Beyond Bliss by Delia Foster

into the accounts, there was barely anything. It’s a miracle that we managed to make the payroll. The only reason we did is because that cock-sucking motherfucker of a bitch took out a line of credit on the firm’s behalf. We have maybe four months to stay afloat before we go under. You have to take this,” he said bleakly.
    It wasn’t even ten a.m. and the day was already a shit show. Bernard had been with the firm since the beginning. He and Carter had been college buddies. The quiet, unassuming man had taken his divorce hard, but she’d had no idea—apparently no one had—that it was this bad.
    And Carter—Carter, who had recruited both her and Liz straight out of law school.  Carter, who for all his grumpy ways, was an uncle-father-older brother-cousin rolled up into one. 
    Carter, who had helped her family climb out of debt after her father had died.
    Carter, who’d punched Zach after her wedding that never happened. 
    Something between a crazy laugh and a sob rose up in her throat. She swallowed the gargantuan lump though and braved on. “What about Liz? Why can’t she do it?”
    Monetary woes forgotten, he reverted back to his normal self and looked at her like she was stupid. “Don’t you think I tried that already? For some reason, he’s got a hard-on for you.”
    Heat flooded her cheeks at his words, but Carter spoke crassly all the time. There was no way he knew what had happened.
    He frowned at her right as the thought crossed her mind. “And what’s your problem? Why don’t you want to work with him?”
    What a fucking disaster.
    Her mind raced furiously as she tried to think of a good response, but she was miraculously saved. “Look, I know you’re down with all this green shit and kumbaya nonsense, but honestly, if the man tears down a forest or two to build some condos, who are we to judge? It’s not like people aren’t living in them.”
    She bit her lip. If she refused to do this, it likely meant her colleagues, her mentor, her best friend, even herself—they were all out of jobs.
    “Okay,” she reluctantly agreed, dread rising within her. “I’ll do it.”
    Relief spread across Carson’s face. “Thank you,” he whispered gratefully.
    And yet another first.
    She swallowed past the lump in her throat and nodded. In an instant, his usual expression returned.
    “I don’t know what’s going on between you and Sinclair, but he doesn’t strike me as a bad man,” he said shrewdly. Before she could respond, he rose from his desk.
    She sat still for a few moments, trying to absorb everything that was happening.
    “Well, come on,” Carter barked from behind her. “Don’t have all day. Let’s go earn your keep.”

Chapter Seven
    His eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction when she trailed behind Carter into the conference room. She suppressed the urge to shiver and quickly looked away. Carter seated himself across from Luke and motioned for her to sit next to him.
    She clasped her hands on the dark cherry wood table and stared fixedly at them.
    “Please excuse us for earlier, Lucas,” Carter rumbled next to her. “There was a slight misunderstanding. As I was saying, both Sophie and the firm are thrilled to further the relationship.”
    A strangled sound escaped her throat.
    “Miss Harlow seems…very excited .” He lingered over the last word, his deep voice draping over her like fine silk. “Shall we discuss the terms of our relationship?”
    His words were heavy with meaning, tone suggestive. Her ire rose quickly, almost as quickly as the steady burn that now flamed between her thighs. She cursed her hormones, but opened her mouth to speak. He had her right where he wanted her, but that didn’t mean she had to make it easy on him. If he thought he was in for a repeat performance of a few weeks ago, he was sorely mistaken. She had no idea how he’d managed to track her down. She contemplated turning her fury on him once they were alone, and she was sure that he would