The CEO's Dilemma ; Undeniable Passion
Page 17
Aisha quickly turned to look at him. This was new. Before, he’d always seemed to refer to the company as something his father had burdened him with. Now he was referring to it as something he cherished leading.
“I’m sorry.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“No. I’m the one who should be sorry. I am sorry. Promises are serious things. I feel like the lowest because Lance made me break that promise to you.”
The moon glowed from behind a whisper of a cloud and glinted in the hints of silver in his hair. He looked so good she cast her eyes away, down to the damp grass that cooled her bare feet.
“Although I can’t imagine something like that happening with me and my siblings, I—I feel bad. Maybe if I hadn’t been in the picture...” She shrugged and bit her lip.
“There’s nothing good that can come from you not being in the picture,” he said.
Aisha glanced up to see him looking at her. She licked her dry lips and wet her mouth with the wine. Its faint sweetness rushed over her tongue.
“I’m happy you’re in my life, Aisha. For however long that is, especially after this...this ridiculousness with my brother. I’ll retract the announcement and tell the press that we made a mistake,” he said. “I’ll fix it.”
Aisha ducked her eyes to her wineglass, thought about taking another sip then decided not to. She didn’t want to be compromised in any way for this conversation. “I...” She trailed off and lifted her gaze to the dark sky with the glittering canopy of stars. “It’s not the Sykes Prize that I wanted. At least, not the one that has to do with my design.”
“What do you mean?” He shook his head, looking exasperated with himself. “I mean... I mean I know what you mean. And you—amazing, gorgeous you—saying that I’m a prize is a bit on the ridiculous side.”
Aisha opened her mouth to protest but he put a finger to her lips. “I know you needed the Sykes Prize to secure your future.”
“I’m not sure I ever needed it,” Aisha said, although maybe that was a lie because she suspected Emersyn and her partners had only noticed her because she’d won the prize. “I don’t want you to reinstate it and jeopardize anything else. I don’t need it, I don’t want it.”
“But...” He looked back at the house and through the glass French doors. “You were celebrating something. I’m assuming not the end of our relationship.”
“Never that. The end of us is why you found me here instead of the restaurant I was going to invite you to.”
“Did you win something else?” His voice lightened with happiness. “Something better than the Sykes Prize?”
She pressed her lips together. “Yes, yes, I did. Something that won’t come between us. If you want to be close to me, that is.” Her smile broke free. “Rankin, Sebastian and Ziegler want me at their firm.”
His eyes widened. “Damn. That’s...that’s really impressive.”
“I know.” She giggled, inviting him to share the joke. “I’m pretty amazing.”
“You are that.” Roman breathed out a soft laugh and leaned down to balance his mostly full glass of wine in the grass near his feet.
“So...” She gave him a prodding glance, a gentle smile on her lips.
He thought she was amazing. He’d offered her the prize. He was here, offering her his love. The real prize that she wanted.
He laughed outright this time. “So, Aisha Clark. Whether or not the Sykes Prize is something you want, I want you. I need you in my life.”
Her heart skipped in her chest but she wasn’t going to make it that easy for him. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” He brushed warm fingers across her cheek and she sighed at the contact, her skin tingling in the wake of his touch.
Even though it had been less than a day since they’d argued, she’d missed him so much.
“You already have me, Roman Sykes. Since that very first day we met.”
He smiled, a starburst of lines at the corners of his eyes. “In that case, will you take me in return?”
“Absolutely, Mr. CEO. Forever and for always.”
His lips, firm and warm, pressed into hers and sent her heart spinning all the way to the stars.
* * *
Undeniable Passion
Kayla Perrin
Rita extended her hand. “All right, Keith. It’s been a pleasure. I’ll be in touch if I need you. If I need you for anything,” she quickly amended, hoping her words hadn’t sounded like a come-on. Though she wasn’t sure her second version was much better. “But I’m sure I won’t have to call.”
Keith’s eyes crinkled as he shook her hand. “I’m here. For whatever you need.”
Slowly, he released her hand, and as Rita gazed up at him, a jolt zapped her chest. This time, there was no questioning the meaning behind his look. The glint in his eyes along with his suggestive words made it clear that he was flirting.
He walked past her then, and a hint of his cologne wafted into her nose. It was a musky scent that made her insides crumble.
The man was fine, no doubt about it. Too fine.
And he knew it. She could tell by that easy smile he gave her, the gleam in his eyes. He probably thought she’d be calling sooner rather than later, trying to arrange some sort of hookup.
Well, he was going to have to wait a long time if that was what he thought.
