The Dakota Man by Joan Hohl Page A

quickly added, “But you can write the check later.”
    “All right.” She raised russet eyebrows, and once again repeated, “Will there be anything else?”
    “Just one thing,” he said. “After you and Karla have had your coffee, tell her I said she’s to give you a tour of the place, introduce you to the other employees.”
    “Yes, si—” she began before catching herself up short. She drew a breath. “Mitch,” she finished, her soft, enticing lips curving into a wry half smile.
    That half smile indicated that she might have discerned his intentions…at least so far as testing her mettle. As for his ultimate intent, that of having her soft and warm and eager in his arms, in his bed, he felt positive she hadn’t figured that one out yet.
    But she would, and soon. Maggie was quick and bright, she’d reach that conclusion very soon.
    Chuckling to himself, Mitch watched the smooth movement of Maggie’s trimly rounded hips and long legs as she crossed to the door. But he was no longer chuckling seconds later, after she had closed the door behind her.
    He was aching, in all sorts of uncomfortable places.
    Damn thing was, Mitch thought with a sense of both amusement and amazement, he was enjoying the ache, and looking forward to more of the same.
    Oh, yeah, he was in big trouble.

Five
    H e had been baiting her. From their very first meeting, Mitch Grainger had been baiting her.
    But… Why?
    The question left Maggie in an emotional pickle; she couldn’t decide whether to laugh or curse. Never had she dealt with a man so darn confusing. On one hand, Mitch Grainger was arrogant, imperious and irritatingly confident and self-contained. On the other hand…
    Come to think of it, what was on the other hand—other than the fact that he was obviously intelligent, attractive as the devil, and exudedsheer masculine sexual magnetism? Maggie mocked herself, uncertain exactly what it was about him that sparked her sense of humor.
    The man was absolutely impossible, she thought, smiling at Karla as she left Mitch Grainger’s office.
    Karla returned Maggie’s smile with a frown. “Everything okay?” she asked anxiously. “You were in there an awfully long time.”
    “Everything’s fine,” Maggie said, thinking coffee, coffee, even without caffeine, as she made a beeline for the coffee machine. “Mr. Grainger told me he had checked out my references.” She turned to flash a grin. “Said I checked out in spades.”
    Karla grinned back. “I just knew you would.” The phone rang. “Have your coffee and a pastry,” she said, waving at the table before snatching the receiver from the cradle and saying brightly, “This is Karla.”
    Maggie was munching away happily on an iced cinnamon roll when Karla hung up the phone. It was then she remembered Mitch’s instructions.
    “Oh, I almost forgot. No, I did forget.” Grimacing, she paused to take a sip of the hot brew.“Mr. Grainger said I was to tell you to give me a tour of the place.”
    “Oh, good.” Karla laughed. “I was just feeling the need to get up and move around a little.” The phone rang. She rolled her eyes. “We’ll escape as soon as you’re finished.” Reaching for the phone with one hand, she indicated an identification badge like the one she wore with the other hand, and again snatched up the receiver.
    They escaped a few minutes later, the badge bearing Maggie’s full name pinned to her lapel.
    “From now on, you must wear that at all times in the building,” Karla said.
    “Right.” Maggie nodded, then frowned. “Who’ll answer the phone while we’re gone?” she asked, casting a worried look at the closed door to Mitch’s office.
    “If I don’t pick up by the third ring, Mitch will,” Karla said, leading the way out of the office.
    Wonder of wonders, a C.E.O. who’ll deign to answer his own phone, Maggie thought, unable to recall any one of her previous employers who would do so. If she were out of the front office, even for a