Reforming the CEO (South Beach)

by Marisa Cleveland

  He kept his gaze on her as she walked away, her movements leisurely and controlled. The way the shorts hugged her ass as she swayed had him swallowing hard. Did he really care why she chose him when he was reaping all the benefits?

  Dominique’s deep purple polished nails snapped in front of his face. “Vincent, there’s been a data breach on EduCode, and Connor’s assessing the damage right now. I’m gathering the troops and heading into the office.”

  What a shit storm. At least EduCode wasn’t a fully released software system, so there was a sliver of comfort, but even in beta, the users had entered basic amounts of information. Clearly the team hadn’t been proactive enough with endpoint access. He’d conduct his own investigation why the coding team failed to follow the proper protocol of multi-layering strategies.

  With more bark than bite, he said, “Data capture all traffic within the last forty-eight hours. I want a status report of the most sensitive information stolen, and I want a press release within thirty minutes. Open and sincere, admit fault and accept responsibility. Overview the situation, and”—fuck, fuck, think, damn it—“figure out how we’re going to prevent this issue in the future.”

  The CIO nodded, already walking away with her phone in hand.

  He had to get to the office. He had to get to the bottom of this. But first, he had to find Reece.

  She exited the bathroom, and Vin waved to her. “There’s an issue at work. I have to get to the office.”

  She didn’t hesitate. “I can call for a ride, if you want to go straight there.”

  Leaving without her didn’t sit well with him, and with his team already dealing with the breach, he had time to drop her off. “I’ll drive you home, if you don’t mind leaving now.”

  On the drive back to their condo building, he kept running different plays through his head. His phone buzzed nonstop, and finally Reece picked it up and read his text messages updating him on patching, application whitelisting, sandboxing, and privilege management.

  When she finished, she let out a small huff. “I’m impressed you understood what I just read. It’s like a foreign language.”

  “Coding is the universal language.”

  They pulled up in front of the building. “Well, I’d still need a translator. Thanks for today. I’m sorry you have to go to work.”

  “I’m sorry I had to cut the afternoon short on us.”

  She winked at him. “I’ll think of some way for you to make it up to me.”

  Chapter Eleven

  After a week of nightmarish proportions, Vin was ready for some fun. As he stepped into his office, he sensed someone else in the room. Not just sensed but also smelled. The heavy perfume was nothing like Reece’s light and sugary scent, and as soon as his nose made that distinction, his stomach sank.

  “Tami?” The sight of the blonde in his office annoyed him. He didn’t have time for her unwanted interruption.

  “Surprise!” She held up two glasses and a bottle of champagne. “I just heard Grant loved your preliminary prospectus.”

  He stalled his steps and listed everyone who could have possibly spilled the news in the last four hours. Too many to name. After the data breach on Monday, the team had raced to put together the next big news break, and that meant getting a solid approval from potential investor NeoQuantics’s Grant Henderson. Once Grant agreed, the press release had been drafted and distributed that afternoon. But since it was Saturday, he’d be surprised if the story ran before Monday.

  “Good news travels fast.” Anything to push the EduCode error out of the spotlight, especially since their new senior programmer had been the one to ignore protocol. Now they were down one programmer and delayed by two weeks, and running into the summer months would mean they’d miss the second phase of their contract.

  Tami moved to his desk and set down the flutes. Then she wiggled the bottle of champagne at him. “Care to open it?”

  Celebrating his latest victory with Tami was not how he planned to spend his afternoon, and he hated she put him in this awkward situation to kick her out. “I don’t drink during the day.”

  “It’s Saturday. I was surprised when I heard you were even in the office.” She pursed her lips. “Besides, it’s five o’clock somewhere.”

  “It’s three thirty here.” And he couldn’t wait to get out of here and text Reece. He had an obnoxious ability to focus, but all week they’d traded sexual emojis, and he had every intention to call her on the last one—the clock, tongue, and eggplant.

