Stranded Temptation: A Flaming Romance
Page 1
Stranded Temptation
Milly Taiden
Latin Goddess Press, Inc.
Contents
Stranded Temptation
Untitled
Untitled
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
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 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
Stranded Temptation
A FLAMING ROMANCE
NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
MILLY TAIDEN
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Kara is ready to kill her boss, Max. She also wants him so badly it’s making her nuts. He’s a workaholic, and finds ways to keep her on the job late, ruining any love life she could have. Plus, he’s never shown the least bit of interest in her and that’s how she wants it, right? Maybe. Things change when their plane crashes on their way to a meeting, leaving them stranded on a deserted island. Kara decides to start taking what she wants in life. Max.
Max has wanted Kara since he hired her. He’s seen her anger at him for keeping her close and knows she hates his guts. So any thought of asking her out or getting intimate is out the window. She‘d flat out reject him. He’s sure of it. After their crash, Max decides he’s tired of hiding his desires. Their passions ignite on the virgin sands, burning hot. Oh, so hot.
Discovering an international drug operation on the other side of the island, Max and Kara become targets of a cartel that wants their secret location kept secret. And dead men don’t talk. After being rescued and back in the States, an attempt is made on Kara’s life, nearly killing her. Max thinks the cartel has found them but soon figures out the danger is much closer to home than anyone could’ve ever suspected.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Published By
Latin Goddess Press, Inc.
Winter Springs, FL 32708
http://millytaiden.com
Stranded Temptation
Copyright © 2012 by Milly Taiden
Cover by: Brannon Jones
Edited by: Tina Winograd
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Property of Milly Taiden
June 2018
First ebook publication 2012
Second ebook publication 2018
Created with Vellum
Untitled
—For all you readers with a boss that makes you crazy.
This is an office romance will make you sigh.
1
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Kara couldn’t believe her ears. Her boss, Max Richards, just told the board the company had a great new business opportunity in South America. He had plans on flying down in a day or two. In the nine months Kara had worked at the company, where Max went, she went, which was usually fine.
But Kara had a birthday cruise planned. She was leaving in two days. Did the man blatantly forget she asked for a week off? Her hands balled into fists under the table.
Glancing away from Max at the head of the conference room table, her eyes met Meghan’s. Her best friend gave a slight shrug and half a frown. She should be upset, also, since Kara was taking her along for a girls’ only cruise.
With the overhead projection shooting graphs and charts on the wall behind him, Max continued like nothing had happened, which in his mind, nothing had. “The South American company has several divisions and their technology branch is excellent. As good as anything we’d find in the states.”
Frank Thomas waved a hand in the air. “Max, how do their books look? How much debt do they have?”
Frank would be the one to ask that. Kara found the man to be stifling and dry. At times, she wanted to grab his shoulders and shake the shit out him saying, “For god’s sake, man, lighten up! You’ll have a coronary.”
His father, Paul, was the same way. Tight ass with no sense of humor. He always wore a frown, making him look constipated. A laugh jerked out of Kara and she covered it with a cough and drink of coffee from her mug on the mahogany wood table.
Max glanced at her, quickly turning his attention back to Frank to answer his question. As CEO of the corporation, Max knew everything there was to know about the new company. Even stuff not available to the public. How he accomplished that, she didn’t want to know. Then again, he could’ve just asked their CEO at some fancy soiree. Like his father before him, Max rubbed elite elbows, dignitary elbows included.
Fortunately, there hadn’t been any events in the short time she’d been there, so she hadn’t had to turn down Max’s order to go with him. She’d have to buy a fancy dress and heels and all that crap. That wasn’t who she was. She was a T-shirt and tennies gal who would rather go camping than to a grand ball.
She could blame her dad for that. He was a survivalist who could thrive on a deserted island for months. She’d always teased him about doing one of those reality TV shows were people lived in the woods. He denied it, but she knew he would give his right arm to be on one. Just to prove to himself he could do it.
At that second, the room became quiet and everyone stared at her. She felt her eyes widen. Oh shit. What did she miss?
“Ms. Masters,” Max said, “if you would rather tell the board about your new project later, that would fine.”
Her project! “Yes,” she blurted. “I mean, no. I’m ready right now.” God, she looked like an idiot. And in front of the board members, of all places. She stood, yanking down her pantsuit coat. Dressing impeccably was one thing she prided herself on. Every business outfit she owned was a power suit. She refused to let others, men especially, look down on her as being unprofessional or second class.
