Holiday Hell

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Holiday Hell

Eve Vaughn

www.loose-id.com

Holiday Hell Copyright © December 2010 by Eve Vaughn All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions. eISBN 978-1-60737-905-8 Editor: Maryam Salim Cover Artist: Marci Gass Printed in the United States of America

Published by Loose Id LLC PO Box 425960 San Francisco CA 94142-5960 www.loose-id.com This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author‟s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Chapter One The second Sheridan heard “Jingle Bells” on her alarm-clock radio, she knew this day would suck. Big hairy balls. With a groan she rolled over, slammed her palm over the Snooze button, and then yanked the pillow over her head to block out the light. Usually she could sleep for another twenty minutes before the alarm went off again, but she knew there was no use. No matter how hard she attempted to pretend otherwise, the holiday season was upon her. Even though it was only the first day of the dreaded month of December, they‟d been playing this wretched holiday music for weeks. Whatever happened to waiting until Thanksgiving before the radio stations started playing Christmas music? There was a time when all the Christmas specials, music, and decorations didn‟t go up until December, but it seemed each year the celebration crept earlier up the calendar, until bam!, some jackoff decided the day after Halloween was a great time to begin the festivities. Never mind that poor Thanksgiving no longer received the proper attention it deserved. Pretty soon the month of October would be swallowed up by the monstrosity that had become Christmas, and there wasn‟t a damn thing she or anyone else could do about it. With a resigned sigh, she pushed the pillow away and sat up. She wasn‟t much of a morning person, but the sooner she got herself together, the faster this day would end. Once out of bed, she went through the motions of her daily routine with little enthusiasm. As she prepared her cup of morning coffee, she checked the messages on her BlackBerry. Most of the messages were from clients, and she‟d respond to them when she hit the office. One was from her girlfriend Julie, whom she immediately called back.

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Julie would probably be at work by now, but Sheridan needed to hear a quick word of encouragement so that she wouldn‟t end up beating the hell out of someone today. Fortunately, Julie answered on the second ring. “Marketing department. Julie Bennett speaking.” Sheridan winced at her friend‟s enthusiastic greeting. No one should sound so damn chipper at eight thirty in the morning. “Doesn‟t your phone have caller ID? There‟s no reason for you to be so formal with me, girl.” “Hey, Sheridan. Yes, it‟s supposed to have caller ID, but ever since they installed this new phone system, we‟ve had a lot of problems. I‟m just happy that it‟s even working today. Last week I couldn‟t receive any incoming calls. Anyway, I didn‟t think you‟d return my call so soon. Shouldn‟t you still be in bed? I thought you were taking the day off.” “Can‟t. I‟ve been summoned. Otherwise, I would have.” “Summoned? Sounds pretty serious.” Sheridan shrugged, not bothering to speculate. “Could be, might not be, but when the big man himself requests an audience, it isn‟t something easily ignored.” “The big guy? As in Seamus McGuire.” She nodded, even though she knew her friend couldn‟t see her. “Yep. The man himself. I wouldn‟t go in if I didn‟t have to for anyone else, especially for he who shall not be named.” Julie giggled. “You‟re not still on that tangent, are you? I thought the two of you worked out your differences.” “I‟d like to work a knife into that man‟s back. We don‟t speak to each other unless it‟s business related.” “That‟s a shame. I thought when you decided to stay on with the company, you and he had come to some understanding.”

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“Of course we did. I understand that he‟s a poor little rich boy, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Do you honestly think he‟d be at the head of my department if he wasn‟t the big boss‟s grandson?” “From what you say of Mr. McGuire, he doesn‟t strike me as the kind of man that would put just anyone in charge, relative or not. Have you ever thought that if you actually gave the guy a chance, you might see a side of him you didn‟t expect?” Sheridan rolled her eyes. Julie was the kind of person who tried to see the good in everything and everyone. It was one of the things Sheridan loved about her, but right now it was slightly annoying. “I‟d rather chew broken glass. Besides, there‟s no love lost on his side either. I can tell by the way he looks at me that he thinks I‟m not worth the dirt on the bottom of his expensive Italian leather shoes.” “It‟s probably all in your head.” “Uh huh. Anyway, I‟m sure you didn‟t call me earlier to talk about my douchebag boss.” “You‟re right. I was calling to wish you a happy Monday, and even though we‟re entering the holiday season, I just want you to know if you need to talk, I‟m available to you morning, noon, and night.” A lump formed in Sheridan‟s throat as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. It was only with her friend that she was able to let her guard down and release the pent-up anger the season brought to her. She made no secret of her hate for Christmas and all things associated with it, but no one understood the depth of her loathing like Julie did. “Thank you,” she said a little more gruffly than she‟d intended. “But I‟m not going to let it get under my skin this year.” “And how do you propose doing that? You nearly got into a fistfight last year because someone wished you „Happy Holidays.‟” “That was then. I plan on taking all the vacation I have banked. I‟m stocking my cabinets with junk food and booze, renting horror movies, and staying in my apartment from the second week of December until after New Year‟s. Hell, I might not even shower every day.”

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“Are you serious?” Julie‟s voice squeaked with obvious disbelief. “As a heart attack. I know I can‟t avoid this horrid holiday altogether, but I can minimize the time I spend around all the merrymakers.” A long pause followed her statement, and for a second, she thought her connection had disconnected. “Jules, are you still there?” “Yes. I‟m just trying to wrap my head around it. Hon, I know how much you despise Christmas, but is hiding from the rest of the world the answer?” “Got any better ideas?” “You can stay with me and Gabe. We‟d love to have you. At least you wouldn‟t have to be alone.” It was a touching invitation considering this would be the couple‟s first Christmas together, and no matter how much Sheridan despised this time of year, she respected others‟ right to celebrate it as they wished. Julie, being the person she was, would leave her house undecorated and barely mention the time of year if it meant putting someone else at ease. Sheridan knew it wouldn‟t be fair to Julie or Gabe. She let out a deep breath. “That‟s a sweet offer, but I‟d be a downer. Besides, you two will be too busy humping to even notice I‟m there. Seriously, we‟ll have time to hang out before I go into seclusion. We still have some wedding planning to do.” “I‟ll hold you to it, but don‟t think you‟re going to change the subject. You‟re more than welcome to stay with us for as long as you‟d like. Gabe and I are going to New Jersey on the day of to have dinner with his family, but we‟ll be back the next day. We still have a lot to do around the house. We‟re painting and having some contractors in to finish the basement.” Sheridan groaned. “You‟re really getting into Suzy Homemaker mode. First you two decide to buy that big Victorian haunted house—” “It‟s not haunted.”

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“It‟s sooo haunted. You‟re my girl and all, but I swear to God, if I hear noises in the attic, I‟m running like hell and asking questions later. You know how horror movies go. The black people get killed first.” “In case you haven‟t noticed, I‟m black too.” “I know, and I‟m praying for you, girl. Anyway, I appreciate the offer, but I will pass on the invite.” “Well, it‟s an open one if you change your mind. Oh, guess who I heard from the other day.” “Who?” “My cousin, Corinne.” “What? Did you run into her somewhere?” “No, she showed up at my office asking if she could stay with me for a little while. Apparently she and her mother had a falling out when Corrine slept with her mother‟s boyfriend. My aunt kept the boyfriend but kicked Corinne out.” Sheridan shook her head. “That heffa has a lot of damn nerve. You told her hell no, right?” “Damn right I did, and it felt good doing it. And when she cursed me out after I told her no, I knew I made the right decision. She called me a stupid bitch, to which I replied, „At least this stupid bitch will have somewhere to stay tonight.‟” “I‟m sure she didn‟t like that.” Like Sheridan, Julie was a product of the fostercare system. But whereas Sheridan had learned to be aggressive, Julie had become somewhat of a pushover in her attempts to please people. Through the help of therapy and an understanding fiancé, Julie was standing up for herself more and didn‟t seem to have a problem telling people no when she didn‟t want to do something. Sheridan knew it was a big step for Julie to stand up to her no-good cousin, who was nothing but a mooch and a skank all rolled up into an assortment of STDs waiting to happen.

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“I could care less what she thinks anymore. At one time I would have worried about where she‟d go or how she‟d take care of herself, but she‟s burned me for the last time.” A smile touched Sheridan‟s lips at her friend‟s words. “I‟m really proud of you, girl.” “I‟m proud of me too. It feels good being my own woman.” “I‟m sure Gabe would argue that you‟re his woman.” Julie chuckled. “You know what I mean.” “I know. Well, I have to run. Normally I could care less what time I get to work, but even I‟m not crazy enough to keep Mr. McGuire waiting. I swear to God, if the pay wasn‟t decent and the economy wasn‟t so bad, I‟d leave that place just so I wouldn‟t have to deal with the jackass.” “Sher—” “I‟ll talk to you later, Jules.” She hung up before her friend could respond, not wanting a lecture about trying to get along with her dickhead boss. She swore that man was out to get her. Sheridan had started working at McGuire‟s—a prestigious supplier of fine ingredients to food companies—in their sales department. She had thrived at her job, easily becoming the top salesperson in her department. She‟d quickly proven to everyone around her that she was excellent at what she did and didn‟t take shit from anyone, which was why she got along with nearly all her coworkers. She‟d even caught the attention of the big boss—because of the money she brought to the company by securing big contracts. She could make her own hours, she enjoyed the travel she had to do from time to time, and she made over and beyond her base salary through commission and sales. Everything had been pretty gravy that first year at McGuire‟s until the old sales director had retired and his replacement arrived in the form of Brady McGuire, Seamus‟s grandson. She‟d had him pegged from the first moment—a rich boy who‟d basically been handed everything in life. How else had he earned the

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coveted director job besides being the CEO‟s grandson? When he wasn‟t busy getting on her case and looking down his nose at everyone, he was fending off bimbos. A few of the ladies he‟d dated had shown up to the office, not to mention the women in the office found excuses to cross paths with him. If Sheridan were being honest, she had to admit that on first sight, Brady McGuire was good-looking. No. Actually he was fine as hell, drool inducing even, with his loose-limbed, broad-shouldered body. His suits were clearly tailored, yet there was no hiding his muscular build. And though he was probably no taller than six feet two, he was a virtual giant to Sheridan, seeming larger than life. Yet he moved with the ease and grace of a man half his size. His chiseled jaw, square dimpled chin, and full, almost petulantlooking lips had the appearance of being carved from smooth granite. Ink black hair, which he wore a little overlong, fell just below his collar in thick waves. His most arresting features were eyes so deep a blue they were nearly black. Too bad he was such a prick; otherwise she‟d be all over him like funk on a monkey. As she headed out the door, she whispered a silent prayer that she wouldn‟t have to put her foot up his ass today.

*** Brady could think of several things he‟d rather be doing than being lectured by his grandfather, one of which was walking barefoot over rusty nails. He sat stoically, looking straight ahead yet not quite meeting his grandfather‟s eyes. “Brady, are you listening to me?” the old man practically roared. “Of course, you were expounding on the importance of keeping the Smith account. I‟m on top of that.” “And I expect you to stay on top of it. Their contract is up for renewal, and word is Bradley‟s is trying to move in and swipe the account right out from under us. I‟m sure you don‟t need me to say it, but I will anyway—your ass is on the line if that happens.”

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Brady raised a brow. Since he‟d come on board with McGuire‟s, his grandfather had made it clear that he‟d be granted no special favors, nor did he expect it. Loving grandfather aside, Seamus McGuire was a shrewd businessman and wouldn‟t let nepotism get in the way of the business he‟d built from the ground up. Even Brady‟s father, Seamus‟s own son, had been shown the door when he‟d proven his incompetence. Brady knew if he made one misstep, he‟d be out just as fast as his father had been, if not faster. He sat straighter in his chair and met his grandfather‟s eyes to show he was not intimidated. “Certainly. I wouldn‟t be worth my title if I couldn‟t retain our clients. I‟ll do whatever it takes in order to keep this account.” “Glad to hear you say it. I take this to mean you‟re willing to accept the client‟s invitation to stay on their island for the two weeks right before Christmas.” Brady traveled frequently for his job, so this wasn‟t such a big deal, but there was a hitch in his grandfather‟s voice. He had a feeling Seamus wasn‟t telling him everything. “That shouldn‟t be a problem. Was that all?” “Because this account is so important, I‟ll want you to take another salesperson along with you. In most instances, I‟d suggest you take the salesperson who procured the contract; however, since Herb Carlton has retired, that‟s not an option.” There was a slight hesitation in the old man‟s voice. His grandfather wasn‟t one to beat around the bush, and Brady wondered why the hesitancy. “Not a problem. I‟ll take Jensen. He‟s reliable, professional, and—” “I want you to take Lewis.” Brady was thankful he didn‟t have anything in his mouth; otherwise, he would have choked. “Sheridan Lewis?” Seamus leaned forward and folded his arms over his desk. “Do you have a problem with that?” Being thirty-six years old, Brady wasn‟t easily cowed by anyone, but his grandfather still had the ability to make him feel like a child at times. Now was not

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going to be one of them. “The woman is an absolute nightmare. She‟s holding on to her job by a thread. Besides being inappropriate, insubordinate, and just plain annoying, I think the client would appreciate a more polished approach.” Seamus sat back in his chair and gave Brady a long, hard stare in silence. “Are you finished?” “I could go on about her, but for the sake of professionalism, I‟ll leave it at that.” “Good. Now that you‟ve had your say, I‟ll have mine. Brady, I didn‟t pay for all those fancy schools you went to and offer you a position at my company in order for you to jeopardize a huge account because of a personality conflict. Personal feelings aside, she‟s the best, and I only want the best to handle this client.” “Grandfather—” “This isn‟t up for further discussion. I want the two of you on that island in three weeks, or you both can start looking for new employment before the holiday season is over.” It was rare when his grandfather pulled rank in such a high-handed way, and though he knew Seamus didn‟t make idle threats, Brady wasn‟t going to allow things to end on that note. From the time Brady had first butted heads with Sheridan Lewis, his grandfather had always taken her side. In fact it often seemed to amuse Seamus whenever Brady would relay her antics to him. The old man would just chuckle and tell Brady to let the wee lass be. Wee she might be, but Sheridan Lewis was a huge pain in Brady‟s ass, and frankly he was tired of the old man defending her. “I agree that she does bring in the largest amount of revenue, but it is not just about that, it‟s the overall performance that matters. The woman waltzes in the office every morning as if everyone should be grateful she showed up. She doesn‟t take constructive criticism well, and she‟s disruptive to the other employees. If it were up to me, I would have let her go, but for some reason you seem to have a soft spot for her. Is there something going on I should know about?”

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Again came the throaty chuckle Brady had become accustomed to whenever he complained about his walking nightmare come true. “Ach, if I were thirty years younger perhaps. I‟m not one of those old fools who takes up with a younger woman as if I have something to prove. Besides, I‟ve had enough love to last a lifetime with my Eileen, rest her soul. No, my interest in her doesn‟t lie in a romantic sense.” “Then where does it lie? It can‟t be strictly business. You don‟t even defend some of the more long-standing employees the way you do her. She‟s only been at McGuire‟s for a few years, yet the few times I‟ve seen you two interact, you act like she‟s an old family friend. I just don‟t get it.” “There‟s nothing to get, and let me reiterate, Sheridan and you on this trip is not up for debate. It‟s going to take the best McGuire‟s has to offer in order to secure this account, and she‟s the best.” “But she—” “Can sell ice to an Eskimo. Make it happen. The lass should be here in a few minutes, and I expect you to behave with the professionalism that I know you‟re capable of. While I‟m quite serious about handing the reins over to someone else if I‟m not satisfied with your performance, I‟d much rather leave the company in the hands of family.” Brady clenched his jaw. There was a gleam in his grandfather‟s eyes that warned him not to say another word. He knew just how far to push, and he‟d already reached his limit. The phone buzzed on Seamus‟s large oak desk—cutting through the tense atmosphere of the room. The older man clicked on the speaker. “Yes, Marla?” “Sheridan Lewis is here to see you. Should I send her in?” the assistant practically sang into phone. “Of course. And could you reschedule my ten o‟clock for later this afternoon?” “Will do, sir. I‟ll send Ms. Lewis in.”

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Seconds later Sheridan walked through the door, sashaying from side to side as if she were on a catwalk. “Good morning, Mr. McGuire.” Her smile was wide as she strode toward Seamus‟s desk, but when her gaze fell on Brady, the smile completely vanished.

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Chapter Two “Good morning, lass. And I told you, it‟s Seamus. No need to be so formal with me.” Seamus‟s grin was wide as he stood up for Sheridan. The one thing the old man prided himself on was being a gentleman. Brady didn‟t bother standing. It wasn‟t because he didn‟t believe in chivalry. He always stood when a lady entered the room. But Sheridan Lewis was no lady, she was a banshee. He ignored the annoyed glance his grandfather cut his way, and nodded in her direction in acknowledgement. Sheridan barely returned the courtesy, her eyes narrowed slightly before she took a seat in front of the CEO‟s desk. “Seamus.” Seamus nodded in approval. “Good, good. I‟m sure you‟re wondering why I‟ve called you into my office.” Again she cut a hostile glare toward Brady before looking at the man behind the desk. “It did cross my mind of course. Is there a problem?” “You could say that. And I think you‟re the right person to fix it.” She raised a perfectly arched brow. “Oh?” “Yes, are you familiar with the Smith account?” “Of course, it‟s one of the largest manufacturers of ethnic foods in the southeast. I believe Herb Carlton was the one to bring that one on board.” “That would be correct. The problem is their contract is up for renewal, and they are used to dealing with Herb. Our rival company, of course, would like their business as well, and I need our best sales representative on the job to ensure we retain their business.”

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Again that smile returned, and Brady had to admit her entire face lit up when she smiled. He‟d seen her smile before, just never at him, and for the first time, Brady wondered what it would be like. If she weren‟t such an obnoxious ball of crazy, he‟d understand why half the men in the office got all calf-eyed around her, even though she seemed not to notice. Sheridan was actually quite attractive, beautiful even. Brady preferred his women tall and willowy, but she was definitely appealing, with clear, dark chocolate skin that seemed untouched by makeup. Large light brown eyes slanted exotically, creating a startling contrast to her dark hue. Brady had thought they were contacts until he‟d seen her with glasses one day. She wore her recently shorn hair in a short bob that came to mid ear on one side, while the other was nearly shaved to the scalp. The short do suited her, though, emphasizing her exotic beauty. She didn‟t need long hair and tons of glop on her face to bring out her features. Her overgenerous lips, which would have been off on someone else, somehow worked for her. Her broad nose was slightly tilted at the tip, balancing out the overt sexiness of her features. The last thing Brady wanted to associate with Sheridan was sexiness, but the more he observed her, he couldn‟t help but acknowledge that her face wasn‟t the only stunning thing about her. She was what artists labeled a Pocket Venus: short in stature, but curves for days. It was hard to miss her shapely hips, thighs, a large ass that a rap artist would cry himself to sleep over, and breasts that were clearly more than a handful. Her waist was tiny enough for him to span with his hands— not that he wanted to, but he could if he were so inclined. It seemed a shame that a woman who looked like an angel was actually the devil. “Brady, are you listening, son?” His grandfather‟s voice cut through his silent musings. He‟d been so caught up in observing Sheridan he‟d completely tuned out the conversation. “I‟m sorry; what were you saying?”

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Seamus‟s lips tightened briefly to show his displeasure. “I was just telling Sheridan about the trip. And she‟s raring to go.” “And you‟re okay with the arrangements?” Brady addressed Sheridan for the first time since she‟d entered the room. She slowly turned her once-again narrowed gaze in his direction. “Of course I am. Why wouldn‟t I be? This account is important to McGuire‟s, so I will do everything in my power to keep it.” Brady raised a brow questioningly. “And you‟ll have no problem working closely with me in retaining this account?” “Of course not. It would only be expected that I check in with you from time to time to let you know my progress.” She spoke through barely moving lips as if it was an effort to talk to him. Brady looked at his grandfather. “Did you tell her everything?” “Tell me what?” She returned her attention to the older man. Seamus smiled indulgently. “I was just getting to that. Actually, lass, I‟d like for you and Brady to go to the island together. It‟s that important.” Sheridan‟s mouth fell open slightly, but she recovered almost as quick. “Mr. Mc—Seamus, I can‟t go with him. I mean, I do my best work alone.” “I‟m sure you do, but it can‟t hurt to have Brady along. You can show him how it‟s done.” Brady flared his nostrils at that dig but held his tongue. “Won‟t he be needed here? I‟m sure he‟ll have other accounts to oversee.” Brady watched her squirm, and a slow smile eased its way onto his lips. Sure, there was no love lost between the two of them, but it was amusing to see her try to worm her way out of this trip. She‟d managed to get out of a conference they were to attend together before, but the stakes had not been as high then. “There‟s nothing more important than the Smith account. I believe my time will be better spent if I go with you.”

