Tears rolled down my face. Could he really be right about this?
“But we’re…but this…”
“Celeste, I realize you’re quite the planner and a bit of a,” he cleared his throat, “control freak.”
I glared at him, insulted, although I knew he was right.
He laughed. “And that’s helped to make this company very successful. But if you can’t relinquish some of that control in your personal life and let good things happen to you, you’ll never find happiness there.”
I thought about how Ryan had already helped me “relinquish control” and I nearly blushed.
Mr. Murray’s eyes were boring into mine now, so I pushed the naughty Ryan thoughts away. “Celeste, do you think you might be in love with my Ryan?”
“Yes,” I said, finally able to accept the feelings I had for him. “I think I just might.”
“And Ryan, are you okay with the no-baby thing?”
Ryan shrugged. “Honestly, I never wanted to have kids. I did want someone to share my life with. I just didn’t think she existed—someone smart and beautiful who I had something important in common with.” He smiled mischievously. “Someone who’s a big-time control freak, except sometimes when it’s only the two of us—”
“Okay, okay!” I broke in, concerned about what he’d say next. “You two have worn me down.”
Mr. Murray went to his wall safe, opened it and pulled out a little velvet box. He came back and handed it to Ryan. “Your sister has your mother’s rings, but I saved these for you. They’re your grandmother’s.”
I was overcome by a sense of panic. Ryan saw the look on my face and chuckled. “I don’t think she’s ready for that quite yet, Gramps, but I’ll hang on to these.”
“Well, I’m not getting any younger,” Mr. Murray mumbled as he walked back over to me and put his hands on my shoulders. “Welcome to the family, Celeste,” he said as he planted a firm kiss on my cheek.
“Thanks…Mr. Murray,” I replied, still in shock.
“You’re family now. Why don’t you call me ‘Gramps’?”
I couldn’t imagine doing that. I gave him an odd look.
“Fred? Frederick?” he suggested. “Oh hell, we’ll think of something.”
“Gramps, do you mind if we take the afternoon off?” Ryan asked. “I think I have some further convincing to do.”
“Sure, if you can drag Celeste away from all her meetings.”
“Actually, I’d cleared my calendar. I thought I needed to resign after what happened between me and Ryan,” I said.
“Gramps” rolled his eyes at me. “Take her away, Ryan. And while you’ve got her, try to convince her I’m not the ogre she obviously thinks I am.”
“Oh no, I don’t think you’re an—”
“Go, go!” He shooed us out of his office as Ryan dragged me away by the hand.
When we stepped out of the elevator into the parking garage, Ryan swung me into his arms and carried me toward the car.
“Ryan! Stop! People will see us,” I said.
“They’ll know soon enough anyway. I’m not keeping secrets anymore.” He clicked his car remote, then glanced down and saw the look of alarm on my face. “Well, maybe some secrets.” He winked.
He deposited me next to his car and opened the passenger door. As we settled in he asked, “Your place or mine?”
I immediately began weighing out the pros and cons—I wanted to see his place, but all my things were at my apartment and the cleaning lady had come the day before…
I realized he was staring at me as if he were watching the wheels turn in my head. His eyes had deepened to gray to match the leather interior. They reminded me of our first night together.
I took a deep breath. “I don’t know,” I said. “You’re the boss.”
He threw his head back against the headrest and laughed. “I’m going to make you prove that in about fifteen minutes,” he said.
I looked into his sparkly eyes and smiled, then relaxed against the seat, took a deep breath…and let go.
About the Author
Most days Lyla Sinclair can be found lying on a beach surrounded by nubile young bodies, all of whom are at her beck and call. Eyes closed, sun warming her scantily clad body, she dictates her most lurid fantasies to one of her young sex-slaves as she’s massaged, manicured and lulled to sleep by a nude Spanish guitarist. These catnaps are important, since her nights are spent gorging herself on young men and chocolate (though she never, ever gains weight).
Lyla welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Lyla Sinclair
Captain’s Price
Checking Out Audrey
Ellora’s Cavemen: Flavors of Ecstasy III anthology
Hard On Miss Hardin
Instructing Emily
Print books by Lyla Sinclair
Ellora’s Cavemen: Flavors of Ecstasy III anthology
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com
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