A Woman's Touch (5 page)

Her eyes widened but she said nothing for a long moment. Kyle frowned when he realized she wasn’t exactly leaping at the offer.

„Well?“ he prompted forcefully.

„I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Kyle,“ she finally said.

He was instantly outraged. It hadn’t occurred to him that she might refuse him, not after the way she had just given herself so completely.

„What the hell does that mean?“ he demanded, keeping a firm rein on his temper. He had promised himself he would never lose his temper with Rebecca. „On at least two occasions during the past hour you’ve told me you loved me. A few minutes ago you were calling my name as you went up in flames in my arms. I’ve known you for over two months. I know for a fact there’s no one else in your life. I want you and you want me. So why don’t you think it’s a good idea for us to live together?“

She looked up at him uneasily, her small, white teeth closing briefly around her lower lip. „It’s going to be difficult enough to keep our…our relationship quiet. If I actually move in with you, it’s going to be impossible.“

Outrage threatened to explode into something even more volatile. Kyle struggled to keep the emotion in check. He grasped her shoulders, pinning her gently but firmly to the bed. „Let’s get something clear here. I have no intention of trying to keep our relationship a secret. Hell, I want the world to know about it. As of tonight, you’re committed to me.“

„Be reasonable,“ she said desperately. „Office romances are always awkward.“

„Damn it, don’t trivialize what we have by calling this an office romance. I want you to live with me. I want you to share my home and my life. And I want everyone, including the entire staff of Flaming Luck Enterprises, to know that.“

„People will talk.“

„Hell, they’re already talking. I’ve told you that. Might as well give them something to talk about.“

„Easy for you to say.“

„If you’re worried about being the subject of gossip, then relax,“ he retorted tightly. „I’ll fire anyone who says a word out of line. Once a couple of loudmouths have been shown the door, you won’t have a thing to worry about.“

Her mouth trembled in a small smile. „You’re so incredibly arrogant. Have you always gotten everything you’ve ever wanted?“

He stared at her, not sure how to answer that. „No,“ he said finally and offered no further explanation.

The brief flash of amusement faded from her face. Her eyes were suddenly alive with shrewd curiosity. „What is it you once wanted and didn’t get?“ she asked softly.

Instantly he regretted the impulse that had driven him to an honest answer. „Never mind. It’s not important. Stop trying to change the subject.“ He would have to watch himself around this woman. She was too perceptive. She was getting to know him too well. Already she could predict his moods and second-guess his demands on the job. If he wasn’t careful, she would learn to read him even more intimately. Having her move in with him was risky, he realized suddenly.

But it was worth the risk, Kyle decided. He was prepared to throw caution to the winds if it meant having Rebecca firmly established in his life. He would count on the Stockbridge luck to keep him balanced on the high wire he was walking.

„Becky…“

„I’ll think about it, Kyle,“ Rebecca said slowly.

„Not a chance,“ he vowed. „If I let you think about moving in with me, you’ll talk yourself out of it. You can be as stubborn as I am. Say yes, Rebecca. Say it now. Tonight. Let me handle anything that develops at the office.“

„Can you handle
anything
that develops there?“ she asked dubiously.

„Of course I can,“ he exploded tightly. „I’m the boss!“

„Oh, that’s right,“ she said with an air of mocking surprise, „I keep forgetting.“

For an instant he thought she was serious. Then he saw the mischief in her eyes and he groaned. „I can see why there might be some confusion on the topic,“ he said dryly. „A lot of people are beginning to wonder who’s running things at Flaming Luck. The line of whining petitioners at your office door is several times longer than it is at mine these days.“

„Only because you’re such an ogre.“

„Thanks. Well, at least you know you’ve got job security. I wouldn’t dare get rid of you now. The rest of the staff would probably quit on me within five minutes.“

„Tell me something, Kyle. If I refuse to move in with you, will I still have job security?“

He froze, anger flaring up once more. He controlled it. „That’s a damned fool question.“

„I have to know,“ she said simply.