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Sheridan gritted her teeth. “With all due respect, you and I are like oil and water. While you believe it‟s a good idea to accompany me, I don‟t need to be babysat. I know my job, and I do it well.” “And if we didn‟t think so, you wouldn‟t have been chosen to go. It was my idea for the two of you to go together. You‟ll work together as a team. If either one of you has a problem with it, I could always see that another team goes in your place, but if I have to go that far, consider tendering your resignations.” Sheridan‟s mouth gaped open again. Obviously she wasn‟t used to being talked to this way by Seamus, and Brady almost felt sorry for her. Almost. Silence fell across the room, as both Brady and his grandfather waited for her response. Brady didn‟t realize he‟d been holding his breath until she spoke again. “When should I be ready?” “In a week.” “But I have some vacation time coming around then.” “I‟m sure Brady can work something out with you. If you‟re worried about Christmas, I have no doubt you two will be back in plenty of time.” “Great.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Is that all? Since this will be my number one priority, I should start looking up the file and getting any pertinent information we could use to seal the deal.” Seamus smiled. “That‟s the spirit, lass. You may go.” Sheridan didn‟t bother saying good-bye before she practically stormed out of the office, swaying her luscious backside in the process. He was surprised she didn‟t slam the door behind her. Instead of being annoyed by what Brady considered rudeness, there was a twinkle in his grandfather‟s eyes. “She‟s a spirited one. You‟ll have your work cut out for you when you go to the Caribbean.” “Tell me about it,” Brady muttered. He would have stood, but the older man gestured for him to sit back down.

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“Before you go, I just want to tell you that I do notice.” Seamus‟s voice was rough all of a sudden. “Notice?” “I notice how hard you work, Brady boy. I know I‟m hard on you, but I suspect you may be harder on yourself.” Brady knew his grandfather loved him, but Seamus wasn‟t one to give compliments lightly. His chest tightened slightly, but he nodded and simply said a gruff “thank you.” “I know you feel the need to prove to people how good you are because you‟re my grandson, and I think most of your colleagues realize what an excellent job you do. Work is fine, my boy, but you need to reach out to your employees to let them know you‟re human too: go to the happy hours; attend more company functions; let them know you‟re approachable.” “I‟m here to do a job, not to make friends.” Seamus shook his head. “No one is asking you to make friends, son, but you‟ll find you get better results if you put yourself out there more. I heard through the grapevine that the sales team is having a happy hour tonight. Will you be attending?” “I didn‟t plan on it.” “Think about going; you may enjoy yourself. And be easy on Sheridan, will you? She‟s a nice girl if you took the time to get to know her.” “Grandfather, as she pointed out, we‟re like oil and water. The best I can do is promise that I‟ll try to maintain a better professional relationship with her, though I still fail to see why you‟re always so eager to jump to her defense.” “Perhaps there‟s more to her than meets the eye.” Brady smiled politely. No matter how much his grandfather tooted her horn, Brady knew Sheridan Lewis would always remain a perpetual thorn in his side. He

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just hoped to God he‟d be able to get through their business trip without strangling her.

*** “Chug, chug, chug, chug!” Sheridan‟s enthusiastic coworkers egged her on, and she gulped the Jäger Bomb down as if it were a glass of water. When the last drop slid down her throat, she slammed the empty glass down on the table. Her fans cheered as she smiled at her competitor. “I believe you owe me twenty bucks. Three Jäeger Bombs in two minutes with time to spare and I‟m still standing.” She‟d warned Carl that she could hold her own with alcohol despite her short stature. Carl shook his head with a laugh as he dug into his pocket. “I don‟t know how you do it, Sheridan. I mean, how the hell are you not falling down flat on your ass?” Sheridan grabbed the money and slipped it down the front of her blouse provocatively. Carl‟s gaze slid to her cleavage and quickly darted away as if he hadn‟t just stolen a peek. She didn‟t mind the looks as long as they didn‟t touch. Sheridan freely admitted that she flirted with her coworkers, mainly to balance out the bluntness of her personality. She could flip the bitch switch on anytime she needed, but for the most part in the field of sales, where everything was so cutthroat, she walked a fine line, especially being a woman. When it was time to do her thing, she did it well, but she‟d learned in the last ten years that it was easier to be on friendlier terms with her colleagues than not; otherwise, they‟d be the first ones likely to stab her in the back. There was already plenty of that going on anyway, but she had the reputation for holding her own, so few people tested her unless they were new, in which case they were schooled quickly. She had a love-heror-hate-her personality, but what you saw was what you got. Of course there were some people she clashed with, but for the most part she got along with everyone— mostly everyone except the douche. She was glad he always declined the invitations to come out to happy hours. He probably thought he was too good to hang with the

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lower classes. It was bad enough she‟d actually have to spend two weeks with him on an island playing nice, that she was glad she didn‟t have to see him after-hours. Sheridan generally didn‟t come to the Monday happy hours, but today, after her meeting with Seamus, she needed a drink. Damn, why was it alcohol barely affected her? She could drink most grown men three times her size under the table. It was what she called her superpower. “So is this how you entertain yourself after-hours? It‟s a wonder that you can get out of bed in the morning.” The voice belonged to the very man who sent chills down her spine and made her want to vomit. She stiffened at the sound of it. No. It couldn‟t be. Why, Lord; why was he here? She closed her eyes briefly and let out a deep breath. She would not be intimidated by him. She wasn‟t on company time, so she didn‟t have to play nice. Slowly she pivoted on her heels. “Slumming tonight?” Instead of shooting her that narrow-eyed stare she‟d become accustomed to, he actually smirked. “I suppose since you‟re here, I guess I am.” She placed her hands on her hips, ready to let him have it, when Jessica, another one of the few females in her department, sidled next to McGuire. Jessica wrapped slender, red-tipped fingers around his arm and batted her fake lashes at him. “I‟m so glad you could make it tonight. I didn‟t think you‟d show since you‟ve never put in an appearance at one of our after-work functions.” McGuire gave the redhead an easy smile. “After such a nice invitation, I couldn‟t resist. Thanks for asking me to attend.” “Anytime, boss.” The way she dropped the word “anytime” seemed as if she was offering a lot more than an invitation to happy hour. “Would you like a drink? First round of beers is on Stu.” “No, thank you. I have a lot of work to go over when I get home tonight, and I need a clear head. Just thought I‟d come out to commune with my staff.”

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Sheridan rolled her eyes before turning her back to them. There went her night. She hadn‟t been to a happy hour in weeks, yet here was her nemesis. It was bad enough that he had to ruin her days, but did he have to destroy her fun afterhours as well? She was so out of here. “Well, looks like I‟ll be taking off,” she said to no one in particular. Carl placed his hands on her shoulders. “Heading out so soon? I still owe you dinner; I thought we‟d grab something afterward.” The bet was twenty bucks and dinner on the loser. She hadn‟t intended to take Carl up on the dinner part. Flirting was one thing, but getting involved was quite another. She wasn‟t so blind that she hadn‟t noticed how Carl watched her or the many times he found ways to casually touch her. He was a nice guy, much too nice for her, which was why she chose to keep him at arm‟s length. She slowly eased away from his touch so as not to offend and pasted a smile on her face. “That‟s sweet of you, hon, but I‟m a little tired, so I‟ll have to ask for a rain check. Or you could just bring me in a cheesesteak from Pat‟s tomorrow for lunch, and we‟ll call it even.” “The deal was dinner,” he persisted. “Maybe another time.” “I‟ll hold you to it,” he said solemnly, his doe brown eyes taking on a serious glint. Sheridan laughed with an airiness she didn‟t quite feel. “I‟m the one who won the bet. Shouldn‟t that be my line?” “Yes, but fair is fair, and I‟d really like to take you to dinner sometime. Actually I‟ve wanted to ask you for a while.” She reached over and rubbed his arm. “Aww, that‟s really sweet of you, but seriously, my schedule is going to be crazy at least until the end of the year so I don‟t know when that will be. Let‟s just call things square. I don‟t need dinner.”

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Carl turned bright red, and frown lines formed around his mouth. “You gotta eat sometime.” As much as she didn‟t want to hurt the guy‟s feelings, he was really starting to get on her nerves. Maybe she should keep things strictly business with him going forward, seeing as he couldn‟t handle rejection well. “I do, but I hope you know that even if we did go to dinner, it would just be as friends, right?” Brady appeared at Sheridan‟s side before Carl could speak. “Is there a problem here?” Despise him though she may, Sheridan was grateful for the interruption. “No, actually I was just leaving. Good night, Carl.” Ignoring McGuire, she grabbed her purse from under the table and headed to the door, only to be stopped by a casual but firm grip on her elbow. “Oh no, you don‟t.” A shot of electricity coursed through her body, the likes of which she‟d never experienced. A gasp escaped her lips, and the scent of an expensive, musky cologne wafted to her nostrils. It had to be a temporary aberration. Why else would she respond to his hated touch the way she just had? She yanked her arm out of the tight grip, tilted her head back, and stared into his eyes…his startling blue eyes that a girl could get lost in. If she were brain-dead, of course. “What do you want?” “You don‟t plan on driving home, do you?” Sheridan shrugged. “What‟s it to you?” “After I witnessed the amount of alcohol you just consumed, you have the nerve to ask me that? You‟re not driving anywhere.” “You may be the boss of me at work, but off the clock, you have no say-so in my life.” He edged closer to her until their bodies nearly touched, forcing Sheridan to take a step backward. “Listen, you little brat, you may not give a shit about

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yourself, but I‟ll be damned if I let you walk out that door so you can drive home drunk and kill some family who doesn‟t deserve it.” She could have told him she was perfectly sober, but she doubted he‟d believe her. Her day was long enough already without him to further add to her stress. “Who the hell do you think you are to decide what I will and will not do? You may think you‟re hot stuff because of who your grandfather is, but you are not the master of the universe. I doubt you‟d be director of sales if you weren‟t the big boss‟s grandson. So you can play the heavy hand with them”—she pointed to her coworkers—“but not me.” Sheridan must have hit a sore spot, because his face turned molten red and if it could have, steam would have come out his ears. Maybe she shouldn‟t have said that last bit, but the man could push her buttons like no other. Not waiting around for his response, she turned around and scurried to the exit. She didn‟t even take two steps out the door when she felt her feet leave the ground. “Let me go, you jackass.” She kicked and clawed at the arm holding her firmly around the waist. McGuire seemed unperturbed by her struggles. “If you want to act like a brat, I‟ll treat you like one,” he growled, striding toward a large black SUV. He opened the passenger-side door and set her in roughly. He swatted her hands out of the way as if she were no more than an annoying fly as he fastened her seat belt. Sheridan was so stunned at how easily he‟d manhandled her that she didn‟t have time to react until he slid into the driver‟s seat and switched on the ignition. Wasting no time, he put his vehicle into reverse, turned it around and headed out of the parking lot. “Are you insane? What the hell is wrong with you?” she yelled as she worked on unbuckling her seat belt. “Which way to your place?” McGuire asked as if he hadn‟t heard any of what she‟d just said.

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“Stop this car right now and let me out.” She spoke through clenched teeth, trying to hold on to the last shred of her temper. Seeming unfazed, he kept his eyes on the road. “We can drive in circles all night until you tell me.” “Did you hear what I said? Stop this goddamn car! Is your ego so out of control that you think you can just do whatever the hell you want? I guess it‟s no more than I can expect from someone like you.” Without warning, the SUV swerved to the side of the road and McGuire turned off the engine. “You want out so much, then go.” Sheridan didn‟t have to be told twice. She unfastened her seat belt and got out of the car. They were at least three miles away from the bar, and the closest gas station she knew of was at least another five. If she had to walk back to the bar to get her car, she would. The four-inch designer heels she wore weren‟t conducive for such long treks, but anything was better than dealing with McGuire. There was no sidewalk, so she had to walk down the side of the road. Sheridan didn‟t mind that it was dark, but it was cold, and she silently put that on a list of other transgressions against him. Son of a bitch. “Lewis, wait,” he called out, but she kept walking. She didn‟t care how cold it got; he could kick rocks for all she cared. “Sheridan.” It was no effort for him to catch up to her, and once he did, he grasped her shoulder. “Don‟t touch me.” She shrugged his hand away. “This is ridiculous. You‟re in no condition to drive, and I can‟t make you walk all the way back to the bar. It‟s cold and dark, and it‟s not safe for you to be alone out here at night.” “I‟m not a child. I‟m capable of taking care of myself.” “And you‟re doing such a great job of it.” He sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. “Look, I don‟t want to fight with you, but surely even you can see it‟s not

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such a good idea for you to walk back to the bar at this time of night—especially in those shoes.” Refusing to meet his eyes, she turned her back to him. She‟d rather swim in an ocean full of piranhas than spend another second longer with him—particularly after her response to him in the bar. It was confusing, and she didn‟t like it one bit. Instead of answering him, Sheridan started walking again. This time instead of grabbing her, McGuire walked alongside her. “Sheridan…I… Don‟t leave like this. I shouldn‟t have forced you to come with me. I could have given you the money for a cab or at the very least made sure someone else took you home. Believe it or not, I was concerned for your safety, and I handled it the wrong way.” She wrapped her arms around her body to ward off the chill of the night as she continued to walk, not bothering to acknowledge his words. It was getting windy, and the thin leather coat she sported wasn‟t much protection. “Sheridan, I‟m sorry.” She stopped in her tracks at his apology. “Excuse me? Did I hear you correctly?” Sheridan turned on him with raised brows. “Did I just hear the great Brady McGuire lower himself enough to apologize?” He flexed the muscles in his jaw, giving away his annoyance, but he didn‟t retort in kind. “I‟m trying here, and you‟re not making it easy.” She strode over to him and poked him in the chest. “And you expect me to be happy about being manhandled and humiliated in front of the people I have to work with? It may not be a big deal to you, but I don‟t appreciate being touched unless I say it‟s okay. Got it?” She jabbed him with each word to underline her point. “It was wrong of me. It just…when I saw you drinking so much and then heading toward your car, something came over me. I had to stop you.” Sheridan rolled her eyes. “If I would have even felt buzzed, there‟s no way I would have gotten behind the wheel of my car. I do have some common sense. If it makes you feel better, I have an extremely high alcohol tolerance.”

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“Maybe so, but you‟re so sma—” She narrowed her eyes. “Say it and I‟ll kick you in the shin.” “You are such a brat; do you know that? Someone needs to take you over their knee and give you the spanking you sorely deserve.” A shiver shimmied down her spine at the image of him doing just that. The thought of his large palm on her ass, smacking, rubbing, and pinching it, sent a jolt of heat straight to her pussy. Just as quickly as the image entered her head, she shook it off. She didn‟t want to have sexual thoughts about her nemesis. “I‟d like to see someone try.” “Don‟t tempt me.” Another quiver raced through her body. The scent of his cologne wafted to her nostrils, tempting Sheridan to lean closer and take a deeper whiff. Whoa! What the hell is going on here? Either the alcohol was really starting to affect her, or she really needed to get laid. Her last relationship had been over a year ago, and while she‟d had a few casual flings, she hadn‟t had knock-down, drag-out, sweat-out-herperm sex in ages. Suddenly struck with a shyness she hadn‟t felt in years, she backed away from him. “Uh, I need to get back to my car. See you in the office.” He gently took her by the elbow. “Sheridan, don‟t. You really must think I‟m a colossal asshole if you believe I‟d let you walk alone to your vehicle. Let me at least drive you back to the bar. Please?” She moistened her lips. Surely a five-minute car ride wouldn‟t be so bad. Besides, she wasn‟t looking forward to the walk in these heels. Sheridan had a reputation for being stubborn, but she was no idiot. Raising her chin defiantly, she walked past him and stalked toward his vehicle. “Fine, it‟s the least you can do after dragging me away in the first place.” No one said she had to make it easy for him.

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Chapter Three Brady rolled his eyes and silently prayed for strength. The woman was going to drive him insane. He watched her stalk toward his SUV, and his gaze fell on her luscious ass. When he‟d said someone ought to spank her, he hadn‟t meant him, but seeing the curve of that tight, high rear gave a man ideas. His cock stirred. Shit. Not now. Not here. She was the last person he wanted to have inappropriate thoughts about, even though he hadn‟t been able to take his eyes off her when he‟d entered the bar. Brady had arrived much earlier than anyone had noticed, so he‟d hung back and observed. Sheridan had been the center of attention, flirting more blatantly with the men than she did at work, but he also noticed that despite this, she still managed to keep most of them at arm‟s length, never clinging or draping herself on anyone. People laughed at whatever joke she told, and were riveted by her. Brady wasn‟t quite sure what it was, but there seemed to be some kind of aura around Sheridan that drew people to her. For the first time, he noticed her light and how strongly it shone. That was why she was so popular in the office. For a moment while he observed her, Brady had wanted to be near that light, bask in it, soak it up, and keep a piece of it for himself. Then he saw her interact with Carl. It was obvious to him that the poor guy had a crush on the unsuspecting Sheridan, who was treating him no differently than any of the other men around her, yet Brady didn‟t like the extra attention Carl bestowed on her, and he couldn‟t figure out why. Brady just knew he didn‟t like it one bit.

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He‟d decided then he needed to get the hell out of there before he made an ass out of himself. In his mind it had been a mistake to show up. He didn‟t want his staff to think of him as unapproachable, which was why he‟d gone there in the first place, but these discomfitting thoughts of Sheridan Lewis didn‟t sit well with him— especially when he noticed how her dark silk blouse accentuated her generous breasts, making a man fantasize about taking them in his hands and kneading them and sucking her nipples through the thin material. Were they the same dark chocolate as her skin, or were they even darker? His mouth watered at the thought of them. He couldn‟t help but notice the way her slacks hugged her hips and ass so indecently they should have been illegal. The woman seemed to wear the hell out of any outfit she wore. He‟d been about to leave when he‟d noticed the crowd forming around her and the three large drinks that were placed in front of her, followed by her commencing to drink them all down within the space of a couple minutes while her coworkers egged her on with fratlike chants. Drinking like that, she was liable to fall on her ass. Brady‟s conscience wouldn‟t allow him to leave the bar without at least finding out if she‟d be okay, so against his better judgment, he‟d made himself known. He should have realized he‟d be met with hostility from her—not that it was a surprise. And he didn‟t particularly appreciate how she actually acted like a human being toward everyone but him. When Brady saw Sheridan heading out, he knew he couldn‟t let her go without saying something. He wished things hadn‟t escalated to the point that they had. Frankly he was tired of fighting with her when he didn‟t know the reason they were fighting. “Are you coming, or are you going to stand on the side of the road for the rest of the night?” Sheridan yelled from the passenger window.

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He‟d been so deep in thought he hadn‟t realized how long he‟d been standing there. Brady trudged back to his SUV with a resigned sigh. He could feel the beginnings of a headache, and he hoped she wasn‟t spoiling for another fight. “Took you long enough. I could have walked back to the bar already. Sheesh.” Not in the mood for her snarkiness, he turned to her and said, “What the hell is your problem anyway?” She folded her arms across her ample breasts, pursing her lips in the process. “Who wouldn‟t be annoyed if they were manhandled the way you did me in the bar.” “I said I was sorry about that, but that‟s not what I‟m talking about. I mean, what‟s your deal? Why are you always such a bitch?” She cut him an evil, narrow-eyed glare, making Brady happy looks couldn‟t kill. Yes, that was harsh, but he was tired of being made to feel like some villain in a horror movie. “Same reason you‟re a jackass, I suppose. You know what? I don‟t need this shit. I‟ll walk.” Sheridan reached for the door handle, but Brady caught her wrist. “Stay where you are.” She attempted to snatch her hand away, but he tightened his grip. “Let me go.” “No. You‟re not getting out of this car until we talk.” “I don‟t want to talk to you. Is your ego so big that you can‟t fathom that someone of the opposite sex is repulsed by you? Leave me alone and mess with women like Jessica. She‟s more your speed—a woman who doesn‟t have enough common sense to avoid getting involved with someone like you.” “Why you little—” Brady stopped himself. She‟d already gotten to him once tonight with her barbed insults, and he wouldn‟t let her do it again. In fact, he could only think of one way to shut her up. Capturing her other wrist and then taking them both in one of his hands, he hauled her against his chest.

