Seduced by the CEO

by Barbara Dunlop

  He wove his way through traffic, gaining speed on a straight stretch.

  Her cell phone rang.

  “Damn.” He knew there was no way to stop her from answering.

  She pulled it out, shaking her head at him in annoyance as she put it to her ear. “Hello?”

  She paused a moment. “You don’t think I already told him to stop?”

  “Is it Garrison or Shane,” asked Riley, re-evaluating his rash plan.

  This may have been a mistake. He could have been more subtle, gaining Kalissa’s and maybe even Garrison’s trust before trying to get her alone. But he’d known this might be his last chance.

  “No,” Kalissa said into the phone. “Don’t call the police. He’s stopping. He told me he’d let me out.”

  Riley glanced at her in surprise, trying to guess what she was doing, afraid to hope it could be in his favor. But he was too busy driving to look at her for long.

  “I’ll call you back,” she said into the phone. Then she disconnected. “You’ve got Garrison completely freaked out.”

  They came up on the river, and he swung off the main road, onto the forest road that he knew led to a small parking lot.

  “I swear I just want to talk.”

  “You think this will make me listen?”

  “I don’t know what I’m thinking,” he confessed. “This was spur of the moment.”

  He slowed the vehicle as they drove into the near empty parking lot. His heart rate calmed and the adrenaline stopped pumping.

  “I can’t stand the thought of Shane keeping you away from me,” he said. “I can’t stand it, Kalissa. If it’s your choice, fine. If you can’t get past my secrets, and you want me gone, I’m gone. But it’s not going to be him. It’s not going to be his choice.”

  He swung into a spot on the far side of a parking lot that bordered an oak and aspen forest. Then he shut off the engine and silence rose around them.

  “What do you think you can say that could possibly make a difference?” she asked.

  He turned in his seat, struggling to compose something in his mind.

  “I can only tell you the truth. And I’ll admit it, for a moment, only a moment, the day when I called to hire you, I thought about how I could use you against Shane.”

  “You can’t.”

  “I never tried. It was for a few seconds, max. But then I realized why I was really calling you. I liked you. I was attracted to you. I wanted to get to know you.”

  “We’d had a five minute conversation on the restaurant patio. And you were mostly yelling at me.”

  “I know. But there was something there.” Again, he searched for the words. “It was an instantaneous attraction.”

  “How convenient for you.”

  He’d known this wasn’t going to be easy, and he struggled to stay calm. “Did I ask about Shane? In all the time we were together, did I ever once bring up Colborn Aerospace?”

  “I’m sure you were leading up to that.”

  “I wasn’t. I knew you’d eventually tell them my name. And I knew when you did all hell would break loose.”

  “So, why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I was planning to—”

  “I mean, before you slept with me. That would have been a nice thing to do, Riley.”

  “I didn’t plan to sleep with you.”

  She scoffed out an exclamation of disbelief. “We just happened to have dinner at a romantic little inn up the coast?”

  “I didn’t even think of that place until we were halfway there. I was winging it at that point.”

  “And I should believe this, why?”

  Her phone rang again.

  “Don’t answer it.”

  She lifted the phone. “He’ll only zero in on my GPS.”

  “That’s in the movies.”

  “I think it’s real.” She raised the phone to her ear.

  “I’m fine,” she said.

  Riley wondered if it was still Garrison, or if Shane had joined the party.

  Then she held the phone out to him.

  “Which one?” he mouthed.

  That earned him a flash of a grin. “It’s Garrison.”

  Riley figured he had little to lose. He accepted the phone. “Yeah?”

  Garrison’s tone was rigid. “Whatever it is you’re doing, stop.”

  “We’re talking.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Listen, I’m the most reasonable guy you get to deal with on this. And if you harm one hair on her head.”

  “What is with that? I don’t care what my— I don’t care what Shane told you, I am not going to hurt Kalissa.”

  Riley took in her flushed cheeks, her slightly mussed hair, the worn T-shirt and those faded jeans atop well used leather work boots. He’d do anything for her, anything, he realized—including let her go.

  He looked straight into her eyes, still talking into the phone. “I’ve said my piece. I’m done. We’re in the river parking lot, across from the pond.”

  The line went dead.

  Kalissa blinked at him in obvious confusion.

  He handed back her phone. “There’s nothing more I can say. The ball’s in your court.”

  He levered out of the car and walked to the passenger side, opening her door to wait for Garrison.

  As she stepped out, he tried to muster up a smile. “I do still want to kiss you.”

  She was close, just a foot away. The sunshine reflected off her creamy skin and glowed in her deep, green eyes.

  “I don’t know what to think.”

  “I can’t help you there.” He smoothed his palm across her cheek, maybe for the last time. “I know what I think, and I know I’m being honest. But you’re going to have to make up your own mind.”

  He heard a vehicle turn the corner beyond the trees.

  Her voice was soft. “I’m scared.”

  “Don’t be scared. It’s just a relationship. You can break it off any old time you want.”

