Compromising Position Stephanie Morris Copyright © January 2012, Stephanie Morris Cover art designed by For the Muse Designs © January 2012 ISBN: 978-1-937394-22-6 This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious or used fictitiously. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. Amira Press Charlotte, NC www.amirapress.com
Wxw|vtà|ÉÇ To Lydia. You somehow manage to drive me insane and motivate me at the same time. Thanks for your support and the entertainment. To the members of my readers group. Thank you for your support and motivational words when I am creating my stories. It is greatly appreciated.
Compromising Position
Stephanie Morris
Chapter One “Have they sexed each other down yet?” Kinsey Maxwell frantically reached for the button that set the phone from speaker to the handset function. In the stuffy offices of APR Consulting, the last thing she needed was for her coworkers to hear a caller discussing sex. She shook her head at the stern voice nearly yelling on the phone. “I don’t even get a greeting today. You must be in a great mood, Rhonda.” “How far are they into it?” her agent demanded. “You know the storyline doesn’t call for a sex scene until chapter six.” Kinsey sounded caustic even to herself. “For the love of sweet tea, you still haven’t completed it.” “I’m working my way up to it.” Kinsey attempted to sound soothing rather than hysterical. “Working your way up to it? Your final manuscript is due in less than thirty days. You’d delay my trip in the back of an ambulance to the emergency room for cardiac arrest if you could be a little more specific.” Kinsey glanced uncomfortably around her office. “Rhonda, I have an interview to conduct in a few minutes. We can talk about this later.” “I know I don’t need to tell you what’s at risk here, do I?” Kinsey could picture the brunette sitting at her desk, picking her nails and tapping her foot impatiently. “A legal publishing contract. The other four books in the series. Your early retirement from Human Resources. Your reputation. My reputation, and—not to be discounted—my commission. You know I’ve had my eye on that new pool.” “Rhonda, I’m struggling here.” “Good gravy, Kinsey, the difficult part is finished. You have most of the book written. All you have to do is get the characters between the sheets for a little sexual release.”
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“A lot of sexual release, Rhonda.” Fifteen to twenty pages, the last time she’d checked. Kinsey tried to taper off the increasing feeling of anxiety. “The scene doesn’t want to come forth. I’m giving it my best, but I just can’t write it. I still can’t figure out why you didn’t let me stay in mainstream.” Her tone took on a hint of annoyance. “Let you stay in mainstream? I should be taken out and quartered for letting you stay in mainstream women’s fiction for as long as I did,” Rhonda responded as a pop in the background signaled she was opening one of her ever-present Dr. Peppers. “Four of them, four awards. You’re one of the brightest out there. You should be writing something other than mainstream women’s fiction, but I can’t get you to the level you should be at because everyone wants to see how you handle real intimacy. It’s a wonder I managed to get them to consider a multibook deal,” she complained. For the past five years, Kinsey had been happily writing mainstream women’s fiction in her spare time, trendy stories with nothing more tantalizing than a kiss or two. Each time she sold a book, she thought that this time, finally, she might be able to quit the day job she despised and write full-time, but it never quite worked out that way. She felt a sharp pang of wistfulness for each of her four books, charming little books that didn’t necessitate anything erotic, just some sexual thoughts here and there and only with a few lip-locks. Kissing was her forte. Kissing she had experienced, with her own lips. Oh, at least a handful of times, anyway. Sex, on the other hand, was an abyss to her, marked by one horrifying occurrence. Write what you know, she’d learned in one of her writer’s meetings. Regrettably, sex was something she didn’t know. One thing was undeniable, though—the pitch of the book she had sold was supposed to be steamy sex between the heroine and the hero. All she had to do was complete the book, get the publishing contract, and write full-time. If she botched this deal, there was no telling how long she’d be doomed to working in a dreadful Human Resources department.
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Rhonda exhaled a long-exasperated sigh through the phone. “Kinsey, you have to get this done. Now is not the time to get writer’s block. Do you at least have a rough draft?” Kinsey thought about the disappointing page that she’d forced out the night before. Usually, the words raced onto the screen. Okay, well, there had been times before that it the words had meandered and times when it took a little push, but at least it came. Now if only her characters could. Rhonda deciphered her noncommittal response for the bad thing it was. “Come on, Kinsey, just pour yourself a glass of red wine and think about the last time you had really hot, mind-boggling sex. You do remember sex, right?” Kinsey remained silent and Rhonda’s tone changed. “How long has it been since you’ve had some nooky, anyway?” “Oh, a little while,” she responded vaguely, apprehensively, fixing a pile of papers on her desk. “What’s a little while?” “Um, seven years. Or so.” Kinsey’s voice sounded small even to her own ears. “Seven years?” Rhonda voice rose to an ear-splitting pitch. “Since you were twenty-three? Seven years?” “Maybe a little less,” Kinsey said defensively. “I’ve been preoccupied…” Her voice trailed off. “Kinsey. Honey. You’re stunning. You’re in the prime of your life. What are you waiting for?” “I just haven’t had too much luck in the romance department.” “You’ve been hiding away in that stodgy Human Resources department. No wonder you are struggling to finish this book. It wouldn’t surprise me if you don’t even remember what sex involves. Honey, we need to find you a stud muffin,” Rhonda said decidedly. Kinsey frowned. “Rhonda, you are not going to set me up with a man.” “Kinsey, you’re writing a hot romance. Just finding some regular man to have sex with won’t do. You need a man that is going to make your eyes roll to the back of your head.” 3
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“Rhonda, give me a break. It will be okay, really. I’m a writer. J.K. Rowling didn’t need to earn a PhD in wizardry to create Harry Potter. I don’t need a stud. I can do this.” “You need stimulation.” “Rhonda!” Kinsey flinched at the high pitch of her voice. She inhaled deeply, trying to relax. “I have to go. I’m late for my interview.” “That won’t help you with toe-curling, breathtaking—” “Rhonda.” The line went silent. “Thank you. Now, I have to go interview this candidate,” Kinsey continued, articulating carefully. “I’ll work on the scene over the weekend and I’ll call you next week.” “I’ve already picked out the pool,” Rhonda threw in. “Just in case you wanted to know.” “I’ll talk to you later, Rhonda.” **** Tightening her ivory satin bathrobe around her, Kinsey stared at the ridiculously blank screen of her computer in the rapidly disappearing daylight. Candlelight flickered throughout the room and Sade sung quietly in the background. The satin strap of her nightgown slid off her shoulder. A glass of wine sat at her elbow, neglected, and seductive perfume filled the air. “Get in the mood,” she mumbled, pushing a mass of dark curls out of her face. “Great deal of good it did me.” Several years ago, the plan had been clear—get a master’s degree and become a Human Resources Director at a hotshot company. Sadly, several other college graduates had the same idea, she found out upon graduating. Her temporary—or so she thought—stay at APR Consulting had saved her from being an overqualified Human Resources Assistant, but now it was clear that bigger and better things weren’t going to happen for her in the world of Human Resources. To be frank, she did care. Since she’d discovered her knack for writing, she couldn’t get enough of it. Now, her main focus was to turn writing into a full-time job and leave the hell that was
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APR Consulting. Finishing this first novel of this new series would pave the way for her. However, finishing this book seemed like the last thing that was ever going to happen. Releasing a pent-up breath, she got up from the computer chair and wandered to her muted TV to watch Christian Slater draw Mary Stuart Masterson close for a kiss in Bed of Roses. Rhonda was right. That was what she needed, she thought, sitting down on the couch to watch the film. Passion. True romance. A man who would leave her breathless just at the thought of being with him. Disappointingly, her life up to this point had lacked breath takers. Except for Todd, who had mostly suffocated her. Kinsey exhaled as the characters on the screen kissed. Sometimes, she could almost feel a movie kiss, almost remember what it was like. She undid her robe to feel the satin material beneath. It wasn’t her fault she never got involved with anyone. Guys just always seemed to never notice her. It wasn’t that she didn’t want someone to touch her the way Slater was touching Masterson, she thought, absently moving her fingertips down the length of her neck and stroking over the curve of her shoulder. She wanted to make love. She wanted to feel a man’s hands on her. It just never seemed to occur. Kinsey trailed her fingers down over her satin nightgown to caress her thighs, then back up, gently, rhythmically. The feel of the material rubbing against her nipples made her antsy. Just a man who could see her for what she was, instead of shuffling past her as though she was invisible. So maybe she wasn’t on the cover of Ebony, but she’d inherited her father’s eyes and her mother’s smile. Nobody quite knew where she got her mahogany skin tone from, but it was her favorite feature. When she got dressed up, she thought she looked nice. Okay, to be truthful, she thought she looked hot, but somehow, when she was around men, she just seemed to cease to exist. She could be sexy with the right guy, Kinsey thought, slipping her fingers under the hem of her nightgown to tease the top of her thighs, stroking her
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breast with the other hand. It was just that, somehow, they never appeared to pay any attention to her. She watched the characters on a screen as her fingers slid up to feel the curls of hair between her legs. Maybe what she’d experienced sexwise had not been worth remembering, but she knew just how good it could be from the way she made herself feel. Her fingers slipped into wetness, and she felt the wave of arousal crash into her as she caressed herself where she was most sensitive. On screen, Masterson inhaled sharply with pleasure as Slater slipped his hand up between her legs. Kinsey closed her eyes and imagined the fingers of a lover pushing her toward the edge and beyond. What would it be like to have a man stroking her there, to feel his naked flesh against hers? Would he know how to touch, how to circle around in the way that made her hips jerk the way they were now? Kinsey felt a surge of heat travel through her from her hips to her knees. She ached with tension. The rhythmic caress urged her high and higher. She brought herself to the edge, rubbing her breasts with the other hand, teasing and squeezing the nipples. Kinsey hesitated, letting the arousal dim some, knowing it would be even better at the end if she made herself wait. She touched her body, feeling her curves, then returned to the moist heat, finding herself again with a stroke that made her gasp. She teased, circled, then she could feel it racing in. Suddenly, it was like a huge wave, rushing in, no stopping now. The surge of heat showered over her like liquid pleasure, then the orgasm crashed into her. Her body jerked as the wonder of it flowed from her center out to her fingers and toes in a flood of heat that swelled, sparked, and left a satisfying glow behind. Exhaling softly, she sank back into the couch and closed her eyes. She didn’t make it back to the computer. **** “Mama, my career is ruined and it’s your fault.” Kinsey walked through her parents’ front door and made her way to her mother’s kitchen. 6
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Doris Maxwell looked up at Kinsey with a smile. “Morning, sweetpea. What brings you by?” “I’m meeting Zoey to go shopping. She’s down the street at her parents’ home helping make out the list for Mariah’s wedding.” “Mariah’s getting married?” Doris blinked in surprise. “I just brought chocolate bars for the school fundraiser from her last week. She can’t be more than ten.” “Mama, she just turned twenty-four,” Kinsey said softly. “I think you bought the chocolate bars from Belle’s oldest daughter.” “Belle has a daughter old enough to be in elementary school? Goodness me, where does the time go?” Doris mumbled, bending to pull a loaf of cranberry orange bread out of the oven. “Now, what were you saying about me ruining your career? Are you having difficulty at work?” “I’m inhibited is what I am. I have three sex scenes to finish in less than thirty days, and I can’t convince my characters to get naked for the horizontal mambo.” The tower of newspaper over at the kitchen table rattled. “What are the two of you discussing over there?” a subdued voice said. “Nothing, honey.” Doris lifted the bread out of the pan carefully and set it on a cooling rack. “Hey, Dad,” Kinsey said. Her father’s head peered from behind the Fort Worth Telegram business page. “Oh, hi, sweetpea. How’s work?” “At APR, fine, but my career as an author is kaput.” “That’s because you write those sappy books. I keep telling you a murder mystery is the way to the top. You get a psychotic serial killer, a gritty cop, and a hair-raising murder. It’ll sell off the charts, and you can retire.” “Um, yes, Dad. I’ll get to work on it now,” she promised with a wink. “So you’re having problems with your current book?” Doris asked, taking the other cranberry-orange loaf off the cooling rack. “It’s the way you raised me,” Kinsey stated sullenly. “I was allowed to be too much of a tomboy. That’s the reason why I don’t stand out to men. They see me as one of the guys. I don’t appear to be enough of a woman to find a 7
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lover.” She walked over to the cabinet and pulled down plates and coffee mugs. “If only I could recall how it felt to have sex, I could write about it,” she said, carrying the plates and cups over to the table. “You know you were a stubborn child, Kinsey,” Doris retorted. “Always wanted to be the best. Didn’t believe in limitations regarding gender.” “You could have at least made me wear a dress or two.” “You wear plenty of dresses now, Kinsey. Very nice ones, I might add,” Doris pointed out, carrying over the platter of sliced loaf and a pot of coffee. Kinsey exhaled heavily. “Fat lot of good that does me.” She cut her loaf into perfect bite-size pieces. Her mother poured coffee into the mugs and sat the pot on a pot holder. “Honey, you’re an awesome author. Just watch a few Johnny Depp movies to get in the mood and make up the rest.” “I tried that. Christian Slater too. Didn’t help.” Kinsey sipped her coffee, figuring it best not to tell her mother about the other thing she tried to get her in the mood. Which had worked for about ten minutes. And then helped her to sleep for the rest of the night. “Why don’t you ask someone to set you up with a sexy guy? Mrs. Young up the street has a single son.” “Mom, it’s quite a trip from a blind date to slipping between the sheets. My deadline’s in less than four weeks. What I need is a mental vision of a magnificent lover.” “I guess porn movies wouldn’t help,” Doris replied, sliding onto a chair. “Mama!” Astonished, Kinsey looked at her mother, then burst into laughter. “I can’t believe you just suggested your child go out and rent a stag movie.” Her father looked around his paper with intrigue. “She never encouraged me to go see one.” “Oh, be quiet, you. You never needed one.” Doris stirred her coffee imperturbably. “I’m just attempting to save Kinsey’s career. Considering that I ruined it to begin with.” “Well, it’s a sensual romance novel, not porn. I don’t think those sorts of movies will help.” Kinsey finished the last of her coffee and leaned across the 8
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table to snatch another slice of loaf. “Anyway, I need to be going. I just stopped in to place the blame for my upcoming ruin at your feet.” “Always happy to be of assistance, sweetpea.” Her mother followed her to the door. “Don’t sweat it, honey, you’re an awesome writer. It will all work out.” She pulled her close in an embrace. “You’ll find the right guy too.” “When is that going to happen?” Kinsey drew back and looked at her mother sincerely. “The instant you stop racing around looking so engrossed that any man who looks at you figures you have to be in a rush to meet another man. When you make yourself accessible, you’ll find him.” “But what if I don’t? I’m tired of looking. It’s easier just to focus on less complicated things.” Instantly, all the kidding around was gone, and in its place, a pang of forlornness so familiar that Kinsey had almost stopped recognizing it. Almost. Doris looked at her evenly. “You don’t really believe that or you wouldn’t be writing this romance novel. Something deep within you made you pitch it.” “For the life of me, I’d like to know what it was so I could strangle it. If I don’t meet this deadline, my second career is going to go up in a puff of smoke and I’ll be forced to deal with dreadful personnel issues for the rest of my life,” Kinsey murmured dejectedly. “You can do it, dear, you’ll see. Everything will work out just in time.” **** How was it all going to work out just in time? Kinsey pondered the following day as she sat in her office. She’d avoided thinking about her looming deadline for months, but now it was unavoidable. For the past several years, she’d dreamed of being a professional writer. Now, on the brink of making it a reality, she was going to screw it up. Her phone rang and she looked at the caller ID before picking up the receiver with reluctance. “Hello, Rhonda.” “Are they having sex yet?” 9
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“Not yet, but I’m getting there.” “No worries, hon. I have a solution for you.” Rhonda seemed to be borderline giddy with excitement. This foretold of nothing good. “No blind dates, Rhonda, I told you.” “This isn’t a blind date, ladybug, at least not outright. It’s just want you need.” A sense of immense dread filled her. “What exactly do I need?” Kinsey asked cautiously. “A good time between the sheets with a man who knows what he’s doing and can make you speak a language you’ve never heard of.” Kinsey’s eyebrows bunched together. “Rhonda, I don’t do one-night stands. You’re not going to set me up with one.” “You’re correct, I’m going to do you one better,” said Rhonda, sounding far too exuberant about whatever she was cooking up. Making Kinsey even more nervous. “You need motivation and I can help. A friend of mine knows an agency that supplies guys she says will make you forget your name for a week.” She paused a second. “In return for a monetary tip of your gratitude.” Kinsey’s mouth fell open. “You’re not insinuating that I…” Her voice trailed off. What was wrong with the people in her life? First her mother suggesting she watch porn, then Rhonda attempting to set her up with a…a… “You’re talking about a prostitute!” Her voice rose to an unnaturally high pitch on the last word. “Not a prostitute, an escort,” Rhonda amended. “A classy, respectable man. One who has been heavily screened medically and mentally and will be exactly what you need.” Kinsey closed her eyes and rubbed her temples where a headache was quickly forming. “Just think about it,” Rhonda stated, the sound of her opening a can in the background traveling across the line. “A man who will focus solely on you. Doing whatever it takes to make you feel good. You just lay there, tremble with pleasure all night long.” Kinsey could hear her taking a sip of
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soda. “You take mental notes for when you go back to the computer, and you write it all down in the morning.” “I am not going to pay someone to have sex with me,” Kinsey protested with indignation. “Too bad, because right now, it doesn’t appear that you’re going to get it any other way, and until you do, this book’s not going to be finished,” Rhonda said sharply. Was everyone going insane? Kinsey struggled to find words, not quite certain where to begin. “You do okay being single. Why isn’t it acceptable for me?” Rhonda’s voice softened. “Kinsey, I’m an old broad. I had my fun, and it was good while it lasted. Garrison, may he rest in peace, left me with a wealth of memories.” She exhaled softly. “But you, you’re beautiful, you’re young. Enjoy it while you can. Get out and live a little. “By having sex with a prostitute?” “An escort. Sure! Why not? Think of the great story it would make. Who knows, you might be able to create a story out of this.” Rhonda paused. “You have a serious manuscript deadline. This has to be good, Kinsey.” Her voice took on a hard edge. “You’ve received a chance of a lifetime, but you’ve got to convince that editor Angie that you are capable of doing this, or you’ll lose the other four books in the series. You’ll be stuck in women’s fiction, and based on what we’ve seen so far, you can’t earn a living on that.” She hesitated. “What you’re doing isn’t working for you. Why not try this?” Kinsey opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She closed it gradually, contemplating. Out of nowhere, a surge of bravery rushed through her. Why not attempt it? She wondered, running her fingertips over her lips, quivering a little as the nerve endings woke up. What would it feel like to have a man kiss her again? What would it feel like to have his naked body on top of hers, to have him inside her, thrusting in and out, his back muscles slippery with sweat beneath her fingers? To know what it was really like— “Don’t you agree?” Rhonda’s voice said in her ear. “What did you say? Kinsey asked, shaking her head to clear it of the racy thoughts. 11
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“I said I think it’s worth a try. Don’t you agree?” Did she agree? Hell no. She thought it was shocking. She thought it was shameless. And as an unexpected rush of impulsiveness came over her, she thought it could be just what she needed. “Okay.” The word slipped out so fast she blinked. “Okay? Okay? You’re going to do it?” Rhonda’s voice rose on a shout of glee. “Yes! Now, when? I say the sooner the better, in my opinion.” Her tone changed to her serious deal making tone. Planning was Rhonda’s passion. “Do you have plans for tomorrow? Sue says she meets up with her guy in the bar of the Omni Hotel. See? Sophistication all the way.” “I clearly have to be out of my mind to agree to do something like this,” Kinsey grumbled. “Don’t even think about changing your mind,” Rhonda stated. “This is exactly what you need. We’ll have to set you up with a room. I’ll take care of everything, and the key will be delivered to your office. All you have to do is allow him to take your hand and lead you upstairs to body numbing passion.” “I should be setting up an appointment with a psychologist.” “I don’t know about finding a shrink,” Rhonda responded, a salacious note in her voice, “but we’ll find someone who’ll be happy to examine every other part of you.”
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Chapter Two “Gentlemen, I think this is going to be a very lucrative deal for all parties involved. It is a pleasure doing business with you.” It was like an archaic ritual, Javier Elizondo thought as he and his business partner went around the meeting table exchanging handshakes with the members of the venture capital group that had just funded their company to the tune of five million. Even back in his days of working at Mir Mitchell, in the end, the finalization of the deal came down to handshakes. Five million. He felt a rush of success. They had financial backers now, a group convinced that his enterprise human capital management system was more than a pipe dream. People who believed that they’d be a success, who believed enough to invest a small fortune into their ability to turn their newly developed enterprise human capital management system into saving and profit for companies on a global level. There was a shout of elation somewhere deep down in his throat, but he settled for a wide smile as he and his business partner, Warrick Sellick, walked out into the hotel corridor. Five million. “I still think we should send them an invite to the office while they’re here,” Warrick stated. “That Internet connection was crappy. They can’t have a real idea of what we’re trying to do.” “Warrick, the backers don’t care about the technology connection at the hotel,” Javier said confidently. There is no need to make them drive out for something that doesn’t interest them. They just want to know the business plan.” “I still think—” “Warrick, did we or did we not just get the deal?” “We got the deal,” Warrick said, a smile spreading until it looked like it was going to split his face. “Damn. We just walked into a room and convinced seven guys to give us five million dollars,” he shouted with happiness and pumped his fist in the air. “Yes!” 13
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Javier pushed the elevator call button, the residual joy from sealing the deal racing through his veins. At some point the weight of the responsibility would hit him, but right now, life was great. Instinctively, he pulled out his cell phone to check messages. A second later, he muttered a profane word. Warrick shot him a wary look as the elevator doors opened. “No bad news right now, man. I’m feeling too good.” “Don’t worry about it,” Javier responded quickly, pressing the button for the hotel lobby. “A text message from the ever charming Nikki. She somehow found out that we were pitching to the backers today and wanted to remind me that she still hasn’t received the certificates on the mutual bonds.” “Ah, darling Nikki. Everyone’s favorite ex-wife.” Javier chuckled. “Yeah, right.” Then he did a double take and he scowled. “Don’t start, Warrick. I’m not in the mood for it.” Warrick folded his arms over his chest. “I just thought you ought to know.” “I don’t want to hear it, Warrick.” “She’s getting married again,” Warrick continued, as though Javier hadn’t told him not to. Javier closed his eyes. “How wonderful for her. I don’t give a shit.” “It just pisses me off, that’s all. She raked you over the coals and comes out smelling fresh as a daisy.” “She didn’t rake me over the coals. We both knew it wasn’t going to work out practically before the ink was dry on the marriage license. Me resigning from Mir Mitchell to start my own company just gave her the excuse she needed to call it quits.” He shrugged. “I’m not thrilled about the financial part of it, but the rest is water under the bridge.” “Is that why you don’t seem to do anything else but work?” Warrick’s tone became serious. “Don’t get me wrong. As your partner, I’m not complaining. You take a crap load of work off me. However, as your friend, I’m concerned. Where’s the guy that I used to know who always had a date? Damn, Javier, you don’t even look at women anymore. Why don’t you cut yourself some slack and build a life outside of work?” 14
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Javier reined in his temper. “Warrick, there are times I arrive home and even the silence that surrounds me seems to want too much from me. I don’t have the time or the strength to play the game, okay?” The elevator doors opened, and they walked out into the brightly lit lobby. “Besides, chemistry is a farce. That much I learned from Nikki. Just cut me some slack.” “Javier, it’s been three years since the two of you divorced. I mean, forget about a committed relationship, I’m just talking about a casual encounter.” Javier shook his head. “That sounds like advice from a married man who wants to forget the rules for a night.” “You’re going to go blind and grow hair on your palms if you keep up this routine for too much longer, my friend. And that’s going to turn our financial backers off.” “Warrick.” “What about her?” He inclined his head as curvaceous redhead in red passed them, then smiled when he saw Javier’s eyes following her. “Well, I’m glad to see that you aren’t completely dead below the waist.” Too much of a reminder of Nikki’s fiery temper. The kind of woman that would scorch you if you got too close. “It would serve you right if I dragged you out on the town for a night of celebration. See how much trouble I can get you in with Claire.” They stopped in front of the bar, talking over the gurgling sound of the fountain in the center. “I wish I could stop for a drink to celebrate, but I have to get home. I promised Claire I would be home in time for dinner. She’s trying a new recipe. That shouldn’t deter you, though,” Warrick urged, cocking his head in the direction of a passing cocktail waitress carrying a tray weighed down with glasses. Javier shook his head in fake sympathy. “Heart-wrenching, what marriage does to a man.” Warrick grinned and slapped him on the shoulder. “Just because I have to cut out early doesn’t mean you should. Stay around for a bit. Have a drink or two. Who knows, maybe a drop-dead gorgeous woman will show up and try to pick you up.” He leaned closer. “And if she does, do me a big favor.
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Don’t ponder it, don’t ask why. Just go with the flow and let whatever happens, happen.” Javier arched a dark brow in Warrick’s direction. “What the hell sort of advice is that?” “Take it as a few words of wisdom from someone who knows a thing or two.” Warrick grinned. “I have to run. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.” Javier waved him off and looked at the passing waitress. Maybe he would have a drink. After all the hard work he’d put in, he deserved it. **** Kinsey stepped off the escalator in the Omni Hotel, struggling slightly to stay upright on her strappy heels as she spotted the bar on the other side of the lobby, her heart racing. The silk of her dress grazed against her as she walked, making her aware of every brush of her thighs. Three hundred bucks on the mint green strapless dress with an A-line skirt and empire waist that stopped just below the knee was going a bit too far, considering it would be off in less than an hour. But boy, did she look good in it. Sweet merciful heavens above. Nerves tumbled through her stomach at the idea of a complete stranger undressing her. What in the heck was she doing? She had to be suffering from mental insanity. Only the terrifying thought of sitting in front of her empty computer screen kept her from spinning around and running back to her car. She looked around the semicrowded bar. On one of the sets of the deep, soft couches, a group of noisy business women laughed at each other. From the looks of their disheveled clothes and finger-strewn hair, she guessed they’d been tossing back cocktails for some time. On a nearby chair, an older woman with a persona of faded elegance shot a condemning look at the group, leaning close to whisper to the young man beside her. Up by the bar, a piano player was slaughtering a Frank Sinatra classic. There ought to be a law, Kinsey thought. And then she saw him, sitting on a couch, an empty glass on the table in front of him. He raised a signaling hand. 16
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Her knees turned to mush. Rhonda’s friend hadn’t lied. Astonishingly, good-looking didn’t come close to describing him. Thick, dark hair stopped just at his collar, a few curly locks falling down over his forehead. His face was sharp, angular, his eyes too shadowed under the veil of thick eyelashes for her to see the color. His skin was bronze, a natural tan from what she could tell. If she had to guess, she would say he was Spanish. That thought gave her pause. While she’d never dated a Spanish man, she had dated outside of her race. Clearly, he didn’t have a problem with her being African American or he wouldn’t have beckoned her. More importantly, he wouldn’t have shown up in the first place. She took her time doing another perusal of him. Her gaze paused when it reached his mouth…surrounded by a goatee that connected to the low-cut beard covering his jaw. Have mercy. An image burned through her mind: her naked, on her back, glancing down to see his mouth on her. And it was going to happen, everything she desired, everything she could think of. Oh my word. She inhaled deeply, attempting to fill her lungs with oxygen that seemed so hard to come by. Then she repeated the action. All right. The game plan was to be classy, composed, casual…For goodness sake. All she needed to do was walk up to the couch, introduce herself, then go upstairs with the fine specimen of a man. Kinsey reached the couch. Amber. His eyes were light brown, the color of a premium scotch. As he looked her up and down, she was grateful for her dark skin, for her cheeks had to be on fire. Classy, composed, casual. Heavens above. He arched a dark brow in his direction. “Hello. I’m Kinsey.” She offered him her hand. He hesitated, just a second, then captured it and brought it to his delectable mouth. “You’re also beautiful.” 17
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She was simply shocked. His lips sent a spark of heat and electricity through her hand, which seemed to have instantly developed a hundred thousand new nerve endings. She lowered herself on the couch next to him because her knees were close to giving out. Better to sit down than fall. **** Javier studied her with amusement. Granted, he’d been out of the bar scene for a few years—okay, for five or six if one wanted to get picky—but he was almost certain that stunning women didn’t just fall into a guy’s lap because he was sitting in a bar alone. At least not unless you were Ryan Reynolds, anyway. The waitress he’d signaled over brought him another brandy. He passed her a bill and glanced at Kinsey. “Would you like a drink?” “A glass of wine, please.” “Red or white?” “White. Chardonnay. Thank you.” Javier barely noticed the waitress walking off. He was too busy watching the ebony beauty sitting next to him. She was truly something to look at. He allowed his gaze to travel over her breathtakingly beautiful appearance. Tall and gorgeous in a narrow, mint green dress that slipped up to show legs longer than any woman had the right to have. Glossy dark hair tumbled over her shoulders. Her mouth was a seductive, subtle golden brown color that sent his brain racing down a path of carnal thoughts. He took a sip of his brandy. “So, how are you this fine Thursday evening?” “Great. How about you?” “Muy bueno.” Kinsey’s eyes widened and he wondered if it had to do with his slight accent or the fact that he used Spanish in the first place. He was proud of his Spanish heritage, his paternal grandparents having moved from Madrid, Spain when his father was just a little boy. His mother was also Spanish, her family roots tracing back to Barcelona. However, that was where his pride ended. His dysfunctional parents left something to be desired. 18
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Javier was pulled from his internal musing at the sound of Kinsey’s laughter. He arched a dark brow in her direction. “What’s so funny?” Kinsey gave a small cough. “Sorry, I’m just in a wonderful mood tonight. I usually don’t go out on weeknights, so this is like a celebration for me.” “What’s the occasion?” She smiled. “Oh, I think an opportunity to meet someone such as yourself is occasion enough.” He glanced at her legs admiringly. “I’d say the pleasure’s all mine.” He’d forgotten what it was like to sit in a bar and flirt with a stunning woman. Warrick was right, he did need to start getting out more. “And do weeknights usually find you out and about?” Javier shrugged and rested an elbow on the back of the couch. “Sometimes a special job makes it worthwhile. It was definitely worth it tonight, especially since now I’m sitting here in the company of an astonishing woman.” He stared at her over the edge of his glass. “You are beautiful, you know.” He enjoyed watching her avert her gaze shyly. She was delectable—dark, vivacious, unconsciously adorable with none of the hard-edge shimmer and sophistication that seemed to run through so many of the women he met. There was something captivating about the quick flash of her smile, something that made him keep the conversation going. “Anyway, a friend of mine was just telling me that I should get out more.” “I’m guessing all work and no play make life dull. Do you enjoy your work?” He paused to think about it before responding. “Yes, I do. It has its difficulties, but when it goes well, I just feel like if I can do that, I can do anything.” **** Her heartbeat began to race at the thought of just exactly what he might do to her. The waitress returned and Kinsey accepted her drink. This would 19
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be interesting, given that she’d never had white wine in her life. She wasn’t much of a drinker in the first place. When she did, she drank red. It was the first type of wine she’d tasted, she’d liked it, and she’d stuck with it. How bad could it be? “Here’s to weeknights,” she said, and touched her glass to his. She took a sip and the cold, clean taste flowed over her tongue. As the wonderful flavors burst on her tongue, she moaned and closed her eyes. “Your drink okay?” Kinsey nodded. “My first glass of white wine. Before now I’ve always preferred red, but never thought to try white.” “And what’s the verdict?” The corners of her mouth curved upward. “I think I just experience a revelation.” Javier ran his thumb lightly over her jaw. “So have I.” A hot chill ran up her spine at his touch. Then the first flush of heat hit her. She couldn’t tell whether the heat she felt was from the drink or from the desire in his eyes. Her heartbeat raced, and she shrugged to gather her scattered thoughts. Say something witty, Kinsey. “Do they give you guys a script to follow?” Javier blinked. “What are you talking about?” “You say such flowery words. It’s like something out of a romance movie.” She took another sip of her drink and found the second sip to taste even better than the first. “Is that a nice way of saying ‘stop feeding me lines’?” She grinned. “No, it’s nice. I like it. Men don’t usually say things like that to me.” And though she tried to tell herself it was part of his professional persona, she was enchanted. “You’re clearly hanging around with the wrong guys. I promise you any man in this room would be excited if you strolled up and started talking with him.” His eyes gleamed. “Unless his wife were sitting next to him, of course.” “Give me a break.”
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“You don’t believe me?” He looked around. “There are about twenty or twenty-five men sitting in this bar. We can take a poll.” There was a burst of laughter from a group of five men. “Actually, I don’t need to go that far. Those guys over there. The only time they’ve been quiet the entire night was when you walked through the door. Mrs. Stuffy Nose and her grandson at the next couch over were very thankful.” Kinsey saw the frown the older woman gave the group. “I noticed when I walked in that she wasn’t very thrilled. Why do you suppose she stays there instead of moving?” Javier shrugged. “She was there first. Why should she move for a bunch of ill-mannered people?” Kinsey laughed. “You appear to know the type well.” “I was married to the younger version of her for a couple of years. I learned to spot the type from several yards away.” “Where’s the younger version of her now?” Javier took another sip of his drink. “Getting remarried, the last I heard. Hopefully, it will work out for her this time.” Kinsey couldn’t hide her surprise. “You don’t seem very embittered. Most people tend to be very contentious after divorces.” He shrugged, his gaze dropping to the smooth skin of her cleavage above the strapless dress, then raising back up to meet her eyes. “No reason for me to. We weren’t meant to be together. It was best for both of us that we ended it.” “Was that how she felt about it?” “More or less. I think her family was relieved. They lived off an old family fortune. Someone who worked liked I did was an embarrassment to them.” She looked into his smiling eyes and found herself grinning at the thought of an unapologetic male escort sneaking into an old-money family. They must have been horrified. “I take it you didn’t agree?” He cocked his head to the side thoughtfully. “Not really. I dealt with people who had a certain set of needs and I came in and made sure they got satisfied. That seemed pretty fulfilling to me.” 21
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“So you leave gratified customers behind?” She took another sip of her wine, licking an escaped drop from her lips. Javier’s eyes darkened and his nose flared. “I do my best. I think fulfillment is a pretty worthy goal.” He hooked his finger in his tie to loosen it, then unbuttoned his collar. Kinsey suddenly had an image of pulling the tie off, undoing the buttons one by one a he lay back on a bed. She shifted on the couch and her thighs brushed together. A frisson of heat started to grow between them. The bar had slowly been filling up with more patrons. Noticing the mood, the piano player switched from the horrible rendition of Frank Sinatra to a terrible Elton John. Kinsey winced at the opening strains of “Benny and the Jets.” “That’s horrendous. I didn’t think it could get any worse than the last song.” “I think the choice of material is irrelevant. He is an equal opportunity song murderer.” Laughter burst from her before she could stop it. Javier smiled. “So let’s see. You don’t want the smooth talk, am I right?” “Oh no, I like it when you use the flowery words. Just skip the stuff that sounds like a line. You’ve already got me.” She took another sip of her wine and felt the warmth sweep through her. “Let’s see. Well, I could tell you that I’ve been sitting here thinking that your eyes are a very beautiful shade of brown. I find myself getting lost in them, repeatedly. Now that’s straight from my brain, no lines in sight.” Kinsey winced. “I think I liked it better the other way. Javier chuckled. “So what do you do when you’re not hanging around hotel lobbies with strange men?” “Oh, I write children’s books for adult women,” she responded with a wink. “Really now? Hmm, tell me a good story.” When she’d been a child, her family would go to Virginia Beach in the summer for vacation. In early July, the water could still be icy cold in the mornings. There were two ways to approach it. You could start at the beach line, stepping in an inch at a time, waiting for your body to adjust until you 22
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got so cold the water didn’t feel frigid anymore. Or you could run toward the water and jump in, take the shock all at once. Kinsey had always jumped. She inhaled deeply and looked in his eyes. “Let’s go upstairs and I will.” Javier blinked, then looked at her as if that was the last thing he’d ever expected her to say. Then his expression cleared and a grin so wicked she quivered appeared. “Anything you want, gorgeous.” He stood and drew her to her feet. “Just ask and it’s yours.”
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Chapter Three Kinsey ran a hand through her hair, pushing it back. She thought she’d be more anxious, but somehow, she was more at ease than she’d ever been with a man. Before now, she’d always pondered and dissected, trying to figure out what he was thinking, how he felt. Whether he wanted her. This time, she didn’t have to wonder. Both parties knew what was going to happen up front. The situation should have made her feel weird, but it was strangely freeing. The plan was in effect, she just had to go with it. And yet, somehow it didn’t feel like it had been orchestrated. She could swear she’d seen heat in his eyes when she’d approached him. Maybe he was just that good at what he did, but it seemed too real to be an act. Rhonda’s friend was right, it felt like a date. A perfect date who was going to give up the goods. She laughed to herself. “What’s so funny?” Javier asked, those magnificent eyes upon her. Kinsey smiled. “This. I thought it would feel so awkward, but it doesn’t.” “Why would it?” She shrugged. “I’m sure you hear this all the time, but I’ve never done this before. You know where it goes from here. It’s all new to me.” “I haven’t the slightest idea where it goes from here,” Javier corrected. “I thought we’d work it out as we go along.” A low ding sounded as the elevator doors opened, and they stepped into the car. “Tenth floor,” she said when he looked at her questioningly. He pressed the button, and the car began to move upward. Her stomach fluttered in a way that had nothing to do with the movement. Somehow, their hands were still intertwined as though they’d fused together. The heat traveled up her arm and a wave of pleasure crashed over her. It felt so good to touch someone. Just to touch someone. Then his fingertips began tracing patterns over the back of her hand, and her breath caught in her throat. The ding rang out again, and the elevator doors opened on a plushcarpeted hall.
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And the anxiety hit. Kinsey’s hand trembled as she reached into her purse for the room key. “Ten seventy-seven. We should be down this way.” One of her heels caught in the thick carpet, and she wobbled before Javier grabbed her arm. “Careful now.” She’d never been so off-kilter in her life. “No more white wine for me.” “Wine can pack a punch.” “Well, you definitely do.” “Now who sounds like they are delivering lines from a movie?” She grinned. “I’m the customer. I’m allowed to do what I want.” “What?” She looked up as Javier stopped, fortunately right in front of the correct door. The look on his face reflected utter confusion, as if he had no idea what she referred to. Before she could reflect upon it too much, he took the keycard from her hand and unlocked the door. Kinsey took a deep, calming breath and stepped inside. Across the room, floor to ceiling windows looked out on the Fort Worth skyline and a cool spring night. Inside, soft light from a silk-shaded table lamp bathed the room in a soft glow. Fancy tan throw pillows accented a couch covered in dark, rich browns and an armchair pulled up nearby. She did her best to ignore the mile-long bed beyond. On the low oak coffee table, a plate of fruit and cheese sat next to a bottle of champagne and a pair of cut-glass flutes. “That Rhonda,” Kinsey murmured drily, “she leaves no stone unturned. Hopefully, by the end of the evening, neither will we.” **** What the hell had he gotten himself into? He wondered amusedly as he took in the sight of the room before him. Warrick’s words came back to him. Maybe a drop-dead gorgeous woman will show up and try to pick you up. And if she does, do me a big favor. Don’t ponder it, don’t ask why. Just go with the flow and let whatever happens, happen. 25
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Yet, he was positive this was not the way pickups went in this day and age. But the brandy was surging in his blood, the warmth of victory was still flowing through him, and he couldn’t stop wondering what it would feel like to touch her skin. It contrasted so greatly with his. He’d dated a few African American women in his past, but none with Kinsey’s mahogany skin tone. It fascinated him, and he couldn’t wait to see it all. Javier walked up behind her to slip off her light shawl, staring at her dark shoulders gleaming in the soft light. He wanted to run his fingers down them and feel her skin against his hands, to see if it was as silky soft as it looked. Fill his hands with the hair that flowed over her shoulder, press it to his lips. Feel her move against him. Man, it had been so long. “Who’s Rhonda?” he questioned. Kinsey swayed against him. “Rhonda’s my agent. You have her to thank for the referral.” When he remained silent, she moved away and sat down on the chocolate cushions of the couch. Referral? Agent? Who in the world was she? Javier wondered, studying her as she reached for the tray. She had the ripe mouth of a seductress, and a body made to drive a man insane. Kinsey had talked about it being her first time, but then she mentioned writing children’s books for adult women. Take it easy, he thought to himself, go with the flow. “Earlier you said you write children’s books for adult women. Were you joking?” He took the champagne bottle she handed to him. Kinsey gave a short laugh. “Not in the least. I’m an author. Part of the time, anyway.” “What do you write?” She stared at his hands as she responded. “I used to write mainstream women’s fiction.” “Used to?” he asked, twisting the cork out of the bottle, listening for the pop. “I recently switched to romance. Now I have a serious case of writer’s block and an impending deadline. My agent thought this would give me inspiration.” 26
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“Inspiration for what?” Javier inquired, his brows bunching together in confusion as the cork slid fee of the bottle with a pop. He accepted the glass she handed him and poured champagne into it before handing it back. After pouring a glass for himself, he sat on the couch next to her. Kinsey looked at him mischievously. “To the power of inspiration.” She touched her glass to his. “You still haven’t told me what for,” he reminded her, then sipped, allowing the light flavor to roll over his tongue. “For my sex scenes, of course,” she finally responded. Javier choked. Kinsey watched him cough, clear amusement in her expression. “What, you don’t think of yourself as a writer’s muse?” she asked, studying him as he strolled over to the windows and back, trying to regulate his breathing. “If you’re referring to what I think you’re referring to, then no I don’t,” he replied as he came back to the couch. He picked up the glass that he’d set on the table while he was busy coughing up a lung and took a big gulp. “Well I hope you live up to your cost. This has to be a very steamy scene. Rhonda’s friend said you are good enough to make me speak in a different language and forget my name,” Kinsey murmured, and watched him choke again. “You come highly recommended,” she continued, then pounded him on the back. “Should I get you some water?” “No, thank you.” Javier cleared his throat and reached for his glass again. Geez, he definitely needed a drink while he figured out what to do here. His gut told him to leave, not to get involved, but her scent wrapped around his brain. He started to drink, then lowered the glass. “Do me a favor. Don’t say anything else while I drink this, okay?” He eyed her warily over the rim as he sipped, then he put it down. Kinsey popped a strawberry into her mouth, clearly enjoying herself. Then again, why shouldn’t she be? She was luscious, stunning…hot. She crossed her legs slowly and leaned toward him, resting her arm on the back of the couch. “So what do we do now? In my opinion, this is the part where you start feeding me fruit before ravishing me.” 27
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Her smoky voice and the seductive smile that accompanied the words hit him like a freight train. She was something else. He wanted her so badly it took everything in him not to lean her over the arm rest and have his way with her. But going along with this farce would only end in disaster. He owed it to her to tell her she was mistaken. Yes, but what does it really matter? asked a soft, nagging, persuasive voice in his head. That was the little head thinking for the big head, Javier thought grimly, but studied the shadows in the hollow of her neck and listened anyway. She thought she was sleeping with an escort. Honestly, she’d be better off sleeping with him. At least he’d be doing it because he wanted her, not because she thought she was paying him to. As far as entanglement went, well, it wasn’t as though she could be expecting to have a committed relationship with a male escort, so it could all begin and end here. He couldn’t lead her on because the entire point of this set up seemed to show she wasn’t expecting anything but a great, one-time sexual encounter. Besides, if he revealed the truth to her now, she’d kill him. So this is the deal, he thought, trying to ignore the voice. He’d go to the bathroom and come up with some sort of fake excuse, and then he’d escape. He’d do the right thing for all parties involved. The only problem was he had a hard-on that could hammer nails. Kinsey was studying him closely. “What’s wrong? You have this really strange expression on your face.” “Uh…I just remembered that I forgot to bring protection,” he mumbled, and gave himself brownie points. In today’s day and age, it was a very valid excuse. “Oh.” Disappointment flickered across her face and his ego soared. She seemed to want him just as much as he wanted her. “And here I thought you were a professional,” she said jokingly. “I guess you’ll just have to think of a special way to keep my mind off the fact that I’m not getting the full experience, so to speak.” He should have known there’d be no easy outs here. Frankly, he had to be out of his mind trying to escape it. Any other single guy would be taking advantage of this situation in an instant. Any other guy would be taking her 28
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up on her offer in a heartbeat. “Actually, something you said started me thinking. Based on everything you have said, I think you’re doing this for the wrong reasons.” “The wrong reasons?” Kinsey parroted, her thrilled expression fading. “Because I’m paying you for sex for business-related reasons rather than personal companionship? Is this some sort of sick joke?” “I just don’t want this to turn out to be a bad situation for you. We’re having a good time right now. Why don’t we just leave it at this?” Kinsey’s entire disposition changed in the blink of an eye. “I thought we were supposed to have sex,” she said sharply. “I didn’t realize I was taking a prescreen.” She stood up and stormed over to the windows, resting her forehead against the glass. “This is absolutely ridiculous. I have to be the only woman in the world who can’t convince a man to sleep with her even when I’m paying him for his services.” “This has nothing to do with me not wanting you,” Javier retorted, rising to join her. “But if we do this, I have a feeling you’ll regret it, and I don’t want that. I like you. And I don’t think you’re thinking this through.” “You don’t think I’m thinking this through?” Kinsey whirled around to face him, seething with outrage. “What I think is that you need to mind your own business. The arrangement we have is not for you to determine what’s best for me. What happened to all your talk about satisfying a person’s needs? This is supposed to be about money.” The words dripped with ridicule. “This has nothing to do with money,” he said softly. “Oh, please. Money’s the only reason you’re here.” “No it’s not. It’s you.” “I find that difficult to believe,” she responded frostily. “Why? Don’t you see yourself when you look into the mirror? When you walked into the bar tonight, you captured my attention instantly.” “Yeah right. Please don’t try to play me for a fool.” “I’m not feeding you a line, Kinsey.” He moved closer to her and tilted her chin upward, forcing her to look into his eyes so she could see he was telling her the truth. Javier trailed his fingertips lightly down her throat. 29
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Smooth as dark chocolate, he thought. And he knew he was about to make a grave error. “This has nothing to do with money.” He brushed his lips over the column of her throat his fingers had just grazed. “This only has to do with you and me.” Then his mouth closed over hers and a roaring passion swept the rest of his willpower away.
