by Ava McKnight
“I am allowing you to explain.”
“But you’ve already made up your mind about me. Just like the rest of the world.” The hurt that shone in her green eyes made Archer cringe. “I can’t believe you’d jump on the bandwagon so easily.”
Archer let out a long sigh. He went round the desk and sank into his black leather chair. “The facts are rather glaring, Kate. Concrete, even. Do you dispute them?”
“No.” She began to pace in front of his desk. Shaking her head, she said, “I don’t dispute the events of the evening. I was with Ken last night, in his suite, following dinner. You know that because I was the one who called 911. And you.” She drew up short and speared him with an intense look. “But I wasn’t there to have sex with him. I’ve never had sex with him. Nor would I have in the future. I was there strictly for business purposes, John.”
He rested his elbows on the arms of his chair and pressed the tips of his fingers together, forming a tall steeple. He took a moment to study her carefully. Archer had not become the success that he was by allowing those he trusted to snow him. He was shrewd and diligent in his professional matters. And he was good at reading other people.
Something about Kate Perry’s stance, and the determined look on her face, told him there was much more to her story than what the press had latched onto. Exploited, even.
“Okay,” he said, holding his hands up in a placating manner. “Tell me what happened.”
Kate looked momentarily taken aback. For the briefest of moments, Archer had the urge to go to her. To pull her into his arms. She looked as though she could use the support.
But Archer had never done more than shake her hand. To touch her in any other capacity would be…detrimental, he was sure. Though he prided himself on his steel resolve, something about the beautiful and mysterious Kate Perry told him she would test, and possibly strain, his otherwise determined nature. His strength and willpower.
Kate could easily make him slip. And that would be a disaster.
Suddenly, she dropped into a chair in front of him and said with conviction, “You know Ken was my mentor. We worked closely together, and with all the projects our division has been handling, we’ve been putting in a lot of hours. It wasn’t uncommon for us to meet following a dinner or other business function, no matter how late it was. Sometimes we didn’t have a choice if we needed to go over data together.”
Archer understood his CFO’s—correction, former CFO’s—responsibilities were vast and time-consuming. He knew Ken had put in eighty-hour weeks for the past several years. And Kate had generally worked alongside him, logging the same hours.
“It’s budget time, John. You know we were racing against the clock to meet deadlines. We have financials due to the Board next week. So Ken and I were working together every chance we got. Since he was staying in the city last night, rather than returning to Sausalito, we thought it was an opportune time to go over the reforecast.”
Admittedly, Archer could find no cause to doubt her story. “Go on.”
She lifted her hands in the air and gave a little shrug. “That’s it. I mean, there’s really nothing else to say, except that he hadn’t been feeling well all day and I thought maybe we should wait until the morning to continue working. But he insisted he was well enough to get in a few hours’ of work. So we went up to his suite after dinner.” She stood and fixed Archer with another of her intense, soul-baring stares. “You’ve seen his suite, John. It’s enormous. There’s a living room and a study. We were working in his study last night. We weren’t in his bedroom, for Christ’s sake. When the paramedics arrived, they found Ken in his study.”
Archer considered this tidbit for a moment, but didn’t interrupt her.
“The man outweighed me by a hundred pounds, John. I couldn’t have dragged him into the study from the bedroom.”
“I’m not claiming you did.”
She crossed her arms over her ample chest and studied him for a moment. Then, suddenly making up her mind about something, she came round his desk and propped a hip against the beveled edge. The determination in her green eyes mingled with something dark and mysterious that Archer couldn’t put a name to.
Leaning toward him, so that he could actually smell the faint yet intoxicating aroma of her perfume, she said, “You know me. I’m smart. I’m professional. I’m dedicated.” Her soft voice taunted him, drawing him into the intensity of her plea. “Never once have I used my legs or my breasts or a flirtatious smile to get ahead at this company. I don’t sit on the corner of my boss’s desk and let the hem of my skirt ride up. I don’t lean over the conference table so the men I’m meeting with can get a good look down my blouse. I don’t speak in suggestive tones, nor do I accept anything more than professional, business-related invitations.”
Archer knew all of this. One more reason why hearing she’d been in Ken’s hotel room last night had been so devastating.
She continued, her gaze still locked with his. “Everything I’ve achieved in my professional life, I’ve earned. I’ve worked hard, John. Harder than anyone else at my level. I’ve kept pace with Ken for six years. I’m where I’m at in your company because I’m dedicated to my job. I’ve sacrificed weekends and endless amounts of sleep for Archer Enterprises. And now you’re going to sit there and judge me? You’re going to diminish—tarnish—my accomplishments by believing I had an affair with my boss?”
Archer’s jaw clenched. On the one hand, he didn’t like Kate’s accusatory tone. On the other hand…he couldn’t exactly blame her for taking this particular approach with him. What if the roles were reversed? He sure as hell wouldn’t take the offense lying down. He’d fight back…no matter who the hell it was that he had to convince of his innocence.
Despite the fire in her eyes and the disgust in her voice, Archer was left with a feeling of pride. He had to admit, the woman had balls. And self-respect.
