Five Star Seduction

by Jacquelin Thomas

“I appreciate what you’re doing.”

  He shrugged in nonchalance. “I have no doubt you are going to make this retreat the best my company has ever seen. Billy Daniels has been bragging nonstop about you.”

  Harold’s words made her smile. “I’m glad he’s pleased.”

  He paused at the entrance. “I look forward to working with you, Zaire.”

  She smiled. “Same here, Harold. Oh, it would be really nice to see you at one of the Alexander cookouts. Your sister comes when she and her fiancé aren’t away on some romantic getaway.”

  Harold broke into a wide grin. “I’ll check my calendar.”

  Zaire headed back to her office. She found Tyrese waiting outside her door.

  “You’ve been here a little over a week and you’ve already picked up a new client,” Tyrese said with a smile. “I like that.”

  “Thank you.”

  He followed her inside.

  “I take it things are better between Harold and your family.”

  Zaire met his gaze. “You know all about that?”

  Tyrese nodded.

  “He’s changed a lot. Harold’s no longer contesting the will. There was really never any point in the first place.” She waved her hand in dismissal. “I’m just glad it’s all over with.”

  “Shouldn’t you be leaving for the day?” Tyrese inquired, looking at the wall clock.

  Zaire shook her head. “I’m going to work for a couple of hours more. I’m in meetings most of tomorrow, so I’m trying to get as much done today as possible.”

  His eyes swept over her face. “I’d better head back to my office. There are some things I need to take care of.”

  Tyrese’s cell phone started to ring.

  She watched him with a critical squint. He glanced down, and his expression changed right before her eyes. Zaire could tell that the call had angered him.

  He rushed out of her office without a word.

  She was tempted to go after Tyrese, but she decided it would not be wise. It was better not to pry. Still, Zaire was bothered by his reaction.

  * * *

  “I thought you might be hungry,” Tyrese said, holding up a bag of Thai food. “Max told me that this is your favorite. We’re both working late, so I thought I’d grab some takeout.”

  She smiled. “It is and I am.”

  He sat down on the sofa beside her. “Zaire, I don’t want you staying late too often. We’ve never had any incidents, but I want you to be careful. Make sure one of our security guards walks you to your car.”

  “I won’t make it a habit. I promise.”

  Tyrese’s eyes traveled around the room as they ate. “I meant to tell you that I really like what you’ve done in here.”

  Zaire wiped her mouth on the edge of her napkin. “I suppose you can tell that I love color.”

  He chuckled. “It tells me that you’re not afraid to take chances.”

  She boldly met his gaze. “No, I’m not. Life is all about taking risks. We just have to be mindful of the ones we take. Regardless, we should learn lessons from the good and bad.”

  “I like that,” he responded.

  Tyrese was so close she could feel the heat from his body. His closeness was so male, so bracing.

  Their eyes met and held.

  His eyes never strayed from her face. It felt as if he were kissing her with his eyes.

  Zaire found the prolonged anticipation of the inevitable almost unbearable.

  In one forward motion, she was in his arms.

  Tyrese kissed her hungrily.

  The caress of his lips on her mouth set her body aflame. Zaire wound her arms inside his jacket and around his back. Her body tingled from the contact.

  She gave herself freely to the passion of his kiss.

  Abruptly, Tyrese pulled away, leaving her mouth burning with fire.

  “I’m sorry,” he uttered. “I never should have done that.”

  “Tyrese, it’s okay,” Zaire quickly assured him. “I wanted you to kiss me.”

  He shook his head. “No, we can’t do this.”

  “Why not?” Zaire demanded as she experienced an odd twinge of disappointment. His lips on hers had been divine ecstasy. Her emotions whirled and skidded to a stop. “Tyrese, you can’t tell me that you’re not attracted to me. I can see it in your face every time you look at me.”

  “Zaire, I make it a point to never get involved with anyone I work with.”

  Suddenly all pleasure left her. “Do you always have to play it so safe?”

  “I didn’t always,” Tyrese admitted. “And when I didn’t, there was a high price to pay. I can’t go through that again.”

  “Will you be honest with me?”

  He nodded.

  “Do you have feelings for me?” Zaire asked.

  “Yes,” Tyrese answered. “I care more for you than I ever imagined possible.”

  “So you’re saying that you will never act on those feelings,” she said. “I am your partner, Tyrese. I find it hard to be so close to you and pretend that I don’t care about you. Is it that easy for you?”

  “No, it’s not easy, but I know that this is what’s best for us both in the long run.”

  Zaire shook her head. “I don’t agree.”

  “I’m sorry.” His expression was a mask of stone.

  Tyrese strode briskly out of her office.

  She ached with an inner pain.

  He had feelings for her, but Tyrese would rather ignore them, leaving Zaire to believe that she would never fully understand men.

  * * *

  Tyrese sat in his living room in lonely silence, surrounded by darkness.

  What was I thinking by kissing her? He was not one to let his emotions get the better of him. So what happened?