„What kind of bastard do you think I am?“ he demanded. „We both know you’d quit on the spot if I tried to use your job to coerce you into doing what I want.“

„So if I refuse, you won’t fire me?“

„Hell, no. I won’t fire you. But I won’t stop making love to you, either. And one of these nights you’re going to stop worrying about what everyone at the office thinks, and you’ll decide to trust me. You know it and I know it. It’s inevitable. So why not say yes tonight?“

Her smile was soft and mysterious and edged with promise. „Yes,“ she said quietly.

Kyle held his breath, wondering if he’d heard right. He’d been preparing a few more arguments, readying whatever ammunition he could find to talk her into doing what he wanted. But the battle appeared to be over. He wouldn’t need to fire another shot. Relief surged through him. She was his.

„Tomorrow is Saturday,“ he said. „We’ll get you moved in this weekend.“ He wanted to consolidate his victory quickly before Rebecca started chipping away at it. He’d seen her in action before when he’d put his foot down at the office. She would give in very demurely, and then she’d find ways to tunnel underneath the edifice of his Big Decision until she had exactly what she wanted. On more than one occasion Kyle had found himself left with a presidential edict that had been subtly stripped of all its teeth.

She caught her breath. „This weekend? You’re that sure?“

„I’m that sure,“ he said evenly.

„I don’t do windows,“ she warned.

He laughed, settling back against the pillows. He pulled her over on top of him. „Don’t worry. You’ve got plenty of other talents.“

She crossed her arms on his chest. Her eyes were full of warmth and laughter. „Such as?“

He grasped her hips and maneuvered her downward so that she could feel the swelling shaft of his newly aroused manhood. „You’ve got a natural gift for taking care of a rather persistent problem I’ve had lately.“

„I’m a great believer in utilizing one’s natural talents.“

She wriggled enticingly and Kyle drew a deep, steadying breath. „Love me, baby,“ he begged suddenly, his fingers twisting in her hair. „Make love to me until I can’t think.“

She stared down at him for an instant and something flickered in her gaze. It was as if she had reached some inner decision. And then to Kyle’s joyous relief, she was suddenly all over him. Her lips were everywhere, tasting him, teasing him, driving him insane with need. Her hands followed, exploring his body with a sweet boldness that made him suck in his breath. She was soft and warm and exciting. Kyle gave himself up to the glorious thrill of being pleasured by Rebecca.

She lavished her love on him. Kyle had never experienced anything like it. He was soon drunk on the sensations she created within him and like any drunk, he couldn’t think too clearly about the future.

Rebecca was his secret treasure, Kyle told himself, and he would guard her better than any mythical dragon had ever guarded its pile of gold.

His last thought later that night as he fell asleep with Rebecca beside him was that he would wait a little longer than he had planned to tell her everything. Tomorrow was too soon. She was too nervous now about how the news of their affair would be received at the office. She needed time to adjust to the relationship and to her new life with him.

And he thought he had a little more time to spare. After all, he was way ahead of the lawyers who were looking for Rebecca Wade. He’d gotten lucky, naturally. He’d turned her up almost immediately once he’d started hunting for her.

The law firm was in no hurry. It would probably spend a few more weeks searching for her.

Yes, he had time. And he had the Stockbridge luck. He could afford to coast for a while and enjoy being loved by Rebecca Wade. By the time he got around to telling her the truth, she would be too deeply committed to him to care why he had come looking for her in the first place.

For the next ten days Kyle indulged himself completely in the myriad pleasures of living with Rebecca. He discovered he thrived on a real home life. It was the first time he had ever really experienced such a phenomenon and the quiet thrill of it all amazed him. He started leaving the office at five o’clock along with the rest of his staff for the first time since he had founded Flaming Luck Enterprises.

Kyle also discovered the rare pleasure of talking to a woman who understood him. Rebecca shared the day’s events with him, bringing her insight and perspective to the after-work discussions that were held in his living room over a glass of wine.

Sometimes she chided him, and sometimes she applauded his business prowess. She frequently offered suggestions and was not backward about arguing a point.