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Chapter Four It wasn’t a simple, tender kiss. There wasn’t any time to luxuriate in. Impatient with the tapered passion of the past hour, he ensnared her, captured her, his mouth driving her to the brink of insanity. The yearning, the passion motivated her. This is what it is like, the voice inside her head repeated over and over again. For years she had watched, craved, tried to imagine what it felt like, the mass amount of sensations roaring through her body. Now there was no further need to imagine, just to enjoy, to feel. Kinsey pushed his jacket off his shoulders, urgent to have him against her. Javier dropped it to the floor quickly, tossing his tie down after it. Trailing his hands down her svelte body, he drew her to him, then turned her around to face the glass. Kinsey was off-kilter, discombobulated with arousal, relishing in his pressing need. After what felt like a never-ending lack of physical affection, she was finally within the arms of a man who desired her so much he trembled. It was thrilling. The fact that she could even form the cognizance to recognize it was amazing. His hand slid down over her shoulders and his lips followed close behind. “When I was taking off your wrap earlier, all I wanted to do was caress you like this, just feel your soft skin underneath my hands,” he whispered against her skin. A slow, molten heat began deep in the pit of her stomach. Kinsey moaned at the heat of his hands on her, at the feel of his body behind hers, his arousal pressing hard and insistently against her. She turned her head, allowing it to fall back so she could kiss him. “And is that all you want now?” she whispered against his lips. “Not in the least.” He turned her back around and drew her against him. Then his mouth found hers again, parting her lips to taste flavors inside. His hands moved down her sides and slid around to the front to cup the fullness of her breasts. She heard his breath catch in his throat and a burning pulse of passion surged through her.
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Kinsey savored the sensations, the feel, the scents, the taste of him. How had she ever managed to do without this insistent need, without the feel of the man’s hands hard against her body? Without feeling his rigid erection against her and knowing without a doubt that he wanted her. All the anxiety faded, the doubts were a thing of the past. Certainty flowed through her. She didn’t have to think about it—the way she stroked him was natural, comfortable. She kissed him deeply, unable to get enough of him, then broke off to place quick kisses down his cheek and neck, feeling undeniable fascination at the smooth, tight feel of his skin against her mouth. He moved his hand down her back until he found the zipper of the lowcut dress. She was alive in his arms, and she wanted more. He drew the zipper down, and she felt the fabric part underneath his fingers. The cool air from the window flowed over her skin, making her quiver, but the heat of his lips made her tremble. “The lights are on in here,” she murmured. “People outside will be able to see.” “We’re ten floors up. Let them look if they want to, bonita.” Kinsey’s knees knocked at the endearment. Her Spanish from college was good enough for her to know the word meant beautiful. Javier interrupted her thoughts as he unzipped the dress all the way and let it fall to the floor, holding her steady as she stepped out of it. He held her arms out to the side and stepped back, his hungry gaze roaming over her. Purchasing the white strapless bra, matching panties, and garter belt didn’t seem like such a bad idea now. “You’re so gorgeous,” he murmured seductively, then cupped her breasts in his hands. So long it had been since she’d felt the touch of a man’s hands on her body. And she wanted him more than any man she’d known. He pressed her back against the glass, his hands caressing the flesh that rose above the white satin cups, then sliding down her sides. His tongue traced a line down her neck, pausing to linger at the tops of her breasts as he unfastened the back clasp of her bra and released the strap. Her breasts tumbled out, full and aching. He murmured something indecipherable in Spanish, then took one of her nipples in his mouth. 32
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Kinsey gasped, practically awestruck at the lovely heat of his tongue against her. Part of her was completely astonished that this was occurring at all. This was the sort of passion she watched in movies, not the sort of thing that happened to her. Only now it was happening, and she reveled in every moan, every touch of skin against skin. Wiggling sinuously, she brought herself in closer proximity of him, threading her fingers into his hair. He laved and suckled her, concentrating on one peak, then the other, pushing her higher as the tension built deep within her. Then he traced his tongue lower still, licking across the quivering skin of her stomach as he lowered himself to his knees in front of her. Suddenly, he unbuttoned his shirt, throwing it to the side, then wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her to him. Kinsey trailed her hands over his broad shoulders, feeling the curve of every hard muscle underneath her fingertips. She was eager to experience everything she could feel, everything she could give, everything he had to offer. To know that she could make his breath come fast, make him tremble was exhilarating. Knowing that they were just getting started was more exciting still. Kinsey moaned as he ran his hands down her back and over the curve of her buttocks, hooking his fingers in the sides of her white satin bikini panties. Then he tugged them downward until she stood there in the window in only her garter and stockings, feeling like an advertisement for wicked sin. Javier rubbed his palm against her hose, then lower still. Sliding his hands between her legs, he pushed them gently apart. Kinsey inhaled sharply and jerked as the wet heat of his tongue slipped into the slick cleft between her legs, stroking the tight, hard bud of her sex. The slight roughness of his facial hair scraped the tender insides of her thighs as he teased her with his tongue, swirling it in a way that made her lose control and move her hips restlessly, crying out in breathy moans she was only half-aware of herself making. Pleasuring herself had never been like this, she thought in astonishment. In her wildest dreams she couldn’t have imagined anything could feel this good, that the wet, slick strokes could bring on such passion. 33
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“This is what I wanted to do from the moment I saw you,” he murmured, his mouth on her. “You walked into that bar and I just wanted you naked, under me, against me. I wanted to know what you tasted like and what sound you make when you fly over the edge.” He rubbed a finger back and forth where she was most slippery, tormenting her with his mouth. Kinsey arched, moaning loudly as the orgasm rushed through her in ripples of intense pleasure. Her body jolted with the contractions and surge of heat that raced out to her fingertips and toes. She soared to another peak and she cried out. The quivering lasted long after the wonderful sensation had faded. Her legs turned to jelly and she swayed. “Easy, now,” Javier stated softly. “I think we need to make you more comfortable.” He led her over to the bed. Kinsey lay back against the comfortable, luxurious-feeling sheets, looking at him while he took off his shoes, pants, and underwear. Merciful heavens, he had a stunning body, lean and muscular like an athlete. The mattress shifted as he lay down next to her, rolling onto his side to watch her as he ran a hand down her body. Kinsey reached out to caress his face, then ran her index finger over his stomach to his hip. He inhaled sharply and she felt a rush of satisfaction. “I think it’s time for you to sit back and let me take over for a while,” she whispered. Just a moment ago, she had relaxed and taken. Now it was her turn to give, her turn to feel the power of controlling his passion. On her hands and knees, she leaned down to kiss him leisurely, brushing her lips against his, tracing a line down his neck with her tongue. Tasting the salty tang of sweat, she made her way down his flat stomach, letting her hair trail over his skin, then sank down to the mattress by his hip, studying his pulsing erection with fascination. Slowly, she touched a finger to the drop of clear liquid that glistened on the tip, then spread it along the sensitive underside. Javier’s body jerked, and he mumbled something low in Spanish. She definitely should have paid a little more attention during the college course. The last time she’d done this, she’d been a clumsy innocent feeling around in the dark with a man just as inexperienced as her, who’d been wishing she was someone else, he’d admitted later. Unfortunately, she hadn’t
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found out until he was in the throes of release and called out that woman’s name. Shaking her head to clear it of the unpleasant thoughts of the past, she refocused on what was in front of her. This time, in this moment, she knew Javier desired her. After years of yearning for contact, she was touching someone who wanted her, feeling his response to her touch, watching his arousal jerk and swell in response to her teasing. Heart pounding, she leaned over and ran the tip of her tongue where her fingertip had been. The sensation was unbelievable. He was hard yet silky smooth against her lips as she rubbed them against him, running them up and down, first slowly, then faster, swirling her tongue around the tip of him. She was rewarded with a strangled gasp. More bravely now, she gripped him with her hand and slipped him into her mouth. Power. It rushed through her as she heard him groan, as she felt his hips rock in response to her touch. To know that she could bring him to this level of passion was exhilarating. She moved her head up and down in an intimate caress, feeling him get harder and harder in her mouth with every stroke. The skin was like satin stretched over steel. “Kinsey,” Javier said in a strangled voice. “Hmm?” She looked up but didn’t slow her movements. “If you keep that up, I’m going to—” He stopped abruptly and pulled her up roughly against his body. Kissing her hard, he placed her hand around him and stroked it twice. A growl tore out of him and he pushed against her, spilling into her hand. **** Kinsey stretched out next to him, exhaling softly. Javier pressed a long, leisurely kiss on her lips. She turned her head on the pillow and looked at him. “Thank you.” “Thank you?” He chuckled. “For what?”
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“For reviving me,” she said simply, and kissed him. “I haven’t done this in a very long time, years.” Her expression was serious. “You probably don’t have any idea what it’s like to be without intimate physical contact that long, but you lose touch with the world. After a few years go by, you’re afraid to touch anyone, afraid you’ll hug a friend too long or stare at someone a second more than you should because you’ve been so detached from the world that you don’t know what it’s like anymore, to be connected with people.” She was epitomizing his life for the past three years. He’d been working diligently and trying to disregard it, but he knew the feeling that she spoke of. Seclusion, in a way that went deeper than being alone. He drew her close, feeling the delight of her naked body against his. “I can’t believe you don’t have guys coming on to you the instant you step outside.” Kinsey averted her gaze briefly. “Well, I don’t usually wander around dressed like I was tonight. I don’t know what the problem is, guys just don’t ask me out.” Bashfulness flickered across her expression. She reached for the sheet. Javier placed a hand on top of hers. “Uh-uh.” He pulled the sheet out of her grip. “I want to look.” He ran the palm of his hand over the curve of her hip. “I think you’re stunning.” “This is stunning.” She shook her head. “You don’t have any idea what it’s like. It’s as though you’re living in the world, but you only get to watch the life that everyone else is living.” She kissed him again. “You’ve pulled me out of the void I’ve been living in. I feel like I’m a part of the human race again.” “Amazing,” he whispered, rolling her over so that she lay on top of him. He ran his hands down her back, resting them on her waist. “I don’t know what the deal is with those other guys. I’m glad you allowed me to be the one to reacquaint you to the world of carnal pleasures.” “Well, I didn’t allow you to reacquaint me completely,” she said playfully, wiggling against him. “I can think of some places you didn’t acquaint yourself with, being that you forgot key items to your profession.”
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Javier winced at the reference, but tried to remain jovial. “Yes. What an unfortunate oversight.” “Yes, it is. And as a professional, what do you plan to do about that? After all, the scenes for my book do have to be fully consummated.” He rolled her again so that she was half-underneath him. “Well, I take pride in keeping my customers totally satisfied,” he said between kisses. “I guess the fair thing would be to forgo payment until you receive the full experience you expected.” He caressed the tender skin on her breasts until she quivered, then slid his hands over the soft curve of her hip to rest at the tops of her thighs. “What do you say you hold on to the payment and we meet again tomorrow night to make it official?” He teased her with his fingers, caressing her into arousal all over again. “In the meantime, I think a show of good faith is due.”
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Chapter Five Kinsey almost skipped toward her office building, floating on air. With only a few hours of sleep, she should have been worn out, but she strode down the sidewalk filled with excitement. The sun was beaming down, the streets slightly damp from a light, early morning shower. The entire world looked bright and renewed, just like she felt. She was no longer an observer. She was a participant. The elevator whisking her to the fifteenth floor was no competition for the euphoria that had settled over her. “Good morning, Polly,” she called out to the Human Resources Assistant in their department. The voluptuous brunette grinned at her as she walked past. “Good morning, Kinsey. Lewis says he wants to see the slides for the meeting by the end of the day.” Kinsey signed with exasperation. “Lewis always wants the impossible.” She heard her phone ringing before she even made it into her office. Stepping inside, she closed the door behind her and snatched up the phone, smiling. “Hello, Rhonda.” “Care to tell me what happened?” a sharp voice responded. Kinsey sank into her chair and turned toward her view of the city. “Where do I begin, Rhonda? It was unbelievable. Magnificent. It was like nothing else that’s ever happened to me before.” “Hmm, that’s astonishing since he never got near you. What happened? Did you get scared?” “I was up until three in the morning writing the sex—” Kinsey stopped abruptly. “What did you just say?” she asked slowly. “I just received a call from a very incensed person at the escort agency asking why their expensive best escort spent the evening waiting for you at the Omni. They are demanding a full payment, I might add.” “Rhonda, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I met him at the Omni at seven,” Kinsey insisted. “We spent the majority of the night together.” 38
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There was a brief pause. “You don’t say.” Kinsey stared at the phone. “This is the part where you say I’m just kidding, Rhonda,” she responded. “Rhonda?” “I’m just kidding.” The words were spoken in a droll tone. “Rhonda, please tell me this is a joke,” Kinsey said with gradually increasing dread. “Tell me the man I was with last night was the guy from the agency.” The silence was deafening. The anger began to surge through her. “That underhanded asshole,” she stated slowly. “That rotten, sneaky, low-down, underhanded asshole.” Intense anger crashed into her so rapidly it shocked her. He’d deceived her. He’d let her think he was a male escort, and as a result, she’d invited a total strange into her bed. Yes, she had expected to take a total stranger into her bed, but it was supposed to be a total stranger that came highly recommended. Instead, she’d been lassoed by Javier Elizondo, who was God only knew who. Her mind raced with chilling thoughts. He could have been anyone, she thought with a shudder. She was lucky she hadn’t been assaulted or worse. Yet he’d refused to take her money, so he wasn’t some broke hustler. He was doing it for thrills. It must have been quite hilarious to him. She could picture him laughing inside the entire time he was fooling her. She thought of him moaning as he came and the wave of fury rose again. Oh no, he hadn’t been laughing the entire time. He’d been getting off on all of it, acting his cute, firm butt off. “You’re doing this for the wrong reasons.” “What do you say we meet again tomorrow night to make it official?” Make it official, indeed. She seethed. It wasn’t enough he fooled her once. He had the gall to keep going. Sure, and why not? It was the fantasy of all male fantasies, sex with no commitment. “Hey, Kinsey, are you okay?” Rhonda’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She wanted to knock the things off her desk onto the floor. She wanted to scream. She wanted to punch something, preferably Javier Elizondo. No, punching him in the face would be too good for him, she thought angrily. He should 39
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be quartered. He should be skewered with a steel rod and roasted over a high open flame. “Talk to me, Kinsey.” She unlocked her jaw and forced herself to respond. “Yeah. I’m okay,” she said robotically. “Just flabbergasted.” “Well, at least you got some good material for the sex scenes, right?” “Rhonda, now is not the time to be a Pollyanna.” Kinsey flinched the instant the words left her mouth and hoped her HR Assistant hadn’t heard her through the office door. “I need to go now, Rhonda.” “Don’t do anything crazy,” Rhonda responded quickly. “I’ll do my best. But if I end up in jail, be sure and bail me out, okay?” Kinsey hung up, waiting for the anger in her to dissipate. She reached for her purse, rambling through it until she located the phone number Javier had given her the night before. She started to dial it, then paused. Her desk clock ticked the minutes away and she jumped up to pace. It wasn’t equivalent. Chewing him out over the phone was not enough to get back at him for what he’d done. For this, she needed to see him in person. She paused and looked out the window, recalling the way his hands felt on her, the virility of his naked body. Fury and desire battled within her. Tonight, they would merge together. No matter who he was, no matter what game he was playing, she couldn’t give up the chance to be with him one more time. If she called and cussed him out now, she’d come out on the losing end. She’d gotten her lovers through a few intimate scenes, but hadn’t completed the final climatic moments. Which surprisingly didn’t matter nearly as much as the fact that she’d be absent of the final climatic moments too. After all this time without touching anyone, how could she really walk away from fully knowing what it was like? From feeling him insider her? All she needed to do was show up tonight and he would be kissing her, making love to her, pushing her to the brink and over. Kinsey rested her forehead against the glass. She wanted to feel his hands on her again, but how could she let him get away with what he’d done? The fury surged forward again and Kinsey shook her head. He needed to be taught a lesson about truthfulness and playing 40
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games with people. He needed to learn a lesson, but she needed to make love with him. There had to be a way she could have both. She looked down onto the street and ran her fingers through her hair. And then her eyes widened. Gradually, a smile spread across her face as the beginnings of a plan formed in her mind. Oh yeah, there was a surefire way she could have both. Strolling back over to her desk, she logged onto her computer and went to the Internet. It was time for a little research. This needed to be perfect. By the time she talked to Javier a few hours later, her plan was in place. **** He had to tell her the truth, there was no denying it. Javier looked out the windows of his office for the thousandth time that day. Hearing her voice on his cell phone had brought the events of last night back to him full force. He hadn’t realized how desolate his life had become until he’d held her against him. Now everything felt different. Now all he could think about was Kinsey in his arms like a ball of unlimited passion. The current situation, though, was a massive fallout waiting to happen. If there was anything he’d learned in his life, it was that honesty was the only way to go. He’d experienced what lies got you. He’d grown up in Austin with a father who lived for the satisfaction of sealing the deal and attractive women, pretty much in that order. Javier and his mother had come in a distant third. Unfortunately, Javier’s father wasn’t nearly as good at deception as he was at making deals on commercial real estate. By the time Javier was ten, his parents were in the middle of a bitter divorce. One hadn’t been enough for his father, though. With unwavering regularity, every two or three years, the man became infatuated with one of mistresses, only to marry again. In a few months, sometimes a year, the glimmer would wear off and they’d divorce. Lust didn’t last. After seeing his father go through wives two through six, he should have known that. Some lessons, though, you couldn’t learn by 41
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observation. No, Javier had had to find out himself with Nikki. It was true love, he’d been certain of it. He was going to give his parents an example of how marriage was supposed to be. Except that when the rush of lust had waned, there’d been nothing left. “Like father like son,” his father had said when Javier had told him about the divorce. Geez, he’d despised him for that. In a way, though, he’d been correct. Some people were cut out for it and some people weren’t. Javier exhaled heavily. Maybe he wasn’t set up for happily ever after, but he could handle more time in Kinsey’s company. The issue was how to fix the situation. He’d done a crappy job the night before. He should have just been honest and tried to sweet talk her for her phone number so he could see her at another time. Being intimate with her had been a big mistake. Suddenly, a grin stretched over his face. Big mistake, and man, was he happy he’d made it. So, what now? Calling her back and telling her the truth wouldn’t do. The only thing to do was to show up and be truthful with her. If he put his mind to it, he was very certain he could convince her to give him a chance. He had to be honest with her, though. He owed it to her. He owed it to himself. **** Kinsey stared out the window of her room at the Piedmont Hotel, watching the sunset. Stepping into the room was like stepping into a scene straight from a bordello movie. Javier Elizondo has a few surprises in store for him, she thought as she moved to open the bottle of champagne that sat in an ice bucket on top of the flawless cherry wood vanity table. However, if all else went astray, she could just club him over the back of the head with the bottle. Making her way around the room, she lit the candles. Lavender and lilac perfumed the air. A comfortable chaise longue sat in front of the window, on it resting a fancy pillow perfect for cushioning a lover’s head. With sheer
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hangings draped over the canopy of the satin-covered, four-poster bed, it was a scene for seduction and romance. Time for her to get in costume. The knock on the door came as she was spritzing on perfume. She tried to push aside the sudden rush of adrenaline, equal parts anger and desire, and walked over to the door. It wasn’t right that anyone should look that good, she thought, looking through the peephole. He stood there in a charcoal suit, the chocolate shirt bringing out the brownness in his eyes. His hair looked jet black under the gas-lamp-style lights in the hallway. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Good. The pink teddy, matching garters, and silky hose she’d chosen were working. She hoped the matching lace robe and spiked-heel pumps she wore were icing on the cake. He stepped inside and she drifted into his arms. She’d remember why she was pissed off at him in a few minutes, Kinsey thought dizzily as she lost herself in the kiss. Lust swept through her, heavy and welcome, and she lost several minutes to the feel of his arms surrounding her, the dark, heady taste of his mouth. She hardly heard the door close shut behind them, enveloping them in the candle lit room. Javier pressed his lips to her neck. “I’ve thought about this all day,” he whispered, sampling her skin. Kinsey pulled back, breathing heavily. She stared up at him from beneath heavy lids. “I wasn’t certain if you’d forget again this time, so I planned ahead,” she stated, inclining her head toward a handful of condoms on the bedside table. “Wouldn’t want to disappoint you.” Quickly, he drew her to him, running his hands down her body, over the curves beneath the lace. “Or myself.” Kinsey threaded her fingers through his hair. It felt wonderful, but she couldn’t forget her purpose for being here tonight. “I think one of us has on too many clothes, and it isn’t me.”
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He caressed the bare flesh above her stockings. “I couldn’t agree more, that outfit you have on is perfect.” Javier stepped back and smiled, shrugging out of his suit jacket. “Satisfaction is guaranteed tonight. I also think we’ll both have pleasant dreams tonight, that is, if either of us get to sleep.” She surveyed him as he took off his tie and stepped in to assist him with unbuttoning his shirt. “Does being a male escort always require such fancy duds?” “Well, they say that appearance is important for the advancement of one’s career.” He leaned down to unlace his shoes. “There are even rules about how to undress.” “Oh really, now?” Kinsey lay down on the bed to watch him, resting her head on her hand and nonchalantly flipping her dressing gown back to display lace and garters. Leisurely, she ran a hand up the inside of her thigh and circled out over her hip. His eyes sparked hot with passion. Leaning over the bed, he kissed her until her breathing came rapidly, then he stood back up. “Of course.” He watched her intently. “For example, even the sexiest guy looks like a weirdo walking around in socks and underwear. All the best male escort manuals advise taking the shoes and socks off before the pants come off.” Sitting in the chair by the window, he illustrated. “So insightful. I’d always thought that natural talent counted most in your career field. Clearly, I was mistaken.” Kinsey rubbed the skin of her neck, fingertips trailing down to the swell of her breasts. Javier’s eyes were fixed on her hands. “There’s definitely something to be said for talent and enthusiasm,” he said, standing up to remove his pants, his “enthusiasm” jutting out from his boxers. Then he took those off as well and her mouth went dry. “Now who has on too many clothes?” he asked, lowering himself onto the bed beside her and running his hands down her lace covered body. He kissed the smooth skin of her neck as he eased the lace down her arms. “Javier,” Kinsey murmured as she felt his lips on hers. “I’ve been thinking about this all day while I was at work.”
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His response was obscured as he urged her to lie flat and began to kiss her breasts where they rose above the lace teddy. She couldn’t hold back a moan. “I was thinking about what we could do tonight and what would really turn me on,” she whispered. “And this isn’t doing anything for you?” he inquired impishly, tracing his hands lightly up the bare skin of her inner leg. It feels glorious, she thought, struggling not to twist against him. She had to stay on task. “I wouldn’t say that, but I thought your specialty was making fantasies come true.” And this was her fantasy happening this second, but he was playing her even now. Vengeance had to remain her number one priority. But oh, it felt wonderful. His mouth traveled back to hers. “What’s your deepest desire?” He drew back and looked at her, his hand caressing the skin of her breasts, his gaze hot. “Tell me and it’s yours.” Kinsey stroked her hands up his torso, then down to enclose his hard erection in her hand, running her fingers up to the velvety tip of him, then back down. When he inhaled sharply, she grinned. “My deepest desire is to drive a man to the brink of passion.” “Let me assure you that you are off to a great start right now,” he replied in a constricted voice as she continued to move her hand. Kinsey shook her head. “No, I mean really drive you wild,” she said, urging him onto his back. She went up on her hands and knees to lean over him, kissing her way down his torso. “Pushing you right to the edge until you’re begging for more.” She licked his hard erection, then blew a warm breath over it. “And then give it to you.” For an intoxicating second, she took him in her mouth, felt him pulse against her. “Sounds like a hell of a fantasy to me,” Javier said brokenly, reaching out instinctively as she drew away. Kinsey leaned over to pull open a drawer at the side of the bed and pulled out a silk rope. “You haven’t heard it all,” she murmured, running the silk robe up and down his chest. “What would you say if I told you my deepest desire includes tying you up?” Javier arched a brow in her direction. “Bondage?” 45
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She emitted a sharp laugh. “Of course not. It’s not a serious as that.” Kinsey teased his chest with the rope, and followed the path with her tongue. Then, she moved up the bed to lie next to him, rubbing him with the silk. “I just think it would be sort of a turn-on. Besides it’s not as though you haven’t done this before. I’m pretty certain in your line of work, you’ve experienced this more than a few times.” She leaned in to kiss him hard. “I also thought your job was to do anything I asked.” **** Despite him not wanting to, he gave himself over to the kiss she’d laid on him. She felt so good and smelled even better, to the point that it was a battle to stay on task. His choices were simple: own up to the truth or go along with her wicked plan. There didn’t appear to be any other options. If he continued to play his role, getting tied up would be no big deal, familiar territory. It would be part of the job. The only way out would be to break character, which, in turn, would mean he’d be fortunate to make it out the door in one piece, let alone in his clothes. He’d been dishonest and led her on. All his determination to reveal the truth had vanished when she’d opened the door. He deserved anything she did to him. That didn’t mean it wouldn’t be pleasurable though. He wished that this conundrum didn’t exist and he was just here to be with her. At this point, being honest would guarantee that he’d never see her again. And that just wasn’t a satisfactory choice right now. Her hands were on him again, sending a surge of desire through his body. She’d said her fantasy was to drive him to the brink. The entire reason she was here was to discover what making love was really like. He felt her pressed up against him and thought of thrusting himself deep into her softness, of having her hot and tight around him. If he was honest with her right now and left; that was where they were sure to go. After that, maybe he could do some fast-talking, work out a way to see her again without the charade.
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“You’re taking a long time to make up your mind, Mr. Elizondo,” Kinsey murmured. “Are you going to fulfill my fantasy, or should I call the agency and ask for someone more willing?” In an instant, he rolled over and pinned her underneath him. “You are insane if you think I would pass up this opportunity.” He took her mouth possessively, marking his territory. Releasing her, Javier rolled onto his back put one arm up toward the bedpost. In the dim candlelight, he brought his gaze up to meet hers. “I’m all yours.”
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Chapter Six Kinsey tightened the last of the rope snugly around Javier’s wrist, then laid down next to him on the bed. “What does it feel like being restrained? I’ve never done this before. Is it a turn-on?” Weird, Javier thought anxiously. Really weird, and not something he’d be doing again anytime soon. “You seem to have done a great job with these knots,” he stated, tugging at his bonds. “Were you a Girl Scout?” “No. I was too much of a tomboy, but my cousin was. She showed me how to tie the knots.” She drew patterns over his chest, brushing lightly over his nipples, then leaned over to nibble. “Were you in the Scouts?” Javier’s body jerked at the contact. He nodded. “Dependable is my middle name.” “What is the Scouts’ list of integrity, again?” He didn’t bother to correct Kinsey as she began kissing her way down his body, pausing every now and again to taste his skin. “Tidiness? Courteousness?” “A scout is reliable, generous—” He stopped abruptly as she licked him, then let her hair brush over his chest until his entire body trembled. “Please continue,” she urged, running her hands along his sides. “Mmm, kind…polite…” She was pushing him toward the brink, just as she’d wanted to. The soft, cool feel of her hands, the heat of her mouth, it was all testing his control to the greatest extent. “Friendly…wellmannered…” “Go on,” she purred, tracing his hip with the tip of her tongue. “Enthusiastic…resourceful…” Javier took a quivering breath as she drew closer to where the hard length of him jerked. “Uh, courageous…tidy…” he continued in a strangled voice as she put her mouth on him. “Respectful…honest,” he moaned. He went to reach for her and found his hands restricted by the rope. Then the warmth of her mouth disappeared. “Honest. Ethical. Yep, that’s the one I’m looking for.” Kinsey rose up quickly and climbed off the bed. “You didn’t learn that one very well, did
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you, Mr. Elizondo? If that is your true name, of course. I already know this isn’t what you do for a living.” Cover blown. The thought raced through him. Instinctively, he tried to raise up, and realized he couldn’t. This was not the time to have a safe escape route blocked. This was not good, he thought. “I can explain.” Man, what a weak response, he thought disappointedly. “Believe me, I definitely hope so.” Kinsey dragged a chair up to the foot of the bed. “I am almost beside myself from wanting to hear what you have to say. Hold on.” She stopped him when he started to speak. “Let me get my champagne.” She moved at a snail’s pace coming back to the chair. Javier knew it was to piss him off, and she accomplished her goal. It angered him to be so helpless. It was even more infuriating to know that he probably deserved whatever she had planned for him. She made herself comfortable in the chair, offering him a tantalizing view of herself. It irritated him to no end that he still wanted her. “I see now that you planned all of this,” he stated evenly. “I wondered why the last minute change in location. The Omni Hotel doesn’t have any four-poster beds. And you did a great job with the fantasy. You fooled me, and I fell for it.” “Well, you played me for a fool to get me into bed,” she snapped. “I don’t think there’s much of a difference.” “You had a choice.” “So did you.” Javier shook his head. “I didn’t have any idea what was going on at first. It isn’t an everyday occurrence that a stunning woman approaches me, comes on to me, even if it is a case of mistaken identity. It wasn’t until we made it upstairs that I realized what you really thought was going on.” “You thought I was an escort?” If she looked angry before now, she looked incensed now. “What did you expect? You strolled up to me out of the blue, you invited me upstairs. What was I supposed to think? You caught me in the mindset to 49
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take a risk. I know it wasn’t smart, but I wanted to be with you.” He sighed. “I tried to get out of it a few times when I realized what the set up was. You wouldn’t allow me to.” “You didn’t try very hard.” “I wanted you. Is that a crime?” He pinned her with a hard stare. “You were willing to climb into bed with a man who sleeps with people for money, but you’re angry that I was intimate with you because I’m attracted to you.” “No, I’m mad as hell because you were dishonest.” She leaped up from the chair and paced the carpet. “I liked you. I thought we connected. It could have remained that way if you’d been truthful with me.” Javier swore loudly in Spanish. “Yeah right. If I had been truthful, you’d have said good-bye and gone looking for your real escort and we would have never said another word to each other.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Okay, you might be right, but you were still out of line. I can’t believe it never occurred to you to attempt to tell me I’d made a mistake.” “Actually, it did,” he shot back, then closed his eyes and shook his head. “From the instant I gathered what was going on. I struggled to find a way out that would let me reveal the truth and still keep things moving forward.” “‘Things’ meaning the sex,” she said frigidly. “Things meaning being with you. And yes, the sex—it’s not like we spent a lot of time discussing all of our hopes and dreams. But what we experienced together felt pretty damned good, and at the time, I wanted it to continue on more than I wanted to own up to the truth. Tonight, I came here with all intention of telling you everything. Until you opened the door looking like that.” He paused for a second. “I’m not proud of it, but it’s the truth.” He saw her eyes soften. It appeared that she believe him. Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as he thought. Lowering his head back to the pillows, Javier stared at her. “You’ve clearly been planning this ever since you discovered the truth today. So what’s next? Please, fill me in. I can hardly contain myself,” he stated mockingly.
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Kinsey’s gaze roamed over his body. The heat that appeared in them lessened some of his anxiety. “I’m thinking since I have you at my mercy.” She moved closer to the bed and leaning down, she ran her palm over his stomach, causing his muscles to quiver. “Your comeuppance is that I get to entertain myself with your body until I’m ready to release you.” Straightening, she slid the dressing gown off her shoulders, allowing it to slide down her arms to pool on the floor. Then she slipped out of her shoes and lowered herself to the bed beside him. “See, I’ve always been very interested in the male body. Excluding last night, I’ve never seen a nude man up close before, at least not in the light. The only things I know are what I’ve read in my women magazines.” Her expression was sincere when she looked up at him. “I don’t know what parts are sensitive or what will make you moan, or even how the equipment functions.” She kissed him hard, then pulled back. “Tonight, I get to observe.” “You can’t honestly think I’m going to just lay here willingly and allow you to experiment?” Agitation took over the feelings of empathy he’d felt. “I’m not some science project.” “I would never imply that you are, Mr. Elizondo. While I don’t expect you to enjoy this is the beginning, or rather admit that you do…” His hard erection pulsed as if to confirm her statement, and she chuckled. “I plan to have my way with you tonight. I hope that you’ve been taking your vitamins. Tonight, you’re going to need them.” Crappy position to be in, Javier thought. On the other hand, he could think of worse comeuppance than having someone explore his body and try to find what pleases him the most. That didn’t mean he planned to enjoy it. Kinsey leaned over to the bedside table and came back with a feather. With tortuous slowness, she ran the soft tip over the lines of his chest, moving it up his neck, toward his face, caressing his brow and cheeks, teasing his closed eyelids, tracing the line of his lips. Then she moved lower to draw the feather back over his chest, then his stomach. He inhaled sharply as she traced downward close to his hips, feeling the moist warmth of her breath 51
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flowing over his skin as the feather tip moved over him. He braced himself in attempt not to react as he felt her trace patterns on the sensitive skin of his hips, but instead of choosing the next obvious location, she swirled down over his legs and stroked the tender flesh of his instep in an astonishingly sensual caress. He couldn’t deny it any longer and was starting to react when the tip of the feather surprisingly touched the hardening tip of him. He sucked in a deep breath. Kinsey threw the feather aside and rose onto her hands and knees. Lowering her head, she allowed her hair to spill down onto his chest. Gradually, she trailed it down his torso so that just the ends dragged over his chest, his hips, and beyond. Twisting and swaying, she ran it down his legs then back up again, across his arms and back down his chest. The soft, silky feel of her hair brought his skin to a high state of excruciating sensitivity. The anticipation was as much of a part of the experience as the touch. When the soft spill of hair brushed over his most tender parts, he forced back a groan. This was something new, and he enjoyed it more than he wanted to. The teasing touch was lighter than a hand or mouth, and more provoking than either. Then he felt her lips against his neck, moving down over his shoulder then over to linger over his nipples, kissing the newly sensitized skin. Her lips trailed lower and he felt himself stir in anticipation. Instead of touching him, she paused and straightened up. “You know, all this lace feels very sensual, but it’s starting to get warm.” She straddled him and reached down to grab the hem. The curls at the juncture of her thighs appeared first, then the smooth skin of her stomach, soft dark chocolate breasts, exposing hardened nipples that he wanted to lavish attention on. Finally, she drew the material completely over her head and threw it aside, sitting astride him beautifully naked. How he ached to fill his hands with her breasts, feel their weight and softness. Instead, he pulled his hands and quickly remembered he was restrained by the rope. “Tsk, tsk, now. Have a little patience,” she admonished softly. “We’ll get to everything in good time.” She moved back down his body to look at his hardening erection. There was no point in pretending that he wasn’t aroused. 52
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In fact, he wanted to yank her upward, put a cease to the teasing, and stop the exasperating desire that was overwhelming him. **** Kinsey ran her tongue down the hard molten heat of him, feeling the unbelievable arousing contrast of the silky skin against her lips. She took her time, stopping to relish whenever she heard his breath catch and felt his hips jerk. Finally, she slid him into her mouth, ripping a shout of pleasure from him. Then she paused and leaned over to snatch a condom from the bedside table. “Now, let’s get one of these on you, shall we?” She tore open the packet and rolled it down the length of his shaft. “I thought the extra lubricated kind sounded best.” Kinsey straddled him again until she hovered right above where his twitching erection lay flat against his stomach. Her breath caught in her throat as she lowered herself until she was pressed against his hot flesh. Her innermost folds surrounded him. Then she moved her hips so that she slid against him to feel him hard and hot against the slick, swollen bud of her sex. She was more than ready. With each motion of her hips, she rubbed herself against him, teasing them both with the slick, intimate caress. Moving her hips slowly, she excited herself and him, sparking their increasing desire. She looked down into Javier’s face. His eyes were dark with arousal, and she leaned down to take his mouth with hers. He kissed her back passionately, parting her lips, his tongue darting in to battle with hers before she pulled away. She knew the slow caress of her softness against him was driving him insane. He jerked effectively against his restraints and gritted his teeth. Kinsey felt her body start to quiver in climax as she undulated her hips against Javier, then she was jerking and feeling the warmth and satisfaction rush through her. Before she was even finished, she reached down and slid him quickly inside her. Their moans came in unison as his length speared deep inside. 53
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It left her breathless. For several heartbeats, she was completely motionless, relishing in the feeling of having him in her. It was incredible, the hardness of his flesh, the heat. Her one brief encounter had never felt like this, the slow, hot flow of desire making its way through her body. Instead, she put her hands on his firm chest for balance and began to ride up and down on him. It was too good to keep herself from moaning at the sublime friction as he slid in and out, as she felt him get harder and thicker with every stroke. Minute by minute, the intensity increased, her muscles constricting as she pushed herself to a high level of arousal. This was what she’d been missing. This. She stared down into his face again, drawn tight with euphoria that looked like pain, and leaned forward to kiss him. “Kinsey, I can’t hold back any longer,” he murmured desperately. It pushed her over the brink and her body jolted when the wave of a second orgasm crashed into her. As she convulsed around him, his body stiffened, his hips arched off the bed, and she felt his heat spill into the barrier of protection. **** The past several hours had been without a doubt the most enjoyable of his life, but he was beginning to wonder when she planned to release him. Kinsey seemed to be as comfortable as her blissful warmth while she dozed against his chest. After everything that had occurred, damned if he didn’t want to wrap and arm around her and pull her to him. Except he was still trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey. He looked over the clutter of condom wrappers to where the digital clock turned to 3:00 a.m. “Kinsey.” He shifted a little to wake her. “Kinsey.” “Hmm?” she responded sleepily, then squirmed closer to him with a sound of satisfaction. “Kinsey.” He shifted again until she mumbled her protest. “It’s three o’clock in the morning. You’ve punished me long enough, now wake up. I 54
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have meetings all day tomorrow…today,” he corrected himself. This woman had really laid one on him. He hoped she was familiar with the concept of payback. Once she released him, he planned to give her a little taste before they left. **** Kinsey sat up gradually, stretching, feeling an unfamiliar soreness throughout her body. Had her thrills was an understatement. She blinked, coming back to awareness. Her task was complete, the slow awareness giving her a sharp pang of regret. Now the only thing left was for her to get away unharmed and consider herself lucky. Except that she didn’t feel lucky at all. Slowly, she slid off the bed and gathering up her robe off the floor, slipped her arms into the sleeves as she made her way into the bathroom, yawning tiredly. Her body felt strange to her, as though it wasn’t hers anymore. She could smell his scent on her skin, and it pulled at her. It wasn’t fair that he was wound so deeply in her mind. This was a done deal, she thought as she undressed in front of the mirror. She was going to walk out the door and that would be the end of it. She’d never see him again. Kinsey turned on the shower and stepped underneath the hot spray of water, holding her hair up with one hand. The steam cleared her grogginess some. Okay, so she had a strong, alert, and fairly pissed off man secured to a bed. The question was, how did she free him and get out the door unscathed? She switched the temperature of the water to cold and came fully awake. Stepping out, she dried herself off with a soft, fluffy towel. Her face looked different, she thought as she stared in the mirror, her eyes heavylidded and somehow smarter. As she dressed in her regular clothes, her body felt almost too sensitive for the touch of anything. Anything but Javier’s skin. She rested her forehead against the cool glass. It had to end, clearly, but it was so hard. It was like giving up cheesecake. 55
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She turned back to the tub and turned the knobs before pulling the lever to send water rushing into it. Walking back out into the room, she picked up Javier’s pants and folded his shirt over her arm. “Where are you going with my clothes?” he asked roughly. Kinsey cupped a hand to her ear. “Sorry. I can’t hear you over the water. I’ll be back in a second.” Steam rose around her as she walked into the bathroom and tossed his clothes into the water, then turned off the faucet. “Damn it! What did you do with my clothes?” he asked angrily as she entered back into the room. Fury sharpened the angle of his face and he yanked his arm, making the bed groan in protest. Kinsey felt a quick chill of fear. “Well, I can’t just release you and have you come after me,” she replied in a rational tone as she threw her discarded lingerie and shoes in an overnight bag. “And it would be rather heartless to leave you tied up until housekeeping finds you, considering you have meetings.” “Thanks so much for your consideration,” he responded mockingly. “So I came up with a way to leave you so that you can get yourself loose but you can’t follow me into the hall.” She dug into her purse and pulled out some money. “You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t pay you the full fee, but considering recent discoveries, I think it’s understandable.” She placed the money on the bedside table, shoving the condom wrappers out of the way. “I think this will take care of your dry-cleaning bill. Your clothes should dry out enough to wear in an hour or so. Faster if you use the hair dryer, in case you really need to get out of here.” She leaned over, reached for the rope tied around one of his wrists, and undid it. Before she could move out of harm’s ways, his hand shot out to grasp her arm. Kinsey pushed back a surge of fear. “The longer you hold on to me, the longer your other wrist remains tied,” she stated softly. Javier drew her in closer, barely inches from his face. “This is nowhere near finished, mujer,” he bit out with eyes shooting daggers. He let her go so suddenly she stumbled back a few steps.