  “You work too much.”

  “I work just the right amount.” Defeat hit her, and he softened enough to say, “Thank you for the thought.”

  He realized his mistake as soon as she perked up and asked, “Maybe another time?”

  “Tami—”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You said you considered us friends.”

  Not quite the way he remembered it, but he didn’t want to prolong her visit with an argument. “Sure.”

  Her voice sounded a bit too high-pitched when she said, “So let me take you out, as a friend, for a celebratory lunch, dinner, drink. You decide.”

  He didn’t want to hang out with her at all, and she knew whatever they called their being together, the media would make a mountain out of it. He looked out the window and wondered if Reece even liked fishing. Her next charity endeavor was a fishing tournament, but would she participate? Hook a line? Touch a fish?

  Glancing at Tami and giving her his best apologetic smile, he said, “Look, I really need to focus. I’ve got a lot on my plate right now, a lot of balls in the air, plenty of people depending on me. It’s a tremendous responsibility and one I don’t take lightly.”

  She huffed. “One meal, Vin.”

  Her whining irritated him, and if she didn’t leave soon, he’d switch to mean-mode. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  Her hands slammed onto her hips. “Vincent Ferguson, don’t think I don’t remember where you came from or don’t know who you’re obsessed with. Does she know? That you’re using her?”

  He recoiled as if she’d slapped him. He should’ve known someone like Tami would go there. So much in that one comment threw him back to the days when he’d scraped and scuffled to get ahead. If Tami thought he was using Reece, who else thought the same? Still, he swallowed his anger and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Her blue eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer to him. “Reece Rowe.”

  Another whiff of her perfume and he’d choke. Somehow, he managed to ask, “Just what are you implying?”

  “I don’t have to imply anything. I saw you at the fundraiser. At Amelie’s birthday party. At the art opening. The whole world knows you’re dating her. Why? To get her brother Landon on board with your little IPO? How many guys do you think have tried to pull the same stunt? Date Reece, get close to Landon. It won’t work.”

  There was a moment of silence as he tried to control his breathing. On some level, his brain knew Tami wasn’t trying to hurt him so much as get him to choose her. But it only made her seem petty and him angry. With more civility than she deserved, he said, “Reece has nothing to do with my business.”

  Well, not exactly. Part of the overload this week had been reaccepting the CEO of MediApp, and once she was a lock, Grant followed. The signatures of both investors guaranteed a successful IPO, a fact that might not have happened without Reece charming his board at the barbecue.

  Tami looked shocked and then angry, her words proving how bitter she was. “And just how do you think this will end? I’ll tell you. You’ll get bored, break her heart, and her brother will blackball you. You’re not the settling down kind of guy.”

  Even if she was right, he wouldn’t admit it. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  The past month with Reece had been nothing like what he thought when they’d struck their bargain. Bored? The woman continued to surprise him with her spontaneity. And as for Landon, he hadn’t so much as reache
d out to the guy for a coffee, let alone a million-dollar deal. But a sliver of nervousness wormed in with the blackball comment. Surely, Landon wouldn’t do that after Reece and he ended their summer of secrets. He laughed a little at the phrase. For all her cool class and social standing, the woman had a conspiratorial humor. She really was adorable.

  Unaware of his thoughts, Tami’s expression turned vicious. “Oh, but I do. And if you think to land a Rowe, well, you’d be wrong on that front, too. This won’t end well, no matter how you play your cards.”

  “I’m not playing.” It shocked him to realize just how serious he was when he said, “In fact, Reece is the first woman I’ve ever not played with.” Too late he realized how Tami would interpret that comment.

  Her eyes narrowed, and she sucked in a breath through her teeth that sounded like a hiss. “I hope I’m around to see you regret this day, because, Vin? Together, we could have taken this town. You and me.” She pointed to her chest. “I’m the one who would have supported you and been the right kind of wife. Reece has too much class to settle for you. Just remember that when you’re giving her that look.”

