by Eliza Ellis
Marshall’s easy smile awakened butterflies in her stomach. The stress in his face melted away, and crinkles spread from the corners of his eyes. “You’re good for my ego.”
“It’s my job.” She winked.
Marshall chuckled. “I think you’re going above and beyond by stroking my ego.”
“This is a…unique situation we’re in. I think it’s warranted.”
“Finish strong, as you say.”
She nodded. “That’s right. Finish strong.”
A steward came by with a couple of tumblers of alcohol, and Marshall refused, instead asking if there were ingredients on board to make a healthy smoothie. Kori stared at him.
Marshall shrugged. “What?”
“Who are you, and what happened to Marshall?”
Marshall smoothed the front lapels of his dark sports jacket. “You don’t like this new Marshall? The one who doesn’t drink as much and is more health conscious?” His eyes darkened a bit when they shot to Jarod, who watched the two of them with interest. “You prefer a different sort of guy?”
Kori snorted. “Because you’re teasing me, I know you won’t take offense when I say I prefer not to have an office relationship, especially with my boss.”
Marshall folded in on himself, his expression flush and angry. “I’m…I’m an idiot, Kori. Please, forgive me. That…that was probably one of the stupidest, most insensitive things I’ve ever said.”
She laid a hand on his arm. “Stop, please. It’s okay. I know you don’t mean anything by it.” She waited until he met her gaze. She offered him a small smile. “And I know better than to presume you could be jealous of a guy like Jarod.” She lowered her voice. “Someone I would never consider,” she added, hoping to settle his nerves.
She bit her lip. He was nervous, but it couldn’t be because he thought she was interested in Jarod, could it?
His color returned to normal. When his gaze dropped to her lips, Kori instinctively opened them. Then she swallowed and let her hand drop from his arm. She forced her eyes back to the papers in her lap.
“My father was an alcoholic,” he sad bluntly.
Kori stared at him open-mouthed.
“Guess I always feared I’d be like him. Did everything I could to stay away from the stuff until…” He grunted and crossed his arms. “Research says you’re more susceptible to alcoholism when—”
“But it’s not a guarantee,” she swiftly cut him off, her hand going back to his arm. “And you realize why you drank. The trigger. You’re ahead of most people who are…far more vulnerable to that than you.”
He cast her a glance, half-hopeful, half-disbelief. She tried again. “I’m sure your therapist agrees with me,” she stated in a low voice, remembering Jarod only sat a few feet away.
Marshall’s jawline ticked, but then softened. He let out a breath and cleared his throat. “Anyway, I need to be healthy if I’m going to start another company,” he said after a few moments of tense silence.
“That is an admirable goal,” Kori agreed. “Although you look”—she cast her gaze back on him, hitting his abdominal area, which appeared flat beneath his dress shirt—“very healthy,” she breathed.
“Thank you,” he said softly.
Kori reluctantly stared at her papers again. This was going to be a difficult trip. She was even more attracted to him than she ever thought she could be and it was starting to chip away—in large chunks—at her walls.
Revealing his family history and how he struggled with overcoming that obstacle endeared her boss to Kori more than ever. She’d already witnessed his fight and rejection of a terrible heritage.
“I owe it to you, of course,” Marshall continued. “With your stern insinuation that I was fast on the road to alcoholism.”
Kori’s head snapped up. “I didn’t say—”
“I’m teasing.” Marshall grinned cheekily. “But I inferred it nonetheless, and you were right. Even the board thinks I drink way too much.”
“I saw you removed the liquor cabinet from your office.”
“Yup. Had it delivered to one of the board members.” He winked, and Kori laughed.
Marshall’s gaze turned somber, a look that had Kori maintaining eye contact. The meeting must not have gone over well. Was he finally ready to share what had happened?
“Kori, I have to apologize for last night,” he said quietly. His gaze shot over to Jarod and then back to her. “I…I was out of line.”
Kori slid an inch closer, keeping her voice low. “You did nothing, sir,” she said earnestly. “I…I took no offense, and I’m grateful to be working with a boss that’s as professional as you. It…it was entirely my fault. I was emotional and—”
His hand briefly touched her thigh, branding her, and he pulled back. “Let’s just forget it, okay? We’re going to have our hands full in Bendola. We’ve got to stay focused.”
She nodded wordlessly. He was right. Whatever they were feeling it couldn’t be acted on, not now and certainly not ever. They had to concentrate on their jobs. One day at a time.
“Read this, if you haven’t already. I sent you an electronic copy.” He handed her the prospectus he was reading earlier. “Let me know your thoughts. And I’ve amended our schedule, if you want to look it over. If you have any questions, ask.”
“Yes, sir.”
Marshall’s closed lips tilted up briefly before he moved back to his seat and picked up his laptop.
Kori let out a breath and turned to the page in the prospectus that she had left off during their ride to the airport. Their flight was going to be a long one. She could finish reading this and give him some notes—if she could keep her eyes on the pages and not her boss.
Her fingers grazed where he had touched her thigh, the area still warm.
Kori cautiously glanced at Jarod, whose narrowed gaze was on Marshall. She smiled. Jarod had no chance. No reason to be mad. Marshall was in a different category altogether. One that appealed far more to Kori. If the guy didn’t get it, then that was on him.
