Free Be Your Everything [All for Love] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) by Peri Elizabeth Scott

talk with you.”
    Heather quailed inwardly but managed to meet his inquiring gaze. She guessed she didn’t have that extra time. “Dinner doesn’t work, Matthew, sorry. In fact, I should tell you now. It was fun. I had a great time. But I’ve, uh, moved on, and it wouldn’t be fair. Long distance relationships and all.”
    Matthew froze and the expression on his face annoyed the crap out of her. He was incredulous. The arrogant prick. He thought she was so enamored with him she’d fall all over herself to see him again. Screw him again. Well, screw him period. Her hurt fury gave her the strength she needed. She gave him the sweetest, apologetic smile she could summon and turned back to her computer.
    “Heather.” The tone in his voice, the authority, made her shift in her chair. God, she wanted him, wanted to be under him again, on top of him, on her knees before him. She was going to die from the lack.
    Mr. Grayson’s door opened and her boss stuck his head out. Saved. “Thought I heard voices. Come in, Bourke. I’ve got a busy afternoon.”
    Matthew stared at her for another long moment before walking to Grayson, his hand outstretched, a pleased smile on his face. Such a consummate actor. Heather might forgive herself for being taken in. In time. A very long time. The door closed behind them and she breathed again. Her hairline was damp with sweat and her palms ached where her nails dug in. Okay. Breathe. She had maybe an hour before Matthew came out and demanded an explanation. And he was going to demand one. She’d pricked his ego.
    Should she plead illness and find a temp? But he might come to her home. But then again he might not. He’d used her, and that didn’t translate into him furthering his interest. It would be a lot of work for a bruised ego, but he might. No. She would stay and face the music, get it over with.
    She typed industriously. It was fun. Thanks for the great time. I had a great time but it’s over. I don’t do long distance relationships. I’m seeing someone else. Over and over, like writing lines. Punishment. Those phrases didn’t belong in any document she should be working on, but practice made perfect and she was a visual learner. A tactile one, too, but who would notice, other than Matthew? She saved it under Lessons I Should Have Learned About Men. When her boss’s door finally opened again, she was prepared.
    Matthew immediately approached her desk. Heather swiftly changed screens and looked up at him in what she hoped was a professionally inquiring manner. He set both of his big, capable hands on her desk and leaned on them, getting right in her space.
    “Did you need to schedule another appointment?” She was proud of her professional, secretarial, helpful voice.
    “No. I want you to tell me what’s up with the bullshit you laid on me earlier.”
    Jeez. Right to the chase. He and Moesha should put their heads together and make a formidable team. “I thought I’d been clear, Matthew. I don’t want to date you again. I’m seeing someone else.” And a bolt of lightning would strike her dead for that whopper.
    “In three days? You’ve met someone else in three days? Who?”
    “That’s none of your business, Mr. Bourke.” She used the tone that worked so well with the upstarts in the department. He’d been counting, too. It confused and hurt her.
    “It’s my business when I was in your bed four nights ago and you told me you loved me.”
    The ridged edge of the screw on the underside of the top of her desk, the one she cursed every day for catching her hose or the material of her skirts and pants proved to be a lifesaver. Heather pressed her thigh against it, hard, the tiny bite of pain distracting from the sensation of her heart being pulled from her chest.
    “That’s offensive, Mr. Bourke. If I thought you were the kind of man who spoke about his sexual conquests like that I’d never have allowed you to…” She couldn’t continue in that vein, because