There was only sexual attraction between them.
Nothing could come of continuing their affair.
God help her, she didn’t know how she’d be able to think about anything else.
Ten
At one o’clock Monday afternoon, Gavin entered Jack’s office. “Got a minute?” he asked.
“Sure. Have a seat,” Jack said, indicating the chair opposite his desk.
Jack set aside the report he’d been reading and pulled in a bracing breath. His gut was telling him this impromptu meeting was about downsizing his department.
Gavin sat then lifted a manila folder from the top of the pile he carried. “I’ve spent the morning going over this report from Madeline Price. It’s based on her observations of your department and includes detailed notes, most recently from the team building over the weekend.”
Gavin leaned back in his chair. “I’ll cut right to the chase, Jack. You need to downsize the department, from twenty to fifteen. You have two weeks to make the cuts. If you need suggestions as to who is to go”-he tapped the folder containing Maddie’s report-“I’m happy to name names.”
For several long seconds silence swelled between them. Jack’s gaze fell on the folder and a feeling such as he’d never experienced before surged through him. A combination of anger, disgust, frustration, and betrayal all swirled with an overwhelming sense of numbness. He’d thought she’d understood-that he’d made her see reason. That she’d value and respect his opinion. Obviously he’d been mistaken. Very mistaken.
“We’ve discussed this before, Gavin,” Jack said, his voice perfectly calm. “I feel very strongly that this is the wrong course of action. A course that’s going to make my job, and my department’s, extremely difficult. We simply can’t operate effectively with a twenty-five percent cut in manpower. You haven’t given me or my staff enough time to pull everything together. We’re getting there, we’ve made great strides in a short period of time, but time is what we need more of.”
Gavin shook his head. “Sorry, Jack. This needs to be done.”
“You brought me on board to revamp a decimated department, and just when things are starting to come together, you’re cutting me off at the knees.”
Gavin rose, indicating their meeting was finished. “Two weeks, Jack.”
Jack stood. Then nodded. “All right, two weeks. Consider this my official notice. You’ll have the letter on your desk by the end of the day.”
Gavin’s brows rose, then he gave a hearty laugh. “I know you don’t mean that.”
“I assure you I do.”
“I’m aware you don’t like this, Jack, none of us do, but it’s got to be done. I’m late for a meeting. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jack watched in silence as Gavin left the office. He wasn’t sure how long he stood there while his anger and resentment and, damn it, hurt grew. But it finally reached the point where he couldn’t stand still any longer. It needed an outlet, and he knew exactly who to let it loose on.
He stalked from his office and headed down the hallway, not slowing his pace until he stood outside the small office that had been assigned to Maddie. The door was open and he strode inside, not bothering to announce himself.
She stood with her back to him, crouching next to a cardboard box into which she was placing a stack of papers. It was the first time he’d seen her since they’d departed Casa di Lago yesterday afternoon. And about the thousandth time he’d thought of her. Up until his meeting with Gavin, all those thoughts had been of missing her. Wanting more of her. Hoping she’d tell him she wanted to continue the magic and something special they’d started at the resort. Now he couldn’t feel any of that for the knife protruding from his back.
“We need to talk,” he said, closing the door.
She stood and turned. Her hair was pulled tightly back, her glasses framed her eyes, and a prim royal blue suit conservatively downplayed her figure. In spite of his anger, he wanted nothing more than to yank her into his arms and kiss her until they were both breathless. Pretend nothing existed except him and her. Pretend she hadn’t written that damn report. Damn it, she’d gotten under his skin, and that only served to fuel his anger more. Her serious expression erased any doubt that she knew why he was there.
“Yes, I guess we do need to talk,” she said. “Would you like to sit down?”
“No.” His voice was steady but cold, which pretty much matched his mood since his insides felt frozen. “Are you pleased with yourself?”
Her brows pulled down. “Pleased?” She pushed up her glasses and peered at him. “Is something wrong?”
A bitter laugh escaped him. “An odd question coming from you. You knew very well what my hopes were for my position here, for my department, yet you stand there and ask me if something’s wrong.” The chill in his tone sliced through the room. “What did you think would be the outcome of the report you gave Gavin?”
She blinked, then her frown deepened. “Jack, I-”
“Gavin expects me to cut my department by twenty-five percent-although I’m sure you probably knew that already.”
Something that looked like regret flickered in her eyes. “Actually, no. I didn’t know.”
“Well, now you do. And we have your report to thank. Congratulations.”
Anger flared in her eyes. “If you think my report had anything to do with this, you’re mistaken.”
“Your report had everything to do with it, as you damn well know. Did you not hear a word I said to you at breakfast yesterday morning?”
“I heard everything you said at breakfast yesterday morning.”
“But clearly it didn’t make any difference to you. Which I guess means nothing that happened between us made any difference to you.”
A myriad of emotions flashed across her face, too fast for him to decipher, but there was no mistaking the twin red flags that colored her cheeks. “You’ve come into my office, unannounced and uninvited, and tossed some pretty harsh words at me. And based on what you’re saying, it’s just occurred to me… oh. Oh my God.” She pulled in a harsh breath and pressed her hand against her chest. The color that had just rushed into her cheeks drained, leaving her pale. “My God. Did you sleep with me in order to influence my report? To make it favorable to your point of view? So I wouldn’t recommend downsizing your department?”
Her question so surprised him that for several seconds he couldn’t even speak. Then a hurt and anger such as he hadn’t felt in a long time, if ever, walloped him. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “That’s what you think?”
“That’s what I’m asking.”
“If that’s what you’re asking, then this conversation is over.”
“Fine by me. I’m not the one who initiated it.” She nodded toward the door. “If you’ll kindly leave, I’m busy.”
“Leaving. Not just your office, but Java Heaven. I gave Gavin my two weeks’ notice.” He opened the door and walked out without looking back. He didn’t want to see her reaction to the news. Didn’t want to hear anything else she had to say.
He strode to his office, feeling as if he were walking through a thick fog. Damn it, he felt… gutted. In a matter of mere minutes he’d resigned from his job-but he had no regrets there. He’d taken a stand for what he thought was right and had no intention of compromising his integrity. What truly had him reeling was his feeling of betrayal over Maddie’s report. And even worse, her belief that he’d slept with her to influence it.
Damn it, that really hurt. And the fact that it hurt really pissed him off. What the hell did he care what she thought? They’d shared a couple of hot nights and now it was over.
Yes, it was over. But he’d foolishly hoped it was just the beginning. She’d touched something inside him, eliciting feelings he hadn’t felt in a very long time. The fact that he’d been so wrong about her-that she’d write that report and question his intentions, well, obviously he’d misjudged her. The only thing left to do was put her out of