  Zaire brought out feelings in him that Tyrese had thought were long dead. He was shaken by what had taken place between them. He could not risk a repeat of what had happened in Chicago.

  Tyrese knew exactly what he had to do—he had to stay as far away from Zaire as possible. At least until he could get his desires under control.

  He decided that it was not wise for them to work late together, so when Zaire stayed late, Tyrese decided that he would have to leave. She was upset right now, but he was sure that Zaire would come around to his way of thinking. They both wanted their business partnership to flourish, so that should be their main focus.

  Tyrese rose to his feet and navigated in the darkness to the stairs leading to the second floor of his home.

  He walked into his bedroom and turned on a lamp.

  A thread of guilt snaked down his spine. He never should have kissed Zaire like that. Tyrese considered calling her, but he changed his mind. Maybe it was best to just pretend that it had never happened.

  Zaire did not seem like the vindictive type, but one could never really know when it came down to it. He did not really know her.

  Tyrese picked up the telephone and dialed her phone number.

  “Hello.”

  “Zaire, I want to apologize once more for my actions.”

  “You don’t have to worry, Tyrese,” she responded. “I’m not going to accuse you of sexual harassment, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  Her words both stunned and relieved him.

  “You didn’t do this by yourself,” Zaire continued. “Like I told you earlier, I wanted to kiss you. I don’t have any regrets.”

  “I don’t want to risk our partnership,” Tyrese stated. “I really believe that you, Pilar and I make a great team.”

  “I agree,” she said. “However, I am mature enough to keep my personal and professional lives separate.”

  He did not respond.

  “Tyrese,
we’re fine. There is no reason for you to worry. I’ll see you tomorrow, partner.”

  “Good night.”

  “Good night,” Zaire responded.

  Tyrese could not discern any hidden meanings in her words. They were simple and straightforward.

  It was not as easy for him to dismiss their kiss as Zaire had seemed to do. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

  Chapter 7

  The next day, Zaire smiled and nodded at Tyrese when they met in the hall as if nothing had happened. She was going to give him exactly what he wanted—space.

  She did not miss the way he quirked his eyebrow in question but did not try to engage her in conversation. Zaire resisted the urge to look back at him, and she could feel the heat of his gaze on her.

  She walked into her office, settled down at her desk and prepared to get her day started.

  Tyrese must have walked by her office at least twenty times in the three hours she had been there.

  Zaire couldn’t resist a smile at the thought. He was having a hard time of it, just as she was; only she did not have to find reasons to leave her desk to snatch glimpses of Tyrese.

  She set her chin in a stubborn line. Tyrese would have to come to her if he changed his mind about pursuing a relationship. Zaire would never give him another chance to reject her.

  “Something’s going on with Tyrese,” Max said in a loud whisper as he entered her office. He sat down in a visitor chair, facing her. “He’s acting all weird.”

  “I haven’t noticed one way or the other,” Zaire responded.

  She looked up to see him pause just inside her door.

  “Did you want me?” she asked, the double meaning evident.

  A muscle quivered at his jaw. “I...I wanted to let you know that I’ve ordered lunch for everyone. It should arrive within the hour.”

  Zaire awarded him a huge smile. “That’s so sweet, Tyrese. Thank you.”

  Max uttered a quick “Thank you,” as well.

  When he left, she found Max staring at her and grinning.

  “What?”

  “I... You and Tyrese...”

  She shook her head. “My relationship with Tyrese is purely professional, Max.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Zaire settled back in her plush leather chair. “Let’s get back to work.”

  * * *

  Zaire spent her Saturday looking for a new home.

  “I really like this one,” she told her mother after they had looked at several apartment buildings within a ten-mile radius of M.G. Hill Creste was decidedly her favorite.

  The moment she stepped into the two-bedroom apartment with hardwood flooring, granite counters and stainless-steel appliances, Zaire felt as if she had come home.

  “It’s close to M.G. and Beverly Hills. I really like the waterfalls in the pool area and outdoor fireplace.”

  “It is very nice,” Barbara said.

  Zaire broke into a grin. “This is going to be my new home, Mama.”

  “There is also a concierge business center, a media screening room and twenty-four-hour controlled access to our gated community,” the leasing agent told Zaire.

  “I love it,” Zaire responded. “Let’s get started on the paperwork.”

  She exhaled a long sigh of contentment. Her life was perfect. Except in the romance department.

  Zaire tossed the thought away. For now, she wanted to focus on all the good things happening to her.

  “Why don’t we see if your daddy can join us for a little celebratory lunch?” Barbara suggested.

  Zaire agreed, “Give him a call while I’m filling out my paperwork. We can meet him wherever you two decide. I’m open.”

  Her cell phone began to vibrate. Zaire hid her disappointment when she realized that it was not Tyrese.

  He was avoiding her—she was pretty sure of it.

  Zaire turned her attention once more to the paperwork on the desk in front of her.

  * * *

  She stayed after work on Monday to work out in the gym. Zaire heard someone come in but did not turn around.