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“What are you doing? Let me…omph!” The momentum of his pull knocked the air from her lungs. Brady lowered his head and crushed her lips beneath his. He tried to convince himself that he only wanted to shut her up, but the longer their mouths remained connected, the more intense the kiss became. Much more. The softness of her lips beneath his made his cock jump to full attention, straining against his pants. With his free hand, he cupped the back of her head to deepen the kiss. Brady caught her bottom lip between his teeth. She was like nothing he‟d imagined. The mixture of alcohol, mint, and some flavor that was uniquely her exploded on his tongue, and he wanted more. If she struggled, he didn‟t notice; all Brady could concentrate on was how good she tasted, how intoxicating she smelled, and how the feel of her body against him made his body react in ways it hadn‟t since he was an awkward adolescent. Brady released her wrists, and then he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer still. He reveled in the feel of her heavy breasts against his chest. He wanted to touch them, see them, lick them. Sheridan‟s balled fists rested against his torso, but instead of fighting him off, she grabbed a fistful of shirt in each hand and held on to him as if her life depended on it. He nibbled on her fleshy lips before outlining them with his tongue. The shy press of her tongue came out to greet his, and Brady thought he‟d explode right then and there. He prided himself on his self-control, but where Sheridan was concerned, there was none. In the back of his mind, Brady acknowledged that their heated encounters had probably been leading to this. Maybe the sexual tension between them had been lingering below the surface all along, but in this moment, he didn‟t care to analyze too deeply what was going on. He was too fucking horny. She opened her hands, releasing his shirt before sliding them up and then moving them along his face until they tangled in his hair. Sheridan twined her tongue with his, circling it and tasting him in turn. A throaty moan escaped the

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back of her throat. That sexy sound sent a vibration straight to his balls. The longer he held her, the less he wanted to let go. Sheridan was the first to break the kiss. Turning her head away, she gasped for air, but Brady wasn‟t finished with her yet. “Come here,” he growled, taking her lips again. Without breaking the contact of their mouths, he scooped her up and placed her on his lap with some careful maneuvering. This wouldn‟t have been possible were it not for her diminutive size. He made short order of unbuttoning her blouse. He licked his lips in anticipation and gasped in awe once he spotted the red, lacy bra covering her large mounds. Impatient to see more, he didn‟t bother trying to unhook the complicated article of clothing. Instead he lifted it up, causing her breasts to spill out. They were an absolute thing of beauty. Large, round, and still quite high despite their size. Capped with large, dark nipples already taut and hard, Brady instantly knew he could spend hours just playing with them. Sheridan squirmed as she threw her head back, her ass wiggling against his erection, making it impossible to think clearly. She cupped her breasts in her small palms as though offering them to him. Brady needed no further invitation. Taking one dark tip between his lips, he sucked vigorously, tugging and nipping with his teeth and lips. She writhed and moaned. “Brady.” The way she groaned his name made him harder still if that were possible. He thought he‟d split his goddamn pants if they kept this up. He released her nipple and transferred his attention to the other tight tip, giving it the same love with his mouth. “Brady,” she cried out. Damn he loved to hear the sound of his name on her lips. It sent a thrill through his body discovering that Sheridan wanted him as much as he did her. His lust demanded more. Keeping her nipple in his mouth, he kneaded the other breast with one hand and slid the other farther down until it cupped the warm mound between her legs.

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The heat was incredible. He bet she was wet. Once the thought took root, he couldn‟t resist finding out for himself just how moist she was. Brady fumbled with her zipper, seeking out her heated core. Once he was able to maneuver her pants open enough, he dipped his fingers inside her panties. Her pussy was smooth to the touch, indicating she shaved down there. He slipped his middle finger down her slit, encountering moisture. He released her nipple and lifted his head. “Mmm, is this just for me? Did I get you wet?” Sheridan cried out with only a nod. Brady loved the slickness of her cunt and her reaction to his touch. Her trembling encouraged him to go further. He continued to slide his finger along her slit, dipping it into moisture dripping from her cunt. Slowly he eased his finger past her swollen pussy lips and sank into her damp heat knuckle-deep. Sheridan let out a gasp. “Oh God.” Brady chuckled. “No, the name is Brady. Hold on, sweetheart.” Sheridan clutched his shoulders in a death grip as he pulled his finger out and then slammed it back into her. She shuddered. Ecstasy was stamped all over her face from the quiver of her bottom lip, the way her eyes rolled back in her head, and how her breathing accelerated. Brady was every bit as turned on as she was. He fed off her pleasure. He couldn‟t remember a time when his dick had been this damn hard. More than anything, he wanted to rip her pants and underwear away completely and plow into her tightness. “Yes,” Sheridan moaned louder, gyrating her hips over his questing finger. Brady added another digit. “Tell me how much you like it,” he growled, taking a nip at the side of her neck.

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She threw her head back and moaned again in response. Taking another love bite against her tender flesh, he drove deeper and harder into her. Her juices coated his fingers and oozed over his hands. Sheridan found her rhythm and worked her hips in time with the thrust of his finger. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, an innocent enough gesture, but possibly the sexiest thing Brady had ever seen. He knew if they continued this much longer, he‟d explode right in his pants. He wanted her badly, but for now, giving her pleasure was enough. Her nails dug in his shoulders so hard, he was sure she‟d cut through his shirt. Sheridan trembled all over before crumpling against him, signaling she‟d come. She didn‟t speak for several moments. He didn‟t know if she had anything to say or not, but he had plenty. However, he didn‟t want to ruin the peace of the moment, so he remained silent. When she still didn‟t speak, he wondered if she was okay. What they‟d just shared was pretty intense. They lay against each other, not moving, until it dawned on him that his fingers were still in her pussy. Brady took his time pulling them out before licking her cream away from the soaked digits. She tasted divine. It made him want to carry her onto the road and bury himself between her silky thighs. Sheridan hadn‟t said anything yet, probably a personal record for her. Brady kissed her head and grinned. “If I‟d known this was all it would take to shut you up, I would have done it a long time ago.” Even though he‟d said it in jest, the nanosecond those words left his lips, Brady knew he‟d said the wrong thing. “I meant—” Sheridan stiffened in his arms. “This was a mistake.” She jerked away from him and pulled her bra back down and adjusted it. Brady bit back the groan hovering in the back of his throat, because she was still on his lap. The more she moved, the more she rubbed against his dick. Pure torture. As if suddenly realizing where she was, Sheridan tried to get back into the passenger seat but faced difficulty. Brady had to lift her up again in order for her to

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get back to where she wanted, though he was loath to let her go. Maybe she‟d lost interest in what they were doing, but he sure as hell hadn‟t. Once she was on her side of the car again, Sheridan fumbled with her clothing while Brady tried to get his hormones under control. What he really wanted to do was haul her back over to him and finish what they‟d started. Him and his big mouth. It was several moments before either of them spoke, but when they did, it was awkward and terse. “We need to talk.” “Take me back to my car.” They spoke at the same time. Sheridan sounded tired, yet there was something underlying her tone he couldn‟t quite discern. “Sheridan, we have to talk about what just happened.” “Nothing happened, McGuire. It was just one of those things.” He raised a brow. So he was McGuire again? “Nothing happened? The kiss? You clinging to me like you couldn‟t get enough? I bet if I slipped my fingers between those pretty thighs, you‟d still be soaking wet. Lady, if that‟s nothing, then I‟d love to see it when it‟s something.” “Stop,” she hissed through tightly clenched lips. She huffed and turned to face him. “Okay, so it was something, but it was a mistake that I don‟t intend to repeat.” Getting involved with someone at work was never a good idea, especially if that person was a hothead like Sheridan, but he couldn‟t stop thinking about how good she‟d felt in his arms, and now that he‟d had a taste of her, he knew he was in for many a sleepless night. “Do I get a say in it?” “Absolutely not. I‟m tired. Just take me back to my car, please.” “Not until we‟ve ironed this thing out between the two of us. In a week, we‟ll be on a plane to the Caribbean and working closely together. I‟d rather not spend that

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week arguing. It‟s not good for business, and frankly, I‟m tired of the attitude problem.” “The only problem I have is you.” As much as he wanted to shake her silly, he wouldn‟t rise to the bait. He had to know why it seemed as if she‟d hated him from the moment they‟d met. “And what exactly is your problem with me?” “You‟re an arrogant son of a bitch who walks around as if his shit doesn‟t stink. Just because your grandfather owns the company, it doesn‟t mean you can go around making people feel two inches tall.” Brady was aware of what people thought of him and how he got his position, and even though he worked just as hard—if not harder—than all his staff, most of them thought of him as some poor little rich boy. Because his parents had passed away when he was young, his grandfather had raised him. Seamus instilled in him the value of hard work, and he resented the hell out of people believing he simply skated by in life because of who he was without looking at what he‟d already accomplished. “Are you finished?” Sheridan snorted. “Why? Can‟t take it? I‟m sure you‟re not used to the lower classes having the guts to say what‟s actually on their minds.” The tight rein he had on his temper was slowly ebbing away. “That‟s quite enough.” She shrugged. “Not nearly. And don‟t look at me like that. You‟re the one who wanted this conversation, so let‟s have it, or don‟t you like hearing the truth about yourself?” “If we‟re talking about truths here, how about you and the boulder-sized chip you have on your shoulder? I can‟t figure out whether you feel you have to prove yourself because you‟re short or that you‟re just plain mean. You‟re loud and uncouth, and why my grandfather thinks you‟re so charming has eluded me, because I‟ve seen more polish on a dusty end table.”

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Sheridan uncrossed her arms and balled her fists in her lap. For a moment, Brady thought she‟d take a swing at him. He braced himself for just that, but instead she slouched against her seat and looked straight ahead. “If we‟re finished with this conversation, I‟d rather we go back to my car now.” Her tone was even and void of any emotion. He could tell he was getting a rise out of her, and like a shark smelling blood, he went in for the kill. “You pass judgment on others when you‟re no better yourself. In fact, I think you put on this angry little woman facade to hide your own inadequacies.” When Sheridan remained quiet, he kept going. “What, no rude retort? Cat got your tongue?” He didn‟t know what he‟d said exactly to make her go so still, but he must have hit a nerve. At this point, he should have dropped it, but it was like something was riding him. He wanted to get more of a reaction from her. Mainly because his ego was a bit bruised by the fact she seemed to think so little of what they‟d just shared. “Can dish it out but can‟t take it, huh?” When she didn‟t respond, Brady debated on whether he should try to push her buttons a little more but decided against it. Maybe she was right. They‟d crossed a line they shouldn‟t have, and all it was going to do was make things awkward for them. He should have apologized, but the look on her face told him it wouldn‟t do him any good. At least not now. With a heavy sigh, he restarted his vehicle. The short drive to the bar was made in silence. Brady had barely put the SUV in park before Sheridan hopped out of it in a hurry. She strode to her car, not bothering to look back at him. He should have left things at that, but his conscience wouldn‟t allow him to drive off without at least making sure she made it home safely. He waited until she pulled out of the parking lot and cautiously trailed her home, while maintaining a far enough distance that she wouldn‟t spot him, but close enough to see where she was going. The drive was twenty minutes from the bar. Sheridan lived outside of the city in a high-rise condo complex, from the looks of it. The neighborhood seemed nice

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enough, but Brady watched as she got out of her car and walked into her building. He knew things would never be the same between them again.

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Chapter Four Sheridan was in a perpetual bad mood for the rest of the week, and her coworkers were beginning to stay out of her way as well. Even Carl, who always made it a point to stop by her desk to visit, stayed clear. It was a wonder how she could get through the workday with her boss in close proximity. It was enough to make a woman scream. Sheridan hated that he had come so close to the mark with her. Yes, she projected a tough-girl persona, but if she didn‟t stand up for herself, who would? All her life, people had underestimated her for one reason or another—because she was female, because of the neighborhood she grew up in, the friends she kept, her height. When she was younger, she had been picked on and torn apart until she learned to fight back. And she‟d been fighting ever since and had no intention of stopping. It was who she was, and she refused to let some rich asshole make her feel bad about it. Who the hell did he think he was, anyway? Even though he‟d hit a nerve with her, what Sheridan hated the most was that he was able to stir feelings within her that no man had in a long time—possibly ever. After she‟d arrived home the night of the altercation, Sheridan found herself taking a steaming hot shower to wash away his touch, but the more she scrubbed and ran her hands over her body, the more she imagined it was his hands, caressing and molding her breasts. His tongue exploring every peak and valley of her body. His cock slipping between the soft folds of her pussy. Sheridan had slipped her fingers inside of her cunt as she imagined him, moaning and writhing until she brought herself to orgasm. While she‟d felt some

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degree of relief from the surprising desire he stirred, another emotion came at her harder than she expected. Shame. She didn‟t want to be attracted to Brady McGuire. Sheridan had always acknowledged that Brady was a handsome man, but to now fantasize about him in a sexual way bugged the hell out of her. She couldn‟t even sleep at night without waking up in a cold sweat after having graphic dreams about him. Usually she‟d find her hand between her legs, trying to ease the ache she knew only he could take care of. Sheridan considered calling a former friend with benefits for a booty call, but then remembered why they were no longer friends; he‟d forgotten to tell her he was married. So when she had found out, that was the end of that. She‟d even considered giving Carl a chance but decided not to go there either. All she‟d end up doing was hurting him, and Carl was too decent a guy to deal with someone like her. She couldn‟t be bothered trying to find someone else to take up with, as her trip was fast approaching and Christmas was around the corner. Maybe if she was lucky, McGuire would annoy her so much on their trip that the aberration of her feelings toward him would disappear. She stole a look at her calendar and let out a sigh. Three more days until her trip to the Caribbean and she was wondering if it was too late to wiggle out of this business trip. She could claim a dying relative, but she‟d already revealed too much about herself to Seamus. He was aware that the only person she claimed as family was her best friend, Julie. Perhaps if she threw herself in front of a bus, that would get her out if it. Of course, she‟d probably be in traction for months—if she survived—but it would totally be worth it if she could wiggle out of her trip with The Asshole. She was so deep in thought, she didn‟t notice the shadow that blocked her light at first until the deep rumble of a familiar voice broke Sheridan out of her silent musings.

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“Daydreaming, Lewis? It‟s a wonder you‟re able to meet your quotas every month.” “Bite me,” she muttered under her breath. Brady placed his hand on the desk and leaned over. “What was that?” She took a deep breath to compose herself before turning to face him. “I said, it might be because I‟m that good. What can I do for you, Mr. McGuire?” “Funny, didn‟t sound like you said all that, but actually I just came over to tell you that if you need some time off before the trip, you‟re welcome to do so.” Sheridan offered him a tight smile that she knew probably looked as fake as it felt. “That‟s very considerate of you, Mr. McGuire, but there are a few potential clients I need to deal with, and I‟d prefer to do it out of the office instead of working from home.” There was a slight tightening around his lips signaling his displeasure about something, but he didn‟t indicate why. Instead he inclined his head. “That‟s completely up to you. I‟ll be out of the office myself to meet a client in New York, but I‟ll be back in plenty of time to leave for our trip. I sent you an e-mail on it, but I know we‟re having server issues this morning and a lot of messages aren‟t being delivered to our in-boxes.” “Thanks for the heads-up. Is that all?” She desperately wished he‟d leave now because the scent of his cologne was doing things to her hormones it shouldn‟t have been. Her nipples peaked from behind the lace cups of her bra, and Sheridan thanked goodness she was wearing a jacket to disguise the evidence of her arousal. His gaze darted from side to side before he leaned in closer. “I think so, but I was hoping I could speak with you for a minute.” He practically whispered, and there was something hesitant about his words. She got the feeling what he wanted to talk about wasn‟t business. Sheridan moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue, not missing the fact that his dark blue gaze drifted to her mouth. Did he feel the tension between them

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as well? If he didn‟t, she had a pretty good idea that her colleagues did, because the usually talkative group was unusually silent. When Sheridan quickly glanced around to see why, she noticed most of them looking away in a hurry. “Is this something that can wait, because if it is, I‟m rather busy right now. I have a lot of research to do.” “I think we need to have this conversation before we go on our trip. So if you don‟t want to be the brunt of office gossip, I suggest you come to my office.” She had to rein in her temper quickly to keep herself from saying something she didn‟t want to apologize for later. She pushed away from her desk and stood up. As much as she wanted to refuse him, he was right. Her nosy-ass coworkers didn‟t need to know all their business, and it was bad enough she was still fending off questions about what had happened the night at the bar when McGuire had hauled her off. Without waiting to see if she‟d follow, he turned and walked off. Arrogant bastard. Once she entered his office, he closed the door and then took a seat behind his large cherry wood desk. “Please have a seat, Sheridan.” She raised a brow. It was a rare occasion when he didn‟t refer to her as Lewis. “If it‟s all the same to you, I‟d rather stand.” His eyes narrowed briefly, but he shrugged. “Suit yourself. There‟s not much difference to you sitting or standing, is there?” A lopsided grin appeared on his full lips. She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Short jokes? Really? Is that what you called me in your office for?” His expression turned somber. “My apologies. I was just trying to lighten the mood and failed miserably.” “Leave the jokes to the comedians, okay? What do you want to talk about? As I already pointed out, I have quite a bit of work waiting at my desk.”

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“Are you sure you wouldn‟t rather sit?” “No, thank you.” “Okay. I thought it best to have this conversation before we saw each other again at the airport. You‟re already aware how important this client is to our company.” Sheridan crossed her arms over her chest. “Is this a I-need-to-behave-myself kind of lecture? If it is, then it‟s duly noted. I‟m wearing my big-girl pants, McGuire. I know how to behave around company.” She barely managed not to roll her eyes as she spoke. “I‟m sure you‟re quite capable of handling yourself with the professionalism this company demands. But that‟s not why I called you in here. Please take a seat.” “I don‟t think—” “Please,” he insisted. As much as she wanted to refuse him, the pleading undertone of his voice wasn‟t something she‟d expected. With a heavy sigh, she took a seat in front of his desk with a dramatic flounce. “Okay, shoot.” McGuire leaned over his desk and stared at her with that penetrating blue gaze that seemed to see right through her. “We can‟t go on like this.” Though she knew exactly what he meant, she pretended not to know what he was talking about. “I don‟t know what you mean.” “Let‟s not play games, Sheridan. This polite tiptoeing around each other. It may work in the office, but when we‟re with the clients, it won‟t do. They‟ll pick up on the tension between us, and I don‟t want anything to jeopardize this account. So we might as well clear all the bad out between the two of us right here and now.” She couldn‟t figure out where he was going with this, but she wasn‟t interested in sitting here hashing over what could go wrong. Frankly she was a bit insulted that he didn‟t think she‟d maintain a cool head in front of their client. “I thought we

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had. We both know exactly what we think about each other, and that‟s fine. I don‟t think it will be a problem for us to work together.” “But it won‟t simply be a work setting. We‟ll be expected to spend time with the client on their turf, and that means participating in any pastime of their choosing.” “I get it. I‟ve been briefed on this. Is this your roundabout way of telling me to behave myself?” “You‟re jumping to conclusions. As I‟ve already stated, I trust you to be professional. It‟s not just you; it‟s us. I know I‟m not completely blameless in the way things are between us, and I‟d like to bury the hatchet. Start fresh.” The only hatchet Sheridan wanted to bury was in his back. She didn‟t bother answering, only looking straight ahead. “Sheridan.” He sighed. “This isn‟t easy for me either. Work with me here.” His words from that night still stung. It was one thing to guess what someone thought of you, but to actually be told it was another. To be fair, she had said some pretty mean things to him. Regardless of her motives, she didn‟t want to screw things up with the client because of their bickering. She could at least try to get along with him. Or at the very least, fake the funk. “Okay, McGuire, we‟ll call a truce.” “Brady.” “Excuse me?” “Call me Brady. My grandfather doesn‟t run a formal office, and no one but you calls me McGuire.” “You call me Lewis.” “Sheridan, I didn‟t call you in here to argue. It‟s counterproductive, and it‟s bad for business. If you‟re not willing to put aside your hostility toward me long enough for us to work together, then let me know. I‟ll make arrangements for someone else to accompany me.”

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What he didn‟t say spoke louder than what he did. She had no doubt her disagreeing with him would look bad on her review no matter how well her performance. Even if she didn‟t like him, she could put their differences aside for the sake of business. “The only thing I can promise is that I‟ll maintain my professionalism. Beyond that, you and I are simply boss and employee.” McGuire didn‟t respond at first, his expression unreadable. If she didn‟t know better, Sheridan could have sworn she glimpsed a fleeting look of disappointment, but it disappeared as soon as she‟d spotted it. “I suppose that‟s all I can ask then. If you have nothing further to say, then you may leave.” Sheridan hesitated, feeling she should say something. Was he genuinely trying to make things right between the two of them? Should she make the effort? She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by his cold scrutiny. “Still here? What are you waiting for?” The harshness of his delivery shattered any possible desire she had to make amends. Squaring her shoulders and raising her chin, she stood up. “Nothing at all. After I finish up my calls today, I think I will take the next few days off. I‟ll see you at the airport.” “It won‟t be necessary to find your own transportation to the airport. I‟ve arranged a service to get you there and back.” He didn‟t bother lifting his head from the papers he‟d turned his attention to. “Thank you.” “No thanks necessary. It‟s one of the perks of the job.” She nodded, even though he couldn‟t see her, before leaving his office and then closing the door behind her. Sheridan released a breath she hadn‟t realized she was holding. She definitely could have handled that better, but she couldn‟t afford to get closer to him at any level. It was disturbing enough to discover she wasn‟t adverse to his touch as she wished she was, but to even step on friendlier footing with him would be a dangerous thing. The night in his car sill haunted her, made her pussy hot and wet

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from her just thinking about how his lips felt on her skin. How his hands sent a fire scorching through her being, and how no amount of cold showers were about to douse that flame he‟d generated. She hadn‟t felt this way toward any man in a very long time. The only time she‟d come close to this feeling, she‟d been badly hurt, and Sheridan would be damned if she would repeat her mistake. With that in mind, she convinced herself she‟d done the right thing by not caving in to his suggestion of being friendlier with each other. It would only lead to something she knew she couldn‟t handle. Why did shit happen around the holiday season? She couldn‟t wait for January second.

