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

again to
ensure his five o'clock shadow has disappeared.
    He knows that Clarissa is attracted to him
because he sees the desire in her eyes and erect nipples don't lie.
Problem is he doesn't know how far those feelings go. Sure, she
ended a long-term relationship almost six months ago, but it's his
job to make sure she gets back in the saddle. Julian knows that
Clarissa is his type of woman. She's a smart career oriented, loves
children, and she's sexy as hell. With just the right amount of
pressure, he can have her eating out of the palm of his hand.
    It isn't necessary to have a house warming
party, but it's good for business, and it's a way to get Clarissa
to see him after business hours. Julian would like to spend the
evening getting to know her better at an intimate restaurant. He
hasn't been in a serious relationship since his wife Donna died,
and he misses the intimacy of being involved in a relationship.
Julian has his share of women friends, or one night stands, but
they aren't enough anymore.
    When his wife was murdered, he felt so guilty
for her death. He was thankful that the murderer didn't kill his
son Micah too. The police pulled him in for questioning; they let
him go after it had been confirmed that he was out of town on
business. Maybe he didn't deserve a second chance at love. Julian
blamed himself for his wife's death. If he'd been in town, Donna
would be alive today.
    He stepped into the shower and tried to drown
out his sorrows. Julian's best friend, Harlan, and his boss at the
time came to him with a business proposition. He convinced Julian
to come to Chicago and go into business with him. Julian wanted to
get away from Kansas City.
    Julian took Harlan up on his offer, joined
him in business and eventually branched out starting his own
business never looking back. Rosscom is a very successful Fortune
500 company. It has so many subdivisions that he has to delegate
his work to senior management. Julian steps out of the shower grabs
a towel and walks back into his bedroom.
    He thoroughly dries himself before getting
dressed. His main goal tonight is to get Clarissa in his arms by
any means necessary. Asking her to be the hostess at the last
minute is a stroke of genius. "Clarissa Marks you are mine."
    ***
    Clarissa just stepped out of the shower when
her phone rang “Hello.”
    “ Damn! You sound out of
breath. What have you been doing?”
    Clarissa’s mood lightened as soon as she
heard Alison’s voice. “Oh I’m getting ready for a business party at
Julian's house.”
    “ Really! Uhmm, is there a
chance you might be spending the night. If so you better bring
plenty of condoms.”
    “ Ali! Julian and I don’t
have that type of relationship.”
    “ I’ve seen him okay, Julian
Ross is one fine piece if I’ve ever seen one."
    Clarissa frowns at the phone. "When did you
see Julian?"
    "The day you sold Lariat I dropped something
off for Jonesy. I spied you two in the conference room. The way he
looked at you gave me goose bumps, that man wants you badly. You
need to forget your missish ways and jump him at your first
opportunity. When is the last time you had sex anyway?”
    “ I don’t know anyone here in
Chicago except for the people I work with and it’s not appropriate
to engage in an office fling. You know that office affairs never
end well.”
    “ Are you trying to tell me
that the last person you had sex with is Lawrence? With all those
magnificent men in Chicago, you’re telling me that you're not
getting any! Have you lost your mind?”
    Clarissa sighs into the phone. “Okay I admit
that I miss sex. Lawrence is a sleaze, but he's marginal in bed. I
know that I don’t date enough. I’m just not the screw them and
forget about them kind of woman.” There is no way in the world that
Clarissa would tell Alison of her interest in Julian. Alison would
talk her to death for at least another hour.
    “ Rissa I know that you have
trust issues with men, but girl it’s unnatural for a