Chapter Two

Poor thing. Her surprise was clear on her face. As was her longing. One would think a lawyer would be better at hiding her thoughts. But not Hailey. She’d always been an open book.

Caleb took advantage of her stunned silence to let his gaze wander over her luscious body. Even her deplorable fashion sense couldn’t completely obscure the wonder he knew lay beneath layers of cheap polyester and oversize blazers. There was a curvy body buried under the clothes she wore like armor, and one day he’d convince her to let him uncover it.

Her auburn hair was pulled back into a simple clip at the back of her head, and her wide green eyes stared at him as she tried to decipher the truth of his words. In her heels, the top of her head would fit perfectly beneath his chin, though he could well imagine her reaction should he attempt such a move.

No, nothing about Hailey Mitchel was Alec’s type.

To be honest, she wasn’t his, either. Oh, there was no denying she’d grown on him. It wasn’t every day he came across a woman happy to put him in his place for stepping over a line. But that wasn’t the reason he’d started chasing her.

That was all Alec.

He remembered the exact moment Hailey had popped up on his radar. It’d been in a boardroom, the only place he and his former friend ever willingly met anymore. When the deal was completed, he’d been getting ready to leave. On the other side of the room, Hailey said something to his rival that had caused him to laugh.

The sight was so rare Caleb had paused. And that’s when he’d seen the other man look down at his counsel with a gaze that was far from professional.

He didn’t know if Alec wanted the lawyer or merely cared about her as a friend. Frankly, it didn’t matter.

All that mattered was the fact that if Hailey were taken away from Alec, he would bleed.

And it was about damn time.

So he’d set out to woo Hailey to his company. It had seemed like a simple solution. A little digging had uncovered everything he needed to know about her professionally, and anyone could see she was wasted at Charr Industries. The brilliant lawyer had even managed to stymie a few of his deals occasionally. A mind like that belonged somewhere it would be appreciated. He could give her the challenges she craved, ensure she was given projects that mattered. Ones that would allow her to use her wide skill set. She’d no longer be living in Alec’s shadow but finally be able to wield power all her own. And he could give her that.

Offering her the promotion just made sense. He’d gain an invaluable asset, and Alec would be left alone.

What he hadn’t counted on was being so thoroughly rejected. No matter how attractive the contract, how many times he restructured her bonus options, she’d never given him so much as the time of day. Oh, Hailey might have been perfectly polite about telling him to go to hell, but the sentiment was there all the same. He couldn’t believe it had taken him so many months to figure out why.

But now he had the key. He could dangle her hopes before her and use them to finally turn the tables on his former friend.

All’s fair in love and war, after all.

“What do you mean?” she said, bringing him back to the matter at hand.

“You want Alec,” he said, though the words tasted like acid. “I know how to make him love you.”

“You can’t make someone love someone else.”

He waved his hand through the air. “Nonsense. I grew up with him. I was by his side from kindergarten to our university graduation. Though he’d hate to admit it, there is very little about the man I don’t know. Including his taste in women.”

Truer words had never been spoken.

She swallowed, taking a step closer. “What exactly are you offering?”

Satisfaction spiraled through him. She wasn’t walking away from this deal.

“For the next month we’re going to date.” He saw the denial in her eyes and moved swiftly to cut her off. “On those dates, I’ll give you tips on how to win Alec.”

“Tips?”

“Insider knowledge. Strategies you can use to wrap him around your finger. Isn’t that what you want?”

She chewed on her lower lip as she thought about his offer. He couldn’t look away from the sight, wondering what she’d do if he leaned forward to kiss away the hurt she was causing.

She’s a means to an end, Langston.

It was best to ignore the uncharacteristic surge of warmth that swept through him as he watched her.

“So you’re going to try to seduce me while I try to seduce someone else,” she said. “That doesn’t seem twisted to you?”

“What can I say? I’m a confident man.”