  She kept her focus on her workout. Normally, whenever she came, there were only one or two others in the gym with her. Most of the staff came early in the mornings or worked out during lunch.

  Tyrese stepped on the treadmill next to her.

  “I thought you were gone for the day,” he said.

  “Nope, I’m still here,” she managed to reply through stiff lips.

  They worked out in silence. In fact, Tyrese turned up the volume on the television to listen to the news, although Zaire believed that it was his way of avoiding a conversation with her.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him flexing his strong, muscled arms before increasing his pace.

  Zaire struggled to keep her focus off Tyrese.

  He was lean, toned and muscled in all of the right places. He looked good in his custom-made suits, but she couldn’t deny that Tyrese looked incredibly sexy in sweatpants and a T-shirt.

  Zaire managed to make it six miles on the treadmill before her cooldown.

  Tyrese was still watching the news as he jogged.

  She turned it off and walked over to stretch.

  He came up behind her, placing a hand on her forearm.

  Zaire turned around expectantly, brushing her hair away from her perspiration-damp forehead.

  “You forgot your towel,” Tyrese said. He stared with longing at her.

  “Thank you.” Tyrese remained standing there, gazing into her face.

  It was Zaire who broke the look. “It’s getting late. I should get out of here. My parents are expecting me for dinner.”

  He reached out, grabbing her hand.

  Her heart pounded an erratic rhythm and her skin tingled from the contact.

  “Zaire...”

  “I’ll see you in the morning,” she said softly.

  “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  She shook her head. “I’ll be fine, Tyrese. You don’t have to worry about me.”

  Zaire walked to the doors and out of the gym, her heart racing. She felt a shred of disappointment when he did not bother to follow her.

  Chapter 8

  Zaire moved into her new apartment the following weekend. She couldn’t have been happier. She and her siblings sat on the floor amid cardboard boxes, eating pizza.

  “Thanks for all of your help,” she told them.

  “Nice digs,” Drayden said as his eyes bounced around the room. “Very nice.”

  “This is almost as big as my condo,” Blaze said, helping himself to another slice of spinach and mushroom pizza.

  She laughed. “It’s not even close.”

  “Livi and I have been looking at houses,” Blaze announced. “I think we’re going to find something near Marina del Rey.”

  “Are you two thinking of starting a family?” Zaire inquired.

  He nodded. “We’re both ready to have children.”

  Zaire glanced over at Drayden. “So have you found the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with?”

  “No,” he responded. “Not yet, but then, I have not been looking very hard. I’ve been concentrating on building my firm.”

  After they had eaten, Zaire told them, “Thanks again, guys. I can manage from here.”

  Blaze picked up his keys and headed to the door. “You don’t have to tell me twice. I’m going home to spend some quality time with my wife.”

  Drayden put away the leftover pizza and then gathered up the cardboard boxes for the trash. “I’ll take this outside.”

  “Thanks,” she said with a grateful smile.

  * * *

  The doorbell s
ounded an hour later.

  Zaire rose to her feet and crossed the room to look through the peephole.

  She threw open the front door. “Tyrese...”

  “I’m sorry for just dropping by without calling you.... I wanted...” He cleared his throat. “May I come in?”

  Zaire stepped aside to let him enter. “I’m surprised to see you.”

  He handed her the plant he carried in both hands. “I wanted to get you something to celebrate your new place.”

  She took the plant from him. “Thank you. It’s lovely. I have the perfect place for it.”

  Zaire set the plant near the window, and then she followed Tyrese into the living room. “I’m sorry, but the furniture won’t be here until Thursday.”

  “It’s fine,” Tyrese assured her. “Zaire, I came to apologize again for the way I handled the night that I kissed you.”

  She watched with smug delight as he shifted uncomfortably.

  “We just started our new partnership. I really don’t want to mess it up by jumping into something we may not be ready for.”

  “You mean something that you are not ready for, Tyrese.”

  “Zaire...”

  She held up her hand to halt whatever he was about to say. “If you want to keep our relationship a professional one—that’s fine.”

  “I feel like there’s a lot of tension between us right now.”

  “I just don’t get you,” she sputtered in frustration. “Tyrese, I have never met someone who was so rigid and reserved when it comes to feelings. Have you ever done anything really impulsive?”

  Tyrese seemed a little taken aback by her question.

  “Sometimes being impulsive can get you into trouble, Zaire.”

  “It’s all good, Tyrese,” she responded. “Our relationship is strictly professional from here on out, just as you wished.”

  “I would rather not risk ruining our partnership if things didn’t work out between us.”

  Zaire shrugged nonchalantly. “It really doesn’t matter.”

  “Yes, it does,” he said. “I don’t like this tension between us, Zaire.”

  “Then maybe you should leave,” she suggested softly. “Tyrese, you and I are never going to agree on this subject.”

  “Maybe you’re right.” Tyrese watched her for a moment before heading to the door. He paused long enough to say, “I really hope that this won’t impact our partnership.”