Kayla Perrin is a multi-award-winning, multipublished USA TODAY and Essence bestselling author. She’s been writing since she could hold a pencil, and sent her first book to a publisher when she was just thirteen years old. Since 1998, she’s had over fifty novels and novellas published. She’s been featured in Ebony magazine, RT Book Reviews, South Florida Business Journal, the Toronto Star and other Canadian and US publications. Her works have been translated into Italian, German, Spanish and Portuguese. In 2011, Kayla received the prestigious Harry Jerome Award for excellence in the arts in Canada. She lives in the Toronto area with her daughter. You can find Kayla on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Please visit her website at authorkaylaperrin.com.
Books by Kayla Perrin
Harlequin Kimani Romance
Always in My Heart
Surrender My Heart
Heart to Heart
Until Now
Burning Desire
Flames of Passion
Passion Ignited
Sizzling Desire
Undeniable Attraction
Undeniable Passion
Visit the Author Profile page
at Harlequin.com for more titles.
For Emmanuel.
Thanks for coming into my life
and being a happy surprise.
I’m glad I finally let my walls down.
Dear Reader,
Welcome back to the world of the Burke brothers and Keith’s story!
They say love is complicated. They also say love finds you when you’re not looking. I love to combine both of those elements in my stories. Love finding heroines when they have no faith in love. What fun is a story if the characters aren’t put through the wringer?
When love is tested and survives, that’s when you know it’s real. For this book, I wanted to explore a backstory I hadn’t before. One that would have significant complications in a person’s life. How easy is it to find love when you are the product of an affair and your father has basically disowned you? That’s bad enough for my heroine, but worse, her mother has decided after all these years to reconcile with her father. In fact, they’re getting married. With Rita believing that her mother has lost her mind, the last thing she’s open to is finding love.
But that’s the beauty of love. It finds you when you least expect it!
Best,
Kayla
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 1
Rita Osgood pulled up to the intersection of State and Main and stopped at the red light. So this was Sheridan Falls. She glanced around at the antique-looking light posts, the bright awnings over small storefronts and the array of colorful flowers in large wooden pots. A young girl wearing a floral dress and holding a pink balloon skipped happily beside a woman pushing a stroller. Two people on the other side of the street were in an animated discussion as their dogs sniffed and pranced around each other.
Rita chuckled softly. State and Main, the undisputed center of town. The scene before her resembled a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. Could this be more cliché?
There was a coffee shop on the right hand side, a pharmacy on the left. The light turned green and Rita began to drive—only to have to abruptly hit the brakes several feet later when she came upon a car stopped in the live lane. She was about to put her hand on the horn when she realized that the driver, an elderly man, was communicating with someone on the sidewalk.
Really? People just stopped in the middle of the road with no regard for whoever was behind them?
The driver’s hand emerged with a friendly wave, then the elderly man continued to drive. Rita rolled her eyes. It was about time. Though the man’s driving wasn’t much of an improvement. He was moving at a snail’s pace.
Rita knew from her map that this was the downtown area, the hotspot for all the action.
What action? she thought wryly. The only thing missing was the tumbleweed.
Everybody here was moving slowly, as if they had nothing but time. Sheridan Falls was home to approximately ten thousand people, and Rita could imagine that they all knew each other.
The driver in front of her slowed again, hitting the horn. An older lady watering her flower pots smiled and waved at him.
Oh, good grief. Rita couldn’t take much more of this.
Her temples were already throbbing from the long drive. If she was going to deal with the abnormally slow pace here in Sheridan Falls, she needed a coffee.
Rita made a U-turn, and then another one so that she could pull up in front of the coffee shop. That’s when she noticed the bridal store. And as her eyes settled on the dress in the window, she recognized it as the one her mother had sent to her asking what she thought. A pure white dress with a fitted waist and lace bodice. The kind of dress a young woman would wear.
Thump.
Rita’s heart spasmed, and she quickly slammed on the brakes, realizing belatedly what she’d done. She’d driven right into the car in front of her. And not just any car, but a luxury Audi A7.
“No!” she exclaimed, and closed her eyes for a moment. Then she turned off her car and exited her Ford Fusion, heading out to see if there was any damage. She wondered if the driver was in the coffee shop or nearby.
By the time she was exiting her vehicle, so was the other driver. All six foot one or two inches of him. Possibly six foot three. Her lips parted as she took in the handsome stranger, momentarily distracted from the issue at hand.
“What were you thinking?” the man asked, breaking the spell of her fleeting attraction. He was holding a cup of coffee on which the lid was askew. A wet brown stain formed a huge circle on his white dress shirt.
“I—I’m sorry,” Rita sputtered.
“Seriously, I don’t understand how you hit me.”
“I’m sorry,” Rita repeated. She glanced around, noting some curious bystanders across the street. “I...” She didn’t know what to say. How could she tell him that she had been distracted by seeing the dress her mother wanted for a wedding that she vehemently objected to?
“This is a silk shirt,” the man went on.
