Tit for Tat Baby (3 page)

She did not move or even twitch a
muscle.  He clamped his hands in fists.  There was no way he was
touching this tempting morsel in front of him.

His voice rose in volume.

“Miss, wake up!”

“Hmm.”

The sensual moan had his shaft twitch
in reaction and he cursed when he felt it rise, much like a balloon slowly
filling with air. 

“JENNA!”

“What!”

She lifted her torso from the bed and
swung to him.  His breath got lodged somewhere in his esophagus and his
shaft slammed against his pants in a painful proportion.

She had the most beautiful
breasts.  Full and firm with large soft coral pink nipples.  They
jutted upward with wanton invitation.  He gasped for breath and cursed.

Jenna groaned when she saw the grumpy
castle owner standing next to her bed.  She grabbed the pillow and covered
her head, settling back on her stomach.  She stretched her legs and the
sheet slipped lower and her ass peeked out.  Callum closed his eyes.

“Go away!”

“I am waiting for your report.”

She lifted her head from under the
pillow and glared at him after a quick glance out of the windows.

“It is still in the middle of the
night!”

“I said before work and I leave within
the next thirty minutes.”

“You’re not serious?”

“Do I look like the joking type to
you, little painter girl?”

“Stop calling me a girl!”

“If you are not in my study with your
report in ten minutes, your services will no longer be required.”

He spun around and stalked to the door
with Jenna gaping after him.

Callum sat watching the clock, praying
that she won’t walk through the door in time.  The quicker he got rid of
the temptation she offered, the better.  He started to grin when nine
minutes passed and there was no sign of her.

“Callum McGregor!  Where in the
blazes is your study in this mausoleum!”

He dropped his head on his chest in
defeat when her voice echoed loudly down the corridor.

“McGregor!  I am on time, so you
better tell me where you are!  You are not going to bully me out of here.”

He got up and went into the corridor
and bellowed.

“Down here!”

She appeared at the end of the
corridor and he walked back into his study, annoyed at what she was wearing.

He just sat down when she walked in
scowling at him.  His eyes swept down her body and he frowned at
her.  She wore an oversized tee-shirt and he wondered if she was still
naked beneath it.

“I sincerely hope this is not how you
intend to dress while you’re here!”

“You did not leave me with much choice
but my Pj’s!  Ten minutes in the middle of the night!”

“You seem a tad overdressed
then.  As I recall this is not what you wore to bed.”

Her face flushed with color
remembering he saw her naked. 

“It was hot so I … I don’t owe you an
explanation on my sleeping habits!  I prepared a detailed report on my
laptop, but obviously have not printed it as yet.”

She opened her laptop and keyed in her
password to unlock the screen.  She powered it up just before she left her
room.  She placed the computer in the center of his desk and turned it so
both of them could see the screen.  She started talking but found it
difficult to point to certain things on the screen.  The desk was massive
and she was not the tallest of persons.  She got up and walked around his
desk to stand beside him.  She pulled the laptop closer and leaned towards
it as she talked.

Jenna battled to concentrate and
remember what she needed to say.  Standing so close to him was not the
best idea she has ever had.  The heat that emanated from his body turned
hers to boil, her nipples tingled and her core pulsed.  Just his closeness
made her body react in a way she has never had in the presence of another
man.  Not even in bed with another man!  Not that there has been many
… well if two qualifies as many!

Callum clenched his jaw and hardly
heard a word the enticing girl said.  She smelled like fresh jasmine and
her satiny soft hair tickled his arm where it rested on the armrest of his
chair.  He was uncomfortable as hell with a painful erection that just
would not quit.  Not since he watched those bountiful breasts of her
jiggle when she woke up.

“The murals alone would take
approximately 12 months to complete.  If we bring in a small team, I can
set them to work on the paintings while I do the murals, if the Director agrees
that I stay to assist.  That way we would be out of your hair sooner.”

“No, I don’t want a bunch of strangers
underfoot.  If only you work on them, how long would it take?”

“There are more big paintings than I
realized and those take much longer than the small …”

“I did not ask for a lesson in
restoring art, Miss Burkes.  How long?”

“Eighteen to twenty four
months.” 

She sizzled at his shortness. 
She slammed her laptop shut, picked it up and went to sit on one of the chairs
opposite him.

He scowled at her.  She was
crazy!  He did not want her here for two years!  He would murder her
before then … or turn her into his young sex slave … whichever came first!

“That is unacceptable.”

She shrugged.  “Unfortunately if
you want it done properly and only use one person that is my best
guestimate.  It is unlikely that I would be the one to be here for two
years anyway.  The Director only sent me here to do the time study and
kick off the project, although I would love to work on the murals!”

“Scared your lover would wither away
without you for so long?”

“My … lover has nothing to do with
it.  I have a responsibility to fulfill my job at the Institute. 
Besides, if my need for my lover becomes a problem … there’s always you …”

She was angry enough at him to say it,
but the moment the words left her mouth, she wished she could detract
them.  The flame in his eyes and the rigidity of his jaw testimony to his
irritation.

“Be careful what you wish for, little
painter girl.  Your fingers will get burnt.”

“Look … you clearly don’t like me and
quite frankly I find you arrogant, pushy and kind of a jerk.  So why don’t
you just tell me to leave and find someone else to do the job?”

