Whatever You Like

by Maureen Smith

  “Do you want me to quit the agency?” she asked quietly.

  Zandra sighed in resignation. “Of course not. You’re one of my most popular escorts. It wouldn’t make business sense for me to let you go. Besides, maybe this is my fault. I’m the one who set you up with Roderick, knowing how irresistible he is to women.”

  “No,” Lena argued, “that’s a cop-out. It’s not your fault that I didn’t use better judgment. I’m a professional. I’m supposed to know better.”

  Again Zandra sighed. “Well, it’s not as if you’d be the first of my escorts to violate the no-sex policy. One girl, in particular, made a regular habit of sleeping with clients until I was forced to show her the door. I hated having to lose her, but she’d been warned several times. So I had no other choice.”

  Lena gulped. “I’ll consider myself forewarned.”

  “Good,” Zandra grumbled. “But with the holiday season approaching, I really can’t afford to get rid of you anyway.”

  Lena smiled ruefully. “Good, ’cause I need the money. Not just for Poppa, but Morgan’s been hinting that she wants new bedroom furniture for Christmas.”

  “I keep forgetting that you have more than one dependent,” Zandra said dryly.

  Lena chuckled. Taking care of Morgan was second nature to her, something she’d been doing since they were children. She felt responsible for her younger sister, who’d only been a baby when their mother died. Now, as an underpaid public relations specialist, Morgan earned just enough to cover her rent, utilities and the credit card debt she’d incurred as a result of being a shopaholic. Which was why she was unable to help pay for their grandfather’s care.

  “Well, I’d better run,” Zandra announced. “I’ve got company coming over for dinner, and I haven’t even decided what to wear. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Lena.”

  “You, too.”

  After hanging up the phone, Lena got up and padded to the wall of windows that overlooked the Chicago skyline. The sun had disappeared, leaving behind an overcast day that matched her mood.

  She’d made a huge mistake last night. There was no sugarcoating the truth. She’d fucked up—literally and figuratively. But it didn’t have to be the end of the world. She’d been down this road before.

  Shortly after she started working as an escort, she’d gone out with a wealthy real estate developer named Glenn Donahue. Glenn was handsome, smart and charming. He and Lena had hit it off right away. When he requested her company again, she’d gladly accepted. By the end of their third date, she was convinced that they shared a special connection. So when Glenn took her into his arms and kissed her, it felt right. One thing led to another, and they wound up in bed together. The sex was satisfying, so satisfying that she let herself be talked into spending the night.

  But when she woke up the next morning, Glenn was already gone. On the nightstand she’d found a wad of cash and a note hastily scrawled on hotel stationery. Glenn had thanked her for a great time and told her to buy something nice for herself with the two-hundred-dollar tip he’d left her. To add insult to injury, he’d misspelled her name, using an i instead of an e.

  Lena had never been so humiliated in her life. For a long time she’d just sat in bed clutching the covers to her chest, feeling utterly cheap and used. The next time she ran into Glenn, he was with another escort. He’d looked right through Lena, as if she’d been nothing more to him than a faceless prostitute.

  As hurt as she was, Lena knew she had only herself to blame for foolishly mistaking sexual attraction for something deeper. She was so afraid of repeating the same mistake with another client that she’d seriously considered getting out of the escort business. When she told Zandra what had happened, Zandra was disappointed but still managed to be sympathetic and supportive. She’d counseled Lena to take some time off and clear her head before she made up her mind about leaving the agency. Ultimately, Lena’s responsibility to her grandfather had taken precedence over everything else. So she’d remained an escort.

  But after her humiliating experience with Glenn, she’d vowed never to become sexually involved with another client. For three years, she’d had no trouble keeping that vow.

  And then along came Roderick Brand.

  He hadn’t needed three dates to seduce her. Three hours into their evening, he was finger-fucking her. Before the night was over, they were screwing like their lives depended on it.