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Chapter Five Brady was already in the first-class lounge at the airport, going through messages on his BlackBerry, when Sheridan arrived. She barely bit out a short hello before taking a seat on the other side of the room. He didn‟t know whether to be relieved or offended, because on the one hand, he had been nervous about the prospect of spending so much time with her out of the office, even though he had no reason to be. Then again, how dare she act as if he‟d wronged her in such a way that she couldn‟t even stand to be in his presence. Fuming, Brady stalked over to where she sat. Her laptop was open, and she had earbuds in, listening to her MP3 player. He took the seat next to her so there was no avoiding conversation unless she deliberately wanted to be rude. After a couple of minutes of being ignored, he realized that was exactly what she was doing. Refusing to be cast aside until she felt like acknowledging him, he snatched one of the earpieces out. “Good morning to you too.” Her head snapped around so quickly he thought she‟d break her neck. The scowl on her face was fierce. Brady leaned away from her. “What do you want?” “A little civility would be nice; barring that, I was hoping we could start this trip off on better footing, but I guess that was expecting too much of you.” “Can‟t I have a little time to myself before I have to deal with you for a week? Do I have to pretend that we actually like each other when it‟s not necessary?” Brady didn‟t know why, but he thought when he‟d attempted to reach out to her earlier in the week, they could establish at the very least a courteous exchange between the two of them. Instead Sheridan seemed more hostile than ever. He

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didn‟t have the time or energy to deal with her attitude for the entirety of their trip. At this point he didn‟t give a flying fuck what his grandfather said. “Take all the time you need. You can go home. I‟ll make an excuse to the client that you came down with a nasty case of the flu. You‟ve made it abundantly clear you don‟t want to be here, and frankly, if this is what I have to deal with, I don‟t want you to be either. I know you‟re good at what you do, Sheridan, and my grandfather speaks highly of you, but I need an adult for this job, not a petulant child. I‟ll arrange for a driver to come get you.” Without waiting for a response, Brady stood and pulled out his phone and punched in the buttons to the limo service. He turned his back on her as he waited for someone to answer his call. She‟d done it again. Gotten under his skin. Why couldn‟t he have left well enough alone and taken his cue from her? “Park Avenue Limo, Judy speaking.” “Yes, I need a car sent to the airport for—” A small hand on his arm halted him from what he was about to say. He raised his brow as he looked down at Sheridan. She was nibbling on her bottom lip, and she shifted from side to side as if she was nervous about something. “Hold on a second, Judy.” He placed his hand over the phone. “What is it?” “Don‟t. I-I‟ll stay.” “No one‟s twisting your arm, Lewis. If you don‟t want to be here with me, I won‟t force you.” She moistened her lips with her tongue. “But what would Seamus say?” “Why should it matter to you?” “Because I know how important this account is to him, and he wanted both of us to go.” “Yes, he did, but maybe it wasn‟t such a good idea. You can‟t stand me, and right now the feeling is mutual, so in the best interest of the client, I‟ll go and we‟ll

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make some excuse to my grandfather.” He turned his back to her again and resumed his phone call. “Sorry about that, Judy. As I was saying, I need a car sent to the airport.” “When do you need it for?” “Twenty minutes if possible.” “We don‟t usually book on such short notice.” “I think our company does enough business with your service that you‟ll be able to accommodate us.” There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Do you have the corporate account number?” Before Brady could answer, the phone was snatched out of his hand. “We won‟t need a car after all. Sorry to have wasted your time.” Sheridan spoke into the receiver and hit the End button. She then handed the phone back to Brady. Brady was three seconds away from blowing his top. The woman was a true psychopath. One moment she didn‟t want to come on the trip, and the next minute she was stopping him from letting her get her way. “Would you make up your goddamn mind what you want?” he said through clenched teeth, not trusting himself to say anything else. The last time he‟d blown his stack with her, she‟d ended up on his lap with him fondling her tight little pussy. Their brief indiscretion had been the cause of many sleepless nights since it had happened. Brady had been the recipient of many cold showers. Even stroking himself hadn‟t been enough to chase away the hunger that had built up within. But it wasn‟t something he‟d intended on acting on again. However, seeing as how she was already pushing his buttons before they even made it to the island, he knew he wouldn‟t last the week without feeling his body against hers again. She closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. “I apologize. I had a bad morning, but it‟s no excuse for my rudeness. I won‟t lie and say I‟m crazy about going on this trip, but I will be civil.” It almost sounded as if it pained her to say those words.

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Brady wasn‟t ready to let her off the hook just yet. “Bad morning? You must have a string of bad mornings then.” “I don‟t follow.” “You‟ve always been antagonistic toward me, so either you have the worst luck in the world as far as your mornings go, or you must feel that I‟ve wronged you in some way, shape, or form. Oh I know what you‟ve said, but it‟s something else, isn‟t it?” She looked down at her feet to avoid his eyes. “I‟ve apologized; isn‟t that sufficient?” “No. I don‟t think it is. Look, if you don‟t want to tell me now, we have a fivehour flight ahead of us. And since we‟re seated next to each other, there‟ll be no avoiding me then.” She raised her head to meet his gaze. “I‟ve already told you what I think about you. Whether you choose to believe it or not is your problem, not mine.” Brady should have ended the conversation right then and there. Like she‟d said, after her apology, it would have been a good idea to leave well enough alone, but he couldn‟t let it go. He needed to find out what the root of her animosity was. She shrugged. “Not everyone is going to like you. Didn‟t your mother ever tell you that?” “Between her numerous affairs, partying, and boozing, my mother never had much time to tell me anything, but duly noted. And before you suggest my father, I saw him even less than my mother.” Her mouth formed a perfect O, obviously taken by surprise at his words. His family life wasn‟t something that he shared with anyone. Actually there were only three other people who knew about his upbringing, and two of them were dead. What compelled him to tell Sheridan, he wasn‟t sure, but Brady felt it was something he needed to do.

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For only the second time since he‟d known her, Sheridan was visibly flustered. “I‟m sorry. I didn‟t know.” “Perhaps if you hadn‟t jumped to conclusions instead of asking, maybe you would have known.” She opened her mouth to say something again, but it was lost when the loudspeaker came on to announce they were now boarding first-class passengers for their flight.

*** Why had he told her that? And was he telling the truth? Sheridan pondered what he‟d said and wondered if she‟d judged him unfairly. By all appearances, he was a spoiled rich boy riding his grandfather‟s coattails. Sheridan turned to study his profile. By now, he‟d pulled out his laptop and seemed to be engrossed in whatever document was on his screen. It gnawed at her how the conversation had ended at the airport, and she knew she had to apologize again. Not just some half-assed words to cover her embarrassment, but a sincere offering. She moistened her lips before clearing her throat. “Uh, McGuire—Brady,” she began hesitantly. Apologies didn‟t come easy to her, and she knew this one would be hard. Without diverting his attention from his computer, he nodded. “Yes?” “I believe I owe you an apology.” The words were raw in her throat. “I said it wasn‟t necessary. You couldn‟t have known about it, could you?” She shook her head. “No, that‟s not what the apology is for. I-I was rude to you earlier. I should have been more cordial. I know you‟ve been trying to reach out, and I‟ve been ungracious.” He still kept his gaze firmly locked on his screen. “Good to know.”

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She sighed, realizing he wasn‟t going to make this easy for her, and it wasn‟t any more than she deserved. “Would you at least look at me when I‟m talking to you? I‟m trying here.” The muscle in his jaw tensed before he closed his laptop and finally turned his attention to her. “Okay. I‟m looking at you. What else do you want to say beyond what you already have?” Sheridan opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. For the first time, she noticed there were bags under his eyes, giving him the appearance of missing days of sleep. Stress lines tugged at the corners of his mouth. Had she been the cause? She shook her head. Of course not. There was no way she could have that much power over this man. “If you‟re finished, I‟d like to get back to reviewing this contract. Why don‟t you catch some shut-eye, because when we get there, our schedule will revolve around the client‟s.” When he would have turned back to his computer, Sheridan placed her hand on his arm. “Why did you tell me about your parents?” she blurted out, knowing it was none of her business, but curiosity got the better of her. Brady stiffened, and for a moment she thought he‟d pull his arm from her grasp. Instead he looked down pointedly at her hand until Sheridan removed it herself. “Sorry. It‟s none of my business.” He sighed. “No, it‟s not, but I volunteered it. I don‟t know why I told you. It‟s not something I‟m fond of sharing with anyone. It‟s been a source of embarrassment for me since I can remember.” He ran his fingers through his hair, blowing out another deep breath. “I suppose I wanted you to see that I‟m not the bastard you think I am. I mean, I‟m not looking for your approval, but frankly I‟m fed up with you judging me.”

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Her brows shot up. Immediately she was put on the defensive, and she hated being in that position. “I‟m not the only one. What was it you said about me again? Oh yeah, about me being loud and obnoxious and having no class.” “I didn‟t say you didn‟t have class.” She grasped a strand of her hair. “Let me pull out one of my hairs and split it for you.” “Fine, I did say something along those lines, but you…” He broke off with a humorless chuckle. “This finger-pointing is counterproductive. Let‟s just say we were both wrong and leave it at that.” “I can live with that.” A crooked grin twisted his lips, and his blue eyes sparkled. Sheridan‟s heart clenched at the sight. She squirmed in her seat, not feeling comfortable with this newfound emotion. Quickly she shoved it away. “What‟s that smile for?” “This is actually the first time we‟ve agreed on something. It‟s a start.” She offered him a tentative smile of her own. “I guess it is.” “Do you think we can build on this and have a successful working relationship while we‟re on the island?” She nodded. “I think we can.” A brief silence fell between them again. Sheridan wasn‟t an intrusive person by nature, but she wanted to know more about him, especially what he‟d already revealed. She tentatively broached the subject again. “Since we‟re kinda getting along now, can I ask you something?” He inclined his head. “Within reason.” “You can tell me it‟s none of my business and I‟ll be okay with it, but can I ask what happened to your parents?” “It‟s none of your business, but I opened the can of worms. What exactly do you want to know?” “Anything you‟re willing to tell me.”

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“It‟s really not as exciting as you think. My grandfather came to this country as a teenager with just the shirt on his back, and he built McGuire‟s from the ground up. He worked hard, and by the time my father and uncle came along, he had a comfortable lifestyle. He didn‟t want his sons to have it as hard as he had coming up, so he overindulged them. It‟s something a lot of parents do with their children. My uncle passed away from a childhood illness, so I‟m sure you can imagine how devastating that was for my grandparents. They spoiled my father more than ever, giving him anything he wanted. My father grew up with a sense of entitlement. By the time my grandparents tried to take him in hand, it was already too late. He partied, drank, and barely stayed above the law. He and mom were both party people, which is probably what drew them together in the first place, but it wasn‟t enough to keep them together, apparently. When they weren‟t drinking or partying, they were arguing. Not sure how they lasted as long as they did because they didn‟t seem to have much in common with each other besides the partying and crappy parenting skills.” “What happened to them?” Sheridan wanted to know. “They died in a car accident when I was thirteen. Coming home from a party. My grandfather never said, but I think my father was drunk that night because no other vehicles were involved and he‟d driven the car into a tree.” “I‟m sorry to hear that.” “I know this will sound strange to you, but even though I lived with them the first thirteen years of my life, I barely knew them, so I didn‟t grieve, really. I mean, how can you miss what was never there?” “I guess you have a point. But things turned out well for you after that?” A small smile returned to his lips. “Yes. I went to live with my grandparents after that. They loved me but were determined not to make the same mistake with me as they had with my father. They were strict but loving. I basically earned everything I got. I had to maintain my grades in school in order to participate in extracurricular activities beyond what the school required. I had a part-time job all

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through high school because my grandfather thought it would build character. I had the most god-awful jobs. My first job was a busboy at a restaurant, and I had to clean toilets when I wasn‟t busing tables.” Sheridan threw her head back and laughed. “Are you serious? Somehow I can‟t imagine you scrubbing toilets.” Brady revealed even white teeth when he smiled. “I never said I was good at it, just that I had to do it. Not one of my better periods in life, but you know, surprisingly my grandfather was right. It did teach me the importance of hard work and personal responsibility. Don‟t get me wrong; my grandparents indulged me from time to time, but they also instilled in me a set of values I still live by. I went to Princeton for my BA and then on to the Wharton Business School. I studied at Cambridge for a couple of years and worked in my chosen field before my grandfather tapped me to take over his sales department.” Sheridan was impressed. He had quite a résumé, which made her feel like even more of a bitch for jumping to the wrong conclusion about him. Deep down she knew the real reason why she‟d felt that way toward him in the first place, but it wasn‟t something she cared to examine further. What she did know, however, was that there was more to him than met the eye. And truth be told, he didn‟t have a reputation for slacking off at his job around the office. In fact, most people spoke highly of him, but she‟d been so blinded by her own prejudices that she hadn‟t been willing to give him a fair chance. “You should be congratulated on your success then. I bet your grandparents are very proud of you.” For the first time, she saw a hint of sadness enter his eyes. “My grandfather tells me so. My grandmother passed just before I finished college.” “What happened?” “Heart failure.” She placed her hand on his arm again. “I‟m sorry.”

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“Thank you. She was a good woman. I think you would have liked her.” His voice was thick with emotion. “If she‟s anything like Seamus, I‟m sure I would have too.” “Yes. Uh…” He seemed slightly embarrassed at what he‟d revealed. “So it‟s your turn.” “My turn?” “Yes, tell me about your upbringing.” Sheridan shut down. There wasn‟t much she disliked more than the holiday season, but talking about her past came close. “There‟s really nothing to tell. My mom died when I was young; dad wasn‟t in the picture. I spent my childhood in foster homes, end of story.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Surely there‟s more to the story than that. How did you get from there to where you are now? There aren‟t many women in sales or any who are as good at it as you.” Sheridan realized she still had her hand on his arm and removed it before shifting in her seat to look out the window. The plane flew through a patch of clouds. “Sheridan?” he prompted. “Don‟t know. Guess it‟s just a gift. So how do you want to tackle this account once we get there? I was thinking we shouldn‟t go all hard sell on them or it might turn the client off.” She knew it wasn‟t fair that he‟d revealed his past to her and she wasn‟t willing to do the same, but some things were better left alone. Brady picked up on her quick change of subject. “Sheridan, if it‟s not something you want to talk about, I understand. As for the account, I‟m confident we‟ll know what to do when we get there. Personally, I work better when I meet the client, and then I know which direction to go.” That‟s how Sheridan operated, so she was fine with that approach. “Works for me.”

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“So do you have any plans for the holiday once we get back home?” he asked casually. “No,” she answered without elaboration. No one except Julie knew why she hated this time of year so much, and Sheridan intended to keep it that way. “No? You may not have family to celebrate with, but surely you have friends to spend the holiday with?” “No.” “What about—” “Let‟s just drop it, okay.” She leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes to show she was no longer interested in the conversation. His curiosity was probably piqued from her unwillingness to speak of her hang-ups over Christmas, but it was just too much. The two of them had made a small connection—one that she knew could be dangerous if she wasn‟t careful. Sheridan was already attracted to him, and now she knew there were more facets to him than she‟d originally believed. Brady McGuire could easily become something to her she couldn‟t afford to indulge in. It was fine that they could have a cordial working relationship, but that was all it could ever be. Anything more and someone would get hurt, and she knew without a doubt that someone would be her.

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Chapter Six Michael Smith was an eccentric man. He was practically a recluse, choosing to live most of the year on his small private island in the Caribbean with his wife and a menagerie of animals, only traveling to his headquarters in New York for quarterly board meetings. He essentially ran his business—one of the largest snack manufacturers in the country—from out of his home. The operating side—which needed to be handled in the office—was done by a nephew. Instead of having a driver pick them up from the airport, he met them himself and took them on his boat to get to his island. His one rule was that they enjoy the amenities of his island and not mention business until the end of their visit. This request was puzzling to Brady and Sheridan, causing them to exchange curious looks. Brady appreciated the beauty of the island right away, from the white sands and the crystal blue waters to the coconut trees and exotic vegetation. It was a scene right off a postcard. The Smith spread was large, covering nearly twenty thousand square feet. The house, while clearly expensively furnished, had a homey appeal to it. It was alight with tasteful Christmas decorations like wreaths on the doors and candles in the windows. A ten-feet Christmas tree was erected in their foyer. Brady didn‟t miss how Sheridan had gone tense when she‟d spotted it. It was almost as if she‟d seen a ghost. He wasn‟t exactly sure why she was adverse to the Christmas tree, but coupled with how she had shut down on the plane when he‟d asked her about her Christmas plans he figured there was something much deeper going on. It seemed as if she didn‟t like Christmas. But who didn‟t like Christmas?

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It was supposed to be one of the happiest times of the year. Even though Christmas hadn‟t been so great when his parents were alive, his grandparents had made the holiday season special for him and he held fond memories. He made a mental note to find out what the problem was, even though he knew he should let it go. But he couldn‟t. Something had happened to him on the plane. Brady was finally able to admit to himself that he was interested in Sheridan and probably always had been. Were it not for her open hostility at their first meeting, who knew where their relationship would be now? He‟d covered up his own interest by telling himself that she was obnoxious, and eventually he‟d began to believe it. But that lie was slowly peeled away layer by layer. Now more than ever, he was determined to find out all he could about her, not because of work but because he wanted to. Wanted her. The irony of the situation wasn‟t lost on him. She wasn‟t his normal type in appearance or personality, yet for as long as he could remember, no one had ever inflamed his desire to this level. Was it a good idea to indulge in an office affair? Probably not, but that one taste of her was far from enough. Every time he caught a glimpse of her large, tight ass, his cock would get so rigid that it hurt. He wanted her, all right, and wouldn‟t rest until he had her beneath him, on top of him, and in several other positions that most people only saw in porn movies. When they were shown to their rooms to freshen up, Brady immediately undressed and headed to his private bathroom. Though it probably wouldn‟t help, he needed a cold shower. He stepped into the stall and turned the water as cool as he could stand it. Unluckily for him, however, it did absolutely no good. His dick throbbed when he thought about how well her pants molded her ass and how much he wanted to suck on her blackberry-colored nipples. Brady slid his hand down the center of his body until he grasped his cock. He grazed the tip with his thumb and released a low moan. He wrapped his fingers

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around himself and gently slid his hand up and down his shaft, slowly at first and then steadily picking up the pace. Images of how her naked body would look in his bed infiltrated his mind. He bet she was tight too. Would her pussy practically choke his cock? Milking it for all it was worth? The mere idea made him harder still. His movements became more frantic as the pictures in his mind grew more graphic. He pumped his cock so hard, yet relief was nowhere in sight. He was horny as hell but knew he wouldn‟t find the release he needed until he was inside Sheridan‟s sweet cunt. With a frustrated growl, he released his cock and turned the knob to off. What should have calmed him down had left him hotter and more bothered than ever. He had to have her and soon, or else he didn‟t think he could be held responsible for his actions.

*** Sheridan was in holiday hell. Indulging the client was the main part of her job, but participating in Christmas festivities was something she hadn‟t expected. The minute she‟d stepped into the island mansion, it was like walking into her own personal nightmare. There was nothing gaudy or overdone about the decorations, but foolishly she hadn‟t expected to see them, not now, and apparently the Smiths were big fans. Michael had promptly disappeared, saying he had to see to something with one of the island residents, and Brady had gone to his assigned room, stating the need to freshen up. That left Sheridan alone with Maude Smith, who insisted on showing her around the house, making it impossible for Sheridan to escape to the sanctuary of the guest bedroom to compose herself. Halfway through the tour, her hostess must have noticed her distress. “Are you okay, dear?” Sheridan pasted a smile on her face. “Yes, I‟m fine. You have a lovely home. It must be nice to live on the island most of the year.”

