Free Talking Dirty With the Boss: A Talking Dirty Novel (Entangled Indulgence) by Jackie Ashenden Page B

don’t.”
    “So what’s with the question?”
    Luke tried to think of a good reason. “I had a…run-in with her at work.”
    “At work? But isn’t she at that magazine of Christie’s?”
    “I own the magazine now.”
    “Oh, that’s right, so you do. So when you say ‘run-in’ you mean… What?”
    “She was using company e-mail for something other than work.”
    Caleb rolled his eyes. “Christ, uptight much?”
    Luke didn’t bother with defensiveness or justification. He didn’t do either these days, as he didn’t bother apologizing for the way he was. He had control of his life and his work in spite of his condition, and that was the way he preferred it.
    “You should have seen the e-mail,” Luke said. “It wasn’t appropriate.”
    Caleb’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh really? Why? Rude pictures? Dirty jokes?”
    Luke shifted on his chair. The mere thought of that e-mail should not be making him so uncomfortable. It really shouldn’t.
    “That’s not important,” Luke said tersely. “I had to call her into my office to give her a warning about it.”
    “Whoa, it sounds pretty bloody important if you had to get heavy with her.” His friend leaned forward. “C’mon mate, tell me all about this e-mail.”
    But he didn’t want to share what was in the e-mail. Or in fact anything about their relationship.
    What relationship?
    Yes, exactly. They’d had sex once and that was all the relationship they had.
    “No,” Luke said. “If you don’t know anything just say so.”
    “I don’t know anything.” Caleb raised a finger. “But she’s hot.”
    Hot. Yes, that was true enough. His thoughts drifted again. To the attraction that had ignited between them when he’d kissed her. Intense and vital. So strong…
    “Mate, you’re zoning,” Caleb said. “I need to talk to you about this auction...”
    But the rest of Caleb’s statement kind of faded away as the pub door opened and a group of people walked in, only one of whom he’d expected to see. Joseph, freshly arrived back from his honeymoon, yes. Marisa, currently arm-in-arm with Christie, no. Not under any circumstances.
    He found himself pulling at his jacket again, his fingers searching restlessly for something to straighten as Marisa’s gaze met his. She paled and her jaw tightened, but then she lifted her chin and approached the table where he and Cal were sitting with no apparent hesitation.
    She wore skinny jeans with a wraparound kind of shirt in a silky purple fabric, her golden hair lose all down her back. And despite the fact that he hadn’t seen her for two weeks, that he’d thought that furtive interlude in the office was the end of it, electricity whispered over his skin.
    Bloody. Bastard. Hell . And balls, for good measure.
    He surged to his feet, not realizing what he was doing until it was too late. Until everyone was staring at him. “I’ll get the drinks,” he said curtly. Without waiting for a response, he turned and started heading for the bar.
    Coward.
    No, he wasn’t being a coward. He needed to get the drinks. And give himself a moment to get back in control, try to figure out why the chemistry between him and Marisa Clair continued to burn, because it shouldn’t. As with any of his compulsions, once he’d satisfied the urge, it faded. So why the need for Marisa should still be there, and still be strong, he had no idea.
    He didn’t want her in his head, messing up his schedules. He didn’t want her around at all.
    …
    Marisa sat in her chair and tried not to pay any attention to Luke. A bit difficult with his silver eyes staring at her with uncomfortable intensity from over the table.
    How bloody typical that he should be here. She and Christie were supposed to be having a girls’ evening, the first one since Christie’s return from honeymoon. But then Chris had decided to invite Joseph because apparently they were surgically attached at the hip. Joseph who was on his way to meeting up with Caleb