  She stormed out the door.

  What the hell? Their exchange left him so angry he slammed his office door shut.

  He didn’t give a damn whether or not Reece would settle for him, because she’d be damn lucky if he chose her. He had something to offer any woman. Tami proved that with her eagerness to land him. Hell, over the years he’d had so many women willing to settle for him. Had she realized she’d insulted herself by implying Reece had more class than Tami?

  Besides, it wasn’t like he didn’t know he could never give Reece what she needed. No matter how much money he made, he’d always owe it to her family.

  No one would ever know about their fiery sex, and after she’d attended the events with him, they would go their separate ways.

  But what “look” was Tami talking about?

  …

  If you bring the wine, I’ll bring the glasses.

  Reece smiled down at her phone. Amelie had left for a family thing, where she dressed as inappropriately as possible. Reece had planned on spending a quiet Saturday night watching a movie and drinking wine, but wine in Vin’s Camille stemware with him would taste so much better.

  She kicked out of her slippers as she replied, White or red?

  Tossing the phone on her bed, she dragged her tank top over her head and stepped into her closet. Tonight felt like a sundress and sandals kind of evening. She hadn’t seen him, even in passing, since Monday, so an evening with him genuinely pleased her.

  Surprise me.

  Skipping into the pantry, she cradled a 2014 Opus One from Napa Valley and headed outside. Vin stood on his side of the divide, and when he saw her, he vaulted over the wooden rail. She did a double take at the athleticism and raw masculinity in the fluid motion, and it wasn’t until he came right up to her, grinning, that she realized her mouth was open.

  Nice, Reece. Real classy.

  Vin let out a low whistle. “You look—stunning.”

  She spun around and the skirt flared. “I’ve been told holding this particular wine does complement my complexion.” She lifted the bottle to her face and shot him a playful grin.

  He gave her a head shake and then offered her the crook of his arm. “Shall I escort you to the seating area?”

  She slipped her hand around his elbow. “Please do.”

  As they descended her side and walked up the stairs on his, he asked, “Would you like to open the bottle or could I?”

  He asked like it would be a privilege to uncork her wine, and she giggled at the dirty direction of her thoughts. Seriously? This was her now? As they reached the seating area where he’d placed the glasses, she offered him the bottle. “Please.”

  Her insides whirled in excitement. It was Saturday night. She was standing on Vin’s balcony in the hot June air getting ready to share a lovely bottle of red with the sexiest CEO in the city.

  This thing between them had definite boundaries. Sex for her. Events for him. But how was her stupid heart supposed to separate the two, when this—right here—didn’t fit into either category? She bit her lip.

  He reached out to touch her shoulder. “What?”

  She shrugged, unwilling to share her feelings just yet. Keep it light, Rowe. Fun, not forever. “Maybe I should have chosen a chilled white.”

  He gave her an easy smile. “Is it too muggy for a red?”

  He turned on the overhead fan, the air circulating around them. She liked the novelty of sitting outside on the deck, but the alternative—going inside—was equally tempting. “I guess not.”

  He pulled a corkscrew from his back pocket, and his large palm gripped the bottle. Her mouth went dry as his fingers twisted the screw into the cork. The man had amazing hands, and he knew how to use them on her. She’d miss them after their fling ended. With a couple of gentle tugs, he opened the wine and poured. After swirling, they both took a small sip and smiled. She liked the way he closed his eyes and gave his head a small shake back and forth.

  “Mmmm.” The vibration escaped from his throat, and Reece stared at his lips. Was there any part of the man that didn’t fascinate her? She doubted it. In fact, even from the limited amount of time they’d spent together, she could already feel his dangerous allure. She’d never considered herself a sex addict, but when their summer ended, she’d have to figure out a way to make it through the withdrawal period. Maybe Paris in the fall.