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Kinsey inhaled deeply, snatched up her overnight bag and purse, and stormed to the door. “I’m afraid you’re wrong, Mr. Elizondo. You don’t have any idea where to find me.” She jerked the door open and stepped out into the hall, yanking it closed behind her with finality.
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Chapter Seven Bright sunshine slanted across the sky as Kinsey pulled into the parking lot of Greenway Park. Several feet in front of her were volunteers preparing for one of Fort Worth’s innumerable outdoor festivals, putting up large canvas booths and strategically connecting electrical cords safely. Morning dew still clung to the blades of grass. Yet, she couldn’t enjoy the beauty of it all. She was in a funk. The same funk she’d been in all day the previous day. Considering that it was Saturday, she should be in a better mood. Unfortunately, the only thing she could focus on was everything that had occurred the other night and the night before that. She’d focused on making notes for her PowerPoint presentation and avoiding calls from Rhonda, who’d left a plethora of impatient-sounding voice mails. Maybe it wasn’t the most mature way to handle the situation, but she just wasn’t ready to discuss what had occurred between Javier and her. She was as off-kilter as she was upset, and still hadn’t been able to put a label on exactly how she felt. Releasing a pent up breath, she opened her door and swung her feet onto the pavement, making sure her shoes were laced before getting out. “About time you showed up, late riser.” Kinsey looked up to see a freshfaced Zoey. “How can you be so energetic at this godforsaken hour on a Saturday, Zoey? It’s ridiculous.” Kinsey yawned, looking at her friend who radiated energy. “I’d be on time if you didn’t insist on working out at an unreasonable hour.” “You know what they say,” Zoey replied with a huge grin. “Early to bed, early to rise.” “The person who said that clearly had no life,” Kinsey returned with a smirk, pushing her car door shut. She reached around to drop the keys into a small pocket on the side of her shorts, then buttoned the flap to make sure they stayed secure. “So why should I listen to what they said?” Zoey laughed in response. Kinsey didn’t recall exactly how she’d met Zoey. Maybe it had been in grade school, maybe in the urban Fort Worth 58
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area where they’d run around in diapers. Regardless, the friendship that had formed was deep and lasting, holding up through grade school, secondary school, and college alike, growing even after they both became adults pursuing their own lives and careers. They were permanent fixtures in each other’s lives. Kinsey turned toward the jogging trail that weaved its way through the park. “Not so fast, crazy woman. Time to warm up first.” A chiropractor who specialized in treating athletes, Zoey took her workouts seriously. “I’ve spent the entire week working with athletes who didn’t utilize enough common sense to stretch before they took to the field.” Her hair swished from side to side as she began to stretch while she spoke. “If you’re going to insist on working with adrenaline junkies, you deserve all the hard work you have to do.” Kinsey reached behind her to bend her raised leg back, stretching her quads. Zoey shook her head, wrapping her arms around one leg and pulling her knee to her chest, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “No, this doesn’t have anything to do with my regular gig. It’s something completely different.” Pulling herself out of her early morning fog, Kinsey took a closer look at her friend. Zoey bounced back and forth from foot to foot, excitement crackling around her. “Tell me what’s going on. You look like you have some breaking news. Tell me.” “Well, if you’re going to twist my arm…” Zoey gave her an amused look, unable to keep it to herself. “The team chiropractor for TCU’s athletic department was diagnosed with a bulging disk in his neck. He’s going to have to have surgery and rehab, and they expect him to be out a while. They put out a call to bring someone in as a replacement. Asked Ervin for a recommendation and he gave them my name,” she said casually. Kinsey stopped in midstretch and gave a shout of happiness. “Zoey, that’s major!” She grabbed her friend for a hug and did a little celebration shimmy. “This is great news. I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more.” Zoey laughed, her expression pure joy. “It’s wonderful, isn’t it? I just received the offer Tuesday. When I woke up this morning and remembered, 59
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I was almost beside myself.” Her attempt at a nonchalant shrug didn’t quite work. “I’m not getting my hopes up too much, though. It could turn into something more but there’s no guarantee. Maybe the team chiropractor will come back later in the school year, or maybe they won’t need me next year.” Kinsey rolled her eyes. “Or maybe he’ll retire and decide to spend more time with his family, or maybe he’ll find they need another chiropractor to help shoulder the load. Allow yourself to enjoy this,” she said with a smile. “Deal with the road blocks if they happen.” They started off into a slow trot. “So what does Hakeem think about all this?” Kinsey inquired curiously, referring to Zoey’s on-again, off-again boyfriend. Zoey shrugged and sped up a little. “Typical Hakeem. He doesn’t like me being around all those gorgeous male athletes. He doesn’t like the late night or weekend hours. He doesn’t like me possibly having to travel with the team and not being home to give him an alignment if he needs one.” A subtle hint of disappointment and anger colored her voice. “He hasn’t said congratulations. I don’t even know why I waste time with him. He’s in love with himself, not with me.” Hakeem was a mixed martial arts fighter with huge muscles and an ego to match. Kinsey shook her head. “Men. Why do we even give them the time of day?” Zoey gave her a supplicating smile. “Tell me about it.” “So how far are we going today?” “Five miles.” “Five?” Kinsey screeched with dread. “Jogging season just began. Give me a break, we don’t all make a second home in the gym during the winter.” Kinsey was certain that her voice rivaled that of a petulant three-year-old. “You can do it.” Zoey was barely out of breath from the current pace. “Consider it punishment for standing me up the other day.” An image of her standing nude in front of the windows with her fingers threaded in Javier’s hair raced through Kinsey’s mind. Her mouth went dry.
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Then she recalled the other half of the story and tightened her jaw. “You’re looking quite morose. Don’t tell me you’re still getting grief at work?” “Nope. Work’s okay.” It was the play that had her in a jumbled mess. “Lewis is being a mad man over some deal he’s working on, but the rest of it’s the same old song.” Zoey shot her a disbelieving look. “Come on, Kinsey, it’s me you’re talking to. We’ve been friends too long for you to pull this everything’s fine stuff.” Kinsey ran in silence for a few more minutes, trying to figure out where to start. “The new book I’m working on it almost finished. It’s a major deal. If they like it, I’m contracted for four more, and Rhonda thinks she can seal the deal on another multibook contract at a different publishing house. To sum it all up, if I get this one right, I will be about to quit APR and write fulltime.” “Quit all the mundane work and red tape of the corporate environment. How will you ever stand it?” “You know how bad I want this, Zoey.” Kinsey paused. The next part was the most difficult. “The issue is, it’s a lot more graphic than anything else I’ve written before and I’m experiencing problems with the sex scenes. I know I have to get this done and it’s got to be great, but every time I tried to sit down at the computer, nothing would come out. Rhonda told me I needed inspiration that was a little more realistic. So to speak.” “She set you up with a blind date?” Zoey guessed. “Not quite.” Kinsey swallowed. “She set me up with a male escort.” “What?” Zoey came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the trail and stared at her, wide-eyed. Kinsey flinched. “Well, it seemed like a good thing to do at the time,” she said meekly. “Good? I think it was spectacular!” Zoey slapped her on the shoulder. “Kinsey, you got laid! That’s wonderful. I’m happy for you.” She pulled Kinsey back in a jogging pace. “Now give me all the details. I want to know everything.”
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Kinsey felt a reluctant grin tug at the corners of her mouth and began telling her story, relaxing as relayed the tale. Whether it was the endorphins and the rhythmic sound of their footfalls or the relief of telling it to another person, Kinsey felt her mood lightening. In talking about meeting Javier, walking up to the room, feeling his hands on her for the first time, she was able to relish in the sensations all over again. Then she got to the following morning and the moment everything went astray. “So I’m walking in my office almost beside myself with excitement and about to call him like we’d planned when I see Rhonda’s number on the phone. She tells me the agency called her inquiring about what happened to me because I hadn’t shown, and they were demanding their money.” “What do they mean you never showed? You were there.” “That’s what I told Rhonda. The agency said I wasn’t.” Zoey stared at her, eyes widening in understanding. “What the hell?” “What the hell is right,” Kinsey panted. “We’ve got to walk, Zoey, I’m dying.” Preoccupied by their talk, they’d just kept running as one mile turned to two, then four, mostly unnoticed. “How far have we run?” Zoey looked at her sports watch. “Just about five miles, but don’t change the subject. You mean he—” “Is a low-down sneaky scumbag? Yes. He wasn’t the escort. He was just some guy signaling the waitress for a refill on his drink. My mistake. On the other hand, he didn’t bother to tell me the truth once he realized why I took him up to my room. He intentionally deceived me.” Kinsey felt the anger surge anew. “Man, it just burns me up that I got taken for a sucker.” They walked for several minutes in silence and slowly, their parked cars came back into view. “Well, how was it? Did you have a good time?” Just thinking about it still gave her butterflies in the pit of her stomach. “Good doesn’t even come close to describing it. It was mind-blowing.” Kinsey averted her gaze bashfully. “Not that I have a lot of experience to go on, but it pretty much desecrated my previous encounter.”
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Zoey stopped to cool down. “Interesting.” She bent until her forehead was against her knees. “All things considered, I’d say you came out of it on top.” Kinsey looked at her. “On top?” Her voice rose. “He lied to me. He played me for a fool. He is a jerk.” And she’d peel her skin off inch by inch before she’d own up to the fact that she still wanted him. “Uh,” Zoey said carefully, “how much of a jerk is a person who’d sleep with you for money and pretend like he’s enjoying it? At least this guy did it because he wanted you, not because he wanted the money.” She stretched her hamstrings, lunging side to side. “If he was breathing heavy, you know it was because he was turned on, not because it was part of an act. Besides, this could actually turn into something. Yes, it could also be a one-night encounter, but it’s not like a night with a male escort is going to turn into true love either. That only happens in a few movies.” Zoey bent from the waist and exhaled all the air in her lungs out, then straightened back up. “Come on, let’s walk over to the vendor booths. Breakfast is on me.” Bright-colored balloons were tied to each booth, and Sheryl Crow blared over the loudspeakers. The aromas of food from different booths weaved around them. Zoey, of course, moved in the direction of a health food stand and bought two smoothies. “Can’t you ever order a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit like a normal person?” Kinsey complained. “You’ll clog your arteries eating that sort of food. It’s toxic.” “Uh-huh. I forget, my body is a precious commodity.” Zoey gave her a side eye. “The sort of stuff you eat, it might actually be like the Cowboy Stadium bleachers after a game.” Kinsey sipped the frothy, orange-colored concoction. She’d have walked over hot coals before admitting that it tasted good. They moved slowly through the rows of vendors selling everything from candles to T-shirts. “So what happens now? You said he wanted to see you again.” “Umm, yes.” “So are you going to?” “Am I going to what?” 63
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Zoey exhaled with an exasperated huff. “See him again.” “Oh, that. I already did.” Surprisingly, Kinsey was having a good time. A table stacked with an assorted color of bath salts caught her eye and she slowed to a stop. “We met at the Piedmont Hotel the other night.” “Everything is discounted,” said the woman behind the table. “Also, there is a three bag and six bag special.” “The Piedmont Hotel, no less. Don’t you know how to live it up?” Zoey picked up a sample of bath salts and smelled it. I’ve heard the rooms are super glamorous, but it’s like walking into the turn of the century.” “They are. Not to mention four-poster beds, which come in handy when you want to give someone a little talking to,” Kinsey said with a smile. “Four-poster bed…” Zoey emitted a startled chuckle. “Kinsey, what did you do to that poor man?” “I just wanted to make certain I had his full attention, so I made sure he couldn’t get up and walk away…or move at all,” Kinsey stated nonchalantly. A loud siren sounded out on the street. “Holy crap,” Zoey murmured. “You murdered him and that’s the police coming to arrest you.” “Oh, no, I’m very certain he was okay. I mean, he was moaning and gasping a little while we were, um, conversing, but I’m almost positive he was having a great time. I had him naked as the day he was born with nowhere to go. I figured I might as well home some real fun.” She gave a saucy wink. Zoey put the sample down and gawked. “You restrained a man you barely know in a hotel room and used him as a sex toy?” she blurted out. The woman sitting behind the table choked on her drink. “Sorry,” Kinsey said, slightly embarrassed, dragging Zoey away from the table. “Could you say it a little louder next time?” she grumbled. “I’m sorry, but I’m just trying to keep up with this wicked tale.” Laughter underlined Zoey’s tone. “You haven’t slept with a guy since you were what, twenty-three, and now you’re moonlighting as a dominatrix?” “In my defense, I don’t have the best track record. Who knows how long it will be before I have sex again. I figured I’d already been played for a fool. I might as well get something out of it.” “You are too much.” 64
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“Wait until I tell you about the suit,” Kinsey said smugly. When it was all said and done, it had made a pretty good story, she thought a short time later. She hadn’t seen Zoey laugh so hard that things came out of her nose since they were in grade school, and that time it had been milk, not a smoothie. “Is your friend okay?” asked a person walking by. “She’s okay, just a little excited,” said Kinsey, patting Zoey on the back. “Oh man,” Zoey rasped, clutching her stomach. “That poor guy, what he must have thought. Here’s a mad woman, possibly escaped from a mental ward, and he’s totally helpless.” She laughed again as they made their way over to sit on a wooden bench. “So I’m thinking that’s the last you’re going to see of Mr. Elizondo. What about you, though? Are you all right? I mean, it’s an amusing story, but it must have been an intense week for you.” “Um, I guess I’m—” To Kinsey’s mortification, her voice cracked. Zoey rubbed her back soothingly. “I don’t know why I’m doing this,” Kinsey said, blinking back tears. “It’s not like I was expecting anything from a male escort.” “Oh, Kinsey, you’re a die-hard romantic. You’re writing a romance novel for goodness sake.” Zoey exhaled heavily. “Rhonda was looking out for your best interests as a writer, but you were both out of your minds to think you could be intimate with a man without getting emotionally involved. Especially when it’s the first guy you’ve slept with in, what, six years?” “Seven,” Kinsey said quietly. High up in the sky, a pair of birds soared past, heading for a tree. “You know, the horrifying part is I really liked him. And he said the same thing about me. Though he was restrained and at my mercy at the time.” “I guess that would make his statement a little hard to believe,” Zoey responded. “On the other hand, he could very well have meant it. You’re great company, you know. And while you might not believe it, you’re a total hottie when you want to be.” “Oh yeah, that’s me, beating men off with a stick,” Kinsey replied drily. “Come on, Zoey, you know guys look right through me.”
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“Because you ignore them. You dress in clothes that hide your figure and you’re always rushing around like you’re late.” Zoey tilted her head thoughtfully. “Let me guess, after you arrive at work, you head straight to your office, at lunch time you either skip it or you order in. And at the end of the day, you practically run to your car, not making eye contact with anyone along the way.” “We’re specifically not allowed to date coworkers,” Kinsey responded defensively. “It’s one of the company’s strictly enforced rules.” “My point is, you spend most of your time at work and the rest writing. It’s not you. It’s the way you’ve scheduled your life.” “I don’t want to wait around idly for someone who’s not going to show up,” Kinsey stated irritably. “Isn’t that what you’re doing anyway? Avoiding them all and thinking that somehow Mr. Right is going to show up, pick you out of the pack, and choose you for happily ever after? It’s like you lost touch with reality when Todd screwed you over.” The words cut Kinsey deep, cut to the heart of what had undermined every encounter with a man since she’d known him. “He’s not the norm for all men,” Zoey continued. “He was a juvenile little punk who drank too much and coerced you into bed for a lackadaisical tumble without a second thought. He was a bastard, Kinsey. If you’d ever dated anyone else, you’d know that. He didn’t deserve a second of your time. The asshole definitely didn’t deserve to mess up the rest of your entire life.” She tugged Kinsey close for a firm hug then looked at her seriously. “It’s time to move on. You’ve been stuck in this limbo too long. Getting back into the playing field with this Javier guy was a good start. Now we need to find you a man.” Zoey looked around and pointed to a jolly old man who reminded her of Santa. “Oh yeah, what about him?” Kinsey wiped her eyes, and this time, the tears were from laughter. “You always look out for my best interests, Zoey. That’s why I love you.” She rose and they began to walk back toward the parking lot.
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“Well, I’d ask Hakeem to set you up with someone, but I don’t think you’d like anyone Hakeem would pick. To be honest,” she continued, “I have serious doubts about Hakeem myself.” The sparkle of jewelry at a booth caught Kinsey’s eye and she stopped to look. Silver and gold chains secured around black velvet, earrings dangled from the racks and danced in the light wind. “Do you think happily ever after is a pipe dream?” Kinsey held up a pair of emerald earrings next to her face, admiring the results in a hanging mirror. Zoey shrugged. It was a question they’d often asked each other. “I don’t know. Look at your parents, still holding hands after thirty-five years. On the other hand, I think things were easier back when they met. Everyone knew what the rules were and what was expected. Now it’s more complex. No one knows what to expect, not the men, not us.” She sighed heavily, astonishing Kinsey with her level of agitation. “I think it can work if you find the right man, but even then sometimes, I think it’s not worth the time. Of course, that could just be Hakeem burnout talking.” “Don’t give up on men, though,” Kinsey said. “Speaking as someone who’s experienced a long dry spell, there’s something to be said for toecurling, mind-altering sex.” “Can I take it that you’re still recuperating from your experience with Javier?” “If that’s even his name, yes. I’m starting to put it into perspective anyway. Talking to you about it all helped. Thanks. And you’re correct, it’s not as though I’d have a serious relationship with a male escort. So all things considered, maybe he wasn’t such a jerk.” She sighed. “The disappointing part now is that it’s over. Geez, playing with his body felt good. It’s like I’ve just gotten my mojo back after all this time off and there’s nobody to fool around with.” “Like I said earlier, we need to find you a man.” “First things first—I need to finish my book,” Kinsey replied, starting to head for her car. “We going to run on Monday?” “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Maybe you’ll have another great story to tell.” 67
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“God, I hope not. I don’t think I could survive any more excitement than I have experienced this week,” Kinsey laughed. “Good. I don’t think my nasal passages could handle anymore orange smoothie.” **** The sun began to set in the sky while Kinsey worked feverishly at her computer. The weekend had flown by while she sat at the keyboard in the grip of a creative outpouring. She had to give Rhonda credit, her plan had worked. The sex scenes sizzled and jumped off the page. When Kinsey came to a smoldering scene between the hero and heroine, like now, she only had to think of Javier’s hand stroking over her body, hotly possessive, his mouth searing hers. The memories raced back, hard, hot, slick, wet, and she trailed her fingertips rhythmically up and down her throat. The phone rang suddenly. Kinsey blinked, jerking out of her daydream. “Hello?” “May I ask why you have been avoiding my phone calls all weekend? The gravelly voice leaped out of the phone, killing Kinsey’s reverie. “Hi, Rhonda.” “Did you murder him?” Kinsey grinned. “Not quite. I definitely made it a night he’ll remember, though. It will teach him not to deceive people.” “I’m almost terrified to ask, Kinsey. Was he still breathing when you left him?” “Yes,” Kinsey replied whimsically. “He was tied up, so it is hard to say how happy he was, but I’m positive he was still breathing.” “When I told you that you needed to think about marketing and publicity, I didn’t mean to get arrested for assault.” “He wouldn’t dream of doing that, believe me. We just had a long talk about what occurred.” Kinsey couldn’t hold back her smile at the thought. “So how’s the book coming along? You only have until the end of the next week, you know.” 68
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“You’ll be thrilled to hear that I’ve finished it.” “Even the steamy stuff?” “Especially the steamy stuff. It’s filled with nothing but steamy stuff. Would you like for me to e-mail it to you?” “I trust your judgment. Just be certain the full submission is to Angie as soon as it’s ready. It’s going to look good that you’re getting it in before the deadline.” Kinsey saved the file she was looking over. “I’m on my final review. I promise it will be on time, Rhonda.” “Just remember, if this one is well received, you’re a full-time writer for life, or as long as you keep producing novels.” Kinsey could hear the smile in her voice. “Not to mention the fact that I’ll get my new pool.” “And you definitely deserve your new pool for keeping my butt in line, Rhonda. Don’t think I don’t appreciate it. You’re the best.” “Well, you can buy me a drink the next time we get together. Speaking of which, you should be in town three weeks from now for a conference, right?” “Yes! I’ve left my schedule open so we can meet for dinner. I can’t wait.” “Neither can I. It will give us a chance to catch up.” Rhonda’s tone softened. “You’re one of the talented ones, Kinsey. I want to see you succeed.” “Not to mention get your new pool.” “And get my new pool.”
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Chapter Eight Writing full-time would be paradise, Kinsey thought two seconds later. She scooped up her notes and printed out view slide charts and headed to the conference room for a conference call. Just the first of many meetings scheduled today. Several days like the past weekend, followed by a few days off to relax. Time spent stressing over satisfying her characters and her readers, not a mentally maladjusted, anal-retentive boss. Lewis was currently yelling her name as he rushed down the hall toward her. Kinsey exhaled heavily. What do you want, Lewis? You know I have a conference call meeting in a few minutes.” “Your notes and your view slides. I just wanted to check the information over.” “They’re the same ones you received yesterday in the meeting, with just a few minor changes that were suggested.” Kinsey glanced at her watch with borderline panic. “Lewis, I have to get going or I’ll be late to your meeting as well. Can we—” Lewis’s stubby fingers smoothed down nonexistent strands of hair over his bold crown. “I just want to be certain we’re all set. This deal could mean a lot to the company. It could completely change the way we do business.” “I’m positive everything will be okay,” Kinsey responded halfheartedly, daydreaming about the career changing phone call from Rhonda. Anything to get her away from Lewis’s never ending caterwauling. One would think that after five years of success, he’d have a little more faith in her. “Let’s just review it one last time,” he said insistently. “Lewis, it’s ten o’clock,” Kinsey said, a little frantic. The rest of the day went downhill from there. Several hours later, Kinsey raced out of the conference room glancing at her watch. Lewis would be angry over the fact that she wasn’t already in the meeting room ready to speak, but since he was the reason she was behind schedule to begin with, she didn’t give a hoot. Anyway, he was always
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working on something that was going to take APR Consulting to the next level. It usually wasn’t and she doubted that this would be any different. Kinsey snatched up her paperwork from her office, then made a mad dash for the meeting room. “They’re already in there,” Polly stated softly. “I took in refreshments just a short time ago and Vicky was talking.” Kinsey paused outside the meeting room, taking in the muted sounds of voices inside. Smoothing her hair down, she took a deep breath and opened the door. About ten people sat at the long oval table, looking in the direction of one of Kinsey’s colleagues at the far end of the room. A vividly colored briefing chart was displayed on a large screen. Kinsey felt the beginnings of a headache. Even in the dimmed lighting, she could see Lewis glaring at her. She glared right back as she made her way quickly around the table. And she found herself eye to eye with Javier Elizondo. Her lungs seized instantly, leaving her light-headed. It couldn’t be. She had to be dreaming. This was one of those horrible nightmares, like the one’s she’d had in school where she showed up for an important test late and without any clothes on. Last time she’d seen Javier, she hadn’t had any clothes on. Of all the meeting rooms in the world, Kinsey thought, biting back a panicked laugh. She regulated her breathing with great effort, trying to calm her racing pulse. It was too ironic to believe—the main player of the biggest blunder of her personal life showing up here of all places. It was just her luck. Any normal person would have met the male escort and had their fun. She had to run across the room to a fake and take him upstairs for, okay, she was willing to admit it, for what was mind-blowing foreplay. But then afterward…well, okay, after the round of intergalactic and toe-curling sex, and after the clothes in the bathtub, have him show up here. Here, of all places? So much for her sassy words at the Piedmont Hotel. He knew just where to find her now. The question was, what was he going to do about it? Mortification didn’t begin to describe it. After all, this was her livelihood, at
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least for the time being. What would this do to Lewis’s deal? Would Javier actually say something or change his mind? Pardon me, Lewis, the deal’s off. Last time I met your HR Generalist, she tied me to a bed, used me for sex, and threw my clothes in the bathtub. Kinsey felt another laugh rising up that felt extremely close to manic delirium. Okay, stay calm, she told herself. She was more than likely safe from that. He’d never go to that extreme. But how far would he go? Vicky finished up her presentation and turned on the lights to take questions. Kinsey looked up and found Javier’s eyes on her, shimmering with the laidback humor of a predator about to toy with its prey. Damn, he was handsome. Beside her, Lewis cleared his throat. “Thank you, Vicky. Gentlemen, I’d like to introduce our HR Generalist, Kinsey Maxwell. Kinsey, meet Warrick Sellick and Javier Elizondo from ES Solutions.” Get up, Kinsey. Make nice with the man about to ruin your life. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. It’s a pleasure to meet you. My sincerest apologies for arriving later,” she said politely, leaning across the table to give her business card to the two men on the other side of the table. Warrick Sellick had a goodnatured disposition that would have put her at ease if she hadn’t been on the verge of throwing up. And Javier Elizondo. She braced herself as she offered her hand, but the jolt of static electricity caught her off guard. Javier arched a dark brow at her. “Excuse me. Staticky rug, I guess. We haven’t met before, have we? You look so familiar.” He made an exaggerated show of reading the business card she’d given him. Kinsey struggled to refrain from rolling her eyes. “Not to my knowledge, Mr. Elizondo.” Making her way to the front of the room, she took the time to compose herself. Get yourself together, Kinsey, she told herself sharply as she loaded up her presentation on the computer. Earlier in the week, she’d been ready to kill Lewis when he forced her to run through the presentation for a fourth time, but now she could have kissed him. Well, not quite kissed him, but it was 72
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comforting that she’d rehearsed the talk so many times she could give it on autopilot because she wasn’t going to be doing a lot of thinking on her feet today. Kinsey took a deep breath before beginning her presentation, just as she did when she led a group meeting for her staff. She couldn’t remember ever having to present to a group that included a former one-night stand, though. Or two-night stand, if one wanted to get picky. She started speaking and her tone took on a smooth rhythm as she eased into the flow and focused on the presentation. The only issue was that she saw him every time she looked up, and every time, it sent her heartbeat soaring. **** Karma was definitely having some fun with him these days, Javier thought, studying her. Her expression was serious, her voice steady, her hair pulled back professionally, not flowing seductively over her shoulders as it had been the last time he’d seen her. Her shapeless, dark-colored suit gave only the slightest hint of the gorgeous body hidden underneath. He wondered what lingerie she wore today. A few weeks ago, he’d been ready to wrap his hands around her slender neck. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to find it to strangle. Informational services hasn’t had a listing for her anywhere around the immediate area. She’d used cash and a fake name at the Piedmont Hotel. At the Omni Hotel, he’d met a brick wall and not even the offer of monetary bribes got him the information he wanted. It seemed that it was, indeed over, just as she’d said. He couldn’t get her out of his mind, though. That was the worst of it. Despite the entire whacked-out incident with the four-poster bed, he couldn’t stop thinking about the quick glimpse of her smile, her sensual laughter, the sensation of her bare skin against his. Being with her had felt right from the instant she’d sat down to talk with him in the bar. He hadn’t felt that sort of connection in years—possibly never—and despite everything, he couldn’t stop craving her.
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And now, here she was, delivered to him on a platter. What he was going to do with her wasn’t certain. His initial fury had dissipated in time along with the stiffness in his muscles. Clichés about all being fair in love and war raced through his head as he lay under the hands of a gifted masseuse trying to work the kinks out. Still, he was a man who liked to be in charge. As he informed her that night, he wasn’t finished with her, not in the least. He’d be the one to determine when they were done. He surveyed her in her prim and proper suit. The perspiration on her forehead was the only sign of the huff she was in. He’d have bet his first million on it—if he hadn’t already invested it into ES Solutions. He watched her mouth move and recalled the feel of it on his skin, recalled having her naked and quivering against him. Oh yeah, the game rules had changed, and if she thought it was called to an end two weeks ago, she was very much misinformed. First, he wanted to make her suffer a little, just in the name of payback. Then, he just wanted her, point-blank. The fact that they’d be working together might convolute things, but it didn’t make in inconceivable. When he set his mind to achieve something, he usually did it. As Kinsey reached her last slide, he looked over at Warrick and raised a brow. Warrick gave him a small nod. APR Consulting would be the perfect first client to take on. APR was a midsize Fortune 500 company with a need for a new portal to handle their current growth and future expansion. They had what ES Solutions needed to become a success, and that was the important part. Getting the opportunity to even the playing field with the exquisite Ms. Maxwell was going to be very interesting. Very interesting indeed. **** “Thank you for your time, gentlemen. Any questions?”
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Javier gave her a lazy glance out of those breathtakingly beautiful light brown eyes. “I assume you can e-mail us a copy of your website specifications?” “As long as Lewis gives the go-ahead, you have complete access to any information I can provide.” “Anything you need from Kinsey, just ask for it,” Lewis stated. “I’ll be sure to remember that,” Javier responded, looking directly at Kinsey. Then he pushed back from the table a little. “Well, I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen here today, Lewis. I think Patrick and I can consider ourselves fortunate to team up with APR Consulting.” A small chorus of cheers went up around the room, complete with handshakes and backslapping. The man was a maestro, Kinsey thought bitterly. He had them all sitting up and begging, as happy for attention as a cage of puppies at the pet shop. Well, she’d done what Lewis requested of her, which should earn her some brownie points. Now if she could get out of having anything to do with this project, she’d be thrilled. **** “We should probably put a few plan of action steps into place,” Javier continued, reciting a list of organizational steps that needed to be taken. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his leg over his knee. He was going to take pleasure in this next part. “Given the importance of this project, we want to get it right. I’m going to be the lead man for content and content planning. Ms. Maxwell, that means you and I will be working closely together. I want to be very hands-on with this.” He wondered if anyone else in the room noticed her stiffen. “Let’s coordinate schedules before I leave here today so we can set up a planning meeting for a day next week. I’m looking forward to it.” “I’m not quite certain how soon we’ll be able to set up a meeting, Mr. Elizondo. We have another project starting up that I’m consulting on.” “We can get someone else to head up that project if necessary,” Lewis interjected with a half desperate, half euphoric glance in her direction. 75
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“Wonderful,” she said with no enthusiasm. “In that case, do you have a personal assistant I can call to arrange the meeting?” She trained her gaze toward him. “I don’t want to tie you up at an inconvenient time.” Javier’s jaw clenched at the wisecrack. “Why don’t I stop by your office before I leave so we can touch base, Kinsey?” he stated. “We have quite a while to go with this before we’re finished.” The meeting ended, leaving only Lewis and the ES Solutions contingent to complete the paperwork. Before they could start, Polly entered the room. “Lewis, you have a call from Mr. Landry holding.” “Please pardon me for a moment, gentlemen. I have to take this call. Remain here and I’ll return shortly to finalize the paperwork. Polly can get you any refreshments you may need.” He rushed off. The moment they were alone, Warrick leaned over to Javier. “Want to fill me in on what that was all about?” he asked softly. Javier turned to stare at him. “What?” “Lead man for content? Where’s that coming from? Every other time we’ve had this conversation you wanted no part of anything but sealing the deal.” “I’ve just been doing a little reevaluation, that’s all.” “A little reevaluation concerning the company, or a little reevaluation of our little friend in the suit?” At Javier’s shocked look, Warrick smiled. “That’s what I figured. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re back to noticing the opposite gender. I just need to know that you don’t plan to mix business with play, because we can’t afford that sort of screw up, my friend.” Javier shoved aside a wave of agitation. Warrick had every right to voice that concern. The business was fifty percent his, as was the risk. “Business always comes first with me, Warrick, you know that. I just want to play more of a roll in the product side of things. Business development is calm for the time being. If this project goes the way that I think it will, it won’t be that way for long. That’s why I want to make sure this goes right and I have the time to do it.” He closed the folder in front of him.” We’ve been looking for content manager for two months without finding someone who suits our 76
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needs. If I can step in and take care of some of the initial content negotiations until we find someone, then great.” And if he could wrap up some unfinished business at the same time, even better. “As long as you’re certain of what you’re doing here.” Warrick eyed him suspiciously. “It’s going to be all right,” Javier responded. **** It was going to be a disaster. She entered her office and slammed her files down on the desk. Too pissed off to sit down, she paced the area of the carpet in front of the window, staring out at the Fort Worth streets. That was all she needed, to work with a man who reminded her of the most egregious error she’d made every time she looked at him. Of course, the fact that it was her most satisfying mistake and made her heart skip a beat every time she thought about it only added to her misery. Javier had her in a very compromising position. Almost as compromising as the one she’d had him in a few weeks ago. There was no way Lewis was going to let her worm her way out of this project, not when the new contractor wanted her in. She was completely within Javier’s grasp, and he relished it. They had quite a while to go, indeed. However much she might have wanted to remain out of his presence, remaining employed was unfortunately going to mean having to deal with Javier. He’d get tired of the cat and mouse game sooner or later. Or so she hoped. In the meantime, there had to be some rules put in place. There as was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Kinsey shouted. It was Polly and she instantly felt remorseful. “Sheesh, Kinsey, you having a bad day or something? I just wanted to give you some feedback from the first meeting you had this morning.”
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“Terrible, I’m sure, considering we started late for an unnecessary reason.” Kinsey took the folder and lowered herself into her chair as she shifted through the sheets, staring without seeing. “See there. Not even. You soared high, as usual.” Polly stayed to chat. “So I guess the meeting with those ES Solutions guys went good, huh? Boy, the Latin one sure is gorgeous.” “Looks aren’t everything,” Kinsey grumbled. “Yes, well, he can hit this anytime.” Kinsey was shocked at the surge of possessiveness that rushed through her. “Down, girl.” Polly turned beet red. “Sorry. I so need to get a personal life. I know it’s lacking when I start drooling over the consultants.” She sighed. “He sure is easy on the eyes. I wouldn’t mind if he found a reason to stop by here as often as possible.” She looked at her watch, then made a hasty exit out the door. Almost instantly, there was a low thud and a low murmur of voices. Kinsey leaned over to see Javier Elizondo step around the door, apologizing graciously to Polly. Difficult for him to do it any other way with that gorgeous face, she thought grumpily. Polly, of course, was candy apple red and tongue-tied as she backed down the hall. Javier rapped lightly on the door. “Have a minute?” “Would you care if I didn’t?” It agitated her beyond belief that he affected her the way he did. “Come in, have a seat.” She didn’t bother to rise, but sat at her desk and did her best to look like she had more important stuff to do. Quickly, she brought up her calendar on screen and scanned through it to check her schedule. It leaped out at her, reminding her of her late afternoon meeting that she’d forgotten about and wasn’t a hundred percent prepared for. Javier shut her door and walked around her desk, glancing at her computer screen. “You’re looking at your appointments for the rest of this month and next,” he pointed out helpfully. Kinsey stopped and looked at him coldly. “Do you want something, or did you just come in here to be a pest?”
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“That’s a congenial way to welcome your new business partner,” he said casually, sinking into the chair across from her. “You’re not a partner. You’re a consultant. We’re your customer. Try to remember that. It’s the sole reason I’m being cordial to you, in case you’re under any false perceptions.” Calm and professional, she thought, fighting back the urge to growl as she saw the smug smile on his face. The man was too damn handsome for his own good. “Of course, I’d sing you all the praises your little conceited heart could take if you’d step off and let me out of this project.” “Oh no, I don’t think so, bonita.” He gave her an once-over that had her struggling to stay still in her seat when he pulled out her business card, flipping it over casually. She tried not to notice how capable his hands looked, how capable she knew they were. “You’re enjoying yourself,” she said blandly, watching him make himself even more comfortable in the chair and look out the window to take advantage of the view. “Exceedingly.” His gaze came back to hers and despite herself, she felt the rush of heat. It made her irritable. “Wonderful. All right then, you win, you’ve beat me. Is that enough for you?” “Not in the least.” Fury sparked in his eyes for a second. “My shoulders hurt for days after that crap you pulled, you know. And you may have also succeeded in ruining half of a Versace suit.” “I left you money for the dry cleaning bill.” They were only pants, after all. “According to my dry cleaner, such fine clothing should never be exposed to water and even considerable expertise may not be sufficient to reverse the damage to such high quality fabric.” Refusing to feel bad over it, she shoved aside the blip of conscience. “That’s what you get for deceiving me.” “This is what you get for jumping to conclusions,” he responded. Leisurely, he got up to look out the windows, then turned back to face her.
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“You could have come clean at anytime, she said stiffly. “It wouldn’t have been that difficult.” If she didn’t know any better, she would say a twinge of guilt flickered across his expression. It was definitely all in her imagination. “I could have, but it was so entertaining to hear you go on being confused. And while we’re at it, let’s discuss this honesty thing. I believe you said you were an author? Interesting that your card says HR Generalist. What was the Omni, a little fantasy role playing?” Kinsey bristled. “I am an author, in my spare time right now. I have a day job to pay the bills.” “Not to mention your gigolo fees.” “I told you I’ve never done that before.” His expression taunted her. “It most definitely seemed like you knew what you were doing to me.” She couldn’t deflect the images of his mouth on her breasts, his hands touching her everywhere. “I can see right now this isn’t going to work.” His expression sharpened. “That’s not an option—we have a contract. We need your expertise to make this enterprise human capital management system work.” “Okay then,” Kinsey snapped. “Fine, here’s your option. You want to work together, we’ll work together. I have a desire to stay employed for now.” She inhaled deeply to calm herself. “This is going to work one way, and one way only, and that’s if we’re both professionals about it. That means we need some ground rules.” “We?” “Yes, we. If you insist we work together, I’m setting for some rules.” “You know, I’m starting to wonder if you aren’t into BDSM after all.” His tone was mocking. “Give it a rest,” she snapped. “I’d never done anything like that in my life before that night.” “Really? You did a very good job, all things considered.” A hard edge crept into his tone. “It took me over thirty minutes to get that second knot untied.” 80
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“Are you going to cooperate on this, or do I need to give my resignation immediately and find another job?” “Feel free to fill me in anytime, Mistress Kinsey. Tell me your rules.” Kinsey frowned at him. “Rule one, the Omni Hotel never occurred.” “And the Piedmont Hotel,” he added tersely. “Even better. We just met each other for the first time a few minutes ago.” She surveyed him as he lounged comfortably in the chair. “Rule two, no more wisecracks, no more juvenile games of innuendos. We work together like professionals and we focus on what’s best for the project. Rule three, we deal with each other no more than necessary, over the phone and via e-mail whenever possible.” Javier stood up to walk over to the bookshelves that lined her wall, reading titles before picking up a framed photo of her and Zoey. “When was this taken?” “Last year at family get together. Stay focused on the task at hand. Rule four—” “Might I ask how many rules there are, or do I want to know? Should I begin taking notes?” Irritation flared within her. “Rule four. No touching. Nothing physical. It’s going to be difficult enough to get things accomplished without any funny business going on.” Javier gave her a look of humored incredulity. “Funny business? Have you suddenly become a chaste turn-of-the-century schoolmarm overnight?” She scowled. “Quit it.” “Now let me make sure I have this correct. Rule one, amnesia. Rule two, no speaking to each other. Rule three, ignore each other whenever possible.” He counted them off on his fingers as he spoke, moving toward her desk. “And rule four, no, um, what was it again?” He looked at her inquisitively. “Funny business,” she mumbled, refusing to meet his gaze.” One corner of his mouth twitched. “Exactamente.” He walked toward her chair and Kinsey lifted her chin to finally meet his gaze. “You know, anyone hearing this would think you couldn’t stand me. But then, they wouldn’t have been present at the Omni, would they?” She made a move to get to her feet, 81
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but he placed his hands quickly on the armrest, his arms bracketing her neatly as he leaned in closer to her. “Do you truly think you can do that, turn back the hands of time? Do you truly think it’s as simple as that?” His eyes taunted her. “You can make up all the rules you want. I think you’re going to be in for a rude awakening, Ms. Maxwell.” She could smell the scent of his skin, feel the heat emanating from his body. He brought his mouth to within a centimeter of hers. The image of his hands on her body was so vivid that she could feel them, could picture him up against her naked, his weight atop her. Kinsey moistened her lips as her heart pounded. “This…this is exactly the sort of stuff I’m referring to.” She struggled to get out. “We might be working together, but you know what we’re both going to be thinking about. Because no matter how much I’ve pissed you off or you’ve pissed me off, we were good together. And it’s going to take more than a few rules to make that go away.” Her body quivered, then her mouth parted until their breaths mingle. It was completely insane to allow a man to make her feel this. Not to mention totally insane to pass up the opportunity of experiencing it again. Shadowed and tremulous, his gaze held hers captive. Then suddenly, he released her and turned to leave. “That’s the fact of the matter, so deal with it,” he said, opening the door. “I’ll call you.”