She was damn smart, and she looked it. No deep cut tops showing cleavage, no short skirts revealing thigh. Stretchy elastic pants and coat were her specialty. Especially those made with Lycra material. Comfort was important due to how many hours she worked this job. And because she was a curvy lady.
Kara cleared her throat. “Since it’s my responsibility to assist in negotiations for acquisitions and mergers, I am auditing all the current contracts we have in effect with suppliers and vendors.”
Paul, Frank’s father, sat back in his chair, his frown evident. “What
could you possibly hope to gain from that?” Was it just her or did she sense a bit of hostility coming from the older man? She shifted her eyes to Max and saw his lips pressed into a white, thin line. Good. Not just her.
“Mr. Tomas,” Kara started, “a few of the contracts date back ten plus years. The economy has changed so much in that time, we need to make sure we are still doing what is best for the company when it comes to pricing and costs. Gas was $4.00 at one time. Now, we’re just over $2.00.”
Max tossed his thoughts into the ring. “I agree with Ms. Masters. In fact, she’s already begun the process starting with the oldest.” With silence answering his statement, she took that as approval. She sat and straightened the stack of papers in front of her.
“Thank you, Kara,” Max replied, giving her a sexy half grin. Well, what the other women in the office thought would be sexy, but not her. She wouldn’t be sucked in by his charm, or deep eyes, or wide chest, or the best ass she’d ever seen. She pinched her leg to stop thinking those bad thoughts. Bad Kara.
Max picked up the stapled packet of papers on the table. “If everyone would turn to the second page of the document, we have new business to bring up.”
At the top of the page was the company’s mission statement. She read it not too long ago in her employee handbook with her hiring on. Below it sat the words “Changing Our Direction.”
Grumbles came across the table. “What the hell is this?” one of the older members hollered.
Kara hadn’t noticed until now how the group was divided in the room. The long-timers were on the other side of the table while the younger movers and shakers sat on her side. Was that on purpose? She remembered everyone coming in and choosing a seat. She had a feeling this segregation would resemble the vote about changing the company’s path.
“Edgar,” Max said, glaring at the other side, “it is a proposal to make sure the company keeps its place among the top businesses in the world. The world is changing, and we must adapt or die.”
“Die!” Paul sputtered. “This company is too ingrained to die.” The elders turned to Dan Richards, former owner and CEO. “Dan, you can’t let this happen.”
The man in the wheelchair leaned forward. “You all voted him in as CEO.”
“Yeah, but...but...” Edgar’s face flooded dark red. She pushed away from the table the same time Meghan did. Her coworker was up and at the water station before Kara rose. Meghan slid the paper cup of water to the man’s hands flattened on the table. He grabbed it and tossed it back like a $200 shot of Crown Royal XR.
“Relax, Edgar, Paul,” Max soothed. “This isn’t an overnight change. We have many executives reaching retirement age, and those following in their steps have different and innovative ideas. We need to be ready for new things.” That pretty much shut up the nay-sayers. No one could deny that the world was advancing quickly, and those left behind ate dust.
Max continued. “I’m asking everyone to take home the packet and read through it. Make notes of what you like and don’t. Then at our next meeting, we’ll discuss it.” Mumbles sounded, but there were no angry outbursts. Max stood at the head of the table. “All right. We’ll see everyone in a month.”
He headed for door, Kara falling in step beside him. She said, “Can we talk in your office?”
His one brow rose as he turned to her. “Absolutely. I’d like that very much.” There was that sexy grin again. Dammit. Kara frowned and averted her eyes to the striped carpet. She needed her anger to be sharp if she wanted to make her point.
Max opened his office door for her and stepped aside to let her enter. She glanced over her shoulder to see his eyes on her back side, and it wasn’t shoulder height. She rolled her eyes. But deep inside, she was giggly over his attention. Her number one rule was no office romances, unless she changed her mind, of course.
Max passed her on the way to his desk. She couldn’t wait any longer. “Were you born an ass or did you grow into it?”
2
Max was going straight to hell. He had a first-class ticket with his name on it to the pits of the damned. Guilt assailed him over making Kara miss her cruise just so he wouldn’t have to take the South American trip without her. If his mother knew, she’d beat his ass for being so selfish. Remorse nagged him, so he pushed it out of his mind. He needed her.
