ound was soft, but it echoed in the cavernous silenc

of his massive desk, crossing his arms over his broad chest. The pose was casua

ow rumble that vibrated through the

tion. It was a s

gaze, to project a calm she was nowhere near feeling. "No

n a smirk that held no humor,

h a tension she could taste. Involuntarily, she took a step back. Then another

, caging her in. The scent of his cologne-sandalwood and something sharp, like gin-filled her se

returned with a vengeance. She

bout a month ago," he began, his voice dropping

moment she had been dreading. If she didn't stop this,

f her mind. She needed a shield, something so ab

his stormy gray eyes. She marshaled every ounce of strength

e. A mistake I will never mak

freeze, to crystallize into

thing shift deep in his eyes. A flicker of... som

words tumbling out. "My fiancé... we're getting married soon. That nig

erself as a woman consumed by guilt, a woman who b

ed up, pulling back and creatin

cold curiosity was gone, replaced by an

nowing that she had just stumbled into the one, unmarked minefield of his psyche. Beck Franco didn't care about one-night stands, but he had a

ust a pawn in her t

escaped his lips. "Engaged?" he said, the word dr

, picking up the limited-edition pen from the gi

oice dangerously smooth, "I think, to avoid any future... 'mi

ed to ice. Reconsider her p

It had just handed him t

in, to take it all back, but it was too l

nite leave of absence. All access privileges revoked. I want her to go home and await further instruc