Behind Your Back - Cameron Chelsea M. - Страница 28

“Nice to see you again so soon,” I say, keeping my tone cautious.

“Yes,” he says, sitting down without an invitation. “I didn’t know you were screwing my daughter.”

I keep my reaction non-visible.

“I’m not screwing your daughter. I didn’t know she was your daughter when I started talking with her. We met at a coffee shop.”

“And she knows you work here.”

“Yes, but I didn’t tell her that I work with you. I have to keep confidentiality,” I say, my tone even and cool.

“Agreed,” he says and there is a tense silence as I wait for him to make up his mind as to what he’s going to do.

“I can’t say I’m happy about the situation. But I do appreciate you keeping our business relationship quiet.” I nod and wait for him to continue.

He sighs.

“And this better not interfere with our particular business relationship.”

“I can guarantee you it won’t. I keep my business life and my personal life completely separate.” He studies me for a few moments.

“I guess I’m going to have to trust you on that. If I tell Saige not to see you anymore, she’ll just do the opposite. So. I’m going to do nothing. But I’m keeping my eye on you, Quinn Brand. I’m going to be watching you like a hawk.” I don’t doubt him in the slightest.

“I’m not a man you want as your enemy,” he says, his eyes narrowing to slits. Message received.

“I don’t intend to, Mr. Beaumont.” There’s another moment when we measure each other. He must find me acceptable because he gets to his feet, buttons his jacket and holds out his hand.

“Glad we cleared that up. I’ll be in touch about my investments. And I’d appreciate it if you would keep her in the dark for the foreseeable future.”

I agree and he leaves.

My legs buckle and I sit back in my chair. I don’t know why I was so worried about this meeting, but I feel like I’ve just dodged a bullet and escaped with my life. True? it’s important that I not piss Beaumont off, but my relationship with Saige is of more importance. She’s my way in.

I close my eyes for a second and breathe to get myself back together. Things are starting to move in the right direction, but I really need to speed things up with Saige. It’s time for an overnight.

All it takes is a few calls and everything is in place. Grace arrives with a bouquet of white roses and a new shirt and tie.

“Thank you, Grace,” I say and catch just a tiny hint of jealousy. I know if I tell her to sit on my desk and pull up her skirt, she probably would. But I don’t want her.

“You’re welcome, sir,” she says, walking back to her desk as I gather my things and head down to my car.

I check my phone and find that Saige is still at the coffee shop where we first met. Good.

I drive to the shop and parallel park just down the street. With the flowers in one hand, I open the door of the cafe. She’s sitting in exactly the same table we first sat at together.

Her back is to me, so I have plenty of time to approach her without her seeing me. I walk slow enough that she can’t hear me and then reach out and tap her on the shoulder.

Her hair is curly again today and it ripples down her back. I want to twist my fingers in it and pull a little. If everything goes according to plan, I’ll get to in a very short time.

She turns around, surprised, and then she sees it’s me, holding out a bouquet of white roses.

“Surprise,” I say, smiling back at her.

“What’s this?” she asks, taking the flowers.

“I hope you have nothing planned tonight because you are coming with me right now.” She raises one rust-colored eyebrow.

“Really? You think you can just barge in here, hand me some flowers and I’ll do whatever you want?”

“Should I have brought chocolates? A teddy bear?” I say.

She purses her lips and shakes her head.

“I’m not easily bought, Quinn Brand. You can’t just do what you want and think that I’ll come running.” She stands up.

“You have to make an effort.” She steps close to me and runs her hand down my chest, but she doesn’t stop. She goes all the way down past my belt and…

And now I have a hard on in the middle of a coffee shop.

“See, I think you need me more than I need you at the moment.” She gives me a wicked grin and then removes her hand.

“Bad, bad girl. I was going to give you a lovely romantic evening, but now I think I’m going to have to punish you for being so naughty,” I say, my voice low. Her eyes flare with desire, which is exactly what I was going for. Saige likes to play, and I’m more than happy to play with her.

“Hmmm, I don’t know. That depends on my punishment.” I lean down and nip at her earlobe. She shivers and I smell a victory.

“Oh, I’ll make it very, very good. For both of us.”

I pull back and wait for her reaction.

“I suppose…”

“I’ll take that as yes,” I say and reach for her hand.

“Just let me get my stuff together,” she says, turning back toward the table.

I want her. I want her right here, right now. That one little touch has set me off and if I don’t get her alone immediately, I’m liable to take her right here in the coffee shop.

“Hurry,” I say as she takes her sweet time. She deliberately bends down slowly.

“You are trying my patience,” I say and she looks at me over her shoulder with a wink.

“So sorry about that.” She wiggles her ass a little. I just wait, even though every second is agony. Finally, she stands. I grip her arm and pull her close, and set my mouth at her ear again.

“If I don’t get you out the door now, I’m going to have you naked in about sixty seconds and take you right here.” Her breath catches, but she doesn’t pull away.

“Then let’s go,” she says, her voice a little shaky. Good. I have to keep the upper hand with this one. I can’t let her control me. And one of the best ways to keep control is to get her into a bed.

Somehow I’m able to get behind the wheel and drive us to the hotel where I’ve booked a room. Saige doesn’t say anything as I park the car and then help her out.

“I don’t have a change of clothes,” she says.

“You won’t need any for what I have planned,” I say. She squeezes my hand and we walk through the front door of the hotel. I have to check in, but as soon as I get her alone in the elevator, my lips claim hers and our bodies fuse together.

She gasps and then melts into me, her tongue stroking mine, her hands pulling me closer. Her curves conform perfectly to my body. Like she was designed to fit against me. Lucky coincidence and very much in my favor.

She tastes like fire. Hot and sweet.

Dimly I hear the sound of the elevator dinging and the door opening, but I’m too focused on Saige and her body. Her hands lightly shove me and she breaks the kiss.

“This is our floor,” she says, her voice husky. Fuck me. I need to make that happen more.

Before I can think, I grab her around the waist and throw her over my shoulder. She screams, but I ignore it as I walk to the hotel door, swipe my card and let it slam behind us.

My next destination is the king-sized bed that I toss her on. Her body bounces and she looks up at me with her face flushed. But she’s smiling.

“You’re trouble, Quinn Brand,” she says in a soft voice as her hair settles all around her on the pillows. I hope she can’t see that my hands shake a little as I start undoing my tie and stalk toward her.

She sits up.

“What would you do if I said no right now?” I stop walking.

“Then I would say that is a damn shame, but if you don’t want to be with me, then you don’t have to.” I drop my hands and hold them behind my back. She’s killing me right now, but I know this is a test and I have to pass.