Accidentally Seduced (The Naked Truth Series Book 3)

by Carmen Falcone

  Matthew waved it off. Standing, he stretched as if he hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in days. Devon never bought that karma bullshit, but his half-brother did look beaten down. Alone. And a lot like Devon had felt when he first showed up at his father’s house.

  And somehow he didn’t want his half-brother to suffer. He wanted to help.

  “Nah. I’m fine. Will be. How about you? Would you buy my—our—mother’s shares? So that the business still belongs to the family mostly while Elena runs the company?”

  ***

  “Wow. I can’t believe you slept with him right under my pert little nose,” Holly said, her blue eyes widened.

  Elena would have laughed at the look of surprise on her colleague’s face if weren’t she so freaking worried. Thankfully, the three of them closed the door of the break room and put an out-of-order sign outside. Who cared if the wall was see-through? She needed to talk.

  Janie rolled her eyes. “Really, Holly? Out of all the things she just said, this is what you’re concerned about?”

  Elena wished she had a much stiffer drink inside her cat mug, but coffee had to suffice. She glanced down at the steamy black liquid, and brought it to her lips with a sigh of despair. Never in a million years had she imagined she’d be offered the CEO position of Wilder & Co.

  “She came to work here because of Matthew, and she has just been offered the CEO title,” Janie said.

  Hearing it from someone else sent a rush of adrenaline through her. Or was it the caffeine? She sat down the mug. Whatever it was, her hands shook.

  Holly narrowed her eyes. “You must be a good lay.”

  She would have laughed, but kept her face straight. “I didn’t sleep with Imani.”

  Holly’s lips spread in a devilish grin. “Oh, that’s right. Sorry. Still thinking about why Devon chose you,” she said in a whiny voice, like somehow that was a pill hard to swallow. “No offense.”

  She shrugged. “None taken.”

  Janie crossed her legs, swiveling on her chair. “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m not going to accept the position unless Devon agrees to buy his mother’s shares in the company,” Elena said. So what if things turned out much differently than what they all first intended? Everyone had a secret agenda going in on the CEO race. “Imani made it clear that neither of them will have the title, and my plan is to keep them in the company by having them buy the shares. The real power is owning more shares. Devon deserves that.”

  “Even if he doesn’t deserve you,” Janie said.

  Elena tapped her head against the wall. Once. Twice. Maybe if she drilled a hole she’d be able to remove all the sensory memories her mind and body darted at her. Every second. Every minute. Every hour. She couldn’t stop wanting him and praying he’d come around.

  She loved him. And he’d ended their relationships because he didn’t trust her enough to do the right thing. “You’re right,” Elena said. She did deserve better, but still she hoped he’d live up to her expectations. If not, then she’d survive. Alone, but stronger for it. That Devon had played a big role in helping her move forward only made her heart clench. She didn’t want to lose him, but she had to stand her ground, or she’d lose herself again.

  She leaned against the table. Her head touched the cold glass. Hot tears teased her eyelids, but she blinked them back. She’d cry tonight. Alone.

  “So if he doesn’t accept the shares, you’re saying no to the CEO title?” Holly asked.

  “Yes. I know I’m capable and qualified for it, but I’m not stabbing him in the back. Accepting while he got the majority of shares would mean all of us working together. And them not having to worry about hiring someone completely new.” And me being close to him. Somewhat. “When we started all this, I wanted to break my sexual dry spell. But I don’t want a man who doesn’t respect me and trust me. Been there and done that before.”

  “I sure as hell know I wouldn’t let that chance slip through my fingers,” Holly snapped at her.

  Will I? Elena squared her shoulders. Was she really going to let a CEO title come between her and Devon? “I want what I deserve. Honestly, Holly, Devon is better than that and I know it. That’s the guy I want—and he deserves everything but I do, too. We deserve each other. Although he probably feels betrayed and hates me right now,” she said, and as she heard herself, her heart tightened. His mother had left him. His ex-girlfriend sold him to the press. Did he put her in the same category?

  “Who says hating is bad? Make-up sex is gold,” Holly said.

  Janie snorted. “Then sorry-I-stole-your-dream-job sex will take her to Unicornland.”

  “I’ve been worried about getting him the shares and I didn’t really stop to think about how he’s feeling.” Curling her fists, she pushed back the chair and stood. How much longer was she going to keep denying herself the happiness they both deserved? He had been the one who helped her stand up to her brothers, and come out about her failed marriage, and Timothy’s abuse. Why keep the truth from him? Her stomach knotted. Because you can lose him. “I need to talk to him, and get him back.”

