Catching the CEO (Billionaire's Second Chance)

by Victoria Davies

  “None of your business,” he growled.

  A knowing look lit Spencer’s eyes. “At the start of this week, she was your rival.”

  “She still is. She’s just also…”

  A smug expression crossed Spencer’s face. “She’s also more. I have to hand it to you, Reid. Your love life is even more complicated than mine.”

  “You don’t have a love life. You have playmates.”

  The other man shrugged. “Still easier than what you’re going home to.”

  “I’m not going home to anything. We agreed whatever this was, it ends with the conference. Once we get back to Boston, everything will go back to normal.”

  Spencer snorted. “Yeah, let me know how that goes.”

  He glared at his companion. “You know as well as I do, eventually she and I will hit a point of no return with our companies.”

  “Afraid you won’t be able to crush your lover’s hopes and dreams if you let yourself care?”

  Exactly.

  “Business comes first. She understands that, too.”

  Spencer glanced at his watch. “I’m sure she does. Logically. But if you slept together last night, I’m afraid logic may have very little to do with what comes next.”

  “One night is not a relationship.”

  “True. Except it wasn’t one night, was it?”

  He frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve listened to you all week. This woman didn’t come out of nowhere. You’ve spent years noticing her. Yesterday might have been the first time you physically crossed a line, but I’m betting it’s not the first time you thought about it.”

  That’s the problem.

  Because his friend was right. He’d always been aware of Caitlyn. Watching her when they were at the same events, biting back smiles when he ruffled her perfect feathers, going out of his way to put himself in her path. She was like an addiction he couldn’t shake. Every instinct in his body warned she was bad for him and yet, again and again, he sought her out.

  Then last night had happened. He’d finally gotten the taste of her he’d craved.

  It wasn’t enough.

  Not nearly.

  Watching her walk out of his room this morning had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done. But he’d let her go without a word, because after having her in his arms he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d gotten it wrong all this time.

  What if I’m the one who’s bad for her?

  “I can’t let this be more,” he said, pushing away the troubling thought.

  Spencer sighed. “It’s always business first with you.”

  “Yes.”

  Because it had to be.

  He owed it to his father to see the family vision through.

  But he’s gone. Caitlyn is alive and within arm’s reach.

  “I’ve said it before. You’re a cold son of a bitch.”

  Yes, he was. With everyone but her.

  Except when we get back to Boston, that might have to change.

  Even if the idea of being as ruthless with Caitlyn as he was with his other rivals tied his stomach in painful knots.

  What is happening to me?

  Damned if he knew.

  …

  “It’s lucky we can share a cab to the airport,” Shireen said. “Gives me a chance to pry.”

  “Your favorite pastime,” Caitlyn replied, looking out the window of their car. Since they’d pulled away from their hotel, she hadn’t been able to shake the feeling she’d left something important behind. And she didn’t think it was her curling iron.

  “I texted you last night. You didn’t answer.”

  “I could have been sleeping, you know.”

  “I doubt it. In fact, I’d go so far to say you didn’t head back to your room by yourself.”

  She sighed, leaning back in her seat. “No.”

  “What else didn’t you do alone?”

  Glancing at her friend, she rolled her eyes. “You know very well what happened.”

  “Yep,” Shireen replied. “My girl got down and dirty. You have to give me details. The man looks like he knows a thing or two. Did he?”

  Her toes curled at the memory of everything they’d done to each other the night before. There was no stopping the blush that heated her cheeks.

  Shireen chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  “It was just one night. A great night, sure. But it can’t be anything more.”

  “Uh-huh. Whatever you say.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “Oh, I know. Just like you were serious a few years ago when you swore there was no way you’d ever take over the company.”

  “This is different.”

  “Is it?”

  She looked away. “It has to be.”

  Some of the humor drained from Shireen’s face. “This isn’t life or death, Caitlyn. Why not enjoy him for a while? I mean, you do share a city. Not like me and that tasty Spencer. A continent separates what could have been a perfectly lovely affair.”

  “How do you do that?” she asked. “Keep your emotions in check and enjoy something temporary?”

  Shireen shrugged. “Well, for one, I don’t secretly moon over the men I want for years. If you want to keep emotions out of the bedroom, you have to keep them out of the boardroom, too.”

  “I don’t feel anything for Damien.”

  That spurred a real laugh from her friend. “Darling, you have both hated and wanted that man for years. You’ve fought against him, gone head to head in every arena including his hotel room and, I’m going to assume, held your own. Your relationship might be incredibly complicated, but one thing it’s not is devoid of emotion.”

  That’s the problem.

  Because she was afraid Shireen was right. Her emotions were involved, and that gave her a weakness Damien could exploit.

  I should have been stronger. Going into his room was a mistake.

  But what a mistake. It was massively unfair that the best sex of her life would never be repeated.

  “You’re not going to be able to avoid him forever when you go home.”

