“Ms. James?”

“What? Yes?” Trish blinked. The last thing she needed was to be caught staring soulfully at her unforgiving boss. “I’m sorry, I was taking mental notes. Could you repeat that?”

With a thoughtful nod, he glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to leave for a meeting shortly, but I’ll show you around first.”

As they crossed the luxurious space, Adam pointed out the locked cabinet where he kept some personal files, next to a sideboard with coffee and sodas to which she could help herself.

“Thank you,” she said. “I appreciate that.”

“I’m not sure you will when you have no time to go to lunch and this is all you’re stuck with.”

“At least we won’t die of thirst,” she said lightheartedly, but her grin faded as she met his gaze and was struck again by his sheer strength and masculinity. She had to force herself to get a grip.

Despite his good looks, she knew he was inflexible and demanding, knew he would be a formidable taskmaster. Frankly, she wished she could tell him to take this job and…well, she couldn’t say it. She needed the job too much. She was on a mission and she would accomplish what she’d set out to do. Let Adam Duke look down on her, if it made him feel bigger and better. She didn’t care. The worse he treated her, the more justification she would have for doing what she’d come here to do.

But why did he have to be even more gorgeous in person than in the newspaper photographs she’d studied? Honestly, didn’t she have enough to handle without being bombarded by feelings of attraction for a man who had single-handedly brought so much pain and destruction to her life?

No, it didn’t matter how handsome he was. All that mattered was, if not for Adam Duke, Trish would still have her home and her grandmother would still be alive.

Adam checked his wristwatch again and Trish snapped back to attention. “I’m sorry, Mr. Duke, but I don’t know your schedule yet. Do you need to leave for your meeting?”