Conflict of Interest - By Allyson Lindt Page 0,11

“Zach doesn’t count, he knows everything about me. And apparently he thinks that gives him license to choose my keeper for the next few months. The job is yours if you’re not afraid of the challenge.” He couldn’t help slipping the last line in. Something told him she was exactly the opposite of afraid of challenge. That she’d jump on the chance.

Her mouth twisted in thought. “I’m in on one condition.”

Damn that was a good look for her. “I assume there will be several conditions. Put it in the contract and we’ll negotiate.”

“You may not want this in the contract.” She brushed an invisible strand of hair from her face. “The blonde in the lobby—your girlfriend or his?”

He studied her, curious about the question. “You’re jealous?”

Her flush grew. “Hardly. I understand you’re doing this for business reasons, but frequently that intersects with people’s personal lives. I don’t care what you do in your spare time as long as you keep it out of the news, but if you’re dating someone who doesn’t know how fast and loose you play with other women, I need to know if that has to be spun in a positive light when she finds out and dumps you.”

Wow, okay, he hadn’t expected that. He bit back a chuckle when he realized she was serious. He’d wanted to make the conversation more pleasant, not less so. “First of all, fast and loose? You approached me. Second, I’m two hundred percent single.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “Rae’s not my girlfriend, she’s Zach’s fiancée. We’re close, but I swear on my next game not crashing and burning at release that we’re just friends.”

She tilted her head to the side, studying him for a moment. It accentuated her neck. Soft, kissable … yeah, this was going to be fun.

“All right. You’ll have the contract this afternoon. As soon as it’s signed, we can talk,” she said.

He couldn’t hide his grin as he stood. “Looking forward to it.” Keeping his investors happy, being able to skirt their lame-ass edict, he was definitely looking forward to it.

Chapter 4

Had it really only been twenty-four hours since her sales pitch? At least Scott had been serious about bringing her on fast. And she still couldn’t believe he’d hired her in the first place. Her company had sent the contract over before lunch the day before, and he’d signed and returned it early enough to insist she start on Tuesday.

And here she was. Kenzie smiled at the receptionist as she approached the front desk. Her stomach was doing somersaults at being back in their offices, memories of the weekend before still teasing her. But work was work. “Is Mr. McAllister in?” She’d seen his SUV in the parking lot—part of the reason her imagination was running wild—but there was no reason to let anyone else know that.

“I’ll tell you one more time. Call me Scott.” He strode around the corner, pausing with an eyebrow raised when he saw her.

The way his gaze raked over her sent a rush of anticipation through her veins. She clenched her jaw, trying and failing to ignore the reaction.

A crooked smile played on his face before vanishing, and he brushed past her. “You’re here for the day, correct?”

He was walking away from her? She spun and followed him toward the elevator, letting the confusion show in her voice “Yes.”

“Nothing important or outstanding vying for your attention?”

“Only if you consider getting to know you important.” She stared at his back.

“I hear it is sometimes.” He pushed the down button. “That means I can get some actual work done. Are you coming?”

“I, uh…” She stepped into the elevator with him, not sure what to make of the abrupt attitude. “Apparently.”

He was wearing jeans and a Hulk T-shirt. He glanced at her, and then went back to staring at the blips of light counting down floors as they descended. “I told you, casual office environment.”

“This is what I wear to work. You’re going to have to learn to do the same.” The fragmented conversation made her stumble, but she wasn’t going to let him take verbal control.

“I doubt I’d wear the skirt as well as you. What are the odds you have sneakers in your car?”

“Pretty good.” Or at least she’d regain control as soon as she figured out what they were talking about. They stepped into the parking garage she’d left only moments earlier. “I suspect you already know this, but we’re moving away from your office.”

“Grab them.”

She