Page 84 of Dangerous Temptation
It was fun, because he’d actually seemed excited about whatever he had planned. Excitement wasn’t a quality she saw much from him. He was more reserved these days. Distrustful.
She glanced towards the conference room where he and his team leads were working. They’d been in there all day long, writing things on the white board, staring at computer screens and pasting post-it notes on the wall. ‘What are they working on in there?’
Josie shrugged. ‘Dunno. Something big. All I’ve heard is that it’s called Project Alpha Wolf.’
‘Hm.’ Through the windows, Elena saw a developer write something on the board. Alex shook his head, erased part of it and wrote something else. Apparently the Alpha Wolf was being a rogue.
She stood and stretched. ‘Hungry?’
Josie held up a plastic cup filled with Gummy Bears. ‘Already got my snack.’
Elena felt her back pop. She really needed to get back into doing yoga more regularly. ‘I need some tea.’
Leaving her things in the cubicle, she walked towards the kitchen. Her path took her right by the conference room. As if sensing her, Alex looked up. His gaze settled on her, bright and alert. Heat settled inside her, way down low, but she smiled and waved, not wanting to bother him. Her steps slowed, though, when she saw the notebooks spread out on the conference room table.
Understanding dawned in her head. Project Alpha Wolf.
It was the project he’d been working on obsessively since she’d first met him. The one she’d tried to spy upon. Her smile dimmed as guilt caught her, but that didn’t stop her curiosity. At least now she knew for sure it was a project for the company.
She poured herself some tea and was walking back to her desk when the receptionist turned the corner.
‘Oh! Excuse us, Elena.’
Elena held her tea away from her body and narrowly missed spilling it on herself. ‘Oops. That’s OK. I should have been paying more attention.’
She grabbed a tissue from the desk next to her and wiped the cup.
‘Elena?’
She looked up at the sound of the familiar voice and saw a familiar face. ‘Dr Walters?’
‘Hello, dear.’ The rumpled professor tucked his leather notebook under his arm and reached out to shake her hand. ‘How are things coming along with the dissertation? I see you’re on my calendar for your defence in a few weeks.’
‘I am. It’s coming along well.’ Confusion gripped her. Dr Walters was on her evaluation committee. What was he doing here? Checking up on her? Had Alex called him to help her? ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘Did we have an appointment?’
The older man chuckled. ‘No, no. I’ve been asked here by Mr Wolfe. He’s asked me to consult on a project.’
Her head swung around, and she saw Alex watching their little group.
‘Oh, there he is,’ the cheerful professor said.
‘What are you working on?’ She knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t stop herself from asking.
‘A very intriguing question, I must say.’ The professor caught himself and frowned. He tapped his folder. ‘Ah, I’m sorry, dear. I’ve signed a confidentiality agreement.’
‘Oh, well.’ She stepped aside, being careful with her tea. ‘Have a good meeting.’
Curiosity consumed her as she sat back down at her desk. It had been Dr Walters’ book that she’d been trying to borrow at the Wolfe Library. Alex had been reading it, too. They must be working on a new financial analysis program or a new feature. Professor Walters would be the obvious consultant for that.
Although seeing him here reminded her that she had work of her own to do.
It could have been minutes or hours later when she noticed the shiny black loafers stop beside her desk. She looked up to find Alex standing over her, putting on his suit jacket. Even after a day of work, he still looked crisp, professional and sexy.
‘Ready to go?’ he asked.
She smiled. ‘You still haven’t told me where.’
He grinned, and her stomach tightened. It was the first smile she’d seen out of him in weeks, maybe ever. ‘You’ll never guess, but hurry up. We’re the guests of honour.’