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Chapter Nine “Are you okay?” Kinsey jumped, placing a hand to her chest, fighting back a startled squeak at the sound of Javier’s voice. He was the last person she expected to see right now. He was also the reason why she was so lost in such troubling thoughts, not that she would admit it. “I’m fine,” Kinsey responded rapidly. “What are you doing here?” “You sure you’re okay? You look a little shaky. I don’t like seeing my assets rattled.” “Your assets?” Her tone was sharp, but she didn’t care. This man had some nerve. “Of course. We need you for this project. Like it or not, you’re a major part of the deal.” “You want to know what you can do with your deal, Elizondo?” she said bitterly. “Hang on a second, Ms. Maxwell. Remember APR Consulting and ES Solutions have a contract.” Kinsey forced herself to take a calming breath. “Now you seem to remember. What do you want?” He picked up one of the extra handouts on the table and looked at it. “I got tired of playing phone tag.” He looked up at her. “Polly sent me your schedule. I had a meeting out this way, so I thought I’d stop by.” “Splendid. You found me. What do you want?” “A couple of things. I want to talk to you about the setup for the welcome portal of the website.” She stifled a sigh. “I don’t have much time, but if you want to discuss this over lunch, we can.” Javier nodded. “Sounds good. I haven’t had lunch yet.” The office building cafeteria had a surprising selection of food. It was sad that she didn’t come down more often. She ordered a sandwich and salad combo while Javier chose a sandwich and sweet potato fries. It didn’t take them long to collect their food and find a table. Kinsey sat down quickly. 83
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“We don’t have a lot of time so we should get started,” she said coolly, pulling out her notepad. “What do you need?” “We want to set up a five-stage rollout plan. Stage one will be the public end user portal, stage two will be the internal employee user portal, stage three will be the talent management portal, stage four will be the payroll services portal, and stage five will be the supply chain and procurement portal.” “I can break down the essentials needed according to that release schedule,” Kinsey replied, making notes. Putting her pen down, she checked her watch. “Is there a problem?” Javier asked. “No. I just need to keep an eye on the time. Unfortunately, the last meeting ran over and I don’t have time for a full hour lunch today.” She looked down at her notes, then back at him again. “But let’s get back to business. What do you need from me? This could have been relayed over the phone or through e-mail.” Javier shrugged. “As I stated, I was in the area, and we need to cover this ground. We need to know the key elements of each portal.” He rubbed his chin. “We have this little electronic question mark that pops up with helpful hints on each portal.” “Oh, isn’t that so helpful,” Kinsey gushed mockingly. He scowled. “Quit it with the sarcasm. The assistant is effective.” “And probably as annoying as the rest of the unsolicited pop-up assistants.” She reached out to take a sip of her water. “Cute is irritating. Unsolicited help is irritating. Treat people like rational, intelligent adults and put the information in a spot where they can access it if they need to or ignore it if they don’t.” “Tell me how you really feel. Don’t think about my feelings, Kinsey.” “Isn’t that what you’re paying for?” she continued. “I don’t know,” he said slowly. “What else do you have to offer?” She frowned. “Cut it out. You’re supposed to be professional about this.”
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“But you’re so adorable when you’re fiery,” he responded, his expression unapologetic. She shook her head. “I don’t know why you’re even here. You haven’t said anything of importance, so I’m starting to think this is a setup.” Kinsey opened her napkin and placed it in her lap. “So why enterprise human capital management systems? I’d have pegged you for the high-powered corporate account manager shark type.” She pulled her salad in front of her. Javier shot her an agitated look as he picked up a sweet potato fry. “That sounds a lot like a jab.” “Just a simple observation.” “Well, I did my time as a corporate account manager. I was head of the acquisitions department for Mir Mitchell a few years ago.” “Didn’t give you a sense of fulfillment, huh?” Her tone was sarcastic. He arched a dark brow in her direction. “Now you’re definitely insulting me.” “Such a sensitive man.” She took a sip of her water. “Seriously, what made you leave?” Javier looked at her suspiciously. “I’m not certain I want to bare the fragile bits of my soul to such a pessimistic audience.” “Really? You seem like the sort who’d love to talk about himself.” She lowered her head to take a quick forkful of salad, trying not to enjoy his offended expression. “Now I’m definitely not going to tell you. You’re ruthless.” “Me? I’m a delicate flower.” She dabbed her lips with the napkin. “I promise. Come on, tell me.” He studied her for a moment. “Well, I’d been doing the acquisitions job for about six years. In the beginning, it was exciting. I liked the planning part of it. Looking for the best move, going in for kill.” “The going in for the kill part I can see. I bet you were great at it.” “Another jab, but I’ll ignore it,” he stated calmly. “Honestly, I was very good. I ended up as the youngest head of the acquisitions in the history of the company.”
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Head of acquisitions? This was the job that his in-laws hadn’t approved of, Kinsey remembered in shock, surveying the refined man across from her. Resting lazily on their family money, they’d had the audacity to look down on him when they should have been thrilled by his achievements. It hadn’t seemed to annoy him when he’d told her, but suddenly, surprisingly, it annoyed her. She took a drink of water. “So what changed to make you leave?” she asked, ignoring the overwhelming surged of protectiveness that coursed through her. Javier shrugged. “Somewhere along the way, the excitement went away. It all started to become mundane. I felt like I was just biding time.” He shook his head. “I was making money, but wasn’t involved anymore. It was like I was on the outside looking in.” Kinsey nodded. “That’s when you know you need to move on, when you get to the point where you just go through the motions. So what happened after that?” Javier raised his gaze to meet hers. “Warrick and I were friends in college. We met up for dinner one night. He was working for a local computer software designer company and wasn’t any more satisfied with his situation than I was.” He pushed his hair back off his forehead. “We both needed a change. This was about the time that there was a slight boost in the enterprise human capital management system side of things.” “So you decided to create one of your own?” She rested her chin on her hand, her lunch forgotten. Somehow, she’d been taken in by his story, interested in finding out who he really was. “I was having issues with a few of my managers. They desperately needed a work-ethic adjustment, but it quickly became clear that it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.” He paused and suddenly, his expression became intense. A second later, his expression cleared and he continued. “Anyway, Warrick and I started comparing notes at dinner that night. I don’t know who came up with idea first, but we decided to go for it.” “Are you happy that you did?”
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He nodded. “I can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s like one of those times when you don’t know that you’re missing something until you have it, and then you wonder how you ever did without it.” His eyes darkened, captivating her, drawing her in against her will. Someone cleared their throat. “Um, excuse me, Kinsey?” The unexpected interruption of the woman’s voice made her jump. “What?” Kinsey’s head whipped around. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll just leave.” Ola stood by the table, holding onto a folder nervously. She started to walk away. “No, please, come back.” “I didn’t want to interrupt.” “It’s no bother, really.” Kinsey composed herself. “What do you need?” “There are a few last minute things that I need to run by you for the national conference,” Ola began hesitantly. “I was wondering if you have some time later on in this afternoon for us to discuss it?” Any other time Kinsey would have relished an opportunity to get away from Javier, but right now she didn’t want to go anywhere. Kinsey managed a smile. “Of course. Give me a few minutes and I’ll meet you in my office.” After Ola walked away, Kinsey turned her attention back to Javier. “Okay, Mr. Elizondo. Your time is up, although I still can’t figure out why this couldn’t have been communicated through e-mail.” She closed her notepad and slid out to stand by the booth. “Next time, let’s stick to the rules and do our business via phone or e-mail.” Before she could move away, his hand reached out to grab her wrist. Molten lava burned its way up her arm. “You know, when you take on that schoolmarm tone, I get this very strong desire to show you how fast I could get you to forget all about those rules,” he said. His tone was tight, but his heated gaze made her squirm. Her heart began to race. “Don’t threaten me,” she snapped. “You know what I’m saying makes perfect sense.”
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“It’s not a threat. Just the way things are.” He held her wrist a few seconds longer. “You know, I can feel your pulse beating extremely fast. I wonder why that is?” She was trapped in the sensuality of his gaze, unable to come up with a rational response. Suddenly, he released her. Without saying a word, she strode away on legs that weren’t steady in the least and despite all of the water she consumed, her mouth had done dry…with longing. No, irritation, she thought moments later in her office, not longing. Somehow, she managed to pay attention to Ola’s concerns and address them. With the way things were currently going, she needed this national meeting to go off without a hitch. Now if she could only get Javier to understand that. When he walked into her last meeting of the day unexpectedly, she wanted to scream. Instead, she ignored him and went through the meeting quickly and efficiently. Finally, the meeting drew to a close. Kinsey stood at the front of the room, packing up notes and extra handouts. She gave him a wary glance as he walked up to her. “Do I even want to know why you’re here?” “I wanted to see you in action. I like what I saw. You are very good at what you do. This gives me an idea of something I want to do, especially for the end user portal.” Kinsey shrugged, the corner of her mouth twitching at her attempt to fight a smile. “It was just a meeting. I have to give several like this all the time.” “No. Maybe you don’t realize it, but it’s the way you conduct the meeting that makes them captivating. I need to speak with Warrick about a few options, and then I want to meet you with you again. What’s your schedule like tomorrow?” “No can do,” she said with borderline glee. “I’ll be offsite putting the final touches on our national managers meeting. I’ll be unavailable until next Monday.” She battled all afternoon not to allow his presence to affect her, with not much luck. No matter how hard she’d tried to ignore him, when she looked up his premium scotch-colored eyes were focused on her, reminding her of that moment at lunch when they’d connected and she hadn’t been 88
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aware of anyone else in the room. The idea that he could mesmerize her that much was scary. She felt a little jolt of apprehension—and excitement—at the thought of seeing him again. “What’s the meeting?” Javier asked, his eyes on her. She made a big show of stacking her paperwork into her briefcase. “It’s the annual meeting for management. Review of the current profit margins, goals, needs for adjustments, team building, and anything else that comes up.” A thoughtful look appeared on his face. “Sounds like something I should attend. I need to do a little more research on the content stuff.” She slid her leftover handouts into a folder, checking to be sure they weren’t mixed in with other paperwork. I can’t believe you don’t have someone at the company who takes care of content.” “We used to, but he left four months ago and we haven’t been able to replace him. I’m stepping in until we can find the right person. How far away is this conference?” A severe fluttering began in her stomach. “Houston. With APR being headquartered here in Fort Worth, we always hold the meeting locally. But we opened a new office in Houston eight months ago. So it will be there this year. I’ll be driving down tomorrow.” “Good,” he said quickly. “I’ll be there.” “No,” she responded with a huge wave of fear. “I mean, that’s not necessary. This is a three-day meeting. I’m sure you have other business dealings that you don’t need to be kept from.” “Nothing I can’t reschedule, clear, or delegate to someone else. I’ll stick close to you.” His smile was taunting. His eyes challenged her. “Unless the idea of me being around makes you nervous.” “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said briskly, irritated that he could tell what she was thinking. “Perfecto,” Javier replied. “I’ll have my assistant take care of hotel arrangements. When do you plan to leave?” Her eyes widened in surprise. “Why?” “So that I can see if I can make arrangements for us to arrive together.” 89
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She bit back a growl at his gumption. “I’ll be leaving no later than noon. I want to beat rush hour traffic,” she muttered, realizing how neatly trapped she was. “Great,” he said, clearly enjoying himself. “Write down the address to the hotel for me. I’ll meet you there tomorrow around four o’clock.” Kinsey snatched out her notepad. It was insane to feel ill at ease about the idea. There was the issue of his little threat at lunch, but she’d checked him on that. They were professionals. They could be in each other’s presence without allowing things to get out of hand. And spending a few days in his presence wouldn’t be an issue either. It was just business, that was all. “As a matter of fact, Kinsey, why don’t you write down your address as well? I’ll swing by and pick you up. No sense in taking two cars. We can save gas and money.” Heaven help her. **** “Warrick, I have an idea.” Javier strolled into the ES Solutions office, not at all shocked to see Warrick still at his desk at 7:00 p.m. “I’ve got the perfect solution.” “What solution?” “Kinsey Maxwell, the one who spoke at the meeting. She’s got it, man. She has them captivated when she speaks to her staff.” Warrick stopped working and turned to Javier. “Is this the dark-haired woman in the suit?” “Yes. You should see her in a staff meeting.” The confusion in Warrick’s gaze turned into wariness. “When did you see her in a staff meeting? I thought you had a meeting with one of the technical guys today.” “I’ve been trying to get in touch with her for over a week and APR was near the meeting spot.” Warrick gave him an inquisitive stare. “So you just happened to stop by.” “Yes, I did. You have an issue with that?” 90
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“The same exact one I had after the meeting.” With a few clicks on the keyboard, Warrick saved the file he was working on. “It’s beginning to look like you are mixing business with pleasure, friend, and with five million dollars on the line, we can’t afford that sort of problem.” “Warrick, this is all business.” Liar, a mocking voice in his head said. Javier ignored it. “Stop being so paranoid and hear me out. I mean, her staff gets completely enthralled. I’ve been to some boring staff meetings and I know you have as well, but she’s different. She makes a meeting you could care less about intriguing and more importantly, fun. Her presentation skills are key to the entire thing.” “We can add some sort of spot in for her on the assistant.” Warrick hit a key and an animated silver star popped up onto the screen. “Here’s the newest one we’ve created.” Javier laughed. “You have got to be kidding me.” “Yep, I didn’t think it worked either.” “Too obnoxious.” “Way too obnoxious,” Warrick agreed. “That’s what we get for having Mike design it. You have to wonder about a man who honeymooned at Hersey Park.” “I’m not sure that had anything to do with it,” Javier retorted blandly, looking at the jazzed up silver star. “But it doesn’t matter. Forget about the help assistant. You don’t need that. What you need is her. Think about it. Have a frequently asked questions section where instead of having to read through a boring how-to, her image comes up and she walks you through it. We could also make the end user portal with a video click-through feature. She can introduce the company, the website, and any other important features to the website.” He remembered the shine of her hair, the sparkle in her brown eyes. She made everything else cease to exist. “Video click-through,” Warrick said thoughtfully. “It could work.” His eyes began to light up the way they always did in the face of a technical challenge. They’d met when Javier was at SMU and Warrick was a skinny computer nerd who had broken into the university to play a joke. Leaving the
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school late, Javier had seen the suspicious shadow sneaking along. Busting Warrick had been easy. Ever the negotiator, Javier gave the petrified freshman a choice—free business calculus tutoring for the rest of the year or be turned in to the school authorities. The friendship that had grown between the two had lasted long after the final exam. Going to Warrick’s home for the holidays had give Javier the first sense of family he’d ever had. “So, is it feasible?” Javier studied Warrick’s face. Warrick stared into space for a few minutes, then began nodding, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Oh yeah, Javier, we can do it.” “Good. See you tomorrow.” Javier turned to walk out of the office. “Hey, Javier?” Warrick called, turning once more to look at him. “I’m not trying to give you a hard time about Kinsey. I know you’re always looking out for the best interest of the company. But there’s something going on between the two you, man. I know you too well.” “There’s nothing going on that I can’t deal with,” Javier replied. “I know what the main goal is.” Warrick looked at him for a moment. “I just don’t want to see you do anything that either of us will regret, you feel me?” Javier’s gaze didn’t waver. “Believe me, I won’t.” He stepped out into the hallway and headed for his office, stopping in the break room for a cup of coffee along the way. Spontaneously, his mind filled with an image of Kinsey. Maybe he knew what the main goal was, but his personal agenda had somehow undergone a change. Several weeks ago, he’d enthusiastically come up with a few ways to get Kinsey Maxwell trembling and at his mercy, seducing her in a public restaurant, handcuffing her to a table, caressing her until she was begging him to let her come, then leaving her. Now, somehow, the yearning to watch her tremble had been replaced by the urge to have her hot and willing against him. Which Ms. Maxwell was likely to find as horrifying as any of his other ideas, Javier thought, the corner of his mouth curving up into a sly grin. Even if keeping his hands to himself was the best thing to do, it might be amusing to get into her personal space a little, just to see what happened. 92
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Chapter Ten Rays of radiant sunlight streamed in through the oversize windows of her apartment as Kinsey packed for the annual meeting. Sheer curtains fluttered in a soft, cool breeze that blew through the windows she’d opened to enjoy the nice weather. A feeling of anxiousness traveled through her. Only part of it had to do with Javier. The other part was the need to make sure everything went smoothly for the meeting. On the bed lay a charcoal-colored suit, and on top of it the black twopiece outfit that she’d purchase on the way home Monday evening. Only because it was on sale, she thought, running her hand over the soft material. The fact that it was sexy with its pencil skirt and snug-fitting jacket was incidental. And if she took her garter belt and stockings instead of practical panty hose, it was just her private pleasure. It definitely had nothing to do with Javier. She placed the last two suits in the garment bag and zipped it with flourish. There was no need to feel anxious about going to the annual meeting with him, she told herself, searching in the back of her closet for the shoulder strap to her garment bag. Being in the car with him didn’t mean she was required to make conversation with him, and once they arrived at the hotel, she hoped she could find another manager to dump him off on. Work was work and she wasn’t going allow a little nuisance like Javier Elizondo get in the way of it. Then a firm knock at the front door sounded out through her apartment, sending her heartbeat racing. She walked out of the closet, pushed back her disheveled hair, and rushed to the door. Butterflies in her stomach was not the way to gain the upper hand, Kinsey thought as she looked at Javier. If only he’d been overweight and missing teeth instead of gorgeous and lean, her life would have been a lot easier. A lock of brown hair fell over his forehead, tossed there by a light breeze. The rolled up sleeves of his green oxford shirt reveal tanned, muscular arms. His jeans looked very comfortable on his body. His eyes were breathtaking against his dark eyelashes. 93
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He gave her humored look. “Are you going to let me in, or should I plan to wait here until you’re finished?” “What?” She’d been staring, she realized with embarrassment. “Oh, come on in.” She turned and led the way in to her apartment. There was something frightening and intimate about having him in her personal space. He was seeing more than most people; in seeing where she resided, she had a feeling he’d learn more about her than she was ready for him to. She pointed toward the couch. “Feel free to have a seat. I won’t be long.” Kinsey rushed to her bedroom and shut the door. She walked over to the full-length mirror in the corner, standing eye to eye with her reflection. If she was completely truthful with herself, yes, she was attracted to him. She might find him annoying, but something about him pulled at her. That much was chemistry. She could let down her guard and give into it, and him, or she could try to hold on to some degree of control over the situation. Which was exactly what she planned to do. Moments later, she entered her living room to find Javier standing by her bookshelf, thumbing through the printed draft of the novel she’d sent to Angie. He looked up as she set down her garment bag. “This yours?” he asked, holding up the clipped papers. She made her way over to him quickly. “Time to hit the road,” she said briskly, reaching for the manuscript in his hands. Javier held it out of her reach. “Some pretty racy dialogue here. He has her down to her lacy underwear and he’s telling her he wants to lick her—” Dying from mortification, Kinsey attempted to reach for the manuscript again, this time succeeding in taking it from him. “I know where he wants to lick her. I wrote the freaking thing.” “Very spicy stuff. Doesn’t look like you needed the assistance of a male escort after all.” She slammed the draft back onto the shelf with a thud. “Are you through? Because it’s getting late. I don’t want to be stuck in traffic.” Javier gave her a curious look. “Do they know about your side job at APR?” 94
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“No.” She rolled her eyes at him as she reached for her purse. “Why should they? We don’t have any company rules against part-time jobs as long as there isn’t a conflict of interest.” He gave her an once-over and his eyes darkened. She had no idea why. She had on a pair of Khaki pants, a white blouse, and a navy blue blazer. Her hair wash twisted up on the top of her head. There was absolutely nothing sexy about her current outfit, but his gaze said otherwise. Suddenly, his expression cleared. “Well, I have the directions, so we’re good to go.” He picked up her bag and made his way over to her door. “After you.” She walked out of her apartment in front of him. The least he could do was carry her bag for her, especially when he agitated her as much as he did. Nope, she wasn’t going to say a word about his macho-man behavior. “My car’s over here,” he said as they started down the granite steps to the street. A cherry red Aston Martin roadster sat in the parking spot he indicated. “Well, I see you don’t believe in denying yourself any of the finer things in life,” Kinsey murmured, running her hand over the beautiful curving fender. “I’m driving you to the hotel and all you can do is insult me?” Javier slid her garment bag into the trunk. “It wasn’t my idea for you to come pick me up,” she returned as he opened the door so she could slide into the low slung car. The buttery smooth leather seat curved around her like a glove and she stretched her legs out with a little sigh. It was more like lying down than sitting, she thought as she leaned her head back. Ahead of her, the red nose of the car swooped forward. Above her, tree branches arched overhead, covered with new green foliage. She stretched her arms in front of her lazily. Then Javier got in and the car instantly became terrifyingly small. Suddenly, she tensed. The breath froze in her lungs. She’d expected to spend a few minutes sitting in the car with him. She hadn’t counted on practically sitting in his lap.
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He turned to her and they were almost lip to lip. “Is something wrong?” he asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” She felt the low vibration of the engine as she started the car. “I’m just thinking of all the stories I’ve heard about Aston Martins breaking down,” she fibbed. His hand brushed hers as he reached for the gear shift and she flinched at the heat. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. “You mean does she leave me satisfied all the time?” “Funny.” She scowled at him. “Relax, Kinsey. We’ll be there before you know it.” He maneuvered the car out onto the street. She stuck her tongue out at him when he wasn’t looking, then rested her head against the back of the seat to look up into a sky so blue she felt the need to shield her eyes. “You have a beautiful car,” Kinsey stated, forgetting that she’d sworn not to speak to him the rest of the drive. “Thank you. I used to save her for warm summer days only until I sold my other vehicle.” “The high life gets expensive.” He shot her an agitated look. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “We needed funding for ES Solutions, and it was too soon to go to the financial backers. I probably should have sold it instead of the Audi.” They pulled to a stoplight, and Kinsey noticed the guy in the car next to them staring at the Aston Martin with naked lust. “But I just couldn’t make myself do it.” “Memories?” “Yes and no. This was the only thing I bought for myself when everything else was being taken from me during my messy divorce.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “Go ahead and tell me how selfish I am.” “Not at all. I’ve never been through a messy divorce, but I can understand why you would want to hold on to the one good thing you had in
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what I’m sure was a very terrible time.” She ran her hand over the satiny smooth interior of the car. “It’s a magnificent car,” she said. “She’s a magnificent car.” Javier corrected. The light turned green and they rolled forward. “Why is it that men always call anything with a motor ‘she’?” “I don’t know. I guess anything that demands so much of your time and money has to be female.” “If I didn’t have to be at the hotel soon, I’d officially take offense to your sexiest remark and demand you pull over,” Kinsey said lazily. “But then I’d miss riding with the top down and it’s way too beautiful of a day to pass on that.” “Well, then I guess it’s lucky for you that I’m not going to give you an opportunity to,” Javier said, and accelerated onto the open freeway in a burst of sped that snapped her head back. It was easy to get so caught up in the city life that a person forgot what it was like to get away from metal and brick, Kinsey thought, watching the suburbs of Euless fall away behind them. The smooth stream of air flowed over the windshield and across her, teasing strands of her hair loose. A tension she wasn’t aware of carrying melted away, and a softness seeped into her bones. For once, the strain between them seemed to be gone. Nothing that they said here could matter too much on such a wonderful day. “Are you from Fort Worth?” Javier asked. “No. I grew up in Dallas, actually. My parents still live there.” He relaxed back into his seat, resting an arm on the door. “What made you move out this way?” “College.” “Where’d you go?” “TCU for my undergraduate and graduate degrees. Psychology and HR Management,” she said in reply to his questioning glance. “I was going to become a hot-shot HR Director at a Fortune 100 company, but I found out quickly that there are way more applications than openings.” “Hence APR Consulting?” She shrugged. “It pays the bills.” 97
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“You would have been some HR Director. I could see it yesterday, watching you conduct your meeting.” She rolled her eyes, but she ignored the little rush of pleasure. “What I was doing yesterday isn’t what a HR Director would be doing.” “No. Don’t sell yourself short. You shine every time you step to front of the room whether you are doing exactly what an HR Director would do or not. You have the right qualities. That’s what counts.” Kinsey contemplated what he said. “I never thought about it like that. I mostly do it because it’s my job. I try to excel at it. That’s just the way I am. But it’s never felt like anything more than going through the motions.” “You really ought to give yourself more credit.” He moved over into the left lane to zip around a SUV. “So does that mean your heart lies with your writing?” “Don’t even get started on that. We’re actually having a decent conversation. Be a gentleman and keep it going.” “No, seriously, you’re a hell of a writer,” he continued. “I read a couple of pages of your manuscript while you were getting ready. It’s good.” “My dad keeps telling me I should write a murder mystery and make a million,” she said drily. “In the perfect world, I’d be writing full-time, but for now, it’s just a side job.” At least until she heard differently from Rhonda. Totally aware that the news she was quitting to write full-time would hardly be good news, she set about to change the subject. “So, what about you? Where are you from?” He exhaled softly. “I grew up in Austin.” “Really?” “Yeah.” “So is your family still there?” she asked, turning to look at him. “My father is in Austin. My mother’s in San Antonio. They divorced when I was a kid.” She thought of her parents, two halves of a whole so solid that she couldn’t for a moment imagine them any way but together. What would it have been like to grow up without that certainty, without that complete solid foundation to her life? Awful and lonely. “I’m sorry. That had to be rough.” 98
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Javier adjusted his shades. “It was a long time ago.” “Don’t you miss being out where you can see them regularly?” He snorted. “We stay in touch as much as we need. I mean, how often do you see your parents?” “Me?” She thought for a second. “I see my parents at least once every other week. It’s not like I’m dependent on them or anything. I just get along with them.” Thinking of her father and mother, she grinned. “It’s fun to drop by for dinner or just to say hello.” Her voice trailed off self-consciously. “It probably sounds ridiculous to you.” **** He shook his head. “No, it sounds great.” It sounded like what a family was supposed to do, what a real family was supposed to do. He felt a flare of yearning that hit him sometimes around Warrick’s relatives. A longing to belong. When he’d first met Nikki, he’d mistaken her pride in her family roots for love of family. Then he got to know her and realized that it was just a sense of undeserved prestige. He’d only realized his error when it was too late, then beat himself up for thinking he could get that family feel off the shelf like a can of vegetables. Either you were born into it or not. He’d grown up with dysfunctional parents who taught him everything he knew of family; he couldn’t just throw that aside and suddenly develop skill he’d never had. He cut off that line of thought and focused back on the conversation. “So, is it just you and your parents?” He bit back a wince at the wistful note he heard in his voice. “My parents wanted a houseful of children. I have five siblings, two older brothers, two younger sisters, and one younger brother. My brother Macel is a math professor at University of North Texas. Cedrick is computer programmer. Francine and Rashad are both high school teachers. Francine teaches science. Rashad teaches geography and social studies. Halley just started her residency for internal medicine.” She paused and he saw her grin out the corner of his eye. “We might have fought like cats and dogs growing 99
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up, but all of them are an important part of my life. What about you? Do you have any brothers or sisters? Did your parents remarry?” How did he respond to question like that? How could he explain his father’s numerous marriages without sounding like the poster child for pity? And the waste his mother had made of her life? Scratch that, he was the poster child for the dysfunctional family. The silence stretched out a second too long. “You don’t have to answer that,” Kinsey said apologetically. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I ask too many questions. I didn’t mean to pry.” She turned her head to look at the greenery rushing by. Javier struggled to find the right words. “It’s not prying. My family’s difficult to explain. And no, there’s nobody else but me.” He’d wondered sometimes if it might have felt different growing up if he’d had a brother or sister by his side when his parents were yelling at each other and throwing things, or when he and his mother had moved to San Antonio, a place entirely alien with no one he knew, leaving his grandparents he loved so dearly behind. “Was it a big change for you to move from there to Dallas?” she asked with what sounded like forced cheerfulness. Javier nodded, but what he really wanted to do was pull her close and let her know that she hadn’t done anything wrong. But he couldn’t. Not right now. “What brought you to Dallas?” “I came out to go to school.” “That’s quite a distance to go at eighteen.” “Actually, I came out for boarding school when I was twelve.” “You moved away from your parents at twelve? How could they allow you to do that?” she belted out, pure shock on her face. “Surely there had to be closer schools to home.” Javier smiled humorlessly. “Are you kidding? They couldn’t pack my bags fast enough.” He wanted to take the words back as soon as they were out. They contained too much of the truth. He shrugged and tried to play down the harshness of the situation. “They had their own lives, and I just wanted 100
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to get away.” He glanced in the side view mirror and turned on his blinker to pass another vehicle. “Boarding school was okay,” he continued, shifting back over into the travel lane. He shrugged. “It helped me to get into SMU, and then I met Warrick and here we are today.” Not wanting to continue on any further, he reached over and turned up the volume on the radio. **** Downtown Fort Worth was its usual crowded, busy, exciting self. Kinsey stepped out of the car in front of the Hilton, stretched her legs and watched the bellhops nearly fall over themselves to take their luggage. Amazing the treatment money brought, Kinsey thought as Javier handed his keys to the valet. He caught her staring. “What is it?” he asked as they walked through the front doors and toward the registration desk. She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just thinking about how they would have acted if I’d pulled up in my Chrysler Sebring.” “Jealousy is so unattractive. Look at it this way. I’m just trying to make sure that you’re treated right while you’re on the ES Solutions account. It’s my job to keep you happy.” They stopped in the registration line and he looked her up and down. “Very intriguing that we seem to keep meet up in hotels, don’t you think?” Kinsey scowled at him. “Don’t start with me, or you’ll undo all of the pleasant feelings I built up for you during the drive.” “Okay,” Javier said, “next topic. What’s on the agenda for this event?” “There’s a welcome mixer at seven o’clock tonight. Tomorrow, the meeting sessions begin at eight and run through four.” “Okay.” A blonde desk clerk signaled to him. He started to walk over then suddenly stopped and turned. “Want to have dinner?” Caught off guard, she blinked. “Dinner?” “You know, the meal you sit down at the table in the evening to eat?”
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“Ma’am?” A different desk clerk beckoned Kinsey. Javier held up a hand to both desk clerks and glanced back at her. The people in line behind her shifted restlessly. Kinsey gave in. “Uh, sure, I guess.” He winked at her. “Good. We can catch up with each other at the mixer and go from there.” Trying to ignore the little flare of excitement that his wink had sent through her, Kinsey walked up to the desk clerk. Just then, the previous guest returned to complain about the room rate. So it was the reason why she was back in line when Javier walked by with his room key. “What happened?” Kinsey pointed to the guest, who was now arguing passionately with the clerk. “Oh?” Javier paused to watch for a moment. “Do you want me to wait with you?” “No, go on up. We can meet at the mixer like you said.” “Sounds good.” He gave a wave to catch the attention of the bellhop and looked back at her. “See you later.” Kinsey couldn’t help watching him walk away. The man had a nice butt. She jumped when the person behind her gave her nudge to make her notice the desk clerk calling her again. She walked up to the counter and set her purse down. “Kinsey Maxwell, checking in.” “I apologize for the delay, miss. Let’s just bring up your reservation,” said the clerk, a young man with a mesmerizing smile whose name badge said he hailed from London, England. “Maxwell, Maxwell, Maxwell…hmm.” He clicked keys rapidly, then frowned and typed some more. She felt a pang of panic and reached into her briefcase that held her confirmation. “Is there something wrong with the reservation? I checked it yesterday.” “Well, it appears to have been changed since then. Looks like you’ve been upgraded to penthouse level, in room…oh, that’s it.” He looked at her and grinned. “You don’t need to check in. Apparently, you’re already registered in the suite of one of our guests.” 102
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“That’s incorrect,” she said politely. “You must have me confused with another guest. Check again, please.” “I already have, miss. We have you listed in the suite of a Javier Elizondo.” For several minutes, time seemed to stand still, then anger rushed through her. “I didn’t approve a change to my room.” Her voice was low, but fury roared through her. “I see that here Mr. Elizondo is a Hilton Rewards member. It seems that one of our reservation agents made the change as a courtesy.” He clicked a few more keys. “Normally, we would be able to put you back in a single room, but unfortunately, we’re completely booked because of the conference. We’ll be happy to get you a reservation at another hotel in the area.” He stopped a moment and frowned. “Only thing is, I happen to know there aren’t any openings close by. The rodeo is in town along with a few musical performers for concerts. It’s a bad week. We can still look, though, but it will be a few minutes. Would you like for me to do that?” Kinsey forced her mouth to move. “Not just yet. What is the number of the suite I’m supposed to be in?” “May I see your identification, miss?” Kinsey fought to keep her attitude in check as she pulled out her driver’s license and slapped it down on the counter. “Thank you. You’re in room fifty-one-fifty-one. I can’t give you a key, though,” he said apologetically. “You’ll have to get it from Mr. Elizondo.” She was at the end of her rope. “Do I need a passkey to get up to the penthouse level?” she asked slowly. After all, it wasn’t the clerk’s fault. Oh no, she knew exactly whose fault it was. “Normally you could use your room key, but we have passkeys for visitors.” He handed her the plastic card. “The elevators are just ahead to your right. If you change your mind about wanting to switch to another hotel, miss, just give us a call or come back down and we’ll take care of it. I’d suggest you do it quickly, though. There are several conventions in town and the better hotel rooms are pretty much nonexistent.” 103
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Kinsey thanked him and left. It felt good to blow off a little steam walking across the huge lobby to the elevators. It helped keep her from breaking valuable property or yelling. The audacity of the man, she fumed. If he thought she was going to sleep with him just because they were in a hotel together, he was completely out of his mind. She slid her passkey into the slot on the elevator control panel and pressed the button for the fifteenth floor. The car shot upward and Kinsey stared at her angry expression reflected in the gold-toned mirrors that covered the elevator doors. Then the car stopped at the penthouse level and she walked out onto the plush carpet. The concierge sitting behind the desk looked at her inquisitively. May I help you, miss?” “I’m looking for room fifty-one-fifty-one.” “And the name of the guest, miss?” Kinsey wanted to spit. Instead, she kept her cool. “Javier Elizondo.” “Ah. Down the hall to the left.” Kinsey headed swiftly down the hall to 5151 and rapped on the door so hard her knuckles hurt. Javier opened it a second later as she was nursing her injured hand. “Hi. I wondered if you—” Kinsey shoved past him into the room without waiting for an invitation. “Where in the hell do you get off messing up my reservation and—” She broke off. The room was a freaking palace built into a glassed-in corner of the hotel. Windows faced two walls of the living room, offering a stunning view of downtown Houston. Conversational grouping of off white sofa and burgundy chairs sat on an art deco patterned rug over dark carpeting. Silk wallpaper gleamed richly. Ahead, sliding doors opened onto a balcony surrounded by waist-high plants spilling over with vibrant lilies. To one side, an open door led into what she assumed was Javier’s room. And her garment bag sat just inside the door. Her anger surged, renewed. “You are out of your damned mind if you think I’m going to have sex with you just because you thought it would be cute to put us in the same room. Did you really think I’m so stupid that I’d 104
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just roll over for you? Was that the real reason you decided to come along on this trip? A trip that I had set up well in advance without you, thank you very much.” She paced as she talked, creating a little path in the plush rug. “I can’t believe you. Thanks to you, my reservation is gone and they can’t find another room anywhere around here because of all of the events going on around town. And I was foolish enough to actually like you for an hour or so this afternoon.” Her voice rose. “Are you finished?” Javier’s voice was deceptively calm, but his eyes shimmered with fury. Kinsey opened her mouth, then shut it. “Please, by all means, talk. I’m dying to hear your reason for this one.” His smile was strained. “Excelente. First of all, I asked my assistant to have them move you to the penthouse level as a courtesy gesture. I do a lot of traveling, so I get certain perks. I didn’t expect anything then, and I still don’t.” She sniffed skeptically. “I got a suite for myself because I have a meeting some potential additional financial backers and I needed a professional space. I never intended them to move you into my suite.” “Yeah, right.” Sarcasm dripped from her words. “It was an accident.” “An accident?” She stomped over into his bedroom where her garment bag sat. “Oh, like it’s an accident that that’s sitting here?” Agitation flashed across his expression. “Do you really think for one instant I’d believe that I could seduce you with a ridiculous story like this? Give me some credit.” He walked toward her. Step by step, she retreated until her back was against a connecting door. He gave her a feral smile, resting his forearms against the doors on either side of her head. “When and if I decide to try to seduce you, trust me, I’ll be much more direct than that.” Her heart beat so loudly she could hear it pounding. Her breath jerked erratically. “Don’t try to scare me.” 105
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“Don’t insult me.” God, she wanted him to lean in so she could feel his body against hers. Instead, he spun around, grabbed her garment bag, and walked into her room. “There. I’m sure you can unpack yourself. Here’s your passkey for the room.” He slammed the cards down on the dresser. “And in case you’re worried about your virtue, which I assure you, is perfectly safe, you’ll notice you have locks on both of your doors.” “Great,” she snapped, and shoved the connecting door closed on her side. It was juvenile, but gratifying. When the companion door on Javier’s side slammed into the latch, she jumped. Shortly after, she heard the front door shut, but she refused to examine why she felt a sense of loss. **** It was only when she was in one of her meetings that she remembered how extremely boring they were, especially when she wasn’t leading them. It gave her plenty of time to reflect upon how much she disliked her job. It didn’t help that she spent most of the morning looking for Javier. He was either a very early riser or a late sleeper, because she hasn’t seen or heard a trace of him that morning. Now, she didn’t see him anywhere. The issue was, she was beginning to feel more and more stupid and irrational for exploding on him. The hotel had made an error. The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed he was correct, she thought with a little quiver of desire. If he wanted to seduce her, it definitely wouldn’t be with the hotel equivalent of running out of gas on a deserted road. She had a sinking feeling that she’d made a major fool out of herself. Finally, at the afternoon coffee break, she saw him. Walking up to him took all of her courage, but she’d always believed that unpleasant things were best done expeditiously. Having to admit she’d been wrong definitely fell into the category of unpleasant, she thought as she crossed over to where he sat at a table near a wall. His gaze met hers as she approached, though his expression was neutral. 106
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“I was beginning to wonder if I was going to see you around here today,” she said cheerfully, feeling extremely uncomfortable. “How did your meeting go?” “Good,” he said briefly, suspicion lining his voice. “Enjoying yourself?” She shrugged. “Not really. Some useful sessions. Nothing that’s blown my skirt up.” She had the satisfaction of watching his gaze flicker over to her skirt. Today she’d worn the black suit. The pencil fit snugly in all the right places. It had taken several minutes for her to work up the nerve to leave the suite this morning. Usually, she worse suits that hid her figure. Today that was not the case. But now that she had his attention, she could do what she needed to. Maybe if she said it quickly, it wouldn’t be so bad. “The real reason I came over here was because I owe you an apology.” “What did you say?” She looked at him blankly. “I didn’t understand a word you just said. Could you say that again?” She scowled at him. “I wanted to apologize.” “Really now?” He looked at her a moment, then he put his coffee cup on the table. Javier crossed his arms over his chest and shifted a few times to get into a comfortable position. “You may continue.” “You’re not making this very easy.” “I’m not? Sorry. It’s just a novel experience. I want to savor it.” “Look, do you want to hear this apology or not?” she muttered. Javier smiled. “Now that’s an expression I recognize. The meek and mild stuff was frightening me.” “It might shock you to know that I hardly lose my temper with anyone,” she said coolly. “I feel special, thanks. But really, don’t let me distract you,” he said pleasantly. “Please continue.” Kinsey inhaled deeply. This was more painful than she thought it would be. “I was out of line yesterday. I jumped to an unfair conclusion, and I’m sorry. I should have gotten the facts first.” There. It was out. She was
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relieved to have it over with. “I’m also sorry for implying that you were…that you might have been attempting to…” “Take you for a tumble?” he offered helpfully. “Get you between the sheets? Sex you every which way but Monday?” Kinsey frowned at him. “Look, if you’re just going to—” “Tricking you with a hotel room story is not my style,” Javier interjected. “Believe me, when I go to seduce you, you won’t have any doubt.” How did he do that? Without ever moving, he instantly seemed much, much closer, close enough to start that slow buzz of arousal deep within her. Javier’s gaze traveled slowly down her body. “Of course, a person could start to think that the reason you’re bringing this all up is because you’re really hoping that I’ll do just that.” “You can go screw yourself,” she growled. “There would be no fun in that. It’s always better with someone else. You know, I just realized I still owe you dinner. How about tonight?” “Sorry, I have a date tonight,” she said with cheerfulness. With Rhonda, but he didn’t need to know that. Javier’s eyebrows rose. “Really?” Something in his tone agitated her. “I’m sure it won’t put a damper on your social life. You can always go out with Abby.” As soon as she’d uttered the words, she could have bitten her tongue off. Javier gave her a blank stare, then quickly looked to where the redheaded meeting organizer stood across the room. “Abby? How did she become a part of this conversation?” “Well, I thought…I just…” Kinsey stammered. “I saw the two of you at the mixer last night. I just figured you went to dinner afterward.” The grin of pure enjoyment that spread over his face had her gritting her teeth. “I had no idea you were watching so closely. I was just asking Abby about content resources. I suppose I could find out if she’s free for dinner tonight now that you mention it,” he responded. “I hope that the two of you have a wonderful time,” she mumbled. “Well, since it’s clearly been bothering you, you should know that I went out on my own last night,” he continued, clearly enjoying her discomfort. 108
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It shouldn’t have made her feel better. It did. People began filing out of the hall back toward the meeting rooms. “Well, it looks like the sessions are starting back up, so I guess I’ll see you later,” Javier said, standing, reaching out to brush his thumb across her lip. “Don’t do anything I would do.”