About twelve hours later, they were on the ground and at the hotel. After dropping Jarod on his floor, Kori and Marshall rode the elevator up to theirs.
They stopped at Kori’s door before his, which was right next door.
Marshall lingered, and Kori waited for him to give her final instructions before their meeting tomorrow. It was already late, and Kori had refused to go down to dinner with Marshall, opting to order room service and get some sleep. Marshall had thought that was a good idea and, since he’d already forgotten to invite Jarod, figured it was just as well. Kori had tried not to snicker at Marshall’s “forgetfulness.”
“Kornelia, I wanted to apologize again.”
“No, please don’t, Marshall.” She dropped her bag on the floor. She placed her hands on his sagging shoulders. “I want you to feel comfortable working with me because the summer isn’t over yet, and it’s going to be a long one. Especially if the board plans on sending us overseas on these last-minute trips to test your fortitude.”
His lips slanted down to one side. “I’ll try my best to get a heads-up about them so it’s not too stressful for you.”
Kori smiled at him. “I’m not stressed. I thrive in working in a fast-paced environment, honestly. And I am comfortable with you, Marshall.”
The corners of his mouth twitched upward. “Must be if you’re calling me by my first name.”
Kori quickly dropped her hands and took a step back. Her cheeks warmed. “Sorry, sir.”
His face appeared pained, and his color paled. “Not as sorry as I’m going to be.”
Kori held her breath, hearing her heart thundering in her ears. Deep inside, she felt regret growing in her as well. Not for what couldn’t be, but for what his eyes told her was about to happen. His gaze dropped slowly to her lips.
Kori knew she should duck inside. She didn’t last time, and it had been a mistake. She had thought Marshall hadn’t wanted to cross the line, which was why he�
�d stepped way back.
But if she had to take a guess right now—he was staring at that line and debating whether or not to cross it. She hated this, because if he wasn’t her boss…if he was just someone she worked with, then she would’ve dared to break her no-office-relationship rule.
Just for a kiss.
Kori wet her lips.
At the same moment, she fell into his embrace as his arms went around her back. Kori tilted her head back. His warm lips gently brushed hers, the contact over too quickly.
Kori wrapped her arms around his neck and guided his head back down. The line was already crossed. No sense in not giving their all. His mouth crashed into hers in a passionate kiss that deepened as they tightened their hold on one another.
When at last it ended, they stared at one another, still embracing.
“Kornelia…”
His lips bore witness to her kiss, smudged with a faint burgundy stain. She pushed her curves deeper into his embrace, raised her eyes to his warm gaze and whispered, “Marshall?”
He swallowed, his lips twisting into a frown. “We…can’t.”
Darts of ice shot through her heart and into her soul. She nodded and let her arms fall away, the line between them widening. Marshall stepped back.
“I know,” she said softly, her heart shuddering at the resignation in her tone. She ignored the burning at the back of her eyes and grabbed her bag from the floor. “Good night, sir.”
She refused to look at him as she entered her room and shut the door.
Chapter 13
She had to wear yellow. Drawing his and every other man’s eyes to her, forcing them to acknowledge what couldn’t be their’s.
Mission accomplished, beautiful.
Kori looked unbelievably stunning in the color. It matched well with her brown skin. She stood out among all the other women, who wore drab colors that matched the suits of the men in the room. Even Marshall had chosen a soft salmon color, which went quite well with Kori’s dress. He appreciated a woman with style, but hoped no one thought they were coordinating their outfits.
Kori sat at the other end of the conference table in the office of one of the firm’s strategic partners in the country. She occasionally looked at him, and as though they were on the same wavelength, he caught her gaze as well. The presentation wasn’t boring, quite the contrary. It was that Kori was far more agreeable to look at.
Marshall cleared his throat and doubled down, pinning his gaze to the screen where a graph showed the potential decrease in stability if the revolutionaries were to win a democratic vote. The country’s stability left everything in jeopardy, but if the vote was successful, things would spike soon afterward.
Marshall liked the sound of that.
His firm could be on the ground floor, helping revitalize the country’s basic economic structure. The partnership would be lucrative for both the firm and Bendola in the long run. With Bendola as a competitive market on the world stage, the benefits would be endless. Marshall decided that he would return a positive report to his board, with stipulations.
Good. One decision down, another one to go.
The hardest one of all.
They had crossed the line last night in a kiss that had rocked Marshall’s world. Never had he dared to dream of feeling this way about another woman. He was over the hill. Done. His marriage wasn’t a success. He had nothing to offer another woman except money, and he couldn’t stand to be with anyone who’d only want him for his money.
He should’ve beaten himself up last night for acting unprofessional. He’d put his company at risk for a lawsuit if Kori hadn’t wanted the kiss at all, even though he didn’t believe she had a vindictive bone in her body. The board did, however, and he would be fired immediately if the board discovered the truth.
