Catching the CEO (Billionaire's Second Chance)

by Victoria Davies

  Spencer snorted. “Mia rubbed off in ways I didn’t expect,” he replied. “Look, companies merge or buy out each other all the time. What if neither of your organizations exists in ten years?”

  What would I do if the companies were no longer an issue?

  A hunger woke within him that he barely knew how to tame.

  “We’re not going down,” he said.

  “Not the point and you know it.”

  He sighed. “This will get complicated.”

  “As if it’s not already.”

  “I don’t do serious.”

  “News flash. You started at serious. I met Caitlyn. That’s not a girl who falls into bed with anyone who asks.”

  No, she’s not.

  But where did that leave him? Was Caitlyn temporary? Or had he fallen into a serious relationship without realizing it?

  It’s not as terrifying an idea as I thought it would be.

  He’d spent a lifetime loathing the idea of commitment, but with the right person, a decent person, maybe it wasn’t the trap he’d always suspected.

  “I need to go.”

  “Uh-huh. Say hi to Caitlyn for me.”

  The call disconnected, and he stood. There was one person he wanted to see.

  Because it’s time to stop thinking of Caitlyn as temporary.

  What a sacrilegious thought for a member of the Reid family.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “All I’m saying, honey, is that a grandchild before we’re dead wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”

  Caitlyn rolled her eyes. “You two commandeer my house and this is the thanks I get?”

  “You know you like family dinners.”

  “Especially when they happen at your place.”

  “Pah,” her mother said, mixing the salad as she stood by the kitchen counter. “Look at how happy your dad is poking around at the grill.”

  She had to admit the woman had a point. Glancing out the window showed her father in the lower garden, cleaning the BBQ bars with a vengeance.

  “He’s doing well,” Teresa said in a softer tone, stepping up beside her. “We have months yet.”

  “But not years.”

  Her mother reached out to catch her hand. “I’ve had a lifetime with that man. No amount of time will ever be enough. But I won’t let that stop me from enjoying every extra minute we’re allowed.”

  “Sorry,” she said. “I know how inseparable you two are. I’d like to have that, too, someday.”

  Her mother took the lettuce out of the spinner and shook it in the sink. “Sooner rather than later?”

  The tone was innocent, but Caitlyn still shot a glare at her mother. “What have you heard?”

  “Nothing. I’m just pointing out you’ve been happy lately.”

  “That’s not a crime.”

  “No, but I can also read a calendar. Come on. Tell me. Did you meet someone at the DC conference?”

  “Mom,” she protested.

  “Doesn’t matter how old you get, honey. You’re still my little girl, and I want to know what’s happening in your life. Does this new beau treat you right?”

  “He does,” she muttered, thinking over the dinners they’d enjoyed together, and the nights they’d spent tangled in heated sheets.

  “You should introduce us.”

  Ha, what a bad idea.

  “Sure,” she lied. “I’ll think about it.”

  The doorbell rang.

  Saved by the bell. Literally.

  “Take these out to Dad while I get that,” she said, loading her mother up with cutlery.

  Running to the front door, she pulled it open.

  “Caitlyn,” Damien said.

  She blinked. “Dammit, I forgot to text you, didn’t I?”

  Her breath caught as he stepped across the threshold and pulled her into a light kiss.

  “I’ve missed you.”

  “It’s only been a day,” she teased.

  Some of the humor drained from his face. “I know.”

  Ba-dum went her heart.

  “Come in,” she said, closing the door behind him. “But you should know I’m not alone.”

  He stilled. “Want me to leave?”

  She hesitated, knowing it’d be the easier course of action. “You might want to, and I completely understand if you do, but…” She squared her shoulders and met his gaze. “But I’d like you to stay if that’s something you’re comfortable with.”

  “Are you entertaining the mob or something?”

  “Worse,” she joked. “My parents.”

  All expression wiped clean from his face.

  “This doesn’t have to be about work,” she said quickly, holding up her hands in peace. “Honestly, after the talk I just had about dating, your presence will be more than enough to steer the conversation away from our companies.”

  “I’m not sure this is a great idea,” he said, running a hand down his face.

  “My family is important to me.”

  And so are you.

  She might get the talking-to of the century, but she wanted to be honest with her parents about this man who was rapidly becoming a cornerstone of her days.

  “I’d like you to meet them,” she said. “Outside of a corporate context. Will you?”

  He took a deep breath. “I don’t really do the parent meetings. The last time I had to do one was…” He paused, clearly not even able to remember the last time.

  Because he doesn’t date. He has flings. Temporary affairs with women not important enough to sit through a family evening for.

  Pain tore through her chest as she realized what that meant. Is that how he views me?

  Why give her a key then? Had she read too much into a gesture that might have been about simple convenience after all?

  “You can duck out,” she said through numb lips. “They don’t know you’re here. No harm done. I’ll come over later in the week.”

  For sex. Because that’s all he wants from me.

  It should be better to know where she stood, but right now all she wanted was to get out before he saw the hurt on her face.

  He turned for the door, reaching out to grasp the handle, when he paused.

