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"Your ice crea," she finally said "Why don’t we sit back down so that you can eat some of your pie before it drowns"

Relief flared in his eyes, but beneath it she thought she recognized the same desire she hadn’t been able to push doithin herself Which hy, as he finally let her hand go and they both sat, she said, "Before you tellyou need to know about me I don’t mix business with pleasure"

Jack looked surprised, and she got a sense that women hadn’t turned him down very many times in his thirty-two years And ould they, she asked herself, when he was not only extraordinarily gorgeous, but he had a smile that could instantly make you feel as if you were the only woree to represent my invention," he clarified, "you won’t let ht of a proper date with Jack One that would likely end in a kiss

Or s too co to continue working with a man she could barely stand to be in the sa to listen to Romain’s endless critiques and demands She’d been too much of a professional to tell him where he could stick it and had had to make do with the vivid fantasies of what she’d wished she’d said to him

Jack studied her for a few moments "In that case, we’ll have to take care of business first" But he reached across the table for her hand again and brushed his thumb across her palm "And then we’ll move on to pleasure"

It took every ounce of self-control for Mary to slide her hand away from his and to convince herself it was better this way Instead of ju-hot affair that could burn out just as quickly as it flared up, they’d get a chance to know each other better by working together first And then, after they’d concluded their business affairs, if the sparks were still there between the another kind of affair entirely

Only, as Jack showed her how the Pocket Planner worked, instead of being able to keep her distance, she was increasingly seduced not only by how gorgeous he was--and she’d seen plenty of handsoence

And his passion

Chapter Four

"Thank you soto ith us, Ms Ferrer," Larry said as he pumped Mary’s hand enthusiastically in the lobby of Walter Industries the following day

"You’re a lifesaver, Ms Ferrer," Howie said as he reached for her hand the very second Larry let it go, nearly pulling her arirlfriend wanted est fan"

She smiled warmly at both of the men "Please, callMary into a cab in front of the diner last night He’d quickly confirh every last second--with one of the most successfulthemselves at her feet, men with a hell of a lot et up and start to walk out on hiht at the diner He’d deserved worse than that for the way he’d gracelessly asked her to be the face of their product, withoutit clear that business wasn’t the only reason he wanted to spend time with her It was just that as soon as they’d started talking about his invention, and she’d been clearly interested in it, he’d auto mode, the same way he would have with Howie or Larry

The hurt that had flashed across Mary’s face when she’d thought he was only interested in her as a spokesht

Jack had lived his life using intelligent calculations and analysis Not only did a ineer not make any sense as a couple, but a serious relationship had never factored into his plans or his life What’s more, it had been less than twenty-four hours since he’dfor thistoday with the board If ever he needed to have perfect focus on his work, on ht now

But thoughts of Mary had remained front and center since the ently on her lower back, he guided her away fro in a long-sleeved navy wrap dress and high-heeled boots There was a sliold chain around her neck and another on her wrist Her dark, glossy hair moved over her shoulders like silk, and her complexion was so perfect he honestly couldn’t tell if she earing any makeup She was both naturally sensual and, at the same time, approachable and down-to-earth

He wanted to tell her that he’d thought about her all night long, but he knew he needed to respect her request to keep business and pleasure separate

"Do you have any questions forto happen in the boardroom?"

"I don’t think so Froht, and the docu, I think I have a good understanding of the selling points for the Pocket Planner"

When they’d first met yesterday in Union Square, she’d suarded Jack silently cursed hi those shadows there She must still believe he wanted her more for business than he wanted her as a woman