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The worst thing was that Kevin Burke was right. It didn't take more than innuendo and implication to destroy a career.
Too bad words and convictions didn't stop his body from jolting with awareness and attraction when he looked up and saw Jewell Kincaid walking down the hall toward him.
CHAPTER SIX
"Good morning," April said cheerfully as Jewell reached her desk. "How was your weekend?"
Jewell smiled and shifted her paper-wrapped bouquet of flowers in the crook of her elbow as she set the customary cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee on April's desk. The two women began a tradition during Jewell's second week at Bulwark. April made a special trip each morning to Bruegger's Bagels for one sesame seed bagel with lite cream cheese and one egg bagel with vegetable cream cheese. They split the bagels so each woman had half. It was Jewell's duty to make it to Dunkin' Donuts for a large "Dunkin' Midnight” for herself and a large french vanilla roast for April. For a month the system went uninterrupted.
"Oh, it was fine. Between doing research for Mr. Roth, I went to a cookout for my little sister's Girl Scout troop and helped my mother do some canning. I'm tired, but I feel like I accomplished something."
April removed the cover of her sweet coffee and inhaled deeply the rousing aroma. "Mmm. Nectar of the Gods."
Jewell looked towards Benjamin's closed door. Anxious tension gripped her insides. "What kind of mood is he in this morning?" she asked hesitantly.
April moaned, closing her eyes. "Black. Very, very black."
Jewell sighed. With steel resolution, she picked up her briefcase and moved to her open door. Despite the lack of necessity to do so, she moved around the office in silence. As she did every Monday morning, Jewell replaced last week's flowers with a fresh bouquet that filled the room with a calming fragrance. She turned on her terminal and opened the blinds on her window. Just as she was about to sit, Benjamin's voice called out loudly from the adjoined office. For someone with no tangible concept of his volume, his voice could be bone-chilling and ear-piercing.
"Ms. Kincaid," he yelled again.
She tugged down the hem of her suit jacket and squared her shoulders in preparation for battle. With resolute steps, she crossed the room and entered his office. Benjamin stood at his desk, one fist planted at his hip. In his other hand he held a bound report Jewell recognized as the one she compiled for him the previous week. A dark scowl distorted his features. As she neared him, he tossed down the report.
"What the hell is this," he demanded.
"It's the report on England Associated Bank and Trust you wanted."
"I'm talking about these figures. They are completely off and contradict every prediction I formulated for the board." His hands moved quickly and abruptly, expressing his anger.
"They are completely accurate."
"Bullshit," he yelled.
Jewell closed her eyes and clenched her fists. When she opened them again, Benjamin stood only feet away, having come around the desk. Now both fists pressed into his trim waist. His forehead furrowed deeply, and his lips formed a thin, straight line. Dark storm clouds rolled behind his stern eyes.
"You are yelling," she signed slowly.
"I don't care.”
"You might not, but I do." She accentuated the statement with a sharp jab of her finger into her chest. "The figures in that report are accurate and up-to-date as of September 15th."
"They don't coincide with the predictions."
Jewell threw her hands up in frustration. "I'm sorry, Mr. Roth, if they didn't live up to your expectations. Perhaps someone should have told the president of the bank what your wishes were. I'm sure he would have worked harder to please you. But those are the facts. The integration of several small chain purchases into their banking system has slowed profits. As far as I know, you didn't hire me to fabricate information. You hired me to research and provide you with truthful and precise numbers."
"These can't be right."
"Do you want me to pull them out of the air?"
Jewell's frustration got the best of her. She walked to the desk and snatched up the report. Turning to make sure he watched her, she dropped it on the edge near her. As if pulling fruit from a tree, Jewell grabbed at empty air with her fingers. With a scowl, she glared at Benjamin and pretended to drop the imaginary numbers onto the report cover. Report in hand again, she stalked to him and slapped it against Benjamin's chest. Shock registered on his face and he lifted a hand to hold it.
"There," she threw at him. "Next time I'll pull them from a hat. Or do you have another preferred method of fabrication?"
Benjamin stared at her for a long time. Jewell stared right back. She was sick and tired of his dark moods and nasty attitude over the last three weeks. Enough was enough! Her chest rose and fell with the exerted effort to calm her nerves. There was no way in hell she was going to put up with him any longer. He might have managed to send other women cowering away with their heads hung low, but damn it if she would!
He looked down at the report and turned it so the title read the right way. Benjamin's stormy eyes snapped up at her. His face was stoic now, almost solemn. The sudden change from his previous rampage disarmed Jewell.
Benjamin walked by her. His shoulder brushed hers as he made no effort to step around her. It wasn't a rough contact, but enough to throw her slightly off balance. The report fell loudly on his desk. Jewell turned and watched his back. Broad shoulders seemed to drop just slightly.
