His stomach clenched. Maybe he wasn’t as good at keeping it professional as he thought.
“I can request to be your tech, which might . . .” he trailed off because she was shaking her head again.
“We need to make this happen now. I realize we’d have to go around the usual way of things.”
“And break the protocol for contractors.”
She nodded. “You could do the work after hours. We’d be discreet. And,” a slow grin spread across those full lips, “I’m prepared to make it worth your while.”
It wouldn’t be the first job he’d taken off the books, but it would be the biggest. If the cable companies found out, they might take him off their preferred contractor list. But if the price was right, he’d risk it.
“I could maybe start tomorrow,” he said.
“You could start tonight.”
He held up a hand. “Look, I came here as a favor to my sister. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“I do if you’re working for me.”
She was right. If he took this job, she would have every right to tell him what to do. It was a right she’d undoubtedly exercise. The question was if he could stand it.
As he stared down into those ice-blue eyes, his fingers once again itched to trace the curve of her neck. He knew then. He couldn’t take the job. He couldn’t work for the woman he still longed to hold even after she’d ripped his heart out.
“I appreciate your thinking of me.” He tucked the flashlight back in his belt. “I don’t think it’s going to work.”
Her eyes widened. She started to speak, but he shook his head. “I can give you a list of other contractors, but this isn’t going to happen.”
Before she changed his mind, he walked out the way he came.
Chapter Three
Well, that could’ve gone better.
Understatement of the year alert. That hadn’t gone well. In fact, Sarah mused silently to herself as she watched the elevator close behind Beck, the only way it could have gone worse was if the building had indeed caught fire as he’d suggested it might.
Then he’d left. Abruptly and with no reason leaving her to wonder what had changed so suddenly.
One minute he’d been outlining a work plan. The next, he’d been racing toward the elevator. He’d all but shouted, “Have a nice life,” without so much as sparing her a glance.
It didn’t make any sense. Just like it didn’t make any sense that her heart was still pounding in her ears. A remnant of the thrill her traitorous body had felt when he was within arm’s reach. And, oh, how she’d wanted to reach. Just to let her fingers run across his stubble once. To feel the dimple that formed on his chin whenever he smiled at her. That was all.
It was too much—much too much—to want from him. She knew that. She wanted the man to work for her for crying out loud. Any kind of physical contact between them would pass the boundary of right and wrong. More, she’d gone down that path before. It hadn’t ended well. Which was yet another understatement in what promised to be a long litany of them if she didn’t get better control of herself.
She was better than this. On most days, she was as implacable as an iron fortress. Focused on the task at hand and what steps needed to be taken to accomplish her goals. Not today, it seemed. She could chalk it up to nerves. Sarah had a lot—or rather everything—riding on this launch. Bringing in the only man who’d ever threatened to take her eyes off the proverbial prize had only added to her concerns.
It didn’t help that he was as handsome as ever. Had his chestnut hair always been so thick? When a lock had fallen over his forehead, she’d nearly lost her grip and reached to push it back. Throughout their brief meeting, she’d been incapable of meeting his gaze for more than a second. Those dark eyes of his had always seemed to see right into her.
Maybe that was why he’d left. In the brief moment their gazes had met, he’d probably read her desperation. He’d probably had a vision of her standing over his shoulder every minute until the network was up and running at full capacity.
Or worse, he had seen the longing there. He knew as well as she did that it would never work between them. It hadn’t before. What made now any different?
Either way, he’d left. She couldn’t blame him. Even if it set her back to square one. No, their history was too complicated to travel down a path of any kind of relationship—professional or not—again.
Now what?
Sarah was still staring at the elevator doors when Maisie arrived nearly out of breath. Bryant, the CEO at LinkDigital and her longtime business partner, followed closely behind.
“Sorry I’m late.” Maisie leaned over, palms braced against her thighs, breathing hard. “I ran over here as fast as I could.”
“It’s my fault,” Bryant chimed in, also gasping for air. “I had her working on a line over at headquarters, and—“
“Wait.” Maisie held up a palm and stood straight. “Where’s Beck? Didn’t he show?”
“He was here,” Sarah said.
Maisie glanced around, her chest still rising up and down. “And he left already?”
Sarah nodded.
“When does he start?”
“Never.” Sarah stared at the gaping hole in the wall. “He said it wouldn’t work.”
“Like in his timeline?” Bryant asked.
“No clue.” The familiar licks of panic began to rebuild in Sarah. Just how on earth was she going to get the server back online—and keep it that way—in time for the launch?
Maisie gaped. “Seriously?”
“He offered to send a list of referrals.”
Hopefully one of them panned out. Sarah’s hands balled into fists.
“That’s weird.” A frown marred Maisie’s brow. “I figured he’d jump at a chance to make some quick cash. Not to mention what it would mean to his future customers to have your business.”
Bryant raised a dark eyebrow. “Future customers?”
Future customers?
Sneaking a glance at Bryant, Sarah could tell his curiosity had been as piqued as hers.
“Don’t customers go through the cable company?” he asked.
“Now, yes. But Beck has been talking about starting his own tech support company.”
“He’s starting his own company?”
“That’s the plan.” Maisie pursed her lips. “Last I knew, he almost had enough put away to buy more equipment and cover the start-up fees.”
Sarah said nothing, not wanting to show her interest.
Luckily, Bryant was there to do it for her. “How much does he need?”
Maisie threw out a number, and Sarah nodded as Bryant let out a low whistle. “Strange he’d turn down a job when he’s so close.”
“Very strange.” Maisie’s brow furrowed. “He’d do just about anything to get that last bit of money.”
Sarah certainly hoped that was the case.
Clearing her throat, Sarah drew back Maisie’s attention. “Does your brother still hang out at that pizza place down the street?”
“Any chance he gets.” A dimple formed in Maisie’s chin as a slow grin spread across her face.