Watch Me
Page 12
He brought her against him for a lingering embrace. “Me, too. I will be here to share your triumphs for the rest of our lives. But…” he frowned. “What happened to the blackmailer? He threatened to circulate Kristoff’s video to the judges to prevent you from competing and winning.”
“I know. I’ve been scratching my head, too. Maybe he changed his mind?”
A pounding on the door interrupted their closeness and musings. Oops…someone wanted their office back, and they’d made an absolute mess.
Ali opened the door with an apology on his lips. “We are very sorry…”
But instead of an event manager standing on the other side, it was Kristoff.
“What?” Shanna asked. “Is something wrong?”
“I must talk to you.”
She’d promised to talk to him in fifteen minutes. She supposed those were pretty much up. “Okay.”
Kristoff paced; he looked oddly hesitant. “You are happy we won, yes?”
“Of course! Aren’t you?”
He nodded. “Very.”
“I don’t know how, given your footage and the threat but—”
“I did that.”
“Did what?”
Grimacing, he confessed, “I created the video. Before you force me from Sneak Peek…” He risked a glance at Ali. “The people in the video consented to be filmed. They are my…how should I say, boyfriend and girlfriend. We are together, and they agreed to help me.”
Shanna had no idea Kristoff was in any sort of relationship, much less with both a man and a woman. Whatever floated his boat, but… “You’re telling me you filmed the clip and left it for me with the blackmailing note? You staged this? Why the hell… I worried until I was sure I had no stomach left for days!”
“This, I know. I apologize. But, um…before I invest more years in being your partner, I must know if you will stay with me. If I pretended like the news of my relationship reached the judges, I wondered what would you do, keep me or dump me.”
“So the blackmail…it wasn’t real?”
“No.” He grimaced. “Please do not hate me.”
A moment of anger surged through her…then died. He would never have needed to test her if she hadn’t spent years partner swapping to feed an ambition that, in the long run, had nearly consumed her spirit and happiness.
“I don’t hate you. Just don’t, um…surprise me again.”
“Now I know where I stand, so…never.” He snatched up her left hand, noted the ring there, and grabbed her in a bear hug. “Engaged? Congratulations! You are happy, yes?”
“Incredibly so.” She sent Ali a warm smile, and he caressed her back in return.
“I think all will be good now,” Kristoff pronounced.
“Not just good.” Ali brought her closer to his side, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “It’s going to be perfect. I’m going to be so happy.”
“Are you sure?” Ali teased.
“I’m a champion with a great dance partner and a wonderfully hot fiancé. Oh, yeah.” Shanna sent him a saucy smile of challenge. “Don’t believe I’ll be happy? Just watch me.”
He slid his arms around her, and his kiss promised a passion that left her reeling. “Oh, I will.”
* * *
Read on for more from Shayla Black!
Want a sexy office romance?
Read Naughty Little Secret.
Her boss. Her friend. Her secret lover?
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NAUGHTY LITTLE SECRET
By Shayla Black
Click to purchase!
(available in eBook, print, and audio)
After divorcing her never-home husband, Lauren Southall plucked up her courage, dusted off her power suits, and returned to corporate life. Two years later, there’s just one six-foot three, testosterone-packed problem: her ex-husband’s good friend and her current boss, Noah Reeves. Lauren aches for him. But she can’t possibly measure up to the silicone-packed professional cheerleaders he dates. So she hides her desire behind a professional persona and fantasizes.
For ten years, Noah Reeves has waited to make Lauren his. Once her divorce was final, he tracked down and hired the brilliant, dedicated woman. But when he’s with her, it isn’t spreadsheets and profit margins on his brain. Problem is, she’s never seen him as anything but her ex-husband’s pal. Now that she’s finally a free woman and with him 40+ hours a week, well… he’d love to persuade her to throw in her nights and weekends. So Noah decides to romance her by day. By night, he becomes a mysterious stranger devoted only to her pleasure…and discovers she’s hiding a naughty little secret of her own.
ABOUT SHAYLA BLACK
Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than seventy novels. For twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.
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Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eight years.
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Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
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SERIES BY SHAYLA BLACK
For more info about Shayla’s books, visit ShaylaBlack.com!
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WICKED LOVERS
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PERFECT GENTLEMEN
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MASTERS OF MÉNAGE
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SEXY CAPERS
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DOMS OF HER LIFE: RAINE FALLING
Super-sexy serialized contemporary romances about one tempestuous woman thoroughly in love with two friends and their battle to see who will ultimately win her heart.
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DOMS OF HER LIFE: HEAVENLY RISING
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MISADVENTURES
Sexy, rompy standalone contemporary romances with a fun premise, fast pace, and high heat.
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STANDALONES
Romances published independent of a series, some sexy, some sweet, all with a happy ending that’s finished and complete.
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HISTORICALS
Sexy stories about the bold rakes and audacious beauties of lush eras gone by.
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PARANORMAL
Set in contemporary London, magic, myth, and emotions blend in the passionate, good-versus-evil Doomsday Brethren series.