Lust or Love (The Love Vixen #2) - Jeannette Winters

Chapter 1

Deidre Rejewski

“What the hell was I thinking hiring Jack?” I can’t have that hunk of man meat working for me.

My best friend Allison chuckled and leaned back in the chair across from my desk. “Oh, sure you can. But you might need to keep your desk cleared off. Just in case.”

I rolled my eyes. “I am not having sex with Jack Payne on my desk, in the office, or anywhere else for that matter. He’s an employee. That is sexual harassment.”

“Only if he doesn’t want it. And please, look at you. You’re gorgeous. Men drool over you all the time. What makes you think Jack will be any different?”

I could come up with a million reasons, but the truth is, that was years ago. I couldn’t get enough of Jack. A simple teenage crush had developed into deeply lustful thoughts. I used to spend hours at the pool watching him train for the Olympics. His lean yet toned body seemed to glide through the water. But what I loved most was when he got out of the pool - the water dripping down his body, and damn, that speedo clinging to him didn’t hide a thing. It made me want…

“Deidre, you’re not even listening to me, are you?” Allison asked.

Blinking to focus, I tried to put this back on her. “I didn’t hear anything worth listening to.”

“Ouch. Nice way to talk to a friend who’s just trying to help you get laid.”

“Allison, enough already,” I snapped. “This isn’t a joke. I run a business. This is my livelihood at risk.” This conversation had nothing to do with how much sex I was having, or not. I knew Allison was only trying to help, but this was too much. “I’m sorry Allison. I’m under a lot of stress right now, and this is only adding to it.”

“Then why did you offer Jack a job?” she asked.

Shrugging, I said, “My dad asked me to. Jack’s healing from an injury and needs something to take his mind off swimming.”

“Please tell me you’re not putting him in direct sales.”

My mouth fell open. “I’m not crazy. He’ll be driving my truck and working the loading dock.” Dad knew I opened my own business. He still believed I sold healing lotions and oils. I’m not about to tell him otherwise.

“So what’s the problem? You probably won’t even see him much. And you said it was only temporarily.”

It didn’t matter if it was an hour or a second. Just hearing Jack’s voice again had made my blood run warm. I could only imagine what it would be like working in the same building.

I should’ve thought of this before hiring him.

“And you’re sure you don’t want to fill in for me tonight? I’m in no mood for going and pretending to be…cheery.” I had other consultants working beneath me, but they were all booked tonight.

“Heck, no. I know those ladies. I mean, personally. I mean, I’d love to earn the commission, but they’d tell my mother and I’ll never hear the end of it,” Allison sighed.

I giggled. “In other words, you don’t want me to tell you if your mother is one of the guests tonight.”

Allison covered her ears. “I swear, she’d better not be there.”

It was funny, because Allison had no issue bringing up dildos or sex in a group of people, even at the most inappropriate time. But when it came to her mother, Allison clammed right up.

“Fine. I’ll do it. But you know I have paperwork that needs processing. If I wanted to do it all myself, I wouldn’t have hired all you consultants,” I reminded her.

“What do you tell us all the time? Don’t ask someone to do something you’re not willing to do yourself,” Allison grinned. “Besides, it’ll give you something to think about besides that hottie that you hired.”

“Please do not refer to him as that,” I warned. “Remember, you work for me as well. I don’t want to deal with any…complaints.” At least no more than I already do.

Allison turned around and then faced me again. “Yup. The office door is closed, so we’re safe to discuss anything we want.”

“I was. I was discussing work,” I said firmly.

“Yeah, that’s nice. But I have one question for you.”

I was afraid to ask. “What is it?”

“Did you Google him? I mean, God, he’s ripped. He could be a bodybuilder.”

Looking her square in the eyes, I lied. “I don’t care what he looks like. I just need him to do a job and then