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south. She passed a bathroom and stopped into the ladies’ room to pull herself together, blot her face and neck, and touch up her makeup. She assured herself the fact that she might see Ian had nothing to do with the extra prep.
    A little while later, feeling better, she stepped out the door and ran directly into a hard body. She recognized the potent scent that lingered in her apartment and had kept her tossing and turning most of last night.
    “Ian,” she said, sounding too breathless for her liking.
    He grasped her waist, steadying her. “You seem to be making this a habit,” he said in an amused tone.
    “Sorry.” She bit down on her lip.
    His heavy gaze followed her inadvertent reflex. “I’m not.”
    Neither was she, not that she’d be willing to admit it.
    “I didn’t know if I’d run into you or if I’d have to come seeking you out. Apparently luck is smiling on me this morning.”
    She smiled, relaxing. “Well, it’s good to see a familiar face.”
    “Looking forward to your first day at work?”
    “I’m nervous,” she admitted.
    He laughed. “Normal, but my sister’s only an occasional slave driver. You’ll be fine. Come. I’ll show you where to find Olivia.”
    “Thank you. Better than me wandering around clueless.”
    He placed a hand on the small of her back as they walked down the hall. His touch radiated heat throughout her body, the neediness she’d fought to tamp down returning full force, as if her body recognized his, priming itself without her permission.
    In the elevator, he stood across from her, watching her with pure lust in his smoky eyes. She attempted to distract herself by studying him here in his element. His dress shirt, a small navy check with white collar, and a complementing sky-colored tie brought out the blue in his eyes. The perfect cut of his suit accentuated his broad shoulders, making her wonder what his bare chest looked like, how much of a six pack he had, and whether he’d taste good when she ran her tongue down his chest, abdomen and lower, to the—
    The elevator announced they’d reached their floor.
    “After you,” he said, gesturing for her to precede him with a gentlemanly wave and a knowing grin on his handsome face.
    She stepped out onto the corporate level, certain the flush of arousal she’d experienced was obvious for all to see.
    “Did you tell Alex about your new job opportunity?” he asked.
    Oblivious to her thoughts, he led her down a long hall lined with oversized photographs of the team’s best players decked out in full uniform.
    “Not yet.” She’d thought about it and decided to hold off. “I thought I’d wait until I had a specific position.”
    “You don’t think he’ll be upset you’re working for the opposition, do you?”
    “Don’t you mean working for you ?”
    Ian shrugged. “That too.”
    All of the above had crossed her mind, had her wondering whether she shouldn’t show up this morning as promised.
    In the end, she’d been unable to resist the lure of opportunity any more than she’d been able to resist Ian so far. “Alex wants what’s best for me. No matter what form that takes.” But it didn’t mean he’d be happy.
    And if her best friend knew she’d kissed Ian again or that he clearly intended for them to end up in bed, their long-standing relationship would be in jeopardy. So she’d put off telling him. At least for now.
    “We’re here.” Ian stopped at a closed wooden door with Olivia Dare’s name on the brass plate beside it.
    He knocked once and pushed open the door.
    “Come on in,” a female voice called.
    “We already are,” Ian said, his hand settling on Riley’s lower back again as he escorted her into the room.
    His touch was warm, hot, and felt too good. Because his sister was watching, she eased away from him.
    “Olivia, this is Riley Taylor. I told you about her this morning.”
    The other woman rose from her desk. Tall like her brother and model thin, she was the opposite of