It was nothing, though. Just a little sexual frustration. Being so close to her had reminded him how sexually compatible they were. She was, simply and crudely, the best lay he’d ever had. Not because she was experienced or kinky, but the opposite—because of the way she gave herself to him with such abandon and trust, her delight fueling his desire.
He wouldn’t say no to revisiting their bedroom sessions. And maybe neither would she, judging by the way she’d felt up his chest a minute ago. His body pulsed at the memory. Christ, he was a sucker for the way she fondled him in that adorably dazed way of hers—
He quashed that train of thought. Seducing Jacinta might be a fun diversion, but he had to concentrate on the main game. He didn’t have time to spare. She was his best chance of saving his company, and after all the hard work he’d put in to get to the top position, he wasn’t going to let it all collapse in his hands. Jacinta would help him. He’d convince her, no matter how much she hated his guts.
Chapter Two
Kevin buried his head in his hands. “I was such a tool at my interview. I knew the answers, but I couldn’t find the right words.”
Jacinta deposited her bags on the kitchen counter and summoned up an encouraging smile. “You can’t give up hope. It’s just one interview.”
“But it’s hard enough to score an interview. I’m never going to get a job.”
“You’ve got to maintain your self-confidence.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
As she studied her dejected twenty-one-year-old brother, resentment spiked in her. This was all Lex’s fault. He’d smashed Kevin’s confidence to smithereens. Yes, Kevin had definitely been in the wrong. In his final year of college, Kevin had landed an IT internship at Jubilee Holdings. He’d been excited at the opportunity, but a few months into the internship, he’d done something incredibly stupid. He’d hacked into the company’s client database and sent off a stream of prank emails.
By that time, Jacinta had been seeing Lex for four months. She’d pleaded with Lex on her brother’s behalf. She didn’t expect special treatment just because they were together, but at the back of her mind, she’d hoped that their relationship would have some influence on him. She was crazy about Lex, and he seemed equally taken with her.
So had it been so out of line for her to ask him to show a little mercy toward her brother? He’d reacted as if she’d tried to bribe him. And then he’d gone out of his way to punish Kevin to the hilt. Not satisfied with a severe reprimand, he’d contacted the dean of the faculty, and Kevin had been expelled, just one semester away from graduation.
Her brother had moved in with her and sunk into a depression that grew deeper with every passing day. Lex had kicked her little brother to the curb, and she would never forgive him for that.
Jacinta picked up the Nordstrom shopping bag and handed it to Kevin. “Hey, look what I bought for you today.”
His face lightened a little as he examined the new headphones. “Oh, cool. I need a good pair for when I’m playing Grand Theft Auto.”
Jacinta blinked. Why hadn’t she bought him a stylish new tie instead? The headphones would only make it easier for him to shut out reality, whereas a new tie might have helped him in his interview today.
“Maybe you shouldn’t play computer games so much,” she mildly suggested.
“I guess.” He shrugged. “I made a spinach quiche for dinner. It’s in the oven right now.”
“Oh.” She watched as Kevin tried on the headphones. “The thing is I have—”
“And afterward I was hoping you’d help me jazz up my résumé.”
Well, that was better than playing Grand Theft Auto. She’d have to cancel her date with Calvin. Funny, she could barely recall what Calvin looked like. She frowned. Was she using Kevin as an excuse to cancel the date? Maybe, but in all honesty she wasn’t interested in Calvin anyway, so canceling the date would do them both a favor.
“Sure, that sounds like a good idea,” she said.
“What would I do without you?”
She laughed. “I can’t imagine.”
But beneath her attempted cheeriness, she knew Kevin was her responsibility. She’d been looking after him practically all his life. She was six when he was born, their dad had taken off seven months before, and there’d been no relatives or friends to help their single mom. As soon as Kevin was old enough, their mom had worked two jobs, often taking night shifts because the pay was better. Jacinta had been put in charge of her younger brother. He was a skinny, pale boy with behavior problems that sometimes made him impulsive, but his disadvantages had brought out all her protective instincts.