Yes, he was definitely proud of her.
Kate had been his choice for Ken’s protégé and, despite his temporary lapse in judgment today, he had not been wrong about her.
Relief washed over him as he realized Kate Perry was telling the truth. She hadn’t been sleeping with Ken.
Pushing himself out of his chair, he stood and did some pacing of his own.
Okay, so he’d let her down. He could understand that his lapse in loyalty would hurt her. But he would make it up to her.
He abruptly turned to her and said, “I want you at the press conference tomorrow. We’ll move it to noon. That’ll give you some time to collect your thoughts and prepare. Nolan will help you with your statement.”
Her mouth gaped open for a brief moment. “You mean…speak at the press conference?” She gave a quick shake of her head. “Uh, no. I don’t think so.”
“Why the hell not?” he suddenly demanded. “Do you enjoy having the world think you were trying to sleep your way to the top?”
Fury flashed in her vibrant eyes.
Good. Get pissed, Kate. Use that anger to convince the world the way you just convinced me!
She appeared to be at a loss for words. Archer broke one of his cardinal rules by reaching out to her and latching onto her toned biceps. The jolt he got when he touched her was the only thing that registered in his mind for a few moments. Being this close to Kate, so close that he could feel her breath on his skin, did crazy things to his mind and body. His breath suddenly came in sharp pulls, as though he’d just run a marathon. Every inch of him responded to the nearness of her.
Archer wanted nothing more than to close the scant distance between them and press his hard body to her soft one.
Biting back a groan of desire, he forced himself to concentrate on the reason for her being here. The scandal that rocked his company was not a matter to be taken lightly. Nor could it take a backseat to his infatuation with Kate.
But as he lifted his gaze and his eyes met hers, he felt the familiar stirring deep in his soul that told him he wasn’t going to come out of th
is encounter unscathed. Kate held his stare—and her breath—for a moment, then her gaze dropped to his mouth. She licked the full, luscious lips he longed to kiss.
As though entranced—spellbound, really—neither said a word.
Then the unthinkable happened. Their bodies gravitated toward each other of their own volition. When the tips of her breasts brushed his chest, fire roared through Archer’s body. His fingers tightened around Kate’s arms, as he fought to hold her back. He couldn’t give into his desire for her! He had to be strong. For both of them.
Christ, Archer! Now really is not the time for this sort of thing!
Suddenly, her breath came in shallow pants, and her chest rose and fell quickly against his. Her eyelids dipped, as though they’d grown heavy with desire. Her gaze remained on his mouth, and for the briefest of moments, Archer thought she was going to kiss him.
But then, just as quickly as the intimate moment had descended upon them, she seemed to snap back to reality. With a slight shake of her head, as though to clear a passion-induced fog, her eyes moved up to meet his and she stared curiously at him.
“I’m sorry,” she said in a soft voice. “You were saying something?”
She looked lost. As though she truly had been entranced, against her will, and had no idea what to make of the intense moment that had passed between them.
Actually, she gazed at him as though only she had been entranced. Had she not noticed that he’d been equally captivated? Drawn into a web best avoided?
Making his way through muddled thoughts, Archer said, “I lost my train of thought for a moment. But the issue at hand, Kate, is clearing yours and Ken’s names.”
Not peeling off every article of clothing you’re wearing and letting me worship that gorgeous body of yours.
Archer’s groin tightened at the mere thought of making love to Kate. He groaned inwardly, forced himself to get a grip.
Releasing her arms, he took a step back and raked a hand through his hair. What the hell was the matter with him, anyway?
Chapter Three
Something had just happened.
Kate had no idea what it was. From the moment she’d met John Archer, eight years ago, she’d found herself drawn to him in an inexplicable way. How could she not? He was tall and athletic and devastatingly handsome, with silvery-blue eyes that deepened to pewter when he was angry. The transformation was a fascinating one.
He was also brilliant, which made him all the more attractive in her mind.
Granted, her feelings for John had intensified over time, but she’d never let herself indulge in romantic thoughts of him.
Except for this one time…
Whatever had just transpired between them had been mutual, she was sure of it. Well, not at first. But then a little flicker of awareness had entered his eyes, as though he, too, knew there was an undeniable attraction between them.
But, no. That couldn’t be.
And even if there was something between them, Kate had to ignore it, as she knew John would.
Wouldn’t it make her a hypocrite to explore the chemistry that had always existed between them when she’d spent the entire day ranting and raving and crying over being mistaken for an unscrupulous slut? Here she was trying to prove to John Archer that she wasn’t a vicious corporate ladder climber or a home wrecker and yet…thoughts of making love with John weren’t the least bit unwelcome.
Oh, for God’s sake.
She was losing it. Plain and simple.
“Am I right?” he asked in his low, rich, sensual tone. John Archer had the kind of voice that was meant for erotic whispers behind closed doors.
Distracted by his voice, it took a few moments for Kate to search her mind in hopes of figuring out what he was talking about. Latching onto his previous statement, she said, “Yes, clearing mine and Ken’s names is what’s most important right now.”