Instead, he went to the gym and ran six miles and then followed that up with a tough leg workout. Afterward, he felt exhausted, but his mood was incredibly high. He only thought about how amazing Kori was and how his heart had destroyed his ribcage when her lips clung to his. His ego had soared. The only woman he’d come to care about since his divorce hadn’t thought him over the hill. She had picked him over Jarod, a guy who wasn’t even in the same competitive league.
He went to bed smiling.
Had Kori done the same?
She wouldn’t look at him after the kiss. He’d thought he’d read sheer passion and desire in her brown eyes—until he reset the boundary. Then she left him standing in the hallway.
Exactly what she should’ve done before he dragged her into his arms.
They’d met briefly before this meeting. She was cool and professional. A bit too icy for his liking, but he matched her persona so she would be as comfortable as possible—and to give nothing away to Jarod, who kept staring at them as though he had to report on their every blink.
Now, Kori met his eyes again, her gaze curious and questioning, but he didn’t know what she was asking. Could they be together?
No.
At least, not until he started another company.
The idea of being let go started to sting less with the prospect that Kori could come with him. They could start the company together. She had a business degree she could put to better use than being his assistant. He wouldn’t want her as his subordinate; they could be partners. An incredible duo. And since they’d both be in charge, they could make up whatever rule they wanted about their relationship.
Relationship. Would she consider having one with an old man?
He grimaced. He had to stop calling himself that. His mile run time was as good as it was in college, and he could bench more than twice his body weight. He was a stud. A stallion. He’d like to see Jarod keep up with him.
“Marshall? Is something wrong?” the presenter asked.
Marshall cleared his throat again and put on a smile. “No. My apologies. Please continue.” He glanced at Kori, who raised her brows. He gave a quick shake of his head and returned his gaze to the presentation.
She didn’t look like a woman who hated him and wanted him out of her life. Perry hadn’t sent a frantic text saying the company was getting sued. Had she told anyone? Maybe she had wanted him to kiss her as much as he wanted to feel her lips move beneath his, her lush body in his arms. Maybe she wouldn’t sue him and take both his and Brigham’s companies down.
Brigham deserved what he was going to get—if Kori’s lawyer was worth her law degree. Marshall wrestled with whether or not he deserved punishment as well. And not just any punishment. He’d be called out and excoriated on social media. She was the employee, and he was the boss. If anyone should’ve had more willpower it was him because he had more to lose.
He’d thought they had come together at the same time. That the kiss had been mutual. He hadn’t considered himself wrong about that until this morning. And now he had a massive headache from going around in circles for hours.
When the meeting ended, Kori met up with Marshall and gave him a thumbs-up. “I thought that was a good presentation. What did you think?”
Jarod joined them. “Looked good to me.”
Marshall nodded. “I think this will be an excellent venture if the country can stabilize.”
Jarod snorted. “I don’t think that’ll happen anytime soon. With the fighting in the streets? There’ll be a full-blown civil war first. Then who knows how long that’ll last?”
“Way to bring the whole mood down, Jarod,” Marshall said dryly.
“Marshall?” One of the associates approached their group. “I hate to say it, but you and your colleagues should head to the airport immediately. We’ve just gotten word that there has been some fighting near there.”
“Are we in danger?” Jarod’s voice rose a notch.
Marshall and Kori exchanged a calm glance. Marshall expected Kori to be cool under pressure. She’d had enough training being Brigham’s lackey.
“We can’t say for sure. We don’t want to take any chances.”
“You’
re being cautious,” Marshall said while gripping Jarod’s shoulder. “We appreciate it. We’ll get Jarod on board as soon as possible.” He winked at Jarod.
Jarod’s lips thinned while Kori sucked in hers, attempting to hide a smile. Her eyes met Marshall’s, and he read the appreciative humor in them.
Did that mean they were still on good terms? He hoped so.
Chapter 14
She had slept like a baby. A baby with sweet dreams.
It had been one of the most restful, peaceful nights of sleep she’d had since leaving Brigham’s company. Who knew all she had to do was get a kiss good night from Marshall to make that happen?
That kiss…
It had curled her toes, sent shivers all through her body, set off tiny explosions in her belly. Pressed deliciously against him, she’d felt the raging beats of his heart, and it had surprisingly matched her own.
She had thought she’d been the one to foolishly have these feelings, to have this crazy longing for him. She was supposed to have talked herself back into her room, but the gravitational pull between them was too much for her to overcome.
To be honest, she didn’t even try to fight it. For years, she had been so lonely. Meeting almost no one while working for Brigham, who had been insanely jealous of her time spent away from him. Her heart had been desperate for companionship, and finally she’d found a man whom she could put her trust in. She was learning to accept that she wasn’t the weak, useless girl her father had said she was, a girl who wouldn’t amount to much. She was tall and beautiful, so she might as well use that to her advantage.
She could never do that. What man would respect her? She didn’t want a man who mirrored her father—an abusive one who never met a woman he could respect. Life had dealt him an ironic blow: fathering three girls.
Kori settled back into her seat on the plane, and Marshall took the one opposite her. They had been trading glances throughout the meeting. He had looked uncertain about things, and she’d felt the same way. What did he think about the kiss? Was he sorry it happened? The only thing she regretted was their working relationship. Had she come here on a whim and met him, then it would’ve been different.