Her eyes narrowed as she looked up at him. Though she didn’t speak, he could practically hear that mind of hers whirling.

“Why?” she asked.

“What?”

Her gaze never shifted from his face. “Why are you offering this? It can’t just be about me.”

So much more than a pretty face, this one. He’d have to be careful not to tip his hand. Given the situation, her brains would be unfortunate if he didn’t find her intelligence so damn attractive.

“You underestimate yourself,” he said, shifting so his body brushed against her arm. He heard her swift inhale and knew she wasn’t as immune to him as she wanted him to believe. “Any man in his right mind would go above and beyond to convince you to be his.”

Those clear green eyes never dropped from his. Disbelief swirled in their gaze, and it raked at his conscience. Here was a woman made for compliments, yet it was obvious she didn’t hear them as often as she should.

For the month they were together, he could take care of that.

“You just want me,” she said, suspicion still coloring her words. “No other reason.”

“Any way I can get you, sweetheart. You could always put me out of my misery and simply date me. It doesn’t have to be a wager.” He held his breath, knowing the gamble he was playing. If she gave in now, if she simply wanted him, it wouldn’t be the same. He wouldn’t get his month of watching Alec fall for his loyal counsel only to find her whisked away from him. The knowledge that Hailey, Alec’s trusted right hand, had chosen his enemy over him wouldn’t strike the same blow if it came too soon. He wanted his rival to hurt, not merely be inconvenienced.

“I’m not dating you,” she replied.

He nearly breathed a sigh of relief. “Then accept my bargain and prove Alec is the only one for you.”

She chewed on her lip again.

“You can really help me?”

There was a vulnerability in her words he had to steel himself against. He’d tried to win her over fair and square. The contracts he’d showered on her had been incredibly generous. If he couldn’t have her professionally, that only left one other option. She was Alec’s weak spot, and there was no way he could let the opportunity he’d spent years waiting for go. Not even when she stared up at him with those big eyes that made him waver in his resolve. “When I’m finished, he’ll be kicking himself for not seeing you earlier.” That, at least, was a promise he could keep.

She hesitated for a long moment before reaching for her untouched scotch.

“Well, then, Mr. Langston. Looks like you’ve got yourself a deal.”

Hearing the trap swing shut, he touched his glass to hers.

…

Scotch coated her tongue. He hadn’t been lying. It really was an excellent brand.

A nervous giggle nearly escaped her. Was she really thinking about scotch when she’d just agreed to let Caleb freaking Langston try to seduce her?

While there was no danger of him actually winning her heart, the man did look like he’d walked out of some lucky woman’s fantasy. There was only so much a girl could take.

But if he was right, if he could help turn a few wicked fantasies into reality…

A shiver ran down her spine. Life was for living. And this gamble might deliver her heart’s desire on a silver platter. So what if she took a little risk?

“When do we start?” she asked.

His eyes flickered over her shoulder before returning to her face. “Do me a favor and trust me.” He reached forward to wrap one arm around her waist.

Her breath caught in her throat as he hauled her up against his body. One hand clutched her glass while the other splayed out against his chest.

His wide, firm chest.

Her heartbeat kicked up a notch. It raced even faster when he dipped his head to put his lips to her ear.

“Don’t push me away,” he whispered to her, his hand sliding down her lower back.

“Why?” she replied, trying not to think of his hand on her. It was impossible to feel that burning touch through her blazer. Wasn’t it?

“Because we’re not alone.”

His lips brushed against her cheek as he drew back in a touch far more intimate than she’d been prepared for.

“Alec,” he said, looking over her shoulder. “Care for a drink?”

Horror chased away any budding interest he might have inspired. She wasn’t the sort of woman who ran from a problem, but right now, she wished there were a hole in the ground she could crawl into.

Caleb looked back at her, arching a brow.

Not wanting to let him get the better of her, she rolled back her shoulders and turned.

