much you hate cowards.”
Tally snarled. “That’s playing dirty, Terrie.”
“Yeah.” Terrie grinned widely. “I do things like that when I see my friends tucking
their tails between their legs and scampering off like puppies. Especially when they
refused to let me do the same. Trust me, you’ll thank me.”
“I’ll kill you,” Tally snapped. “Right after I kill Lucian and Devril.”
Terrie shrugged. “Whatever works for you, darlin’. Now I’ll say good night so you
can plot and plan. You’re so good at managing the rest of us, Tally, let’s see if you can
manage Lucian as easily.”
60
Wicked Intent
Chapter Eight
Terrie had outmaneuvered her. Somehow, somewhere, she had managed to
blindside her and at the same time, ensure her downfall. It wasn’t so much the
challenge, though Tally thrived on a good, honest challenge; it was more the object of
the challenge. Could she bring Lucian and Devril to their knees?
She had been so concerned with protecting her heart, her emotions, that she hadn’t
truly considered attempting to win theirs. Could it be done? They were strong,
dominating men, alphas in the truest sense of the word, so it wouldn’t be easy. But,
perhaps it could be done. The very thought of success was enough to get her blood
pumping, her excitement level rising.
They were men, she told herself as she entered her office two days later. How hard
could it be?
“Tally, it’s about time you showed up.” Lucian slammed the upper file cabinet
drawer closed, frowning as she strode calmly to her desk and stored her purse. “You’re
late.”
“Not hardly,” she informed him with cool disdain as she checked the clock above
the file cabinet. “I’m a minute early, actually. Why are you in my file cabinet?”
It was one of the reasons she hated dealing with files. She could keep them in
perfect order, then Lucian, just as Jesse did, could mess them up with seemingly no
effort at all.
“Looking for a file, obviously,” he grunted. “Where were you all weekend? I
called.”
And he had, several times a day.
“It’s none of your business where I was this weekend. Which file were you looking
for?” She arched her brows in inquiry.
61
Lora Leigh
“Anderhaul’s.” He was watching her intently now. “And I’m making it my
business. You weren’t at home or online. I checked.”
“You wouldn’t know if I was online, Lucian,” she told him calmly as she opened
the drawer and attempted to hide the struggle to peer into the top file as she began to
search through the files. It took her only seconds to locate it. “Here you go.” She handed
him the file efficiently before closing the drawer and going back to her desk.
“Why wouldn’t I know if you were online?” He was definitely irate.
“Because I now have you blocked.” She shrugged. “I don’t like liars and I refuse to
talk to them.” She kept her voice even, carefully modulated; she knew it was
guaranteed to set his nerves on edge.
“I did not lie to you, Tally,” he practically snarled. “I could have continued the
charade but I didn’t want that between us.”
“How very decent of you.” She bared her teeth when she smiled. The very thought
of the things she had shared with him made her furious.
“I could give you the things you need, Tally,” he told her softly. “All those dark
little fantasies you try so hard to keep locked away; they could be yours.”
Tally took her seat at her desk, smoothed her skirt over her legs and adjusted the
cuffs of her royal blue silk blouse before raising her gaze to meet his coolly.
“You have a nine-thirty appointment with the head of security to discuss the
security measures being installed in the new labs, and right after that a meeting with
Jesse to discuss the homing software the design engineers are developing. I laid the files
out Friday before I left.” She ignored his offer, though she couldn’t deny the thrill of
danger