As the water cascaded over him, he acknowledged he should have waited until Chloe was no longer working for him before he slept with her. However, his brain had not been the functioning body part in this encounter. Furthermore, he might not have succeeded if she was no longer in close proximity to him. One of the reasons he found her so intriguing was that she did her best to resist him, so he needed face time to break down her barriers.

He frowned as he considered whether Chloe had felt pressured in some way because she worked for him. He just didn’t see it. She was a strong woman who didn’t hesitate to speak her mind.

The one chink in her armor was the need for money. He would say it was an inconsistency in her, but she didn’t expect it to be given to her. She simply wanted to be paid well for her work. That showed no lack of integrity.

But what made her negotiate so fiercely for those pay increases? Ben knew something about that. He made a mental note to call the doctor later.

In the meantime, he found himself looking forward to getting back to his office with an eagerness he hadn’t felt in years.

They’d spent two hours within five feet of each other, and Chloe thought she would go up in flames. He was back to his old tricks of finding ways to touch her in the guise of working. Except now she was onto him. And she needed to get home.

“I’m sending you the marketing plan for the Delta Plug,” she said, sweeping it across her screen and onto his cloud drive. “I’ve distributed the financials to your executive VPs, and your e-mail is current. It’s quitting time.”

He swiveled his chair to face her, his eyes blazing with anticipation. “Have dinner with me.”

Only the thought of Grandmillie gave her the strength to say, “I have to go home.”

“Why?”

Hadn’t they had this conversation before? “I have responsibilities.”

“Tell me about them.”

Right. She was going to tell her hot new lover that her grandmother lived with her. “It’s personal.”

He gripped the arms of her chair and pulled it close so her knees were sandwiched between his. Stroking the back of his hand down her cheek, he asked, “Have we not gotten very personal?”

“Not in that way.” Unable to resist, she leaned forward to kiss him. “I’m going now.”

He still held her chair so she had no room to stand. “You’ll meet me here tomorrow.”

“Temps don’t work on Saturdays without authorization. It requires overtime pay.”

He gave a ghost of a laugh. “We are far beyond overtime pay.”

She had to admit the truth of that. “I need to be home tomorrow.” She had spent so little time with Grandmillie this week because of Nathan.

“Then dinner on Sunday. Surely, your responsibilities can spare you then.”

The temptation was nearly impossible to withstand. All she could force out was, “I’m sorry.”

Instead of looking insulted, Nathan’s face sharpened with the thrill of a challenge. “At least let Oskar drive you home. It will ease my conscience for keeping you late again.”

She knew she shouldn’t give in, but she was exhausted from the whirlwind of the day, and she’d have to wait nearly an hour for the next train home. “I won’t say no.”

His eyes went hot. “Good response.” He pushed her chair back a few inches before letting it go.

“To the car, not to what you’re thinking,” Chloe said, standing up. Nathan stood as well, and she found herself looking up at him. “Judith will let me know if you still need me on Monday.”

He swooped down to kiss the side of her neck. “There is no question that I will need you on Monday,” he said by her ear. “And Tuesday and Wednesday . . .”

She shivered and closed her eyes as his breath tickled over her skin. His words fanned a flicker of hope that she had no business encouraging. “Janice may have recovered by then.”

He stepped back. “My need has nothing to do with Janice.”

She knew what he meant, but she couldn’t go down that road with him right now. It was impossible to think clearly when he was looking at her as though he wanted to strip her clothes off. She started around the desk but stopped when he fell into step beside her. “I know how to get to the garage,” she said.

“A gentleman always walks a lady to the door.” His voice was smooth as silk, but there was an undercurrent to it that she didn’t trust.

“You don’t have to be a gentleman. You’re my boss.”

“As of right now, you’re off the clock.” He took her hand and tugged her into motion again, stopping briefly by the door to press the keypad. “Oskar will be waiting.”

As they walked down the hallway, he twined his fingers into hers and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. The arousal he’d been stoking while they worked burst into full flame. Her nipples ached where they pushed against the lace of her bra, and the tension low in her belly intensified to near pain.

The elevator doors slid open and she stepped inside, her breathing erratic. Before the doors closed behind them, Nathan had her backed up against the wall, his mouth on hers.

“I need one more taste of you to hold me for the weekend,” he murmured.

She could feel his erection against her thigh, and she was desperate to have him inside her for the last time. She tilted her head back to catch his gaze, hoping he would read the invitation in hers. “Is there a way to stop the elevator?”