Page 3 of Tristan’s Temptation

“Thanks.” She dropped into the chair with an audible oof. “What a day, huh?”

“No kidding.” Sara flicked back her blonde mane and signaled to a passing waiter for another pitcher. “You want a beer?”

“And how.” Shannon’s great gust made the others laugh.

“Shan, I don’t know how you do it.” Jenny wrinkled her nose. The plethora of piercings ringing her nostrils bunched.

Shannon tried not to stare. She always did. But she couldn’t help thinking how painful it all must have been. She didn’t even want to think about the tattoos. “Do what?”

Jenny waggled her eyebrows. Again. Dancing studs. Yikes. The eyebrows must have really hurt. “How you work for Tristan and keep your sanity.”

Good question. She wasn’t quite sure. “He can be trying.”

“Trying?” Jenny gaped. “Try mouthwatering. I’d be all over him like a cheap suit if I were his EA.”

Kat chortled. “Which is exactly why you’re not his EA.”

“Right.” Sara took a fresh pitcher from the waiter and leaned over to fill everyone’s glasses. “An executive assistant has to be professional and precise. Practically perfect in every way.”

“Like Mary Poppins.”

Shannon grimaced at the comparison. “I’m hardly perfect in every way.”

“Balderdash.” Sara mimicked Shannon’s British accent with flawless inflection and they all laughed. “Seriously. Can you imagine if Jenny were Tristan’s EA?”

Jenny fiddled with a streak of pink hair. It wasn’t all pink, just the streak. The rest of it was green. “He wouldn’t be so damn grumpy, that’s for sure.”

“Ah, but can you imagine the coffee?” Kat grimaced but softened it with a smile in Jenny’s direction. One of Shannon’s duties was providing coffee for company meetings. As coffee was a particular passion of hers, Shannon made sure only the best beans were ground under her watch.

“Ugh.” Sara groaned. “We wouldn’t get any work done at all.”

Jenny put out a lip. “I only burned it once.”

“Once was enough.” Kat nudged Shannon with her elbow. “You can never go on vacation again.”

Sara nodded so vehemently her shaggy bangs flopped into her eyes. “No kidding.”

Shannon offered a small smile. “Fortunately, I don’t seem to have a life so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

It was true. Her universe revolved around Tristan Trillo and he barely acknowledged her existence. When he didn’t want coffee, at least. The thought made her smile dim but fortunately no one noticed. Their attention had gone to the front door of the bar, which had opened to admit Adam Trillo and, in his wake, the object of her obsession.

Tristan.

Why did her belly have to lurch at the sight of him?

But it did. She dipped her head and studied her beer as he and Adam made their way across the bar. She didn’t look up once but she knew, every second, exactly where he was. It was always like that. Like she had a radar for him.

“There you are.” Kat stood to give Adam a slow, sultry kiss.

“Ick,” said Sara after a moment or two of watching. Avidly.

“I know.” Jenny wrinkled her nose. “It’s like seeing your parents smooching.”

“At least they keep it out of the office.” This, Tristan muttered under his breath but Shannon heard him. She always heard him.

“Of course we do.” Adam stole another quick kiss. “We know what’s good for us.” He seated himself in the chair to Kat’s right, leaving the only other spot—for Tristan—right next to Shannon.

Oh dear.