Sure enough, her boss stood not ten feet away, watching them with hooded eyes.

“Did you get everything sorted out?” she asked, as if he hadn’t just walked in on his rival feeling up his legal counsel.

“We’re all set,” he replied. His eyes locked on the glass in her hand. “I thought you didn’t want a drink.”

“I’m not a fan of champagne.”

“She’s a scotch girl,” Caleb cut in. “After three years, shouldn’t you know that?”

“I wasn’t aware the two of you had gotten so familiar,” he replied.

“There’s a lot you miss when you don’t pay enough attention.”

Hailey set her glass down and stepped away from Caleb. “I was just leaving.”

“Me, too,” Alec said, his eyes never leaving the other man. “I’ll walk you out.”

Grabbing her briefcase from the floor, she took a step forward when a hand wrapped around hers.

Turning, she watched Caleb brush his mouth across her knuckles. “I’ll call you tomorrow,” he promised, his dark gaze flickering up to hers.

He’s just playing the game, she told herself, doing her best to ignore the tingling in her fingers. That’s all this is.

A small smile quirked his lips as she turned away from the man she’d just made a devil’s bargain with. Facing Alec, she reminded herself that this was all worth it. She’d wasted enough time on daydreams. She needed to take action if anything was ever going to change. One way or another, she’d get Alec to see she was more than just his employee. If Caleb could help her do that, so much the better

All she had to do was survive thirty days.

“Ready?” Alec asked, a bite to his tone she hadn’t heard before.

“All set.”

She followed her boss through the main room of the club, resisting the temptation to look back at the man she’d left behind.

The receptionist was waiting in the entrance room, their jackets in hand.

“Hope you had a pleasant evening, Mr. Charr.”

“Something like that,” he replied, shrugging into his overcoat.

Hailey waited until they were alone in the elevator heading for the ground floor before turning to her companion.

“You didn’t have to leave just because I was,” she said.

He glanced at her before returning his gaze to the descending numbers over the door. “The clientele here took a turn for the worse.”

She shook her head. “I know he’s a rival, but this feud between you two seems very personal.”

“I don’t talk about my personal life.”

She shrugged. “Then I won’t share mine.”

There was a beat of silence before he turned to her. “Does Caleb have anything to do with your personal life?”

“Thought that subject was off the table,” she replied, pointedly avoiding looking at him.

“I know he can be charming, Hailey, but you should stay away from him. He’s bad news.”

“I’m capable of making my own decisions.”

His hand curled around her arm, pulling her back to face him.

The contact froze her breath in her chest. It was rare that he ever touched her. But standing here in the small elevator with his hand on her, the rest of the world fell away. What would he do if she rose to her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his?

She glanced at his mouth, wondering if it wasn’t better to just cut out the middleman and take a chance.

But without any groundwork, she doubted Alec would be as thrilled by the shift in their relationship as she was. The last thing she wanted to do was make a mistake that could cost her this job.

“I know him far better than you think you do,” he said. “Don’t get involved with him.”

Too late.

“Thanks for the warning,” she replied, laying her hand over his. “But who I date isn’t any of your concern.” She nibbled on her lip before adding, “Is it?”

“You’re dating that bastard?”

For the first time in three years, the expression on his face when he looked at her wasn’t the least bit professional.

Maybe Caleb was a secret genius after all. Five minutes into their wager and Alec was paying more attention to her than he had in the last month.

“Maybe,” she hedged. “But if I decide to take him up on his offer, that’s between him and me.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain.”

His lips parted as if he was about to speak when the ding of the elevator reaching the ground floor broke the spell.

He dropped his hand like she burned him, taking a step back.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he said, striding from the elevator the second the doors opened.

Hailey followed more slowly. Alec was angry. At her. That never happened. She was his right-hand woman, making sure his deals were locked up tight with a perfect legal bow.

The sight brought a small smile to her lips. This was progress.

And she had a devil to thank for it.