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The older woman smiled indulgently. “It definitely has its perks. I must admit, though, I miss the change of seasons—especially around this time of year. I‟m a New York City girl at heart. When I was little, my father would take me and my brother to a show at Radio City Music Hall every Christmas, and afterward we‟d take a ride on a horse-drawn carriage and get hot chocolate in Central Park. I try to get Michael to go to the city with me more often, but he doesn‟t like to travel much. What‟s your favorite Christmas memory?” “The presents,” Sheridan said without putting much thought into her answer. Her favorite part about Christmas was that it only lasted a day, but she couldn‟t say it out loud at the risk of offending her hostess. Would she get through the rest of this trip without the constant distraction of Satan‟s holiday? She wished she could talk shop with them and have this ordeal over with, but one of the rules that Michael Smith had set forth was no business talk until the end of the week and that they treat this as a mini vacation. He also insisted there be no formalities. It was unusual for her, but who was she to argue when there was so much money at stake. “So when was the last time you were in New York?” Sheridan quickly changed the subject before Maude could pick up on her reluctance to talk about the season. “We were there a couple months ago for the quarterly board meeting. I convinced Michael to stay in our penthouse for a couple weeks. He was grumpy as a bear, but I did get to do some fabulous shopping. And we swung down to Philadelphia to see Seamus.” Sheridan knitted her brows. “Seamus? As in my boss, Seamus McGuire?” “Oh yes. Seamus, Michael, and I go back ages, but anyway, let me show you the pool. I hope you‟ll indulge in it while you‟re here.” “I didn‟t bring a bathing suit.” “No worries. I have tons of suits for guests that have never been used.” “Thank you,” she answered politely, not wanting to admit she didn‟t know how to swim. Sheridan did wonder where Michael had gone off too, and why didn‟t she

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know they were personal friends of Seamus? Could it be that even though they had a connection to her CEO, the Smiths still intended for her and Brady to work for their account? It wasn‟t unusual, she supposed, but Sheridan made a mental note to mention it to Brady the next chance she got. “When you leave the island, do you have any plans for the holidays? Spending time with family, friends, or both?” “Um, friends,” she answered, not bothering to mention those friends were Jack Daniels and Jim Beam. This conversation was definitely turning in a direction Sheridan wasn‟t comfortable with. “Is it me or is it getting warm?” she asked in an attempt to change the subject. Maude frowned. “No warmer than usual, but I suppose the humidity is something that takes getting use to. You know, the more I think about it, dear, a swim sounds more and more appealing to me. And it would do wonders to cool you off. I would love it if you could join me by the pool for a dip.” “Well, I‟m not a very strong swimmer.” The other woman waved her hand dismissively. “That doesn‟t matter; you can stay in the shallow end or, at the very least, get your feet wet. I insist.” There was no way she‟d be able to get out of this without appearing rude. “Okay. Thank you, Maude. I‟d love to.” Maude clasped her hands together. “Fantastic. I‟ll send Margot in with a few suits I think will fit you just perfectly. You go on to your room and freshen up and change, and I‟ll go change and join you shortly.” Sheridan already figured this wasn‟t going to be the typical trip now that she‟d met the Smiths, so she had no choice but to go with the flow. With their plans firmed, Sheridan retreated to her room. She took the time to unpack and take a quick shower. Margot, the Smiths‟ housekeeper, came to her room to give her a selection of bathing suits—none of them were really something she would have worn.

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Out of the four selections, three were bikinis of different cuts, and the last a one-piece that looked modest at first but was just as bad the bikinis when she tried it on. Its deep V in the back stopped just at her ass crack, and the cut of the crotch region was so high it barely covered her vagina. But if she had to choose between them, she decided to go with the one-piece. Margot had also brought along a few sarongs. Sheridan chose one to wrap around her hips. Finally she made her way out to the pool, only to discover she was alone. She took the opportunity to situate herself by the pool and dip her feet in the water. Sheridan wondered what Brady was up to. She let her mind drift to their conversation on the plane. Once she got past her preconceived notion about him, she found he was easy to talk to. She herself had been the victim of being judged without someone getting to know her. She should have given him a chance. Sheridan realized working with him wouldn‟t be so bad after all—as long as she could keep him at arm‟s length. She couldn‟t help but think of the night in his vehicle and how explosive their kiss had been. Even now she got wet thinking about how he had slipped his tongue between her lips and slowly pulled back over and over again as if mimicking the motion of a cock in a pussy. She had no business thinking about him in that way, especially when she knew it wouldn‟t lead anywhere. What had happened between them was simply an aberration. She wasn‟t his type, and he wasn‟t for her. “Penny for them.” Sheridan nearly jumped out of her skin. She let out a yelp before swinging her legs out of the pool and hopping up. “Brady. You can‟t just sneak up on a sista like that. Where I‟m from, you‟d get cut that way.” Brady chuckled. “I‟ll keep that in mind for future reference. You looked so deep in thought, I wondered what you were thinking.” She shrugged. “Oh, nothing of importance.” For the first time, she noticed he was in a pair of swim trunks with a towel draped around his neck. Sheridan gulped at the sight of his sculpted abs. Damn, Brady had a twelve pack. His toned pecs

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were dusted liberally with dark hair, giving him a masculine appeal that made her mouth go dry. “Nothing? You had a pretty intense expression on your face.” She couldn‟t answer to save her life; neither could she tear her gaze away from the sight of his body. “Sheridan?” “Huh?” She snapped out of her daze to look up at him. That crooked grin she was becoming familiar with appeared, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. “Like what you see?” Her face grew hot, and she thanked goodness her skin was dark or else it would probably be bright red. “No.” Even to her it sounded hasty, but she rushed on. “I, uh, was just thinking?” He stepped closer until he was a few uncomfortable inches away from her. She moistened suddenly dry lips. “Just about the account.” She spoke barely above a whisper. He raised one dark eyebrow. “Is that so?” His voice dipped an octave lower, sending a tingling sensation throughout her body. Cautiously Sheridan took a step back and ended up with her feet balanced on the edge of the pool. Losing her balance, she flailed her arms wildly in an attempt to stand upright and was afraid she‟d end up in the pool, but a pair of strong arms reached out and yanked her forward and up. Sheridan found herself clasped against the hard wall of Brady‟s chest, her feet dangling in midair. She splayed her hands on his chest to steady herself. Instant heat coursed through her body like liquid fire. Her nipples peaked against the stretchy material of her swimsuit. Sheridan released a nervous laugh. “Uh, you can put me down now.” “What if I don‟t want to?”

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She gulped. “You‟re going to have to because our hostess will be joining us any minute.” His response was to stare at her with a hungry gleam in his bright eyes. It was as if he were devouring her with his gaze, and it sent a tingle to her core. This man was getting under her skin in ways she didn‟t think imaginable. “Brady…” “Have I told you I love how you say my name?” Who was this man holding her? Only yesterday they couldn‟t stand each other, yet here he was holding on to her as if he didn‟t want to let go, and she wasn‟t sure she wanted him to. But she had to think about their situation. They were in their client‟s home, and it would reflect badly on the company to be caught in such a compromising position. Sheridan peeked over his shoulder to see Margot coming their way. “Put me down. Here comes the housekeeper.” Brady took his time lowering her feet to the ground, making sure she slid down the length of his body. She jumped out of his embrace as if she‟d been burned. His soft chuckle seemed to mock her, but she ignored it and pretended nothing out of the ordinary was going on when the other woman approached. She carried a tray of fruits and two tall glasses of what looked like some fruit concoction and laid it on a table between two lounge chairs. “Miss Maude sends her apologies. She has a headache and will be resting until dinner. Mr. Smith won‟t be back from his errands for at least another couple of hours, but the missus wanted me to tell you to please hang out by the pool and enjoy yourselves. If you need anything, please feel free to use the buzzer by the pool and I‟ll be happy to take care of you.” “Thank you, Margot.” Brady nodded in acknowledgement. Sheridan could only offer a weak smile, not trusting herself to speak. Once she and Brady were alone again, she looked for an escape route. It wasn‟t that she didn‟t trust him when they were alone together. She couldn‟t trust herself.

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Chapter Seven Brady didn‟t know what was going on with their hosts, but he refused to look a gift horse in the mouth. He intended to use this opportunity to get to know Sheridan better. What could he say, the woman intrigued him. Touching her was his new addiction, and he couldn‟t keep his eyes off her in a one-piece bathing suit that did nothing to hide her curves. In fact, it accentuated them to the point where she might as well have been naked. He could see her nipples peeking through, and more than anything, he wanted to suck one of those delectable peaks into his mouth as he fingered her tight pussy. He wasn‟t so oblivious to not notice she wanted him too, but she was hesitant. He had to go slow with her. Even though he wanted to spend time with her, Sheridan seemed to have other ideas. She made a move to go past him, but he was quicker. He caught her by the wrist. “Going somewhere?” She licked her lips in a nervous gesture, and all Brady could think about was that tongue sliding up and down his cock. “I think I should probably go back in.” “Do you have other plans? Or do I make you nervous?” She yanked her wrist out of his grasp. “Of course not.” “Then stay out here with me…unless you‟re chicken,” he taunted. Sheridan rolled her eyes. “Oh that‟s so mature.” Brady realized he might be pushing too hard. Sheridan was like a skittish newborn colt. He needed to go slow with her. “Look, our hosts have been gracious enough to offer us an afternoon of relaxation by the pool. We may as well take advantage of the nice spread laid out for us.”

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Her eyes darted from side to side before she looked up to meet his gaze again. “I don‟t know…” “We‟ll be here for a week. For the sake of getting along, how about it?” “Okay, but don‟t try anything.” Brady bit the inside of his lip to hide the smirk that threatened to curve his lips. “Scout‟s honor.” She raised a brow. “Something tells me you were never a Boy Scout.” He grinned. “Maybe I was, maybe I wasn‟t. Shall we?” He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her over to the lounge chairs. He took a seat on one side of the refreshments, and Sheridan took the other. Sheridan leaned back and lifted her face to the sun. He was thankful to be wearing sunglasses, but he could only imagine how lascivious his gaze must have looked considering the thoughts running through his head. Sheridan had a body made for sinning, and he couldn‟t think of anyone he wanted to do bad things with more than her. “It‟s strange being in a tropical paradise around Christmastime.” She pulled down her shades and looked over at him. “What‟s so strange about it? Many people prefer the heat when it gets cold.” “I suppose, but I‟m one of those people who feels like it isn‟t Christmas unless there‟s a foot of snow on the ground. I know it sounds corny, but it‟s one of my favorite times of year. My parents were usually off partying, but my grandmother always made it special for me. When I was home from school breaks, I‟d stay with her and my grandfather. We‟d do the whole bit: roasted chestnuts, hot cocoa, decorating the tree. Nana would have Christmas music playing all through the house.” He sighed, letting his mind drift to happier times. “That‟s nice.” Sheridan‟s tone suggested anything but. Was she deliberately trying to shut him out? He didn‟t share information about his private life with just anyone, and it bothered him that she could be so dismissive.

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“You have a problem with my family‟s Christmas traditions?” “I have no problem with your traditions. To each his own.” “But you obviously have a problem with something.” “You‟re imagining things.” “You know, Sheridan, you‟re a hard woman to read. One second you‟re actually almost pleasant to be around, and then all of a sudden you shut down.” “I don‟t know what you‟re talking about. Look, can we drop this topic and just enjoy the rest of the afternoon. In silence?” Brady fell silent and stared at her profile. Sheridan lay completely still, yet her hands were balled at her sides and her body was rigid with tension. What had he said that bothered her so much that she‟d gone still on him? There was no point in asking her why because he figured she wouldn‟t tell him, at least not yet. He‟d tread lightly. For now. “So what are you plans for your upcoming vacation?” At first he thought she‟d ignore him, but instead she grabbed one of colorful beverages on the table. She took a deep sip from the straw before answering. “Nothing.” “Not going anywhere exciting?” “Nope.” She removed the straw and tossed the cup back, finishing the drink in three gulps. Brady picked up his drink and took a sip and spit it out. “What the hell!” The drink looked fruity and refreshing, but it was like drinking battery acid. It was like ninety-nine to one percent ratio of alcohol to fruit juice. How Sheridan had managed to knock it down without pausing in between gulps was beyond him. Her giggle reached his ears as he finished gagging. “Can‟t handle it?” “I doubt most people who want to keep their original liver can handle it. How are you not passed out right now?”

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She shrugged. “I don‟t know. Alcohol has never really had any effect on me. When I was younger, I wanted to fit in, so I drank at parties, but I discovered that it doesn‟t have the same impact on me that it does on other people. Don‟t get me wrong, I can get drunk—it just takes a lot more than most. Don‟t know why or how it happens, but it just does. I think I‟ve only ever been drunk once in my life because I wanted to find out what my limit was.” “And what was it?” “A fifth of tequila and half a bottle of vodka.” He raised a brow. “You‟re lucky you didn‟t get alcohol poisoning.” Brady shuddered at the thought of someone consuming that much alcohol and living to tell the tale. No one drank like that unless they had no self-control or there was some deeper issue. “That‟s a pretty dangerous experiment you conducted.” Again she shrugged as if it wasn‟t a big deal. “Live every day like it‟s your last, right?” “And it very well could have been.” “No need for the lecture. My friend, Julie, read me the riot act enough from that incident.” “Julie sounds like a sensible woman.” “She is. Sweet too.” “How long have you known Julie?” he asked wanting to know everything he could about her now that he‟d seemed to have found a topic that she didn‟t clam up about. For the first time since they‟d been by the pool, a genuine smile crossed her face. “Since we were younger. We grew up together basically, even lived together for a little while until she went to stay with her aunt. We never lost touch though.” “What‟s she like?”

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“Julie‟s the kind of person who‟d give you the shirt off her back. A lot of people can claim it, but she‟d actually do it. There was a time when I thought she was too nice because some people tended to take advantage of her kindness, but she‟s grown a lot as a person. She‟s learned how to say no from time to time, but she‟s one of the most real and passionate people I know.” Brady could tell Sheridan really cared about her friend by the way her face seemed to light up when she talked about the other woman. He couldn‟t see her eyes behind the dark glasses, but he bet they were sparkling. It was more interesting, however, that she never mentioned family, but he wanted to slowly ease any information she could give about herself out of Sheridan or else she‟d shut down again. “And you, on the other hand, have never had trouble standing up for yourself, have you?” She sighed. “When you‟re my size, you have to be able to or else people will think they can walk all over you.” “And you‟ve fought a lot growing up?” “More or less. But I have a bit of a temper as well, so I‟m sure a lot of the fights from my childhood could have been prevented with me walking away instead of acting out my anger because I felt I had something to prove.” Brady wished she‟d take off her sunglasses so he could get a better reading of her expression. Had she suffered something traumatic within her family that made her feel she had to fight? His own childhood had not been rosy before he‟d gone to live with his grandparents, so he could sympathize. It made Sheridan a much more complex person than he‟d originally expected. The conversation could have turned heavy, so he made another topic change, making a mental note to delve deeper into her childhood later. “So how did you get into sales? You‟ve got to admit, it‟s more of a male-driven profession, yet you exceed your quotas every year.” “Sales wasn‟t my first choice in professions. I got my degree in social work with a minor in business.”

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“What happened?” She snorted. “I discovered social work sucked ass. I mean, doing the job itself isn‟t so bad, but it‟s the bureaucracy and the red tape that prevents you from doing your job properly that I hated. I got into that field to help people, but with all the BS, I also realized I wasn‟t really helping anyone. Sales was just something that kinda fell into my lap. I landed a customer service job, which was pretty simple enough. Part of the duties was cross selling. I found it was something I was good at, so my boss recommended me for an opening in the company‟s sales department. The rest, as they say, is history.” “I gotta admit, you‟re the best salesperson on our team. If anyone can seal a deal, it‟s you,” he replied honestly. She lifted her sunglasses then, as she raised her brows in surprise. “Really?” “Do you doubt it?” “Well, I know I‟m good, but a compliment coming from you is surprising.” “You didn‟t really make it easy for me to give you any in the beginning.” She lowered her eyewear again and slumped farther in her lounger. “I guess you‟re right. I was a bit of a bitch to you in the beginning.” “Only a bit?” he teased. “Watch it, buddy. That‟s all you‟re getting from me, and I swear to God, if you tell anyone about this conversation, I‟ll deny it.” Brady laughed. “I‟ll keep that in mind.” He realized that he actually enjoyed talking to her when her guard seemed to be down. Of course he realized they were staying on topics that didn‟t seem to bother her so much, but he eventually planned on learning more about the petite beauty. “It‟s getting hotter. How about a quick dip?” He swung his legs onto the ground and stood up before walking to where she sat and holding out his hand to assist her.”

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She shook her head with a hesitant smile. “No, you go ahead. I, um, can‟t swim.” “So come to the edge of the pool and get your feet wet. You were doing that before I came out to join you.” “No, that‟s okay. I think I‟ll head back in. My skin is getting a little heated. I should have packed some sunblock.” He continued to hold out his hand to her. “Then I‟ll walk you back.” At first he thought she‟d refuse his assistance, but she placed her small hand in his. He immediately wrapped his fingers around hers, noticing how much bigger his were and how soft her hands were. Once she was up, he didn‟t let go. And she didn‟t insist that he did. Instead, to his surprise and pleasure, she allowed him to lead her inside, their hands still clinging to each other. They paused outside her bedroom door. Sheridan‟s gaze darted from side to side as if she was looking to see if anyone would be coming up on them. “Well, here we are.” “Yes, here we are.” “You can let go of my hand now.” “What if I don‟t want to?” He pressed his body closer to hers. In the back of his mind, Brady knew this wasn‟t the best place to make his move, but her nearness was driving him to distraction. He didn‟t think he could go a second longer without getting another taste of her. She yanked her hand away as if she‟d been burned. “This isn‟t right.” “I know.” He lowered his head, giving her the opportunity to turn her head away. “And unprofessional.” “Absolutely.” His lips were now mere inches away from hers.

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“We might offend our hosts if we did this.” “Yep.” Brady could now feel her soft breath against his lips. “And possibly lose this contract.” She still didn‟t turn away. “We might at that,” he whispered before pressing his lips against hers.

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Chapter Eight Sheridan didn‟t know who was crazier, Brady for ignoring all propriety or her for letting him. It had to be her—especially when she knew nothing could come of this but awkwardness, regret. She should have run the second she‟d noticed the signs. Things had subtly changed as soon as she realized how unfairly she‟d misjudged him. He was really quite charming—even if he did appear to move from one woman to the next. She found that she actually kind of liked him, not to mention whenever he touched her, her body reacted as if he was the first man to ever turn her on. She had to admit he was a great kisser. The feel of his lips against hers sent heat to her core. Her pussy throbbed. But…she had to stop this. If she allowed this to go any further, one of them would probably end up getting hurt, and she feared that someone would be her. She placed her hands against his chest to push him away, but as if sensing her withdrawal, Brady pulled her closer. He wrapped his arms tighter around her. Sheridan tore her mouth away from his to gasp for air. “We can‟t do this. Someone might come by.” “Then we‟ll just make sure we don‟t get caught.” Still holding on with one arm hooked around her waist, he opened the door, lifted Sheridan off her feet, and carried her inside the bedroom. Brady kicked the door shut behind them. “That isn‟t what I mean—” Before she could get the words out, his mouth was on hers again. He caught the back of her neck to hold her head steady and devoured her mouth, crushing her lips beneath his. Sheridan wiggled against him in protest, but he was too big, too strong. What really bugged her was that she wasn‟t fighting

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him so much as herself. She wouldn‟t give in. Couldn‟t. Sheridan grabbed his shoulders, intending to push him away, but instead, she found herself clutching him to her as his tongue pushed against the seam of her lips, demanding entrance. “Open up for me, honey.” Brady groaned. Thoughts of resistance fled without further protest, and she parted her lips enough to accept the probing of his tongue. As he explored what seemed like every inch of her mouth, his hand slid up and down her back before finally resting on her ass. He cupped her rear, giving it a firm squeeze and molding her against his body. She felt his erection pressing against his swim trunks. He felt so big! Would she be able to handle a guy his size since she hadn‟t had sex in a while? Sheridan knew this was crazy, but everything that told her to stop was muted by her desire to be claimed by him. She was so far gone that she hadn‟t realized he‟d lifted her and carried her to the bed until she lay on her back with him on top. Their lips never broke contact as their hands roamed each other‟s bodies. Sheridan finally twisted her head away to catch her breath. Brady turned his attention to her neck, licking patterns in her skin before taking light nips with his teeth. She‟d never been so turned on with just kisses and caresses. Her entire body trembled with excitement for this man. “You‟re so beautiful,” Brady whispered as he tugged down the straps of her bathing suit, freeing her generous breasts. She arched her back and cupped her breasts in her hands, offering herself to him. “I bet you say that to all the ladies.” “Only if I mean it.” He dipped his head to capture one already turgid bud between his lips, suckling deeply. “Yes, Brady, just like that.” As he sucked, she ran her thumb over the tip of her other breast to give herself the relief her body clamored for. Brady bit her nipple, causing her to cry out. And then he licked the hurt away. He laved her areola, circling and exploring the contours of her breast as if he was trying to memorize the flavor of her skin. In between licks, he would nibble her tender flesh

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to the point of pain, but it was the good kind that threatened to send her to the edge. Moisture pooled between her thighs, soaking the crotch of her bathing suit. How was it possible to be on the brink of orgasm just from having one‟s breasts sucked? Sheridan didn‟t know, but she was close. And she loved it. What seemed like several minutes later, when she could only pant with need, Brady finally turned his attention to her neglected breast to give it the same adoring treatment he had the other. “Do you like this?” he asked in a whisper in between the sucking and nipping. Sheridan could only nod, unable to form words. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she lifted her pelvis against his body, grinding her need for sweet release. Suddenly he stopped. Sheridan focused her gaze on him. “Why…why did you stop?” She licked her lips to moisten them. “Because a nod isn‟t sufficient. I want to know if you like this.” “Of course I do.” “I want to hear you say it.” Sheridan knew she was already damned the minute she had allowed things to go this far, so she figured she may as well stay committed to this course. “Dammit, this is no time for your ego. Stop playing and give us both what we want.” “Not until you tell me that you want this. Say the words.” She arched a brow. “Or what?” “Or I walk away.” “You wouldn‟t.” “Wanna try me?” She ran her hand down the center of his chest and slipped inside his swim trunks until she found his cock. Sheridan circled him with her fingers, drawing out

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a soft moan from Brady‟s lips. A smile curved her lips. “So you‟d stop when your dick is this hard? We both know you won‟t.” Several conflicting emotions flittered across Brady‟s face in a combination of uncertainty, anger, and lust. Slowly she slid her fisted palm along his hard length. Just as she‟d suspected, the man was packing. His cock was long and thick, and with each stroke of her hand, images of it plowing into her wetness had her mouth watering in anticipation. “So”—she grinned—“do you still want to walk away?” His eyes narrowed, shooting blue fire. Before she knew what he was up to, he captured her hand, removing it from his cock, and then took the other in one hand. He pinned them above her head, holding them captive. He fell on top of her again and crushed her mouth. This time the kiss was much different. Though he‟d been dominant before, this time he allowed no quarter, pushing her tongue back and taking complete control. Sheridan could only whimper in pleasure. His forcefulness was a turn-on she hadn‟t expected. She normally preferred men who were a little less controlling in bed, but she could get used to this. Brady lifted his head, his eyes darkened. “So you like to play games, huh?” With his free hand, he pushed aside the crotch of her swimsuit, exposing her pussy to his hungry gaze. “You‟re going to tell me you want me before this is over. You‟re going to tell me how much you like it. And you‟re going to beg for more.” As he made his intentions clear, he used his middle finger to slide along her slit. “You‟re already wet.” “Mmm,” was her only response. She bucked her hips, wanting him to slip his finger inside of her. He continued to rub her slit. “Tell me how much you want this, and you‟ll be rewarded.” She wasn‟t one for absolute surrender, but then again she couldn‟t remember when she‟d been this fucking horny. She raised her hips again.