Kyle liked the stimulation of talking business with Rebecca. He was not accustomed to confiding in a woman or anyone else for that matter, but he began to learn that doing so after a long day’s work was a relief. Everything in his life seemed a little lighter around Rebecca.

Most amazing of all was that he was gaining a new perspective on the role of business itself in his world. He was learning that there were other priorities in life. Making love to Rebecca was at the top of the list.

On Thursday he was forced to leave town on a business trip that had been scheduled weeks in advance. The thought of being away from Rebecca for even one night disturbed him. He stopped by her office that afternoon on his way to catch the plane.

„Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?“ he demanded.

She smiled. „Kyle, we’ve already been through this. You need me here to coordinate the final stages of the Jennings-Hutton deal, remember? You said so yourself.“

He swore softly and scowled.
„I
know. Damn it, I wish I could cancel this trip.“

„You’ll only be away one night,“ she pointed out gently.

He looked at her, unable to explain how crucial every single night was when a man was living on borrowed time. He had no way of knowing when the lawyers were going to catch up with her and he didn’t want to waste a minute.

„What are you going to do while I’m gone?“ he asked.

„Go out partying with the boys from marketing, I think,“ she said musingly.

„You’re going to do
what?“
He saw red for an instant. And then he saw the teasing laughter in her amber eyes.

„Baby, don’t ever make jokes like that, okay? It’s dangerous.“

„For who?“

„Guess,“ he retorted succinctly. „Now tell me the truth. What are you going to do tonight?“

„Go home, have a drink, have dinner and read that new thriller I bought the other day.“

He nodded in satisfaction. „That’s better. I’m going to miss you, Becky.“

„I’ll miss you, too.“ She got up from behind her desk and came around to slip into his arms. „Call me as soon as you get to the hotel in Phoenix, so I’ll know you arrived safely.“

Kyle grinned as he stroked her soft nape. The novelty of having to phone someone to let her know he was okay filled him with deep pleasure. He liked the sense of being tied to Rebecca. „I’ll call right away.“

„Promise?“

„Promise.“ Then he kissed her thoroughly and forced himself to leave before he missed the plane.

Hours later in Phoenix he reached for the bedside phone as soon as he got rid of the bellhop.

„I’m here,“ he announced. „Safe and sound. What are you doing?“

„Right this minute? I’m in the kitchen chopping some cabbage. What are you doing?“

„Getting hard.“

Rebecca giggled on the other end of the line. „At the thought of me chopping cabbage? Now that’s interesting. Is it the image of the knife in my hand, or the thought of my cute little apron that’s turning you on?“

„The apron,“ he replied unhesitatingly. „I’m picturing you wearing it and nothing else.“

„I’ll wear it for you tomorrow night when you get back from Phoenix,“ she promised in a husky voice.

„Yeah.“ Kyle lounged against the pillows, aware of the tightness in his lower body. It was going to be a long night.

„How’d everything go at work after I left this afternoon?“

„We all survived. Flaming Luck didn’t go bankrupt or anything. Rick Harrison says he’s got the Jamison deal under control.“

„He’d better have it under control,“ Kyle retorted. „If he loses that one, I’ll have his head and then I’ll have your sweet little tush.“

„My little tush?“ she asked with innocent surprise.

„You bet. You’re the one who talked me into delegating the responsibility for the Jamison deal to Harrison, remember? That project’s important to me, Becky. If we don’t get it, Clear Advantage Development will and I’m not about to let that happen.“

„I see,“ she said lightly. „Well, goodness. If I’d known my tush was on the line, I might have thought twice about encouraging you to let Harrison have the responsibility for closing the deal.“

Kyle grinned. „In the long run, it doesn’t really matter.“

„No?“

„Nope. I’m going to have your cute little tush, either way. Fill me in on the status of the Jennings-Hutton deal.“

She did, eventually ending the conversation by telling him she would be at the airport to meet him. Kyle hung up the phone reluctantly and went to take a cold shower.

The next afternoon she was there in the waiting lounge just as she said she would be. Kyle couldn’t remember the last time anyone had met him at the airport. When she came running forward to throw her arms around him, he was overcome by a wave of happiness.