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the bargaining table, I'll be lucky if he concedes one point to me." His eyes gleamed with anticipati on of the upcoming business.
    "It's a pity that you're not looking forward to this," she injected dryly, noticing the air of expectancy about Jared. It was clear this was what he lived for.
    "Yes, isn't it?" He grinned.
    After their meal they walked slowly back to the build ing. Jared's hand rested lightly against the small of Alex's back, as if guiding her in their short journey. She was finding it more and more difficult to ignore the heat of his touch or the flares that erupted in the green eyes when they touched on her at odd times. This job would have been so much more safe if Jared had been short, bald, and fat! When they reached the building they entered the lobby to take the elevator to the parking garage. When they later stopped by Alex's car, she looked up with a smile.
    "Thank you for dinner," she said lightly, then added in a teasing tone, "Sorry I can't ask you to come home with me, but I have a very strict mother."
    Jared returned her smile, easily entering in the game. He trailed his fingertips along her shoulder, noticing the delicate bones beneath his touch. "Yes, I noticed her giv ing me the once-over when I came to pick you up. Not to mention the third degree your father gave me." He was surprised to see the smile disappear, leaving harshly etched lines in the delicate features.
    "Yes," she said tightly, stepping away from his heated contact. "Well, good night, see you in the morning." She quickly unlocked the door and got in.
    Jared remained in his spot and watched Alex drive out of the garage, wondering what he had said to wipe the smile from her face and eyes. If he had known a thought less remark would have done that, he certainly wouldn't have said it. Shrugging his shoulders and forgetting her problems since he had plenty of his own to worry about, he walked over to his car and prepared to go home and fall into bed for an all too brief sleep before he'd begin another working day.
    The following Tuesday afternoon Jared held his meet ing with several oil-rich sheikhs who were looking for new markets for their products and Alex was again on duty.
    The visitors had looked at her with admiration in their dark eyes all the while amazed that a mere woman was used to protect such an important man. One man in par ticular, Rashid Kalim, watched Alex with something darker than mere admiration. She made sure to keep her gaze from his direction during the talks.
    What Alex hadn't noticed was that Jared had seen the object of Rashid's gaze and, apparently, had not ap preciated the younger man's attention on anything else than the subject of their meeting. He waited until after the men left the conference room adjoining his office before voicing his displeasure to Alex.
    "You're certainly a creature of surprises, Alex," he began in a caustic tone after he had dismissed Chris.
    "Oh?" She had thought she was also dismissed and was already walking toward the door when Jared's voice halt ed her.
    "Damn it, look at me when I'm talking to you!"
    Alex spun on her heel and faced Jared with rage firing her eyes. "I'll put up with your temper tantrums, Mr. Templeton, and I'll even, put up with your archaic ideas that a woman's place is not necessarily in the office, but I will not, I repeat, I will not allow anyone to talk to me in that tone." Her voice directed icy darts at his heart. "Growing up with four brothers forced me to put up with male chauvinism all my life, and I was determined that once I graduated from the Academy, I wouldn't put up with it again, least of all from a tin god such as you!" She stood her ground, uncaring that Jared's next words would be a roar that she was fired.
    To say that Jared was stunned by her fury was an understatement. Alex had always been quiet , unobtrusive, and quick to gauge the situation. She had never shown the display of temper she had just now. Deep down he ad mired her for her