by Barb Han
Investigated? She dragged in a breath and stared back boldly, refusing to be intimidated. Yet another good reason to get this man out of her office. And fast. “Give me one good reason I should accept your project?”
Sure, the check he’d written was substantial. He should consider himself bowed down to. But in the grand scheme of his wealth, the impressive amount scribbled out on the check was probably equivalent to Avery buying a week’s worth of groceries.
“I’m busy. Thanks to last night. I landed a lot of new business, and I have to take the next few days to sort through it all,” she said.
His posture was tense and aggressive, like a man poised to battle, except for the sexy little twinkle in his eye, which Avery was certain had been cued to make her melt. Sorry, bud. Not happening.
“You still haven’t heard my proposition.”
She felt dwarfed by his physical presence. Drawing herself up to her full height, she glared straight into his dark eyes. “Then why don’t you take a seat, and we can discuss this like civilized adults?”
Keeping his gaze trained on her, Ryker eased into the chair opposite her desk and clasped his long, lean fingers. “And just what do you call what we’ve been doing so far? Tap dancing?” The knotted muscle in his jaw ticked as he settled in, and he spoke clearly with his body language. He wasn’t about to go anywhere until she agreed to take his work.
“No. Dancing actually implies doing something fun.”
His dark brow lifted. “I can think of better things to do with our bodies close together than dance.”
Words were unable to line themselves up to come out right. Instead they clotted in her throat.
Avery figured one word from Ryker was all it usually took to get heads nodding and feet scrambling. And yet, there she stood, watching him as though he were about to make off with her family’s silver.
His lips curled into that arrogant but devastating trademark smile. “Let me know when you’re ready to play anything besides this cat and mouse game. You can start by telling me who you really are.”
“My family name? Well that’s none of your business. Or anyone else’s, for that matter.” She heard her own voice rise and quiver toward the end of her sentence defensively. She took a lot of pride in her accomplishments, especially because she hadn’t used her family name to get them. She’d worked for them. Hard. And no one had the right to dig into her past or question her history.
“Covering tracks, are you?” he asked. “The hallmark of a good thief.”
She froze as his gaze landed hard on hers. He was trying to rattle her. Fine. She’d be damned if she’d bite. Instead, she leaned back and folded her arms. “You had me investigated. Why don’t you tell me who I am?”
Cold, calculating anger scored his brown eyes. “As a general rule I like to know who I’m doing business with beforehand. The only reason for the investigation.” Ryker’s gaze narrowed to slits. “What I’d like to know is why you’re so determined to refuse my job.”
The phone buzzed again, and Avery was desperate to reach out to it, if only to throw it against the wall and release her pent-up frustration. Leaning a slender hip against her desk, she folded her arms, doing her level best to radiate relaxation and calm. Her stomach, now tied in knots, betrayed her thinking from the inside out, but Ryker Li didn’t have to know it. She looked him square in the eye. Pure bronze. They were brilliantly colored.
“It’s nice of you to be troubled to come all the way down here to offer me new business, but I’m already booked for the foreseeable future.” She paused ever-so-slightly, just long enough to bite her lip. “Afterward, I’d be happy to help.” She was relieved they weren’t playing poker. She’d just revealed her bluff.
His jaw muscle pulsed again as her office phone rang for the third time. Then came, “It might come as a shock to you, but I’m not insulting you by offering you work.”
“I didn’t think so,” she said defensively.
The persistent ringing noise was beginning to be a real distraction when Avery realized she was late. She was supposed to meet her mother for coffee and had slept right through. Then again, she hadn’t expected to wait up half the night for the tally to come in. And least of all had she anticipated Ryker Li showing up in her office this morning. His presence was threatening and unnerving, and she could see why he got his way in business or otherwise. People would say yes so he’d leave and they could regain their mental balance. As it was, her body betrayed her by tingling with awareness every time his gaze traveled over her.
He was also a bully. Not that Alexandria would care he was the reason Avery was late. There was no excuse worthy of making the woman wait. And to be perfectly honest, Avery wouldn’t put forth the effort if Mother and Bits weren’t the only family left.
Avery let out a little sigh under her breath. Can this day get any better? “If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Li, I have work to do.”
Ryker folded his arms, looking intrigued, as though he could scarcely believe his ears and half wanted to hear what might come out of her mouth next. “Have you just thrown me out?”
When Avery said nothing, he leaned closer. “I could always ruin your reputation to open up your calendar, Ms. McAdams.”
His outright arrogance stunned her. Her lips quivered again just thinking about what a man with his influence could do to her reputation. But would he?
“Why on earth would you do that?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
She steeled her resolve. Being ruthless was one thing, but this was downright mean. “Because I’ve done nothing wrong. I did my job and raised a lot of money. And even a man like you should have enough decency to see that.”
“I didn’t realize my decency was in question.” He clasped his fingers together. “Tell me your real name, and I’ll reconsider.”
The click of high heels against wood floors braided Avery’s stomach lining. Great. The door didn’t have to open for her to know who it was. Her terrible morning was punctuated by a visit from her mother. The woman who had never once darkened the door of Avery’s office decided today would be the day to pay a visit.