But in the past year, she’d let him down. Her tumultuous affair with Lex had consumed all her attention, and she’d neglected Kevin. Now, despite all her help and encouragement, he was sliding into an even deeper funk.
She couldn’t let that happen. She had to do something more concrete this time. And Lex was the answer. He needed something from her, and he was in a position to help her brother.
She’d almost let him kiss her today even though she couldn’t stand him. Shame on her. It was degrading to lust after a man she didn’t respect. She needed to cut the cord that still shackled her to him, or she’d never be free.
The realization braced her like a cool sea breeze. She would use Lex to help her brother. She’d ignore his charms, and when she was done, she’d walk away from him, head held high.
…
The Maritime Museum Visitor Center was usually quiet on Friday mornings, which was why Lex had chosen it as his meeting spot with Jacinta. He adjusted his wristwatch and smoothed down his tie as he approached the museum. The faint fluttering in his stomach surprised and dismayed him. He couldn’t be anxious about seeing Jacinta again? Okay, hearing her voice on the phone earlier today had given him a jolt. He’d expected her to call, just not so soon. She’d sounded businesslike as she said they should meet, and when he’d suggested an early time, she’d hesitated only a couple of seconds before agreeing. Everything was falling into place, so why did he feel antsy about meeting Jacinta? Christ, he wasn’t a teenager anymore.
He stopped dead when he caught sight of her in the entrance lobby. She stood in front of a huge wooden anchor, appearing absorbed by the exhibit. Her crisp white shirt and tailored navy skirt showed off her curves and long legs. She still looked like dynamite. Her thick chestnut hair was achingly familiar, and the sight of the shining mass falling down her back caused his chest to constrict. From her glossy hair down to the tips of her polished navy pumps, Jacinta looked competent and professional, but he knew from experience she wasn’t always so poised, knew the kind of untamed passion that could come flaring out of her.
Unbidden, a memory flashed through his brain. A memory of bending her over his office desk, of unzipping that tailored skirt and unbuttoning that crisp shirt, of her hair all tossed and wild as she wrapped her legs around his hips and urged him on in that husky, excited tone of hers...
His trousers tightened as blood throbbed in inconvenient places. Hell, get a grip, man. Think of something else. Think of her face when she’d called him a mean, vindictive bastard. Yeah, that would do it. He clenched his jaw and strode forward.
“Jacinta.” He gave her a brief nod. “Let’s go somewhere quiet.”
She raised her eyebrows at his tone. He hadn’t meant to sound so abrupt, but he had to get his balls under control. Without speaking, she allowed him to usher her further into the museum. When he got a sideways glimpse of her, he couldn’t help noticing the faint shadows beneath her eyes, the telltale signs of insufficient sleep.
He frowned. “How was your date?”
She started, then gave him a Mona Lisa smile. “Great. Really great.”
He forced the scowl away from his brow. “Tapas must agree with you.”
“Oh...tapas. Yes, very yummy.”
“I hope you didn’t have any gambas.”
“Gambas?”
“You’re allergic to shrimp, remember? Makes you break out in a rash.”
Her face flushed with annoyance. “No, no gambas,” she muttered.
“Late night then?” he couldn’t help asking.
“Must have been. I can’t even remember what time I got back.”
Did you sleep with the guy? The question pounded against his skull, but he’d be damned if he’d show such weakness. Too bad he hadn’t slept with anyone else since Jacinta. There’d been plenty of opportunity, but every time his body had failed him before he’d reached first base. Only Jacinta did it for him.
“You know you’ll have to break it off with this guy,” he said. “I don’t allow my girlfriends to have lovers on the side.”
The flush spread to the roots of her hair, and he felt a perverse satisfaction that he still had the power to get her worked up.
“You just assumed I’ve agreed to your plan?” Her voice dripped with ice.
“I don’t assume anything with you.” That was the truth. She was different from every other woman he’d ever met. “But why else did you agree to meet me here?”
“You haven’t heard what I want. You said I could name my price.”