“And how would your Director react if
I inform him I am cancelling the project because his little painter girl finds
me … arrogant, pushy and kind of a jerk?

She gritted her teeth and glared at
him.  She should have added irritating, bossy and … too damn sexy to be
around!  Her pulsing core agreed with her by tightening painfully when
their eyes met.

“The sooner I know if you want me to
start with the project, the better.  If not, tell me now and I’ll be out
of here at first light.”

He sat looking at her with an
inscrutable expression, rapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair.

“Very well.  You can start and
we’ll see how it goes.  You better clear your availability with your
Director to finish the project first, though.”

“Wha … I can’t stay here for two
years!”

“Yet that is how long you claim the
project will take.  If he won’t release you for that period, the project
is cancelled.”

“You … I …”

“I want a progress report once a week
on my desk.  I leave early every day and return late every night.  If
you experience any problems or need anything, write a note and leave it on my
desk, or contact Megan. I’ll leave you to gape like a fish then. Good day Miss
Burkes.”

He sauntered out of the study and left
her literally gaping like a fish.  From making it abundantly clear he did
not want her there for that long, to cancelling the project if she doesn’t,
left her totally confused.

The
damn man is highly irritating to say the least!

Ronan
directed her to a room at the far end of the corridor that was completely
empty.  It was a large room, same as all the other rooms in the castle and
with the same floor height windows.  The natural light was exactly what
she needed for the restoration process and she was delighted with the
room.  Ronan appointed two of the house staff to carry all the boxes with
the tools and equipment into the room.  It was already after lunch before
she could start unpacking the boxes.

Ronan appeared carrying a tray with
soda and some snacks.  She smiled at him and looked at the delicious
savory tarts.

“Are you trying to fatten me up,
Ronan?”

“Och, now Lassie, ye ca’ do with some
mo’e paddin’!”

Jenna shook her head and munched on
one of the tartlets. 

“I am going to need at least two desks
in here as well.  Do you have any old desks or even just stands with
planks I could use?  I need to set up a microscope and have a large flat
surface to work on as well.”

“Jest write down wha’ ye need and I’ll
ge’ it fer ye.”

Jenna quickly made a list and added a
chair and shelves.  With all the work that needs to be done everything
would be much better if she could properly stack her materials and tools
away.  She realized with a start that she has not phoned the Director
yet.  He would have to come up with a solution.  There was no way she
could stay for two years.  She started searching for her phone and berated
herself for her continuous negligence with her phone.  She forever has to
search for it when she needed it.  After a frustrating ten minutes she
found it on top of one of the boxes behind another stack of boxes. She dialed
the Director’s cell number and he answered within the third ring.

“Jenna?  Are you settled?”

“Yes, sort of.”

“What do you mean sort of?”

“There is a slight problem, Director.”

“Not something major, I trust.”

“Well, that depends on your definition
of major.”

“What have you done now, Jenna?”

“Now why do you automatically assume I
did something?”

“You, young lady are way too fiery for
your own good sometimes!  I am waiting, Jenna.”

“Have you looked at the list of
restoration that needs to be done after the evaluation team drew up their time
analysis?”

“I’m afraid I didn’t.  Why?”

“I had to draw up a proper time
study.  There are many more large paintings and the murals are in a bad
condition.  This is a mayor long term project, Director.”

“How long?”

“My best guestimate at this point is
between eighteen to twenty four months.”

“What?  You can’t be away for
that long!”

“I know and I told McGregor the same
thing.  He is adamant he does not want more people working on the
project.   In fact, either I finish the project or he will cancel
it.”

“Damn!  We can’t afford to have
such a powerful family upset.  This project will really showcase this
division’s ability and secure a vast amount of funds for us.”

“So, what do you suggest we do?”

“I’m afraid there is no other
alternative.  You will have to stay and finish the project.”

“No Daddy!  I can’t stay here for
two years!”

“Why not, my girl?  It’s not as
if there is a young man cooling his heels on this side for you!”

“But Daddy … two years!”

“I am sure you can come to an
arrangement on time of and holidays, darling.  We’ll probably see you more
than we do when you travel from one assignment to another.”

“But Daddy … this man … Callum
McGregor, he is an arrogant bully!  I will commit murder or suicide if I
have to stay here for two years!”

“I am sure you are overreacting,
Jenna.  He is a well-known businessman and one of the richest men in the
world.”

“He calls me a little painter girl,
Daddy!”

Devon Burkes sat a little upright, his
interest triggered.  She has not sounded this passionate about a man since
… well never.  It was about time someone woke up the passions in
her.  She had too much life lust in her to be alone and she has been alone
for far too long.  He decided he made the right decision to send her to
McGregor.

“Well then, darling, I guess it is up
to you to prove to him you are not a little girl.”

“Daddy!”

Devon chuckled and leaned back in his
chair, rapping his fingers on his desk.

“I imagine you’re going to need more
of your stuff seeing as you going to be staying longer.  Email me what you
need and I’ll send it over.”

“I don’t want to stay here for two
years, Daddy!”  She wailed like the little girl she has been called.

Devon chuckled and Jenna shrieked
angrily.  How could her father turn into such a traitor?

“I am sure it will all work out well
in the end, darling.  Now, have you sent me the report you drew up?”