Temporary Boss...Forever Husband. Stacy Connelly

buying it. Who wouldn’t want the chance to move up? To succeed? For Zach that need was a relentless drive that fueled him, pounding through his veins. Like the footfalls of another sprinter pulling away, Zach lived with the fear of not keeping pace, of falling behind, of failing …

      But he was going to close the distance this time. He’d seal the Collins deal, if not tonight, then in another few days. Winning the bid would give him the edge over Bob Henderson when it came to the VP of Sales position both men were up for. Zach was sure of it, and he wouldn’t let a complication like the flirtatious Riana Collins get in his way.

      But as Allison shifted in the passenger seat, crossing her legs beneath the hint of lace at the hem of her skirt and drawing his attention to her slender calf and smooth skin, Zach feared his solution might prove far more dangerous than the problem.

      “You’re having your meeting here?”

      Zach couldn’t blame Allison for sounding more than a little incredulous as he pulled into the jazz club parking lot. “The location changed when James couldn’t make it,” he said wryly.

      Later that evening, the place would be packed with people sipping martinis and listening to the blues. But six o’clock was too early for that crowd and perfect for an intimate dinner for two.

      Maybe that was why his brain short-circuited as he climbed out of the car and circled around to open Allison’s door. Surprise lit her eyes, and he swore silently. What did he think he was doing? He’d brought Allison along to remind Riana their relationship was strictly business, but who was going to remind Zach of that fact when it came to Allison?

      I don’t need any reminders. It was a momentary slip, he insisted even as her strawberry scent enticed him to fall even farther.

      Taking his eye off the ball.

      That was how his father would have phrased it, and Nathan Wilder knew how costly even a momentary slip could be. Nathan had been a high school star, starting quarterback with a promising college career ahead of him when he took his eye off the ball. When he made the mistake of getting his girlfriend pregnant. The echo of Nathan Wilder’s voice, jagged and sharp thanks to those broken dreams, sliced through Zach’s thoughts.

       Could’ve had it all …

      Nathan might not have been much of a father, but he had taught Zach lessons he refused to forget. He didn’t make mistakes. He wouldn’t let anyone get in the way of the goals he’d set for himself—not Riana Collins’s unwanted attention and certainly not his own equally unwanted interest in Allison Warner.

      Hoping to cover the too-personal act, Zach immediately launched into a history of Collins Jewelers—the high-end stores in Chicago and New York. The A-list celebrities who wore the designs to red carpet events. The attention handling the account would garner Knox Security.

      He didn’t mention his own goal for winning the account—gaining the edge he would need to convince the board he was the right man for the VP of Sales position.

      In his hurry to get his thoughts back on track, he hadn’t realized he was half a step ahead of Allison until she mumbled something he didn’t quite catch. Slowing until she fell in step beside him, he asked, “What was that?”

      “Everyone at Knox has been talking about this deal so …” Her voice trailed off, and she shrugged as if making an embarrassed confession. “I went online and did some research.”

      Zach stopped short. “You did?”

      The extra work showed an initiative Zach hadn’t expected. Allison was a short-term temp, filling in as a receptionist. She smiled and laughed, made their clients feel welcome and drove him to distraction. She answered phones, transferred calls, and offered coffee until the meetings started and the real work began. She said herself she had no ambition to move up, only a desire to move on, so why would she take the time to research one of Knox’s potential clients when she’d be out the door before he signed the contract?

      “I ran James Collins through a search engine or two,” she said almost defensively. “But it’s not like that’s going to help tonight.”

      “Right. Going into a business meeting prepared isn’t the least bit useful.”

      Allison’s eyebrows rose in challenge. “Well, it certainly isn’t why you asked me to come.”

      After the shock he’d failed to hide, there was little point arguing otherwise. And she was right. He hadn’t asked her to tag along because of her brilliant mind. He’d hoped Allison’s presence might dissuade Riana, but deep down, he also had a backup plan. One he really hadn’t thought he would need, so he’d ignored just how risky it might be. Kind of like being on a cruise and knowing those flotation vests lined the ship’s railing in case of an emergency, but really … how many people gave a second thought to having to use one?

      No one did. Not until the ship started to go under.

      And with the look in Allison’s eyes and the awareness eddying around them, drawing them closer with each pass, Zach could definitely feel himself starting to sink. All before he’d even put his suddenly dubious plan into motion.

      “So what exactly are you expecting from me?”

      If a third wheel wasn’t enough to dissuade Riana, he’d thought he might hint his relationship with Allison wasn’t strictly business. But what had seemed like a solid plan less than an hour ago now seemed much more like navigating through stormy, turbulent seas than smooth sailing.

      “Like you said, I need someone to run interference.”

      “Okay, but who am I supposed to be?”

      “You’re not supposed to be anyone, Allie.” He didn’t know what it was about the use of the nickname that curved her lips into a small smile, but he could have kicked himself for using it. Allison. Her name’s Allison. He didn’t need to add to a sense of familiarity by giving her a nickname. He’d be better off calling her Ms. Warner. “You’re a business associate.”

      Her dark blond brows rose higher, more eloquent and expressive than any long-winded argument could be. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear she read his mind and … “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” He stepped closer to move out of the way of another couple headed for the door.

      Dressed in business attire with their arms linked together, the woman’s head on the man’s shoulder, the pair appeared to be doing exactly what he and Allison were not doing—slipping away after work for a romantic rendezvous.

      Allison glanced at the couple with one of those looks that women get at the end of romantic movies, all misty-eyed and sappy, like happily-ever-after actually occurred in real life. But then she looked back at him, and Zach wondered if he’d only imagined the moment. Her gaze sharpened to a needle-fine point, perfect for pinning him to a board and …

      “What? Enjoying watching you squirm? Just a little,” she said with a smile that said more than a little. “But do you really think my being here will have any effect on Riana Collins as long as she believes it’s strictly business between us?”

      Zach was right. She was enjoying this too much, but Allison couldn’t seem to help herself. She knew, of course, anything this fun couldn’t possibly be good for her and might end up biting her in the end, but she couldn’t see how. After all, she had two, maybe three days left working with Zach. She’d move on to her next temp job, and Zach would still be at Knox Security, reaching higher than ever.

      So what harm could a not-to-be-missed fantasy of dating Zach Wilder do?

      Allison had her answer a second later when Zach’s glower changed into something less dark yet even more dangerous. “You’re right. Riana isn’t the type to accept a subtle brush-off, and she knows I’m not the kind of man who mixes business with pleasure,” he admitted. His voice lowered to a murmur that did more than heat up Allison’s thoughts as he leaned closer and added, “But working with you, day after day, I found myself