“Okay, then.” He returned to his desk and sank into his big leather chair. “I want you to meet with Nolan first thing in the morning. I’ll give him a heads up so he can begin a draft of your statement, then work with you to refine it.”
She nodded. “All right. I can handle that. I think.”
Archer’s look softened. “The best you can do is tell the truth, Kate. Whether the world believes you or not is beyond your control. But if you speak to the media with the kind of conviction you used with me, I’m sure you can sway public opinion. You have integrity, Kate. It’ll shine through.”
He smiled at her and Kate’s heart did a little flip-flop. Knowing John believed in her made a world of difference. In truth, he was the only one she needed to convince of her innocence.
When his smile skewed to a frown, her heart sank. “What?” she asked.
John shook his head, then said, “I owe you an apology, Kate. Here I am talking about your integrity--knowing it’s an integral part of you--and yet…I doubted your innocence.” Coming out of his chair, he crossed the room to where she stood and gripped both her hands in his. With a compelling look that tugged at her heart, he said, “I know you’re honest and morally grounded. I’ve always known it, Kate. Since the day I met you. I just…lost perspective, I think. I…” His frown deepened to a scowl. “I doubted you because…well, I guess because I didn’t like the implication of you and Ken having an affair. The thought made me crazy, Kate. Half-out-my-mind crazy.”
The breath escaped her on a hard rush of air. Kate blinked. Once. Twice.
Had she heard him right? Had he really just said…?
Shaking her head and letting out a soft laugh, she said, “Of course it bothered you, John. You trust me. You were the one who took a chance on me all those years ago, hand-picking me as an Archer Enterprises executive before I’d even graduated college. You believed in me long before I’d fully proven myself. So naturally, you’d be disappointed if I let you down.”
“Yeah,” he said as he suddenly released her hands. “That’s it.”
He turned away from her and reached for his forgotten martini. He downed the remainder and then set the glass on his desk with a bit more force than he’d obviously intended. The ring of glass on glass echoed in the quiet room and startled Kate.
She eyed him curiously for a moment. Was it her imagination or was he still half out of his mind over thinking she and Ken had had an affair? And what, exactly, troubled him about this? The fact that he thought she’d been promiscuous? Or the thought that she’d been promiscuous with someone other than him?
Whoa!
Where the hell had that thought come from?
Shocked to the core that she’d even considered such a possibility, Kate did the only thing she could. She changed the subject.
Made a beeline for the door, was more like it.
“Well,” she said in a rushed tone, “I’d better start thinking about tomorrow’s press conference. And I’m sure you’ve got plenty of work to do tonight.” Halfway across the vast office, she drew up short and turned back to John.
She couldn’t run off. She still had so much to say to him.
But she wasn’t inclined to spend much more time here with him…alone. So, she simply said, “I’m sorry about all of this, John.”
He eyed her curiously, as though her sudden exit strategy intrigued him. Then he gave her a friendly smile and said, “I don’t blame you for any of this, Kate. And we’ll get through it. Right now, I just want to set the record straight. I’ve already given my condolences to Jenny McDugan. Archer Enterprises will support her and her family in everyway possible. Next, I need to find someone to fill the enormous void Ken is going to leave.”
For a moment, Kate had the overwhelming desire to return to his side. John suddenly looked a bit lost, and Kate knew exactly why. He and Ken had been friends. Close friends. Confidantes.
“Oh, John,” she said on a rush of air. “I’m so sorry. I know how much he meant to you…” Her own grief washed over her in a wave of emotion that left her a bit off-kilter. “He was such a wonderful man. I
can’t imagine…” Tears instantly welled in her eyes. “I’ve been so pissed off that I haven’t even stopped to let the reality of the situation sink in.”
Ken is dead.
Suddenly, Kate needed a chair. Her knees threatened to buckle beneath her. Her gaze landed on the sofa in the corner, but she knew she’d never make it that far.
“Oh, shit,” she mumbled, suddenly lightheaded and dizzy. “I think I’m going to faint.”
Chapter Four
Archer stalked across his office in several long strides. Kate swayed on the heels of her boots, but he managed to reach her just in time. She collapsed into his arms, falling against him. Swearing under his breath, he scooped her up and carried her to the leather sofa. After placing her gently on the couch, he brushed back strands of long blonde hair that escaped her ponytail.
He’d broken the majority of his rules today. Seeing Kate in such distress was certainly doing a number on him. He couldn’t help but console her, help her, hold her.
Fuck. He was digging a huge hole for himself, but seemed incapable of stopping. As his fingers skimmed her cool cheek, his groin tightened. Just being this close to her, touching her, was enough to make his body yearn for her.
But he couldn’t have her.
Why they hell did he have to keep reminding himself of that? It should be emblazoned on his brain by now.
But damned if he didn’t want to let all his personal convictions and cardinal rules fall by the wayside so that he could be with her. Holding her, touching her, making love to her.
A myriad of emotions warred inside him as Archer stared at her pale face. Her eyelids were closed, but her breathing was steady enough to not cause him alarm. She’d come to any second now. And the last thing she needed was to find him hovering over her, likely looking shaken to the core.