“I need to give you my number,” he said as he held his hand out. “And I need to get yours.”

“Why?” I said as I stared at his lips. My mind went back to our night of fun and I wished that, in that moment, we were still there in the throes of passion instead of in this office. It had been such a magical night, until he’d spoiled it.

“Because I might need to call you about work.”

“We can’t just talk about work at work?”

“You don’t want to stay in this job long, do you?” he said with a snide tone and I wanted to laugh in his face. Little did he know how true his words were. I wondered what he would say if I replied, “No, dickhead, I’m not planning on staying at this crappy job as your assistant for longer than a week.”

“It’s a pity your acting career didn’t work out,” he said with a smirk. “But I guess money is more important than a few bit parts at the local theater.”

“Excuse me?” I said, my eyes burning into his. “I’m not a ‘bit part at the local theater’ sort of actor.”

“Oh, sorry, you’ve indulged in pornos, too?”

“What is your problem?” I asked him, extremely annoyed. I was unsure as to why he was being such an asshole. Was this his real personality? If so, I was lucky that our ‘relationship’ hadn’t gone very far.

“I’m just joking, Elizabeth. Don’t you have a sense of humor?”

“Obviously not.” I grabbed my phone and handed it to him. “Put your number in.”

“Why, thank you, ma’am.”

Of course, I’m dirty, so the first thoughts in my mind were, ‘Wham bam, thank you ma’am.’ However, I just stood there and watched him putting his number in my phone and then texting himself. I sighed internally, why couldn’t he have been trying to get my number because he liked me and wanted to take me on a date? A proper date with flowers and chocolates. I shook my head slightly to stop myself from feeling sorry for the situation I was now in.

“Okay, done,” he said and handed me my phone back with a grin. “Now, get to work.”

“I’m trying to work.” I rolled my eyes. “Maybe we can talk about the job you want me to do and not my phone number.”

Scott just stared at me then and started laughing, his head tilted back as his gruff, sexy laughter escaped from his throat.

“What’s so funny?” I asked him with narrowed eyes.

“You just remind me of my sister, that’s all.” He grinned. “The younger one, not the older one.”

“I don’t know either of them, so that means nothing.”

“My sister Liv, the one I talked about. You remind me of her; all indignant and annoyed with me. She’s always annoyed with me.” He laughed.

“I wonder why.” I stared at him. “Do you always laugh at her, too?”

“Yes.” He grinned boyishly. “That’s what a brother has to do to bratty little sisters.”

“I’m not your little sister.”

“Trust me, I know,” he said and licked his lips. I wasn’t sure if he’d done that deliberately, but as I watched the tip of his tongue darting across his pink, luscious lips, I shivered. “You should meet her. I think you’d get along.”

“That’s okay.” I shook my head. I had no interest in meeting his sister. I didn’t want to get stuck in a world where memories of Scott were all around me. I was going to do this job for a week and then I was going to peace out. I was going to be gone, without a trace as to what had really happened. I’d be the girl who had come into his life and then drifted away into the night. I smiled to myself as I thought about him coming to work the next week and wondering what had happened. He’d most probably try and punish me for what I was planning to do on Saturday; maybe even threaten my job, or try and fire me. Little did he know that he wouldn’t have the opportunity. I wouldn’t be back after Saturday. “Is there anything you need me to do for the office party on Saturday?” I asked him with a small smile as I changed the subject.

“The office party?” He frowned as he looked at me. “Did I mention an office party?” His eyes narrowed as he looked at me and my heart thudded. Had I said too much? Did he know why I was here? Oh God, I could never be a spy. The FBI, CIA, KGB, MI5 would never want me. I was a royal disaster. A traitor to national security. My face was burning red as I stood there. I couldn’t believe that I had slipped up already. “Are you okay, Elizabeth?” Scott’s eyes looked concerned. “You look sick.”

“Stomach bug.” I rubbed my stomach, looked down and took a deep breath. Get it together, Eliza, I lectured myself mentally. “And you didn’t tell me about the party. I heard some girls talking about it as I got to work this morning.”

“Oh, okay.” He nodded. “I guess all the secretaries are excited. Everyone loves an office party with free booze and scandalous moments.”

“Scandalous moments?” My heart stilled.

“Yeah.” He laughed. “Every year, someone gets cursed out or caught kissing. And then everyone in the office is talking about it the following week.”

“Oh, wow.” I looked up and gave him a small smile. Little did he know that next week the gossip was going to be all about him. I wasn’t sure he’d be laughing then. “I’m ready to start working, by the way. Whatever you need me to do, I’m game for.”