All's Fair in Lust & War Read Online Free PDF Page A

she turned the knob. No need to leave on too much of a friendly note.
    “I’m still going to beat you,” she said.
    “Keep dreaming,” he retorted.
    “Oh, I will.” She smiled. “But no matter how good my dreams are, the reality will be even better.”
    * * *
    Becky sat staring at her blank computer screen, exhaustion beating at the backs of her eyelids with every blink of the cursor. It was eleven-thirty p.m. on Thursday, and although her team was giving her their all she still worried that it wouldn’t be enough.
    Three days just wasn’t enough time. Not when there was a quarter of a billion dollars on the line.
    As tired as she was, she couldn’t keep the memories from invading. Couldn’t keep from hearing the sneering voice telling her she’d never get anywhere without him. That she was a hack, and always would be. That the only way she’d ever attain any success would be if she kept warming his bed...
    A gentle hand clasped her shoulder.
    “Hey, space cadet? Did you hear a word I just said?” Jessie asked.
    Becky blinked, shaking her head to clear it.
    “No, I...”
    “You were listening to the mini-Pence in your head again, weren’t you?” she said, sympathy plain in her bright blue eyes.
    Becky forced a halfhearted smile. “What? Of course not. How could I when I’m surrounded by such a fantastic group of talented women?”
    Jessie snorted. “Liar. When was the last time you slept?”
    Becky thought for a second. She honestly couldn’t remember.
    “I can tell by your silence that it’s been too long. Go home. Rest. You need to bring your A game tomorrow. It’s D-day, you know.”
    As if she could forget.
    “I know. I’ll go soon, I promise.”
    Jessie gave her a long look. Becky could tell she wanted to say something else.
    “Really. I will. Don’t worry about me.”
    “All right,” Jessie said. “Well, I’m heading out. And I’m taking mini-Pence with me. You don’t need him being a backseat driver.”
    This time Becky smiled for real.
    “You’re right. I don’t. Get him out of here, and good riddance.”
    After Jessie had left Becky headed for the kitchen, and the free coffee that awaited her there. As she waited for her mug to fill with the magic brew she laid her head on the cool metal of the stainless steel countertop and closed her eyes. Just for a second...
    Next thing she knew a big hand was shaking her awake. She bolted upright, trying to get her bearings.
    “I’m on it, Pence. Don’t worry. I just...” she blurted, her mind still in dreamland.
    “Hey, it’s all right. There’s no Pence here. It looks like you just drifted off for a second,” a familiar voice said.
    Becky blinked. Sure enough, Mark was standing there, smiling gently at her. And in his hand was the cup of coffee she’d been waiting for.
    “Here. It’s still hot,” he said, handing it to her.
    She took it silently, waiting for him to comment on what he’d heard her say. He didn’t disappoint her.
    “Who’s Pence?”
    She looked at him, expecting to see ridicule in his eyes. But there was only compassion.
    “He’s the reason I don’t do workplace relationships. Or relationships at all, for that matter.”
    “Ah. Why?”
    Without knowing why, Becky found herself wanting to confide in him.
    “He was creative director at the agency where I interned during grad school. He was my mentor, and then he became...more. Much more.”
    That was the understatement of the year. But Mark didn’t need to know how bad things had gotten—or how far she’d run to get away from him.
    She shrugged her shoulders. “The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. So I decided to focus on my career instead. And now here we are. Competing for the promotion that should be mine.”
    Mark smiled ruefully and lifted his coffee mug. “Indeed we are. Although I have to admit I’d rather be competing to see how fast we can make each other come.”
    Becky raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want this job?”
    “Of