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Chapter Eleven Kinsey smoothed down the swingy material to the skirt of her dress that stopped well above the knees as she made her way through the hotel lobby. The iris-colored, satin, A-line dress with a deep V-neckline, tie sash, and beaded empire waist had been another impulse buy, but a good one. The humid Houston weather was like an aphrodisiac, making her blood pump faster and her muscles loose. A bellhop turned to watch her as she walked past, though she guessed it had more to do with the low neckline of her dress than anything else. The bar was full with people, but it didn’t take her long to spot Rhonda. She was sitting near the bar with a waiter dancing close in attendance. Rhonda smiled as Kinsey shouldered her way through the crowd. “Hey, gorgeous, I was just about to give up on you,” she said, and drew Kinsey close for a hard, quick hug. However much she might occasionally be harassed by her, Kinsey thanked her lucky stars for Rhonda. The woman had believed in her when she was starting out, and had supported—and on some occasions bullied— her through the early days. It wasn’t an act. It was real, Rhonda truly did care. “It’s so good to see you.” Kinsey squeezed Rhonda’s hand and slid into a chair. “I’m sorry I’m late. The afternoon session ran a little over.” “I tried to call your room, but they said you weren’t staying here. If I’d know you were in another hotel, we could have met there. By the way, you need to try charging your cell phone sometime. For the life of me, I don’t know why you have one. It always goes straight to voice mail.” “Actually, I’m staying here. Figures he wouldn’t put my name on the room,” she mumbled under her breath. She saw Rhonda’s eyebrows go up and she cursed herself. “It’s not what it sounds like. There was a mix-up with the reservations. I’m staying in a suite with a colleague.” “Oh really?” Rhonda drew the words out with a great amount of exaggeration. The waiter standing by the table cleared his throat. “What can I get you ladies?” he asked, setting down a bowl of pretzels and a couple of napkins. 110
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Rhonda leaned over to be heard over the noise. “I’ll have another glass of Merlot and my friend will have…” She looked at Kinsey in question. Kinsey thought about it, then gave a slow smile. “A Chardonnay. I’ll have a glass of Chardonnay, please.” “I’ll have that for you momentarily,” he said, and disappeared. Rhonda settled back in her chair and crossed her legs. “So a suite at the Hilton? This must be some colleague. Anyone I know?” “It’s not like that, Rhonda. He’s a pain in the rear and it’s just business.” Rhonda grinned. “Ah, so it is a he. Come on, Kinsey, don’t keep me in the dark.” Kinsey hesitated, eyeing her. “Come on, Kinsey, tell me. I now all your other deep, dark secrets. Why stop when it’s getting good?” “Oh, all right. But I’m telling you, you’re not going to believe this one.” Releasing a pent up breath, she started with the meeting at APR, watching Rhonda’s eyebrows go higher and higher with each twist. “So then it turned out that the hotel messed up the reservations and I had the choice of his suite or a room across town.” “And you believed that?” “The hotel verified it this morning,” Kinsey replied defensively, looking around for the waiter. Where was her drink? “All in all, it’s not nearly as insane as some of the other things that have happened recently. I should face it, my life has turned into a bad slapstick comedy.” “Or a romantic comedy.” “Give me a break, Rhonda.” She pushed her hair back with an impatient hand. “He drives me up the wall, and anyway, I have to work with the guy. I’d be certifiable to sleep with him again now, assuming I wanted to.” “Which you do.” “Uh, okay, maybe I’ve thought about it,” she admitted. “But nothing’s going to happen.” Rhonda shook her head. “I wouldn’t be so certain.” “I would.” But Kinsey’s mind raced down wicked pathways, imaging moonlight streaming through the windows as she opened the connecting 111
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door to Javier’s room. And ran smack into his door. Okay, so it was her fantasy. Little details like architecture were negotiable. In her fantasy, there was only one door, and she was dressed in a transparent scrap of lingerie that ended at midthigh. Standing in the moonlight, she reached out to turn the handle— “Earth to Kinsey.” Rhonda snapped her fingers in front of Kinsey’s face. “Sorry, I got distracted.” Kinsey shook her head, then grinned at Rhonda. “It’s good to see you. I was starting to think that you had just become a voice on the phone.” “Not me, I’m one hundred percent here in the flesh.” Rhonda turned to look for the waiter, then turned back to her. “You’re looking good, Kinsey. Are you taking some sort of special vitamins?” “Nope. Just smart and healthy living.” Kinsey took a closer look at Rhonda. “You know, you look pretty good yourself.” Rhonda had a lightness to her that had been missing the last time they’d met up. “What’s your secret?” “Oh, dangerous and unhealthy living,” Rhonda replied lightheartedly. “With some honest to goodness X-rated fun thrown in.” She gave a flirty wink. Kinsey’s mouth fell open. “Rhonda. Tell me you didn’t go to the prostit—” “Male escort,” Rhonda interjected with a bawdy wink. “No, I actually have a wiling volunteer, believe it or not. He owns the company that installed my pool. You know, something kept telling me I needed to get that pool.” She gave a hearty laugh. “Holy crap, Rhonda, you have a boyfriend!” For the entire time Kinsey had known her, Rhonda had been single and unwaveringly devoted to the memory of her late husband. She’d always avoided any questions about dating, insisting that she’d had her run and that was that. Apparently, her opinion had changed. “I figured I’ve been a grieving widow long enough,” she said. “I’m certain that Garrison, may he rest in peace, approves.” “What’s his name?” 112
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“Brent. Brent Wentworth.” The waiter appeared with their drinks. “Sorry for the wait, ladies. It’s insane in here tonight. Let’s see, we had a Merlot?” He handed the red wine to Rhonda. “And a Chardonnay.” He settled the bill quickly and rushed off into the crowd. Kinsey leaned closer to be heard over the crowd and raised her glass. “Well, here’s to swimming pools.” Rhonda grinned. “And everything that comes with them.” They clinked glasses, and Kinsey settled back in her chair and crossed her legs. “So, tell me about Brent.” Rhonda’s expression softened and for a moment, she looked almost girlish. “He’s as good as they come. He’s a little rough around the edges, but he’s kind. He makes me laugh.” She took a sip of her wine. “He…surprises me,” she said slowly. “That’s the biggest drawback about being alone, you know. You can’t surprise yourself. Everything becomes too mundane.” She smiled at some private memory. “He sounds wonderful,” Kinsey said jealously. “Does he have a single relative?” Rhonda snorted. “One to a customer, Kinsey. You already have a guy.” “Javier Elizondo is not my guy,” she replied quickly. “For him not to be your guy, he spends an awful lot of time with you.” Rhonda watched her carefully. “He’s on your mind.” “So is a headache,” Kinsey said with a wave of her hand, ignoring the topic, and picked up her wine glass again. “Let’s have a better toast. To Brent Wentworth, long may he make you happy.” She touched her glass to Rhonda’s and raised her drink to her lips. “White wine can be hazardous, you know.” Javier’s voice came from behind her just as she swallowed. Shock had her choking on the liquid. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to sneak up on people?” she asked between coughs, then coughed some more when she caught Rhonda’s wink. “No, mine was bigger on teaching me to pair up the right sort of clothing. Why don’t you introduce me to your friend?” Javier asked, inclining 113
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his head toward Rhonda, who was watching the interaction with great interest. Kinsey cleared her throat and took a careful sip of her drink. “Uh, Javier, this is Rhonda Lawley. Rhonda, this is Javier Elizondo, a colleague.” “This is the one with the suite?” Rhonda’s eyes sparkled with inquisitiveness. “That would be me. And you’re the dinner date?” “Got it in one.” They sized each other up and smiled completely too friendly for Kinsey’s linking. “Well, so much for introductions,” she said airily. “Don’t let us detain you, Javier. I’m certain you have plans.” He shrugged, studying the display of liquor over the bar. “Not really. I’m sort of at a loss for tonight. I thought I’d stop in here and grab a drink before I go have dinner.” “Oh, wow, that’s too bad. Well, see you around—” “Why don’t you join us?” Rhonda asked cheerfully, dismissing Kinsey’s furious glare. “You have a little time for a drink before we go, if you pull yourself up a chair.” “Well…” He paused, then mischievousness appeared in his eyes. “Okay. You convinced me,” he responded, hunting down an empty chair in the crowded room and bringing it over. “I’m going to the ladies room,” Kinsey grumbled in irritation. Let them get to know each other. After his behavior this afternoon, the last thing she wanted to do was spend any more time with him. **** Javier paused in the middle of ordering his drink to watch her go. Kinsey definitely had legs worth watching, he thought, blessing the designer of her dress. “So what do you do when you’re not pretending to be a male escort?” Rhonda spoke without hesitation. Javier winced. “I see our yarn spinner has been honing her craft.” 114
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“I’m her agent. I was the one who had the service yelling at me because Kinsey had stood up their best guy.” “Ah. That would make you the one who arranged for the meeting in the first place,” he said, meeting her gaze unwaveringly. “It seemed like the best plan of action at the time,” Rhonda responded. “Kinsey’s an adult. It was ultimately her decision to go through with it.” And go through with it she did, Javier thought to himself, reflecting back briefly on the sensation of Kinsey’s naked body against his. “So yes, I had the agency rep ripping me a new one about her not showing up just before I had Kinsey on the phone, excited, telling me how nice the guy they’d sent was.” Guilt ate at him. He hadn’t intended to, but he’d hurt Kinsey, and that was hard to live with. “And your point?” Rhonda’s voice turned to ice. “Kinsey is one of my dearest friends. Mess with her, you mess with me.” She swirled the liquid contents of her glass around. “And despite my friendly, happy-go-lucky exterior, believe me, hon, you don’t want to fuck with me.” Javier studied her for a moment. “Now, Rhonda, why would a smart guy like me want to mess with a wonderful woman like Kinsey?” Rhonda looked at him for a long moment, then the humor danced back into her eyes. “Great. Then we’ll get along?” She took a sip of her wine. “So what do you have planned for our girl?” Javier blinked. “Is this like the part where the father with the shotgun asks my intentions?” “Close, though Kinsey has a daddy of her own and three brothers that are all capable of coming after you with a shotgun if you’ve got it coming to you.” Rhonda smiled. “I’m just inquiring because I’m her friend and I’d like to see her happy and not screwed over. So what do you have planned for her?” Javier frowned. “We’re working together. Right now, I’d say I don’t have much of anything planned for her.” “That’s what she says too.” “I guess you have your answer then.” 115
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“You’re going to allow a willowy thing like her do all the deciding for you? I’d say an intelligent young man like yourself could turn her idea around if he was of a mind to do so.” It was a good thing his drink had appeared. He took a big swig, letting the brandy slide down his throat before responding. “I haven’t figure out whether I’m of a mind to. Is that what you’re suggesting?” “I’m suggesting that you’d better act fast if you’re going to act at all. Kinsey’s one in a million, but she’s been living on the sidelines until now. Being with you was good for her—it woke her up. And people are noticing.” Rhonda inclined her head, and Javier looked in the direction she indicated. Kinsey walked back into the bar, past a table of men whose heads turned in unison to watch her. “She’s not hiding her looks anymore. If I were you, I’d figure out whether I wanted to go after her before the decision gets taken out of my hands.” Javier gave Rhonda a dubious look. “Now I know your intentions are good, but—” “Hey.” She held her hands out in front of her. “Just some advice from an old broad. It’s worth exactly what you paid for it.” She took another drink of her wine and gave an inconspicuous glance toward Kinsey, who was now a few feet away. “So, this your first time in Houston?” she asked in a voice that was loud and fake. **** They looked like criminal cohorts, Kinsey thought as she stepped up to the table, and the guilty grins on their faces suggested they’d been discussing something other than sightseeing. “So, have you finished talking about me? Is it safe to come back?” “Don’t be like that, Kinsey.” Rhonda indicated for her to have a seat. “You know what it’s like when you’ve just met someone. You look for the things you have common. In this case, we started off with you, and now we’re on to Houston.” “Absolutely thrilled that the topics changed,” Kinsey mumbled. 116
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She wished, oh how she wished, that she could get out of this. The two very separate sides of her life were colliding, and the result could be disaster. And anyway, she wasn’t at all excited that they appeared to be getting along like old friends, trading notes on favorite hangouts. Just my luck, Kinsey thought bitterly. The small hope she’d held out that he’d get bored and make an excuse not to go to dinner with them seemed to be getting smaller by the second. In which case, she thought resignedly, they might as well move things along and get it over with. The quicker they got done eating, the quicker she could get back to her room. And lie awake, to think about Javier next door. “So what time is dinner?” Rhonda looked at her watch. “Our reservation’s in about thirty minutes. That work for you. Mr. E?” “Sure,” he said easily. “Good. Then we should leave.” She stood up to leave and gasped in shock. “Brent!” Kinsey blinked as a man with salt and pepper hair wrapped his arms around Rhonda. He gave her a soft kiss and pushed a stray strand of hair out of her face before turning toward Kinsey and Javier. Rhonda’s cheeks quickly began to flush. “Kinsey, Javier, I’d like you to meet Brent Wentworth. Brent, this is Kinsey, the one I’ve told you so much about, and her friend Javier.” “Nice to meet you.” Brent nodded at Kinsey and shook hands with Javier. Kinsey studied Brent closely and liked what she saw. He had a mature look, professional demeanor, but the wrinkles on his face were from smiling, not from frowning. His eyes were clear and observant, and softened when he looked at Rhonda. Rhonda laughed happily. “I thought you were playing cards with the guys tonight.” “Yeah, I was…” Brent shrugged. “I canceled. I can see those hardheads anytime. I wanted to meet your friend, and I wanted to see you.” He gave Rhonda a squeeze and glanced around for a chair. In the crowded bar, there
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wasn’t another one to be had. He turned back with a devilish smile, then sat in her empty chair and pulled her giggling onto his lap. Kinsey choked on the last of her wine. “Are you all right?” Brent asked, his arms around a radiant Rhonda. Javier patted Kinsey’s back. “She has this problem with white wine.” “It’s a depressing thing to see a drinking problem in such a young person.” Brent shook his head in good humor. He looked around the crowded bar. “So how’s your annual meeting going? These folks look like a good time all around.” “I think I saw someone laughing over by the bar when I first came in,” Javier returned, somberly, “but I think they threw him out.” Brent smiled. “This your first time here in Houston?” “Javier is somewhat of a local,” Rhonda answered for him. “He lived here a few years before.” “Welcome back. Where do you live now?” “Arlington.” Brent’s eyes narrowed. “Cowboys fan?” Javier nodded. “To the end. Texans fan?” “Since the team came to Houston.” There was a brief silence while the two gave each other heated stares from opposite sides of what Kinsey guess was a rivalry. Brent broke first, with a boisterous laugh that had Javier joining in. “Okay, so football’s off-limits,” Javier stated. “Good idea,” Brent agreed. “So where are we going for dinner?” “Pongsri,” Rhonda responded, checking her watch again. “And we have to go if we’re going to make our reservations.” “Pongsri?” Brent asked with a grin for Rhonda. “Did you warn them what they’re in for?” “Spiciest Thai food I’ve ever had in my life. Is that okay with you, Kinsey?” Kinsey nodded slowly. She was all for Thai food. She just wasn’t so hot on this unexpected instant friendship thing they all had going. Rhonda got up off Brent’s lap. “Come on, then, drink up and let’s go.” 118
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Outside the hotel, a drift caught at Kinsey’s skirt as she stepped into the cab, flashing a glimpse of black lace to anyone on the block. With utter embarrassment, she slapped the fabric down and scooted onto the seat. Javier slid in next to her. “Nice legs, Maxwell,” he whispered into her ear, placing his arms around her shoulders. Attempting to hide her mortification, Kinsey smoothed her dress down as Brent gave directions to the shuttle driver. “So you’re Kinsey’s agent?” Javier asked Rhonda. “Yes. And I’m here to tell you, Kinsey has what it takes.” “I know. I read a little of her latest manuscript. She writes a pretty sexy tale.” Rhonda’s eyebrows arched. “Really now? Kinsey didn’t tell me she’d shown it to anyone.” “You can stop talking about me as if I weren’t here anytime now,” Kinsey interjected. “I took a peek when she wasn’t paying attention,” Javier continued, disregarding Kinsey’s statement. “Pray tell,” Rhonda responded, her eyes flicking to Kinsey. “And here I thought the two of you just worked together.” “A close partnership always improves team performance,” Javier stated, deadpan. “I can only imagine. Well, you’d better partner up with her while you can because she’s getting serious about her writing.” “Is that so?” Javier gave Kinsey a long, inquisitive look. “That’s very intriguing. She didn’t mention that.” “Javier doesn’t need to hear all about my writing hobby, Rhonda,” Kinsey put in, trying gently to cut off a potentially disastrous disclosure. “Hobby, hell. You know yourself that when that multibook deal comes through you’re going to say good-bye to those stodgy farts at APR. I say, more power to you.” Kinsey’s mouth fell open, but there was nothing she could think of to say. Rhonda had already said it all.
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“So you’re going to be resigning any day, huh?” Javier gave her a speculative look. “Nice of you to make us aware of that.” “Rhonda’s exaggerating,” Kinsey responded uncomfortably just as the cab pulled to a stop. They got out at a storefront restaurant. Walking through the front door was like walking into another land where oriental music played softly in the background, exotic spices perfumed the air, and Asian artifacts lined the walls. A dark-haired woman clad in a pha sin led them to a table. Kinsey cleared her throat. “Javier, could you join me at the bar for a moment? We need to talk.” He eyed her inquisitively. “I think that’s a good idea.” They stepped under a bamboo archway into another exquisite room. Javier slid onto a stool and nodded to the bartender. “A Merlot, please.” He glanced questioningly at Kinsey, who nodded. “Make that two.” Kinsey looked at Javier uncomfortably. She licked her lips. “I know what you must be thinking, but it’s not the way it sounds.” “Just exactly how do you think it sounds?” Truthfulness or tactfulness? That was the question. “Rhonda’s a little confused,” Kinsey started. “I’m not going to…” Her voice trailed off. Somehow, the fake reassurance wouldn’t come out. The two of them had connected the day before. She owed him more than fake niceties. She inhaled deeply, then began again. “Okay, the truth is that I’ve always wanted to write, ever since I was little. I’ve been working toward doing it for a living for the last five years, so I’d be dishonest if I told you I didn’t plan to quit if the contract comes through. Or when.” “When?” She gave him a devilish grin. “When. You were very efficient at providing inspiration.” “I’m thrilled I could be of service,” he said drolly. The bartender set their drinks in front of them. “Does Lewis know you might quit?” Javier asked, placing a bill on the bar. Kinsey shook her head. “No one at APR knows. The last thing I wanted to do was take a chance on losing one job before I was certain of the other. 120
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Until we…spent time together, I wasn’t positive I was going to be able to complete the first book in the series, and the rest of the contract depends on whether the editor likes it.” She lifted her glass and took a long drink, trying to dismiss a quick flicker of discomfort. Javier’s expression remained calm, though, giving her the courage to continue. “The thing is, all this came about before I became involved with the ES Solutions project. I know you and Warrick signed a contract based on a package deal, and I won’t do anything to jeopardize that.” Javier shrugged and took a sip of is wine. “APR is the one under contract, not you. You’re not under any legal obligation.” She lifted her chin. “I make good on my promises.” He eyed her steadily. “I meant what I said yesterday. You’re a great writer. If it’s what you love and you have a chance to do it full-time, you’d be an idiot to let the opportunity pass you by. Go for it. We’ll work out the rest somehow.” Whatever reaction she’d expected from him, it hadn’t been that. Openmindedness, maybe. Not encouragement. Kinsey arched a dark brow at him. “Why are you being so understanding about this?” He placed his wine glass on the bar then looked at her solemnly. “Don’t forget, I know what it’s like to work at a job that feels wrong. It eats away at you, you know that. Your hearts in your writing.” He stroked her check with his finger. “That’s what you should be doing.” His voice was deep and convincing, pulling her in. “I’ll consult or do whatever needs doing to build the product ES Solutions has in mind. You have my promise.” “We’ll be okay, especially if you agree to make sure we have the notes and material we need to work off of. In the meantime, you have my promise that I won’t say anything about it. Do we have a deal?” Kinsey looked at him in shock and appreciation. “Deal.” She offered her hand to him to shake it, but he raised it to his mouth and brushed his lips over her knuckles. A little tingle of heat raced up her arm.” “Why did you do that?”
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He shrugged. “I don’t know, it felt right. Why, would you rather I kiss you somewhere else?” She had a flashback of herself standing at the window of the Omni Hotel, Javier on his knees in front of her. “Umm, I—” “Hey, you two, are you guys going to join us, or should we order dinner on our own?” Brent asked from the bar’s archway. “We’re all squared away,” Javier said, taking her hand to walk her into the dining area. Rhonda leaned toward her as soon as she sat down. “Did I mess up in the shuttle?” she asked in a worried tone. “I wasn’t even thinking that it could be an issue for you, Kinsey. I’m so sorry.” “It’s okay, Rhonda, we discussed it.” She glanced over at Javier and smiled. “Everything’s all right.”
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Chapter Twelve The remains of dinner lay scattered around them, and Kinsey wasn’t certain her tongue or roof of her mouth would ever be the same. Spicy was an understatement for the fiery concoctions that had come out of the kitchen. And the company—the company had been interesting. Sitting around the table with Rhonda and Brent felt extremely easy and familiar. It wasn’t a date, Kinsey reminded herself, but when Javier sent a heated glance in her direction, she felt the flutter in her stomach just the same. “Well, I’m going to step outside for a quick smoke while we’re waiting for the waiter to clear the check,” Brent said, rising as the waiter carried off his credit card and a quiet, efficient busboy began clearing their table. “You know those things aren’t any good for you, hon,” Rhonda said. “How about if I accompany you outside and try to be a good influence.” She looked at Javier and Kinsey and winked. “The two of you can keep yourself entertained for a little while, can’t you?” Kinsey turned to watch them go with a little sigh. “It’s like they’ve been together all their lives. Or in a previous life, if you believe in that sort of thing.” “They do appear to complement each other,” Javier agreed. “They do work, don’t they? I’m so happy for her. She’s been alone ever since I’ve known her.” She smiled again. “It’s so good to see her with someone. I hope it lasts for the long haul.” Javier finished the last of his water, then moved the glass around restlessly. She watched the way the shadows fell on the angular curve of his neck. She knew how good his skin felt there. “Do you think there is such a thing?” Kinsey looked at him in surprise. “Why would you ask that? I have to say I’m a firm believer that when a relationship is right, it lasts.” “In theory. But it seems like all I ever hear about are divorces. I have one friend who’s happily married, but a whole lot more who are divorced. I bet it’s the same for you. Tell me one you know of that really works.” 123
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“My parents,” she responded without hesitation. “They’re like something out of a romance novel. They fell in love at first sight, married after a month, and after thirty-five years, they still take walks holding hands. “So why aren’t you attached to someone if it’s such a great thing?” He looked at her inquisitively.” Kinsey averted her gaze. “I could ask you the same question. Anyway, I’m a terrible example. I told you before, guys don’t notice me.” “I don’t believe that for one instant. I think if you wanted to be involved with someone, you’d be involved.” He picked up her hand and began stroking his thumb lightly over the back of her hand. All the thoughts in her head scattered like a jar full of marbles dropped onto the floor. “What do you mean? I’m open to being involved,” she struggled to get out. “You are?” He leaned toward her. Too close, Kinsey thought dizzily. He was too close for her to think rationally. “Then why is it that you spend all of your time telling me to stay away?” He kissed the palm of her hand and her muscles went lax. “The only time you’ve allowed me to touch you was at the beginning when it was safe and controlled. When nothing could really happen.” He brushed his lips over the back of her hand, his gaze glued to hers. “I think a man would have to be out of his mind not to want you. I don’t see all that many crazy guys walking around Fort Worth. So I figure it must be your choice.” He moved closer to her, closer to her trembling lips. “So I have to ask myself, what does it take to get you to let go and just say yes? What does it take, Kinsey?” he murmured seductively, leaning in to capture her mouth. The bells at the front door jingled as Rhonda and Brent came back in, laughing loudly. “Hey you two,” Rhonda called. “We are—oops. Looks like we came back too soon, Brent.” Kinsey jumped. “Oh, hey,” she said slowly, her brain still hazy from the heat of Javier’s mouth. “Well, it’s looking to me like you two could use some time alone,” Rhonda stated with a wink. Brent reached for is credit card and signed the
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charge slip quickly. “It’s time for us to pull a disappearing act,” Rhonda proclaimed. “Everyone out to the curb.” Rhonda rushed them out of the restaurant, and before Kinsey knew it, she and Javier were in the backseat of the shuttle with Rhonda and Brent in the seat in front of them. Javier leaned back against the seat and turned to watch Kinsey. His gaze on her was molten. Kinsey watched the building flow past her windows, only as an excuse to look away from him. It was almost too much to handle. Then she felt his fingertips stroke lightly along her jaw to her chin, turning her to face him. His eyes were unreadable in the low lighting. Streetlights flickered over his face, the contrast weirdly captivating. She found herself leaning toward him subconsciously. “Why did you do that?” she questioned. “I like to look at you,” he replied, then leaned close so that his mouth was next to her ear. “And when we get back to the room, I want to taste you.” Kinsey couldn’t stop the full-bodied quiver that raced through her. They reached the hotel sooner than she expected. Rhonda and Brent stepped out first. Kinsey hustled out anxiously behind them. If she thought they were going to be her buffer to give her some space away from this magnetic man, she’d been mistaken. A short time later, she stood at the entrance waving at Brent and Rhonda. Kinsey inhaled deeply in an attempt to clear her mind. Then Javier walked up behind her and placed his hand on the lower part of her back. Another little shiver raced through her. “You ready?” he asked. “Do you want to go to the bar for a night cap or go up?” His question seemed weirdly intimate. Going upstairs to the room they shared, just as in another hotel at another time they had gone upstairs to be intimate. The suite suddenly seemed dangerous, and yet, she was wary of bars and restaurants. Besides, there was always her room. She could say goodnight, close the door, and go to bed. Liar, a voice in her head shouted. If you go up there you know you’re going to doing more than sleep. 125
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“Let’s go on up. We can have a drink there.” She walked to the elevators slightly ahead of him, totally aware of every motion of her body, of the swish of the skirt against her legs, and of Javier walking next to her. In the elevator, he slipped his passkey into the slot, pushing the button for the penthouse level. A slow, hot chill of desire raced through her. She wanted his hands on her, wanted to feel his body against hers. The elevator carried them steadily, quietly upward to the top floor. When the doors opened, Javier gestured for her to go first, placing his hand on the small of her back as she stepped though the door. They passed the empty concierge desk, the carpet muting their steps as they headed down the hall. Javier opened the door into the dark living room of the suite. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling window, Houston spread out in a sparkling panorama of light. Kinsey’s breath caught in her throat. “Please don’t turn the lights on yet. This view is breathtaking.” She strode toward the sliding glass doors and stepped out on the balcony into the soft, warm night air. The slightest touch of a breeze brushed softly against her cheeks. And against her arms, she felt the cool leaves from the plants as she rested against the railing and watched the late night traffic. The she heard Javier step behind her. “Looks almost tranquil from up here, doesn’t it?” “It’s wonderful.” She turned to find his mouth alarmingly close. They had only to move a centimeter to be touching. Kinsey froze as the long ticks of seconds passed. “The moonlight turns everything into magic.” Javier stepped over to look out across the city, then turned around to gaze at her. He reached out to touch her. “Do you have any idea how much I’ve wanted to have my hands on you?” he asked softly. “I look at you and all I can think about is the Omni Hotel. I can’t get it out of my head, none of it. I remember exactly how it felt every time we touched.” His eyes were dark, his voice intimate and captivating. Arousal pulled at her, tugging her toward him until her palms were against his chest. For a moment, she held back, pushing herself away. Then she gave herself over to
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the longing and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her eyes closed and she fell into the kiss. His mouth was hot and dominating, sweeping her upward though her back was pressed against the railing. Why had she been fighting this when it was everything she desired? One of his hands slid around to grasp the back of her neck, the other ran down the length of her back, molding her to him, and she threw herself into all the feelings she’d tried so hard not to give into. She moaned at the feel of the heat and the solidness of his body against her, the feel of his arms pulling her close, so close. She felt like she was caught up in a violent thunderstorm. The balmy air swept around under her skirt. Then his hand was under the fabric, caressing the bare skin of her thighs, rubbing over her lacy bikini bottoms. Passion flowed through her as he touched her skin though the satin and lace. It wasn’t enough. Her head fell back, her lips parted, and his tongue dipped inside. So sweet, so demanding. Her mouth came alive under his urging, teasing a hundred nerve-endings with the promise of more. It did nothing to satisfy her; the craving only increased. Then he brushed his mouth across her cheek and down her neck, feasting on the delicate skin, inhaling her scent until it made her knees tremble. It was amazing to feel him close after waiting to have him touch her again for so long. She clutched at his shoulders as his mouth moved lower to the tops of her breasts. Kinsey reveled in the magnificent sensation. He tugged at the zipper on her dress until the straps slid down her shoulders, then unsnapped the back clasp of her bra to let her breasts tumble free. She moaned at the heat of his mouth on her, moaned as his tongue swirled and teased her, starting that gradual, unavoidable tightening in her stomach. Lavishing attention on first one peak, then the other, he drove her higher and higher. His hand caressed the tender flesh. The roughness of his five o’clock shadow scraped against her. The contrast between the beard stubble and his mouth made her gasp. She wanted to feel him against her, yearned for it feverishly as she unbuttoned his shirt with trembling fingers. She pulled it apart and ran her hands up his smooth, hard chest. Then she collapsed against him, her breasts pressed into the heat of his skin. 127
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Javier moaned and clutched her hair in his fists, sealing his mouth to hers. She could feel how much he wanted her. She craved him just as much. Kinsey wanted him then and there. She needed him to be a part of her, to bury himself deep within her until neither of them knew where one body started and the other left off. Suddenly, he sank down to the floor of the balcony, pulling her with him, and slid his hand under the edge of her lacy briefs. Kinsey knew she was wet and ready. She was on the brink of losing control. And unexpectedly, light spilled onto one side of the balcony. They both jumped as a blast of music and voices drifted across from the suite next door. “Wow, great place to have people over for drinks,” a woman with a high-pitched, squeaky voice said. “It’s really romantic up here.” “Or it was before you came along,” Javier muttered, rolling onto his back. Kinsey sat up quickly, fastening her bra, and pulled the straps of her dress up over her shoulders. She shook her head. “I must be completely insane,” she mumbled, getting to her feet and heading toward the sliding glass doors. “They didn’t see us,” Javier stated softly, following her inside. “You have got to be kidding me,” she stated, turning on a lamp. “Who cares about the people next door? With my luck, someone was out there with a telephoto lens taking shots for the Internet that my mother will find by accident when she’s browsing the web.” Before she had any idea what he was doing, Javier drew her close for a quick kiss. “You’re cute when you’re parochial,” he murmured, releasing her before she could take a swipe at him. She scowled at him. “Don’t start with me, Javier.” “Hey, you’re the one who said leave the lights off.” He stepped toward her. Kinsey backed away until she’d put the couch between them. “Oh no, you, keep your distance.” The man was dangerous when within a ten-foot range. She was better off staying across the room from him. Hell, who was she trying to kid? Across the room wasn’t enough. In another state wouldn’t be enough. 128
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“Don’t you start with me.” He shook his head. “You were into it as much as I was and you still are. Don’t even try to stand there and tell me you haven’t been thinking about this ever since we saw each other again.” He started toward her, but she quickly stepped to the other side of an end table. “Of course I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve been attempting to ignore it, which I might add, you’ve been making as difficult as possible.” She gave a sigh of frustration at his remorseless expression. “All I’m attempting to do is get some work done and not spend every minute thinking about sex.” That would have been a lot easier, of course, if he’d buttoned up his shirt. She forced her gaze up from the smooth, hard planes of his stomach. “We’re already spending every moment thinking about sex,” he tossed back at her. “I say the only thing that make sense is to take our clothes off and make love to each other until we get it all out of our systems.” He stepped toward her. “Want me to show you?” She stepped back a few steps. “I don’t want to have sex with you just to ease a little tension,” she said briskly. “Sweetheart, easing a little tension is how we got into this situation in the first place.” “That’s exactly my point,” she said hotly. “Now, if you’ll pardon me, I’m going to bed before we do anything foolish.” “And you know you’ll be thinking about it all night.” he retorted, making his way for the mini bar area. “In your dreams, Elizondo.” “No.” His grin sent a hot chill through her that she couldn’t ignore. “In yours.” **** It didn’t help her outlook on things the next morning that the man was right. She felt good for having stuck to her plan, but she’d have felt a lot better if she’d gotten some rest. Telling herself that playtime was over hadn’t
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been the same thing as convincing her body. The only tiny bit of gratification she gained was from hearing Javier’s bed creak as he tossed and turned also. She wasn’t about to tempt herself—or fate—by staying another night in the suite. Kinsey contemplated ways to get home. Javier was up. She heard him shuffling about while she was showering and getting dressed. She took a deep, calming breath as she strolled into the living room where the aroma of coffee lured her. “Good morning,” he said, resting a hip against the counter in the small kitchen-like area with a mug in hand. “Sleep okay?” “Like a baby,” she mumbled. “You?” “Never better,” he replied. She stepped into the kitchenette, doing her best to keep a safe distance. “Is there any more coffee?” Caffeine was important. After that, she could begin thinking about traveling home. “Plenty. Help yourself.” He inclined his head toward the pot but stayed in her way, smiling when her elbow brushed him and she jumped. “Hey, how would you feel about leaving as soon as your meeting session is over today? Something has come up. I need to get to Fort Worth first thing tomorrow morning.” He took a sip from his mug. “The meeting ends about four o’clock. We could be home by eight.” “Actually, I was thinking about taking a flight home tonight from Hobby Airport.” “Skipping out?” His grin was taunting. “Chicken.” “It has nothing to do with you,” she responded too quickly. The hell it doesn’t. He raised one eyebrow as though she’d spoken aloud. “It just seemed efficient. There’s nothing on the schedule for the next two days that I need to be involved in.” And there was no way in the world she was going to spend another two nights with Javier. There was only so much temptation a person could take, and she didn’t trust herself. Too bad, because she really wanted to meet up with Rhonda again before she left. Oh well, there was always next year. “Okay, that settles it then. We can check our bags and meet in the lobby at four. That way we’ll be on the outskirts of town before we see any traffic.” 130
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He paused when she gave him a skeptical look. “Oh come on. It’s a fourhour car trip. You’ll waste at least that maneuvering through the airport and on the plane, assuming you can even find a ticket at the last minute. If you control yourself, I’m positive you can get through the drive home without jumping me.” She couldn’t quite hold back a grin. “I think I can restrain myself.” “Make sure you do. I don’t want people thinking that I’m easy, you know.” He pressed a light kiss to her lips before she could react, then swaggered off to his bedroom. She probably should have felt reassured that she could be away from the office for a few days and come back to find that nothing had changed, Kinsey thought as she walked into the offices of APR Consulting. Instead, she felt as though she couldn’t breathe. If she’d been a different sort of person, she would have just stayed home, since she wasn’t due back in the office until Monday. No one would have known any differently, and she’d have had a day to get Javier Elizondo out of her system. Unfortunately, she’d been raised with a conscience, which was why she found herself walking in bright and early on Friday morning. Her tiny hopes of sneaking into her office unnoticed were crushed when she saw Lewis standing at Polly’s desk, files clutched in his stubby fingers. “Kinsey, what are you doing here?” Polly asked with as much relief at the interruption as enthusiasm, Kinsey noted. “I thought you weren’t supposed to be back until Monday.” “Yeah.” Lewis looked up from his files. “What did you do, leave early?” “Today’s sessions were mostly about training, so I decided to come on back. The Houston group is sharp and they had it all under control. I need some extra time to work on the ES Solutions rollout plan anyway.” She picked mail up off the counter and started to head toward her office. “Hey, speaking of ES Solutions, Javier Elizondo called this morning,” Lewis stated. Kinsey turned around and frowned. “What did he want?” “He wanted to tape you in action. He was saying something about putting you up on the website.” 131
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“He wants to tape me?” Kinsey asked, unable to hide her shock. “Why?” “He seems to think you’re a hot item when it comes to speaking, I don’t know.” Lewis shrugged. “All I know is whatever he wants, we give him. Speaking of which, are you guys forming a team for that corporate charity thing this year?” Kinsey exhaled heavily. “If you mean the Fort Worth Corporate Games, Lewis, they’re two weeks away. Vicky sent you the team list a month ago when you turned down our request for the sponsorship. Why, did you change your mind?” She couldn’t hold back a flicker of hope. “I have all the lists in case you want to match us.” The annual charity games funded a variety of worthy causes by getting local businesses to sponsor teams to compete in various athletic events. In the case of the APR Consulting team, the money always came from friends and family—Lewis had selective hearing that he put into place when his employees came looking for monetary handouts. He shook his head frantically. “No. I just wanted to make certain we’re going to be involved.” He smoothed the three strands of his comb-over down. “Javier Elizondo and his company are sponsoring part of the games. It would be good for us to have a presence.” Kinsey almost groaned aloud in agony. She was doomed, basically. She should just give in to the fact that every place she went, Javier would be there. And temptation would follow. “Well, three of us are doing the 5K run, and a friend of mine has graciously offered to be the fourth. With your lack of sponsorship, we couldn’t get enough interest for a volleyball team, so all we’re doing is the run.” “I want you to stop by and make sure he sees you there,” Lewis said, disregarding her jab. “Let him know that we have people participating. He seems like one of those guys who’s big on that sort of thing.” Lewis, of course, wasn’t, which didn’t stop him from trying to capitalize in on the fact that his employees were. Kinsey battled the urge to grit her teeth. “I’m not leading the team this year, Lewis. Vicky is.” “Good for her,” he replied airily. “Elizondo doesn’t know Vicky. He knows you.” 132
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In more ways than you know, Kinsey thought, which was where the major issue lay. “You know, Lewis, if you really want to look good, you could have APR Consulting sponsor the team or match the money we’ve raised,” she said lightly. “Nope, I think it’s enough that he knows we’re there,” he said over his shoulder as he strode toward his office. “You just be sure you stop by and speak with him, okay?” She exhaled heavily. When it came to Lewis, one had to be direct, or it went straight over his head. She caught a ringing noise from her office. “Sounds like my phone,” she announced, giving Polly a hasty wave. Rushing into her office, she looked at the caller ID to see Javier’s name. She growled as she picked up the receiver. **** “Videotapes?” Kinsey asked without a greeting. “You want to make tapes?” He didn’t miss a beat. “Definitely, if that’s what tickles your pickle. I’m thinking we rent a hotel room, get a good quality video camera, and we can sell the finished product on the Intern—” “Not funny,” Kinsey interjected. “Hey, you were the one who brought it up.” He grinned as he leaned back in his chair, staring out the windows of his office to the flowers lining the front walkway. “Why videotapes?” Kinsey demanded. “I don’t even like speaking into the video camera at weddings for heaven’s sake.” “You were the person who gave me the idea.” He turned his chair sideways so he could prop one leg on the other knee. “I meant to assist you with the online content,” she muttered. “Besides, the video I was referring to was already made, with a different person.” “I don’t want a different person. I want you.” Didn’t he though? Javier thought. She might have spent last night in her house a dozen miles away 133
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from him, but he hadn’t slept any better than he had when they’d been in Houston, despite the fact that he’d worked until 1 a.m. on materials for his emergency meeting that morning. “I don’t want someone out there taping me.” “Why not? You’re an amazing speaker. You keep people captivated and mesmerized.” Absentmindedly, he drew patterns on the polished top of his desk, feeling the smooth wood against his fingertips. “How am I supposed to be able to focus with a camera pointed in my direction?” “No whining,” he said with a smile. “I’m not whining. That was a valid question. It was definitely not a whine.” Javier smiled at her offended tone. “I’m going to look like a complete idiot.” “Believe me, you won’t look like an idiot,” he reassured her, struggling to contain his humor. “After a few minutes in front of the camera, you’ll relax and everything will be fine.” “It will distract the staff.” “We don’t need the staff present. We just want to tape you,” Javier replied easily. He could listen to her objections all day until she ran out of them. He had no plans of letting her off the hook. “We need this from you now in case we lose you, remember? We’ll use a small meeting room. Polly says next Wednesday works good for you, so I’ve lined up a video team.” “I’ll look like an idiot,” she mumbled again. “No, you won’t. I’ll make sure of it.” There was a short pause. “Tell me you’re not planning on coming to any of these tapings.” “Wouldn’t miss it for anything,” he responded, fighting to keep the amusement out of his voice. “I don’t need you there,” she grumbled. “You say that now, but you never know when you’re going to want help. I wouldn’t feel right leaving all of you to go at it alone this early in the
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process.” He smiled, imagining the expression of horror on her face. “I’ll finalize things with Polly. See you Wednesday, sweetheart.” “That’s Ms. Sweetheart to you,” she replied. **** Kinsey sat in front of her laptop in a tank top and running shorts, working on the beginning of a new novel. She was dying to know how her manuscript was holding up under Angie’s scrutiny. Although, it wouldn’t help her cause if she just sat around idly until she received the call before she started writing again. She needed to get back at it. Already, her characters had come to life in her head. They sparked off each other and kept coming back for more. Now they were just about to share their first kiss. Unfortunately, all writing the scene did was make her long for Javier. On the radio, the sounds of Silk played softly in the background, putting her in the mood for hot, steamy sex. Which she’d almost had the other night. She wasn’t quite certain if the fact that she hadn’t was reason for celebration or disappointment. Her outlook changed from one minute to the next. She hadn’t looked forward to the ride home from Houston, expecting four hours of tension and bickering. Interestingly enough, it hadn’t been the least bit uncomfortable. The Dallas Mavericks were playing the Houston Rockets, so they’d listened to the game all the way home, first from the Rockets broadcasters, then from the Mavericks announcers. The welcomed distraction hadn’t prevented her from thinking about sex periodically—she’d have to be dead before being near Javier didn’t make her think about that— but it was at a manageable level. He’d focused on driving, not staring at her with those unsettling eyes. It was almost relaxing. Until he pulled up in front of her apartment and walked up the front steps with her suitcase… The doorbell rang, startling her out of her daydream. Kinsey glanced at the clock and grinned, then rushed from the back of her apartment to the front door, opening it a crack. “What’s the pass code?” she asked. 135
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“Cabernet Sauvignon,” Zoey answered, holding up a bottle of red wine. “You guessed correctly on the first try,” Kinsey smiled, moving back to open the door wide. “Come on in. I picked up a copy of Takers at the store on my way home. All we need is pizza and we’re ready to go.” “I thought having a crush was supposed to diminish your appetite,” Zoey said as they entered the kitchen, setting the wine on the counter and tossing down her purse. “I don’t have a crush,” Kinsey replied quickly. “Uh-huh. Tell it to someone who believes it.” Zoey pulled off her light sweater and walked toward the hall closet. “Kinsey,” she called in an irritated tone, “what are you doing with the computer on? I can’t believe you’re working on a Friday night. Don’t you get enough of that aggravation during the week?” She came back into the kitchen. “That’s not work. It’s the latest book I’m working on.” Zoey plucked a pair of wine glasses out of the cabinet while Kinsey uncorked the wine. “Any word on the contract yet?” “Rhonda says we’ll probably hear back any day now. The waiting is about to drive me out of my mind.” A flicker of impatience swept through Kinsey as she poured wine into each of their glasses. “Anyway, I wanted to start working on the next book. Figured it would keep my mind off waiting for the call.” Zoey rested a hip against the counter. “What’s this one about?” “A former supermodel meets a business mogul.” “A business mogul?” Zoey’s eyebrows rose in exaggerated shock. “You don’t say. Wow, were you inspired by anyone I know of, Miss I Don’t Have a Crush?” Kinsey rolled her eyes. “I told you, I’m not infatuated with him.” She handed a glass of wine to Zoey. “So says the woman who called and told me to come over to dinner because I had to hear the latest news,” Zoey responded, rolling her eyes. “I’m only after your insight on a work situation,” Kinsey retorted quickly. “And now, if you’re finished rambling on, I’m going to order dinner.” She
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picked up the telephone receiver and dialed a number she knew by heart. “Hello, I’d like a large hamburger—” “Veggie Lovers,” Zoey called over her shoulder. Kinsey exhaled deeply. “Sorry, make that a large veggie pizza.” She confirmed her address and hung up the phone. “Seriously, Zoey, any normal person breaks down and eats junk food once in a while.” “I eat junk food sometimes,” Zoey replied defensively. “I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich at the deli last week.” “Some people consider a grilled chicken sandwich to be a healthy meal,” Kinsey grumbled. “That’s why Americans are in such poor health. There aren’t many people in this country who eat properly,” she retorted. “We can’t all live on flaxseed and soybeans like you do.” Kinsey poured them both a glass of water. “You’re a mentally deranged woman, Zoey.” “Oh, be quiet and drink,” Zoey commanded. “We have a pizza on the way, what more do you want? Now let’s go into the living room and you can tell me what happened with your Latin lover this week.” “He’s not my Latin lover. Anyway, first you have to tell me about how the new job is going.” Kinsey stuck a package of popcorn into the microwave and punched the start button. Zoey grinned. “It’s wonderful. The student athletes are great. They’re not the spoiled brats that I was sure they would be.” She took a sip of her wine. “You know how some of the athletes were when we were in college.” Kinsey shook her head. “Boy, do I. The good thing is you are enjoying yourself.” Zoey laughed. “I really am. I keep waiting for someone to pinch me so I can wake up. I can’t believe I’ve gotten this lucky.” “It has nothing to do with luck. You have worked hard, and you should enjoy every second,” Kinsey replied. Behind her, the sound of the first kernels beginning to pop reached her ears. “At the risk of being a downer, what’s going on with Hakeem?”
