How to Seduce a Billionaire (13 page)

“What’s this all about, Roger?”

He gritted his teeth, then frowned. He looked vaguely embarrassed. “I’ve been trying all night to…well, look, I know I said some things I shouldn’t have said back when we were together. I was wrong. I was…stupid. But seeing you this week and remembering what we had together, I miss that. I miss you. I want another chance with you. Come back to me, Kelly.”

Kelly just stared at him. Now that he was finally saying everything she’d hoped he would say, she didn’t believe a single word of it. “I…Roger, I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes. Pack your bags and come home with me.”

“Roger, I…”

“Wait, don’t say a word yet. Just…feel.” He made his move, bending his head to kiss her. Actually, it was more of a smashing of his lips against hers.

Maybe it was wrong, but she let him do it. Then he kissed her again with slightly more finesse and Kelly tried really hard to work up some sort of yearning, something, anything. But there was nothing. And she realized it had always been that way. She’d never felt the slightest attraction to Roger. But she’d always thought it was her problem, not his.

Where were the lightning flashes? Where were the fireworks? The rainbows? Sunbursts? She always felt them when Brandon kissed her.

Roger pulled her close and kissed her neck. “Oh, Kelly, we were so good together.”

She frowned at that. “We were?”

“You remember.” He breathed in her ear. “Don’t you feel it all over again when we touch?”

She leaned away to avoid his heavy breath. “I really don’t. I’m sorry, Roger. I don’t feel anything.”

He grabbed her close again. “Yes, you do. I can tell.”

“Roger, please don’t.”

“Now you’re just being difficult,” he said, trying to angle his head to kiss her again as she tried to push away from him. “Fine, I suppose I deserve some of this after saying the things I said to you five years ago. But you’ve had your fun. Just admit that you want to come back, and we’ll put the past behind us.”

With that, he pressed his mouth against hers again and her stomach roiled in protest. She smacked his arm hard enough that he broke off the kiss, giving her a chance to back away from him.

“Don’t touch me again,” she said when he started walking toward her. “I told you I don’t feel the same way about you anymore. I’m leaving now.”

He continued to approach her stealthily. “Come on now, Kelly. You’re not going to leave after I’ve spent over three hundred dollars on dinner, are you? You’re just nervous because you still don’t know how to make love to a man. But don’t worry. This time, I’ll teach you.”

She held up her hand to stop him. “Oh no, you won’t. You’re the one who doesn’t know what you’re doing. I know what a really good kiss feels like, Roger. And I just don’t feel it from you.”

As she stopped to snatch her clutch off the sideboard, Roger grabbed her again. Just then there was a sudden pounding on the door.

Kelly jumped. “What in the world?”

Roger swore loudly. “What is wrong with this damn place?”

“There’s nothing wrong with this place!” Kelly said, more insulted by his affront to the hotel than by his disgusting kisses. “There must be something wrong. An emergency.”

Someone shouted, “Open up, Hempstead!”

Her eyes widened in shock and she ran to open the door. “Brandon?”

“Duke?” Roger said, scowling at him. “What the hell do you want?”

Brandon walked in and pulled Kelly into his arms. “Are you all right, sweetheart?”

“Take your hands off her, Duke,” Roger said in a threatening tone.

“I don’t think so,” Brandon said, holding her closer.

She took a brief moment to absorb his presence, his scent, his warmth. Then she eased back and gazed up at him. “Brandon, what are you doing here?”

He held Kelly at arm’s length and looked her in the eyes. “I know you wanted to get him back, babe. But trust me, he’s not the man for you.”

Kelly stared at him in bewilderment. “Don’t you think I know that?”

“Wait,” Roger said. “You want to get me back? Then why aren’t you—”

“No,” she said immediately, turning to face him. “I didn’t want to
get you back.
I wanted to
get back at you.
Big difference.”

“I’ll say,” Brandon said, as his gaze flipped back and forth from Kelly to Roger.

Roger shook his head. “I’m confused.”

“Let’s get out of here, Kelly,” Brandon said, slipping his arm through hers.