  As the scorching images tumbled through Lena’s mind, her cheeks burned with shame. Closing her eyes, she leaned her forehead against the cool windowpane and muttered a curse.

  Yeah, she’d made a big mistake. She’d let her libido override the painful but valuable lesson she’d learned three years ago. She should have known better. She should have been stronger.

  But she couldn’t dwell on it forever. She had to move on, or she’d drive herself crazy. Just as she’d survived the episode with Glenn, she would survive this one.

  And the sooner she forgot about Roderick Brand, the better off she’d be.

  Chapter Six

  A week later, Lena was in her office working on a report when the department secretary poked her head through the open doorway. “You’re wanted in the conference room.”

  “By whom?” Lena asked, without glancing up from her computer.

  “Ethan.”

  Lena stopped typing. Ethan O’Doherty was the director of foundation and corporate relations. In other words, he was her boss.

  “Tell him I’ll be right there,” she told the secretary.

  Before leaving the office she saved her file, then grabbed a pen and a notepad. As she headed down the corridor, she passed a quick hand over her hair and smoothed down her black pencil skirt to make sure she looked presentable.

  Reaching the conference room, she strode purposefully through the door.

  And pulled up short.

  There, seated at the conference table as though he had every right, was Roderick Brand.

  Lena’s heart slammed against her chest.

  He was conversing with Ethan, but he glanced up when she entered the room. Their gazes caught and held, the shared voltage between them nearly knocking Lena off her feet.

  “Ah, here she is now,” Ethan announced, rising to greet her. Roderick followed more slowly. “Thanks for joining us, Lena. I’d like to introduce you to Roderick Brand, president and CEO of Brand International Corp.”

  Recovering her composure, Lena plastered on her best professional smile and stepped forward, hand extended. “Mr. Brand.”

  “Miss Morrison.”

  They exchanged a brief, impersonal handshake. But there was a glint in Roderick’s eyes that brought a hot flush to Lena’s skin. Or maybe his touch was to blame.

  What was he doing there? she wondered frantically. How had he uncovered her real identity? Where she worked? Didn’t he realize that she could lose her job if anyone at the college found out about her secret night life?

  Ethan volunteered, “Lena, I was just explaining to Mr. Brand that you’re responsible for developing, writing and submitting all of the college’s grant proposals. He was very impressed with the one you recently submitted on behalf of our performing arts center.”

  “So impressed, in fact, that I wanted to meet you in person to discuss the proposal,” Roderick added smoothly.

  “I don’t understand.” Lena was proud of the fact that her voice didn’t come out in a croak. “I don’t recall submitting anything to your company.”

  “You didn’t.” A smile lurked in one corner of Roderick’s mouth.

  Lena grew even more agitated.

  “Why don’t we all sit down?” Ethan suggested.

  Lena sat in a chair across from Roderick while Ethan reclaimed his seat at the head of the table. He was grinning like a kid who’d received an early Christmas present. A moment later, Lena discovered why.

  “Before you arrived, Lena, Mr. Brand was telling me about his company’s recent acquisition of Midwest Arts Foundation.”

/>   “Really?” Stunned, Lena stared at Roderick. This time there was no mistaking the wicked gleam in his eyes. “I didn’t even realize that the foundation was up for sale.”

  “It wasn’t,” Roderick drawled, leaning back comfortably in his chair. He wore a designer suit, a beautiful dress shirt and an expensive watch. The cut of the dark suit accentuated his broad shoulders and powerful build. Lena wondered if it was possible for him to be even yummier than she remembered.

  Swallowing hard, she forced her mind back to the matter at hand. “So even though the foundation wasn’t up for sale, you bought it anyway?”

  Roderick smiled slowly. “I made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.”

  Ethan laughed heartily. Lena could muster only a tepid smile. Though she knew she was pushing her luck, she couldn’t resist pointing out, “I thought Brand International Corp was an energy conglomerate. When did you start buying charitable foundations?”