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“Speaking of waking up,” Zoey responded with a wince. “I’ve decided to end my relationship with him. I’m telling him as soon as he gets back next week from his latest bout.” “Really?” Kinsey paused to look at her. “Did something happen?” Zoey shook her head. “Not really. Just reaching the pinnacle of built-up frustration. The only important person in Hakeem’s life is Hakeem. Everyone else, including me, is expendable.” She gave an impatient huff. “Don’t get me started. I’ll only end up sounding like a broken record. The only difference is, I’ve finally gotten smart and realized I deserve better,” she said, pushing her dark hair out of her eyes. “So tell me about Javier. That has to be more interesting.” “Yeah, so interesting that if it were any more exciting I’d run the risk of having a heart attack.” Kinsey pulled the popcorn from the microwave and poured it into a bowl. “Let’s go into the living room,” she said, grabbing her wine, the water, and the bowl of popcorn and placing it on a tray. By the time the pizza arrived, they were sprawled comfortably on the couch and Zoey had reached the part of her story where she and Javier had arrived back at her apartment. “So we get back to my place and I don’t know what to expect. I figure I’ll get this hot and heavy seduction routine again, and instead, he carries my suitcase in, kisses me, and wishes me pleasant dreams.” She carried the pizza box into the kitchen and set it on the counter. Zoey glanced at her as she pulled plates from the cabinet. “You know, to a person who doesn’t know you like I do, it would almost seem like you didn’t want the hot, steamy seduction routine. Come on, Kinsey, this is me you’re talking to.” She set the plates down. “I don’t believe for a minute that you weren’t turned on by what happen in Houston. Can you honestly tell me that if those people hadn’t stepped out onto the balcony that you wouldn’t have had sex with him? Can you?” Kinsey averted her gaze quickly. “That’s what I thought. So my question is, if he wants to sleep with you and you want to sleep with him, then why aren’t you? Isn’t this the sort of
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romantic stuff you’ve always talked about having? Why are you pushing him away?” “I don’t know,” Kinsey said worriedly. “I don’t know if he actually wants to be involved or if he just does it to tease me. For goodness sake, this is my job we’re talking about, Zoey. I don’t want to mess it up. And I really don’t want to make a fool out of myself with someone I have to work with.” She put a couple of slices of pizza on each plate and carried them out to the living room. “So what do you think happened?” Zoey poured more wine into each of their glasses and followed. Kinsey sighed. “I have no idea. He said he had an early meeting. Maybe he meant really early, you get me? It figures, you know? The one time I want him to make a pass at me, he doesn’t.” She settled onto the couch. “I guess it was for the best, but sheesh, you know, what’s wrong with sleeping with him? It’s not like he’d my boss or a coworker—at least not technically.” She paused a second and shook her head. “I must be insane. I work with the guy. I’m nuts for even thinking about having sex with him. But geez, I can’t get my mind off of it.” Zoey lifted a slice of pizza to her mouth. “I don’t know, Kinsey, it sounds to me like you’re passing up something real good.” She took a bite and made a little sound of appreciation. “Yes, but then I think about how one minute he looks at me like he wants to have me in his bed, the next he turns around and tells me he doesn’t believe in love or the fact that it can last.” “Maybe he’s mixing up love with lust.” “Maybe I am,” Kinsey responded, then bit into her pizza. Zoey looked at her with concern. “Are you saying you’re falling for him?” “Of course not,” Kinsey retorted quickly. She wasn’t, was she? “I will admit I think about him more than I should. But that’s probably to be expected, don’t you think? He is the first guy I’ve had anything going with in years. Part of me—okay, a lot of me—wants to sleep with him again,” she admitted, and smiled. “I’ve been hauling some really racy dreams.” 139
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“Good for you,” Zoey said, touching her glass of wine against Kinsey’s. “It’s just that, I don’t know…” She exhaled softly. “Sleeping with someone for the sake of sex sounds all well and good, but at the end of the day, I would want more than that.” “I told you the first time we talked about him, you’re a romantic. You’re always going to look for love, whether it’s this guy or someone else.” “Believe me, it’s not this guy.” Without a doubt, it was. Compatibility, yes, chemistry, definitely, but not love. They turned on the movie and Kinsey sighed and bit into her pizza. Life had been so much simpler when her sex life consisted of famous movie stats in feature films.
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Chapter Thirteen A week later, Kinsey stood in a small meeting room at APR Consulting, watching the video crew set up the microphones and video camera. She looked at the black tape that they’d put down on the carpet to mark where she should stand, her stomach turning over repeatedly with anxiety. Just knowing that Javier was going to walk into the room at any minute had apprehension coursing through her. The unwavering eye of the camera was nothing compared with the emotional turmoil he made her feel. “Just relax and pretend like we’re not here,” said the cameraman, a guy who barely looked old enough to be out of high school named Dan, as he fiddled with the legs. What would be even better, she thought, would be to relax and pretend she wasn’t there, to take herself far, far away. Trying to force her tension to go away, she looked at the chair around the small conference table and tried to remember what she was supposed to say. “Take a deep breath,” Dan said. “Don’t worry if you mess up. We can always edit it or start again.” He checked the camera one last time. “Are you ready?” he asked. At her nod, he turned on the camera. Kinsey had never used a script when she conducted her meetings, only an outline of the topics to be discussed. The rest, the important parts, she adlibbed as she went along. For her, leading a meeting was about communicating well and connecting with the staff. Now, with the shiny eye of the camera on her and no staff members in sight, she had nothing to draw off of. Words deserted her. She couldn’t remember what she was supposed to say. She just knew she was supposed to look into the camera, but the shiny black circle only made her freeze up. She struggled for the easy tone of her normal speaking voice. Then Javier walked into the room and she couldn’t remember what day it was, let alone what she needed to know. “Cut,” the cameraman said. Javier flashed her a smile. As usual, he wore a magnificently cut suit, this time dark-colored. A burgundy-colored tie, the sleek gold sweep of a tie 141
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chain, the gold cufflinks sparkling at his wrists, all of it painted the perfect picture of a gentleman. Then his gorgeous light brown eyes met hers and she had instant, vivid memories of how he’d looked with his shirt unbuttoned and hanging off his shoulders as he stood in the darkened penthouse in Houston. Quickly, she looked down at her note cards on the table, hoping her expression didn’t give her away. “Sorry I’m late. My meeting ran over,” Javier stated, unbuttoning his jacket. “What’s the status?” “We’re just getting started,” Dan responded, making an adjustment to the camera. “Just give me a minute,” Javier called over his shoulder, and strolled over to Kinsey, making her pulse race with every step he took. “How are you doing?” “Wonderful. Marvelous. Couldn’t be better,” she said quickly, pushing aside the urge to back up a few paces where she could think for a minute. The small whiff of his scent, something clean and spicy and masculine, sent the butterflies in her stomach into flight. A lock of his hair fell over his forehead. Her fingers itched to thread through it and push it back into place. Instead, she willed herself to focus on the job at hand. She felt so jittery it was a miracle she wasn’t shaking. Then again, she probably was judging by the concerned expression on his face. “You’re going to do fine,” he said, his tone comforting. “Don’t think about the camera. Just pretend you’re talking to a room full of staff members.” One corner of his mouth tilted upward. “It’ll be a piece of cake, you’ll see.” “Easy for you to say. You aren’t the one who has to do this. Besides, there’s no one here for me to talk to.” “You have me.” His eyes darkened. “Just think of me as one of your staff members. I’m sure there’s a thing or two you could tell.” He stared at her for several heartbeats then walked over to the conference table, pulling his jacket off and resting it on the back of a chair. Kinsey caught the flash of suspenders, the kind that hooked to his pants. The kind she’d always thought were unbelievably sexy. Underneath, his body was lean and powerful. 142
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Javier hooked a finger in his tie to loosen it. “I always thought if I ran the company, I’d wear fewer suits, not more,” he complained, lowering himself into the chair next to his jacket and rolling up his sleeves. “Okay, Ms. Maxwell, the floor is all yours.” Kinsey looked at him sitting there, one arm resting over the chair back, looking like an advertisement for Esquire, and felt like laughing at the extreme impossibility of running through her script when she had a distraction like him in the room. It was nerves, she told herself with a flare of impatience. Tenseness had her off-kilter, thinking of Javier when she should be focused on work. Clearing her throat and trying to ignore the increasingly tightening thread of lust that raced through her, Kinsey began. He gave her what should have been a reassuring grin if it hadn’t been as wickedly charming as it always was. Every thought flew out of her head, leaving her stammering and mentally berating herself. “Look at the camera,” Dan instructed, but she couldn’t keep her eyes off Javier. Finally, she paused. “I’m sorry. Can we start over, please?” “Okay, let’s start from the top,” called Dan. He rewound the tape, and she started again. Then her eyes met Javier’s for just a second, and everything else faded away. She felt his gaze like a physical touch. For a moment, it felt like they were the only ones in the room. Everything else became totally irrelevant. “Cut,” Dan said again, and exhaled heavily. “Look, why don’t we break for about fifteen, allow you to get your thoughts together, then try again?” Kinsey stood stock still at the front of the meeting room. She’d never been so mortified in her entire career. She was screwing this up, big time. She, who prided herself on her intelligence, her ability, her professionalism. It was a part of who she was. Or had been, before she met Javier. He was studying her with those light brown eyes, reminding her of all the things she didn’t want to feel, just when she could least afford to feel them. Before he could get up, Kinsey rushed for the sanctuary of her office, exhaling with relief as she sank into her chair. High levels of anxiety had her standing to pace over to the window, looking out at the street below, 143
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struggling to get past the frustration that had overtaken her. Up until now, she’d never come across something that she couldn’t do. Up until now. Relax, she thought. She had to relax or she’d never be able to think rationally. “Where’s the fire?” Javier asked, standing in the doorway. He stepped into her office, closing the door firmly behind him. She didn’t jump in surprise at his voice. She’d known he would follow her. Turning to look at him, she found it impossible not to think of the last time she’d been this close to him. What they’d done. What she wanted to do again. He strode across the room to her with ease. Kinsey reached out to touch the window frame for support, feeling the cool of the metal against her palm. “This isn’t going to work. I can’t do it.” It took a lot of effort to keep the unsteadiness out of her voice. “Of course you can.” His voice was low and smooth. She recalled the way his throat had vibrated under her mouth when she was kissing him and he groaned. Unconsciously, she ran the tip of her tongue over her lips. “I just can’t get into the rhythm. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” It was a bold-faced lie. She knew exactly what was wrong. It was her own mind betraying her. He’d wormed his way into her thoughts, laid claim to her body. At a time when she should have been focusing on work, she was powerless to stop thinking about him. “You just aren’t used to the cameras. You’ll do better after we resume.” Angst rushed through her. “No, I won’t,” she said positively. “The setup is completely wrong.” Unable to stay still, she paced restlessly across the office. “In what way is it wrong?” He turned to study her. Kinsey turned to face him. “I can’t talk in a vacuum.” She flapped her hands absently. “I need staff members. I need to be interacting with people.” His eyes gleamed mischievously. “You can interact with me.” Images of being naked and curled up next to him flared up in her mind. She cleared her throat to get herself back on track. “That’s not what I’m referring to, and the last thing I need is more distractions.”
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“What’s distracting you? There are only three people in the room. Dan, the sound guy, and me. Are they bothering you?” he inquired softly, and stepped closer to her. “Or is it me?” Longing for him rumbled around inside of her. She could feel his hands against her skin. The memory was so vivid. Kinsey eased backward until she felt the bookshelves at her back. Her heart rate accelerated, in apprehension or excitement, she couldn’t tell. “We’re in my office, Javier. This sort of thing is very inappropriate.” “I’m just asking a question.” It wasn’t retreating, just strategic maneuvering, she told herself as she slid past him to go to her desk. Her hand brushed his in passing, and she inhaled sharply and jerked as she felt the hot chill. She lowered herself into her chair and shook her head. “This isn’t going to work. If you want to tape me, come to one of my new-hire orientations or managers meetings and set up in the back of the room. I give the introduction that you are asking for and cover a few more things that I’m positive Dan can edit as needed. I have a meeting next week. We can do it then.” Javier rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he considered her suggestion. Then he made his way over to her desk. “Okay, but only if Dan and his sound guy are able to do it.” “Fine. But you tell them to just turn on the camera and let it roll,” she warned. “No interrupting or calling ‘cut.’ Your cameraman will just be a fly on the wall.” “We’ll be so quiet you’ll just think we’re figments of your imagination.” The day she didn’t notice him would be the day she was comatose or six feet under. Staring at his mouth made her think of the Omni Hotel. Staring at his hands made her think of the balcony in Houston. All at a time when she should have been getting her butt in gear so she could perform the way she was paid to do. A hot wave of anger crashed over her. She’d attempted to set rules at the beginning and he’d just laughed at her. Now, she who’d always prided herself on doing her job well, was suddenly messing it up big time. Kinsey set her
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jaw. He was not going to cause chaos in her life and her career. She was going to ignore him and get her act together, that was all there was to it. “What are you working on?” He was studying the notes on her desk, outlines for the upcoming meeting she was preparing for. “None of your business,” she said briskly, flipping the folder closed. He sank in the chair across from her, looking intently at her. “You want to tell me what’s bothering you?” “What’s always bothering me,” she responded sharply. “Ah.” He stared at her unwaveringly. “We’re obeying your rules. What the issue?” It was too late for the rules to be of any help. That was the issue. It had been difficult enough when she was merely attracted to him. After the drive to Houston and the time they’d spent there, she was in a way deeper than she ever thought she’d be. Distance was what she needed, but it was the last thing she could get. And if she was truthful with herself, she knew even distance wouldn’t help. “Talk to me,” Javier said softly. Kinsey sighed. “It’s nothing. I’m just upset with myself.” She made a sudden, useless wish that he didn’t look so good and stood up. “Come on, let’s go back and try one more time.” **** The sounds of the cleaning crew reverberated through the empty offices of APR Consulting. Kinsey looked up from her computer and rubbed her eyes. She’d stayed at her desk well after the rest of her colleagues left for the day, attempting to make up for the time she’d lost. The called off taping had occupied the better part of the afternoon, but she doubted that much of it would be usable. No matter how much she attempted to concentrate, she’d only ended up getting distracted by his face, his hands, by wondering what he was thinking about. Craving him. 146
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Her level of angst increased with every screw up. Every time Dan called “cut,” her patience grew thinner. They finally gave up, making arrangements to meet at the new-hire orientation next week. When she got back to her desk, her level of anxiety was at an all time high. Attempting to focus on the notes for her upcoming meeting was almost impossible. It was starting to become impossible to work. She turned her attention to the computer screen where she was compiling the list of bullet points for the meeting. “The ways to ensure your project is completed,” she mumbled to herself. Rule number one, don’t have sex with your colleague before the project starts. Rule number two, communicate with your colleague as little as possible when he only makes you think about climbing all over him. Rule number three, don’t think about how good it felt when you were both naked and he was spreading your legs apart, putting his mouth against you, sliding the tip of his tongue against your… Kinsey slammed her fist down on her desktop in anger. It had to stop, that was all here was to it. The question was how? The rules didn’t help at all. Trying not to think about sleeping with Javier worked about as well as a child trying not to eat all of the candy received on Halloween. She tried her best to keep him at a distance, but he wouldn’t listen. Now, because of him, her work was going by the wayside. Her sanity was pretty much nonexistent. What she was doing didn’t seem to be working. Maybe it was time to feed her sweet tooth. **** Kinsey allowed her car to roll to a stop in front of Javier’s home in Arlington. The sun was setting in the sky, the air unseasonably warm. Trees and flowers were blooming, but she had no time to admire them. She stomped up to the front door. She’d see him and they’d work this out. If that meant having sex, so be it. Kinsey rang his doorbell and waited impatiently, then rang it again when he
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didn’t answer fast enough. Finally, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. The door swung open to reveal Javier. He wore an old cotton Dallas Cowboy shirt that might once have been blue, hanging down over faded jeans that rode low on his hips and seemed to be made for his body. Behind him, soft music played. Red wine filled the glass in his hand. His feet were bare. “Kinsey?” For a moment, he stood and looked at her. Deep down she could only imagine how she looked. She hadn’t bothered to stop by the house and change. This was too important. Kinsey had on the skirt from the gray pinstripe suit she’d worn, but on the way over she’d taken off the jacket. Her green silk blouse complemented her complexion. She watched Javier’s gaze drop lower, following the curve of her throat down to the now unbuttoned neckline of her shirt to where the swell of her breasts started. Her hair now rested on her shoulders, where it had been pinned up earlier. It was probably a mess, considering how many times she’d raked her hands through it. His eyes began to darken and desire swamped her. “Can I come in?” she asked, her heart pounding as if it were going to jump out of her chest. “Of course.” He moved back and opened the door wider for her. “Is something wrong?” She stepped into the foyer. “We need to talk.” Anxiety surged through her, vibrating in her voice, and she tried not to flinch. He shut the door, locked it, then turned to her. “Sure. However, you look as though you could use a drink.” She followed him through a massive living room. A flight of stairs rose to her left, a gleaming oak banister curving upward. The stairs that led to his bedroom, she thought with a little thrill of heat. A dark gold runner muffled the click of her heels. To her right, an arch led to a spacious family room that appeared to look out into a yard.
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Javier stepped into an efficient kitchen decorated in a masculine black and chrome, setting his glass down on the counter. She took a moment to push her wariness aside and enjoy the warmth of his home. “I have a Shiraz open, or I can open the Chardonnay chilling in refrigerator.” “No, red is fine.” A glass of wine to mellow her out and allow her to think. Except she didn’t want to mellow out. She wanted to be on edge. She wanted Javier. He set an empty glass on the counter, filled it with red liquid, and handed it to her. Picking up his own wine, he leaned against the counter. “Salud,” he said, and touched is glass against hers. Kinsey took a big gulp, then looked at him. “I think we should have sex.” He didn’t react for a moment, and she raced on. “Look, we’ve spent days tiptoeing around it, and it’s driving me insane. I couldn’t get anything done today and neither could you.” She knew she was talking too fast, but now that she had an opportunity to say what she’d been holding in all this time, the words wouldn’t stop. “I thought about it and you were right in Houston. We should just do it and get it out of our systems.” Javier just leaned against the counter and studied her quietly. “I mean, it’s just sex,” she said, rationalizing aloud. “It shouldn’t dictate our lives. We had a good time with each other before and lived to tell the story.” Unable to stand still, she began to pace, her heels clicking loudly on the marble floor. “Several people just have casual sex. Why shouldn’t we? We go to bed, we have a great time, and we get it out of our systems.” She paused to take a sip of wine, then she couldn’t take his silence any longer. “Well, what do you think?” For several heartbeats, he simply looked at her. Then he pushed away from the counter. “I think we should go sit down.” Kinsey followed him as he walked down the hall. She made her way toward the family room, expecting him to go in that direction. Instead, he turned to head up the stairs. An abundance of energy rushed through her. She’d thought she meant what she’d said, but she hadn’t expected him to go full steam ahead without any further conversation. It was too soon, she 149
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thought frantically. Upstairs, he turned down a short hall and into the master bedroom. “Wait,” she called out, drifting into the room. Javier stopped and looked at her questioningly, his hand on the handle to set of glass doors. Beyond it, a beautiful deck overlooked the backyard. “Oh.” Kinsey exhaled on a sigh of relief. “What’s wrong?” “Uh, nothing. I just assumed…” One corner of his mouth curled upward into his signature wicked grin. “Thought that I wasn’t wasting any time?” “Something like that.” He made his way back over to her, so close she could hear the soft sound of his breath over the pounding of her heart. So close she could feel his heat. “Well, I guess we could get right down to it if you really want to, but I think we’d be better off discussing it first.” He moved back to pull the door open then walked out onto the deck. Kinsey followed behind him. Citronella candles kept away any insects that might be out and about. The soft music she’d heard downstairs played softly from wall-mounted speakers. John Grisham’s latest lay face down between a pair of dark blue chaise lounge chairs. A magnificent pool and beautifully landscaped yard lay off in the distance. The wine glass felt cool against her fingers. Though the day was over, the sun sat low in the sky, giving off its last rays of light on the horizon. The night air remained muggy. She looked out into the backyard. “This is a beautiful view.” “The pool and the potential for landscaping sold me on the place.” Javier closed the glass doors and crossed to where Kinsey stood. He rested on hip against the rail. “So talk to me.” “About what?” He cocked his head to the side and stared at her. “When I’m in business negotiations with a client and they make a one-hundred-and-eighty degree turn for no apparent reason, I usually get suspicious.” Kinsey’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not a client, and we’re not negotiating.” 150
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“Oh?” Leaning against the waist-high railing, Kinsey looking out into horizon. Instead of the lights of Houston, she saw the lights along the pool. This time, there was no moonlight, but the city lights set up a glow around them. She took a drink of her wine and relaxed marginally. Javier glanced over at her. “Wasn’t it just last week we were on a balcony just like this?” He took a sip and set his glass on the broad wooden railing. “I seem to recall someone telling me she didn’t want to sleep with me just to scratch an itch.” Kinsey lifted her chin. “Maybe I changed my mind. It we just set some rules up front—” “Ah, the rules again.” She scowled. “You have an issue with that?” “They didn’t work the last time.” He reached over to play with a strand of her hair. “Maybe if you’d followed them they would have. Maybe then we wouldn’t be standing here having this conversation.” She thumped the wine glass down on the railing. Before she could react, he’d pulled her close, his smile utterly wicked. “Sooner or later, we would have had this conversation no matter what.” “Release me,” Kinsey snapped. He disregarded her command. “I thought you came here to hit the sheets with me,” he murmured, tracing his fingertips down her throat and into the vee of her collar. “Seems to me like holding you ought to be a part of the process. Personally, I sort of like holding you.” He ran his hands down her back, molding her to him. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. That’s the point of all of this, isn’t it? Get it out of our systems, you said.” He placed a line of kisses along her jaw. “That’s going to take some effort.” Kinsey felt every inch of his body against hers, felt his erection growing. The enclosure around the balcony was a solid wall behind her. His hands were hotter than the night air, warming her skin through the thin material of her blouse. Under his touch, her angst faded away. It felt so right to be there 151
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with him, no matter what happened after. Kinsey caught herself. Was she insane? Javier trailed a hand back up to tangle in her hair, pulling her head back to capture her mouth. “Wait,” she gasped. “We need to make certain we both agree to what’s going on here.” He paused for several heartbeats. “Back to the rules, huh?” She felt his lips touch lightly, teasingly against hers, then nibble across her cheek. “Okay. Rule number one, we get to be fully unclothed together as often as we both want. And I can tell you right now, I’m going to want that a whole lot,” he murmured, then his mouth took possession of hers and drew her into a wild journey of arousal. Hot and demanding, his mouth took her ruthlessly until desire roared through every inch of her body. The rough scrape of his beard against her chin inflamed her. His hands were in her hair. He tempted her to give, then to take until she was discombobulated with arousal. There had to be a point when she’d thought she could turn away from this intense sensation, the night she’d walked away at the Piedmont Hotel. Now she knew she’d been fooling herself to think she could do without this. To think that she could do without him. It was unfathomable to consider walking away now. She’d been running away to this point since she’d seen him in the conference room at APR Consulting. However much she tried to convince herself otherwise, he’d written himself permanently into her mind and body. With his lips on hers, she met him with a moan. “Rule number two,” Javier whispered as he broke the kiss to nibble her jaw, “we get to have each other any way we want.” His hands slid down over her breasts, hot and demanding, grazing over to free the top buttons on her top one by one. The material parted and his fingers were on the warm curves of her satin-covered flesh, making her inhale sharply. She pressed herself against him with fervor, feeling the heat of his hands contrast with the balmy evening air. Then he moved his hand up slightly, and she could feel her heart thumping against his palm. This was the result of yearning and many nights of pent-up lust, this whirlwind of arousal that had overtaken them both. Caught up in the maelstrom, she could only clutch at him, closing her mouth over his as though they could breathe through each other. His caress was firm, and she 152
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relished in it. She felt his hands pushing her skirt up around her hips, heard his whisper of approval as his hands slid over the tops of her stockings to run up the garters she wore. The touch of his fingertips on her flesh made her quiver. The thought drifted though her head that she should tell him to stop, but the words turned into a moan and she raked her hands up his back to thread them through his hair. “Rule number three, no changing your mind tomorrow. We’ll see this through.” Man-oh-man, how had she managed to resist this when it felt so damn right? Kinsey sighed as Javier trailed hot kisses down her throat. After weeks of observing him and wondering, the answer was that the reality made her memories pale in comparison. She undid the buttons on his shirt, running her hands over his chest. He gasped at the sensation of her skin over his nipples. He tempted her to push further, to take them both to the brink and beyond. Kinsey moaned as his clever fingers slipped under the edge of her satin underwear to find her slick and ready. He caressed her there and she writhed against him. “Yes,” she gasped, and opened her legs to give him better access. Then his fingers were tugging the scrap of satin between them aside, driving her up toward the edge of absolute pleasure. Somewhere in the background, she heard the sound of his zipper, and he lifted her up until her legs were wrapped around his waist, her back braced against the barrier. “Rule number four,” Javier murmured in her ear, his voice raspy, his breath choppy. “I get to have my way with you. Now.”
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Chapter Fourteen His mouth was on hers, taking, devouring. Then he lifted his head. “Let’s take this inside,” he whispered. “Hold on tight.” With her still wrapped around him, he turned and made his way across the balcony to the glass doors, then stepped inside. A swath of muted lights from outside shone across the bed and up one wall. He crossed the room and lowered Kinsey down onto the soft coverlet. She barely registered the feel of the bed beneath her before he was on her. His hands were relentless, caressing her, stroking her until she moved her hips without volition, moaning loudly, caught up in sensation. He was hot and hard against her, his mouth bruising hers. Gone was any pretense at gentleness. Now it was only naked passion and insatiable arousal that drove them both as he pushed her up, up and over the brink in a kaleidoscope of wonderful pleasure that only left her wanting more. Even as the aftershocks coursed through her, she felt Javier move away from her and heard the sound of a drawer opening. Then he was back against her, shoving her skirt upward, removing her satin panties. She reveled in his impatience as she fumbled with the button on his jeans before reaching in to feel the hardness and pulsing heat in her hand, insanely turned on by knowing that he wanted her so much. She heard the crackle of foil and plastic and then he moved her hand away to cover his magnificent erection. And thrust him into her in a slick rush that stole the air from her lungs. Nothing that had come before had prepared her for this. The orgasm from moments ago had been just a precursor for the feelings that overwhelmed her now. The pressure of his body, the glorious friction of him thrusting in and out of her combined with an exquisite molten flow of pleasure. His face was taut with passion. The tightening began again in her body, intensifying with every thrust until she was clinging to him desperately, legs wrapped around his waist, hands grabbing the sweat-slicked muscles of his back as they contracted and released. She moaned as she felt him swell, heard him inhale sharply, and then he was surging against her, pressing her into the mattress even as she shuddered with her own ecstasy. 154
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**** Javier rolled off onto his side, sliding out of her in a slick rush that only made him hard again. “What—” “Shh.” He leaned over her and kissed her long and lingeringly. “Man, you’re stunning. All I want to do is make love with you again.” He eased off the bed to remove his shirt and jeans, then came back to her. “But first, we’ve got to get you out of all these clothes.” He traced his tongue down her neck, undoing the remaining buttons on her top. Stripping it off, he threw it on the floor. The low-cut satin bra she wore beneath was anything but modest. Kinsey reached down and unfastened the front clasp and Javier pulled the cups away to reveal the smooth, soft skin of her breasts. The silkysoft feel of her nipple against his tongue nearly drove him mad. Kinsey rubbed her hands down his arms, gripping his muscles, then gasping as his tongue teased first one then the other nipple to a tight, hard point. She lifted her hips to help him take off her skirt and the scrap of lace she wore beneath, leaving her clad only in stockings and a garter belt. He lay on the bed next to her, amazed at the luxury of her smooth warmth pressed against him. This was what he hadn’t been able to get out of his mind, the heat and intimacy of being close to her. He ran his hand lightly down her body, his fingers rising and falling over her breast, fanning out over the slight curve of her hip. One at a time, he unsnapped her garters and pushed the stockings off. “Right now, I just want to feel you,” he whispered. He leaned in to kiss her, and the feel of her warm, mobile mouth under his excited him again. The hard length of him nudged her thigh as he reached for another packet of protection. He lost all ability to think when Kinsey reached down and took over, wrapping her fingers around him until he trembled, astounded at the fact that she could arouse him so. Kinsey looked up at him as he moved to lie between her legs.
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He’d thought about this moment so many times. None of it even came close to the pure magnificence he felt as he looked into her eyes and thrust slowly into her, sliding in so smooth and slick it took his breath away. For several heartbeats, he remained completely still, lost in the pleasure and warmth, lost in being a part of her. Then gradually, slowly, he began to move. The sensation threatened to overtake him, but he’d sworn that he would relish the experience. He could give them both a opportunity to absorb what they were feeling before it was over. He felt Kinsey tightening around him, grasping, her fingers clutching his shoulders. Higher and high they rode the motion until he pushed both of them over the edge to crash head first into a whirlwind of pleasure, shouting out with release. He lowered himself carefully to Kinsey, happy when she accepted his weight willingly. After a few moments, he withdrew, discarding the used protection before gathering her in his arms once more. He listened to her breath even out as she drifted off to sleep. Javier pressed a kiss to her forehead and followed her into a deep slumber. **** The bright light of morning poured into the room, drawing Kinsey into wakefulness. She became quickly aware of the heat of Javier’s body behind her as she lay spooned against him. Every nerve ending registered the texture of his skin, memories of last night crowding in on each other. She might have been celibate for seven years, but in the prior hours, they’d made up for lost time. The night had been an erotic pattern of making love, then sleeping long enough to make love again. Each time they had dozed off, one of them awoke enough to brush a caress over skin sensitized to the touch, starting the cycle all over again. Passion gave way to laughter, which faded away into a maelstrom of arousal in the blink of an eye. It was spectacular, and she wanted more. It was scary, and she had no idea what came next. How would it be when he awoke? They hadn’t come close to discussing things last night and she hadn’t the slightest of what to expect from him. Going to bed and getting it 156
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over with had seemed like a good idea when she started out for his home, but now, here she was in bed with him, and her longing for him was far, far from burned out. All she was sure of was that she desired more. Javier mumbled in his sleep and tugged her closer, wrapping his arms around her. She’d never woken with a lover before, never been in a man’s bed with the run rising. Her insignificant college experience, completely irrelevant in hindsight, had begun and ended one night after a social gathering. She had no experience greeting the morning with another. After a lifetime of waking alone, the reality of waking in the arms of her lover was extremely incredible. Anxiety slowly began to dissolve the happy feelings. How Javier felt, where things stood now, she had no idea. She’d come to his house expecting to talk first and act later. Instead, they’d fallen into bed without sorting anything out, with no more understanding of where things stood than the first time they’d been together. Who knew what he was expecting? She’d said get it out of their systems. Maybe it was done for him, in which case waking up in his bed was too mortifying to think about. Kinsey craned her neck to look at the clock and saw it blink to 6:00 a.m. She had a ten o’clock meeting to conduct, and she was halfway across town from her apartment and a change of clothes. What the hell had she been thinking? Nervousness inched its way into her as she tried to ease out of bed without waking him. He only pressed his lips against her in sleepy reflex and tightened his arms in response. She tugged against him again, sliding toward the edge of the bed. Finally, she managed to get loose. He turned over and drifted back to sleep. Kinsey tiptoed stealthily across the bedroom floor, reaching for articles of clothing she recognized from the tangle of clothes piled haphazardly on the floor. Slipping into the bathroom, she shut the door with a quiet snick and turned on the light. She had the bare minimum of articles to make her decent, though her garter belt had somehow disappeared, not to mention her underwear. Quickly, she washed in the sink then slipped into her clothes, smoothing her skirt down over her hips, her hands mimicking the feel of his 157
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touch. She stared at herself in the mirror and a clownlike smile spread across her face. No matter what came next, it had been an amazing night. Quietly, she flipped off the light and opened the door to see Javier still sleeping. She walked softly across the room, stooping to pick up her shoes. Spotting one of her stockings tossed in a corner, she retrieved it and looked around for its twin. Then she caught sight of the garter belt. There was no sign of her underwear, but it was little enough of a sacrifice. She paused and studied Javier’s sleeping profile for a moment. Bending over, she brushed the lightest of kisses over his left eyebrow, then turned to go. And an arm snared her around the waist from behind. “Ducking out on me?” Shock sent adrenaline rushing through her system even as she registered his voice, rough with sleep. Before she could respond, he tugged her back down onto the bed for a long, leisurely kiss. The kiss rekindled all the desire she’d felt the night before. Far from being burned out, the wanting was sharper, more vivid for knowing just what she was missing in all its glory. Javier ended the kiss and stared at her. “I could have sworn one of the rules was no running away in the morning.” “I have to get to work.” Kinsey drew away, attempting to stand up. Javier followed her, tugging her close to him again. “Saying goodbye doesn’t take long.” “I wasn’t certain we’d have much to say this morning. We said we’d get this out of our systems. I thought last night was enough.” “To burn this out? I don’t think so.” He began unfastening the front of her shirt. “I don’t know about you, bonita, but I’m very far from burned out. In fact, I think we’re going to have to try a whole lot harder to get through this because right now I have a pretty good fire going.” She looked down, following his gaze, and spotted the evidence for herself. “Hang on,” she said desperately as he threw her top on the floor and undid her bra. “We rushed into things last night without figuring out what’s
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going on. Let’s not do it all over again.” Then she inhaled sharply at the feel of his hands on her breasts. “I’m positive I know what’s going on. It’s very simple,” he stated, nibbling down her throat. “I want you, no doubt about it. You want more rules?” He unzipped the back of her skirt. “I’ll take you out to dinner tonight and we can discuss the rules to your heart’s content.” “Dinner?” “Yes. You know, where you sit down at a table and eat a meal in the evening? I believe I still owe you one.” He slid her skirt down over her hips to find nothing but bare flesh beneath. “Interesting. I see you didn’t find all of your clothes this morning.” At the feel of his hands, Kinsey gave up her efforts to leave. “I was short on time,” she breathed, running her hands down his back. “Well then, we need to get you showered and on your way,” he replied, pulling her toward the bathroom. “Come with me. I’ll show you the most efficient way to use a bar of soap.” **** This day has flown by so fast, Kinsey thought, as she dug into her desk for her purse at the end of the day. She’d never realized the entertainment possibilities of soap and water, her lips curving upward in memory. By the time they’d finished, only rushing at near warp speed had gotten her to work in time to prepare for her meeting. And now, as she locked her office, she was heading out to meet her lover, to receive her reward for getting through another dutiful day of work. And what a reward it was, she thought thirty minutes later as she came around the corner of the parking lot and saw him waiting for her in front of the restaurant. It was difficult to force herself to walk when she wanted to run into his arms. Then she was there, wrapped around him, her mouth pressed to his. Javier kissed her long and leisurely, wiping away the memory of the daytime hours that had dragged by while she had been sidetracked by images 159
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of last night. At some point she really needed to think about the rush of pleasure that the sight of him brought to her. For now, it was enough just to feel him against her, to smell his scent as she brushed a kiss against his jaw. She bit back a protest as he pulled back and offered her his hand to lead her into the restaurant. “Who was it that had the smart idea of meeting here for dinner instead of at one of our places, where I could have ripped your clothes off and had my way with you?” he inquired as he held the door for her. She shot him an amused look. “That would be you.” Javier nodded. “I thought as much. Just for the record, even I am wrong sometimes.” The restaurant was stunningly beautiful, a mix of gray walls and burgundy wood. In the reception area, an enormous glass sculpture with a flowing ribbon of translucent scarlet was set on a pedestal with just enough beams of sunlight turning it to flame. The maître d’ led them to a table next to a wall of windows overlooking the street, where the golden light of late afternoon sun shone in. Javier seated her, then kissed her light on the lips before taking his chair. Without consciously thinking about it, Kinsey reached out across the table to link her fingers with his. She looked around her and exhaled in happiness. “When I was a kid, I always dreamed of going to a restaurant like this.” “Well, I’m glad that I am able to make one of your dreams come true.” He’d done that many times over. Arousal of the sort she’d only dreamed about when she’d written her novels had come to life for her last night. Now, finally, she knew what it was like to make love all night, to have the desire be never ending. Long moments ticked by as they stared deep into each other’s eyes, stopping only long enough for Javier to look at the wine list. Javier looked at her as the waiter walked away. “You know, you’re the most lively person I’ve ever known.” “I am? You must not get out often.” He chuckled before nodding toward the other patrons in the restaurant. “Look at all of them. They’re all in the typical workday uniform. Your typical 160
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black, blue, or gray. Predictable. Then there is you. Yes, you have a gray suit, but instead of the customary white shirt, you chose something out of the ordinary. You light up the room when you walk in.” Self-conscious, Kinsey looked down at her hot pink satin blouse. During the day, she had toned it down by wearing her suit jacket buttoned up, but she’d taken it completely off when she’d left to meet him. “Everyone has a weakness. Neon colors have always been mine. I must have been a toucan in a previous life.” He cocked his head to the side then shook it. “No. I see you as something more exotic, like an angelfish, swirling around in coral reef waters and flirting with the divers.” He ran his fingers over the back of her hand, teasing the sensitive skin there. “And what sort of animal were you in a past life?” “I have no idea. I’ve never thought about it. Cockatiel or something. Definitely a loner, whatever it is.” “No. I think you’d be something more feral. A jaguar, maybe. One that rests on a heavy branch all day, sleek and coiled, waiting for prey.” The leisured caress was pulling her down into a sensual haze and she began to quiver. Just then, the server appeared with their wine. The next few minutes were taken up by the ceremony of label, cork, and tasting, allowing her a opportunity to get her heart rate down where it belonged. Then they were left with their wine and a basket of assorted breads. Javier raised his glass to her. “To angelfish.” “And jaguars.” They touched glasses and she savored the cool, crisp taste of the wine on her tongue. Javier laughed. “Seems like we’ve been going at this out of sequence.” “What do you mean?” “Well, typically a dinner date is the first thing that occurs in an affair, not the last.” He took a sip of wine. “And are we having an affair?” she questioned with a quick flare of nerves. “After last night you have to ask?” 161
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“I may not have a lot of experience, but I do know a thing such as a onenight stand exists. We said we’d get it out of our systems.” Anxiety rushed through her, but she forced herself to continue. “I thought that might have been enough.” “Did you now?” He shook his head. “Definitely not, not in the least.” He raised her hand to his lips and lingered over it, his eyes on hers. “I want you. And I’m positive I’m going to keep wanting you for a while.” Her stomach began to flutter. “Same goes for me.” “Good. That saves me the time of convincing you.” If he only knew how badly she wanted his hands on her, wanted him against her “You had me convince last night.” The words came out in a husky rasp. The server cleared his throat. “Hi, I’m John. I’ll be your waiter tonight.” He flashed brilliant white teeth and rambled off a list of specials so rapidly Kinsey could barely keep up. She opened her menu. “I haven’t even had a opportunity to look at this yet. Could we have a few more minutes?” “Of course. Take as long as you need.” He smiled again and left. Javier looked down at his menu and she followed his lead. She’d barely started reading when he spoke. “So what are you doing over the weekend? I’m trying to determine how much of it we can enjoy in bed.” “That’s a few days from now.” His grin was purely wicked. “I already have plans for you each of those nights.” “You’re nothing if not efficient.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and sucked on one of her fingertips. “Efficiency is the least of my talents.” A rush of arousal traveled all the way to her womb. Her entire body quivered and she closed her eyes briefly. “I don’t believe you answered my question,” he stated in amusement. “What?” she responded blankly. “Oh, uh, this weekend. Well, Saturday, I’m going to the Fort Worth Corporate Games for Charity. We have a team doing the run.” 162
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“ES Solutions is going to be there, too. You should bring the team by to have lunch with us. We’re a sponsor.” He brushed a kiss over the back of her fingers. “I know. Lewis specifically asked me to look you up and make sure you knew APR Consulting was there.” She rolled her eyes. “He seems to think you’re the sort of guy that impresses easily.” “Everything you do impresses me, Kinsey, but I’m happy to hear that Lewis has turned matchmaker.” “A matchmaker who will remain completely unaware of what’s going on between you and me, thank you very much,” she said quickly. “Of course.” He gave a short laugh and shook his head. “Warrick now, Warrick’s going to have a ball with this one.” “Why does he need to know?” Apprehension tightened her voice. “I think we should keep this off the work radar. You own your company. I don’t. While that might not be our exact situation, someone could make a case for it. It could be a problem for me.” “I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize your work situation. Warrick won’t say anything. He may give me a very stern lecture, but he won’t say anything.” Javier broke off a piece of bread from one of the miniloaves in the basket and buttered it. “He’s my partner and we go back way too far for me to lie to him if he asks.” “Why would he ask?” “He’s been telling me to stay away from you since we signed the contract with APR.” “From me?” she asked inquisitively. “Why?” “He could tell you were on my mind. Sometimes Warrick knows me a little too well.” He lifted his glass to drink. “He’s just worried that something might happen between us to affect the project. Is it going to be an issue for you, working together?” A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “It’s a little late to ask that now, isn’t it?” “Oh, I don’t know. I thought you’d want to set some rules.”
