“How’s that?” she finally managed to croak.
“It’ll do for now.” Reaching out and down, he patted her on the shoulder. “We’ll see how my luck goes on the next trip. I might have to come back and lean on you again for a recharge.” He slid lithely off the desk and headed for the door. “Take care of yourself, Lauren. You’ll get control of this native business. I know you can handle it. You can handle anything.”
Trying desperately to think of something clever to say by way of parting, she failed miserably. “Be careful out there, Seth. Some of the more radical Sakuntala have crossed the line and attacked our people.”
He was at the door. “Thanks for the thought, good-looking, but don’t worry. I’m not concerned about the Sakuntala. They won’t bother me.”
Then he was gone, the sharp perfume of the stim stick and of his body lingering teasingly in the room.
She found that she was breathing hard, for no discernible reason. Speaking softly, she opened a drawer and drew herself a carbonate drink. The feel of the cold liquid sliding down her throat helped to shock her back to reality.
Damn the man! He was far too attractive. Indecently so. The way he looked through her eyes instead of into them, the play of muscles beneath his clothing, that damnable cocksure grin of his, as if he knew everything you were thinking—it was unfair! She knew she ought to ban him from her office. Every time he showed up, she told herself it would be the last time. There had been a lot of last times.
Pandusky needed something. Forcing away thoughts of Sethwyn Case, she admitted her assistant. She listened intently to everything he had to say, commenting where appropriate, authorizing where necessary. Anyone observing the discussion would have believed that her attention was focused entirely on her assistant and the matter at hand.