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instant. Let him stay. It might piss Anne off when she found out, and Anne might (please, please, please!) fire him. Besides that, arguing with him was still arousing her. More so now than before. Her skin was heating and hot blood was flowing through her veins at an alarming rate.
    â€œLeave the door open on your way out,” he added smugly.
    Eyes slitted, panting a little, Jillian stood. Better to leave now, before he called her a bad name—a worse name, anyway—and she jumped his bones. What’s wrong with me? she wondered for the—what?—thousandth time?
    She strode toward the door, calling with mock breeziness over her shoulder, “I’m going home to purge myself of your nastiness. I’ll see you at the club, Markie. Make sure to bring that hundred dollars you’re going to owe me. I expect payment the moment you lose.” She slammed the door behind her, making the glass vibrate, and sauntered down the hall.

Three
    Excuse me, I need your phone number to give my friend so he’ll know where he can get a hold of me in the morning.
    G EORGIA C ARRINGTON’S PHONE RANG just as Jillian stormed out of the building without a word or glance. O-kay. What had happened? She’d never seen her friend so upset.
    Brrring, brrring, the phone sang as she pushed to her feet to go after Jillian.
    After a momentary hesitation, she fell back into her chair. She’d have to find out later. Only one person called her at this time of day and she didn’t have the strength to ignore him. Besides, Jillian would probably appreciate time to cool down.
    That’s lame. You’re a bad friend. Still, she picked up the phone and held it to her ear, already a little breathless. “Georgia Carrington.”
    â€œHey, you.”
    Hearing that deep, tender voice, her stomach instantly clenched. Yep, she’d been right. Brent. Jillian’s older brother and the bane of Georgia’s entire life. “You have to stop calling me at work, Brent,” she said, knowing he wouldn’t.
    Part of her was glad of that. The other part of her hated that part of her.
    â€œI can’t help it,” Brent said in a low, whispered tone, as if they were sharing a secret. “I needed to hear your voice. It’s been twenty-four hours since we last talked, and that’s just too long.”
    Her stomach clenched again and goose bumps broke out over her skin. Contact with Brent was dangerous, even over the phone. He was the only man in the world who could tempt her away from Wyatt and the only man in the world she would never, ever allow herself to get involved with.
    He hadn’t wanted her when she’d wanted him, had rejected her time and time again, and now it was too late. Besides, even if she were to date him now, he’d walk away from her the moment she started aging. A wrinkle—bye—bye Brent. Gain a few pounds—where’d Brent race off to so quickly?
    In school, she’d been the ugly duckling and he’d avoided her. Now that she was easy on the eyes, he pursued her relentlessly. It was insulting. So why don’t you put a stop to it?
    â€œWant to go to the movies later?” he asked. “Don’t say no. I’m willing to see a chick flick, and if that doesn’t prove my dedication to you, nothing will.”
    She closed her eyes, pictured sitting next to him, sharing popcorn. Wyatt hated going to the movies. Expensive dinners, galas, those were his preferences. “No, sorry,” she forced herself to say. “I’ve got plans with Wyatt.”
    There was a thick, heavy pause. She used it to tamp down her regret.
    Then Brent growled low in his throat. “I fucking hate that asshole.”
    â€œHow do you know he’s an asshole? You’ve never met him.”
    â€œI don’t have to know him to know he’s not good enough for you.”
    She shivered. End this. You’re just playing with fire. “Goodbye,