In weighing the lesser of the two evils, Avery instantly regretted not picking up the phone a few moments ago. After all, Ryker Li was about to be out of her life. Forever. Her stomach gave a little flip at the thought. But Mother—she was there to stay.
A little sigh slipped out when Avery figured she was about to live to regret her negligence even more as her office door swung wide open. No time wasted on knocking for Alexandria Chase.
“Where have you been?” she asked shrugging off her fur coat and absently tossing it onto the couch, her gaze trained on Avery.
Right. Mother. Beautiful. Thin. Perfectly put together if tastefully enhanced thanks to exceptional doctors and modern day surgical procedures. And world-renowned for being completely charming to men.
There Mother stood—all five feet seven inches of blue-eyed grace and glory—looking more like Avery’s sister than a woman who’d suffered in childbirth once, let alone twice. Embarrassment at being old enough to have two grown daughters was the reason she’d insisted on being called Alexandria rather than Mother.
“Sorry, Alexandria, I promise I didn’t forget. My meeting’s running over. Would you mind waiting downstairs?” Avery knew full well her mother didn’t do waiting.
Fighting a little burst of fear that Ryker might find Mother’s charms as irresistible as scores of men did, Avery got a grip. Where did that come from anyway? Ryker Li could be attracted to any woman he wanted. It was none of Avery’s business. Even though it would turn her stomach to have to sit and watch.
“I suspected something had happened. It isn’t like you to miss a breakfast date,” Alexandria soothed, perfectly aware of a male presence in the room and adjusting her mood accordingly.
“I’ll be five minutes tops. Mr. Li and I are just finishing up. Right, Mr. Li?” Avery softened her tone, more than a little concerned that the two people able
to reduce her to tiny shreds were in the same room.
Alexandria shrugged off Avery’s request as easily as she’d shed her coat. Her gaze slid to Ryker. “I’m sure Mr. Li understands everyone needs to eat. Perhaps he’d like to join us for coffee?”
“No. We have coffee. Mr. Li is a busy man. And now isn’t a good time for this discussion.” Avery back-peddled, panic shrinking her resolve by the second as she made a small gesture of appeal toward her mother.
“I don’t have another opening,” Alexandria said as though beauty appointments ranked right up there with earning a living.
“Fine. Then at least let me finish my meeting.” Avery had given up trying to figure out why she bent to her mother’s will long ago. Besides, wasn’t it infuriating the hold mothers had on their daughters? In that area, Alexandria Chase had always excelled. She knew exactly which buttons to push to get a rise out of her daughter. And Avery gave in again. She felt herself growing hot.
Ryker, who’d been silently observing until then, dismissed the conversation with a growl. “She’s in a meeting, and we won’t be finished until after lunch. Ms. McAdams will reschedule her appointment with you at a more convenient time for her.”
Mother’s expression stilled. Then she smiled, practiced, cool, and just a tiny bit seductively. “I’m afraid she has overscheduled her morning then.” Her tone was ever-so-slightly clipped. Clearly, she was not used to such directness from a man.
When he looked at her, his dark eyes were bronzed. “I’m a busy man, and we’re otherwise engaged.”
How exquisite. Finally someone who knew how to handle Mother. Avery drew a blank most times, and she hated how much one word from her mother could slice her to the quick. But wasn’t that the special talent of Mother? Knowing her well enough to reduce her to shreds with little more than a few well-chosen words?
Alexandria softened her gaze as she turned her full attention toward Ryker. “I’m afraid we haven’t met. Alexandria Chase.” The polite greeting came out of thinned lips.
Avery cleared her throat. “This is Ryker Li.”
Alexandria’s blue eyes were slightly wide, meant to imbue a man, pulling him in where her charms became intoxicating. “Your business acumen is legendary. I can’t help but think we’ve met before. The Hope Gala in Dallas perhaps?” Alexandria held out her hand. “Either way, I’m charmed to meet you.”
Was Alexandria flirting?
The weight of how rich and successful a man Ryker had to be in order for Alexandria to know him and look impressed nearly polarized Avery.
Ryker took Alexandria’s hand just long enough for social etiquette to be obliged. He smiled one of his sexy little smiles meant to cue butterflies in any nearby female stomach. “And now, if you’ll pardon my abrasion, I have important business to discuss with Ms. McAdams. She has just agreed to plan my next event.” His gaze went to Avery. Refuse now and you’ll have to explain why in front of your other client, it said.
Avery wouldn’t argue his point in front of Alexandria, and he knew it. Yet all of this was almost worth putting up with just to watch this man manipulate Mother.
What a shame he was about to walk out of Avery’s life forever.
Her stomach gave a quiver at the thought. A side to her actually wished he would stick around. And she couldn’t be sure if it was because of the way he handled her mother, or something else.
Something feminine.
Something primal.
Oh, but who was she kidding?
She and Ryker Li.
Now there’s a joke.
Chapter Two
As soon as Avery managed to clear her office, she planned to explain again to Ryker why she wouldn’t take his business, slowly this time, so even an over-indulged rich man could understand.