  “One drink?” he asked over his shoulder.

  Joy exploded through her, and she pulled him around to face her. “Seriously?”

  A wry smile curved his lips. “Your parents might eviscerate me for daring to be near their darling daughter, but yeah. If you want me to stay, I will.”

  Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed him for all she was worth. There were no words to convey her surprise and gratitude, so she didn’t even try. Instead she hoped he could feel what she didn’t know how to say. The fact that he wasn’t running for the hills floored her. He was willing to face what could be an uncomfortable encounter for her sake.

  He has to care.

  No one would put themselves through something like this otherwise.

  “Thank you,” she whispered against his lips. “I want my parents to meet the people I think are important.”

  “And I qualify?” he asked, nuzzling her cheek.

  “Yeah,” she said with a sigh. “You do. Does that freak you out?”

  “It should. I’m not a dating sort of guy.”

  “Please, you’ve just never dated the right woman,” she teased.

  He dropped a butterfly kiss on the tip of her nose before leaning back enough to meet her gaze. “Maybe.”

  She blinked, the joking response dying on her tongue. Looking up into his gray eyes, all she saw was sincerity in their depths.

  It’s not just me. It can’t be.

  Surely, he was as caught as she was.

  A shiver ran through her at the thought.

  “Come on,” she said, threading her fingers through his as she pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Let’s go introduce you.”

  “I’ve met your parents before. Last time your father threw me out of his office.”

  �
�He’s mellowed since retirement.”

  “Uh-huh,” he said, unconvinced.

  “One drink, then you can run. I promise.”

  They entered the kitchen, and he pulled her to a stop when he saw her parents sitting on the back patio.

  “If this is a disaster…” he started.

  She rose to her tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “Then I’ll turn up on your doorstep later tonight with my brand-new key, apologetic and determined to make it up to you.”

  “Is that so?”

  “I can get really creative when I’m trying to cheer someone up.”

  A growl rumbled from his throat. “You have no idea how down I am right now. It’s depressing. I’ve never been so sad.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure sad is the emotion I’d use to describe your current mood.”

  “On the contrary. If I have to sleep alone tonight, I’ll be very, very sad.” His teeth scraped lightly against her earlobe.

  Need shot through her, making her wish she didn’t have company.

  “Behave,” she ordered.

  “Never,” he replied, running his lips down her throat.

  She pushed him back even though all she wanted to do was pull him closer. “Stop stalling. Let’s go see if my parents’ heads explode.”

  “If I were a betting man, I think I could make us both another fortune.”

  “Probably. No matter how it plays out, though, you get major boyfriend points for being here.”

  His fingers tightened on hers, but he didn’t say anything.

  It wasn’t until she was sliding the glass door open that she realized she’d used the B word for the first time.

  And he hadn’t objected.

  “Mom,” she said. “You wanted to know who I was seeing. Well, you remember Damien Reid, don’t you?”

  The silence was deafening. Her parents stared at Damien like she’d just pulled an alien out of the house. To his credit, Damien merely smiled and offered a polite, “Nice to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks.”

  Her dad recovered first. “Pull up a chair, son.”

  Her mom glanced at her husband before pursing her lips. “Join us,” she said, though no one would ever mistake her tone as welcoming.

  Damien cast her a dry glance before sliding into the open spot at the patio table.

  Caitlyn headed for the makeshift bar she’d created on a side table and poured him a generous tumbler of scotch. She set it in front of him before taking her own seat.

  “Do you often drop by my daughter’s house in the evenings?” her mother asked.

  Damien took a sip of his drink before inclining his head. “Occasionally.”

  She watched red spread across her mother’s face.

  “We crossed paths at the conference,” she said.

  “Looks like you did more than cross paths,” Teresa replied.

  She rolled her eyes. “Really, Mom? I’m not sixteen anymore. You don’t get to scold me about my love life.”

  “When it endangers the company I helped your father build for the majority of my life, I certainly can.”

  “I’m not endangering anything.”

  “Forgive the cliché, but you are sleeping with the enemy, Caitlyn.”

  She felt her own cheeks heat but refused to back down. “You’re being rude.”

  Her mother crossed her arms but said no more.

  Her thoughts raced as she tried to figure out what to say to defuse the tension. The last thing she wanted was for Damien to just walk out.

  But in the awkward silence, a hand brushed her nape, massaging away the tension. Shock spiraled through her as she glanced at her lover.

  The casual touch seemed to be nothing to him as his gaze fixed on her parents. “Let me assure you, Mrs. Brooks, that we are not naive to the complications. My company is just as exposed as Caitlyn’s in this arrangement.”

  “Then why are you doing it?” Teresa asked.

  Those gray eyes met hers, the tiniest smile on his lips. “Hell if I know.”

  Her heart melted a little more, and when he dropped his hand, she mourned the loss of connection.

  Clive cleared his throat, drawing her attention to her silent father.

  “Damien,” he said, “How are you on the grill?”

  “He’s just here for a drink, Dad—”

  “Excellent,” Damien said, beating her to the punch. “What are we eating?”

