No, you would’ve found an excuse to avoid her wedding at all costs since a few Sterlings were invited.
In fact, Barron himself had been invited, and there was no way she was going anywhere near her grandfather. Nobody knew she was Barron’s only grandchild, and for good reason—she’d worked damn hard to keep it that way.
Ethan laughed. “She didn’t have one. Didn’t need one. She had a platoon of professionals working on every detail. It was what Alex wanted.”
“What was the rush? She wasn’t going anywhere.”
“Probably wanted to make sure she was his.”
“She’s been his ever since they got engaged. Maybe even before.” Kerri had heard everything her friend felt comfortable sharing about her romance with her billionaire boss. If he hadn’t made things right at the end, Kerri might have flown out—job or no—and kicked his ass herself.
“Well, you know. Engagement isn’t the same, is it? Lacks the official tie, the legal bind.”
“Marriage isn’t as permanent as it used to be,” she pointed out, almost unable to help it since so many of her friends and coworkers had gone through separations and divorces. She sincerely hoped Natalie would never have a reason to even consider one. “Did you spend time in England or something? Sometimes you sound almost British.”
“I say, jolly good ear,” he said, hamming it up a little. “Yeah, I was there for a while on business. Speaking of which, how long are you going to be in the States?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a week?”
He raised an eyebrow. “That’s all?”
“Maybe longer,” she said. “I haven’t decided what to do yet, but I’m probably not returning to Asia for a while.”
“If you’re tired of Hong Kong, Tokyo’s not too bad.”
She flashed him a quick smile. “I don’t speak the language, and I’m not experienced enough to warrant a full-time interpreter.”
Ethan slowed down as they approached an intersection. “I don’t know about that. Natalie said you’re very good at your job.”
“Did she now?” Natalie didn’t know the full truth behind Kerri’s workaholic tendencies. Everyone thought she worked non-stop out of dedication to her career, when in fact she kept herself busy so she wouldn’t have time to think. “Nice of her to say so, but seriously, I’m not that special. I work hard, but then so does everyone else.”
The steering wheel glided under his palms as he released it after the turn. A sudden envy of the tightly stitched leather stole her breath away. She’d like to feel those strong hands on her as he reverently ran them over her back and legs. And a few other places.
She concentrated on breathing. It didn’t matter what she wanted. The only thing he’d found notable enough to comment on from their long-ago one-night stand was her name—Jacqueline.
But then, women throwing themselves at him and one-night stands were probably the norm for someone like Ethan.
He pulled into a parking lot in front of the hotel and handed the keys to a uniformed valet. Ethan climbed out, and the interior of the car seemed to expand. She let out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding.
“Feeling okay?” he said, opening her door for her. “You look a little flushed.”
Oh god. “I’m fine. Just tired from the flight.” She got out of the car.
The bellhop took her lone bag, and Ethan escorted her to the lobby. His large hand resting at the small of her back seemed to sear her, and the heat streaked through her until her nipples pebbled and wetness pooled between her thighs. Legs clenched, she checked in. The desk clerk smiled and said, “You’ve been upgraded to our junior suite. We put your bags there this morning. Four, correct?”
“Yup.”
“Is Mr. Daniel Johnson arriving later today?”
She felt the curious stare from Ethan at her back. “No. There’s been a schedule change, and he won’t be able to come.”
“I’ll make a note of that.” She handed Kerri the room keys. “Enjoy your stay, Ms. Wilson.”
Kerri frowned as she walked toward the elevators. She couldn’t imagine why the hotel would upgrade her. She’d booked the cheapest room she could find.
“Natalie arranged for the upgrade.”
Startled, she looked up at Ethan. It was uncanny how he seemed to read her.
“So who’s this ‘Mr. Daniel Johnson?’”
“A managing director from my office,” she said.
“Do you often share a room on business?”
She snorted. “No. Besides, Dan’s got about as much interest in women as I do in astrophysics.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“None,” she clarified.
“Well, I didn’t want to assume. You could be a closet Stephen Hawking or something.”
“Ha. I can barely remember Newton’s Three Laws. Anyway, I’m sure you’re busy. Thanks for taking the time to come get me.”
“Oh no. I’m supposed to make sure you’re settled in.”
“It’s really not necessary.”
“Actually, it really is.”
Kerri stopped arguing. The determined look in his eyes said he’d do as he pleased. He’d leave faster if she just went along for the moment.
The elevator ride to the suite seemed interminable. His subtle cologne was stronger in the close quarters, and her skin prickled with hypersensitivity. She could feel his gaze on her, speculative with unfathomable intent. She licked her lips as the elevator opened with a chime.
What did Ethan want? Surely he didn’t think he really needed to help her find her suite. It wasn’t like she’d get lost.
She turned around to face him in front of her room. “Again, thank you, Ethan.”
“My pleasure. Just so you know, Natalie’s been delayed in Italy, so she won’t be back until the day after tomorrow.” He pulled out a business card and jotted something on the back. “My cell, in case you need anything. And I’m leaving the BMW for you. Impossible to get around here without a car.”