  “What are you going to do?” Janie asked.

  A thrill of excitement went through her. She was going to kick ass and he would watch it. “I’m gonna start with balloons.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “So you’re good with this arrangement?” Imani asked at the other end of the line.

  Devon breathed into the phone. He peered around his office, like he had for the past two hours ever since the fiasco meeting at the conference room in the morning. Where the hell was she? He tried her cell phone, only to hear the jazzy ring tone from her desk. “Yes. She can be the CEO.”

  “This will be better for all of us, Devon,” Imani said, and he could hear the smile in her voice. “When I hired you to work with us, Matthew was against it. Creatively, you are a genius. Even if you can’t always keep it in your pants. I’m not wrong about her. I’ve studied some campaigns she managed in New York.”

  Devon clutched the football-shaped paperweight in his hand. “She’s smart. Caring. She’ll do great.”

  “Wonderful. Matthew said he doesn’t want to buy any of my shares, and given his divorce proceedings that wouldn’t be recommended anyway.”

  Distracted, he looked at the football. Why the hell was Elena hiding from him? Ever since he’d come back to the office to talk to her, to discuss their future, she had been absent. His heart was like a freaking drum, each beat louder than the last. Loosening his tie, he said, “Yeah.”

  “I’ll give you a good deal. In fact, I was thinking—”

  For how much longer would he have to wait? Shit. He sucked at waiting. Surging to his feet, he sat the paperweight down on the table and flicked off his computer. “Can we discuss it later?”

  “Sure.”

  He hung up. Rolling up his sleeves, he strode through his office. There wasn’t any telling item at her desk that announced she’d be back soon. The papers were stacked as usual, her computer screen was black on sleep mode, and not a single pen had been left out of the stainless steel holder. Everything was where it belonged except… the cat mug.

  With a smile, he headed to the break room. If she wasn’t there, at least one of her two friends had to steer him in the right direction. He’d waited a long time for a woman like her. A woman who could make him forget the pain of the past, and make him not want other things as much. Other women. And shit, he wasn’t about to let her go without fighting.

  Someone greeted him as he marched on the hallways. He grunted in reply. Devon had to find Elena and talk to her. Convince her that he was worth a second chance. He stormed in the break room, and was almost out of breath.

  A couple of employees turned around, eyeing him with curiosity, and he rubbed his forehead. He scanned the area, his gaze darting from the table to the refrigerator to the cupboards. Shit. Elena wasn’t there.

  He was about to leave when his cell buzzed in his pants. He withdrew i
t and a wave of disappointment swept over him. The number wasn’t Elena’s, nor did he recognize it.

  He hesitated to answer, but as he exited the break room he pressed the talk button. “Devon here.”

  “Go to the main elevator,” said a female voice that sounded a lot like Toby’s assistant. There was a snicker, and before he answered, she hung up. Great.

  Elevator? He followed the instructions anyway, his pulse skyrocketing. Eating up the distance with long powerful strides, he ignored the glances darting his way. Who cared? The only thing he wanted was to find her. And kiss her. And never, ever let her go.

  He pushed the elevator button.

  Once.

  Twice.

  Three times.

  The doors opened. Colorful balloons filled the interior. Green, blue, red, and yellow inundated his field of vision. He dipped his head to the many curly white strings, his heart thrumming in his chest. A couple of people whispered a few feet away from him, and he imagined some curious coworkers were as eager to find out what was happening as he.

  Then, it hit him… When he was stuck in the elevator as a child, he dreamed of balloons. And the only person he told that to was…

  Elena.

  Elena stepped forward, pushing a couple balloons off her face with her hands. Her hair was tousled and she had to push some of it from her face to look at him. The moment his eyes found hers, his gut clenched. A flutter went through him. It was as if he were a teenager again on his first date. But, this time, it could be the first day of the rest of their lives. And it would be, he’d make damn sure of it.

  “Devon, I’m sorry.” She spoke first, her voice tremulous. “I swear I didn’t go behind your back about finding the truth about Imani. I never came to this company to be the CEO.”

  “You will be a great one. I accepted your suggestion. And I’m behind Imani’s decision one hundred percent.”

  “Really?”

  A balloon popped, and she jumped. He stepped into the elevator, and had to push a few of them out of his way to make room. How long did that take her, and who helped her? A fuzzy sensation, one that was still new to him, lit him up like fireworks on a dark night. “Yes. I was a stupid idiot for thinking for a second that you were this heartless person who wanted to throw me under the bus. I’m sorry, Elena. I was scared because I love you.”