  After he opened his eyes, he took a heartier sip and looked at her. “Tell me about yourself.”

  She wasn’t prepared for how it felt to be caught under Vin’s warm brown gaze. This wasn’t seductive Vin. Or even charming Vin. This was innocent curiosity. The man had millions, but the tabloids always labeled him as self-made. Landon had told her the guy came from nothing. So had she. Only he earned his wealth. Which made his story so much more elaborate than hers. Still, his eyes held wonder when he asked about her, and she had no idea why. She was boring, her story tame compared with others. She didn’t have tabloid-inducing escapades or even mild adventures. Really, there was nothing to know he hadn’t already admittedly found on the internet. “Why?”

  His voice sounded husky and enticing as he said, “Because, Reece Rowe, I’ve had a helluva week, and I’d like nothing more than to hear you tell me about yourself.”

  She relaxed and sank into the cushions. It made sense now, his inviting her over for wine. He needed to decompress, and since they’d entered into the charade, he could hardly call up a babe from his little black book. “That hardly sounds entertaining. Besides, we’ve already been through the basics.”

  “Dig a little deeper.”

  He wanted deep when she had to keep it light. Even though they’d started this thing barely a month ago, with any other guy she would already know whether or not he’d be worth keeping around. She’d know his stance on hedge funds and children. Vacationing abroad and private versus charter schools. With Vin, she didn’t need to know, because a relationship wasn’t an option. “You said you can’t date me.”

  “And?” he asked.

  “And I only reserve deep for someone I’m dating.” As she spoke, she crossed her leg, pleased when his gaze landed on her bare thigh before snapping up to her face.

  His stunned expression caught her in the gut, and she hated how much she enjoyed spending time with her neighbor, even if it was just drinking wine on a Saturday night. He might not consider this dating, but in many ways, what they shared now was deeper than dating. It bordered on a relationship. And he definitely didn’t do those. Any other Saturday, she bet he’d be with some model at a club or an actress at a party. Not sitting on his balcony sipping Opus so their little world would believe he’d turned over a new leaf.

  Before he could sputter a reply, she swatted his shoulder. “You should see your face, Ferguson. Did you forget I’m the one who asked for just sex? You’re the one who said I had to be your girlfrie
nd.”

  His gaze locked on hers, crinkling in the corners as he let out a full-bodied scoff that shifted into laughter. “You are one helluva woman, Reece Rowe. You know that? Come here and kiss me.”

  She wanted to kiss him. Wanted to straddle his lap, wrap her arms around his neck, and tempt him so hard he’d carry her into his condo and add one more memory to their summer. Wanted to. But didn’t.

  Instead, she tucked one leg under her and said quietly, “No. Instead of kissing, I think I’d rather hear you tell me about you.”

  He placed a hot palm right above her knee. “I’d rather kiss you.”

  “I’d rather listen to you talk.” Yeah, right. Stop kidding yourself. You want to tear off his shirt. She tightened her fingers around the wine stem.

  His thumb made a smooth circular motion on the outside of her thigh. “Well, one thing you might like to know about me is I’m not one of those guys who likes to talk about himself. So…” His palm slid a fraction of an inch up her leg. “I could bore you with tales of my misspent youth, my preference for dive bars, and my dream to disappear to Key West one day. Or you could kiss me.”

  Reece sighed. In one sentence, this man revealed a whole lot of hurt inside him while reminding her that he could fit in anywhere. She’d never been to Key West, but she sure wanted to go there now. And as for his misspent youth, she envied his freedom to make mistakes without the fear of being returned. Though she was a baby when she was adopted, as a child she’d had a nagging feeling that if her parents didn’t like her, they could send her back to wherever it was she came from. Her five-year-old imagination concocted a shipping-like warehouse where all the adopted babies who didn’t meet expectations were returned, until someone else decided to rescue them.

  Where had that complicated thought come from? Vin was right. Kissing was definitely better than talking.