Free Island Affair (Escape Into Romance) by Kathrine Emrick Page A

touching distance.
    He was getting sick of her pretence that she didn't feel the same way about him. He could tell that she wasn't immune to him by the way her breath hitched each time he came close. Or in the way she'd eat him up with her eyes when she thought he wasn't looking. But not once had she done anything to let him know that she would like to explore their mutual attraction.
    The more she ignored what was going on between them, the more it fuelled his desire for her. But he couldn't afford to lose her because she made his business run like a well- oiled machine. He knew that if he were to make a move then he would surely lose her.
    ***
    It only took Lacey forty minutes to get back to the office, instead of the usual fifty. The place looked deserted. She would quickly slip into Jonathan's office, leave her resignation letter on his desk and quickly slip out. Hopefully she wouldn't run into anyone and have to explain what she was doing.
    She waved to the security guard, Joe, as she made her way into the Tyler Technologies building. She wasted no time heading for the elevator that would take her to the executive floor. Within minutes she was walking her way towards Jonathan's office.
    She paused at his door and took a deep breath. Was this really what she wanted? No, not really. But she couldn't have what she really wanted and working with him had become unbearable.
    She placed a tentative hand on the doorknob and slowly turned it. She pushed the door open and silently slipped inside the opulent room. It was dark inside; only the desk lamp illuminated the interior. She slowly let a relieved breath out when she saw that there was no one sitting behind the desk.
    She moved quickly to the massive desk in front of the window and dropped the resignation letter onto the top of it. As she was turning to leave she caught a movement to the side of her and nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Jonathan leaning up against the wet bar. His face was in shadow. He was standing so still he could have been carved from granite.
    He moved slowly towards her. "So what do I owe the pleasure of this after hours visit to?"
    Lacey tensed at his tone. It sounded cold and distant. She had hoped to avoid a confrontation. That was why she had chosen now to deliver the letter and not wait to give it to him personally tomorrow. She never expected to be confronted by him while delivering it.
    "Cat got your tongue, Lacey?" He moved in closer to her, backing her up against the desk. He slammed the glass he held down onto the desk sloshing the liquid all over the surface. His eyes bored into hers, penetrating deep into her soul.
    "No..." She croaked the response out and had to clear her throat before she continued. "No, of course not. You startled me. I wasn't expecting anyone to be here."
    He narrowed his eyes at her. "So why are you sneaking around after hours then?"
    His proximity was unnerving her so she quickly moved away from him. Taking a couple of deep breaths to get her equilibrium back she said, "I'm not sneaking around." It came out more defensive than she would have liked.
    A sly grin spread across his face. "Oh, I think you are sneaking around. What was that you just dropped on my desk?"
    Before she could stop him he had scooped up the letter and was examining it. "Well, what is this?" He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Flicking the envelope from side to side he said, "Seems to be addressed to me." In one swift movement he ripped the envelope open.

Chapter Two
    Lacey was frozen to the spot. His eyes bored into hers as he extracted the letter from the envelope. As he unfolded the letter he lowered his gaze to read it. She watched for his reaction, uncertain what it would be. Perhaps he would be happy that she was leaving.
    Seconds later that assumption was thrown out of the window when he raised his head to look at her with fire in his eyes. His face was stormy. "What the hell is this?" His voice was deceptively quiet. Lacey knew