by Melody Anne
Then again, maybe that was exactly what she needed. She could start fresh in a new place. But how was that going to help her? She’d discovered years ago that she couldn’t run from her problems — no matter how much she wanted to. She could escape for a while, but inevitably, even if it took years, her problems would once again find her.
Before she could dive into work, her phone rang, and instead of ignoring it, she glanced down then cringed when she saw the number. This wasn’t the time to deal with more problems, but she knew there was a good chance he’d come barging through the doors if she ignored him. They had only kept him in jail for three days after he’d trespassed, telling her sorry, but he hadn’t committed a crime. He’d called her every day since. He wasn’t too good at taking a hint, so after much hesitation she picked up the phone.
“I’m not going away, McKenzie. As a matter of fact, I’m hanging out at the park right across the street from where you work. You know you can never be too careful when you’re out walking. Things can happen to a person.”
“You don’t scare me, Nathan. You’re pathetic and weak, and no matter how much you bug me, I’m not caving into you, so please just go back to the hole you crawled out of and leave me the hell alone.”
“I should scare you,” he said, but he couldn’t quite pull it off.
“I don’t have money to give you, but even if I did, I would rather burn it in a dumpster on the side of the street than give you anything I earn. Are you hearing me?”
“You may have got the drop on me once, but it won’t happen again.”
“Maybe if there weren’t such a little-boy whine in your voice, your threats would come off as a lot more effective,” she said. The thing was, that even though he was a pathetic excuse of a human being, she couldn’t forget he was also desperate.
“I have nowhere else to go,” he said.
“It’s not my problem—”
He hung up on her, and McKenzie let out a sigh while rubbing her forehead. How many more problems could she take before she exploded? She was soon to find out, because it looked like they were going to just continue to pile up on her.
McKenzie sat there and concentrated on her breathing for several moments before she realized she wasn’t alone. She didn’t want to look up, didn’t want to know how much of the conversation Byron had heard. She was going to lose this job for sure, and then she would have even less than she had now.
How much had he heard? His expression gave nothing away. She was silent as she waited to hear what insult he was going to skewer her with next. Hell, he might as well bring it on. Her day couldn’t get any worse.
“My office…now,” he told her, and he turned and walked out.
He didn’t need to say anything further. She knew only too well what men expected when they used that tone.
She rose from her chair slowly and took a step in the direction of his office before her shoulders went back and a bit of the fire that had seen her through many hard times flared up inside her. She was sick of getting bossed around, sick of men trying to control her. Wasn’t that the reason she’d opened the doors to Relinquish Control in the first place? To bring control back into her life.
Instead of following Byron blindly into his office, she grabbed her purse and made her way to the women’s restroom around the corner from her office. And she took her time. She washed her face, the cool water feeling incredible against her heated skin, and reapplied her modest amount of makeup. Then she propped herself up against the sink and stared at her image.
“You are McKenzie Beaumont. You have survived so much, and you will continue to survive. No one can make you feel inferior. No one but you can decide your course of action. No one can trample on the life you have made for yourself. Bullies are bullies because they can’t earn respect any other way. Deep down, they’re cowards.”
This was a speech she had delivered to herself many times in the course of her life, and she had a feeling she’d say it many times more. Yes, she wasn’t immune to fear, and yes, she’d have weak moments — everyone did — but no, she wouldn’t let those moments define who she was. And she wouldn’t allow anyone to keep her down for long.
With her head held high, she left the restroom and headed back toward Byron’s office. Her armor was back in place and she was going to keep this job. She was going to make a success of her new business and beat back Nathan Guilder, damn him to hell. He was nothing more than a weak man trying to make up for his tiny dick.
McKenzie nearly smiled at her thoughts. That was until she stepped into Byron’s office and saw the way he was looking at her. This wasn’t going to be her easiest battle.
Not her easiest battle by a long shot.
Chapter Ten
Just when Byron thought he had a clue about who McKenzie Beaumont was, something happened to throw his suspicions into disarray. He didn’t know her at all.
She was a mystery, and hadn’t he decided already that he was going to figure her out, find out what made her tick, and make her pay for meddling in lives she had no business meddling in? Yes, that was exactly what he’d decided, but he couldn’t fathom why all of the sudden he gave a damn about her.
That phone call she’d been on had changed not only her voice but her entire demeanor. Byron knew when someone was scared — and though McKenzie was obviously irritated, she was also afraid. He would find out why. He might have believed it was an act except that she hadn’t known he was there. She wasn’t acting for his benefit.
So what was going on in her life?
“Who were you talking to, McKenzie?” Byron had learned long ago to not let his opponents have time to think. If he caught her by surprise, she wouldn’t have time to make up a good lie. He was pretty miffed she’d managed to get away for the twenty minutes between the phone call and coming to his office. It was enough time to build a likely-sounding story, so he needed to be quick on his feet now.
“It was no one you’d know.”
“Hmm. Try me. I know a lot of people.”
