Free Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It by Lucy Monroe Page A

Would they soften with desire if she gave into her insane urge to lean toward him until their mouths met?
     
    "We were sleeping together almost every night of the week. I'd call that pretty damn formal, baby."
     
    She shook her head, denying his words while trying to break the sensuous spell he'd woven over her.
     
    "We never slept together. Not once. You didn't do the morning after, remember?"
     
    Part of her, the rational part, was still conscious of their surroundings and could not believe they were having this conversation in the employee cafeteria. No one was sitting within hearing distance, but she still felt conspicuous with his body leaning so close to hers.
     
    She could have moved away. She should have moved away, but she didn't. Because having Marcus this close to her felt too good, even if it was only due to his desire to set her straight.
     
    "Stop arguing semantics here, Ronnie. You left me. You didn't say good-bye."
     
    She watched his mouth move as he spoke, getting a peek at his straight, white teeth, the tongue that used to drive her wild. It took her rapidly melting brain a second to make sense of the words that had come out of that mouth.
     
    "I left the note so Alex wouldn't suspect you," she couldn't help pointing out.
     
    It had cost her a lot to leave that note. It was as good as a confession and had been a huge risk if Alex decided to prosecute. She'd taken the risk, though, because she couldn't stand the thought of Alex possibly suspecting Marcus of leaking the information toHarrison .
     
    It was only later, when her mind had cleared a little, that she had realized her disappearance would have been confession enough. By then, the damage had been done. She'd written the note, confessing her sin to Marcus, and had left forFrance with her gravely ill sister.
     
    She didn't find out what Marcus would have said in reply to her reminder because at that moment Jack walked up. "Hey, you two. Is this a high-level planning session or can anyone join?"
     
    Marcus sat back in his chair, the soft fabric of his signature Hawaiian shirt—a different one from the day before, but just as garish—flowing against the muscled wall of his chest. His movement was both graceful and casual.
     
    He didn't invite Jack to join them but smiled at her red-haired boss. "It's not a planning session at all. Ronnie and I were just talking about old times."
     
    Jack's eyes widened and he spun to face her. "Old times?"
     
    Irritated with Marcus for implying a personal relationship between the two of them yet again, she nevertheless felt compelled to answer. "I used to work with Marcus at CIS."
     
    Jack's smile was all masculine speculation. "I see. Is he by any chance the reason you've turned down my invitations to dinner?"
     
    "I turned down your invitations to dinner for the reason I gave you. Kline Tech discourages personal relationships among members of the same department."
     
    Not to mention the fact that she had other things to do with her off-hours time than spend them with Jack. She had a baby son and younger sister to take care of.
     
    Of course, as a charming but fairly egotistical man, Jack would have a difficult time believing she just hadn't been interested in him.
     
    Jack turned his attention to Marcus and gave him a man-to-man look. "She could transfer to a different department if she really needed to, but I doubt Kline would even notice."
     
    And why should she be the one to transfer? Men could be so arrogant when it came to relationships.
     
    "I like my job and at times I even like you, Jack. But I don't appreciate this conversation."
     
    She also didn't like the look of gathering doom in Marcus's eyes. He hadn't liked her saying she liked Jack. Not one bit. Why was not important. She figured it had something to do with him seeing his prey possibly moving out of reach. If she had a relationship with Jack, Marcus couldn't very well blackmail her into his bed.
     
    He never played around with