Some other time, when things weren’t so crazy, he’d pay for another vacation for her. Shame ate at his conscience. He’d said that before, but never attempted to allow her time away from the office unless he was traveling with her. No wonder she hated his guts.
He passed her as close as he dare on the way to his desk. Just catching her perfume made him content, calmed any anger or worries.
“Were you born an ass or did you grow into it?”
Whoa. She was pissed more than shit at him. Fuck. Should he play dumb or fess up to knowing what he did to ruin her vacation?
With a deadpan expression, he said, “I believe I was born with it. Hereditary and all. But we should ask my mother to be sure.”
His comment pissed her off even more if a slight nose flare and fisted hands were indications. He almost laughed at how cute she was when riled. Her eyes sparkled with their own light. A slight blush covered her cheeks giving her that freshly fucked look. Shit. His pants were getting uncomfortable. What was it about this damn woman that got to him? She was dressed like a librarian, no skin showing. No bling. No messing around. Hardly ever a smile. And still...
He put up his hands, palms forward. “Calm down, Kara. I didn’t purposely plan the meeting on your vacation.” Liar. Going to hell. “It was the only time available for them.” When he overheard Meghan talking about her and Kara’s cruise and hooking up with a different male each day, he about grabbed Kara to chain her to his desk. No way could he let that happen. Then he remembered she wouldn’t give him the time of day.
He had no claim on her and it irritated the hell out of him. Since when had women not fallen for his charms? Even as a kid, all he had to do was smile at the girls and they’d want to be his “girlfriend.” Maybe he was losing his mojo. Maybe he was just being stupid. Maybe he should keep it professional and work on getting her to like him, at least.
“The only time available for them?” she repeated. “You expect me to believe that?”
He looked up at her, softening his eyes, which the women always loved, and said, “Yes.”
She dropped her forehead into her hand. “Fine,” she said. “I can control my actions. You’re on your own with Meghan. If she claws your eyes out, don’t come whining to me. This was her vacation also.”
His heart lightened. He wasn’t worried about the secretary. Meghan was a great person. Willing to help any time. He stood, shoving his hands into his pockets, fingers touching the pocketknife he carried with him. Never knew when you’d need one to pry up staples or slice down the side of sexy underwear.
His dick twitched in his pants thinking of the kind of panties Kara had on under her ever-professional clothing. And tearing them off her. He returned to his chair where everything was safely hidden.
A knock came from the open door behind Kara. Jane, his father’s much-too-young wife, poked her head in. “Hey, guys. Dan wants us all to do lunch now.”
He hadn’t had lunch with his father in some time. This would be good. They could discuss things without the rest of the board. “I’ll be out in a minute, Jane. Thanks.”
Kara turned away from his desk, headed for the door. “I’ll be working on the contracts while you’re out—” When she reached the door, Jane moved into her path.
“You’re invited, too, Kara,” Jane said.
Kara’s eyes popped wide. “Why me?” She looked back to him. He didn’t know why and shrugged. “I mean, isn’t this a family thing?” He covered the grin trying to break free on his face at her blushed cheeks.
Jane huffed. “The men will be talking business. I need someone to talk about girl stuff with.”
A laugh burst from Max’s thr
oat. He covered it with a cough. Kara’s narrowed eyes told him he didn’t succeed in his deception. She turned back to Jane. “Thank you very much for asking, Jane, but—”
Jane wrapped an arm around his assistant’s. “I insist,” she said. “This slave driver probably never lets you have time off.”
Kara grinned and pivoted toward him. “How did you know? He does have a tendency to schedule required events when I plan to be off.” Her smug expression irked him. He hadn’t done that on purpose...the first time, anyway.
All right. He’d had enough of being ganged up on. “Good. Kara, you drive. I’ll be down in a minute.”
Jane pulled her out of his office into the hall. Great. With his dad and brother sitting at the same table, Max couldn’t dare look at the siren leaving his office. He breathed in deeply. Her perfume still lingered.
During lunch, he’d have to completely ignore her and her sexy gestures if he hoped to not have a hard-on all the way through the meal. But the way she sipped her drinks through a straw. Plump, luscious lips encircling the tube and sucking on it. A jolt of desire ripped through him. He wanted his cock to be her next straw. He had it right here and waiting.