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Brady chuckled. “Uh uh uh. You‟re going to have to tell me.” Sheridan gritted her teeth, not wanting to give in. She turned her head to the side to avoid eye contact. He laughed again. “I see the little vixen is stubborn. That‟s fine, because I can be stubborn too.” Brady released her wrists and moved down the length of her body. He nestled himself between her thighs, grabbed her hips, and planted his face against her pussy. Sheridan yelped in surprise. She thought his kiss had been fierce; that was nothing compared to the way he attacked her cunt. He clamped down on her clit, sucking as if his life depended on it, as he eased two fingers into her sheath. “Brady,” she moaned, dropping her guard. Liquid fire shot along every nerve in her body. She shook her head from side to side in ecstasy, unable to believe this man‟s deadly skills. He pushed another finger into her, thrusting so deep she cried out his name again. “Brady! Yes. Oh yes. More.” She raised her hips to the rhythm of his thrusts. He grazed his teeth against her clit, sending a jolt through her so strong, she reached her climax and came crashing down. Hard! She writhed beneath him, unable to keep still. Brady, however, wasn‟t finished. He continued to eat her pussy as if he were a man partaking of his last meal. “Brady, I can‟t take it anymore. Please,” she begged, thinking she may not be able to handle another orgasm so strong, but he ignored her and went on as if he hadn‟t heard her—or was ignoring her. She knew it was the latter and knew what he was playing at. “Brady, please. I-I…I think I‟m coming again.” She convulsed against the bed. Sheridan thought he‟d be finished when he pulled his finger out of her channel and finally released her clit. But instead, he gripped her hips and lifted her to his mouth. He shoved his tongue into her wet pussy, pushing as deep as it would go.

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“Jesus H. Christ, Brady. I…ahhhh.” She couldn‟t finish her sentence. It was obvious to her that he had no intention of stopping until he got what he wanted. “So good. So gooood. I want you, Brady. Badly.” There, she‟d said it. But that didn‟t stop him. He feasted on her, fucking her with his tongue. When her third orgasm came, she nearly passed out. Each consecutive climax had been more intense. She doubted she would survive another. Finally Brady raised his head, a satisfied smirk on his face. “Did you like that?” “You know I did, you arrogant prick.” He moved to his knees with a laugh. “No point in doing a job if you‟re not going to be thorough about it.” He gripped her bathing suit and yanked it completely off, leaving her naked beneath his intense stare. The intensity of his gaze left her shivering. Instinctually she moved to cover her breasts, but he grasped her hands and pushed them aside. “Don‟t. I don‟t ever want you to hide your beautiful body from me. You have nothing to be ashamed of.” The look of pure unadulterated lust in his eyes told her he spoke the truth. He moved his hand between the valley of her breasts to place his palm against her stomach. “So perfect. I need you. Do you want this?” She nodded. “Yes. Brady. Fuck me.” He went still for a moment and recovered so quickly she could have imagined it. Brady hopped off the bed to remove his trunks before returning. Her eyes widened. Though she‟d felt it in her hand, the touch hadn‟t prepared her for the size of his cock. It was so thick and well formed. Beautiful wasn‟t a word she associated with the male anatomy, but Brady‟s dick was that and more. She squirmed, impatient to have him inside of her. He moved on his knees, situating himself between her spread legs. Grabbing his cock, he guided it to her wet entrance. “Are you sure you want this?”

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“Yes. Please. Now. I need it.” When this was over, she would probably have time to feel ashamed for doing what she did with Brady, but for now there was no time for recriminations. He slipped the huge head past her slit, pausing when she gasped. “Are you okay?” She nodded. His size would take some getting used to. “Yes, I‟m fine.” Brady slowly fed his cock into her pussy—inch by deliciously excruciating inch. The slow torture was enough for Sheridan to thrust her hips up, forcing him to slide all the way into her. When he was, they both released a simultaneous gasp. “So tight. Feels so good, baby.” He closed his eyes and was completely still. “I just want to savor this moment here. I want to always remember how tight and wet you feel right now.” He opened his eyes. “You feel like you were made just for me.” He remained motionless for several more seconds until finally Sheridan couldn‟t take it anymore. She needed him to move. Needed to feel him plowing deep inside of her. She raised her hips, smashing her pelvis against him, which served to send him even deeper than before. “Oh!” she cried out at the decadent sensation of being so thoroughly stretched by him. She raked her nails down the front of his chest. “Please, Brady.” He let out a low moan as he took one of her legs and slung it over his shoulder. Brady‟s gaze locked with hers when he started to move—slowly at first, trying to find his rhythm. Then he picked up the pace, pulling out until only his head remained in her, and then slamming back into her channel. Brady worked his cock in and out, circling his hips in the process and hitting every erogenous zone within her pussy. The intensity in his gaze as he watched her was as much of a turn-on as the act itself, but it left her frightened and a bit unsure. She bit her bottom lip and looked away, only to have him reach out and cup her chin, guiding her head back until they‟re eyes met again.

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“I want to see the expression on your beautiful face as I‟m loving you. Want you to look at me when I‟m a part of you, shoving my dick so far up this pretty little cunt so you have no doubt in your mind who I am. I want you to look at me and say my name. Say it like you don‟t ever want this to stop.” He enunciated every word with a powerful thrust. Sheridan whimpered with pleasure. “Brady, I want you. Want this. Don‟t stop. God, don‟t ever stop.” She groaned, tossing her head back and forth. He continued to move within her, and it soon became apparent to her that this was more than mere fucking. Much more. If she were thinking coherently, she would end it now, but her traitorous body wouldn‟t allow it. Somehow Brady had become an addiction in her blood that she couldn‟t get enough of. When her next orgasm came, she screamed out. “Brady! I‟m coming.” It was more powerful than the last few, a feat she hadn‟t thought possible. Her entire body exploded and then went numb. It was so good she fought to not pass out. Brady‟s climax followed shortly; his body began to shake, followed by the hot spray of his seed pumping deep inside her pussy. “Oh God, Sheridan!” He stayed inside of her until his cock lost some of its hardness before he pulled out completely and collapsed to her side. Sheridan lay in the aftermath of what had happened, trying to process what she felt. But Brady didn‟t seem to be through with her yet. He hooked one arm around her and pulled her body flush with his. He stroked her back and planted kisses on her face. “You‟re so beautiful, so wonderful.” He slid his hand up and down her back in lazy strokes as he murmured more words of comfort. Sheridan wasn‟t one to allow herself to be held after sex; in fact she usually chose partners who shared her no-strings-attached attitude, but this was something different—more profound—and she wasn‟t sure she was comfortable with it. Brady continued to kiss and caress her, not so much in a sexual way but in a way that suggested he valued her as a person and that what they shared was

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something special. She didn‟t like feeling this way. Sheridan lay still in his arms, knowing she should get up while part of her didn‟t want to. “Spend Christmas with me, sweetheart,” he murmured between kisses. “Huh?” He could have told her the house was on fire, and it would have had the same effect. “When we get back home, I want you to spend the rest of the holiday with me. You did say you didn‟t have any plans.” “I have no plans for a reason. I don‟t do Christmas. I hate it, and I hate everything about it.” “Sweetheart?” “I‟m not your sweetheart. We fucked up. We shouldn‟t have done that. It can‟t happen again.” Brady shot up. “What?” His eyebrows drew together, and he scowled fiercely. “Like hell it won‟t. What we shared was more than just sex. I know you felt it.” Sheridan refused to admit it. She couldn‟t. “It wasn‟t. It was just one of those things. Granted it was very good sex, but that‟s all it was.” He brought his hands up as if he were holding something between them, and for a second, she thought he‟d strangle her. Sheridan rolled away from him and scrambled off the bed. She crossed her arms over her breasts. “Brady, don‟t make this harder than it is.” She ignored his cum sliding down the inside of her thighs. He narrowed his eyes. “Do you think I‟m like that with every woman I‟m with?” She shrugged. “How the hell should I know? You go through them so often.” “Those women are nothing to me; some of them are just friends, others I bring around to the office to tick grandfather off. He was meddling in my love life too much, telling me I needed to settle down, so I allowed some of the women to come by the office so he would leave me alone. I know it was childish, but it worked. Most of

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them I only had a couple dates with. Nothing else. Not even sex. This wasn‟t just mere sex, and you know it. You wouldn‟t have given yourself so totally to me if it had been.” She slapped her hand against her forehead as something dawned on her. “Shit. We didn‟t use a condom.” “So if something comes from this, we‟ll work it out.” “Do you hear yourself? You sound crazy. Besides, I‟m on birth control. I‟m talking about diseases.” Was she imagining things, or did she notice a brief flittering of disappointment on his face. No, it couldn‟t be. “I‟m clean, but if makes you feel better, I get tested regularly.” “How do you know I don‟t have something?” “Do you?” “No. I‟ve never had sex without protection before.” “So what are you worried about?” “Uh!” She threw her hands up in the air. “That‟s an irresponsible tone to take.” “You‟re griping over nothing. The real issue is how we feel about each other.” “I feel nothing for you. It was just sex!” she yelled. “Oh? So you think this animosity between the two of us from the beginning was simply because we jumped to the wrong conclusions about each other? People misjudge others all the time, but our animosity had a deeper meaning. We were fighting our feelings for each other. I think I‟ve wanted you since we first met.” Sheridan didn‟t want to hear any of this. She was too scared to examine it, because what if he was right? She slapped her hands over her ears. “I don‟t want to hear any of this. Get out!” “You do have feelings for me, and I‟ll prove it to you!”

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Chapter Nine Brady didn‟t know whether to be hurt or angry; all he knew was that he‟d never come close to expressing himself with another woman in the way he had with Sheridan. What they had just shared was something magical. He‟d never been so hungry or connected with anyone else as much as her. And he was almost one hundred percent positive that she felt the same way as well. He wasn‟t lying when he‟d said that he‟d wanted her from the beginning but their preconceived notions had gotten in the way. He didn‟t bother telling her about the wet dreams he had of her that had him waking up nightly in cold sweats. And now after finally having her, he‟d be damned if he allowed anything and anyone to get in the way, and that included her. Sheridan‟s bright eyes widened as she took a step back as he moved closer. She shook her head from side to side. “What are you doing? Don‟t come any closer.” “You are mine, Sheridan, and I won‟t let you deny it any longer.” She continued to move until her back was against the wall. When he was inches away, she tried to dodge him, darting to the left, but he caught her arm, making it impossible for her to escape. Brady scooped her up by the armpits and pulled her against him before taking her mouth in a searing lip-lock. He gave everything he could in that kiss, forcing her to accept him, giving her all his anger and hurt. He could feel her resistance, but he couldn‟t stop, not until she admitted there was something real between them. Sheridan pushed at his chest, but his arms remained relentless in their hold on her. Although Brady had only come a few minutes ago, he was hard and ready

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for her again. His dick was rigid to the point of near pain. The feel of her nipples tightening against his chest was enough to drive him mad with need for her. As he pushed his tongue between her lips and teeth, forcing them apart, he could tell she was softening toward him again. The hands that had tried to push him away were now clutching him to her. Her tongue darted out to greet his, and he let her. Their tongues dueled, swirling and licking each other in a primal battle of lust and desire. He broke the kiss to whisper against her lips. “That‟s it, sweetheart. Wrap your legs around me.” Sheridan obeyed his command, and he ground against her dampness, getting her ready for him again. She‟d felt so tight and wet, her hot pussy choking his cock, surrounding and milking it. Their lips merged one more time before Brady ended the kiss to bury his face against her neck. He loved inhaling her sweet scent, loved taking her. He loved her reaction to whatever he did. Was it love? He wasn‟t sure, but he knew he liked it. He gripped her thigh and wiggled his hips until his cockhead rested at her entrance. “Do you want this?” Her sigh was the only response. Deciding not to ruin the moment by demanding she tell him, he pushed gently into her. “That‟s okay, baby; you don‟t have to say it. Show me.” He pushed into her one slow inch at a time until he was all the way in. Sheridan wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against the side of his neck as he moved in her. This time there were no screams, just soft moans. Her pussy clenched his cock in a vise. Brady knew he wouldn‟t last long, but he made every stroke count, going long and deep. He doubted he‟d ever felt like he did in this moment. When he held Sheridan, the rest of the world ceased to exist. All he could see and hear was her, and he believed she felt the same way as well. When her legs tightened around him and her nails dug into his flesh, Sheridan let out another whimper, signaling her release. Brady gritted his teeth, trying to

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hold on, but the tightness of her pussy wouldn‟t allow him to. He grunted as he reached his climax and spilled his seed deep inside of her. He held on to her, not wanting to let go. Brady was perfectly content to hold her, but the feel of moisture against his arm brought him out of his desire-filled haze. From the way her back trembled up and down, he could tell she was crying. With her legs still wrapped around him and his cock still lodged inside her pussy, he carried her to the bed and gently laid her down. He slid down next to her, but she turned her back to him and curled up in a ball. He touched her shoulder in an attempt to offer comfort, but she flinched away. “Sweetheart, please.” “Just go away,” she croaked out, her voice heavy with tears. “Sheridan…” “Just go. You got what you wanted.” She made it seem so sordid and dirty, as if she hadn‟t been a willing participant, but there was no ignoring her pain, and though he wanted to take her in his arms and be her strength, he didn‟t want to push any harder than he had. It would take her longer to accept there was something between them, so he‟d give her that space to figure it out. For now. He dropped a kiss on the back of her head and got off the bed. He pulled on his swim trunks and went to the door. He didn‟t want to leave like this: he could feel her pain radiating from every pore. But he left her, knowing she‟d need time to process what had happened. He slipped out of her room and into the hallway, when reality stuck. He was in his clients‟ home, and he‟d just made loud, passionate love to his employee. Shit, shit, shit!

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Thank goodness there was no one in the hallway, but he knew they‟d have to be careful. He couldn‟t have Sheridan as he wanted to for the rest of the week, but that didn‟t mean he wouldn‟t the second they left the Smiths.

*** That first day with their clients seemed to set the tone for how the week went. Michael and Maude were hospitable hosts, taking them around the island, wining and dining them, but they insisted on the no-business rule until the end of the two weeks. Odder still, the two of them would disappear for long periods at a time, leaving Brady and Sheridan to their own devices. It was a bit disconcerting. Brady wasn‟t sure what to make of it. He wanted to spend time with Sheridan while their hosts weren‟t around, but she wasn‟t having it. Whenever they found themselves alone, she‟d excuse herself to the room and lock the door behind her as if she was scared he‟d follow. He would have, but that was beside the point. Whenever she saw him coming, she‟d walk in the opposite direction. The only time they got to spend together was when either Michael or Maude was around. She remained polite and professional in their presence, but Brady noticed as the week progressed, Sheridan became tenser. If he wasn‟t mistaken, he believed it wasn‟t just the tension between them but the season itself. Maude seemed to love everything Christmas and roped them into sitting through listening to her favorite holiday albums and talking about their favorite experiences. Sheridan, he could tell, was not happy with it, though she did a good job of keeping her opinion to herself. With each passing day, Brady‟s frustration grew. Sheridan must have planted a homing device on him because she seemed to know his every move and was able to avoid him whenever he came near. By the beginning of their second week at the Smiths, Brady had had enough. He refused to be ignored. If Sheridan didn‟t want anything to do with him as she claimed, then why avoid him?

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He was determined to have it out with her, whether she wanted to talk or not. One night, after another of Maude‟s perfectly executed meals, Brady excused himself early, feigning illness. Instead of going to his room, he made a detour to Sheridan‟s room and waited. He didn‟t care how long he needed to be there, even if it was all night. Fortunately for him, Sheridan entered her bedroom not more than fifteen minutes later. Not bothering to turn on the lights, she headed for her private bath and closed the door behind her. Brady didn‟t move a muscle as he waited out her next move. When he heard the shower running, he knew there were only two things he could do—one of those was leave. The other…well, it was too great a temptation to withstand. Brady shed his clothes before he could talk himself out of his decision and stalked to the bathroom. Steam seeped from the shower stall, permeating the entire room, almost making it hard for him to see. Gently he clicked the door closed behind him, careful not to alert Sheridan of his presence. As he made his way closer to her, he halted for a moment to admire the outline of her body through the glass door. Her hourglass figure made his hands itch to reach out to her. Her full breasts made his mouth water to taste them. Her round ass made his cock jump to attention as he imagined thrusting into her from behind while squeezing that firm flesh in his palms. He stood transfixed, watching her hands glide over her body. Brady figured she was soaping her skin; however, as her small hands roamed down the center of her body, they stopped at her pussy and lingered. She caressed herself, sliding her hand over her cunt. A soft moan tumbled from her lips. Her other hand moved up again until it cupped one firm tit, squeezing it tight. Brady‟s breath caught in his throat as he remained rooted to the spot. He couldn‟t tear his gaze away from the erotic sight she created, and he didn‟t want to.

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Sheridan placed one hand against the wall as she palmed and rubbed her pussy. Unable to help himself, Brady allowed his hand to drift down his body until he clutched his cock. Swallowing his moan, he licked his lips and slowly stroked his aching length. Fuck she was hot. The steam hindered him from having a completely clear view of her, but he saw enough—saw how her hips swayed from side to side as her hand grew more aggressive in its motions. She moaned over and over again. “Oh, Brady,” she groaned. He stiffened. Brady had been looking for a signal, even the smallest of signs to convince him to go through with what he had in mind, to tell him he wasn‟t being a complete stalker. If this wasn‟t it, he didn‟t know what was. There was no way in hell she could deny that she wanted him as badly as he wanted her after what he‟d just heard. With more confidence than he had when he‟d entered the bathroom, he walked over to the shower stall and slowly pulled back the glass door. Sheridan was so engrossed in giving herself the pleasure Brady wanted to be in charge of that she didn‟t notice him. He stepped inside the enclosed space and quietly closed the door behind him. “Brady.” Her soft moan greeted his ears once more. No longer able to remain passive, Brady moved until the front of his body was flush with her backside. He reached around and placed his hand over hers. Two of her fingers were deep inside her pussy. Sheridan‟s head snapped up, and she let out a loud gasp of surprise. Brady leaned over until his lips nearly touched her ear. “Shh, don‟t stop. Just let it happen, sweetheart. Let me make you feel good.” He hooked his other arm around her waist and ground his erection against her ass. “Don‟t deny us what I know we both want, baby. Give in to me. Give in to us.” “Y-you shouldn‟t be in here,” came her weak reply.