  “I don’t want to hurt Darci.”

  “Do you think Darci wants to hurt you? We can make this work, Kalissa. You and me can just be you and me. We never have to talk about them. We don’t even have to mention their names. There’s no way for me to use you against Shane if we never even mention their names.”

  The truck pulled into the parking lot.

  She swallowed. She opened her mouth, then she closed it again. “I’ll call you.”

  He gave a self-deprecating smile. “That’s what you said last time.”

  “And, I did.”

  He had to admit, it was true.

  “And, I will,” she said. “I need to talk to Darci, but then I’ll call you.”

  The vehicle drew closer, tires crunching on the gravel.

  “Can I kiss you?”

  She nodded.

  He leaned in, knowing he had only seconds before Garrison broke them apart.

  It was a sweet kiss, an encouraging kiss. It wasn’t anywhere near to the kiss he wanted from her, but it told him there was hope. She wasn’t yet walking away.

  The truck door slammed shut, and she drew back.

  Riley stepped aside, watching as she turned and made her way to Garrison.

  Once she was safely inside the truck, Garrison advanced on Riley.

  Riley braced himself.

  “That was gutsy,” said Garrison, a note of what sounded like admiration in his tone as he came to a halt a few feet away.

  The remark took Riley by surprise, and he didn’t know how to answer.

  Garrison’s voice hardened. “Do it again, and I’ll take your head off.”

  Riley knew how to answer t
hat one. “Not necessary. Though I would like to see you try.”

  Garrison gave a brief glance to the truck, and his expression relaxed a fraction. “She didn’t tell you to get lost?”

  “She didn’t.”

  Garrison nodded thoughtfully, and he turned back to Riley. “I’ve got my job to do. And I’m a professional. And I report to Shane Colborn.” He paused. “But I gotta tell you. I think I’m pullin’ for you.”

  With that, he walked away, leaving Riley momentarily stunned.

  Garrison climbed into the driver’s seat, reversing and heading for the exit.

  Riley’s gaze followed Kalissa’s profile through the window. He hoped she’d call soon. He didn’t think he could stand to wait.

  * * *

  “We agreed not to talk about you,” Kalissa told her sister. “Either of you.” She glanced to Shane who was glowering in the corner of the great room’s alcove.

  It was hard not to be intimidated by the castle-like size of the mansion, not to mention the stone work and the hundreds of antiques.

  “How exactly is that going to work?” asked Darci.

  “I’m not sure,” Kalissa admitted. “There are some bugs we have to work out.”

  Darci looked uncomfortable. It was clear she was choosing her words carefully. “You know he’s got some kind of vendetta against Shane.”

  “I don’t want to hurt or upset you,” said Kalissa.

  “This isn’t about me.”

  “I’m upset,” said Shane, striding closer.

  “No, you’re not,” said Darci. “You’re ticked off.”

  “Oh, yes, I’m ticked off. He’s an opportunistic lowlife. He’s taking advantage of your sister.”

  “I know what I’m getting into,” said Kalissa.

  “Do you?” asked Shane. “He’s doing this because of me. I can’t stand by and—”

  “It’s not up to you,” said Darci.

  “I’m talking about a date,” said Kalissa. “A simple date.”

  “She’s not going to give away corporate secrets,” said Darci.

  “I’m not worried about corporate secrets,” said Shane. “I’m worried about Kalissa. How are you going to feel when he breaks her heart?”

  “My eyes are wide open,” said Kalissa.

  Shane clamped his jaw.

  “If you like him,” Darci said to Kalissa. “Then, you like him. It’s not up to us to decide.”

  “I didn’t mean for this to happen.” Kalissa felt compelled to explain to her sister. “But there’s something about him.”

  She wasn’t ready to walk away from Riley. She figured it was a fifty-fifty chance he was conning her. But she was on alert now. She wouldn’t accept anything he said at face value.

  “Garrison stays,” said Shane.

  “Well, that’s going to put a damper on the evening,” said Darci.

  “I’m in absolutely no danger from Riley,” said Kalissa.

  “It’s beyond Riley,” said Shane. “You’re my sister-in-law. Somebody might mistake you for Darci. Riley or no Riley, you’re vulnerable.”

  Kalissa came to her feet. “Now you’re just making things up. You and Darci don’t have any protection.”

  There was a beat of silence.

  “We do,” said Darci. “It’s discreet. But we have a security staff.”

  “Seriously?”

  Darci nodded.

  Kalissa sat back down. “Are you in any danger?”

  “No more or less than anyone else with family wealth.”

  “Am I in danger?” Kalissa had never thought through the implications of being a carbon copy of Darci.

  “It’s nothing we can’t handle,” said Shane. “And it’s definitely nothing specific. If there’s ever anything specific, we’ll tell you up front.”

  Kalissa struggled to wrap her head around the situation.

  She couldn’t.

  She swallowed. “Is Garrison going to be my BFF?”

  Darci cracked a smile.

  “Is there a problem with Garrison?” asked Shane. “We can assign someone else to you.”

