Sheri let out a high-pitched noise and shot up on her feet again. She was crazy even picturing something like that. Sure, she’d be Dean’s little fixation, till he got bored, like he did with all the other women she’d seen going in and out of his life with the revolving-door frequency. Dean Cooper definitely had a high rate of turnover when it came to his lovers.

Why the hell would she even think of putting herself through that?

If she had any sense, she’d be walking right out of there. Just take the elevator down to the lobby and then exit the building, catch a cab, and go straight home. And just say, screw this shit of a job!

But she didn’t do that of course. Instead, she thought, pull yourself together, Sheri. Dean is your boss. An aggravating, devilized soul of a boss. Damn you, Dean!

Feeling much better for some reason, she resumed with her preparations for the trip as she’d wasted too much time already.

Working in the male-dominated environment of a huge tech corporation, she knew she always walked a fine line. Act too friendly or pretty and get perceived as a slut or an airhead. Seem too diligent and driven and get labeled as a bitch. It was a no-win situation and she’d never have lumped Dean in the same category of the other males in the company. But that was then.

They’d always had a unique rapport, if not overly intimate but at least, a positive interplay. Other females in the company went out with the other guys occasionally for drinks after work, but Sheri was never invited along. She told herself again and again that it wasn’t because they didn’t like her, but that they perceived her as Dean’s team or property and they didn’t want to mess around with that.

It didn’t help that Dean seemed to give her preferential treatment, deferring to her even in issues to do with other employees and not just clients, as well as hardly ever seeing reason to find fault with her work. The others, however, were constantly getting their heads bitten off for some minor nitpick or the other by their no-nonsense CEO.

In record time, Sheri had the private jet, hotel reservations, and all necessary travel documents and corporate files ready. They would only need to make a brief stop at her house and get her things and then they could leave.

Luckily, she always had a wheelie case already packed for such times as these. It took mere minutes to dash up to her apartment and then flew back down to where the car was waiting, rejoining Dean in the backseat. She tried not to blush thinking about the last time he was parked outside her place. Thank goodness the presence of the driver upfront was there to diffuse any tension in the atmosphere.

That wasn’t to say anything had changed between them. It was the no-chill zone around Dean right then, which suited Sheri just fine. Now, all she had to worry about would be the days ahead, stuck with him during the business trip.

Chapter 4

A few minutes before 10 a.m., the driver brought the car to a stop on the tarmac, a short distance from the private jet. Dean glanced over at Sheri, who had her laptop open on her lap and was busy typing away. He had to admit, she’d set them up for the trip in record time. While she remained engrossed, he took the chance to study her openly.

She was lovely in her plum-colored blouse and black pencil skirt. The top had a high neck with a large bow tied primly, while her hair was worn in a knot on top of her head. All that was missing were a pair of wire-rimmed glasses, and she’d have that sexy librarian look down pat.

He liked it, even though he could tell she’d deliberately reverted to her more staid outfits. He scanned her naturally pretty face, her cute button nose, soft full lips, and sweetly curved cheekbones and chin. She really had no clue, had she, how hot she appeared, no matter if she had a sack on?

“Kindly stop staring at me like I’m a piece of meat,” she murmured, not looking his way as she shut her laptop. He smirked darkly, just as she rounded on him to spear him with those big brown eyes.

He leaned towards her remorselessly. “Some women would actually feel flattered for the attention.”

“Not me. I’d be happier if you simply directed your attention elsewhere.” She managed the words whilst bestowing a deferential smile. “Shall we go aboard, Mr. Cooper?”

Dean hid his amusement with a slight frown. “There’s a bit more sass in your attitude this morning, Miss Wilson. Not sure which I take more exception to – the sass or the attitude.”

He could see her lips slightly twitch. Ah, an almost-smile. It was the first he’d see of the kind in the past week. Then, she sighed heavily. “We could squander the day picking apart whatever objections you may have regarding my character. But I’m sure you have more productive plans.”