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“We keep the two separate. It’s as simple as that. Otherwise, I sort of liked your rules from last night. Especially the part about getting to be naked together whenever we want.” “I liked that one too.” She tilted her head to the side. “Do you suppose it would be distasteful to take the bottle of wine to go?” “It might be a first for them, but I’ve always been a fan of starting a new trend.” His eyes darkened as he rose and offered his hand to her. “Your place or mine?”
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Chapter Fifteen Kinsey shivered as she stood with Zoey close to the starting line of the Fort Worth Corporate Games 5K. The day had dawned sunny and bright, but the morning air still had a brisk feel as they waited amid the crowd of runners. The sound of an air horn broke the quiet and the pack took off. As with most running events, it took a minute or two for the foot traffic to thin out enough for them to move beyond a slow jog. The delay didn’t make Kinsey as anxious as it typically did—her mind was on waking earlier that morning with Javier. “You have that I’ve-got-a-drop-dead-gorgeous-man-on-my-mind sort of look, Kinsey,” Zoey stated. “Come back down to Earth and tell me what’s going on. Did you have a discussion with your masquerader?” Kinsey gave her a sidelong glance. “Nope. I figured I’d just sex him down instead.” At Zoey’s stunned look, Kinsey broke into a thrilled laugh. “I can’t keep up with you.” Zoey shook her head in amazement. “One minute you’re doing the single-chick thing, the next you’re tying the guy to the bed, and now you’re taking him to bed.” Zoey gave her an admiring look. “I have to give you credit, Kinsey, when you decide to go for it, you do it right.” Kinsey nodded, waiting for the pack around them to thin out until there was some privacy. “It’s nice. He’s great. I don’t know why I waited so long.” “Now do you see why I’ve been on your case to have an affair all of these years?” Zoey jogged along, a small smile on her face. “So when do I get to meet him?” “Today, if you want to.” Kinsey looked over her shoulder before moving to pass a runner ahead of her. “He’s invited our team to have lunch at ES Solutions table.” “Oh, this is wonderful. I can’t wait. Kinsey has herself a man, and I want to meet him.” “It’s only temporary,” Kinsey warned. “We just agreed to try it out for a while. It could be over tomorrow for all I know.”
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“That’s true of any relationship,” Zoey replied. “Don’t shortchange yourself—enjoy it while it lasts.” “Speaking of short changing one’s self, how did the breakup with Hakeem go?” “Nasty in a very Hakeem-like way.” All of the amusement disappeared from Zoey’s face, leaving her unusually subdued. “It was all how could I leave him, how could I abandon him just when his heavy fighting season is getting started, didn’t I care about his career at all?” Zoey’s jaw tightened as she sped up a little. Kinsey looked at her sympathetically. “No, ‘I want you,’ ‘I need you,’ ‘I love you’?” “No. I don’t think thoughts like that enter his head.” She shrugged her shoulders as though shaking off disappointment. “I still can’t believe I stayed with him for so long. It was just a major waste of time. I feel really good that I’m out of it, though. I just want to be on my own for a while, not make another mistake by rushing into something.” I know everyone says it, but the right guy is out there for you, Zoey. Now that you’ve called things off with Hakeem, you’re free to find him.” “And have you found the right guy, hmm, Ms. Die Hard Romantic?” Zoey asked, clear amusement in her voice. Kinsey shook her head. “It’s too soon to even begin thinking that way. I feel good when I’m with him. I’ll take that for now.” But part of her wondered if it already felt too good to be true with Javier. In a short amount of time, he’d become a permanent fixture in her life. When he was near, she felt light enough to walk on air, free enough to be herself, and amazingly, that was what he wanted. She thought of it again after the run, as she sat watching the volleyball tournament with the rest of the team, nibbling on an apple and bobbing her head to a hip-hop song by an artist she wasn’t familiar with playing over the loudspeakers. Only a few hours had passed since she’d left Javier, yet she was already wondering how soon she could subtly seek him out. Next to her, Zoey shifted. “So what time is lunch? I volunteered to assist at the first aid tent, so I should get over there.” 166
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“I’ll go with you,” Kinsey replied, getting to her feet while trying to contain her excitement. She looked at her colleagues. “I’ll see you guys in a little while. Lewis wants me to check in with the new contractor, so I have to go and make nice.” “That was smooth,” Zoey said admiringly as they walked toward the first-aid area, passing the rows of booths from corporate sponsors. “I take it you and Javier are still in secret lovers mode?” Kinsey nodded. “What they don’t know won’t hurt them. I have to find his booth. Come with me?” Zoey smiled. “How old did you say you were again?” “Six months older than you, Zoey,” she replied, “and still big enough to make you cry off.” “In your dreams,” Zoey scoffed. “Maybe so, the way you work out.” Kinsey grabbed Zoey’s arm abruptly. “Oh, there’s their booth over there.” It took serious effort on her part to walk up casually, taking her time. It was a little disappointing to realize that only Warrick was there. “That’s him?” Zoey asked in a dejected voice. “Shh. No, that’s his partner.” Kinsey gave Warrick a little wave as they strolled up to the table. “Kinsey Maxwell, right?” Warrick asked before she could speak. “I wasn’t aware that anyone from APR was here.” “Wouldn’t miss this worthy cause for anything in the world,” she replied easily, and introduced Zoey. “Zoey was a part of our team in the 5K. How are you guys doing?” “We had a few people in the run. Our volleyball team got eliminated earlier, but that wasn’t much of a surprise. We sort of sucked. It was still fun, though,” he said without any embarrassment. “And, hey, our basketball team is kicking butt. Javier seems to think we might have a great chance of winning.” Kinsey picked up a ES Solutions brochure and opened it, looking at it without seeing anything. “Speaking of which, is he around?” she asked as casually as possible. 167
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Warrick’s gaze sharpened. “Javier, you mean?” He gave her an assessing stare. “He’s on the basketball team. Check over at the basketball courts if you want him.” If she wanted him? She was starting to do nothing but. With Zoey in tow, Kinsey made her way over to where a few basketball courts sat adjacent to each other. “What does he look like?” Zoey asked. “You never told me.” “Oh, you know, tall, drop-dead gorgeous…” Kinsey’s voice trailed off as she surveyed the teams playing, trying to find the group from ES Solutions. Then she saw Javier and the ability to breathe escaped her. Even though she knew what he looked like nude, somehow it was even more of a turn on seeing his lean, angular body half-clothed. He wore a pair of jersey shorts that just emphasized his muscular legs. His gray T-shirt draped over a torso that tapered from broad shoulders to narrow hips. Sweat darkened the material in an oval circle on his back. Sunshades hid his eyes. As they watched, an ES Solutions team member stole the ball and passed it to Javier. Javier moved into position to make a jump shot. His forearm muscles flexed as he went for the shot. The guy defending against Javier made an attempt to bat the ball down as it arced toward the rim, but it landed in the net with a swish. Javier’s teeth flashed white as he smiled. “Which one is him?” Zoey asked. Kinsey merely pointed. It was too hard to talk when all the moisture in her mouth had dried up. “Holy smokes, that’s the man you were telling to get lost?” Zoey watched Javier go up for a layup. “What the hell were you thinking?” “Hey. Try to be a little more discreet, would you?” Kinsey requested without turning her head. “I work with him, remember?” The referee called a game point, and Javier tossed the ball in from off court before running onto it. A serious round of defense ensued, punctuated by the sounds of the ball hitting the backboard from missed shots. The ball nearly went out of bounds, but Javier chased it down with agility and speed. He passed the ball to a teammate who went for a shot that sailed in neatly. There was a chorus of euphoric cheers from the ES Solutions team. Javier 168
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rested his hands on his knees, smiling as he caught his breath. A few moments later, his teammates surrounded him, slapping him on the back before they all walked off the court. Kinsey felt surge of happiness as he broke away from the group to grab a bottle of water from a barrel of ice near the court. She watched his tanned throat move as he swallowed the water, and recalled how firm and smooth his skin felt there, how thick his hair was as it curled around her fingers when they were in bed. He finished drinking and wiped his mouth, then he looked up and their gazes locked. Heat slammed into her like a tidal wave. He picked up a towel off a nearby table and walked over. “Hola, bonita,” he whispered, wiping his forehead while his gaze roamed over her. Kinsey struggled unsuccessfully to wipe the grin off her face. It was insane how wonderful it felt to see him. “Good job out there.” He smiled. “Thank you. We’re on fire today.” “I can see that.” “It’s nice to see you.” Dark stubble overshadowed his jaw, making him look edgy and just a bit rough. The urge to kiss him was almost overwhelming. Thankfully, she remembered her manners. “This is Zoey Denmon, my very best friend who volunteered to round out our 5 K team. Zoey, Javier Elizondo.” “Nice to meet you.” Zoey eyed him speculatively. “Where’d you get that jump shot?” “I played in high school.” He took another drink of water. “I’m hoping to get the rust off in time for the next game in about an hour.” “You guys keep playing like that and I’d say you have the tournament under lock and key.” “Thanks.” Javier looked back at Kinsey. His expression made her think back to when she’d awakened, wrapped around him just that morning, but it felt like weeks had gone by. Having him near her felt right. He interrupted her thoughts when he spoke. 169
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“How did you all do?” “Better than I expected,” Kinsey said. “We might actually place.” He glanced at her legs and one corner of his mouth curved upward. “With legs like yours, I’m not surprised.” Zoey looked at her and smiled, then glanced at her watch. “Javier, it was nice to meet you. I’m sorry, but I have to run. I’m supposed to be helping out at the first-aid area. Kinsey, where do you want to meet for lunch?” Kinsey looked at Javier. “Where do you want to meet?” He muttered a response in Spanish and whatever he said sounded extremely sensual in nature. She’d have to ask him for clarification later. “Our tables are over near the booth. Feel free to bring the entire team.” “It’s really nice of you to invite us.” “No trouble, really. You’re our partners.” His gaze heated her through and through. “I’ll see you guys later,” Zoey said, but they barely heard her, intent on each other. He moved a step closer. She couldn’t help but imagine him closer still. “You left too early this morning,” he whispered. “I had to get here to meet the team.” “You should have stopped by when you arrived. We had fruit and muffins.” He took another drink of water, his eyes never leaving her. “Are you positive you’re going to have room for us at lunch?” “Not a problem.” The rest of the ES Solutions team was filing back. Someone called Javier’s name. “I should let you go.” She craved him with an intensity that shocked her. “Good luck with your game. I’ll bring the rest of the team over later.” “Sounds good. You know where to find us.” They looked at each other, unwilling to part without touching, unable to do anything but. It was insane to feel a sense of loss when she knew she’d be with him that night, but that didn’t change the way she felt. She gave a little wave, then forced herself to go. She would have him to herself the way she wanted, later.
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**** Javier watched her walk away. Magnificent legs, just amazing. He stared at the sleek lines of her legs, remembering when she stood in front of the window in the Omni Hotel wearing only stockings and a garter belt. And as for the rest of her, well, that was as fine as it came too, he thought as the team began to go over their game plan. When he’d turned around and seen her, he’d felt like he’d conjured her up by thinking about her. She’d been on his mind nearly nonstop since he’d seen her off that morning. The surge of pure, uncomplicated pleasure that had struck him gave him pause for thought, though. Passion was only part of the feeling. Most of it was knowing that he was going to be in her presence again. When had that happened? She stayed on his mind even through the next game, which didn’t keep him from leading the team to a win. She’d become such a part of him in such a short amount of time, he thought, walking back to the ES Solutions booth with the rest of his team. They were together nearly every minute they weren’t at work. He kept waiting for the desire to fizzle out, but it hadn’t happened yet. Still, given his family history and his own track record, it was just a matter of time. And that would be a real shame. “Congratulations,” Warrick called when Javier reached the booth. “I hear you guys made it to the next round.” “With this sort of talent, did you ever doubt it?” They went through the high-five ritual, slapping palms and bumping fists. Warrick shook his head. “Sorry, guess I forgot about your plethora of championship rings and ESPY Athlete of the Year award. “I won’t hold it against you,” Javier responded, tongue-in-cheek, taking a drink from the bottle of sports drink he held. “I figured I had to showcase a little talent for the sake of the company.” Warrick’s grin faded. “Speaking of the company, Kinsey Maxwell from APR stopped by. Did she find you?” He reached under the table to pull out some leaflets.
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The attempt at casualness failed completely for Javier saw through it instantly. “Yes. I invited her to bring the rest of the APR team over to our area for lunch.” Warrick slapped the leaflets on the table. “Are you certain that’s a good idea?” “Warrick, we’re working on a contract with them. Why wouldn’t we want to meet up with them if they’re here?” Warrick frowned. “No reason, I guess.” “Great.” Javier took a deep breath. “The other part that you should know about is that we’ve gotten involved.” Warrick turned around to face him, fury in his expression. “Damn it, Javier, you said—” “I said it would be okay, and it is.” His voice held a tone of finality. He looked steadily at Warrick until the agitation in his friend’s expression began to fade. “Look, this isn’t a one-night stand, okay? I like this woman, a lot. The job’s getting done. What we do on our own time is our business.” “Not when it can affect the company you’re running.” Warrick folded his arms over his chest like a high-school teacher reasoning with a difficult student. “It’s not affecting the company. The work is going great.” “That’s good for now, but what about—” “Warrick, I like being with her.” Javier’s voice was filled with intensity. “You know how long it’s been for me since I have wanted to be around anyone. Give me a little break here.” He paused. “I need to do this.” Warrick studied him for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. Okay. Just be careful. I don’t want the business deal screwed up, and I don’t want you to get taken to the crapper again over this. I don’t want to hear that—” “Uncle Javier!” A pair of adorable children hit Javier simultaneously from opposite sides. Warrick exhaled heavily as his children clung to Javier. “Uncle Javier, come play with us,” the five-year-old girl requested. “Pweese,” quipped the toddler with her, pushing his face into Javier’s leg.
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“Let’s move away from the table, Melissa.” Smiling, Javier gave Warrick a helpless shrug and obediently picked up the girl, carrying her safely away from the table before tossing her up in the air. “Yay,” cried the girl, screaming with laughter. “More.” “Me,” the little boy cried, holding his arms up. Warrick picked up his young son and placed him onto his shoulders. “There you go, Junior. You can watch Melissa and Uncle Javier from up here.” Javier was glad that the tension seemed to be broken for now. While he knew the discussion was far from over, he couldn’t help smiling for now. **** Kinsey brought the others to the ES Solutions table, introducing them to a handful of the people she knew from meetings. Attempting to disregard the butterflies in her stomach, she walked toward the booth, looking for Javier. Then she saw him, tossing a little boy up into the air playfully. Her mouth fell open at the sight. Javier tossed the little boy again then set him down. A dark-haired little girl dancing at his side tugged on his shirt for a turn. Somehow, she’d never imagined Javier as the family sort, but he looked worry-free and happy. His face was absent of its usual intensity, relaxed in a way she’d never seen before. She found herself entranced, totally. “What cute kids,” she murmured. “Thanks. We like to think so too.” Kinsey whipped around to find Warrick giving her an assessing stare. He looked beyond her to where his children were hanging off Javier’s arms, using him as a human jungle gym. “They’re mine. They’ve known him all their lives, so they pretty much act like they own him.” Javier looked up and spotted her and Warrick standing together. Letting Melissa down, he straightened up and walked over to them. The children bounced along beside him, swinging on his hands. He locked eyes with Kinsey. “Hi.”
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“Hey.” Several heartbeats slipped by while they simply looked at each other and smiled. Warrick watched them, and his mouth softened into a grin as well. Javier snapped out of the trance first. “Did you bring the others?” Kinsey nodded. “They’re over at the tables. How did the game go?” “We won. One more game and we make it to—wait.” He stopped speaking, staring at her intently. “Hold on a second. You have a bug in your hair.” “What?” Kinsey’s voice rose in fear as she cringed. She’d always been afraid of bees and wasps. Javier spoke softly, catching her shoulder. “Nothing that stings. Just hold still.” He reached over to untangle a ladybug from her hair and held it out. “Just a ladybug, see?” “Oh.” Kinsey struggled not to let her embarrassment show. “I have a thing about bites and stings.” “Let me see,” the little girl cried. Javier squatted down and held his palm out so that the little girl and boy could gather around him. They looked at the ladybug with awe. As the insect crawled over his hand, Javier tilted it so that they could continue to watch. “Put your hand out, Melissa,” he said. “It tickles,” Melissa squealed when the ladybug touched her, and dropped the bug back in Javier’s open hand. Watching the scene play out, Kinsey felt something constrict in her chest, like there wasn’t enough room for her heart. She looked away to see Warrick studying her as though she were a science project. “Warrick?” an attractive woman called as she made her way across the grass toward them. “It’s time to get the kids over to lunch, sweetie.” She came up and gave Warrick a quick kiss, then bent down to look at Javier’s hand with the kids. “Whatcha got?” “It’s a ladybug,” Melissa answered earnestly. “Isn’t she pretty? She’s all red and spottedy.” “Pretty indeed,” she affirmed.
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As if being tired of the focus being on her, the ladybug spread its wings and took off into the air. There was a chorus of protests from the children. “It’s okay,” Javier stated. “She was late for lunch.” “Just like us,” she said the woman, straightening up and pushing a strand of hair out of her face. “You going to introduce me to your girlfriend, Javier?” Warrick groaned, and Javier winced. She looked from one man to the other. “What, did I say something wrong?” “I’m just a colleague.” Kinsey responded quickly. “Kinsey Maxwell.” She offered her hand. The woman cringed. “I’m so sorry. When I looked over and saw you two together, I thought…oh, I jump to conclusions sometimes. I’m Claire Sellick, mother of those two rambunctious kids there.” Warrick walked up behind Claire and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You forgot another important part,” he said, dropping a kiss on her hair. “She’s also my adoring wife.” Claire turned to look at him, eyes gleaming. “You got that right, mister,” she said, and kissed him. “And you are my very intelligent and loving husband. Now let’s get everyone to lunch.” “Javier, can you make sure everything on the table is secure so it doesn’t fly away?” Warrick asked as he walked away. “Sure.” The foursome headed off across the grass, the children bouncing happily. “They seem really nice,” Kinsey murmured. She turned to Javier, and saw him looking at Warrick and his family with a kind of wishful yearning in his eyes. “What?” He reacted a beat too late. “Oh, yeah. The kids are awesome. Warrick and Claire have it made.” He looked at them one more time, then turned to her and smiled, his eyes clear again. “Come on, let’s go join everyone and eat.” She didn’t see the look return at lunch, when they laughed and joked through the meal, or in the afternoon, when he led the ES Solutions team to 175
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victory. And as she lay in bed next to him that night, she wondered if it had all been in her imagination, but she knew it hadn’t. Somewhere deep inside him was a yearning for what he thought he couldn’t have. Somewhere inside him was a desire for a family.
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Chapter Sixteen “So why should you care about figuring out your employees’ personality types?” Kinsey was up in front of the class, relaxed and enjoying herself. It was a small managers meeting concerning the class of new hires getting ready to come in. As always, she’d connected with the group, or maybe she just connected with Javier, who surveyed her closely from the back of the meeting room. Every time she looked in his direction, she felt surrounded by a special warmth. The lens of the camera that focused on her from the back of the room didn’t bother her. She barely noticed it. “The answer is that the more you understand them, the more efficiently you can work with them. It’s all about give and take.” She glanced at the faces in the meeting, and once again found herself unable to keep from looking at Javier. The grin on his face made her mouth curl upward in return. “In case you haven’t figured it out, as a manager, you have a relationship with your employees, just like you do with someone you’re in a relationship with. And like any relationship, the key issues are understanding, communication, and willingness to compromise. As the manager, you might be in charge, but if you want to get the most out of the relationship, you’ll find a way to meet your goals by helping the employees under your supervision achieve their goals.” She paused to change to the next slide. “You have to define the relationship.” Like she and Javier had defined their relationship. Only now, she found herself craving more. The feeling wasn’t fizzling out. It was growing stronger. “There has to be trust. They have to know they can count on you to be truthful with them, to be just, to look out for their interests.” Javier rubbed his chin and she felt a sudden wave of fluttering in her stomach. Instantly, all she could focus on was how much she wanted him, just a few minutes alone with him. “Okay, everyone, it’s eleven. Let’s take a break. I’ll see you all back here in fifteen minutes.” Kinsey watched the managers file out of the room and exhaled in relief.
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Dan turned off the camera and flashed her a grin. “You’re doing great. It is like night and day compared to our last taping. Combined with the newhire orientation and a little editing, this is going to be awesome.” “You were right,” Javier stated, “the audience makes all the difference.” She smiled with pleasure. “I’m lucky. This is a really good group of managers.” Dan yawned. “I ran into traffic and arrived here too late to have coffee. I’m going to go grab a cup before I fall asleep.” He wandered out the door, followed by the sound man, leaving the room empty but for Javier and Kinsey. Javier neared her as she approached him and drew her toward a corner hidden away from the doorway. “Why does it feel like it’s been weeks since I saw you rather than just a few hours?” he murmured, sealing his mouth to hers. It continued to astonish her, the heat his kisses stirred up. One minute she was in front of the room, cool and calm, aware of him at a level of discreet exhilaration. The next, she was simmering with desire. Emotion rushed through her with an intensity she’d never expected. She’d never realized that a love affair could satisfy her on so many levels. Love affair? Love? Kinsey stiffened. They had agreed on a purely physical affair. Love didn’t have anything to do with it. It couldn’t. She was very afraid it already did. “What’s wrong?” Javier whispered, his lips pressed against her throat. “Nothing,” she responded shakily, attempting to draw away. “I just remembered…I…uh…” “What’s the problem?” He started to ask, but then his cell phone rang and they separated. “Elizondo,” he answered in a short tone, rubbing his hand over his mouth absentmindedly to wipe away Kinsey’s lipstick. If she could just get her bearings, she’d be okay. Grabbing her purse, she rushed to the ladies room. How had it snuck up on her? The physical attraction she was fine with. It was the way she’d felt watching Javier with Warrick’s children at the Corporate Games that had surprised her. It was the quiet pleasures and passions of the week gone by 178
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that caught her off guard. Now, there was nothing to do but keep the sudden tidal wave of emotions to herself and let it dissolve. Hand trembling, she fixed her lipstick as best she could. **** Javier walked away from the meeting room, seeking better reception. “Okay, that’s better, you’re not breaking up now. Take a deep breath, Warrick, and tell me what happened.” Warrick’s words came out in a rush, his voice strained. “It was the financial backers. They called for an update and I spoke with them since you were out of the office. They wanted to know what was new. I told them about the video idea with the APR project.” Javier closed his eyes. “Please tell me you didn’t attempt to do a demo with them, Warrick. That feature’s not ready to show. You told me that yourself.” “I informed them that it was a new feature, just in test mode.” Javier inhaled deeply and searched for patience. “Warrick, we spoke about this. These guys are nervous. The last thing we want to do is scare them by showing them something that doesn’t work. Call them back and tell them you can’t do it.” There was a brief pause. “It’s too late,” Warrick finally responded. “Damn it to hell.” “I’d just been through it a couple of times this morning and it worked fine,” Warrick replied defensively. “I didn’t have anything else to share with them and they seemed to expect something.” He hesitated a moment as if trying to figure out what to say. “I gave them the website address and started to walk them through a tour.” Javier bit back a string of profanity and searched for patience. “And it froze.” “Worse. The server crashed. We’re dead in the water. Alonso and the guys are working on it. The issue is that it went down when I was showing it to the backers.” 179
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“Who were not impressed.” “Well.” Apprehension vibrated in Warrick’s voice. “They actually got pretty pissed. I mean, our original schedule for the first live rollout of phase one is in the less than three weeks. They’re doubtful about us meeting our schedule. I think they are really pissed. They want to talk to you immediately.” “We’re in the middle of taping here.” “They said pronto, Javier. I don’t know if they can yank the financial backing at this point, but I don’t want to give them a opportunity.” “Okay,” he said wearily. “I’ll call them.” Several minutes later, he was on the phone pacifying Chuck Lopen, the head of the venture capitalist group. “What you saw today was an glitch, Chuck. The first rollout isn’t for three weeks. We’ll be good by then.” “That’s not acceptable.” There was an edge to Lopen’s words. “We’ve invested five million dollars into you guys in the expectation of getting it back in the return. I need more than your reassurance.” “The content is solid, and that’s what going to make this successful.” “Prove it to me.” Lopen was curt. “I’m taking a flight in tonight. I want to meet with someone from APR and I want to see a demo tomorrow that works. In this market, nothing is a guaranteed success. I need to know this is at least going to get up off the ground.” Javier stifled a sigh. There went his hopes for a quiet evening with Kinsey. “Sounds like a plan. When you get your travel plans finalized, let my secretary know. I’ll pick you up at the airport and we can go to dinner.” Javier ended the call and stared at the wall for minute. Then he stepped into an empty office and released a long but heartfelt string of profanity as he called Warrick back on the cell phone. A few minutes later, Javier returned to the meeting room, watching Kinsey flip through her notes, her mouth drawn tight in concentration. As much as she turned him on when she was naked and pressed against him, there was something he downright admired about her by-the-book serious business persona. Maybe because he knew how a single touch from him could affect her. Maybe because, much to his surprise, she was becoming 180
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something of a fixture in his life. The lovemaking was spectacular, the intensity never seemed to fade. But he’d never really known the pleasure of sharing the events of his day with a lover, and in turn, sharing her triumphs and challenges. Kinsey had brought that to him. She had brought his days to life. **** Kinsey sensed him before he was even through the doorway. When she looked up to find Javier’s eyes on her, the truth of newly discovered selfknowledge coursed through her. Love. Whether or not it was right, it simply was. Her heart rate accelerated. “Important phone call?” “You don’t know the half of it. What’s your schedule look like tomorrow? Do you have time for a meeting?” “I have the second half of this meeting all day.” Just as well. She needed time away from him to recover her mental fortitude. “That’s right. I forgot.” He paused for a moment. “What about plans for dinner tonight?” Her instinct to run away was born out of self-preservation. “Um, sort of, why?” “Some ES Solution investors are coming in town. They want to have a meeting with a representative from APR. I called Lewis, but he’s booked. Which probably isn’t a bad thing. I don’t think Lewis can do what I need done in this meeting.” His eyes were on her, unwavering and intent. “I need you to represent APR Consulting. Will you do it?” Kinsey blinked and immediately changed her mind. “Sure. I’ll do anything I can to help out, you know that. But what could they possibly want from me?” “Mostly assurance. We tried to demo the first roll out phase for them today and it went very badly.” He paced restlessly. “We’re scheduled to go
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live in a little over two weeks from now. All the marketing is built around that launch date. Now they’re feeling apprehensive about their investment.” “How much of an investment?” “Five million.” Kinsey gave a low whistle. “I’d be a little nervous too.” “They’ll get it back by next year when they sell stock,” Javier said dismissively. “They have nothing to worry about. We do, though, if they pull out and leave us without funding.” He paused. “I need your help. I need to send these guys away reassured and excited. Between the two of us, we should be able to do it. We probably won’t even get much into the business side of things. They’ll just want to see that you have a strong and clear sense of what you’re doing.” “Do I need to do a presentation?” He shook his head. “Like I said, it will just be dinner. Can you do it?” “Sure,” she responded without hesitation. “What time?” “I’m not certain. I’ll leave a message on your voice mail.” He brushed a quick kiss over her mouth. “I have to get back to the office and do some damage control, then pick them up at the airport. You’re in good hands with Dan. Meet us at Chamberlain’s?” “I’ll see you there.” **** Kinsey sat quietly in the elegant restaurant at the heart of downtown, trying not to fidget and surveying her dinner companions. Graying and powerfully built, Chuck Lopen was the epitome of the successful venture capitalist. Energy hovered around him. He seemed a man not comfortable with idleness. Tim Ashby, his attorney, was younger, with a sharp-toothed smile that reminded her of a vicious animal. Where Lopen sat with a relaxed authority, Ashby bristled at his side with unbundled energy like a Chihuahua on a leash. Lopen looked at Kinsey. “So you’re helping with the content of your new portal?” 182
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She nodded. “I’m the Human Resources Generalist for APR Consulting. We’re contracted to have a new enterprise human capital management system designed by ES Solutions.” “You appear to be a little young to have held that position for long,” Ashby said patronizingly. “Do you have any experience in that area, or are you just parroting what’s there?” Kinsey gave him a look of faint astonishment mixed with disgust. “A person’s age doesn’t define a person’s ability, as I’m certain you’re aware. In response to your question, over the last six years, with the exception of occasional assistance from my director, I have run the Human Resources department at APR Consulting.” “What’s your background” Lopen inquired. “A Masters from TCU in HR Management, Bachelors in Psychology. SPHR Certification. I had plans to work at a Fortune 100 company as an HR Director.” “Just exactly how does that qualify you for—” Tim began. “Give it a rest, Ashby,” Lopen said easily, and smiled at Kinsey in genuine pleasure. “So you went to TCU, hmm? That’s my alma mater. There used to be a little greasy spot right off campus—” “Auntie Nola’s Diner?” His eyes lit up. “Yes. Is it still there?” Kinsey smiled and nodded. “I think there would be a revolt if they tried to close down Nola’s.” “Best greasy lunch in town,” Lopen said nostalgically, and took a sip of his drink. “So why APR Consulting instead of Fortune 100 company?” She shrugged. “The right choice at the right time.” He appeared to accept her explanation. “Are you sorry you didn’t go that route?” “No. I think what I’m doing is more challenging,” she replied, realizing as she said it that it was true. “I have a few opportunities to do things at APR that I might not be able to do at a Fortune 100 company. “Once you have the new system, your role is done, though.” He stated it as though it was a fact. 183
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“Oh no, this new system is just the beginning. APR has plans for expansion and I play a pretty important role in that. We have a new-hire class coming in next week for a government contract we’ve taken on.” “Seems to me like you’re a driven person,” he said with a smile. Kinsey felt a swell of pride at knowing that she was charming Lopen. She hoped it would be enough to help Javier and Warrick. “So you’re providing summaries for the information for the new APR site?” Lopen asked. Javier cleared his throat. “Actually, Kinsey is the one we’re taping for video applications. She’s a showstopper in staff meetings and knows APR like no one else. “You’ll get to see some of it in the demo tomorrow.” The waiter walked up to take their order, halting the conversation until they’d each selected their dinners. After she left, Lopen turned back to Kinsey. “I had some good times at TCU,” Chuck stated. “Used to play on the rugby team. After the games sometimes, we’d go over to Nola’s and celebrate.” He gave a low chuckle. “You know, I haven’t thought about that in years. Come to think of it, I have a reunion coming up. I think I lost the invite though,” he muttered. “Try looking on the TCU website,” Kinsey suggested. “I checked it out a little while back to track down some information myself. Every so often I try to get back to TCU just to take in the atmosphere, walk around the campus.” “I loved that campus,” Chuck stated fondly, taking a drink of wine. “Something about going to a school like that makes you take things a little more seriously. I think Tim here went to University of New Mexico. A little too new for my tastes.” Kinsey jumped in before the barb could register. “University of New Mexico is a wonderful school. One of my sisters currently attends there.” “For law?” “No, medicine. She is in the middle of her residency specializing in internal medicine.” “She sounds smart,” Tim commented. “As a whip,” Kinsey stated with pride. 184
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By the end of the meal, Javier was staring at her with on expression she couldn’t—didn’t—want to decipher. She had Tim and Chuck eating out of her hands. She dealt with their concerns swiftly, lingering over them just long enough to make them relax. Now she just hoped the demonstration the next day would go well for Javier. As for Javier, she’d deal with her feelings for him later. **** Kinsey stood in her dimly lit bathroom, pouring fragrant bath salts into the water that steamed in the tub. She loved her bathroom with its marbletopped counter and square art deco sconces on the mother of pearl-colored painted walls. She set down the glass of wine she’d poured and slid off her satin robe to step into the tub. She knew she’d had too much to drink already that night, but the coffee she’d had with dessert had her wired. The fluid warmth of the steaming water rose nearly up to her shoulders as she leaned back to rest against the slanted porcelain and sip wine in her self-made paradise. She thought the evening had gone extremely well, though it was hard to say for certain since she didn’t know the financial backers. But she knew people. When they’d arrived, they’d been apprehensive and abrupt. But the end of the evening, they’d been relaxed and talkative. Much to her astonishment, she’d enjoyed Chuck’s company, though Tim was haughty and conceited to the end. Still, she could make nice with the best of them. It had been the strangest feeling. She and Javier had been working on the same project from the time they’d reconnected at APR Consulting, but tonight, for the first time, they’d seemed like a team. Somehow, she’d felt closer to him than before, perhaps because he’d brought her into a different part of his life, maybe because he’d admitted he’d needed her help. Maybe because she knew that she was in love with him. And yet, she had no idea what he was thinking. She’d hoped he would come by, but hadn’t wanted to expect anything, hadn’t wanted to ask in case
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it seemed like she was pressuring him. How could she feel what she felt for him when she didn’t know whether their affair would even last another day? Over the past couple of weeks, they’d spent nearly every waking moment together, trading off a night at his home, then at hers. She was surprised at how quickly the habit had formed, and how empty her apartment had suddenly seemed when she’d returned after the business dinner. Perhaps it didn’t feel like a habit to Javier. Maybe it felt like being restricted. The thought was heart wrenching, but how did she know she wasn’t right? An evening to herself would give her perspective, she thought, feeling the water loosen her taut muscles. She was still soaking a half an hour later when the doorbell sounded, making her jump. Carefully, she stepped out of the tub and dried off most of the water before slipping into her robe and making her way to the front door. She couldn’t push back the rush of happiness she felt at seeing Javier on the other side of the door. Pressing her mouth to his, she breathed in his scent. “I didn’t think you were coming tonight. I figured you’d just drop Ashby and Lopen off and head home.” “I thought so as well, but somehow, when I wasn’t paying attention, I made a turn to your house.” He stepped inside and pulled her to him for a hard, quick kiss. “Mmm. This is nice,” he whispered, trailing his fingers over the skin exposed by the ivory satin, then arched an eyebrow. “Your skin is damp.” “I was in the tub.” He ran his mouth over her jaw. “So that’s what took you so long to answer the door. Is there room for two?” It felt so right, so good to have him there. “Why don’t you come into the bathroom and we’ll find out.” On the table in her living room, a bowl of lilies that he’d sent earlier in the week still bloomed. She stopped to admire them, then turned to wrap her arms around his neck. “Thank you again for sending the flowers. They’re beautiful.”
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“Don’t be so shocked. It’s just a small gesture, especially now, considering the spectacular job you did charming Tim and Chuck.” She covered up her embarrassment by rearranging the flowers to their best advantage. “I just didn’t expect this sort of…this from…our sort of arrangement. It’s the first time I’ve ever received flowers from a man.” “You’re joking.” She averted her gaze. “I told you I haven’t dated much.” “The men you’ve been around are complete imbeciles,” he stated, then swept her up in his arms. “What are you doing?” she protested. “Getting you to the bathroom the best way I know how,” he responded, striding down the hall. In the bathroom, he set her down and quickly removed his clothes. Then he kissed his way along her throat and down her quivering belly, ending on his knees in front of her. For several heartbeats, he held her to him, resting his face against her. Slowly, he rose until he stood before her again. He kissed her light, softly, stepping into the tub and pulling her in after him. The warm water surrounded both of their bodies. Kinsey leaned back against his chest and exhaled with pleasure at the gentle touch of his hands. She could feel the emotion whirling inside her, the words on the tip of her tongue. Because she knew it wasn’t the right time to say what she felt, she tried to find another topic. “So are you happy with the way the meeting went?” He kissed her hair. “Shh. Let’s talk about it later. For now, let’s just enjoy each other’s company.” Leisurely, softly, his hands rubbed over her body, teasing the nerve endings awake in the warm, bath salt infused water with a gentle touch. “When I walked into that restaurant tonight and saw you, I couldn’t believe how stunning you were. I couldn’t believe you were waiting there for me.” His lips were warm on her neck. “I didn’t want to share you.” In a tsunami of pleasure, Kinsey turned her head so that she could kiss him, and tried to turn her body. “Nuh-uh,” he said softly, kissing her on the eyelids. “We’re always rushing, going full speed. This time, we take our time.” Gradually, soothingly, 187
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his hands caressed her body. “Relax and allow me to take care of you,” he murmured, trailing his fingers down her stomach, across the sensitive insides of her thighs. Whether it was the alcohol she’d consumed or his touch, the urgency faded away in a cloud of sensation. His hands rose up over the fullness of her breasts, and his lips were warm on her cheek, her neck, her shoulders. Instead of the usual rush of sensation, it was like being carried on a warm wave of feeling. Kinsey inhaled sharply when his slick fingers moved through the folds between her legs. Instead of stroking her to the brink of madness the way she’d become familiar with, his fingers slid inside her heat. Mouth pressed to hers, he caressed her inner center, locating an incredibly sensitive hidden place that she’d never known existed. An intense heat surged within her, as much a part of the feeling of his arms around her as of his fingers within her, like emotion made physical. There was no her, no him, just a heavy cloud of feeling made up of the two of them. “Javier,” she murmured, shocked. “I know, bonita,” he said with a low moan. “Oh, I know.” Later, on her bed, instead of making love to her, he began to massage her body, taking his time over each limb, each muscle, his hands massaging her into spine-tingling pleasure. His touch felt like more than mere skin to skin. It felt like his feelings for her made palpable, and she accepted it all. As several minutes ticked by with just the devotion of his hands to her body, bestowing pleasure upon her without demanding any in return, the emotions that had swirled within her all day threatened to overtake her. The intimacy of the act, the gentleness, almost brought the words to her lips. There was so much she wanted to tell him. So much she couldn’t say. Even when his touch changed from massage to stroke, there was no roughness to it, just a sweet gentleness that carried her softly along to an overwhelming wave of arousal. When he slid inside her, it was to move slowly, tenderly, carrying her with him rather than pushing her along. When she came, the instant swell of feeling and emotion left her overwhelmed.
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He went over the edge with her at the same time. The shudders of his body mirrored hers, her soft cries finding their answer in his moans until neither knew where one left off and the other began. Lost in splendor, she felt him gather her against him to sleep. “Pleasant dreams,” he whispered drowsily, She drifted in lingering bliss, half asleep herself. “I love you, Javier,” she murmured dreamily, the words spilling out before she knew she was saying them. Then tension surged through her. “Javier?” she murmured, holding her breath. He didn’t respond. A long minute crawled by and his breathing deepened. Muscle by muscle, Kinsey relaxed. She brushed her lips over his, then lay back against the pillow. “Pleasant dreams,” she murmured, exhaling a low sigh of relief and closing her eyes.
