Free More Than A Four Letter Word by Stephanie Jean Smith Page A

creative side as a friend."
    Julian approaches her desk, his eyes never
leaving hers. "Well I need a friend tonight Rissa. When would you
like for me to pick you up?"
    Clarissa blinked a few times to break the
spell Julian put on her. She takes a deep breath before she answers
him. The last thing she wants is being confined in a car with
Julian. She is horny as hell and would probably do something rash
like jump him inside the car. If it takes all night, she would find
his house by herself. She has been to his house once before for a
meeting, so she is certain she can find his house.
    "I'm sure I can find your house, it’s not
like I haven’t been there before."
    “ Yes you have, but that
happen a month ago and you weren’t driving.”
    "Don't worry I've become rather adept at
maneuvering around Chicago."
    Julian watched Clarissa closely for signs of
fatigue. She works too many late nights and is usually the first
one to arrive in the morning. Julian wants to know what drives her
to work the way she does. He's a workaholic himself, but he has
nothing on Clarissa and the time she spends working nights and
weekends. "Drive carefully tonight."
    Clarissa gives Julian her brightest smile. "I
promise to drive safely."
    "One more thing, you may not realize this,
but I've been watching your interactions with the staff here at
Rosscom. You are admired and respected, and no one here would ever
think that you were hired because of my sexual interest in
you."
    Clarissa rolled her eyes and snorted. "Julian
I don't know what you're talking about?
    "I've been biding my time, giving you a
chance to settle in, but the drought is over Clarissa. I've been
delegating my duties to my competent executives. Now I can focus my
time planning your seduction." He winked at her before vacating her
office.
    After watching Julian leave her office, she
must have stared at the closed door for several minutes lost in her
own thoughts. She got on the phone and made a couple of calls.
Clarissa decided that she would take the rest of the day off in
preparation for Julian's party. "Arrogant man! We'll see who's
going to seduce whom."
    ***
    As Julian got ready for the party, his mind
drifted off. Ever since, his wife died, women were just a means to
an end. Julian's aunt nagged him to get married again. She wanted
him to have more children so that she could spoil them rotten.
    Julian thought about getting married a lot
over the last three months; Clarissa is the only candidate so far
that comes close to the type of woman he wants. If she could look
into his mind, she would probably pack her bags and run back to
Orlando. He has been keeping his distance, which is more than he
would do for any other woman.
    He has given her ample time to get settled at
the job and into her new home. The die has been cast, now it is
time to claim his woman. He may have been staying out of Clarissa's
way, but his mind is filled with thoughts of her. He even dreams
about her when he sleeps at night. His attraction for Clarissa is
getting out of hand and disrupting his life. Julian doesn't believe
in getting involved in office romances, but this situation with
Clarissa is so much more than an office romance.
    Julian pulls his tuxedo out of the closet and
lays it across his before heading for the bathroom. He inspected
his face in the mirror, knowing that he would have to shave again.
Because of his Italian ancestry, he always has to shave twice a day
especially if he has an evening engagement.
    His grandparents were born in Palermo Italy;
they became United States citizens back in the 1930's. His mother
and her older sister Reva were born and raised in Philadelphia. As
a child, he remembered his grandmother chastising his grandfather
about his scratchy face. He lathered his face, taking out his
grandfather's straight razor and quickly shaved his face. He had an
electric shaver, but it didn't give him the close, clean shave of a
straight razor. Julian checked his face in the mirror