Page 23 of Business Temptations

Matteo looked around. “Any ideas?”

She twirled around, then shook her head with exasperation. “Not a clue.” She huffed a bit, crossing her arms over her chest. “We’ve had others try to sell our corporate secrets before,” she muttered. “But for some reason, this feels…personal.”

“I get that feeling as well,” he replied, then shoved his hands into his pockets. “And I suspect that it’s because my father is somehow involved.”

“Or that a stranger, someone with diplomatic connections, approached Zahir? That’s a new aspect of this issue as well. The other times someone tried to steal a formula, they only wanted to sell it to the highest bidder.”

“Why does this person want to set up a factory to manufacture the product? Why not just sell the formula and let the buyer produce and distribute the product?”

“Exactly,” she agreed, then tilted her head backwards, looking up at Matteo. “Is it possible that your father doesn’t have anything to do with this?”

He turned, facing her. The dim light made her look…softer. More subtle. Sexier.

“I don’t know,” he replied, his voice deeper. Did Bailey notice the new timber of his voice?

She licked her lips. And was her breathing a bit heavier now?

“It’s…definitely something we should…consider.”

“I agree,” Matteo replied. “Never overlook the obvious.” Or the subtle, he thought, watching her eyes carefully. Sure enough, her eyes moved to his mouth.

Was Bailey wondering what it would be like to kiss him? He was damn well wondering that himself!

But they were just friends.

Right?

She dragged in a long breath and he heard the ragged sound of it.

“We’re missing something, aren’t we?” he asked, his voice lower now.

“We are?”

Matteo nodded, pretty sure that they weren’t talking about the corporate espionage anymore. But what, exactly, were they talking about?

Before he could ask, there was another click of the lock.

He glanced at Bailey and she was already looking up at him. With a jerk, he lifted her into his arms and carried her bodily into the shadows. Wrapping his arms around her, he tried to shield her with as much of his body as he could. Whoever was breaking into the lab now was not going to hurt Bailey! Matteo couldn’t accept the thought of her not being in his life, not only as a business partner, but as…more! More than just a friend, he thought. More of everything!

Bailey couldn’t believe how shockingly good it felt to be in Matteo’s arms. And as she stood there, holding her breath as they waited for the intruder to come down the hallway and enter the lab, she wondered if she was the only one that was aware of the heat sizzling between them. The man was deliciously hard in all the right places!

Turning her head, she pretended to look around the lab. But in reality, she wanted to press her cheek against his chest. He felt so good, so…absolutely, perfectly, wonderful. And she definitely hoped that the intruder…what? What did she want to happen?

“Damn it!” a familiar voice hissed through the darkness.

Bailey felt Matteo’s arms tighten, then he recognized Tim’s voice as well.

“What the hell are you doing down here?” Matteo snapped at their partner.

Tim swung around at the same moment that Matteo hit the light switch. Tim seemed startled, then his eyes narrowed as he noticed Bailey standing so close to Matteo. A moment later, their friend’s handsome features broke into a grin.

“Don’t!” Matteo growled. “I got here first, then Bailey came down to investigate. Both of us…” he gestured to Tim, “…apparently, all three of us were trying to figure out how someone obtained confidential information.”

“Bad information,” Tim corrected.

“I know, but the fact that someone acquired a formula for one of our major products, even if the formula won’t work, is still a problem.”

“I know,” Tim sighed and fisted his hands on his hips, looking around. “I still can’t believe that one of my team members did this.”

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