I'm wrong about this... about him." She paused, shaking her head. "There is still that crazy attraction between you two. Even after four years."

My shoulders sagged, hands dropping from my hips. "It's madness Ivy."

She shrugged. "The sanest kind of madness."

"I can't just erase... forget what he did."

"Listen to me." Walking, standing right in front of me, placing her hands on either side of my arms.  "People fuck up Trix. You said you never found out why.  Ask and then if you still feel you cant move past it, then at least let yourself move on, because I know you haven't. All you did in Canada was hide."

I opened my mouth to protest, but she cut me off.  "And... I won't say another word about it. In fact, we can have him killed and I'll bury the body myself." She shifted one hand, making a cross sign over her heart.  "Promise."

I chewed the inside of my cheek.

"I'll even nip out and go get you your favorite coffee."

"Stop playing dirty."  A smile teased my lips despite my reservations.  "Fine, slot him in."

"Atta' girl."

More like stupid girl.

~ ~

The rest of my first day went by in a blur.  I'd had back-to-back meetings and phone calls throughout the day, not even stopping for lunch. I looked at my watch, surprised to see it was four pm and even more surprisingly, Cam hadn't shown up.

Was I happy or disappointed?  I rose from my desk and walked toward the enormous glass window, looking out onto the London skyline.  Perhaps he'd had a change of heart.  Which was probably for the best.  Keep a professional distance.

Turning, I almost jumped out my skin when I came face to face with the very person I was debating if I wanted to see.

"Sorry, I knocked."

I'd been away with the fairies.  "No, it's fine."  The pressure in the room changed making it feel so much smaller.  "Ivy found you a free slot I see."

"Yes, she took pity on me." He took a measured step forward, his imposing presence wrapped around me like a fitted coat.  "Do you want me to resign, Bea?"

Resign?  I hadn't even considered that.  But apparently he had—and it pissed me off.

"I don't want to make this difficult for you."  Two more steps. I felt like I was being stalked, a tiger on the prowl.

"No need for drastic action or rash decisions. I'm sure we can both be professional."

Another step, one, two.

If I reached out, I could touch him. I took a step back to feel the coldness of the glass slice through my blouse.

Two more steps and the heat poured from him as my heart was beating itself out my chest. Why was he the only man to make me nervous?

The moment of truth was here.  And for what felt like a lifetime, we stared. I tried to get a read on him, but his face hid any emotion. I hoped mine reflected the same.

One of us needed to break this standoff... Cam broke the silence.  "I've missed you and all I can think about... right or wrong is that I want to kiss you." His eyes searched mine and damn if my body didn't respond.  My nipples tingled, stiffening.  Heat pooled in my stomach. I wanted him to kiss me.

Hell, I wanted a lot more.

Fuck!  Step aside.  I should move.  Like now.  Or tell him to leave. Right Now!

I didn't do either.

"I looked for you."

He had?  Of course, he did.

The air thinned, and I cursed myself for thinking that I had put this ghost to rest.   My tongue wet my lips, more out of nervous habit than any sort of seduction, but his eyes followed my movement.

Who made the first move? That I couldn't say, but his lips found mine.

Cameron Harte was kissing me and I softened in an instant as he slid his tongue between the seam of my lips.

Addictive. Sweet. Hot. Oh boy, was I was royally screwed.

His hand moved around the small of my back, splaying his fingers, pulling me closer. A shiver ran the length of me, sending heat straight between my thighs. My fingers danced up his arms, gripping his biceps as the kiss escalated and lit something hot inside.

When he finally broke away, our lips a fraction apart. "I never stopped wanting you," he whispered, edging back slightly as I lifted my eyes to meet his.  "I've wanted you back every fucking day, Bea."

There, I saw what I felt, the need, urgent, raw. Going beyond physical.  It was like two parts of the one whole coming back together.  I wanted him. No fear or hesitation overrode my physical need.

Before I could respond, his lips had sealed over mine again, and like a shock wave, one made of heat, desire and seduction, I came alive.  Warmth spread faster than no other, knowing the imprint on my soul from his had never faded.

It had taken one kiss to let him back in.

Fuck!