“I can just get a ren—”
He kissed her. Nothing passionate, nothing demanding. He didn’t even try to press his tongue past her lips. It was just a peck, but somehow it was enough to make her tremble with unfulfilled longing.
Her knees weakened. She leaned against the door. What was it about this man that made her lose all her common sense and control?
“See you in a bit, Kerri.” He walked away with a careless wave. “I’ll pick you up for dinner later in the evening. Say seven?”
It wasn’t even a question from the way he spoke. He acted as though she’d acquiesced.
And from the way half-dread, half-anticipation flooded her, she knew she had.
***
Ethan applied more pressure on the gas, driving a bit faster than usual. The Aston Martin sped away from the hotel.
Despite his pleasure at this unexpected second chance with a woman he’d thought he’d never see again, a small bit of disappointment permeated his mood. Jacqueline Wilson had never existed. No. It was Kerri Wilson. No wonder he hadn’t been able to find her. But why had she lied about her name?
He remembered her, the violinist from a quartet at a friend’s baby christening party. Her hair had been strawberry blonde then, her eyes full of an odd envy and sorrow as she’d looked at the infant boy surrounded by happy attendees.
And she’d slept with him—her body incredibly willing and responsive—then walked out in the middle of the night while he slumbered in post-coital bliss. Just disappeared, like fog before the sun.
His instincts had screamed at him to go after her, but circumstances had conspired against him. There was a month-long business trip, scheduled almost a year in advance, unbreakable…but she wasn’t going anywhere, he’d reassured himself. He’d even given her his number via a friend, certain she’d contact him once she’d had a chance to think things through.
“She’ll call you back,” his friend had said, rather smugly, a few days later over the phone. “I made su
re.”
“How’d you manage that?”
“Told her you were loaded, of course. The girl works like crazy. Her coworkers say she doesn’t ever go out, always scrimping for money. Sounds like she could use a sugar daddy.”
Ethan had cringed. If she called, he’d always wonder if it was for the possibility of landing a rich boyfriend. If she didn’t… Maybe his friend’s insinuation had insulted her. If he’d been in her shoes, he would’ve been furious.
Either way, he was screwed.
To his mingled disappointment and relief, she hadn’t called.
If his old college buddy Frank hadn’t been such an idiot, would things have been different?
When he’d returned from his trip and tried to look her up, she’d disappeared. Graduated from college and left town—no forwarding address, no number, no email. And no one knew where she’d gone. What could’ve evolved into a relationship became just a one-night stand, and the sense of loss was surprisingly sharp. Ethan had hated the feeling of powerlessness, but he’d accepted it as a lost cause and never expected to see her again.
No, that wasn’t entirely true. He had accepted the situation partly because he was afraid of repeating the mistake he’d made with Lisa. That had cost him a great deal and brought an enormous amount of pain and trouble to his family. It would have been selfish of him to move heaven and earth to find a woman who could be another Lisa.
“Don’t get involved with anyone who seems even remotely broken. You can’t fix them, and they don’t want to be fixed,” his brother Gavin had said.
Ethan’s mouth twisted at the irony of having Jacq—Kerri—walk up to him at the airport after all this time.
Now she sported a chic black bob, and her gaze no longer held any shadows. Maybe the years had been good to her. Time healing all wounds and stuff.
Or maybe she’d just gotten better at hiding her pain.
He’d made a snap decision to not talk about the past. What had happened was over and done with. Nothing could change that, and there was no point in wondering about what-ifs.
What they had was the present, and Kerri was too dangerous for his equilibrium. Kerri with her soul-sucking eyes, sassy tone and a body that deserved to be admired and worshiped in every way. And there was the whole Natalie thing. He’d already messed up with Natalie once, in a fairly big way, and didn’t want to complicate things by going after her best friend. That should make Kerri off-limits.
His fingers drummed the steering wheel.
Should.
But he couldn’t ignore the undeniable fascination he felt. He hadn’t been able to forget her after all these years. The impact she had on him was just as powerful as it had been at their first meeting. His body still throbbed when she was near, and her feminine scent lingered in his mind.
He wanted to start over with Kerri, see how far their attraction would take them. And this time she wouldn’t be able to just walk away on a whim.
Chapter Two
Kerri dumped her luggage and purse next to the four big bags from Hong Kong and sent Natalie a short text message: Checked in. Thanks for the upgrade.
She glanced over the brochures about the hotel amenities, local sites and so on, ignoring her suitcases for the moment. It was a ritual so she would know what to do to stay occupied when she had some free time.
She sighed and rubbed her temples. Before, the ritual had usually been pointless. Now, all she had was free time.
Her gaze drifted to the small fridge. Too bad she couldn’t raid it. She could use a stiff drink, but her liver was shot. It was unfair—she’d never had more than two or three drinks a night. Genetics, however, were hard to outflank. Her father’s side of the family could drink like fish, but bad livers ran on her mother’s side, and in this case, Kerri’s DNA came from the shallow end of the gene pool. Her doctor had been adamant that she give up all drinking, or else get ready to put her name on a transplant waitlist and hope for the best. She chose the former. Even Barron, with all his influence, had waited close to four years for a new liver, and she doubted she could do any better.
A minute later her phone beeped. Natalie.