“Trust me, Byron; you don’t know this person,” she said.
“Whoever it was seems to be wanting something you’re not willing to give,” he said, and by the widening of her eyes, he could see she’d hoped he hadn’t heard the entire conversation — her half, anyway. But it was too bad for her.
Byron didn’t want his opinion of McKenzie to change. He wanted to think of her as cold, calculated, and interested only in herself, but he couldn’t help but notice the frightened look in her eyes, or the way she was so carefully holding herself together. But he found himself wanting to be her Knight in shining armor, or an Armani suit, ready to rescue her from whatever dragon had been on the other end of her phone line.
“I’m here to do a job, Byron, and it’s a job that could be handled by any number of people I know. But I’m still here, and I’m doing this job well. If I take a call, that call is none of your business,” she said, her eyes connecting with his and showing him that she certainly had some steel in her character.
Byron’s pulse started to speed up. He shouldn’t feel anything like rage now. Nothing this woman did should upset him, but he was so frustrated with himself and with her that he found himself wanting to grab her, shake her, and get past that icy composure she inevitably reverted to.
Instead of doing any of that, he fired off more words in a voice that was, if possible, icier. “You should be grateful you are working here, and for what I can do for your new company’s reputation.”
“I am grateful, but my personal business is still none of your business.”
“When your personal life spills over into the working environment, it becomes my business,” he told her. “Definitely my business.”
Her eyes narrowed as they remained in a silent deadlock, both of them refusing to back down. Then he saw the telltale slumping of her shoulders, and he knew he’d gained a minor advantage over her.
“You are right, of course. I’ll make sure to keep my phone put away while
working.”
Though she’d said the words, she clearly didn’t mean them. There was something going on in her life that she had zero control over, and if it was the last thing he did, he’d find out what it was. But short of shaking the information from her, he didn’t know how in the hell he was going to get her to speak.
He should just leave it alone and let her deal with her own messes. Whatever had happened, she surely had brought it on herself.
But words slipped from his mouth. “I can help you with whatever is going on.” Sheesh! That hadn’t been what he’d meant to say at all.
“There is nothing going on. I don’t need your help.”
McKenzie had spoken between clenched teeth, and he watched as her fingers closed into fists as she tried desperately to regain her cool and her composure.
Byron never — absolutely never — offered to help anyone, particularly a woman, and to have that offer thrown back at him so haughtily infuriated him. But they said nothing else for several moments; they were spending the time staring daggers at one another.
“Dammit, McKenzie! This is ridiculous,” he huffed, ticked that she was making him back down.
“I won’t say it again, so listen up this time. I don’t need any help from you, Mr. Knight.”
And for just a moment, he thought he saw a slight sheen spread over her eyes, but it was gone so quickly that he was sure that he must have imagined it.
Distance wasn’t doing the trick, so with his will to stay away from her gone, he began moving across the room, drawing closer to her. He had to give her points for not retreating. He saw the new look in her eyes, saw that she wanted to turn and run, but her stubborn pride wouldn’t allow her to do that.
“I heard your end of the conversation, McKenzie. You do need my help.” He stopped right in front of her, forcing her head to tilt up so she could continue looking at him.
It might have been the wrong move for him, because now her subtle scent was drifting over him, her warm breath brushing his throat, her body heat practically burning him. This woman was certainly casting a spell over him, and he had a feeling the spell wouldn’t be broken until he captured her lips, captured her body, and purged her from his system. Especially after his incredibly vivid dream the day before — he’d woken up from it hungry and wanting and in the worst of moods.
“Even if I did need help, I wouldn’t ask for it,” she said. Her tone held only a trace of vulnerability, but just that small measure of helplessness made him want more than ever to pull her into his embrace.
When her helplessness evaporated and in its place a taunting smile filled her lips, the small strand of elastic that was holding up his will to resist her snapped. Snaking his arms around her back, he drew her to him and at long last kissed her again.
When she melted against him, he pulled back. “You can’t stop me from doing what I want,” he said. What did that mean? Was he speaking about helping her or bedding her? Maybe both.
And his lips claimed hers again, preventing her from hitting him with a comeback. He’d expected her to fight him, expected her to protest, but she didn’t lie to either of them, didn’t put up a front. Instead, her hands came up to rest on his arms as she opened her sweet mouth to him and he thrust his tongue inside, claiming her in a way he’d been dreaming of doing since that first kiss five months earlier. And even more so now, since his dream.
A sigh escaped her mouth, but he caught it. His blood raged as his fingers dipped over the curve of her derrière and he tugged her hips against his pulsing erection. He wanted there to be no doubts at all in her mind about what she was doing to him. He hadn’t had sex in a long, long time, and it was showing.
Yes, they would be incredible together. Still, as much as he needed a woman, this woman wasn’t the one he should feel any desire for. He should just be playing a game with her, not giving her power over him.
Anger at her — at him…hell, he didn’t know — gave him the strength to break contact. He took a step back, then another, just to force himself not to drag her into his arms again.