  “I know,” Caitlyn said. “But all I need is a little distance from last night and I’ll be fine.”

  “Or you two could come to some sort of understanding. Keep it simple. Just sex, no dates, no romantic kisses on boardwalks, no calls. Set your boundaries and get him out of your system so by the time your companies collide, you will have moved past your infatuation.”

  Infatuation.

  Was that really all this was? A schoolgirl crush on the wrong man?

  This idea has some merit…

  It’d give her what she wanted. More time.

  But while everyone else in her world seemed to be able to handle casual affairs, she wasn’t convinced she could. At least, not with him.

  “I’ll think about it,” she said.

  Who knows. I might get off the plane in Boston and all this will be a distant memory.

  Wouldn’t that be nice.

  But as optimistic as she usually was, she couldn’t even convince herself that moving on from Damien would be a simple task.

  So where does that leave me?

  There was really only one answer.

  Completely and utterly screwed.

  Chapter Twelve

  Clearly the universe had it in for him.

  It had been two weeks since the conference, and instead of life getting easier without Caitlyn, it was getting more complicated.

  How many times in the last fourteen days had he stared at her number in his phone? His thumb had hovered over the call button a dozen times without ever pushing connect. Because what could he say? Nothing she didn’t already know. They were a bad idea.

  Even if he couldn’t get their one night out of his mind.

  He missed the easiness of the conference. Hell, he even missed having Spencer nearby to help him sort through these conflicting feelings. Caitlyn was only a few blocks away, and yet the distance
seemed farther than ever.

  I want to see her.

  It’d been an urge he couldn’t squash since the moment the plane had landed. At night he dreamed about her; during the day she filled his memories.

  I can’t get turned around over a woman.

  He never had in his entire life, and he wasn’t about to start now.

  Particularly when he had another female to worry about.

  Damien rubbed his forehead, trying to ignore the woman sitting on the other side of his desk.

  “I asked you a question,” she said, tapping her perfectly painted nails on the mahogany wood.

  “You did,” he replied, leaning back in his chair. “But you see, Mother, you don’t get to waltz back into the company and demand anything. I own the controlling interest, not you.”

  “Yes, yes, your father wrapped that all tightly up in a bow before he passed.” She waved her hand. “No matter. You’re my son. I have a right to know when you’ll take the new anxiety drug to market.”

  “No, actually, you don’t. Besides, that drug is still in testing and will be for months.”

  “Then speed it up. You have to get it out before someone else duplicates your science. We’ll lose millions if you don’t.”

  “And there it is. Running low on cash, are we?”

  His mother stiffened. “Do not speak to me that way.”

  “Why not? You abandoned me to Father’s tender loving care throughout my entire childhood. I can speak to you however I want.”

  He stared at the woman who shared half of his DNA and felt nothing but the usual pit in his stomach. She was perfectly put together, as always. Her Chanel suit matched her pink pumps. The bleached-blond hair was styled so that every lock was in place. Nothing about his mother was ever sloppy or cheap. She’d always enjoyed the lifestyle his father’s company had afforded her. And now she was here doing to him what she’d once done to her husband—milking him to sustain the life she wanted to lead without a hint of any emotion warmer than greed.

  For far too many years growing up, he thought his mother was a normal example of what women were like. It was one of the reasons he’d never wanted anything to do with the institution of marriage. With an example like his parents to follow, no doubt he’d end up divorced in five years.

  Caitlyn is nothing like Mother.

  The unwanted thought hit him like he’d touched a live wire. The last thing he needed was to compare the two strong-willed women in his life.

  But she’s not really in my life.

  In the time since he’d returned home, there’d been no word from her. Not that he’d expected to hear anything until a business matter arose.

  Expecting is not the same as wanting.

  If he was going to be as honest as he prided himself on being, he had to admit he…missed her.

  A lot.

  “Mother, it’s been a long day. I’m tired. If the only thing you’re here for is to demand confidential information you have no right to, I’m going to have to cut this visit short.”

  She crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed with him. “There’s so much of your father in you.”

  It didn’t sound like a compliment.

  “Yes,” he agreed. “There is.”

  Whether that was good or bad remained to be seen.

  “At least you have his gift for leadership,” she said with a sigh. “That’s something, I suppose.”

  “Feeling the love today.”

  “Don’t be tedious, Damien. As it happens, checking on the company wasn’t my only reason for dropping in.”

  “No?” He arched a brow. “I can’t wait to hear what you say next.”

  “I’m throwing a little family dinner tomorrow and I want you to come.”

  He blinked. “The only family left is us, and apart from a yearly Christmas meal, we don’t do dinner.”

  “I’d like to change that.”

  For the first time in years, his mother surprised him. Words stuck in his throat as he struggled to think of what to say. Was it possible that after all this time she wanted more of a relationship with him?

  Would I want us to be closer?

  A few weeks ago, he’d have scoffed at the offer.