  Roderick looked amused. “I’m always interested in acquiring good companies and expanding into new markets. I’m sure you realize that Brand International Corp already controls businesses as diverse as oil refineries and software providers.”

  Of course she realized. She’d thoroughly researched his billion-dollar empire in preparation for their date, and he knew that. But she knew that there was nothing coincidental about his “recent” purchase of Midwest Arts Foundation, one of the corporations she’d solicited for funds. He’d done it for one reason and one reason only: to get Lena in his clutches.

  Dismayed by the accusatory tone of her questions, Ethan quickly intervened, “The bottom line, Lena, is that Mr. Brand is in a position to reward us the performing arts grant. Isn’t that wonderful?”

  “Of course,” Lena said with another forced smile.

  “Based on the needs outlined in your proposal,” Roderick told her, “I’m prepared to approve an additional five hundred thousand.”

  Lena gasped. Ethan beamed ecstatically, all but jumping onto the table and doing the Riverdance.

  As Lena gaped at Roderick, his eyes glinted wickedly. He had her over a barrel, and he knew it.

  Bad metaphor, she immediately thought as her mind conjured an image of him literally bending her over a barrel and having his way with her.

  “However,” he continued, looking appropriately apologetic, “I met with my funding team yesterday, and they raised a few concerns that weren’t addressed in the proposal. I’m afraid you’d have to make some revisions before I could authorize the release of funds.”

  “Of course,” Ethan hastened to assure him before Lena could open her mouth. “We appreciate the opportunity you’re giving us to revise the proposal. Lena’s going to make it her top priority.”

  “Good.” Roderick met her gaze, a smile lingering on his lips. “If you’re free for lunch, I thought we could go over the suggested revisions.”

  “Today?” Lena shook her head, panicking. “I can’t, unfortunately. I have back-to-back meetings—”

  Ethan shot her a look that questioned her sanity. “I’m sure we can rearrange your schedule to accommodate Mr. Brand. Especially after he took time out of his busy schedule to pay us a personal visit.”

  “Of course,” Lena muttered. She knew Roderick was enjoying every second of this, damn him.

  Ethan said decisively, “I’ll have Carmen move things around on your calendar this afternoon so you can have lunch with Mr. Brand.”

  “Great.” Lena smiled at Roderick through clenched teeth. “I’ll get my purse.”

  She didn’t say a word until they were seated inside his car—a sleek, luxurious Maybach with an engine that purred as they pulled away from the picturesque campus.

  Rounding on Roderick, she demanded furiously, “How the hell did you find me?”

  He sent her a lazy glance. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”

  “I thought I made it clear that I didn’t want you to.” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Did Zandra—”

  “No. She didn’t tell me anything.” His lips twisted wryly. “She’s immune to bribes.”

  “You tried to bribe her?”

  “I would have, but I didn’t have to.”

  “Then how…?” Lena trailed off as a memory surfaced from that night. The chauffeur had called her by her last name after the near-collision with another car. “The new guy. Damn it.”

  Roderick chuckled softly. “Having that piece of information about you helped me track down the rest.”

  Lena scowled at him. “What is it with you? What part of ‘I can’t see you again’ did you not understand?”

  Ignoring the question, he asked idly, “Do you have a taste for anything in particular?”

  “No,” she snapped in exasperation. “I don’t care where we eat. I shouldn’t even be going anywhere with you! Do you have any idea what could happen if my colleagues find out that I’m an escort?”

  “Don’t worry,” Roderick murmured. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

  Lena crossed her arms and glared through the windshield, too incensed to appreciate the vivid splashes of yellow, orange and red that transformed the tree-lined landscape into a Thomas Kinkade painting.

  “I hope you’re not leaving Evanston,” she grumbled. “I only have one hour for lunch.”

  Roderick slanted her an amused glance. “I seriously doubt your boss is gonna be watching the clock,” he said dryly. “He was more than eager to rearrange your schedule to accommodate me.”

  “Tell me about it,” Lena grumbled. “If you’d sweetened the pot with another half a mil, he might have driven us to the nearest hotel and slipped us a credit card. And I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have objected.”