  “You do?” She squealed. “I love you too, Devon Wilder. I want to fuck you every day of my life. And I also want to do everything couples do before and after fucking.” Although her voice was steadier than before, a lovely shade of red covered her cheeks.

  “Like marriage, and children?” he suggested, even though it sounded more like a statement. “And labs. A couple of them. Maybe a white picket fence?” He meant to say it playfully, although his tone was dead serious. A nervousness that wasn’t common to him crashed over him, and he wiped the sweat off his forehead. Anticipation brewed inside him, as he gazed deep into her bedroom eyes.

  “I so much prefer wrought iron to white picket fences.”

  He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, and a shot of arousal zapped up his arm. “Thank God. That was a deal-breaker.”

  She watched him, and shifted her weight from foot to foot. “Are you sure? That I will be enough for you?”

  Another balloon popped, but he didn’t take his eyes off of her. “No. You are more than enough. More than I deserve, but I will earn your love every day. When I was with Regina, it was different. It was comfortable and safe. With you… I can’t bear imagining you with another man. Hell, I punched your ex for coming close to you. You are it for me, baby girl. You’re all I want,” he said, enunciated the last sentence as if he wanted to leave no doubt of his love for her.

  She got on her tiptoes and linked her arms around him. “I can’t believe this… I’m so happy.”

  He shoved some more balloons out of their way, and they ended up floating away. “Wait. Does that mean you will change the company’s policy so employees can date without repercussions? Even marry them?”

  Her gaze fell to his lips. “That may be my first order of business.”

  “I know just how to convince you,” he said, and pulled her into his arms. His lips covered hers, his tongue finding its way into her delicious dark recesses.

  The End

  Other Titles by Carmen Falcone

  The NAKED TRUTH series

  Accidentally Still Married

  Accidentally Hooked

  Accidentally Sinful (Coming out October 2015)

  The MISBEHAVING series

  A Night of Misbehaving

  A Weekend of Misbehaving (Coming out January 2016)

  Other Titles

  Red Hot Christmas

  Kidnapping the Brazilian Tycoon

  A Vengeful Affair

  Acknowledgements

  Christine Glover... where would I be without you? Thanks so much for holding my hand and helping me reach my potential. I truly appreciate you.

  The character Janie Evans was based on my dear friend, reader and Crew member Alexia Evans. Alexia won a walk-on role on one of the contests on my street team, and it was delightful how open minded she was for me to create a character inspired by her. Janie turned out to be one of my favorite characters with her no nonsense atitude and quick wit. Alexia, I hope I didn’t disappoint.

  The smoking hot Desere Steenberg helped me name Devon’s nightclub, Smolder. Desere you are fabulous!

  Thank you to my editor Deadra Krieger.

  Big thanks to Monique Daoust for beta reading this puppy. You rock!

  I’m handing Denise Bourret and the nagging queen Dina Bushrod a shiny medal. My two fabulous assistants, friends, and support system are way more than anyone can ask for. Love you to the moon and back. And back again, if that makes any sense. Wait...

  Thanks to my street team, Carmen’s Crew, for keeping the candle burning. I reitirate that my goal is to write enough books so that everyone gets mentioned at least once! Love you Therese Scacchi Lopez, Teri Caiazzo, Jess Peterson, Jamie McDowell Reinhardt, Alaine Batty, Ashlyn Natalie McKay, Lisa Myers, Stephanie Russell, Patricia Biddinger, Evelyn Berry, Kristin Ashley Smith, Christine Hatfield... I will continue my list on the next book!

  I salute all the professional reviewers and bloggers who have kindly accepted to read and leave an honest review.

  Big thanks to all my readers, who keep taking a chance on me.

  About the Author

  Carmen Falcone learned at an early age that fantasizing about fictional characters beats doing math homework any day. Brazilian by birth and traveler by nature, she moved to Central Texas after college and met her broody Swiss husband—living proof that opposites attract. She found in writing her deepest passion and the best excuse to avoid the healthy lifestyle everyone keeps bragging about. When she’s not lost in the world of romance, she enjoys spending time with her two kids, being walked by her three crazy pugs, reading, catching up with friends, and chatting with random people in the checkout line.

  She loves to procrastinate, so please indulge her and drop her a line @ carmenauthor@yahoo.com. For more info, visit her website: http://www.carmenfalcone.com