  “I was going to throw a couple burgers on. Come help me.”

  “After you,” he said, rising to his feet.

  “Play nice, Dad,” she said as the men moved down to the garden and the waiting BBQ.

  When they were a safe distance away, her mother unleashed her fury.

  “End it,” she said. “Now.”

  Caitlyn reached for her wineglass. “No.”

  “Of all the stupid things you’ve done, my dear, this one has to take the cake.”

  “Very true.”

  Her usually calm mother looked murderous for the first time in Caitlyn’s life.

  “Don’t be glib. This is serious. You waltz our main competitor out here and expect your father and me to do what, exactly?”

  “I expected my parents to try and get to know the man I’m seeing right now. Weren’t you just berating me for never introducing you to anyone important?”

  Her mother shrank back. “Important? This is serious, then?”

  She looked down at Damien handing tongs to her father. “Yeah, I think it might be.”

  “Honey, this isn’t going to end well.”

  “We know.”

  Not that the knowledge is stopping anything.

  Her mother sighed. “You never could do anything the easy way.”

  “What can I say? I’m unique.”

  “Yes, you are. And perfect. He’s never going to see that.”

  He already does. The intricately detailed sketch he’d done of her years ago proved that.

  “You don’t know him, Mom.”

  She snorted. “I knew his father, and that boy was part of Reid Enterprises from the time he could walk. They have different values than we do.”

  “That’s business. It’s different.”

  “Is it? You’d never step on someone to get ahead. Jonathan Reid made an art form out of it. Do you really think ruthlessness like his didn’t bleed into his home life? There’s a reason his wife stayed on the other side of the world whenever she could.”

  She blinked, uncertain what to do with the new insight into Damien’s childhood. She’d never thought to ask her parents about it, assuming they’d be none the wiser. But she hadn’t factored in the years they’d spent going head to head with the senior Reid.

  “Damien isn’t his father.”

  Teresa shook her head. “If he isn’t, it’d be an utter miracle. That man was determined to mold his son in his image, and from all accounts I ever received, he succeeded.”

  “You don’t know him the way I do.”

  Her mother’s smile was condescending. “Let me guess. He’s like two men. One when he’s in the public eye and the other when you’re alone?”

  It was so close to what she’d been about to say, she bit her lip.

  “I dated men like that, too, and you know what I learned? The public persona is all that matters. At the end of the day, he’ll always choose his company over you.”

  She swallowed. “It’s still early days to be having this conversation. It’s only been a few months.”

  “I can count on one hand the number of your partners I’ve ever met. The fact that you didn’t shoo him away from this house but instead invited him back here speaks volumes. You’re in trouble.”

  “I’m not.”

  “And the last thing I want to see is you brokenhearted.”

  “I thought this was about the company.”

  “It’s about all of it. I’m your mother. It’s my job to worry about you in every aspect of your life for as long as I’m on this planet.”


  “Motherhood sounds fun.”

  Teresa reached out and took her hand. “It’s the best job there is. And the hardest. You know you’ll always have me in your corner, but this…this will only end one way, and I don’t want to see what happens to you when it does.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “What are you envisioning? That he’ll choose you over his family and his fortune? Together you’ll ride off into the sunset without a care. Start a life together. A family of your own? Please. It’s a pipe dream, and you know it.”

  Anger pulsed through her. “I don’t know, Mom,” she snapped, wanting to shut down this conversation. “I could just be using him for some excellent sex.”

  No shock showed in her mother’s expression as she nodded sagely. “I’d be relieved to hear it. You could use a little stress release.”

  “Ah, ick, okay, you win. This was a bad discussion to start. I’m going to go see if Dad has skewered Damien yet with the BBQ tongs.”

  “Your father is far more polite than I am. He’s probably still breathing.”

  “It’s the probably I take issue with. Need a refill before I go?”

  Teresa waved her hand. “I’ll get it. Go check on your boy. But remember what I said, Caitlyn. We’re not through with this conversation.”

  “Lucky me.” Pushing from her chair, she crossed the deck and jogged down the steps to her garden. Half of the space was green and growing and the other half was tiled, making it perfect for a BBQ. As she drew closer, she heard her father commenting on some sports team she didn’t follow.

  “So the menfolk are down here grilling meat and talking sports while the womenfolk drink? I’m not sure whether to be insulted or if I should just kick back and enjoy my wine,” she said as she moved up between them.

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Damien,” her father said. “We’re getting caught up.”

  “I didn’t know you two knew each other well.”

  “Professionally, only,” Damien said, flipping a burger. “Cheese on yours, right?”

  Warmth flooded her. “Always,” she agreed, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.

  Turning to her father, she noted the lines tightening around his mouth. “Dad, why don’t you go sit down and rest for a bit? I’ll help out with the burgers. Mom’s alone stewing anyways. Go distract her for me.”

  Her dad ruffled her hair, a habit he’d never managed to break in all the years since she’d been young. “Always looking out for your old man. I think I’ll take you up on it. Damien, she burns everything, so don’t let her turn up the heat.”