  “Hell, no.” Roderick’s wolfish grin made her toes curl inside her kitten-heel pumps.

  She crossed her legs and watched his eyes follow the hem of her skirt as it rose to tease him with a glimpse of her smooth bare thighs. His gaze lingered long enough to send heat sizzling through her veins, burning a path to her groin. All of a sudden, checking into a hotel room didn’t sound like such a bad idea.

  She was more than relieved when Roderick’s cell phone rang. He reached inside his breast pocket and pulled out the sleek BlackBerry, then gave her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, I have to take this. It’s the office.”

  She waved a hand. “Go ahead. I don’t mind.”

  She stared out the window as he spoke into the phone, his deep, dark voice pouring over her like melted honey. He was by far the sexiest, most compelling man she’d ever encountered in her life. She wished they’d met under different circumstances, or never met at all. He made her want things she shouldn’t want. Things she couldn’t have.

  When she realized that they’d left Evanston, she shot a dirty look at Roderick, who merely grinned.

  He drove into downtown Chicago, maneuvering through midday traffic with the skilled ease of a native. Their destination was an upscale restaurant that catered to an exclusive clientele, the kind of place that required reservations a month in advance.

  As the car glided to a stop under the canopied entrance, a valet opened Lena’s door and helped her out while another retrieved the keys from Roderick. The maître d’ waiting near the front entrance greeted Roderick by name, bowed gracefully to Lena and escorted them through the busy restaurant to an opulent private dining room.

  They were seated at a table for two near a cozy fireplace. The intimate setting made Lena feel like they were on a date, which she suspected had been Roderick’s intent.

  Once the waiter had taken their orders and departed, she raised a brow at Roderick. “You’re obviously a regular here, but how did you get this room—especially during the lunch rush—without a reservation?”

  His eyes met hers. “I had a reservation.”

  “What, a standing reservation or—” As comprehension dawned, her eyes widened with angry indignation. “Mighty presumptuous, aren’t we? How the hell did you know I’d agree to have lunch with you?”

&nbs
p; His lips quirked into a half smile. “You’re here, aren’t you?”

  Heat stung her face. “I didn’t have much of a choice,” she fired back. “You made sure of that.”

  They were interrupted when the waiter materialized with their drinks and appetizers. Lena ignored her oyster bisque and went straight for the wine, hoping it would help calm her nerves.

  Deep down, she acknowledged what an incredibly enviable position she was in. What woman in her right mind wouldn’t love to be pursued by a virile, gorgeous, wealthy man—a man so determined to have her that he’d bought a company, for God’s sake? Lena knew she should feel flattered to be courted by Roderick. Under normal circumstances she would have been flattered. But there was nothing “normal” about this situation. Not even close.

  “Easy,” Roderick murmured, watching with an amused expression as she gulped down her wine. “I still have to return you to work, remember?”

  “I can hold my liquor.” She gave him a sardonic look. “Or are you worried that I might embarrass you in this nice restaurant?”

  He chuckled. “I don’t get embarrassed very easily.”

  “No?” Lena was perversely tempted to find out what would happen if she slurped her soup, chewed with her mouth open, belched loudly and got stumbling drunk. Would Roderick be so repulsed that he wouldn’t want her anymore? Could she get rid of him that easily?

  As if he’d read her mind, Roderick grinned slowly. “Nothing you could say or do would embarrass me—or turn me off.”

  “Damn,” Lena muttered darkly, and he laughed.

  After sampling her bisque, she asked, “So, what are these revisions you wanted to discuss with me?”

  Roderick picked up his glass and took a languid sip of Bordeaux. “There weren’t any.”

  Lena blinked at him, convinced she’d heard wrong. “Excuse me?”

  “There were no revisions to your proposal. I just made that up to get you alone.”

  Incredulous, Lena shook her head at him. “I don’t believe this. Did you even read my proposal?”