“I’ll happily pay for it to be cleaned. Or for a new one if it can’t be cleaned.” Rita held the man’s dark eyes, hoping to see a hint of understanding. No such luck.
She walked forward, checking the bumper on his car. There was a scuff of transfer paint between her car and his, but nothing major. Thankfully, it didn’t appear to be dented.
“You’ve scraped my bumper.”
“Maybe it’s just transfer paint,” Rita said, and lowered herself onto her haunches. She fingered the mark, then used the hem of her shirt to wipe at it. Hard. Some of the white paint from his black car began to come off. Relieved, she tried wiping more. She got most of it off, but some did remain.
“I think it’s just transfer paint,” Rita reiterated. “A bit of solution and the rest of the white will come off. However, if you want to make sure it’s perfectly fixed, you can have an estimate done and let me know. I will happily pay.”
“Maybe next time you should watch where you’re going.”
“It was an accident,” Rita said.
“It shouldn’t have happened.”
Rita stared up at the man, whose handsome face was twisted in a scowl. Hadn’t she apologized enough? Accidents happened. She knew it was never pleasant to have a fender bender, but it wasn’t like there was much damage. Why was he being such a jerk about this?
“Maybe you should take a chill pill,” she uttered.
Good Lord, had she really just said that aloud?
The man’s eyes grew wide with indignation. “What did you say?”
“I’ve apologized,” Rita said. “Can you rein in your wrath so that we can resolve this?”
“Rein in my wrath?” the man repeated, and chuckled mirthlessly.
“As I said, I’ll pay for anything that’s necessary. I’d prefer to pay out of pocket, since the damage is minor.”
“Don’t worry about it.” The man’s look of distaste had her swallowing uncomfortably. “I have an appointment I’m late for.”
“You don’t want my—” the man got into his car and closed the door “—information,” Rita finished softly.
Obviously not. The Audi roared to life, and the man drove off.
Rita stood there looking in the direction of the sleek black Audi A7 for a long while, finally blowing out a frazzled breath. She needed to get herself together. She’d let thoughts of her mother getting married be her undoing.
She was glad that the incident hadn’t been something major, that she hadn’t totally destroyed the man’s car or hurt anyone. She was exhausted from the drive from St. Louis.
All the more reason to get some coffee before her meeting with the realtor.
She reached into her car, got her cell phone wallet case, then pressed the remote to lock her door. As she headed into the coffee shop, she could only hope that the small mishap wasn’t a bad omen of what was to come in Sheridan Falls.
* * *
The sign Molly’s Café was in a cursive font, resembling something handwritten. Rita figured that was to make the sign seem more personable. She opened the door to the coffee shop and the door chimes sang. All eyes turned in her direction. Eyebrows rose and curious expressions appeared on the faces of the patrons. People were wondering who the newcomer was. And none too subtly.
Rita strolled up to the counter where there were baked goods under glass domes and handwritten specials on a chalkboard. Oh, this was cute.
But the aroma and smell were heavenly, and coffee was coffee. She expected that a small town shop like this would do coffee well. And she needed a cup.
More like three—if she was going to get through the day.
She still couldn’t believe she was in this small town. Not because Sheridan Falls was beneath her visiting here, but because of what it signified. Her mother, Lynn Marie Osgood, had lost her mind.
Oh, yes, the mother who had been sane until just a few months ago had lost her mind when she decided that she was ready to get married. At the age of fifty-nine, she was now going to wed the man of her dreams. A man who had not thought she was good enough thirty-one years ago.
The warm smile that greeted her from behind the counter was in stark contrast to the negative feelings flowing through Rita’s mind. She drew in a deep breath and held it for a moment.
“How are you today?” the woman asked.
“I’ve had better days, if you want the truth,” Rita said. “I need a really strong coffee. Do you have any flavored cappuccinos?”
“We sure do. Caramel, vanilla, hazelnut, Irish cream, pumpkin. We also have the same flavors in our regular brews.” The woman gestured to the array of carafes holding each of the various coffees. “And of course, we have our Colombian and Arabian bold and mild brews.”
Rita glanced up at the board, her eyes nearly bulging when she saw the reasonable prices.
“If you’d like to sample one of our regular brews, I can give you a small taste as well,” the woman went on. “Whatever you’d like.”
Maybe I’m being too harsh, Rita thought as she looked at the pleasant young woman. Small towns weren’t her thing, but her negative attitude toward this one had nothing to do with what Sheridan Falls had to offer. It had to do with her mother, the reason Rita was here.
Just thinking about her mother’s upcoming wedding had her chest tightening. She still couldn’t believe that the levelheaded woman she’d known her whole life was making the rash decision to get married—and to a man who had destroyed her once before.
Rita’s own father.
“Do you need more time?” the woman asked.
The question jarred her into a response. “I’ll have a large caramel cappuccino. Actually, can I get that iced?”