No prob. Ethan got you?
Yes. Shouldn’t you be asleep in your new darling hubby’s arms?
The Skype app rang.
“Why are you up?” Kerri said as soon as the video chat started. She put aside the room service menu and grinned at the image of her best friend—long glossy black hair, pale skin and pretty dark brown eyes.
“Oh my god, your hair!”
Kerri put her hand on the wig. She’d forgotten about it.
“You look so…severe. Are you trying to scare the new analysts?”
“It’s a wig.” She pulled it off. “Ta-da! Just trying a new style.” No point in telling Natalie about the irritating PIs. “Anyway, good to see you!”
“Good to see you, too. I was wondering when you’d get in.”
“Flight delay. What can you do?”
“Ugh. I should’ve checked.” Natalie sighed, then frowned. “Hey, did you lose weight?”
“No,” Kerri lied. She’d lost weight in the last few weeks because of a loss of appetite. The bad liver apparently had that particular side-effect, the only thing she could consider positive. “It’s probably the lighting.” She studied the screen. “Are you in a bathroom?”
“Yeah.”
“Seriously? You’re calling from a toilet?”
“Best place for privacy.”
“I can’t believe you!”
“Excuse me, I’m not using it.” Natalie propped her chin in her hand. “So, what do you think about him?”
“Who?” Kerri asked, stalling.
“Ethan.”
“Definitely not my type.” Liar, her body said.
A well-shaped black brow arched. “If he’s not your type, what is your type?”
“Tall—”
“Check.”
“—dark—”
“Make an exception. Or give him that wig.”
“—and manageable.”
Natalie choked. “You’re not screening for an associate.”
“No, but unfortunately that’s the most important quality.”
“Manageable men are so…” —Natalie made a face, rolling her wrist in a familiar gesture as she flipped through her mental dictionary— “tedious.”
“Only later on. The newness works to their advantage in the beginning. So all you have to do is keep getting new ones.”
“What would you do with a manageable man? Make him lie down and roll over? Sit up and beg?”
“Manageable, not trainable. Although I’ve heard that having a guy sit up and beg can be kind of hot.”
Natalie laughed. “Oh my god, everyone was right. Kerri Heart-Crusher. You want a man who’ll never ever argue with you or try to compete with The Career for your time or affection.”
“Whatever. That’s such a sexist attitude. No one would say anything like that about any of the guys at the office.” But she wasn’t inclined to really argue the point. People always saw what they wanted to see, and if her coworkers thought her cold and cruel for putting work over romance, more power to them. “Besides, I kind of get the impression that Ethan’s heart is pretty resilient.” She went to the king-size bed and plopped herself down on it. “He doesn’t strike me as the type to sit around pining for his One True Love.”
“No, he’s far too practical for that. One reason why I thought he’d be good for you.”
“Seriously? Hey, what happened to your romanticism? You don’t think I deserve a soul mate anymore?”
“Sure, when you’re ready.”
Kerri doubted she’d ever find this “soul mate.” She was a realist and didn’t have time for self-deception, no matter how much her heart might ache at the thought. Besides, to get a soul mate she’d have to put herself out there. She didn’t have the energy for that sort of thing.
“In the meantime, hey…” Natalie winked. “And just in case
you’re wondering, he’s really rich, too. So you can make him pay for everything.”
“Is he the blond twin of your newly acquired husband?”
“No. He works for him.”
“Oh?” Ethan didn’t strike her as the “work for someone else” type. “He’s like a minion?”
Natalie chortled. “Hardly. But I thought the same thing at first, until I saw how much Alex depends on him. I’d say Ethan’s got more power than anybody else at Global Strategies. Alex treats him more like an equal partner than an employee, no matter what the job title is.”
Bet he was working for Alex because that was what he wanted to do, not because he lacked other options. Interesting.
“Seriously Kerri, I think he’d be good for you.”
Kerri sighed, half-amused and half-exasperated. No matter what Natalie said, she knew what was going on. Her friend had decided to play matchmaker. Natalie was smart enough to know Kerri wasn’t looking for anything long-term, so she was aiming for something short-term and fun. Kerri had lots of experience deflecting such attempts, and could deal with Natalie’s rather unsubtle try, but she wished Natalie hadn’t chosen Ethan. He was way too dangerous. Not in an abusive way or anything, but the kind of damage a man like him could do to a woman’s heart could be devastating. Like, no recovery devastating.
Natalie’s expression grew serious. “Hey, I heard about what happened. I can’t believe you fainted.”
“Oh, it wasn’t really anything. Just a spell of tiredness.”
“Twice that I heard of.”
“Okay, which one of the associates opened his big mouth?”
“Not gonna give up my source. But I still have friends and contacts in Hong Kong who feed me the latest gossip.”
Kerri huffed. Natalie had friends alright, lots and lots of them. Everyone knew about her father—a retired U.S. senator—and members of the ambitious set considered it an excellent investment in their future to be on friendly terms with someone so well-connected. Of course most of them didn’t know that she wasn’t all that close to her family. Or at least, hadn’t been until recently. Becoming Mrs. Billionaire tended to reshuffle a lot of things, including family dynamics.
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