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“Maybe not, but will you pretend you didn‟t just say my name?” He gently pulled her hand away from her pussy and lifted it to his mouth. He captured her cream-drenched finger in his mouth, savoring her intoxicating flavor. He sucked the incriminating digits clean and gave them a final lick before letting them go. “And can you pretend you weren‟t turned on thinking about me?” “I—” She attempted to turn around to face him, but he held her tight, pressing her forward. Sheridan placed her palms against the wall to brace herself. “Brady, we can‟t.” He rubbed his cock against her rear, teasing the entrance of her pussy as he nuzzled her neck. The spray of the shower beat against their skin like stinging pellets, heightening the sensitivity of already tingling flesh. Brady had never needed anyone as much as he needed Sheridan right now, and he knew if he didn‟t get inside of her, he‟d explode. “Tell me you want this, Sheridan.” Her breath came out in short pants. “And if I don‟t?” “Then I walk away.” He slid his hand over her pussy and grazed her slit with his middle finger. “But I don‟t think you can.” He eased his digit into her hot core. “Can you?” “This. Is. Blackmail,” Sheridan bit out through gritted teeth. Even though she offered words of resistance, she rode his finger as if she couldn‟t get enough. “It‟s only blackmail if you don‟t want it.” Brady nibbled her earlobe as he thrust another finger into her tight cunt to join the first. “Oh, God.” “No, not God. Brady.” He fingered her, growing more aggressive with each push, going deeper, harder, faster. “Fuck me, Brady. I need it so bad.” As much as he wanted to continue this seductive torture until she was a boneless mass of quivering flesh, he needed it just as badly, if not more. After a

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week of sexual dreams featuring Sheridan as the star and having had a taste of her already, he couldn‟t hold off from satisfying that craving. He pulled his fingers out of her pussy and turned her around to face him. Grabbing her by the rear, he lifted her up. “Wrap your legs around me, baby.” Sheridan did as she was commanded without argument. Once she was locked around his body, he used one hand to guide himself into her. She was so wet, he slid in with ease. Damn, he thought he‟d imagined how tight she‟d been the first time he‟d had her, but she was just as snug around his cock as he remembered. He slammed into her with deep, powerful thrusts, punishing her for keeping this hot pussy away from him. “Mine,” he growled. And to underline his claim, he caught the pert tip of one burgeoning breast in his mouth and bit down. Her sharp intake of breath was her reply. Instead of a protest, she arched her back as if to offer him more of her. Not one to turn down such an enticing invitation, Brady suckled and nibbled on each breast in turn until she continuously sobbed his name. Her pussy muscles clenched his cock in a vise. Brady knew he was going to come soon, but he didn‟t want the moment to end. Not yet. Without dislodging himself from the warmth of her cunt, Brady turned off the shower. With Sheridan still clinging and writhing against him, he stepped out of the shower stall and carried her out of the bathroom, not stopping until he reached her bed. Only then did he pull her off him and position Sheridan on her hands and knees. Brady quickly moved behind her and shoved his cock into what he now considered its home. Her pussy was heaven, and there was no place he would rather be. “You have no idea how much I‟ve dreamed of fucking you like this. Taking this pussy and smacking this big, beautiful ass.” He brought his palm down on one brown cheek with a loud crack. “Brady!” She pushed back against him, sending him deeper inside of her.

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He chuckled. “So you like being spanked?” She threw him a veiled look over her shoulder. “Only by you.” He brought his palm down on her ass again, this time a bit harder. “Sounds like someone‟s been a bad girl.” “Oh!” she cried out. “Very bad. So very bad.” That was all the encouragement Brady needed. He spanked her as he drove deep and hard into her wet hole. He tried to hold on as long as he could, but when she tightened around him to the point where he could no longer move, he completely lost it. With a loud grunt, he shot his cum deep inside her channel. Sheridan shuddered beneath him, burying her head in the pillow before letting out a muffled scream. Brady remained behind her for several more moments, savoring just being one with her. After this experience, he knew there would never be anyone who could make him feel the way that Sheridan made him feel right now. Brady reluctantly pulled out and eased his body next to hers. “Sheridan?” “Hmm?” Now was a good as time as any to discuss how he felt. “After that, can you say there‟s nothing between us?” She remained quiet, and for a moment he thought she‟d fallen asleep. He raised his body halfway. “Sheridan?” “It was just sex, Brady, albeit very good sex—hell, great sex—but it was still just that. Sex.” He could have lost his temper and called her a liar, but something told him not to press it. He already had one victory that day. Sheridan had finally admitted to wanting him. Hearing her call his name in the shower when she didn‟t know he was watching told Brady he was slowly wearing down her defenses.

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He kissed the back of her head and molded his body against hers. She stiffened and then tried to wiggle out of his hold. “No, you owe me this at least. Let me hold you. Please.” With a sigh, she stopped resisting him. “You know this doesn‟t mean anything, right?” “Of course it doesn‟t.” “And you don‟t have to patronize me.” “I wouldn‟t dream of doing that, sweetheart.” She sighed. “You‟re impossible.” Brady chuckled. “So I‟ve been told.” He continued to hold her until she actually fell asleep, and snuck out when he believed everyone else was in bed. He figured there would be plenty of time for talking throughout the rest of their stay at the Smiths.

*** Brady was wrong. Not only did they not get a chance to talk, Sheridan avoided him more than ever. She made herself scarce when Michael and Maude weren‟t around. She always made sure to turn in before Brady, and her bedroom door was always locked. It wasn‟t until the last day at the Smiths that he was able to talk to her. Their bags had been packed and taken out to the boat. They had one final meeting with Michael to determine if he would be renewing his contract with McGuire‟s. After breakfast, they were ushered into Michael‟s office. Maude had already said her good-byes the night before, deciding to sleep in that morning. “Have a seat.” The older man smiled at them kindly. Brady and Sheridan took the seats in front of the desk while Michael took the one behind it. Once they were settled, Brady went in for his sales pitch. “I‟m sure that you‟ll find no other company better suited to your manufacturing needs than McGuire‟s. We—”

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Michael held his hand up, signaling him to stop. “No need to go into your spiel. I‟m already familiar with what McGuire‟s can do for me. Did you two enjoy your stay?” Brady stole a quick questioning glance at Sheridan and found her looking back, bemusement on her face as well. He returned his attention to his host. “Yes, we did. Everything was great. We appreciate the hospitality.” The older man nodded. “Good. Good. I didn‟t really see you two spend that much time together.” “We did; it‟s just that there was so much to do,” came Sheridan‟s rushed response. Why was Michael concerned about the amount of time they had spent together? It was odd. This whole setup was strange, but this was too important an account to question him. “Um, yes. What she said.” Michael‟s narrowed gaze scrutinized them for what seemed like several agonizing minutes before a smile broke out on his face. “You know. I really like you two. I hope you‟ll make it to the island again soon. Maude and I don‟t get much company.” “Of course,” Brady agreed. He would have agreed to just about anything at that point. “Good. How about you, my dear?” He directed his question to Sheridan. “Yes. I would love to.” “Great. Perhaps we‟ll see you again, hopefully not before this new contract is up.” “Certainly, we—” It took Brady a second to realize what the other man had said. “You mean we‟ve got the contract?” “Yes. I can‟t think of any company I‟d rather do business with. You two have good heads on your shoulders.”

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Brady recovered quickly and pulled out the contract from his briefcase. Once the paperwork was signed, they chatted casually about their plans for the holidays. Sheridan basically sidestepped the answer but managed to draw the man into a conversation about the island. Michael may not have noticed, but Brady did. What was her problem with the holidays? Could it be the reason for her progressively sour disposition around him, or was the problem just him? Now more than ever, he wanted to find out. Later that afternoon, once their host saw them off to the boat to take them back to the mainland, Brady took the opportunity to talk. Their plane would be leaving in a few hours, and he couldn‟t leave things where they stood. “You can‟t keep avoiding me.” Sheridan turned her back to him. He gripped her shoulders and turned her to face him forcibly. “Would you at least look at me while I‟m talking to you?” “Brady, why the hell can‟t you let it be?” “Because you can‟t tell me that there‟s nothing between us when I know you felt it too. That‟s why. Why are you shutting me out? Is it me, or is it just the holiday?” “Please don‟t start again. Is your ego so fragile that you can‟t take it when a woman doesn‟t want anything to do with you beyond a quick roll in the hay? I mean, it was good. Very good actually, but damn, I didn‟t expect you to start stalking me afterward.” Her words were like a slap in the face, except she could have actually smacked him and it wouldn‟t have had the same impact they had on him. “A quick roll? Is that what you think it was?” She shrugged. “Wasn‟t it? Look, when we go back to the office, let‟s just pretend none of this happened. We were both out of line, and it‟s a mistake I don‟t intend to repeat.”

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He should have let it go then. How many times did he have to keep pushing and getting rejected before he took the hint? “Maybe once wasn‟t enough for me. Maybe I want more.” “Then that‟s tough. You and I can‟t get involved in any capacity, period.” “Why? I want you to look me in the eye and tell me why we can‟t be together, and don‟t give me some bullshit excuse.” She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. “Because not even good sex is worth being with someone like you.” “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” “Someone who has a short attention span where women are concerned. You think I bought that dumb story about all those other women? You must think I‟m a fool. Go find someone who buys your crap.” His eyes narrowed. “Is that what you really think of me? After spending time with me, you still think I‟m that kind of guy?” He literally wanted to strangle her. Wrap his fingers around her neck and squeeze. “If that‟s how you feel, then I really have nothing left to say.” “It is.” She nodded firmly.

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Chapter Ten It wasn‟t how she felt. Far from it. But she didn‟t have the courage to tell him. He barely looked at her when they were on the plane. Besides a few words about the contract, nothing more was said. Brady acted as if she‟d hurt him. But that couldn‟t be possible because that would mean he had genuine feelings for her, and she couldn‟t believe that. She didn‟t sleep one wink during the entire flight or the limo drive home. In fact she didn‟t sleep for the next twenty-four hours, running their conversation through her head. She could have told him why she felt the way she did, but she‟d learned a long time ago that opening up only caused hurt. She couldn‟t face him again, not the way she felt. Maybe he didn‟t have feelings for her, but foolishly she had them for him. But she‟d sell her soul to the devil before she told him. Sheridan was thankful she didn‟t need to go in to work the next day. It wasn‟t until late afternoon, after several hours of pacing around her condo, that she figured out what she needed to do. She sat down at her computer and drafted an e-mail. She agonized for several minutes before sending it off. Only then was she able to go to bed and fall into a restless sleep.

*** Brady was beginning to understand why Sheridan hated Christmas so much. Everywhere he went, he saw decorations and people making merry, being a little more cheerful than usual, when all he felt like doing was punching someone in the face. How could everyone else be so happy in the face of his misery?

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He should have been able to say good riddance to a head case like Sheridan when they‟d parted ways, but he couldn‟t sleep from thinking about her. Something didn‟t really ring true about her words, but he wasn‟t insane. He couldn‟t keep banging his head against a brick wall and expect a different result. She obviously couldn‟t be bothered, so why should he? Brady took solace in the fact that at least she wouldn‟t be in the office for the next few weeks. That way he could pull himself together by the time she returned. He was in a bad mood from the moment he got up that first day back at work. He walked into the office like a bear with a sore head. Where he would usually greet and speak to people, he ignored everyone and headed straight to his office. He slammed the door behind him and sank into his chair. Peace was not to be his, however, when his phone rang. He recognized his grandfather‟s extension and groaned. He‟d been avoiding the old man‟s calls since his return. Brady had taken the coward‟s way out and sent an e-mail to Seamus‟s secretary relaying news about the contract. He debated on whether he should ignore this call, but the persistent ringing would not go away. Finally with a sigh, he picked up the phone, expecting to hear his grandfather‟s secretary. “Yes?” “Don‟t you yes me, boy! Is this how you treat your grandfather? I‟ve been calling you since you‟ve been back. Why haven‟t you returned any of my calls?” the other man barked into the line. Brady held the phone away from his ear to save his eardrums. When his grandfather was finished yelling, he put the receiver closer to his face. “I had planned on calling. I just needed to get settled. How are you?” “What the hell happened on the island?” Brady paused. What could that mean? Was it possible the Smiths had found out what they‟d done and were offended? Maybe they had been too polite to mention it. But if they had a problem with it, why did Michael Smith renew their contract?

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He decided to play it cool. “I‟m not sure what you‟re talking about. We secured the contract as you directed us to.” “I‟m not talking about the goddamn contract, boy. Hold on; I‟ll be down there in five minutes. And so help me, if you‟re not there when I arrive, I will wring your neck.” Brady could feel the beginnings of a headache. And he hadn‟t had his morning coffee. He could have buzzed his secretary to get him a cup, but he wasn‟t one of those types of bosses. He was quite capable of getting his own coffee. He made a quick trip to the pantry to make himself a cup and was waylaid by Jessica. “Hi, Brady. We missed you here in the office.” “Oh yeah?” he responded, searching for the cream. “Yes. Things have been a bit hectic around here, but I bet it will be even more hectic now that Sheridan is gone. I wonder who‟ll take on all her clients.” “She‟ll only be gone for a few weeks. I‟m sure her accounts will be just fine.” He liked Jessica as a person, but the woman didn‟t know when to leave well enough alone. “That isn‟t what I meant. I mean with her leaving and all. I shouldn‟t know this, but I heard Nan in HR talking about it. As her direct supervisor, you must have heard about it already.” “What?” he roared. Jessica paled. “I, uh, I could have been wrong. I apologize if I overstepped my bounds.” Without giving further response, he tore past her and went to his office. He scrolled through his e-mails, and sure enough there was an e-mail from human resources forwarding Sheridan‟s official resignation. What the hell? Was she that much of a chicken that she couldn‟t face him? One thing he had at least respected about her was her fighting ability. Why would she decide to up and leave now?

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He‟d barely had a chance to read the entire missive when his grandfather crashed through his door. He strode to Brady‟s desk and slammed down a piece of paper. It was the printed-out e-mail Brady had just finished reading. “Care to tell me what the hell this is about?” Brady was speechless. Why was his grandfather so angry? He knew Seamus had a fondness for Sheridan, but he hadn‟t realized her departure would upset him so much. His grandfather slammed his fist against the desk. “Answer me, boy!” “Your guess is as good as mine. I‟m just finding out about this myself, and before you go blaming me, I never told her to resign.” “What happened on that island? Why would the wee lass resign? You must have done something to her.” Now it was Brady‟s turn to get angry. “I‟m your relative, not her. Why the hell are you always taking her side? Shit, you‟d think you two were screwing around or something the way you go on about her.” “Don‟t you take that tone with me, young man. I may not be as spry as I used to be, but I‟ll still take you down a peg. Tell me what happened.” “Like I‟d know. The woman is a head case. She runs hot one minute and cold the next.” Seamus raised one bushy eyebrow. “So something did happen on the island. I suspected as much. Care to tell me about it?” The older man took the seat opposite of Brady. “No, I don‟t, but you won‟t leave me alone unless I do, will you?” “Not a chance.” Brady sighed. “I think I‟m falling for her. I didn‟t mean for it to happen. But it did. Things got a little too carried away, and I lost my head. Funny thing is, I thought the feeling was mutual, and when I confessed how I felt, she ran and has been running ever since. It seems her resignation is her final answer.”

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“I see.” The older man sighed. “Is that all you have to say? Aren‟t you going to tell me how disappointed you are about my lack of professionalism? How I could have jeopardized an important contract.” “No.” “No?” “No, because this is just as much my fault as it is yours. I put the two of you together for a reason. Call me an old fool, but I thought…” “What are you trying to say?” “You two were never in danger of losing the contract. The renewal was just a formality.” Brady was more confused than ever. “I don‟t understand.” “Did this trip feel more like business or pleasure?” Now that Brady had time to revisit his suspicions, he had found it odd that the Smiths barely spoke business, and even that final meeting had been bizarre. Was this all some kind of bizarre test of his grandfather‟s? “There really wasn‟t much work involved actually.” “Exactly. Did you know the Smiths are really good friends of mine? Known Michael for years. Was friends with his father. I had a favor coming my way from him, and I saw this as an opportunity to play matchmaker.” Brady wasn‟t sure what he‟d expected his grandfather to say, but this certainly wasn‟t it. “What? Are you saying you deliberately threw me and Sheridan together to see what would happen? That this whole contract in jeopardy was a big charade?” “Aye. When put like that, it sounds much more calculating than it is.” “How the hell else is it suppose to sound? You‟ve been trying to matchmake since I graduated from grad school. Why do you think I‟ve been parading all those women under your nose?”

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Seamus waved dismissively. “Ach, boy, I knew what you were up to. And I admit, in the beginning I was a little careless with the way I threw women in your path. Call me an old man who‟s looking forward to retirement and perhaps bouncing a few great-grandkids on his knee. Brady, you‟ve more than proven to me that you‟re capable of running this company, but I can‟t rest until I know that your home life is settled as well. Don‟t think I didn‟t notice what was going on around the office with you and Sheridan. I could tell underneath that animosity, the two of you really did like each other. I figured if I made a push, you two would discover what I‟d known all along.” “Is that why you liked her so much? Because you thought she‟d make me a good wife?” “Aye. She reminds me so much of my Eileen: wee and feisty. Loving woman she was, but had a temper like a pissed-off wolverine.” A smile touched Brady‟s lips. His grandmother had been outspoken. She‟d loved deeply, but when crossed, she hadn‟t been one to be messed with. He agreed that Sheridan was feisty, but did she have the same capacity to love? He wasn‟t so sure. “Yes, Grandmother was a force to be reckoned with.” Seamus chuckled. “Aye, she was.” Then his expression went serious again. “Brady, will you tell me what happened?” Brady hesitated at first, but he figured, why not. Since his grandfather had engineered the whole thing, he might as well know the results of his meddling. He told him everything, leaving nothing out. When he finished, the hurt he‟d tried to bury the past few days resurfaced with a vengeance. “So that‟s it. I confessed how I felt, and she basically called me a man whore, in not so many words.” “Hmm. So you love her?” “I don‟t know what this emotion is I‟m experiencing, but she never gave me a chance to figure it out.” “Do you think about her every waking hour?” Brady nodded slowly.

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“Does she make your heart pound faster?” “Yes.” “Do you want to strangle her one second and then kiss her the next? When you‟re not with her, are you wishing you could be?” Brady knitted his eyebrows together. “Yes, but how did you know how I felt?” “I may not be as young as I used to, but I know what love feels like and you have it bad, my boy. Go after her.” “In case you‟ve forgotten, she quit.” “And you still have access to her personnel records. Look her address up.” “I don‟t know. She made it pretty clear that she wants nothing to do with me.” “Or maybe she‟s scared. You bring the lass back, or I will not only terminate your position here, I will disinherit you.” Seamus stood up before Brady could reply to the underhanded demand. If Brady thought for a minute that his grandfather would actually do that, he would have told him to shove the job and never looked back, but he could tell the old man was being his usual interfering self. Sometimes his grandfather‟s bark was far worse than his bite—especially when it came to family. Before the old man headed out the door, he turned back to Brady. “Good luck, son. I‟ll be expecting you both for Christmas dinner.” With a chuckle, Seamus departed. “Well, shit,” Brady muttered.

*** Sheridan heard the doorbell ringing but refused to answer. She didn‟t want visitors. She gulped down another shot of tequila, cursing her high alcohol tolerance. The condo was completely dark, except for the lamp on the end table by the couch. She kept the curtains closed, letting the room reflect her mood. Had Brady been telling her the truth when he‟d said he had feelings for her?

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It was a risk she couldn‟t afford to take. Her heart already hurt at the prospect of losing him. All she had to do was wait out the holiday before searching for another job. Perhaps she‟d been too hasty to hand in her resignation with the economy being the way it was, but she had a healthy savings she could live off if worse came to worst. The insistent banging on the door stopped, but seconds later she heard the locks being fiddled with. She groaned. There was only one other person who had the key to her condo. “Sheridan? Honey, are you in here?” Julie called out. “What‟s going on?” Her friend flicked on the lights. “Whew, it smells like a distillery in here! What are you doing?” Julie walked over to where Sheridan was sprawled on the couch and snatched away a bottle of tequila. “How much of this have you had?” “I just started: maybe three, four shots. Look, I don‟t need a lecture. I don‟t plan on going anywhere.” Julie strode to the kitchen with bottle in hand. Sheridan supposed her friend was going in there to dump out the contents. She returned with a tall glass of water. “Here, drink this.” Sheridan shook her head. “I don‟t need it.” “Drink.” The tone of Julie‟s voice told Sheridan there would be no arguing. “Fine. Mommy.” She took the water and drank it in a few gulps. When she finished, she held up the empty glass. “There, are you happy?” “No, really? I know you said you were going to hole yourself up in here for the holidays, but you haven‟t returned any of my calls, and I was getting worried about you. What‟s going on, sweetheart? How was your trip to the Caribbean?” “I quit my job.” “What? Did you and your boss clash that much? Oh honey. I‟m so sorry.” “It wasn‟t that. It‟s… I mean, something happened.”

