Best Laid Plans

She gathered her things, and he gestured to let her go first out of the conference room. Big mistake. Because now he was right behind her with a clear view of that nice round rear he had so appreciated last night. Her skirt was longer today, but it had a slit up the back that got him wondering. How high would it slide up her legs? She was wearing silky stockings. Were they the kind that went all the way up, or did they stop somewhere out of sight and leave the tops of her delicious thighs bare?

Shit. He turned his head and looked down the hall at anything he could find—the plants, the sprinkler system, the lights—anything but the spectacular view of Jackson calling his name.

She turned around. “Which way?”

“I’ll lead,” he growled. He turned down the hall and headed for the elevators. Say something, you fuckwit. Cameron mentally shook himself. “It’s just the four of us principals, a couple of admins and some meeting rooms on this floor. The other three guys aren’t in the office right now. We’ll need to go downstairs for the rest of the company.”

He pushed the elevator call button.

“The floor below us is where most of the logistics people sit as well as the teams under each of us four,” he said. “Clients want all sorts of security these days, and since I took over the Sydney business, we’ve broadened according to what the companies here need.”

The elevator doors opened, and they stepped in. Just keep talking.

“Derek and Max both head up on-the-ground security teams, and Simon is developing our surveillance branch. A lot of the work we do can be carried out in the office, but we work as a team when jobs require more specialized security. That’s just for the very high-end clients, and the four of us are on-site for those jobs. Those are the ones that you see in the photos.”

Cameron cleared his throat and shoved his hands in his pockets. The doors opened.

“We’re two floors down now, in our IT department,” he said. “With the kind of security we do, we can’t outsource anything.”

He led her around, introducing her to employees at all levels. He knew everyone in the company. He had to if he was going to entrust so many people’s safety to them.

Jackson smiled and shook everyone’s hands, remembering names and asking questions. He had to admit she was really good. But as they made their way through accounting, her eyes began to droop. She must be tired.

“You want to take a break?” he asked.

Jackson took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. “I think I’ve seen enough to get us started. Let’s head back upstairs.”

He led the way back to the elevators. On the ride up, she looked more and more tired by the minute. They finally came to the door of his office, and he opened it for her.

“Oh, my God,” she said breathlessly, walking up to the tall glass windows. “That’s the Harbour Bridge.”

He started toward her, ready to point out the Opera House, but he froze as his mind kicked back into gear. He was not going to stand next to her and breathe in the warm scent of her hair. They needed to get back to business. “Yes,” he grunted, trying not to look in her direction.

He hauled an extra chair over to the opposite side of his desk, then sank into his. She sat down, too, and he pulled up his schedule for the day before swiveling his monitor toward her.

“No meetings this morning?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Moved them all. I wasn’t sure what you’d have in mind.”

She bent over to look closer at his computer screen, giving him a flash down her button-up shirt. Luscious, round breasts strained against a lacy pink bra. Luscious, round breasts that he spent far too little time on last night. That he would never play with again. He forced his gaze back to the computer screen.

“What’s this?” she asked, pointing to the lunch hour block.

“I work out at our gym every day. It’s a few floors down from here. Below IT.”

“Oh.”

“You gonna observe me there, too?” he asked, fighting a grin.

She caught her lip between her teeth. “I’d check out everything with any other client.”

“You’re welcome to watch.” Cameron gave her a lazy smile and added, “If the board insists.”

A touch of pink stained her cheeks. “Maybe another day.”

“Suit yourself,” he said smoothly. “I’ll probably be on the phone most of the afternoon checking in with clients. And then we’ll meet the rest of the team for dinner tonight.”

“They don’t come into the office every day?”

“Most days I’m here, and they come in when they’re not on security jobs.” Thankfully, as CEO, Cameron had a good excuse not to travel—neglecting the daily operations was how his father got the Sydney office into trouble in the first place. The prominent clients in Sydney kept business booming, and his teammates could handle operations farther afield, if they came up. His aversion to flying wasn’t exactly good for the business, long-term, but he’d figure that out at some point. “Today the guys are looking at one of the local venues where we’re providing security for a high-profile client, a politician. You’ll hear the details in this week’s meeting.”

“Okay,” she said, stifling a yawn.

He raised an eyebrow. “This job’s already boring you? I told you, our business is a lot more ordinary than your photos suggest.”

She shook her head. “It’s not that. The jet lag is killing me.”

Her eyelids sank for a moment and then snapped back open. He saw an opportunity, and he took it.

“Listen, why don’t you take a taxi back to your hotel for a few hours and catch up on some sleep,” he said. “Like I said, I’ll just be around the office answering messages and talking to clients.”

She frowned. “Probably not a good idea on my first day.”

“You won’t miss anything,” he said. “I promise I won’t get into any trouble while you’re gone.”

Her eyelids drooped again. “I don’t know... I had planned to cover a bit more.”

“We’re meeting the team for dinner at seven, so I’ll come by your room around six and take you there.”

“Okay, maybe you’re right. I probably won’t be productive like this, anyway,” she said, suppressing another yawn. “But I can’t miss that meeting.”

“I won’t let you.”

Jackson nodded. “See you tonight, then.” She grabbed her bag and he couldn’t help noticing the sway of her hips as she walked out the door.

Once she disappeared, Cameron breathed a long sigh of relief. Thank God that was over. And he had just bought himself some time to get his head on straight.

It was only after Jackson was long gone that he realized his mistake. If he was going to forget that last night ever happened, he shouldn’t be anywhere near her hotel room.

CHAPTER FOUR (#uef6a6479-cd26-5b66-a5e9-57e28cbe0cb6)

JACKSON WOKE UP to the sound of chimes. She sat up and scanned the room. Her phone alarm flashed in the darkness. Oh, right. The Sydney hotel room. The one she had invited Cameron Blackmore back to for sex last night.

Nice move.

She reached for her phone on the nightstand and shut off the alarm. Stretching, she flopped back onto the bed. After six hours of sleep, the fog was finally lifting off her thoughts.

Which was a good thing because Cameron would be knocking on her door soon.