Sticking to his promise, Everett released her hand as she said the words. He didn't want to. He wanted to keep ahold of her, to comfort her, to get her to admit more to him. Now wasn't the time though. Unfortunately, he was afraid they would never find a time for such intimacy.
"Of course I'm not happy. I can see your father's attitude has had an effect on you. I'm sorry you've had to deal with that. Don't you think it's made you a stronger person though?"
Bay looked at him incredulously. "Really? You're trying to make something good out of this?"
Everett opened his mouth then closed it again. What was he supposed to say to that? "I just wonder if you'd have gotten this far if you weren't trying to prove everyone wrong, that's all."
"You don't have any right to judge me. You have no idea what my life has been like." She scooted her chair back and stood. "Excuse me. I need to use the ladies' room."
Before he could respond, she stalked off.
*
Everett gaped after her. Obviously, that was a sore spot for her. He hadn't meant to push, but it seemed like everything he said pushed her buttons. How could they work together when they were always at odds? He ran a hand through his hair. He should probably apologize. Again. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had to apologize for so much.
He strode out the door, looking for the women's restroom. When he found it down a hallway, he stood opposite the door, a foot propped on the wall and arms crossed over his chest. After several minutes, he glanced at his watch. He wondered if she knew he was out here waiting on her and was trying to avoid him. He wasn't going anywhere. As soon as he'd decided he might have to go in after her, she came out the door. She startled when she saw him.
Everett stepped forward and held out a hand. "Bay, let's talk."
She stepped closer but only so she could say what she wanted to without anyone else hearing. "We have nothing to talk about. I just want to get this job over with."
"Bailey-"
"No. I'm tired of your attitude. You're exactly like I expected-a spoiled billionaire who's used to getting his way." Her hand flew to her mouth as soon as the words left them. She squeezed her eyes shut in humiliation. How could she talk that way? He was her client. He was a world-famous celebrity. He could ruin her career with one word. Hell, he could ruin her whole life with one word.
Her eyes flew open as Everett grabbed her wrist and pulled her around a darkened corner. Pushing her up against the wall, he pinned both her wrists against the wood paneling.
Adrenaline flowed through Bailey. She wasn't scared. Not in the least. In fact, as she felt her body respond to the nearness of his, she realized his behavior completely turned her on. His scowl firmed his lips into a hard line, and she wanted desperately to lick along them until they softened for her.
"Look, princess," Everett was saying. "I was going to apologize. Again. Now it's you who needs to do the apologizing. When are you going to get it through that pretty little head of yours that I like you? More than I should. More than I want to, and more than I have any right to. If I'm acting like a monster, it's because you are driving me crazy."
Unable to comprehend what he was saying, Bailey simply stared at him. "I don't-, I can't-" she started to say, but tightness closed her throat.
Leaning into her, he whispered against her lips, "Yes, you can." Then he captured her mouth with his.
The hardness of his lips seared against her, and she automatically opened to him. She moaned against him as his tongue pushed into her willing mouth. Sliding her captured hands up the wall, he stepped closer, pressing his full length against her. Lost in the hypnotic effect of his kiss, Bay responded and danced her tongue along his.
Bailey fought disappointment when Everett broke the kiss. She was so turned on she was ready take him here in the hallway.
"Jesus Christ, Bay, look what you do to me."
She couldn't speak, so she just shook her head, unable to communicate that she didn't understand.
"I can't control myself around you." He shifted his hips, rubbing his full erection against her midsection. Bailey groaned, leaning her head back and shifting her own body to get even closer. Moisture pooled in her panties, and she was sure he could smell her arousal. "You make me so crazy I can't control myself," he continued. He leaned his forehead against hers. "Tell me to stop. Tell me you don't want this."
Bailey's head spun from his confessions. Tell him to stop? How could she do that when her entire body was begging for him to continue? Her heart pounded against her ribs, and she sucked in a breath, trying to think. He shifted his head and nibbled on her earlobe. Bay's legs turned to jelly, and she would have slid down the wall if not for Everett pressing her back against it. "Oh god, Everett," she whispered.
He released one of her hands and reached for her hip to pull her as close as their clothes would allow. Bay's free hand tangled in his hair as his lips traced the sensitive flesh of her neck, and fire spread through her limbs.
A sudden gasp startled them both, and they turned their heads to see Sarah at the corner. "Oops. Sorry, you guys. Didn't mean to interrupt." She gave Bailey a wink before scurrying off. They could hear her giggles as she disappeared from sight.
Reality rushed back in, the spell of desire broken. "Everett," Bailey began, her voice weak. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Everett, you should let me go." She closed her eyes so she didn't have to look at him, sure she would lose her nerve if she saw his expression.
Reluctantly, Everett dropped his hands and forced himself to step away. Damn, but he'd been ready to take her right there in the hallway. He was going to kill Sarah for interrupting them, the little Bug. It's for the best, he told himself.
"Maybe we should go," he told her as he smoothed his shirt and adjusted his pants.
"That's probably best." Bailey walked back toward the banquet room, head held high. She refused to look at him. Embarrassment burned her cheeks. Why did she always lose control around him? No one had ever affected her that way. As Everett caught up with her, she took a calming breath and ran a hand over her ponytail, praying it didn't look too mussed. She was embarrassed enough facing Everett, she didn't want to have to explain her appearance to anyone else.
"Let's just say goodnight, and I'll take you home," Everett said.
Bailey nodded and followed quietly beside him as he said his goodbyes. When they reached Sarah and Toby, Sarah gave Bailey a knowing smile. "Bay, can I talk to you for a sec?" she asked.
Risking a quick glance at Everett, Bailey nodded, and Sarah drew her away from the others. "So? Are you going to sleep with him?"
Bailey gaped at Sarah's brashness. Everett had confessed to her the previous day that Sarah had overheard their fight and figured out their secret. "Sarah! Everett told me you know why I'm here. I can't do that."
"Mm hmm. That's not what it looked like when he had you up against the wall."
"That was a mistake," Bay said, shaking her head.
"Why? I see the way he looks at you, and he can't keep his hands off you. Why can't you give it a chance?"
Bay took Sarah's hands in her own. "Sarah, I know you want everyone to be in love, just like you are. But things aren't always that simple. An affair with your brother would ruin my career. I can't risk that, even if I wanted to. I hope you understand."
Sarah's angelic face scrunched into a frown. "No, I don't understand. He needs someone like you. Love is more important than money."
"You're right-love is more important than money." She dropped Sarah's hands. "But I don't love Everett. And he doesn't love me. We've only been temporarily thrown together for a short time. When he goes back to his regular life, he'll forget all about me."
"Somehow I doubt that."
Bailey rubbed at the tension gathering in her neck. "Please, Sarah, let it go."
"All right, fine. I'll let it go."
"Thank you," Bailey said, relieved. The last thing she needed was Everett's overly romantic little sister pushing them together for the next forty-eight hours.
*
When they reached the Parker home, Bailey ran upstairs ahead of Everett and grabbed her nightclothes from her bag. The ride to the Parker home had been made in almost complete silence. She knew she couldn't continue this way. She only had two more days to get through. Two days. Two days to keep her distance. Two days left at his side. For some reason, the thought made her want to cry.