  But if his relationship with Caitlyn could change so drastically, was it possible he’d been too black-and-white in his thinking?

  Swallowing, he tried to push down the flick of hope he didn’t want to acknowledge. “Were you thinking a monthly Saturday night dinner?”

  Aversion swept over her features before she schooled them back into indifference. “Sweetheart, I think we do better with some distance between us, don’t you?”

  “You said you wanted family dinners.”

  She waved a hand. “One. This weekend. An old friend is in town, and her daughter is one of the wealthiest heiresses on the East Coast. I thought she’d be a good match for you.”

  Disappointment swept through him, tugging at his chest far more strongly than he’d anticipated.

  What, did you think Mommie Dearest would suddenly realize she loved you all along?

  It’s not as if he’d ever needed a mother anyways. Besides, if she wanted to introduce him to someone she liked, that meant she had some interest in his well-being.

  “Tell me about her,” he said neutrally, Caitlyn’s face flashing in his mind.

  His mother stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “Why would I know anything about her? Her family comes from old money, and this match will make excellent business sense. Be at my house by seven o’clock for cocktails, won’t you?”

  Pain shot through his gut. Money. This was about money. She hadn’t found him a woman she thought would match him. She’d brought him a meal ticket to a larger bank account.

  Serves you right for thinking there was anything affectionate about this woman.

  What had Caitlyn done to him? He was getting soft.

  Particularly because the second he thought about her, he wished she were here.

  “I’m busy,” he said. “Rain check.”

  “Damien—”

  “Do you want me playing suitor or do you want me keeping our product release schedule on track?”

  Her lips tightened. “I suppose I could move the dinner.”

  “I was unclear. Let me rephrase. If I ever walk down the aisle, it will be because of a blow to the head. I don’t want to meet your heiress or any other woman you ever deem appropriate for me now or in the future.”

  “Don’t be overly dramatic, son. There’s no one else to carry on the family name. But if you need a few more years of your bachelor ways, I won’t argue. For now.” She reached for her designer bag and stood. “But I still think you should meet the girl. An engagement can be strung out for ages, you know. No harm locking her down for the future.”

  “No.”

  “So stubborn.” She checked her reflection in her compact before dropping it back into her bag. Walking around the desk, she bent to kiss the air over each of his cheeks. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Have it your way.” She headed for the door, calling over her shoulder, “Be a dear and transfer some extra funds into my account. Half a million should do it.”

  The door closed behind her before he could reply.

  Leaning back in his chair, he ran a hand over his face. Every time he saw his mother, he felt like he’d just come through a battle.

  But the encounters didn’t usually leave him so drained.

  Don’t let her get to you. The woman is poison.

  And the only blood relative he had. Where did that leave him?

  Loneliness was not an emotion he ever gave a second thought to. But the gnawing pit in his chest was a clear sign today was different.

  Pushing from his desk, he stalked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows that made up one of his office walls. The busy city sprawled out before him. He loved this vantage point. The sight was a testament to his success. Not everyone could stand above
the teeming metropolis, housed in his own personal empire.

  But today, not even the million-dollar view could calm the emotions churning within him.

  Leave. You’re done for the day. Get out and find a bottle of scotch and a random companion.

  Except the thought of picking up a stranger held no appeal whatsoever. It hadn’t since the conference. He didn’t want one meaningless night. He wanted…

  Caitlyn.

  Yet another woman who had no problem walking away from him without a backward glance. Calling her would be a weakness, and he didn’t need any more of those.

  He didn’t need anyone else. Ever.

  Did he?

  …

  “Jeremy, I literally left the office twenty minutes ago. Couldn’t you have brought this up earlier?” Caitlyn asked, juggling her phone and the bags in her hands. Craving a little comfort food, she’d done a shopping run on her way home. Popcorn and wine lay in her immediate future.

  “R&D just came to me with the new projections. We’re not going to hit our last-quarter release date. Something happened in testing.”

  She sighed. Great, just what she needed this week.

  “Okay. Leave the new forecasts on my desk and I’ll review them in the morning. Let R&D know I’ll be requesting a meeting to be debriefed on this as well.”

  “Will do, boss.”

  “Signing off for the night,” she said before disconnecting the call.

  Fishing out her keys, she bustled through the front door and dropped the bags on the floor.

  Another delay.

  It wasn’t good. They needed every edge they could get, and the one thing they’d been on top of was their timelines.

  Damien would have a field day with this.

  The thought caused a pang in her heart.

  You promised to stop thinking about him.

  He was supposed to be out of her life in any way but professionally. Yet in the two weeks she’d been home, she hadn’t been able to stop herself wondering what he was doing.

  Weak. What would Dad say?

  She couldn’t sacrifice her focus for a man. Ever.

  Even if said man haunted her dreams every night.

  Shaking her head, she kicked off her heels and breathed a sigh of relief to be free of them. Grabbing her groceries, she padded to the kitchen.