Besides, Avery was a quick study. A person like her was best far away from men like him. She’d learned her lesson well, years ago in prep school. And if a special league for rich and successful men existed, Ryker Li would stand far above it.
Not going there again.
Even what appeared to be a simple business liaison with a man like him could leave a person stranded in an emotional ditch. She couldn’t even imagine the carnage he left behind with women he dated. Women who actually cared for him. Or did those swimsuit models simply move on to the next rich guy?
Based on the tabloids, he had the attention span of a squirrel when it came to women. No, men like Ryker were best left to women who knew how to handle those sorts of...arrangements.
“We can reschedule our plans. I’ll call you,” Avery said to her mother, praying for reprieve in at least one complicated area of her life this morning.
Alexandria bristled ever-so-slightly but covered it with a smile. “I can see you’re in the middle of something important, so I’ll leave you to it.”
Avery excused herself as she walked her mother out the door and whispered, “Sorry about breakfast. I’ll take you to the French restaurant you love so much for dinner tonight.” Even though I can’t afford it and I should be working. Guilt had a way of forcing her to spend money on things she couldn’t afford.
Alexandria didn’t miss a beat. “Well, if it’ll make you feel better, I can rearrange my plans tonight.”
“Yes. It will. Now go.” What Avery wanted to do most was roll her eyes. What could be good about spending money she didn’t have on a restaurant that charged too much and didn’t suit her taste anyway? The best part? She’d be with her mother.
She squeezed Alexandria’s shoulders and walked her to the elevator where they exchanged goodbyes.
Avery took a deep breath and straightened. Ignoring the delicate but oh so sensual shivers running up and down her spine at the thought of the man waiting in her office, she stalked into the room. “Look. I think we’ve said everything we can here,” she said pulling from self assurance she didn’t own. Ryker possessed it in buckets. And she was half afraid of the raging bull waiting for her there and half wanting to be nowhere else but near him.
She stood in silence until he finished his text message.
Long and slow, his gaze finally drifted to her face where it collided with hers. “We’re not finished here.”
Avery ignored the flush of heat circling low in her belly. “I know you’re busy. I am too.”
A black eyebrow arched as his deep, dark eyes made another slow flicker over her, then settled on her face.
Her heart gave a little skip. Avery had never encountered magnetic charm like his in a man before, but then she’d never met a man like Ryker Li before either. It now made sense to her why women literally formed lines around the block to be near him. She found her own gaze wandering to his lips where they stayed focused.
“You haven’t agreed to work for me yet, now have you?” His gaze swept over her this time, slowly, as if he looked at her for the first time. As to the charge being positive or negative she had no idea.
“Simple. I told you. I’m busy. Even though you don’t seem to mind exploiting me in front of my other clients,” she said as she moved behind her desk, desperately needing to put some mass between them to dull the electrical charges she felt. Because what was happening made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Avery had never been attracted to arrogant rich men before. Not since Preston Wescott. And she’d sworn never again. Ever. “And that was a low blow, by the way.”
“I simply played the cards you dealt. If you’d given me another option, I would’ve taken it.”
Ryker folded his arms across a broad chest, and Avery kept her gaze focused away from the strength there.
“You exploited me in front of another client. Just one more reason why we should not do business.” She reminded herself again how he couldn’t be bothered to attend an event with his name on it. Didn’t say much about his character, now did it? “Tell me where you were last night instead of the event and I’ll consider it.”
“Enjoy your coffee. I’ll be in touch.”
Avery blinked at his outstretched hand
. She stood there frozen like an idiot ice sculpture.
A customary handshake stuck out between them.
To refuse would have been considered rude, so she didn’t. But the second she accepted it, the instant his skin touched hers, she knew she’d made a critical error. Her skin heated where it touched the hard tanned hand wrapped around hers. Nerve endings crackled and churned, shooting impulses over her and through her.
She broke contact with him the instant she could before she gave away its effect. Quickly, she turned her back to him before he had time to see the prickly bumps moving up her arms or the way her breasts strained against the thin cloth covering them. Cursed silk bra.
A warm electric current vibrated her skin until she feared Ryker could see her body’s reaction anyway. And if not see, then sense, like a shark moving toward the vibration of a struggling sea lion.
If her body planned to make a habit of betraying her every time she stood next to or touched a hot guy, she seriously needed to find the next available guy in her league and ask him out. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had sex. But her body screamed too long.
****
Ryker kept his feet rooted to their spot, perplexed, at least for another full minute. He rubbed his forefinger against his thumb.
What the hell had just happened?
Touching her, taking her hand in his, had left a strange and unfamiliar feeling on the skin of his hand.
Lust?
No. Stronger. He’d never felt anything quite like this before.
This woman wasn’t his normal type, and yet she was truly beautiful in a very natural, very real sense. She was having an unexplainable effect on him.
He reminded himself she, like all women, had a few tricks up her sleeve.
Lust, he told himself again, like repeating the word would make it ring true this time.
He thought about the pout of her lips when she wasn’t sure what to say next. The look of those sexy-as-hell blue-green eyes that were part ocean, part sky, part the deepest green. The spark of determination they held.
Standing so close he could smell her intoxicating scent, a mix of fresh blooming flowers and warm cinnamon.