Read Online Business Affairs by Shirley Rogers - Free Book Online

the score. He never led them to believe he was interested in a permanent relationship. His parents’ divorce had taught him just how badly a man and woman could hurt each other. Though both of his parents had probably been at fault, his mother’s rejection had hurt. He’d never admitted to anyone just how much. Alex had learned a lesson from her he’d never forgotten.
    Women didn’t stay.
    Okay, maybe all women weren’t alike, but he certainly wasn’t going to test his hypothesis by opening his heart up to the possibility of more pain. So what if Jennifer tempted him more than any other woman he’d been with? He’d be all right as long as he controlled his feelings for her. He’d spend the weekend getting to know her better, make the time they spent more entertaining by stealing a kiss or two, then he’d back off.They’d return to work on Monday just as though nothing happened.
    Satisfied he had a grip on his intentions, Alex scanned the area again for her. When he finally spotted her, he almost fell over.
    She wasn’t alone.
    A man stood behind her, his hands intimately on her hips. As Alex’s gaze honed in on them, the guy leaned closer to her, his chest grazing her back, his face within a breath of hers. Alex’s gut tightened. Every vein in his body bulged as his blood heated to a boiling point.
    Muttering a string of curses, he jabbed his poles into the snow and bolted toward them. Berating himself for leaving her alone, he slid to a stop inches from them, spraying a wave of snow over their feet.
    Jennifer looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. Her features softened when she realized it was Alex. “Oh, Alex! Hi!”
    Alex’s gaze darkened. “Who is this?”
    â€œThis is Craig.” Jennifer smiled at her companion.
    Craig grinned. “Hey.” His gaze met Alex’s hard stare, and his smile faltered.
    â€œShe’s with me,” Alex stated, his tone terse. He shot a glance at Jennifer so there would be no misunderstanding he was staking his claim.
    The other man had the good sense to lift his hands skyward and back away. “Sorry, man. I was just giving her some suggestions.”
    â€œI’ll take over.”
    â€œSure.” Craig flicked a glance at Jennifer. “See you later.”
    From his hasty retreat, Jennifer didn’t think so. “Thanks for helping me,” she called as he hurried away.
    Alex pinned Jennifer with a stare, his hand on his hip. “If you’d wanted help learning to ski, why did you suggest I go ski some trails?”
    â€œI was fine.” She frowned at him. “What was that about?” she asked, referring to his attitude toward Craig.
    â€œYou don’t need some ski-bum instructor pawing you.”
    â€œHe wasn’t pawing me, Alex.”
    â€œFrom where I was standing, he was definitely making some moves.”
    â€œCraig was just being helpful.”
    â€œHe wanted a whole lot more than to help you with your skiing.”
    She let his comment go. Alex was an expert negotiator. It wasn’t worth the effort to argue with him. “He isn’t a ski bum. He’s working to put himself through law school. His family’s from a nearby town, and they don’t have the money to pay for his college.”
    â€œYou sure learned a lot about him. How long was he here?”
    â€œJust a few minutes,” Jennifer stated, perplexed. She didn’t understand why he was upset. Craig was just being helpful. Maybe it was some macho thing. Men could be so competitive. “Why are you making such a big deal out of this?”
    â€œI’m not.”
    â€œSure you are,” she insisted. “There a vein bulging in your temple.” Reaching toward him, she touched it with her glove. “It always does when you’re agitated.”
    He wasn’t aware he gave off signs. “We came here together. I leave you for a half an hour and you