The few times he'd found himself wondering if her office nickname was directed at something more personal than her aloof demeanor, he'd banished the thought to the Siberia of his subconscious. What business was it of his whether or not she ever thawed that cool exterior? Been there, done that, have the scars from the knife in my back to prove it.

An image of Tricia flashed through his mind-Tricia with her sultry blue eyes, come-hither smile and promises of love. Annoyed that he'd allowed his former fiancée to enter his thoughts at all, he firmly pushed aside the memory, relieved that it now only brought irritation rather than the gut-twisting sense of betrayal it once had. But it was hard not to have thoughts of her sneak into his mind whenever Jilly Taylor was around, raising his "Danger Approaching!" radar, since Jilly and Tricia were so clearly cast from the same mold. Oh, they didn't look anything alike-Tricia was blond and petite and favored more feminine styles in contrast to Jilly's dark coloring and tailored suits. But they were both smart and talented-and very, very ambitious. Just the sort of coworker who should come with a warning sign tattooed on their forehead.

He narrowed his eyes, watching Jilly pause to exchange a brief word with someone. Then she walked toward him once again, her head down as she studied the papers she held. Even from a distance, Matt could see that her lips were pursed in concentration, and that her brows were bunched in a frown. She walked with a brisk, no-nonsense stride, her black, slim rectangular-frame glasses perched on her nose.

Yes, she was the epitome of professional competence, and as much as he hated to admit it, she was immensely talented. She'd started working at the agency the year before him, and they were both on the fast track to promotion. But after I land ARC, you'll be left in the dust, Jilly.