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her. “We can sext all night if you want.”
    “Okay, tiger, you got a plane to catch.”
    “My plane, on my orders.” He swatted her ass. “You have all your things?”
    “Check.”
    “I’ll email you the pics.” He gave her a brief, perfunctory kiss.
    “Is that how you kiss your mother?”
    Ashton shook his head and gave her one last kiss for the date. “I had a fun three and three-fourth dates, Ms. Rebekah Shayne. I’m looking forward to adding more.”
    “Damn.” Bekah watched him leave her, and her heart tumbled in despair. “Oh, put a cork in it,” she muttered to herself. Just chalk it up to a romantic weekend. I still don’t believe in love at first glance. Deep down, she wondered how much she’d have to lie to herself to believe it.
    Two days later, she sat at her desk. The computer screen blinked at her, but no words came. She dimly heard the chime of an incoming message and scanned it.
    Ms. Shayne. I take it your trip was successful?
    Bekah closed her office door before answering.
    Madam Eve, I presume. Even in text, she could detect a sleek sophistication.
    25

    Mahalia Levey
    Yes.
    I must admit, I have to write a different article now.
    Remember, we are a discrete company with no advertising beyond word of mouth of satisfied clients.
    You knew I was going to write an expose on your company? Bekah punched send.
    I hoped you wouldn’t. Do you believe in magic now Ms. Shayne?
    I—I. She paused, stumped .
    Take care. The screen went blank.
    Bekah smoothed her suit and once again stared at her computer screen.
    An office assistant rapped on her door and opened it slightly. “Ms. Shayne, conference in ten minutes.”
    Grrr. The meeting had slipped her mind. She slipped out of her office with a pad of paper, her cell phone, and tape recorder, and entered the boardroom. She was nearly late and the long table was filled with her colleagues and boss.
    “Morning. I’ll be taking the minutes for the meeting.”
    “Very good.” Mark Sanders, her boss, called the meeting to order. “Ready when you are.”
    Rebekah nodded and hit play . “Fuck me harder. Oh, God like that, just like that, Ashton,” blared from the tiny device held in her hand. The more her fumbling fingers tried to turn it off, the louder it got, giving the occupants of the room a second-by-second accounting of her sexual escapade.
    Frozen in shock, it took her a moment to pull it together. “I—don’t know how that happened. Holy h-e-double hockey sticks, I’m so sorry. I uh, have to go.” She dropped the blasted machine on the floor and stomped on it to silence it.
    “Manufacturer error, I’d imagine.” She darted out of the conference room and hid in her office. “I’m never leaving this room.” She burst into tears of embarrassment. Her phone rang, and she silenced it, imagining getting a pink slip.

    Four hours later the bleep of her phone ringing incessantly drove her mad.
    “Hello! Look, I don’t want to talk—quit freakin’ callin’ and leave a message 26

    Burn Me If You Can
    already!”
    “Rebekah, what’s wrong?”
    “Ashton?”
    “Bekah.”
    “Just a bad day at work. What are you up to?” She stopped the flow of tears and tried to formulate a plan to save her skin, while also slowing the crazy beating of her heart.
    “I flew into town to take you out to dinner tonight.”
    “Where are you?” She listened to the background noises and hushed whispers, trying to guess.
    “Why are you hiding in your office crying, beautiful?”
    “I asked first.” Bekah sniffled. “And I can’t tell you. It’s too embarrassing.”
    Her office door opened and Ashton stood there. Without a word, he moved in and enveloped her in a hug. “Your assistant out there filled me in. I guess I picked a good time to come by.” He held up the incriminating evidence.
    “Where’d you get that?”
    “I dug it out of the boardroom trash, so no one could tease you.”
    “I’m going to lose my job.” She burst out in a