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"Wait a minute, don't get too excited here," Vicki said, rising from her seat and leaning over her desk. Derek did the same, as though trying to impart his excited energy onto her to get her to agree to the joint project. She felt as though the temperature had risen since he'd walked into her office, but maybe it was simply her elation that Derek's insider information could give them both a chance to prove their worth to their firm, maybe make partner, and definitely take home a huge paycheck.
Derek was by far one of the most stubborn men she'd ever met, but he was also just as motivated as her to succeed. He was disarmingly sexy, though, and Vicki had promised herself she would never put herself in the way of temptation within the confines of the office. She realized there was no other way, since there was too much work and research to be done for such a project. They'd have to do it together.
"All right," Vicki conceded with a sigh, and Derek gave her a huge grin. She felt warm suddenly and backed up, not wanting to breathe his scent or even to feel the slightest bit of heat coming from his body. How was she going to trust herself around him?
"Here's the game plan," she said, coming around to the other side of her desk. She leaned against her desk right next to where Derek was doing the same, jolting back when their fingertips accidentally brushed together. "We take an early day today, and meet at my house at 4. We'll go over strategy and draw up some ideas."
"Maybe order some takeout," Derek added, rubbing his flat belly.
Vicki couldn't help but smile. "Sounds like a plan," she said, turning away from her desk to gesture him out.
"Vicki... one more thing."
She turned back towards him, her back to the door as Derek approached her. "Look... about what happened at the conference in Michigan--"
Vicki held up her hand to stop him from continuing. "Nothing happened in Michigan." She couldn't believe it! He was referring to their kiss a month ago-- a drunken, heated moment right after they'd argued about something... she could barely remember. She'd wanted him so badly, but she'd had the good sense to tell him she wanted to be professional and this would never happen between them. She'd successfully avoided him... until now.
Derek shrugged. "I'll choose to remember it my way, then," he said, reaching past her for the doorknob, grazing her arm in the process. Vicki sucked in a breath, finding it difficult to resist reaching out to grab him.
"Wait!" Vicki said, surprising herself. Derek pulled away from the door. Then she reached out her hand, a gesture for him to shake it. He looked at her, then at her hand, then at her again. Vicki could feel her panties growing moist. Derek took Vicki's hand, squeezing firmly but gently.
"Truce," she said, not letting go.
Derek nodded. "Truce." He looked at her a moment too long, and Vicki was finding it difficult to breathe. Then he unclasped her hand, and she felt the lack of his warmth immediately, longing for it again.
"See you soon," Derek told her, opening the door, leaving her alone in her office. Vicki slumped in the guest chair and buried her face in her hands. What the hell was she going to do now?
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