“Thank you, Zander. Still, I’ve asked myself lately, what would happen if I couldn’t be here as your director? You’ve followed my lead, while I’ve focused on getting the network and IT department up and running here. Now that we have the support of upper management, it’s time I focused on you. You’re all very talented, and I want you to put those talents to use.”

She leaned forward and folded her hands on the desk.

“From now on, I don’t want to just be a boss you report to, I want to be your mentor. I want to teach you my strategies, and give you the chance to improve on what I’ve created.” She met their wide unblinking stares with a smile of reassurance. “My focus is shifting to growing your careers and developing your skills. So you can meet the fast-paced demands of the IT field no matter where you go in life.”

“Thank you,” Allen stammered in surprise.

“Unless you decide to stay with Soren Security and fill my shoes, you can thank me when you’re all hired into the upper ranks at Microsoft and Apple.”

Split down the middle in their preferences, they launched into a heated debate about which company’s operating system reigned supreme. She’d accidentally unleashed a monster.

“Guys, guys. Save if for the Internet cafes and chat rooms. In the meantime, look at your calendars and send me meeting invites for times you have available. Wherever, whenever. I’m at your disposal.”

Ross, who always wore jeans and a tie with cartoon characters, snickered. “Any where?”

Alan cuffed him on the back of the head. “Show some respect.”

Fighting a grin, Devon sighed. “Okay, let me clarify. Any place work-related or tech-centered.”

Ross’s BFF and former roommate at Stanford, Scott, leaned forward and wiggled his eyebrows. “Hey, my bedroom’s filled with technology.”

“Yeah,” Ross shot back, “in your mom’s basement. Because that’s super hot.” He drew a laugh from the group.

Scott grew quiet and slumped in his chair.

She didn’t take offense. The recent college grads were dorky and young and irreverent, but in their awkward-teenage-boy sort of way they’d paid her a high compliment. “I’m going to let that slide.” She gave them a firm look. “Regardless of my new role as mentor, I’m still your boss.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the two muttered.

“I’m also looking forward to hearing your thoughts on my documentation and how I run things. This is your department, too. Suggestions for improvement are welcome and encouraged.”

Her team nodded.

Flatting her hands on her desk, she stood. “Okay, that’s a wrap.”

They thanked her and filed out. The door closed, then opened again. “Hey, gorgeous.”

Her eyes snapped up to find Trey shutting the door behind him. And locking it. He strode toward her like a man on a mission. “Hey, yourself.”

“Did I miss your email? Should I have been in on that meeting?”

“No, not at all.” Thank God. She didn’t want him to hold her to the thirty days she’d promised her team, even though she planned to stay true to her word. She didn’t want him to know about any timeline at all, in case she had to leave earlier than planned.

Or if she decided not to leave at all.

The thought made her brain synapses misfire and her heart lurch. Not a good combination after struggling to stay detached. But her useless attempt at detachment hadn’t lasted. She was crazy about him, and the thought of leaving had become a source of frustration and confusion. She stared at his handsome face, lost in the way his dark eyes absorbed her. Then she pulled herself back to the present.

“I came by to see how last night went,” he said.

She shrugged. “Uneventful. Kind of nice for a change.”

He nodded. “I guess you didn’t need me then.”

“Need and want are two different things,” she replied in a flirtatious tone.

His expression lifted. “So you didn’t need me, but you wanted me. Which means you missed me. I’ll take that.” He reached her in three swift strides and caught her in a tight embrace. “I’ll take this, too.”

His head lowered, his kisses open-mouthed and hungry. He tasted her deeply, and her toes curled.

Briefly, he came up for air. “I want you,” he breathed against her lips.

“Now?” Scandalized and instantly turned on, she loosened his tie and unfastened the button at his shirt collar.

“Yes, now.” He dragged his lips down her neck, leaving a trail of steam.

The contrast of the air-conditioning and his hot mouth on her skin made her shiver. He picked her up and sat her on her desk, stepping between her thighs. “I see you mean business,” she murmured.

“I’m taking an early lunch.” He dropped to his knees. His eyes glittered as he yanked up her skirt, slid off her panties, and his head disappeared between her legs.

“Shame on you.” She gasped as his tongue found her most intimate place. “Mixing business with pleasure.”

“My new favorite combination.” He tongue swirled and lapped her peak. Then he drew her into his mouth. She fell back onto a pile of papers and arched, issuing soft moans of encouragement.

With expert skill, he tasted her and brought her to the brink fast. She shut her eyes and her hips lifted off the desk as she came against his mouth.

“Sweet God.” She gasped as he urged a few more tremors from her swollen peak. “I think your tongue is your best asset.”

With a growl, he shoved his pants down his hips. “I’ll show you my best asset.”

He drove his cock inside her. The breathtaking force shoved her back on the desk and a monitor crashed to the floor.

“Oops,” she giggled, dizzy with lust and, aching with need.

He rocked against her. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“Mmm. Can’t wait.” She tried to contain her urge to scream as he surged inside her. He circled his hips, gliding in a smooth, erotic rhythm that made her claw his forearms, desperate to bring him closer.

Lips parted in concentration, he planted his hands on the desk on either side of her. His suit jacket draped half off his shoulders, his tie was askew, and his dress shirt pulled tight across his straining chest.

She licked her lips. “Damn, you’re a sexy sight at the office.”

A grin quirked one side of his mouth. “Payback.” He went deep. “For all the times you drove me crazy strutting around here in your little skirts and high heels and long legs that I wanted to wrap around my waist.”