  Kalissa waved away the suggestion. “Garrison is fine. I kind of like him. He argues with Megan a lot, but it’s rather entertaining.”

  “When are you going out with Riley?” Darci asked.

  A warm feeling pulsed through Kalissa when she thought about having another date. She couldn’t help a soft smile. “I’m guessing as soon as I call him.”

  Darci and Shane exchanged a look.

  “See what I mean,” said Shane, conviction in his tone.

  Kalissa looked to Darci in confusion.

  “He thinks you’ve fallen head over heels and you’re not thinking straight.”

  “I always think straight.” And right now Kalissa’s thoughts were moving straight to Riley. She couldn’t wait to call him.

  “Get him to come here,” said Shane.

  Kalissa couldn’t believe she’d heard right. “That would be a colossally bad idea.”

  “You can’t chaperone them, darling,” said Darci.

  “You should stay the night,” said Shane. “Better yet, move in.”

  Kalissa couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Or we can get you a suite in the building in town. It’s centrally located, and security is great.”

  “You’d get me a suite?” Kalissa couldn’t believe she’d heard him right.

  “Yes. In the same building we’re in.”

  “On the waterfront? In downtown Chicago?” The real estate values there were astronomical.

  “You could visit Darci anytime you wanted, without even going outside in the winter.”

  “I can’t get used to this,” Kalissa said to Darci.

  “It is a bit disorienting,” Darci agreed. “We’d let you pay rent.”

  “You’re on his side?”

  “It’s a nice building. We’d get two bedrooms. Megan could stay there with you.”

  Kalissa stood again, pacing toward the corner fireplace. “This is so wrong.”

  “It’s an apartment,” said Darci. “Sure, maybe a bit bigger and a bit better location than most. But it’s still just a rental apartment.”

  “No way,” said Kalissa.

  “I’m going to browse around,” said Darci.

  “Good idea, sweetheart.”

  “You two are ganging up on me?” There was no way Kalissa could go along with this.

  Darci gave a shrug. “What can I say? I’m sleeping with him. He’ll always be on my side.”

  “You’re the one on his side.”

  “Same difference.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “If it makes you feel any better,” said Darci. “I want you to be my neighbor just as much as Shane does.”

  “It’s a bad idea to rent from family.” Kalissa was sure she’d read that somewhere.

  “What could go wrong?” asked Darci. “No matter what happens, you’ll still be my sister.”

  “We’ll do it through a management company,” said Shane. “You’ll never even know Colborn owns the place.”

  Kalissa braced herself on the brick fireplace hearth. “What part of no are you not hearing?”

  Darci looked at Shane. “No? Did she say no? I’m not sure I’m familiar with that concept.”

  Shane looked amused. “People don’t say no to us, Kalissa.”

  “That’s because you’re filthy rich and can fire everybody around you.”

  “Sure. That and we donate to a lot of charities.”

  “I am not a charity.”

  “And this isn’t a donation. It’s the purchase of a capital asset, which you will rent from us.”

&
nbsp; “We’re paying three-hundred and fifty dollars a month for the suite above the store.”

  “Deal,” said Shane, and he held out his hand, walking toward her.

  “Nice try.”

  “Deal, Kalissa,” he repeated. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to make your sister happy.”

  Kalissa clasped her own hands firmly behind her back, refusing to shake on it. “In this instance, I am not helping you out one bit.”

  Nine

  Riley couldn’t help but smile at Kalissa’s curiosity as she gazed out the window of his car at the darkening city.

  “It would be easier,” she said. “If I could just tell Garrison where we’re going.”

  “Why should I make things easy for Garrison?”

  Riley had nothing against Garrison. He really did seem like a decent guy. But who wanted a bodyguard on a date?

  She glanced in the passenger side rear view mirror. “He’s stuck at the last traffic light.”

  “I’m sure he’s got a tracking device on you.”

  “What?” Kalissa glanced down at herself. “Really? Where?”

  “Probably your phone.”

  “This is weird,” she said.

  “No kidding. It’s a whole different world when you have their kind of wealth.”

  “It sounds like you’re no slouch either, Mr. Ellis Aviation.” There was an accusation in her tone.

  “I’m slowly getting there.”

  “Not as slowly as me. So, where are we going, money-bags? Some swanky, five-star restaurant? Maybe a champagne harbor cruise?”

  “We’re heading away from the lake.”

  “So, not a cruise.” She peered out the windows on all sides. “Not a lot of restaurants around here either. By the way, I can’t believe you took me out for a pretzel dog on our first date.”

  “You liked the pretzel dog.”

  “Sure, but you could have done something a bit more impressive.”

  “It wasn’t impressive?”

  “Not really.”

  “Then I don’t think you’re going to be too impressed tonight either.”

  She straightened in her seat. “Well, this doesn’t sound promising for you.”

  “Problem is, you come across as being so down to earth.”

  She cocked her head. “That’s a problem?”

  “I don’t want to spoil you.”