A Matter of Trust Read Free Page B

lightly mocking voice requested, accompanied by another knock.
    “What?” Sloan responded irritably.
    Jason stood in the open doorway, leaning one slim hip against the doorjamb, his arms crossed over his chest. His tailored trousers, monochromatic shirt and tie, and glossy European loafers screamed aspiring businessman-on-the-rise. His model-perfect, blond good looks verged on being too pretty for a man, but his intense blue eyes and tightly muscled physique added just the right amount of masculinity. “Time to compare notes.”
    “Come on in,” Sloan replied in a tone that suggested she knew she had no choice in the matter.
    “Sorry about the unexpected meeting.”
    “No problem.”
    He regarded her with one eyebrow cocked. “And should I even ask where you spent last evening?”
    Sloan fixed him with a stony glare as she tossed the report aside. “No, I don’t think so.”
    “Talkative, aren’t we? Testy, too.” He walked farther into the room. “Must be sleep deprivation.”
    He tried unsuccessfully to hide a frown, because he hadn’t really intended to browbeat her about her private life. It was just that he’d hoped by now she’d show signs of settling down, but she never did. With each new woman in her life she seemed even less interested in anything serious. It wouldn’t have bothered him so much if it weren’t for the shadows in her eyes that had nothing to do with fatigue. He managed to hold his tongue, reminding himself that he wasn’t doing much better in that department himself.
    “Can we save the lecture for another time?” Sloan rubbed her face with both hands, aware for the first time that she was tired. It wasn’t just the lack of sleep. If anything, sex usually relaxed her. Unfortunately, she’d learned through bitter experience that such pleasures often came at a price. Claudia Carson had made it very clear that she wanted to see more of her. That idea wasn’t an altogether unpleasant one by any means, but the intensity in Claudia’s voice had set off alarms.
    I will have to be very certain that the ground rules are clear before things became unnecessarily complicated. Sex is one thing, but—
    “What about the client this morning? Did we at least get the new contract?”
    “Yes, we got it,” Sloan answered somewhat churlishly and then immediately regretted her tone. She saw the hurt in his eyes and reminded herself that they were friends. “I’m sorry,” she sighed. “You’re right. I really didn’t get much sleep.”
    “And I suppose that’s my fault?” Jason flopped down in the chair Michael Lassiter had occupied earlier that day, deciding from the homicidal look on his associate’s face that it would be safer to change the subject. “So tell me about the Ice Queen.”
    Sloan skewered him with another stare meant to do damage. When he squirmed a bit and mouthed a silent Please, hands clutched to his heart, she finally laughed.
    “She’s a client, Jason, not a date.”
    “Oh please. Like there’s a big difference,” Jason retorted, but this time his tone was uncritical.
    Sloan shook her head, still smiling. “So now and then I see one of our clients...ah...socially, shall we say? It’s never interfered with business. And besides, I can assure you that won’t be happening with this one.”
    Jason wondered if he didn’t detect a slight hint of regret in Sloan’s voice, but he wisely chose not to comment upon it. Instead, he asked playfully, “And why exactly is that?”
    “First and very foremost, she’s straight,” Sloan said with finality. Although she probably deserved her reputation as someone who never lacked for female companionship and never made a long-term commitment, she did have some limits. Dating straight women was definitely one of them.
    “Things can always change,” Jason commented.
    “Not this time.”
    It was clear that for the moment at least, the matter was closed. Jason knew that if he continued to push the issue, Sloan was likely