Ward had lost everything when his ex-wife left him, taking his stepdaughter with her. Since he wasn’t little Paisley’s biological father, he’d lost all rights to her after the divorce from Melanie. He’d hoped his ex would be open to letting them visit—or at least talk—but that hadn’t been the case. His former wife just wanted to move on with her new life with her new husband.
Ward had been, for all intents and purposes, Paisley’s dad since he’d started dating Melanie, when her daughter was eight months old. He and Melanie had married a year later. The marriage had lasted for six more years...longer than it would have if there hadn’t been a child involved.
Ward wasn’t sure he ever would have given up, for Paisley’s sake. But Melanie had cheated, filed for divorce and was married to a guy twenty-five years her senior, wealthy, retired and ready to shower her with his money and time.
The metal on the frame dug into Ward’s palm.
“Sorry.” Brea twisted her hands in front of her, nails short, chewed down. “It was right out there for display.”
“Only if you were behind my desk, in my chair.” He placed the frame facedown so the picture of his stepdaughter wouldn’t distract him. He glanced back up to find Brea’s face showing a rare moment of vulnerability.
Calculated or legit? Experience with women told him it was more likely the former.
Her elegant throat moved with a slow swallow. “So, I wanted to see what my father’s office felt like, if it was the same as when I was a child, spinning in the CEO’s chair.”
He stuffed back images of his child doing the same.
And yes, he was surprised Brea had gone for the heartstrings. “That was well-played.”
“What do you mean?”
“You are throwing out that childhood memory to try and garner sympathy...or distract me from where you were sitting.”
He wasn’t letting her get away with invading his space. Heads would roll over her getting in here. For now, though, he couldn’t afford to let her escape until he had answers.
“Okay, I sat in my father’s chair because once I thought I would have a right to be there, that I would lead the company.” She nibbled her bottom lip, slick with gloss. “For a moment I wanted to pretend that life had played out the way I’d hoped.”
Was that another ploy to tug at his emotions and distract him? He wasn’t sure.
Regardless, his eyes were drawn to her mouth.
He tamped down a rush of attraction. “You were still in my chair. At my computer.”
All vulnerability slid from her face. She crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. “Fine. You’re right. I had no business parking myself there. What do you intend to do about it?”
“I could call security.” Ward’s mouth tightened into a thin line. He met her brown eyes with an unrelenting stare. The kind of stare he’d perfected in long games of poker, after his divorce. The poker table was where he’d regained command and control. Honed his skills for leadership. For impassive demands.
“You could. And when they find there’s nothing on me and it’s just your word against mine?” Her voice was rich and sultry. Those dark brows arched...playfully?
“If they find nothing on you.” He watched her face for signs he’d struck a chord.
Was it his imagination or did her eyes widen with fear? As fast as the look was there, it left.
“And my father? What will he think?”
Jack Steele would do anything to keep her here—in town, at the company, in the family—and they both knew it. Still, Ward bluffed. He was good at it. His fast-track career attested to that. “He’s on the board, but that doesn’t mean he can fire me.”
She ran her fingers along the edge of the desk, the movement slow and intentional as she looked up at him. Fire flashed in those eyes. “He’ll be upset and his opinion still carries a lot of sway with the board and investors.”
It was rare someone called his bluff. Instincts told him she was a worthy adversary.
Which made her all the more attractive.
Damn.
“You’re right. So, why were you in here when you know it could make things tougher for the two of you to reconcile?”
“I guess that proves I wasn’t doing anything wrong.” She toyed with the end of her sleek ponytail.
He chuckled softly, not tricked at all by her little hair twirl. “Are you sure you’re not a lawyer like your twin? Because you sure do have a way with words.”
“Must be genetics.” She flicked her hair back over her shoulder, drawing his attention to the curve of her breasts, outlined by the formfitting black sweater.
He cleared his throat and backed up a step, needing air that didn’t carry a minty scent. “Enough flirting.”
“Flirting?” She smiled slowly. “Were you hoping I was flirting with you?”
Yeah, actually, he was.
And that was dangerous.
But not as dangerous as having her wandering around unchecked, peeking into the everyday operations of Alaska Oil Barons, Inc. It was bad enough she’d gotten away with it once. That was when she was in disguise and no one had an emotional connection to her. Now that the Steele family was emotionally vulnerable over her return after being presumed dead, there was no telling what they would let her do.
He needed to come up with a plan to keep her in his sights, sooner rather than later.
* * *
Brea needed to get out of Ward’s office sooner rather than later.
How could she have let herself get caught up in flirting with him? Every second she remained here increased the chances of him finding the flash drive in her purse. She’d barely had time to peel off the latex gloves and stuff them away. If he’d seen them, he would have realized she’d been up to something shady for sure.
Although, if her fingerprints had been found on the keyboard, in the file cabinets or in the desk, she would have been in even worse trouble.
“I need to go.” Was that breathy voice hers? She cleared her throat and started toward the door.
Except, Ward’s broad chest was in her way. She should have worn heels. But she’d been thinking about stealth and not whether she could meet Ward’s eyes once she got caught. Vibrant blue eyes, the color of an Alaskan lake, lightly iced over and ready to thaw.
“Of course.” He nodded, waving her through the door. “After you.” When she hesitated, he said, “Really, after you.”
Only then did she realize she’d been standing, rooted to the spot, looking into his gaze like a starstruck, sex-starved idiot.
She forced a vampish smile onto her face. “I promise, I’m not going to work my wiles on your assistant to get through the door.”
“Again.”
She blinked. “What?”
“Get through my door...again.” His smile matched hers, making her realize he’d seen right through her.
Was he as affected by a simple grin as she was? Because if so, then they were both in trouble. Her body was tingling from head to toe. There’d been a combustible chemistry between them from the moment they’d met. And the timing couldn’t be worse, given the mess with her family.
The mess she still