Free Seduction on the CEO's Terms by Charlene Sands Page A

from the glasses and clothes being different, Joe realized he towered over her by three extra inches. “You’re shorter today.” He hadn’t meant to blurt that out.
    Ali stifled a giggle. “That’s what happens when I don’t wear high heels.”
    Joe smiled, reminded of the night he’d fixed her computer, after she’d come out of the shower. She’d been barefoot, but he hadn’t noticed how he’d towered over her. He’d had other things to focus on then. In the workplace, though, it caught him off guard. “I guess so.”
    â€œAnything else?” she asked.
    â€œNo, not at all.” Joe tapped the file against his other hand. “Thanks for this. There was no rush on it.”
    Ali sat behind her desk. “It wasn’t a problem. I came in early.”
    Joe continued to stare. He couldn’t help from peering at her mouth and remembering how her lips felt pressed up to his. The kisses they shared the other night couldn’t be repeated, yet they’d stayed with him all weekend long. If he were honest with himself, he’d have to say the memory had haunted him.
    He remembered holding her and pulling her against him, having her body pressed to his, his desire evident and obvious to both of them. He shoved that memory aside and instead recalled the joy he’d witnessed on her face when he’d given her the bracelet.
    Putting it on her.
    Seeing her green eyes sparkle as bright as those diamonds.
    Feeling contentment that he’d made her happy.
    â€œJoe,” Ali was saying, holding the phone to her ear. “You have a call, line two.”
    â€œOh,” he said, coming out of his reverie. “Thanks, I’ll get it in my office.”
    â€œMr. Carlino will be right with you,” Ali said into the phone, and Joe strode to his office and closed the door.
    The rest of the week had been pretty much the same. Joe found himself immersed in Ali. He stole glances at her whenever the mood struck, watched her talk on the phone or interact with other employees. She’d play with a rebellious lock of her upswept hair as she studied something on her computer screen, and Joe’s methodical mind would wander to the land of Ali Pendrake.
    â€œThis is crazy,” he muttered to himself on Friday afternoon. He’d been avoiding spending more time with her than necessary, but he owed her. And Joe was a man of his word.
    He shot up from his chair and walked over to her desk. She peered up at him over her glasses, and Joe thought she looked adorably sexy.
    Don’t go there, Carlino.
    Those thoughts were exactly why he’d procrastinated all week long.
    â€œDo you need something, Joe?”
    â€œAli, this is really short notice.”
    â€œWhat is?” She looked puzzled and glanced at her watch. “If you need those invoices sooner, I’m on top of it. They’re almost done.”
    â€œNo, it’s not about invoices.” Joe scratched his head. “Do you have plans tomorrow?”
    â€œSaturday? Well, nothing that can’t be changed. I can come in if it’s urgent.”
    Joe shook his head and stared at the diamond bracelethe’d given her. She’d worn it every day this week. “This isn’t about work.”
    She stopped what she was doing and took off her glasses. Her eyes were the prettiest shade of light jade. Joe leaned over her desk, bracing his hands on the edge. “I thought you might like to see some of the sights in Napa.”
    Realization dawned, and Ali pursed her lips, drawing his attention there. Her mouth looked glossy and soft pink, kissable. He forced his attention back up to her eyes.
    Ali drew in a breath, then sighed. “Joe, I know you don’t want to do this.”
    The disappointment registering on her face made him feel like a heel. He shouldn’t have waited until the last minute. From the look in her eyes, he could tell she’d let him off