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“The two of you got a little carried away with each other?” Julie asked perceptively. “How did you know?” Julie rolled her eyes. “The way you went on about him, a person would have to be an idiot not to see that your animosity was hiding an attraction to him. Besides, you‟d drop lines about how you didn‟t care how blue his eyes were or how broad his chest was. You gave yourself away without knowing. So I‟m assuming he returned the interest. Did that jerk dump you when it was over?” Julie finished with a frown. “No, actually the jerk was me. I told him I couldn‟t be with someone like him.” “Why ever not? You like him and he likes you, right?” “He claims he has feelings for me. Said what happened to us was special, but I told him I wanted no part of it. If I would have given in to him, it would have been over by Christmas.” “You‟re going to have to get over this Christmas hang-up, hon. I seriously think you should consider therapy. Trust me; it will do wonders for you.” “I don‟t need therapy. I just need to avoid everything Christmas.” “So you had a string of bad luck.” “A string of bad luck? My dad walked out on my mother on Christmas, never to be seen since. My mom died on Christmas a year later. My perverted foster father tried to touch me inappropriately on Christmas just because he brought me a Christmas present. Then there was the Roger incident. How much more does a woman have to go through to realize that Christmas fucking sucks.” “First of all, your father leaving had nothing to do with the holiday. And it wasn‟t your fault. You were practically a baby. And your mom dying on Christmas was tragic, yes, but her walking out in the middle of traffic on Christmas was no coincidence. She did it on purpose. She selfishly left you behind with no one to take care of you because she couldn‟t get over your father—at least that‟s how I understood it. As for those other incidents. Your foster father was a sick man. What

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he tried to do to you could have happened on any day of the year. It just so happened that Christmas was when the incident occurred. And please, girl, you are so much better off without Roger. He was the king of the douche bags. Don‟t be like your mother and let these incidents define who you are. You‟re stronger than that. You‟re the same girl who took on bullies twice your size. Remember when we were in the group home?” Sheridan nodded. “Yes, I remember. Look, what you say is true, but it‟s hard to get past these things when they‟ve been such a big part of my life for so long.” “Then focus on the good that‟s happened over the holiday.” “I can‟t think of one good thing that‟s happened to me over the holidays.” Julie raised a brow. “No? I guess you don‟t remember we met for the first time around the holidays in that group home.” Sheridan had already been in the home for a year when Julie joined her. They‟d become fast friends. They‟d spent that entire holiday sharing their dreams and what they planned on doing when they grew up. There was nothing spectacular about that Christmas holiday, but it wasn‟t so bad. “Okay, Jules, that‟s one holiday.” “What about when I asked you to be the godmother of my baby?” “That never happened? What are you talk—” Sheridan gasped, temporarily forgetting her problems. “Are you pregnant?” Julie nodded, and for the first time, Sheridan noticed the glow. Sheridan threw her arms around her friend and gave her a bear hug. “Oh my God! Congratulations. I‟m so happy for you. When did you find out?” “About five weeks ago. I‟m thirteen weeks now, but I wanted to get past my first trimester before I told anyone. I hope you‟re not mad at me for waiting so long.” “Oh my God, girl, of course not. I know how superstitious pregnant women can be. Oh my God. I can‟t wait for the baby to come. Do you know what you‟re having?” “I have to wait for week twenty to determine what I‟m having.”

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“What do you want?” “I want a healthy baby. Gabe said he wants a girl.” “Oh? Don‟t guys usually want boys?” “He says he wants a little girl who looks just like me.” “Oh that‟s so sweet. Girl, I‟m so happy for you. So I‟m guessing someone is going to have a serious baby bump at her wedding.” Julie giggled. “I guess so. See, now you can mark this down as one good holiday memory.” Sheridan pursed her lips. “Don‟t push your luck, sister.” Julie took Sheridan‟s hands in hers. “Sheridan, please, for me, if you have feelings for him, go to him. Tell him how you feel. What‟s the worst that could happen?” “He laughs in my face.” “Okay, so if he does, you move on. Don‟t let what happened in the past define your present.” Sheridan was on the verge of answering her friend when the doorbell rang. “Are you expecting someone?” Sheridan shook her head. “Don‟t answer it.” “No, that would be rude. Hold on. I‟ll go see who it is.” Julie was gone for a good while before she returned, but she wasn‟t alone. Standing next to her was Brady.

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Chapter Eleven “Brady! What are you doing here?” Sheridan patted her hair. She knew she must look like a hot mess. She never left her house unless she was flawless: hair, nails, and makeup expertly done. Now her face was bare of makeup, her hair was all over the place, and she was still in her bathrobe. She wouldn‟t have been surprised if he ran the other way. “I‟ve come to talk to you. I know you wanted to spend this holiday by yourself, but there‟s some things I need to get off my chest and if after I say them you want me to leave, I will.” There was a determined gleam in his eyes that told her he wouldn‟t leave until she heard him out. Julie walked over to Sheridan and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I think this is my cue to leave. Call me later, okay?” Sheridan hopped off the couch. “Um, you don‟t have to hurry off.” Julie shot a look toward Brady and then back at Sheridan. “I believe I do. You two need to talk.” She left before Sheridan could offer another protest. Once she was alone with Brady, Sheridan felt exposed. He was seeing her without her armor, and she didn‟t like it. She placed her hands on her hips and glared. “No one invited you here, so you can leave as well.” Brady moved closer until he towered over her. “Cut the act, Sheridan. I‟ve already seen the real you.” She touched her hair again to smooth it back. “I-I don‟t know what you‟re talking about.”

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He took her hand and gently removed it from her head. “I‟m not talking about your appearance, although you do look cute in your disheveled state.” She glared at him. “Then what the hell are you talking about?” “It took me a while to figure it out, and honestly it didn‟t hit me until my drive over, but you use your anger to cloak who you are. You act tough so people won‟t get close to you, but deep down, you‟re a really loving person. I‟ve seen the sparkle in your lovely eyes when you spoke of Julie, seen how you are with my grandfather. I‟ve even seen how you‟ve helped out your colleagues, often letting them take the credit. Just because you try to hide the good you do doesn‟t mean I haven‟t noticed.” Heat seared to her cheeks. She was embarrassed that he was talking about her as if she were some kind of bleeding heart. “You don‟t know me, Brady, so don‟t pretend that you do.” “I believe I know you better than you think. You like to play the tough-girl role, but if you were so damn tough, why did you run away? Why didn‟t you stick around and remain the thorn in my side that I‟ve grown to know and love.” She snorted. “You don‟t know shit about me. I think you—Did you say love?” She couldn‟t have heard him correctly. He moved closer, making her take another step backward. Brady made her nervous when he was this close, and she couldn‟t afford to allow this nearness between the two of them. She couldn‟t let her guard down lest she open herself to getting hurt. “What if I did?” “You don‟t. You can‟t. We‟ve hated each other.” He reached out and hooked an arm around her waist, pulling her close. Brady caressed her cheek with his free hand. “We‟ve gone over this already. Our animosity hid our feelings for each other. And if you‟d stop being such a coward, you‟d admit it yourself.”

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She pressed against his chest, trying to break free, but his strength was no match for hers. “Let me go, dammit!” She pounded at his chest, her blows seeming to have little effect on him. “Not until you tell me how you really feel. Be honest for once. What are you so scared of, sweetheart?” Every second spent in his arms slowly chipped away at the armor she‟d erected around herself. “Don‟t do this.” Brady cupped her chin, forcing Sheridan to meet his gaze. “Do what? Tell you how I feel? I didn‟t realize myself what I felt for you until I drove over here. I didn‟t know if it was love or not, but I thought it must be to risk putting up with the possibility of more abuse. My temper is slow to rise, but no woman has made my blood rage like you. You kept me on my toes. And as much as I told myself that it was because you annoyed me, the truth is, I buried what I felt for you to the point I even fooled myself. I was just as scared of rejection.” She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. He sounded sincere, but how could she be certain he was telling the truth. “I‟m sure you say that to all the women.” “No. I‟ve never told any woman I loved them before. Honestly, I‟ve never been in a serious relationship.” She pursed her lips. And to think she‟d almost bought his bullshit. “Yeah, go ahead and pull the other one.” Sheridan pushed against him with all her might, freeing herself. Brady grabbed her arm and yanked her back to him. “It‟s true, dammit! My parents didn‟t set the best example for marriage—which made me a bit relationship shy. I dated and had lovers; I never claimed I didn‟t. I‟ve just never wanted a commitment with anyone before now.” Her heart flipped inside her chest. She could feel herself weakening. Did she dare believe him? Could she let him in? “Why me?”

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“Because you keep me on my toes. You‟re smart, sexy, and when I thought you were getting under my skin, you were really inching your way into my heart. Sheridan, I‟m not going to lie. I‟d be new to this relationship thing, but if you gave us a chance, I think we could figure it out and decide what‟s best for us.” Brady took her face between his hands. “Say you‟ll give us a chance.” She squeezed her eyes tight. Sheridan had spent so long not letting anyone touch her, emotionally she didn‟t think she was capable. “I don‟t…I don‟t know how.” He dropped a kiss on her lips. “We‟ll do it together.” She shook her head. “I‟m no good for you.” Brady stroked her cheek. “Tell me about it, sweetheart. You don‟t have to be strong by yourself anymore. Lean on me.” No one except Julie had ever reached out to her like this. A sudden wave of emotion of the likes she‟d never allowed herself to feel burst forth. It started with a broken sob and then turned to body-wrenching, soul-cleansing cries. Brady lifted her in his arms and carried her to the couch. He took a seat and sat her on his lap. Sheridan buried her face against his chest, clutching his shirt as she wept for the pain that had consumed her and had ruled her entire life. “It‟s okay, baby. I‟m here,” he murmured against her hair as he stroked her back. Brady rocked her back and forth in his arms while dropping light kisses on the side of her face as he whispered soothing words to her. When her sobs subsided, he lifted her chin and kissed her tears away. “Do you want to tell me about it?” “I wasn‟t always this angry. When I was a kid, things were pretty normal until my father walked out on my mother and I on Christmas. I was seven. My father was my hero. But he just left. No explanation, no nothing. He didn‟t even have the decency to say good-bye.”

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Brady hugged her to him. “You poor sweetheart. That must have been hard for you. I think I understand why you hate Christmas so much.” She laughed without humor. “That barely scratches the surface. My mother took his leaving us harder than I did. It‟s like when he left, she ceased to exist. She always used to be so full of life, but with him gone, it was like a big chunk of her had died. He took her heart with him. The following Christmas, my mom said she was going to the twenty-four-hour corner store for some yams. She never came back.” “You mean she abandoned you as well?” “Apparently she walked out into oncoming traffic. When they told me, I knew it was no accident.” “That‟s a lot for a child to bear.” “I suppose, but the strange thing is I didn‟t mourn her loss as much as I did my dad leaving because in my mind, I‟d already lost her.” “Did the state try to locate your father?” “They did, but by then he‟d already started another family, and he basically relinquished his rights over to the state. My guess is he‟d been leading a double life for a while and chose his other family over Mom and me. I lived in foster homes from then on. It‟s where I learned to fight or have people walk all over me. People often took my size for granted. But I still believed maybe I‟d find a nice family who would decide to keep me. I thought I‟d found them when a pastor and his wife took me in. They were kind, or so I thought. My foster father, the pastor, was especially nice at first, but after a while his attention became a bit uncomfortable. I didn‟t know why, but I‟d shy away from his hugs and any form of affection from him.” “He didn‟t…” Brady‟s face twisted in disgust. Sheridan‟s lips twisted bitterly. “He tried. Guess when?” “Christmas? Get the hell out of here! Are you serious?”

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“As a heart attack. He thought I should be grateful for all the gifts he and his wife had given to me earlier. He tried to kiss me. I fought him, but he pinned me down and I screamed bloody murder. His wife came running, and he told her that I was trying to seduce him. I was twelve years old, for Chrisssake.” “And what was his wife‟s reaction?” “She called me Satan‟s child. A whore, a Jezebel. You name it and she called me it. They got rid of me right after the holidays. I think that was when I finally realized the magic of Christmas doesn‟t exist. I mean, why else did I have such shitty holidays? Now, as the years progressed, the holiday gets worse in my mind.” “Have you ever shared this with anyone? A therapist maybe?” “Just Julie.” “Maybe you should work some of these issues out with a psychologist. It may help. If you‟d like, I‟ll go with you.” “You‟d do that for me?” “Of course I would. Haven‟t you figured it out yet? I‟m crazy about you. And together we‟ll start to make our own holiday memories. Good ones. Starting now.” He lowered his mouth to hers.

She tasted just as sweet as he remembered. Her flavor was intoxicating. Brady cradled the back of her head in his hand as he traced her full lips with his tongue. Sheridan‟s soft moan parted her lips, inviting him in. He delved deep, exploring every crevice and ridge of her mouth, wanting to memorize every contour. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her breasts against his chest. He could feel the hardening of her nipples, and he couldn‟t resist the temptation they offered. Slipping his hand inside her robe, he encountered her T-shirt covered breasts. She was braless, but her hard little nubs pointed like welcoming beacons, waiting

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for his touch. He tweaked the hard peaks. Brady broke the kiss and nuzzled the side of her neck. “You like that, baby?” Sheridan arched her back, thrusting her breasts forward to give him easier access. “Oh yes. Suck them.” She moaned. Brady didn‟t need to be told twice. Separating her robe completely, he glanced down at her taut tips peaking through her thin shirt, just waiting for his hungry mouth. Too impatient to lift her shirt, he bent his head and took one of the cottoncovered tips into his mouth. He drew deeply, sucking hard. As he tugged on it with his mouth, he rolled the other one between his forefinger and thumb. “Feels so good,” she moaned, digging her fingers deeper into his hair, holding his head against her chest. “You‟re so beautiful,” he whispered, finally tugging up her shirt to take in her loveliness. He grazed one round globe with the pad of his thumb. She smiled lasciviously at him. “So are you, and I want you to feel as good as you‟ve made me feel.” Sheridan rubbed her hand on his crotch. “You don‟t have to.” “I want to.” She slid off his lap and settled between his thighs on her knees. Her tiny hands worked on his belt buckle and the zipper of his pants. She slowly eased her hand inside his boxers and circled his cock. Brady nearly came right then and there. Her touch was like the first shot of a highly addictive drug he couldn‟t get enough of. She raised her head and gave him a wink as she pulled his dick from its restraint. Sheridan ran her thumb over the sensitive head. “You‟re so big,” she murmured. Slowly, she moved her fist up and down his shaft, going from head to base. Brady used every bit of self-control to remain still. When she dipped her head to run her tongue along his length, he gripped the sofa cushion to maintain his control. His dick wasn‟t even in her mouth, and he was close to completion. The woman made him feel like no one had before her. He

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tightened his grip on the couch and raised his hips up, thinking he would die if she didn‟t hurry up. “God, Sheridan, you‟re going to be the death of me.” She giggled. “Then I guess I‟m going to have to give Mr. Happy a kiss before you expire.” She pressed her lips at the tip before following up with a long stroke of her tongue. Brady shuddered with his need for her. “Yes, baby. Like that. Take it in your mouth.” Sheridan opened her mouth over him and tightened her lips around his shaft. She took him inch by mind-blowing inch, nearly getting all of him in. Then she moved her head up until only the tip remained in her mouth. She slid down again, this time going a bit faster and then up. Each time she repeated the motion, she increased her pace. He moved his hips in time with her mouth, pumping deep until the top of his dick hit the back of her throat. He was so close. So fucking close, but he didn‟t want to finish in her mouth. The only place he wanted to spill his seed was inside her hot pussy. With a growl, he pulled her off him and stood up. Sheridan gasped in surprise, her eyes widening. “What‟s the matter? Didn‟t you like it?” “Too damn much.” He pushed the robe completely off her shoulders and yanked her T-shirt over her head. Her tiny pink panties were no match for him. Catching them at the elastic waist, he ripped them to shreds, leaving her bare to his gaze. Brady would have taken off his clothes as well, but he was too impatient to have her. His need for her wouldn‟t allow him to wait a second longer to claim what was his. He sat back down, taking her with him, and positioned her facing him. “Sit on my cock, baby.”

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Sheridan straddled his thighs with her knees on either side and raised her pussy over his waiting cock. Her juices dripped from her cunt, wetting his cock and signaling her readiness. She clutched his shoulders and lowered her hips. Her pussy wrapped around his hardness snuggly. “I love the way you feel inside of me, Brady.” She closed her eyes and smiled as if savoring the sensation of them being joined as one. “And I love you. Ride me, sweetheart.” As she moved her hips up and down, Brady captured one blackberry-tipped nipple in his mouth. He bit and sucked before alternating to the other. He knew for as long as he lived, he‟d never get enough of her. He held her tight as she continued to bounce up and down on his cock, driving him closer to a peak so intense, there were no words to describe all the sensations he experienced at once. She arched her back and moaned his name. “Brady. Oh God, I‟m so close.” “Don‟t hold back. Let go. I‟ll catch you. I‟ll never let you go.” Sheridan shuddered against him as she reached her climax. Her pussy gripped him tighter than ever as a gush of her juices drenched his cock. Once he knew she had finished, he allowed his body the release it had begged for. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held on tight. “Not bad for a holiday memory.” She lifted her head with a mischievous smile on her face. “I think we can do better.” Brady grinned. “Is that a challenge?” Sheridan winked. “What do you think?”

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Epilogue Brady pumped into Sheridan faster and harder with each stroke. They‟d already made love again on the floor, in the shower, and on the bed. They‟d rested and held each other afterward. Brady had let Sheridan sleep a little bit before taking her again. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” she screamed, scoring her nails down his back. She knew it would leave a mark, but he belonged to her! Just as she belonged to him. Sheridan clenched her pussy muscles around his cock, and that was the end of Brady. With a primal roar, he spilled his seed deep into her hungry pussy. She exploded beneath him and was transcended to another plane of pure unadulterated pleasure. He collapsed into her welcoming arms. Sheridan had never made herself vulnerable to another human being since she was a child, and the experience was freeing. It was scary, but she was willing to take the journey with Brady. She stroked the back of his head, reveling in the comfort of his weight half resting on her body. “So what do you think people at work will say when they know we‟re an item?” “Who cares? We‟re not breaking any rules. The only opinions that matter to me are ours and my grandfather‟s.” She shuddered. “Oh God. I forgot about your grandfather. What will he think? I mean, he‟s always been nice to me, but he may feel otherwise if we‟re dating.” “My grandfather loves you. Truth be told, I think he prefers you to me.”

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“Get out of here.” “He does. He says you remind him of my grandmother. Do you know that old codger threatened to disinherit me if I didn‟t make things right with you? Seems he noticed our attraction for each other before either of us realized. He even set up that contract business. We were never in danger of losing the Smiths‟ business. They‟re old friends of Grandfather‟s. The old man hatched a plan to throw us together.” Sheridan‟s mind was officially blown, but suddenly it all made sense. “You know, I thought the entire setup was odd, as a matter of fact. Maude even mentioned she was old friends with your grandfather, but I forgot to mention it.” “Seems like we have a few living Christmas spirits helping two blind idiots see what was right there in front of their faces.” Sheridan chuckled, hugging Brady to her. She didn‟t know if Christmas would ever be her favorite holiday, but it no longer seemed the horror it once had. With time and maybe some therapy, she could fully let go of all the bad memories she‟d associated with the holiday. Besides, the prospect of spending the rest of the season with Brady was something she was actually looking forward to. Brady kissed her on the forehead, his eyes glistening with love. Her heart swelled three sizes. “Happy holidays, sweetheart.” “Happy holidays, Brady.”

Loose Id Titles by Eve Vaughn Candy Girl Every Breath You Take Holiday Hell Kyriakis Curse The Devil's Plaything Hostile Takeover With Shara Azod The BLOOD BROTHERS Series GianMarco's Muse Niccolo's Witch Romeo Unleashed Dante's Wrath “Jagger's Woman” A Blood Brothers story Part of the anthology Fangs With Barbara Karmazin and Suz deMello “Tag's Folly” Part of the anthology Wild Wishes With Stephanie Burke and Lena Matthews

Eve Vaughn Eve Vaughn enjoys writing above all else. She began writing short stories to amuse herself when she could form letters. Mischievous as a child, she lost her television privileges quite often and found writing to be her outlet. Besides writing, Eve likes reading, baking, volunteering, traveling, and spending time with her family. She currently resides in the Philadelphia area with her husband and turtle. Eve

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