“Philip!”  Justin burst into Philip’s office full of rage.  “Your Miss Pierce has gone too far this time!”

“Justin, we met with her just two days ago.  I haven’t heard a word from her.  What could she possibly do in forty-eight hours?”  Philip leaned back in his chair, remaining calm. 

“I didn’t give the little lass enough credit.  Seems she knows how to play hardball.”  His father sat in a visitor’s chair facing his son.

“I told you to back off, let her cool down.”

“Well, the little lady seems to cause quite a ruckus while she’s ‘cooling down’.”

“You knew her connections with the county board would be an issue when trying to repeal the restriction.”

“County board?”  Justin shouted.  “The little lady has gone and stolen an account right out from under my boots boy!”

Philip leaned forward.  “She didn’t.”  Philip was feeling very uneasy in the presence of his father’s temper.  Besides her land, there was only one other business opportunity he was in Minnesota to work on.

“She did!  She went and stole the Cooper account!”

“How?”  Philip was stunned.  “You had that account in the bag just yesterday!”

“Well, the little filly must have batted her pretty little eyes at the man.  Told me he was quite impressed with Miss Pierce’s proposal.”

“There’s no way she could have had time to come up with a proposal in that amount of time.”  Philip countered.  “She’s too detail oriented.  She takes her time working on proposals.”

Justin thought it odd his son knowing so much about the little lady since he hadn’t even spoken with her about her land purchase.  Another confusing puzzle piece. “You underestimate her, Son.  She not only came up with a proposal in the eleventh hour, but she undercut us by millions!”  Justin rose and made his way to the door.

“Father wait!”  Philip called.  “Let me talk to her.”

Justin turned, his anger now in a quiet phase.  A dangerous place to be where Justin Michaels was concerned.  “I took it easy on the girl because you said she wouldn’t be a threat.  Now I do things my way.”

“Father, no!”  Philip shouted.  Only to be answered by the thundering slam of his office door.  He slumped back in his chair, raking his hands through his blond locks.  “Oh Randi, what have you done.”  He whispered.

Randi had been pouring over files for hours.  The entire office was dark as all the staff had left for the weekend.  Her eyes burned from exhaustion.  She leaned back in her chair and rested her eyes.

She screamed at the sudden movement of her chair being spun around.  She opened her eyes to find Philip with his hands on the arms of her chair, his face very close to hers.  “Philip!”

“Why, Randi?”  He angrily whispered.  She tried to get up, but he wasn’t about to move.  “Why?”  He repeated.

“Philip, please.”

His breathing was heavy from his anger.  He took in a deep breath before standing and allowing her out of the chair.

She rose and made her way to the front of the desk.  When she turned to face him, she found he had followed and was right there.  “Philip!”  Her hand went to his chest to keep him at bay.  “What are you doing here?”

With every step she took back, he matched it with one forward.  “Why?  Why did you have to take the Cooper account from Justin?”

“Is that what this is all about?”  She tried lightly.

“I’m waiting for an answer Randi.”  His face was so close to hers.  Her body was pinned at the front of her desk with no where else to go.

“Look, I saw an opportunity for Kingston and I took it.”

“Kingston?”  He spat.  “Or yourself?”

Her hands on the desk were the only thing keeping her from falling back.  “What’s it to you?”

“Do you have any idea how angry you’ve made my father?”

“Am I supposed to care?”  She returned.

“If I were you, I’d care very much!”

“He doesn’t scare me!”  She lifted her chin in defiance.

“He should!”  He shouted in return.

“Look, business is business.”

“Randi, this isn’t business.”  His voice calmer.

“Then what is it?”  Her dark eyes gazing into his looking for answers.

“Randi, I need you to please lay low for a while.”  He softly pleaded.

Her confusion read all over her face.  “You what?”

“If you work with me, I can resolve this.”

“Work with you?  Are you crazy?”

“You have to trust me.”

“Trust you?”  She shouted.  “No, that isn’t even a remote possibility.”

 “Please, Randi.”  His whispers pleaded.

She closed her eyes at the feel of his breath on her face.  His hand rose to cup the nape of her neck.  When he drew her close, her hands rose to his chest to push him away.  “He’ll hurt you Randi.  I can’t let him do that.”  His words soft whispers against her lips.

It felt like forever since he’d tasted her kiss.  He hadn’t realized until he felt the softness of her hair in his hands how much he missed her. 

Her quick intake of breath before his mouth came down on hers was involuntary.  Her mind raced as she tried pushing him away.  His other hand rose to join the first as they tangled in her long tresses.  Her resolve slipping away uncontrollably as his tantalizing kisses continued.  She slid her hands up his chest to encircle his neck and then tangle in his locks as well.  Holding him close.  Her soft coos and moans exciting him, turning his kisses hungry.

She was breathless when he finally lifted his lips from hers.  “Philip.”  She huskily called his name as he began seductive kisses at her throat and neck.  When his lips returned to hers, the hunger in both of them was great.  His hand softly caressing her neck, knowing how sensitive she was to his touch.  She opened her eyes when their lips parted, gazing deeply into his bright blue gaze.
          “Business is business.”  He whispered.
       Anger rose in her like a volcanic eruption.  She pushed him back with all her might.  Standing before him, her hand came sharply across his cheek.

His hand rose to the sting in his cheek.  “Father’s right, you are feisty.”

“Get out!”  She screamed.

“Randi, that came out wrong.  Please.”

“Out!”

“Randi, we need to talk about this.”

“There is nothing to talk about!  You and your father can go to hell!”

“Randi, I’m warning you.  Justin doesn’t play games!”

“Neither do I!”  She spat.  “I obviously can’t let my guard down with either of you!”

He gave a heavy sigh before realizing it was no use.  “I am sorry Randi.”

“Sorry for what?  Being your father’s errand boy?”  Her emotions building.  “Your father can be proud.”

“I don’t know if I can prevent him from doing harm.”  He called from her doorway.

“Harm’s already been done.”  Trying to keep her emotions in check.  “He can’t possibly hurt me any more.”

He heard her throw something in her office that smashed into pieces as he made his way to the elevator.  He had no idea how to reign in his father or keep her from pursuing her obvious quest.  He felt trapped between two super natural forces he had no chance of containing.