Power.
This woman had it in spades. He didn’t know whether she truly comprehended her power or not. She was beautiful, sensual, and the most fascinating woman he’d ever met, and yet there was something behind her eyes, something that scared him. But it beckoned to him, too.
“Some things just shouldn’t happen,” he drawled.
“I fully agree,” she said, her lips slightly trembling.
Finally, a smile spread over his lips. He was rethinking everything. “The kiss wasn’t what I meant shouldn’t have happened, McKenzie,” he whispered as he moved across the room and leaned against his desk. He was enjoying her obvious confusion.
Yes, the only way to exorcise this female demon was to deal with the sexual tension. They were consenting adults, and they both wanted this. So why not see it through? He’d been tempted long enough with those thoughts.
“I don’t understand you,” she said, and she took the smallest step backward, a sign of fear and weakness. She seemed to notice the gesture, and she stopped, her shoulders firming once again, her eyes narrowing.
“There’s something going on here, and it’s not going away. The logical conclusion is to relieve the ache.” His tone and his eyes revealed nothing — he was very careful about that.
“Is this what you mean, Byron? Should we just climb on your desk and screw like bunnies?”
“A little crude, McKenzie, but that could be arranged. Still, I’d prefer to be outside the family headquarters when I…never mind.” If he hadn’t been rock hard before, he was now as he pictured doing what he’d stopped short of telling her.
“So what if we consider each other desirable? So what if you turn me on…on occasion? I still think you’re an asshole. Just because my body might say I want you doesn’t mean the rest of me will go along.”
He wasn’t fooled. “I will enjoy taming you, McKenzie,” he said.
She was silent for a moment before she raised her hand to her hip and looked around the room. “How long do you need, Byron? Five minutes? Ten? Surely not more than that. With you acting like a hormonal teenager, I’m sure if I just bend over your desk, you could be done before the second hand reaches one minute.”
Her spate of words only intrigued him more. She was obviously used to getting her way, used to dominating men and making them pant at her feet. That went along with her territory. She played football, so to speak, so she must use offense as a quick defense to get out of tight situations. Tight.
She’d never dealt with him before.
“That’s a start,” he told her. “But I’d need a lot more time, Trust me on that. Have you ever heard the phrase ‘the best sex you ever had’? I’ll be that and more. I guarantee it.”
She took a deep breath, and then her eyes glazed over, shutting him out. He knew they were done with this for now.
“I will gather all the reports you needed,” she said, and she turned to walk away.
Before he realized what he was doing, he stepped away from behind his desk and caught her in the doorway. He rested his hand on her shoulder and skimmed his lips lightly across her neck.
“This will happen,” he murmured.
A shudder passed through her, and she walked out of his office.
Byron sat back down, his pants way too tight, his erection throbbing. And yet he still felt satisfied somehow. He couldn’t wait for the next round of this epic fight between the two of them.
It was a few minutes later when he realized she’d managed to distract him from finding out what her phone call had been about. Dammit! But he’d let her try to keep her little secret from him for now. In the end he would learn exactly what was going on, and whether she wanted him to or not, he would help.
Only because he needed her to do her job, he assured himself — not because he actually gave a flying…fig about the woman. That lie hung in his brain while he got back to work, but he allowed it to remain there, because
that’s how he excused himself for his erratic behavior.
Chapter Eleven
After finishing up the last of her work for the day, McKenzie tried to hurry. It was nearing six-thirty and she had a dinner date with Jewell that she didn’t want to miss. It was the best part of her week lately. She stood up, collected her coat and purse, then wavered on whether she should tell Byron she was leaving. She was well past quitting time, so she didn’t need to ask permission, but as only the two of them were left on this floor, it would be polite to let him know she was heading out.
The choice was taken from her when he stepped through the open doorway, his coat hanging from his fingers. They hadn’t spoken since the kiss — the second one — not even to go over the Boise papers. She found herself…nervous. It was a strange sensation.
“It’s late and I’m starved,” he said, blocking her only exit. “Why don’t we get something to eat and finish the discussion we began earlier?”
There was no way she was going to get back into that discussion. They would fight, he would kiss her, she would fall into his bed. She wasn’t a stupid woman, and she pretty much knew the way this was all going to end if she weren’t very, very careful with what she did and said around this man over the next few weeks.
“We finished that discussion,” she told him as sweetly as possible.
“No, not to my satisfaction,” he countered, and he didn’t budge an inch from the doorway.
“Sorry, boss.” She had to remind him of his position and hers before continuing. “I have dinner plans. Maybe some other time.” She scooted a few steps toward the door, hoping he would move out of the way.
He didn’t.
“What are your plans?” His voice didn’t change, but something in his eyes did, and if she were a stupid woman, she might have thought he was jealous. But that was just absurd. He might want to bed her, but he had no feelings for her — no good ones, anyway — and certainly didn’t feel anything strong enough to cause him jealousy.