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Chapter Seventeen When the first ray of morning sunlight hit, he woke from a restless doze, holding Kinsey’s sleeping warmth against him. Gradually, slowly, consciousness kicked in and he pushed his way determinedly past a fog of well-being to face reality. She had said she loved him. It couldn’t possibly be true, part of him argued. They hadn’t been involved long enough for those sort of feeling to develop. She was just getting carried away by the physical side. But the rest of him knew he was downplaying the situation. He knew his feelings for her were deeper than a mere physical affair would warrant. Love, though? Love wasn’t a part of the equation. No matter how much he might care for her, and there was no denying that he did, he couldn’t go there. Even if he thought he might love her, he couldn’t count on his feelings being legitimate. He thought of his father’s string of wives, each one the love of his life— at least for a couple of months or so. And each one a failure when the infatuation wore off. He thought of his feelings for Nikki. He’d thought it was love, truly believed it, but in the end, when the physical obsession had dissipated, there had been nothing left but quiet and desolation. He wouldn’t go through that again. He wouldn’t subject Kinsey to it. Yes, things felt wonderful now, but that was because the physical part was still hot. Take away the sex, and the rest of the relationship waned. Liar, a voice in his head shouted as he recalled his feeling from last night. Oh, but he’d been certain it was deeper with Nikki too. And he’d been wrong. He wouldn’t hurt Kinsey like that. Javier squeezed his eyes shut. He should have just stayed on his own, stayed away from the risk of hurting someone else he cared about. Now, the only thing he could do was try to salvage the situation. He had to remove himself from the relationship before her feelings could go any deeper, before he damaged her anymore than he could already avoid. She thought she loved him, but she couldn’t really, not 190
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this soon. It might hurt her some when he ended it, but she’d get over it and be glad of it afterward. Kinsey shifted sleepily and turned against him before falling back to sleep. He pressed a kiss to her temple and she made a indecipherable sound. The thought of giving up her soothing warmth in the morning, her comforting companionship in the evenings, made his heart tighten. It was better off all the way around. They’d be well off for it. And maybe in time, if he tried hard enough, he could make him make himself believe it. Javier looked at the clock and turned off the alarm before it could beep. It took him a few minutes to locate all of his clothes, strewn in a pile on the floor of the bathroom. He leaned over regretfully and picked up his crumpled shirt off the floor. It wasn’t like anyone was going to care about what he looked like at five a.m. anyway, he thought, pulling on his equally crumpled pants. He’d have plenty of time to shower and change before going over to pick up Lopen and Ashby. All he really wanted to do was climb back into bed and wrap himself around Kinsey’s warmth, but that was the one thing he couldn’t do. The sooner he pulled away, the better. For now, he’d leave her a note, then call her over the next few days. With luck, he could end this pleasantly. After all, they’d agreed to continue this until it burned out. Too bad he hadn’t even come close. He buttoned his pants, then sat down to put on his shoes. When the door opened, Kinsey came in, tight-eyed and drowsy, wrapped in thin ivory satin. “You’re dressed,” she said, her raspy morning voice making him harden involuntarily with arousal. “I have to get home and clean up before I go get Lopen and his rabid beast for the demo meeting.” He kept his voice detached and started out of the bathroom. “Javier, hang on a second.” He paused and turned, bracing himself in order not to weaken. “Yes?” “Last night was incredible,” she stated, stepping close for a kiss. “I didn’t know it could be like that.” 191
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The warmth of her lips weaved a spell on him, made him want to forget everything but Kinsey, soft and drowsy, against him. Why can’t it work out? a voice in his head asked, and he felt the firm, feminine prowess of her body against his. Who said it had to end? Who was he kidding? Javier ended the kiss and shook his head. Enough. It had to end. “I’d like nothing better than to crawl right back in bed with you, but I have to get going.” Kinsey followed him down the hall to the front door. “Before I forget, I’m going over to my parents tonight for dinner.” She swept her hair back out of her eyes. “You’re invited too, in case you want to come along,” she said, as if an afterthought. He was tempted for a moment, but he knew it would only draw him deeper into the abyss, send a message that he was more involved than he really was. Like that’s possible, the voice inside his head teased him, but he disregarded it. He was doing the best he knew how. “I’m sorry, but I can’t make it. I have to pacify Chuck until he’s finished here.” “Okay. Call me later,” she murmured. “If I can, I will. I’ll be rushing around all weekend to catch up, so it’s going to be insane.” “I understand.” The slight surprise in her eyes before she hid it sent self-disgust rushing through him. They’d been together practically 24/7 for the past several weeks. It was a given that he would need a little time to himself sometime. So why did it feel so wrong? Javier turned at the open doorway, unable to resist giving her a real kiss before he headed out the door. He embraced her for just a moment, eyes closed while he relished in the feeling. Then he exhaled softly and withdrew from her embrace to place a kiss on her temple. “Hasta luego, bonita.” ****
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The aroma of roasted chicken permeated the air as Kinsey strolled through the front door and headed toward her parents’ kitchen. “Hi, Mom,” she said, hugging her mother from behind as she mashed sweet potatoes. “Careful, Kinsey, you’ll end up getting potatoes everywhere.” Doris put down the masher, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Hi, honey. What’s new?” “Oh, life’s become very interesting lately,” Kinsey said airily, walking over to the table to place a kiss on her father’s cheek as he read the newspaper. He looked up briefly. “You started that crime novel, yet?” “Any day, Dad, any day. Cowboys clinch the NFC East Division yet?” He made a face. “Any day, Miss Smarty Pants, any day.” Kinsey smiled as she turned back to the stove. “So how has life gotten interesting?” Doris inquired, pouring juices from the roaster pan into a skillet. Kinsey took down the plates from the cabinet and began setting the table. “Well,” she said casually, “I’m seeing someone.” “Really?” Doris turned in shock and dropped her cooking spoon. “I hope it’s not that much of a surprise,” Kinsey said breezily, striding over to pick up the spoon and set it in the sink. “Of course not, sweetie, it’s just thrilling.” Doris embraced her. “I’m so excited for you.” She stepped back and studied Kinsey closely. “So tell me about him.” Kinsey thought of Javier and grinned. “He’s the head of a company APR Consulting is having design their new database and website. He’s a great guy—intelligent, handsome, great sense of humor, romantic.” Her father put down the paper and tried to look stern. “So should I start planning to a meeting where I clean my gun while asking him what his intentions are?” “We’ve only been seeing each other for a little while, Dad. I think it’s a little early to start with your form of the Spanish Inquisition.”
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“Okay.” Her father started to pick up the paper again, then put it back down. “Give it a few more weeks and I’ll be ready.” Doris stirred the bubbling gravy in the skillet. “Now, Vergil, no point in threatening the man before they’ve even gotten started. Let the poor girl enjoy having a date or two before you start torturing him.” “I’m just trying to be patriarchal,” he claimed. Doris turned off the gravy and began piling the chicken onto a serving dish. “So do you like this guy?” “Uh, well,” Kinsey tried to be casual, but the words wouldn’t come. She paused. “I think I’m in love with him.” Doris’s hands stopped in midscoop. “Oh, well.” She looked at her daughter. “That’s serious. Have you told him?” “Yes.” “What did he say?” Kinsey averted her gaze briefly. “Uh, he wasn’t actually awake at the time.” The corners of Doris’ mouth twitched. “I guess that’s a way to do it.” “I had no intention of telling him. It just sort of came out as I was falling asleep.” “Don’t think you’re ready to let him know when he’s awake yet?” Kinsey tugged on oven mitts and picked up a steamer, moving it off the back burner. “Well, I don’t know how he will respond. It wasn’t what we discussed when we got into this. It started out more…casual.” Although if she were truthful with herself, it had stopped being casual within the first fifteen minutes. “I can’t figure out how he feels. Sometimes he’s great and it seems like he feels the same way I do. Other times, I’m not so certain.” Kinsey used tongs to lay the broccoli spears on a small serving platter, and exhaled softy. “I don’t understand this relationship stuff. Is there some standard amount of minimum time before you’re allowed to say what you truly feel? It just seems so soon, and yet I’m certain, Mom.” She eyed her mother seriously. “I’m really certain.” Doris blew out a shaky breath. “I think I always knew when it happened for you it would be something out of the ordinary. And sometimes even a 194
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day can be enough.” She stared across the kitchen to where her husband sat, her eyes softening. “Sometimes you just know.” Kinsey exhaled weakly. “I haven’t heard from him all day. I know he was in meetings. I just miss him.” She gave an abashed grin. “Sweetheart, if you truly care for him, you need to let him know. Maybe not right now, but soon. You can’t disguise your feelings from him.” “But what if he doesn’t feel the same way? It frightens the heck out of me to think about revealing how I feel.” Doris smiled. “Sometimes you have to build up your courage and put yourself out there. I did it with you dad.” “With Dad? Hold on a second, I thought he swept you off your feet.” “I did,” her father affirmed from the table. “Candy, flowers, diamond ring, the works.” Doris arched a dark brow in his direction. “Yes, he did, but who said I love you first?” “Well, I didn’t want to take all the credit,” he mumbled, putting away the paper. “Take all the credit indeed. You were quaking in your boots, just like I was when I told you how I felt.” He rose from his chair and strode up to Doris. “And I’ll never forget the way you looked,” he responded, raising her chin to kiss her gently. “You were a wonderful gift. You have been one my entire life.” Teary-eyed, Kinsey observed them. Their love for each other was a major factor in her world. The thought of having that sort of connection herself had always seemed impossible. Now, she wondered if it was possibly within reach. The timer went off on the stove and her mother patted her husband on the rear end. “Get on, you, or I’ll ruin dinner.” She busied herself stirring gravy. “By the way, Kinsey, are you aware that your sister is coming to town? We plan to have a party next weekend before she heads back to New Mexico.”
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“It’s not enough that she half bankrupted me with medical school tuition,” her father groaned, carrying platters to the table. “Now we’re spending a small fortune on a fancy party to finish the job.” “Oh be quiet, you. Just the other week you had your chest puffed out so far bragging about all the kids I’m surprised it didn’t explode.” Doris gave a last look at the table, making sure everything was in its place, then sat. “You aren’t supposed to tell the children that when they are present,” Vergil responded after Doris said grace. “You’ll ruin my stern reputation.” “Somehow, I don’t think our children would see you as any less of a father,” Doris retorted, passing the broccoli to Kinsey. “Maybe you can bring your new guy.” Kinsey pondered the idea with a surge of anxiety. “I don’t know, Mom. That’s a lot of family to throw at someone all at once.” “It’s a small party. It’ll be a low-key affair and a good way for him to meet everyone.” “Okay then,” Kinsey said hesitantly. “Maybe I’ll ask him.” **** Kinsey couldn’t remember when time had weighed so heavily on her. Friday night, she rushed back to her apartment to find the answering machine showed no messages, just like her cell phone. She’d stayed up a few hours working, hoping really, that he’d come by, or at the least call. If Friday night had been tough, Saturday had been painful. She’d tried to kill time by reading while the hours dragged by. But the phone and doorbell remained excruciatingly quiet. There was something incredibly tortuous about the silence; she was incapable of not watching and waiting. In a show of defiance, she went out to take care of some errands, leaving her cell phone at home, thinking that he would call the instant she walked out the door. Returning home, she was sure of it, rushing into her apartment. Only to find no missed calls on her cell phone and the machine not blinking.
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She didn’t want to be clingy, but she’d expected to hear from Javier at some point. At least a quick hello between tasks. A little reminder that he was thinking about her. Replayed in the current context, his behavior Friday morning began to seem more worrying. What if he’d heard her when she’d told him she loved him? What if he were frightened, concerned by the sudden change in their relationship? She hadn’t meant to say it, but maybe it had alarmed him. Of course, she was just tormenting herself with “what-if.” The fact was, he’d been asleep when the words had slipped out. Hadn’t he? Now, Sunday morning, she ran through the jogging trail, attempting to burn off the anxiety built up within her. Maybe he just felt they’d spent too much time together lately. Maybe he had other plans. Maybe, the voice in her head whispered, he was starting to get burned out. A short time later, she found herself in her car, parked in front of Javier’s home, working up her courage. Her words to her mother played over in her head. Is there some standard amount of minimum time before you’re allowed to say what you truly feel? Who determined if it was too early? If one were to calculate all the time they’d spent together in the past several weeks, it probably added up to a few months worth of dates for a normal couple. Hell, she knew what she felt. The more she thought about it, the more sure she became about her feelings. But the love thing was irrelevant. Reality said they were involved. She ought to at least be able to stop by and say hello without it being a major deal. It was immature to be afraid not to. This was the twenty-first century. She had the right to drop in, in the same fashion that he had on Thursday night. Quickly, she stepped out of the car and rushed up to his front door before she could change her mind. It was almost noon. Even on weekends he was an early riser…especially certain parts of him in particular, she recalled with a quick tingle of arousal. At any rate, whether he’d slept in or not, he’d almost definitely be up by now. She could drop in, then go on her way. Nothing intense, just a quick visit. Nerves coiled in her stomach as she rang the doorbell. 197
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A few heartbeats later, he door swung open. Before she could open her mouth, Javier had her in his embrace. She closed her eyes, taking in the feeling of being in his arms. Then he released her. “Hi,” Kinsey said happily, trying not to be disconcerted that he hadn’t tried to kiss her after two full days apart. Trying her best not to be disappointed that he’d let her go and backed away. “I was out and about and decided to stop by and say hello.” “Sure, come on in.” He stepped back to allow her inside. “I was out back doing some work.” He led her out to the backyard. The blue water of the pool reflected the sunlight. A small stack of papers sat on a café table, held down by his laptop. “Have a seat. You want anything to drink?” “Yes, a glass of water would be wonderful.” Something to keep her throat from going completely dry and keep a level head. She wanted so badly to touch him, yet she didn’t want to be the one to make that step. Showing up unannounced took a lot of bravery on her part. She waited until he came back out on the deck carrying her drink. “How have you been?” “Good.” He sank into the chair next to her. “Working hard, trying to make sure that all the flames were put out and tying up a few loose ends that came up during the demo meeting.” The breeze caught her hair, whipping a few loose strands around her face, which he appeared to watch in fascination. “It went okay, though?” He nodded. “Yes, it did. They were reassured when they left, so as long as we keep to our timeline, we’re good.” He reached for his coffee. “Thank you again for everything you did. You made a huge difference.” And he’d made a difference to her, though maybe he’d never know. For the first time since they’d become intimate, she felt awkward around him. The easiness was gone, and tension had taken its place. She took a breath and struggled to sound casual. “So, are you having a good weekend?” He shrugged. “As good as it gets considering the near disaster. I can truly say that my wild days are over.” 198
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It was an opening and she took it. “Maybe I can assist. My sister Halley is coming into town from New Mexico. My parents are throwing a party for her next weekend.” She took a sip of her water. “I was wondering if you might want to come.” “To the party?” She nodded. “Yes. You can meet my family.” Javier looked away, across the backyard. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Her stomach dropped. Kinsey stared at him. “Why do you say that?” “I just don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.” A sudden breeze caught the papers on the table, and he adjusted the laptop to make sure they were secure. “What do you mean ‘the wrong idea’?” she said slowly. For the first time, he met her gaze. “We need to be clear about what’s going on between us.” It was like having cold water thrown on her—buckets of it, until she was submerged up to her chin, until every part of her was frozen. “And what’s going on here?” she asked carefully. “What we agreed upon. A physical, no-strings attached affair, until one or both of us get burned out.” “And are you getting burned out?” She wasn’t. She was so cold she didn’t think it was possible for her ever to be warm again. “That’s not the point. I think you’re getting in too deep.” “What makes you think that?” Kinsey wasn’t certain she wanted the question answered, but she asked it anyway. He inhaled deeply and looked at her. “What you said Thursday night as I fell asleep.” There was a pounding in her head. Several seconds went by before she could respond. “You heard me? I thought you were asleep.” “I was…almost. I couldn’t be certain whether it was real or a dream.” Unable to remain seated, she rose and waked to the edge of the deck. “So you thought you’d just keep quiet and pull a disappearing act without saying anything?” She spun around to face him. 199
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“I just thought we needed some space.” He didn’t quite meet her gaze. “I thought it was best for both of us. I didn’t want to hurt you.” “Really? You are definitely doing a great job of it right now,” she retorted, her voice hard. “We agreed not to get too serious. To keep it casual for as long as it worked.” Simmering emotion inside her turned into fury. “Newsflash—we are serious. We have spent the last several weeks together almost nonstop. You can break this off now if you want to, but don’t try to pretend it didn’t happen.” “I’m not. I have never experienced that before. Never expected to. Never wanted to.” His words cut deep. “So tell me this, Javier. Are you burned out?” “No,” he replied impatiently. “I’m not. But it doesn’t matter. As I said, you’re getting in too deep and I’m not going to allow you to go any further.” “You’re not going to allow me?” Her voice rose, a near screech. Now it was fury that pushed her. “How dare you try to determine what’s best for me. My feelings are my business.” “No, they’re my business too. I don’t want to hurt you, and that’s just what’s going to happen if we don’t call it quits now.” “Why? Are you scared you’ll feel guilty? Or are you scared that if this doesn’t work out you’ll feel like a failure, like your father?” The words hit home, she saw, as his gaze met hers. “Don’t attempt to psychoanalyze me,” he bit out. “I’m just calling it like I see it.” “I’m not going to hurt you,” he replied. “Emotions are risky, Javier. If I care about you—and I do whether you want me to or not—then I’m taking a chance that I’ll get hurt. I know that, but it’s worth it to me to see where this can go.” “It’s not worth it to me.” Outrage surged through her. “Why is it that I’m not allowed to have feelings toward you?” She demanded to know. “If I get hurt, that’s my 200
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problem. Wanting out, that’s one thing, but tucking tail because you think you’re doing me some sort of favor, that’s a lame-ass excuse for running.” He thought he was sparing her from being hurt by calling it quits now. He didn’t realize that he’d just ripped her heart out and stomped on it. “Maybe your parents’ marriage made you think that relationships can’t last, but you’re wrong. You can’t base your life on a single event.” “A single event?” Javier snorted. “Hardly. My mother was just the beginning of it for my father. He’s been married and divorced more times than I can count on one hand. Every time, he swears he’s found Ms. Right. A year or two later, it’s all over. That’s what happens when you confuse lust and love.” “That’s him. That’s not you.” “Oh sure,” he stated angrily. “It was different all right. I knew it when I got married. I knew I’d make it last. And before the ink was even dry on the marriage license, I knew I’d screwed up. Less than a year later I was calling a divorce lawyer.” He shook his head, then looked at her. “My marriage is what happens when you confuse lust and love. What we’re both feeling right now is lust, and I can tell you from personal experience, it doesn’t last.” Kinsey’s mouth fell open. “How the hell do you know what I’m feeling? How do you know what’s going through me when I look at you?” “I know how it feels when we’re making love. You can’t deny that we can’t keep our hands off each other. That’s lust.” Kinsey let her fury take over, let it cover up the heartache. “You want to know the first time I really fell for you. It wasn’t when we were in bed together. It was watching you play with Warrick’s kids, showing them a ladybug. Most men wouldn’t have taken the time. This isn’t just about sex, it’s about you. Don’t you dare try to make it less than what it is.” “Entertaining a couple of kids for a few minutes isn’t anything. I did it because Warrick was being a pest and they provided a good distraction.” “You’re lying to yourself,” she cried out adamantly. “I was there. I saw you. I saw your expression when you watched them walk away. I know that you want what they have.” She knew she was crossing a line she probably shouldn’t, but she couldn’t stop herself. “I heard it in your voice when you 201
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told me about growing up. You can tell yourself some pathetic story about your dysfunctional parents all you want. It isn’t just about lust and infatuation for you. What you really desire is family. And you won’t let me in.” She blinked, her eyes misting. Now the heartache was surging through her, too fast for her to stop it. “I don’t want to hurt you.” “That is such bull crap,” she retorted, her voice cracking. “It’s you that you’re afraid of hurting. You’re so scared that you’ll be just like your father. You’re so scared you’re going to care and be left alone that you won’t even open your eyes to see what I’m offering you. I’m not asking for promises, Javier. I’m not asking for forever. All I’m saying is let’s try.” “I can’t do that,” he responded sadly. “I won’t.” The silence settled around them, harsh and suffocating. “I guess there’s nothing left to say then,” Kinsey said softly. “You got what you wanted.” She turned blindly to go, walking briskly toward the front door. “Kinsey, wait.” He caught up with her in the foyer. She turned back to him. “What for? You’ve already said everything that needed to be said. The sooner we’re away from each other, the better.” The tears didn’t start falling until she walked in the front door of her apartment.
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Chapter Eighteen Kinsey sat in her office, staring out at the cloudy drizzle of the morning, which mirrored the gloominess she felt inside. Four days had passed since her fallout with Javier, and nothing had gotten any better. And it wasn’t likely to any time soon. The emptiness stretched in front of her, an abyss of days to get through until the memory began to fade. Days of looking around her office and seeing him there. Days of standing in front of staff members, thinking of Javier watching her from the back row. Night upon night of missing him, missing a part of her. Her phone rang and Rhonda’s name flashed on the caller ID screen. Kinsey exhaled heavily and reached for the receiver. “Hello.” “Hey, Kinsey.” Rhonda’s raspy voice jumped out of the receiver. “How are you?” “Good,” Kinsey said softly. “You don’t sound good. You sound a little tired.” “I didn’t sleep well last night.” Talk about understatement of the year. She’d tossed and turned until the light from the sun lit the room. “That colleague of yours give you a workout?” Kinsey closed her eyes. “No. Look, Rhonda. I’m extremely busy. What can I do for you?” “Well,” Rhonda started, drawing out the word, “I thought I ought to call you first thing today. I figured you might want a little extra time to write your resignation letter.” “My resignation letter?” Kinsey parroted, and then it dawned on her. “You heard from Angie?” “She loved it.” Rhonda’s voice was upbeat. “She said it’s the best thing you’ve ever written. The five book deal is done. You’re a full-time writer, Kinsey.” She should have been ecstatic. All she could force was a sort of bland excitement. “That’s great news.”
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“Great news? That’s all you have to say. I expected you to be running through the office naked.” A week ago, she might have. A week ago, she would have been thrilled. A week ago, she was still involved with Javier Elizondo. “What’s wrong, Kinsey?” Rhonda’s voice held a note of concern. “I thought you’d be shrieking with happiness. You did it. You can quit now. Not more stodgy APR Consulting.” “That’s wonderful, Rhonda.” Kinsey forced excitement into her voice. “Seriously. It’s what I’ve been waiting for. I couldn’t be more pleased.” “You don’t sound like it. What’s up?” Rhonda’s voice turned suspicious. “This sounds like man problems. Something going on with Javier?” “Nothing’s going on with Javier.” “I guess that’s the issue.” “Rhonda, please don’t. I…” To her mortification, she felt tears well up. “Kinsey? Are you all right?” Rhonda’s voice was rough with concern. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, managing to stay in control. “Kinsey?” Rhonda’s voice became more urgent. “Talk to me. What’s going on?” Kinsey exhaled softly. “I’m all right,” she replied, attempting to stay calm. “Sorry to worry you. Javier and I aren’t seeing each other anymore.” “When did that happen?” “A few days ago.” “Your decision or his?” “Both of us.” Kinsey stared blindly out the window. “It’s not working for him, so it can’t work for me either.” “So in other words, it was him,” Rhonda bit out. “I warned him about hurting you. Just wait until I get my hands on him. I’ll make him regret—” “Rhonda, don’t you dare say anything to him,” Kinsey requested frantically. “I appreciate the concern, but I’m okay with it, really.” “Uh-huh. You sound real okay.” “I’m good. Thanks for the news about the contract. That’s wonderful. I need to go write my resignation letter.” 204
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“Hang on a second,” Rhonda said. “We have some other arrangements to discuss. It’s time to think about taking your entire career to the next level. There’s a publicist here in Houston that I’ve done some work with before. She handles all the marketing, promotions, press releases, everything.” “Why on earth do I need that? I’m not exactly Brenda Jackson or Beverly Jenkins.” “And you never will be until you start doing some stuff outside your comfort zone. Now that you’re going on multicontract level, we have to build your brand. Lisa’s the person to do it.” Kinsey could hear Rhonda open up a can of Dr. Pepper. “She’s supposed to be up your way soon. I’ll set up a meeting and let you know.” “Rhonda—” “You need this, Kinsey. This is what happens when things start going your way.” Things couldn’t be further from going her way, but she knew Rhonda well enough to know when it was time to give in. “Okay then, fine,” she sighed. “Let me know when I’m supposed to meet with her and I’ll do it.” “Wonderful,” Rhonda responded. “I really do have to go now. I want to get my notice to Lewis so I can get this all over with.” “Enjoy it, Kinsey. You earned it.” **** She stood in the break room the next morning, watching the coffeemaker brew her much-needed liquid wake up. Her conversation with Lewis hadn’t gone well. He’d taken turns being betrayed and upset to wheedling and bullying. She didn’t know if she was more surprised or insulted at the salary increase he’d offered in an attempt to keep her; finding out he was willing to pay her fifty percent more than her current salary only told her how much she’d been underpaid. “Lewis, I’ll act as a consultant a couple of days a week until the project is complete, but that’s it,” she’d said. He’d ignored her words stubbornly, 205
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disregarding the fact that she’d spoken, very nearly discounting the fact that she’d resigned. He seemed to think if he acted as though he were still her boss, he could order her not to leave. Kinsey sighed as she poured herself a cup of coffee, then made her way down the hall to her office. The phone rang as she dropped into her chair and the caller ID screen lit up. Kinsey read the name and her breath lodged in her throat for a second. She listened to the ring four times before she made herself pick up the receiver. “Kinsey Maxwell.” It took major effort, but she kept her voice flat. “Lewis informed me that you’re resigning.” There was no greeting. He took it for granted that she’d know his voice. “I gave notice yesterday.” Why was it that he could break her heart and still, his voice could make her heartbeat race? Where was the fairness in that? “I take it your book contract came through.” “I’ve informed Lewis that I’d consult on an as-needed basis until the project is complete.” Her voice stayed even. “I should be able to finish the taping for the basics before I leave.” Javier was silent for several heartbeats. “Do you have a schedule mapped out for the new-hire orientations that need to be taped? Lewis tells me you’re only giving two weeks notice.” “I figure that to be sufficient. Considering that Texas is an at-will state, I didn’t have to give that.” Pride made her keep her voice level and impersonal even as loss tore at her. “I can forward you the date for my schedule so you can set up the tapings.” She paused for good measure. “I’d take it as a personal favor if you would leave the taping to Dan and me. We have the drill down now. You don’t need to be there.” She had the slight satisfaction of hearing him pause for several heartbeats, but it didn’t last. “No, I guess you’re right. The two of you will do okay on your own.” “Wonderful,” she replied, though the idea gave her no satisfaction. “How had your week been?” Was he serious? 206
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“What do you think?” she asked flatly. Just for a second, the calmness took backstage to her fury. “Is this conversation over, Javier? Because I have things to do and not a lot of time. Let know if there’s anything important you need.” “I will. And Kinsey?” “Yes.” Her pulse raced unsteadily. She couldn’t help it. “Best of luck.” **** The receiver clicked in his ear as she hung up. Javier stared at the phone. The past week had been the longest he could recall. He was certain he was doing the right thing, but he’d never expected it to feel so painful. And how long was it going to be before he stopped missing her in his life, before he could think of her without a sense of loss? His mind drifted back to the brief conversation, all too aware that he’d called without really needing to. He’d called because he couldn’t pass up a opportunity to hear her voice. Pathetic, he thought, with severe agitation. What was wrong with him? She had been right. There was no need for him to waste his time by attempting to work with her when it wasn’t necessary. So why did it bother him? And why the hell did he miss her so much? Not her warm body next to his at night, though he missed that too. More the comforting companionship of the evening, her bright smile, her husky laugh. When he’d made the choice to end the relationship, he hadn’t realize how much doing without her would affect him. That didn’t make his decision wrong, but neither did it make it easy. But damn if he didn’t want to catch her and bring her back, even as he recognized the foolishness of that emotion. Okay, so the new situation took some getting used to. It was still the right thing. It was still the best thing. But if he was truthful with himself, the best thing still felt like shit. Javier placed the receiver back onto the hook as Warrick came into his office and plopped down into a chair. “What’s up, my friend? You look like someone stole another one of your fruit cups out the fridge.” 207
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Javier shot him a scorching look and turned back to his computer. Warrick gave him a suspicious look in return. “Seriously, man, you really do look like something’s bothering you. What’s going on?” He didn’t really want to have this conversation. He really didn’t want to. “I just spoke with Lewis Guinn at APR Consulting. Their Human Resources Generalist gave notice today.” “Their HR Generalist?” Warrick fell silent as the meaning sank it. “You mean Kinsey Maxwell,” he said tonelessly. “As in the woman you’re involved with.” “Was.” “What?” “Was involved with.” “Wow, isn’t that a coincidence,” Warrick responded, sarcasm layering his voice. “You call things off with her and she gives notice. Any slight chance it had anything to do with you?” Javier looked at him defiantly. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to answer that. It’s clear. Any chance you want to tell me the reason why?” “Things were getting too serious. It was for the best.” “Getting too…” Warrick gasped at him. “Yeah. You have an affair with a team member, you break things off, she resigns. Sounds completely perfect to me.” “I really don’t want to get into this.” Warrick cursed, then rose rapidly to shut the office door. “I can’t believe you’re so damned blind.” “Warrick, I told you our personal involvement wouldn’t affect the project, and it won’t.” Javier kept his tone even. “We have nearly all of her part on tape, and the rest is scheduled for taping before she leaves. We also have detailed notes on everything. It’s not going to affect us.” “I don’t give a shit about the tapings,” Warrick growled. “I’m talking about you.” “Me?” Javier looked at him in confusion. “What does that have to do with anything?” 208
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“It has everything to do with it! She was a keeper, and you never even saw it.” Warrick slapped the corner of the desk, sending a pen rolling while he stormed over to the windows. “You called things off because you were getting too serious. That’s a joke. You ended the relationship because you didn’t have the guts to stick it out.” Javier’s voice rose. “It is none of you damn business.” Anger rushed through him at being criticized by the usually laidback Warrick. He wasn’t in the mood to take it, not even close. Warrick neared him. “Of course it’s my business.” “Oh yeah? Why’s that? Because you’re afraid about the launch and you feel like shouting at someone?” “Because I’m your friend, asshole.” Javier opened his mouth to speak and snapped it shut. All the biting words he planned to say deserted him. Warrick shook his head. “You were happy with her, happy deep down in a way you never were with Nikki. If you’d said you were fighting or if it was a Mark Wahlberg in Fear sort of thing, that would be one thing. But ending a relationship because it was too good? Because it was getting too serious? I never realized you were so spineless.” “My father—” “Just because your father can’t have a normal, healthy relationship with a woman doesn’t mean you can’t. Give yourself a little credit.” Javier pushed back the guilt, the self-condemnation. “Look, I spoke with her about it last weekend and we agreed that it was for the best.” “And she just happens to resign a week later?” “She was planning to resign all along. The timing was just a coincidence.” Warrick snorted with exasperation. “Sure it was.” “Yes, it was,” Javier affirmed, refusing to back down. “She’s been a published author for years, but no one’s known about it. She was waiting on a big contract that would let her write full-time. It must have just come through.” The look Warrick gave him was crafty and disconcerting. “For not wanting to be involved, you sure sound proud of her.” 209
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The observation cut deep. “Cut me some slack, will you?” “No, I won’t.” His friend’s voice thrummed with irritation. “Why are you so scared to pursue this?” “Come on, Warrick. You know my family’s history. You know my history. I’m not made for the happily ever after stuff.” He tried to keep the frustration out of his voice. “You are so wrong,” Warrick said passionately. “You’re made for it more than anyone I know.” “Warrick, stop it already, okay?” Javier raised his hands up in front of him. “We have exactly two weeks until launch. We don’t have time to waste on my personal life right now.” Warrick just stared at him. “Just ask yourself what you are really doing here. Will you at least do that?” Javier inhaled deeply and let the breath out slowly. “Yes, okay? Now let’s get to work.” **** “Okay, let’s go through the checklist one last time.” A week later, Warrick sat at the head of the conference table, his disheveled tie and dark shadow on his jaw proof of the all-nighter he’d pulled. The all-nighter all of them had pulled coming into the launch day. Javier brought a hand up to his face, rubbing eyes that felt grimy from lack of rest. The months of work were coming to maturation now. In minutes, they would be going live with APR’s new portal. Warrick studied the list in his hand. “Okay, everyone’s given the goahead.” He took a deep breath and locked eyes with Javier. “Alonso, run the build.” There was a tense silence in the room as the servers recompiled the website, making that which was previously the password-protected beta test version available to the outside world. Minutes ticked by. None of them
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could help by being in the room watching the computer screen, but none of them could bear to leave. “It’s done,” Alonso announced, looking to Warrick for orders. “Now, download the first phase.” Alonso quickly typed in an URL and made a few clicks on the screen. The cursor in the download bar moved from side to side as the computer pulled the date. Finally, it finished, and the screen sat with the welcome page for the new APR website. Warrick cleared his throat. “Okay, everyone, here comes the part that can make us or break us. Alonso, you want to do the honors?” Alonso clicked the “about us” hyperlink, and Kinsey appeared on the screen, looking upbeat, enthusiastic, and totally stunning. Javier’s heart tightened painfully even as a cheer went up around the room, drowning out the sound of her voice. “Time to celebrate, everyone,” Warrick yelled. “There’s champagne in the break room. Come and get it.” There was a mass exit until just Javier sat watching the monitor, finally able to hear the loveliness of Kinsey’s voice. “Hey, man, you going to join us?” Alonso stood in the door, his eyebrows raised. Javier shook his head. “Nah. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on this. You go ahead.” He wished he could tell Kinsey how perfectly it had all worked. How good it was to see her face there. The thought struck him without warning, and he realized the truth of it. Of all the people he knew, she was the one he wanted the most to share the success with. She was the one he wanted to share everything with the most, the person who made his life complete. Instantly, unexpectedly, his entire world shifted on its axis and everything made sense. Love was the correct term for it. There was no doubt about it. He was in love. “Hey, Javier, you going to stay in here all day or are you going to have a drink with us?” Warrick stood in the doorway.
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“I have a drink,” Javier replied, raising the bottle of water he’d opened hours earlier. He didn’t take his eyes off of Kinsey. “She’s something, isn’t she?” Warrick walked over to look over his shoulder at the screen. “You were right. She’s exactly what we need.” He studied Javier. “She’s exactly what you needed, too, wasn’t she? You might as well admit it, my friend. You know it’s true.” Javier turned to him, totally perplexed. “I already figured that one out. The question is, what do I do now? The last time I attempted to get a hold of her, she wouldn’t take my call.” “Gee, you are turning into a wuss in your old age. I’ve never once seen you miss getting something you’ve set out to do.” “Except once.” Javier looked at him solemnly. Warrick waved his hand dismissively. “Forget about Nikki. You and Kinsey are made to be together. You fit.” He gave a crooked grin. “Aren’t you supposed to be the negotiator of this group?” A slow smile spread over Javier’s face. “Yes, I suppose so.” A loud crash rung out from the break room. “I think you should go supervise the children in there before they lose out security deposit for us.” “What, you aren’t going to assist?” “I wasn’t the one who had the bright idea of bringing in champagne. I’d say it’s your job, partner.” Javier reached for the phone. “Besides, I have other things to take care of.” **** “Rhonda Lawley,” the voice stated on the phone. “Rhonda, it’s Javier Elizondo.” “Of all the rotten, low-down, dirty, asinine, low-life things to do.” Without pausing for a breath, she launched into a raunchy stream of profanity-laced berating that singed his ears. “Enough of that already, Rhonda. I probably deserve everything you can say to me, but right now I don’t have time.”
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“Time? Your time means nothing to me, you bastard, and I intend to do whatever I can to be certain that—” “Rhonda!” The voice on the other line went silent. “Thank you,” Javier stated. “Now just listen to me, please. Yes, I messed up. I know it, you know it, we all know it. We can make an appointment for you to yell at me some time in the future, but right now, I need your assistance.” She sucked in a indignant breath. “If you think I am going to do anything to as—” “Yes, I do,” he interrupted. “Because it concerns Kinsey.” “Don’t you even think about going anywhere near her,” Rhonda replied angrily. Javier couldn’t hold back his smile. “Oh, I plan to do a whole lot more than just think about going near her—and you’re going to help me.” “The hell I am.” “Yes, you are, because you know we’re right together.” There was a short pause, then he could hear her opening a can of some sort. “All right, tell me what you have planned, but make it quick. And I’m not making any promises.” Javier grinned. “At the risk of stating the obvious, I messed up.” “Messed up? No, you screwed up, and that’s still putting lightly.” “Okay, I crashed and burned big time. I didn’t know what I was doing. But I do now.” “Oh you do, huh?” “Look, I love Kinsey.” He was surprised at how easy and right it felt to say it. “I want to be with her forever.” A rousing sound of applause came through the receiver. “Congratulations, let’s hear it for those who are slow on the uptake. I could have told you that back in Houston.” “Yes, well, some of us are slow learners.” “And I suppose you’ve called her to inform her that you finally have your act together?” 213
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He cringed a little. “I’ve attempted to. She won’t take my calls.” Rhonda laughed curtly. “I wouldn’t either.” “Which is why I need your assistance.” “Before I agree to anything, I need to know one thing first.” Her voice became serious. “Are you positive that you’re in love with our girl? Because hurting her once is bad. Hurting her a second time is unforgiveable. Make no doubt about it, if you do that I will cut off your testicles and have a keychain fashioned out of them for you. Are you certain about this?” “I’m more certain about this than of anything in my life.” Her voice lightened. “Okay then. Tell me what you want me to do. As long as it’s good for Kinsey, I’ll do it. And talk fast.” **** Kinsey drove toward downtown Fort Worth and sighed. The last thing she felt like doing was getting dressed up to meet a publicist who was going to poke and prod and put her on display for all who wanted to see. Why couldn’t her books succeed on their own merit? Why did she have to brand herself and “develop a publicity plan” and a hundred other things she couldn’t care less about right now? She released a breath of frustration as she pulled up in front of the Omni Hotel. Of all the stinking places she didn’t want to revisit, it was this one, but a meeting was a meeting. Taking a deep breath, she got out of her car and handed the key to the valet. Wishing that Rhonda hadn’t practically ordered her to show up dressed in tip-top shape, she smoothed her dress down and made her way carefully across the cobblestone in her heels. Having an opportunity to see Rhonda, who was in town for the meeting, was a bonus, but given the way she felt right now, it was a small one at best. It might have been two weeks since Javier had ended things with her, but that didn’t make it any easier. The days had crawled by, dull and long. She’d thrown herself feverishly into work, trying to wrap up everything she needed to. At each taping, she’d waited, stomach in her throat, for Javier to show up. In some ways, she’d 214
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been relieved that he hadn’t shown up, but part of her longed just so see him again. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to pick up the phone when he called. The void he’d left in her life was incredibly huge. She stepped into the rotating doors of the hotel, studying her reflection in the glass panes as she pushed the door and stepped out onto the marble tiles of the lobby. And here she was again, back at the Omni Hotel where it had all started. Where her life had changed forever. She stepped onto the escalator and watched the ground floor fall away. If she had it to do all over again, would she wipe it all out, knowing she could eradicate the ache in her chest that she felt and go back to her quiet, calm existence? Knowing that she would erase all the moments she’d share with Javier, the passion, the uncertainty, the frenzy, the simple joys? She shook her head to push the thought away. No, she wouldn’t give up a moment of it, not even if it meant getting rid of the complete misery that she’d lived through for the past two weeks. It had been the love of a lifetime, the love she’d always dreamed of. Perhaps her only love, but the truth, nevertheless. She stepped off the escalator behind a huge potted planted an inhaled deeply before stepping around it. Somehow, it all looked the same, as though she had gone back into time. The same piano player was killing Frank Sinatra. Another large group of off duty business men and women were casually sitting about. A pair of what looked like honeymooners were embracing each other in a way that sent a sharp pang through her heart. She didn’t see Rhonda anywhere. Kinsey exhaled heavily and started to reach for her cell phone. And then she spotted him, sitting on a couch, an empty glass at his elbow. He raised a hand to signal her. Javier… Her knees turned to liquid. Leave, damn it, her inner voice screamed. She turned around and took a step away from him, then stopped. No. She wasn’t going to be like him and run. She wasn’t going to make an idiot out of herself by turning into an emotional wreck.
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She’d go over and say a cordial hello, show him that she could play the game also, that she could act as though it had meant nothing to her. Kinsey swallowed and made her way across the bar toward him. It would all be so much easier if her heart weren’t shattering. He still looked breathtakingly good. Even when he was sitting in the bar where they’d met, probably looking to pick up a woman just like he’d picked her up. She tried to smile but failed completely. “Hi.” She settled for the fact that her voice barely trembled. “Small world.” “Yes, well, I’m meeting someone, who I expect to show up any minute.” “Not here yet, though?” He looked at her inquisitively, then nodded. “In that case, why don’t you let me buy you a drink? Maybe a white wine? I seem to recall you like Chardonnay.” Kinsey shook her head. “No, thank you. It didn’t end up working out too well last time.” “Really?” His eyes were dark under the slashes of his brows. “I thought it worked out incredibly well. So well that I didn’t trust myself to believe in it.” He reached out for her hand and tugged her down at the couch. “So well I became afraid and tried to end the best thing that ever happened to me.” The combination of his words and his touch made her discombobulated. “What do you mean?” He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to her knuckles, the caress made up of equal parts yearning, pain and admiration. He raised his eyes to hers. “I mean I love you. I have for weeks, perhaps since the night we met. I was just too suspicious to believe in it.” Her lungs seized painfully. She heard him through a loud roaring in her ears. “You tried to tell me what we were to each other. Warrick tried to tell me, but I just couldn’t see it.” He paused. “I couldn’t see it until yesterday, when we went live with APR’s site, and everybody in the room was jumping up and down—and the one person I wanted to share it with was you, the person I attempted to push out of my life. And I realized what I was throwing away.” He laid his forehead against her hands. “I love you so much, 216
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Kinsey. I miss you, being with you, talking with you, just knowing you’re near. And I want to be with you for life. I know I was stupid, that I hurt you, but I figured it out. Just tell me I figured it out in time.” Kinsey felt like she’d been thrown around by an amusement park ride, the kind that left you giddy, breathless, dizzy, and a little nauseous. One minute her world was dark and dreary, now it was bright with promise. How could everything have turned out to be so totally right? She saw Javier’s gaze on hers, tense and serious, waiting. Waiting for her to answer him, she realized with a start. All right. The smart thing to do was to be cool, calm, collected, classy— oh my God—just smile and tell him thank you and oh my God, he said he loves me— “Yes!” She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, and then their mouths were on one another’s saying in seconds all the words they’d say to each other when they could manage to stop. Kinsey came up for air first, the laughter bubbling up again. “Oh no, we have to stop this. I’m supposed to meet Rhonda and a publicist here. That’s all I need is for them to find me making out in public.” His expression became contrite. “I wouldn’t worry about that too much. You’re not the only one who can make up a story.” “What do you…?” She looked at him as understanding dawned. “You mean this is all a setup?” He smiled unapologetically. “Well, you wouldn’t accept my calls and I figured I had to find a way to get through to you. I couldn’t go another day without you.” He drew her close for a hot, hard kiss. “And I don’t intend to do without you one more day.” “What do you want to do then?” Javier grinned at her as he stood and tugged her to her feet alongside him. “Let’s go upstairs and we can get started on our own happily ever after.”
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Epilogue Kinsey clicked the icon that would save the story she’d just finished typing before rubbing the lower part of her aching back while stretching. “Are you finished, querida?” She looked up to find her handsome husband standing in the doorway with a cup of milk and half a crunchy peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich. The snack she craved a lot of nowadays. She nodded as she rubbed her swollen belly. “Yes. All done.” “I’m sure you’ll have another best seller on your hands,” he stated as he set the plate and cup down beside her before placing a kiss on her forehead. He pulled up a chair close to her as she picked up the sandwich. A moan escaped her as he lifted her feet into his lap and began to rub them. Javier was the best husband she could have asked for and she was positive that he was going to be just as good of a father. So much had changed in two years, starting with their wedding, her successful writing career with books that stayed on the New York Times Best Sellers list, to the continued success of ES Solutions, and now the impending arrival of their first child. Kinsey rubbed her swollen stomach. Less than two months to go and she was ready. So was Javier. The sparkle that she saw in his eyes when he lavished attention on her belly only rivaled that of the attention Javier lavished on her. It was the same look that she’d seen in his eyes the day she fell in love with him at the Fort Worth Corporate Games. Every day she saw more and more of his fear melt away and she would do her best to erase it all. What they had was meant to last. “Querida?” Kinsey looked up at Javier, her heart skipping a beat at his crooked smile. “Yes?” “I love you.” “I love you too, Javier.”
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And she would continue to love him for as long as she lived. To think that she’d taken a chance on Mr. Wrong, only to have him turn out to be Mr. Right. There was definitely something to be said about being in a compromising position, she thought as she pressed her lips to his.
The End
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TuÉâà à{x Tâà{ÉÜ Stephanie Morris resides in Fort Worth, Texas. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, dancing, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family. In Stephanie’s opinion, there is nothing like curling up with a good book that you can’t put down, and she is addicted to writing them. Stephanie can be contacted through her website http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com/ or via e-mail at
[email protected].