“Wait a minute,” Roger demanded. “You’re leaving with him?”

“Yes, I am.”

He snorted. “You think this guy wants you? You really are a fool.”

“That’s enough, Hempstead,” Brandon said quietly.

“Oh, wait. I get it.” Roger’s laugh was scornful. “You think you’re in love with him, don’t you? What a load of crap. He just wants you for sex, Kelly. Though God knows why. I’m sure you’re still just as lousy in bed as you ever were.”

She cringed, but ignored him and kept walking. But Brandon wasn’t about to let that go. He turned and said with deceptive calm, “Don’t make me hurt you, Hempstead.”

But Roger persisted, his eyes wild and desperate. “You can’t seriously believe he actually wants you, Kelly. He dates the most beautiful women in the world. Do you really think you can compete with that? You’re nothing to him.”

She gripped Brandon’s arm and forced him to keep walking.

“I mean it, Kelly,” Roger said loudly. “You know you’d be better off with me.”

At that, Kelly whirled around and shook her finger at him. “No, I wouldn’t. I don’t mean to be unkind, but you just don’t do it for me, Roger. I feel nothing when you kiss me. No spark. No excitement. Nothing. And you know what? It’s not my fault. You just don’t know how to kiss a woman.”

“Fine! Who needs you? Just go,” he shouted. As soon as they were out the door, he slammed it behind them.

The night air was crisp and cool as they walked along the wide brick path in silence.

“Well, that was unpleasant,” she said finally.

Brandon stopped and studied her in the moonlight. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“His words were hurtful, but they’re nothing I haven’t heard before.”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. “You managed to get in a few digs.”

She nodded. “But it wasn’t as satisfying as I thought it would be.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Brandon said, as he leaned in close and touched his forehead to hers. “But he’s not worth losing sleep over. Especially since he was totally wrong about everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re fantastic in bed.”

She laughed. “You’re right.”

As they continued walking, she slipped her arm around his waist. “Well, dinner was great anyway. Jean Pierre came through with flying colors.”

He chuckled. “Glad to hear it.”

After a few more moments, Kelly said, “Roger was right about one thing.”

Brandon frowned at her. “No, he wasn’t.”

“Yes, he was,” she said solemnly, and looked up at him. “You only want me for sex.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

She laughed lightly.

“Come on,” he said, squeezing her closer. “Let’s go home.”

Brandon knew he should’ve put her to bed and then left her alone. She’d been through a lot with Roger and he could still see remnants of the pain the guy had caused her. But the last thing he wanted to do was leave her with the slightest worry in her mind that anything that schmuck had said was correct.

Tonight, he simply wanted her to feel cherished. Instead of her room, he led her over to his spacious master suite. Once they were inside and the door was closed and locked, he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom, then eased her down until she was standing beside the bed.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said.

“Thank you,” she whispered, gazing up at him.

“Sexy dress.” He reached behind her back, found the zipper and maneuvered it down slowly. “But your skin is even sexier.”

He slipped her sleeves off and inched the dress down her body, first revealing her luscious full breasts.

“Beautiful.” He bent and took first one nipple, then the other into his mouth, licking, nibbling, sucking until she was moaning with delight and Brandon felt her fingers thread through his hair, holding him in place.

Minutes later, he continued removing her dress, baring her skin inch by soft, gorgeous inch until it dropped to the floor. He held her hand as she stepped out of the dress, leaving her wearing a tiny scrap of red lace and her black heels.

“I can never get enough of you in this wardrobe combination,” he said, moving his hands over her skin, then dipping his finger between the elastic band of her panties.

“Brandon…”

“I want to feel you surrender.”

She hummed with pleasure. “Yes, please.”

In one swift move, he tugged the lace free. Then he touched her heat and felt her body arch into his.

Unable to resist, he took two seconds to rip his own shirt off so he could feel her skin against his, then returned his full attention to her hot, wet core.

As he listened to her sighs and whispers of encouragement, he felt his own body harden and burn with the anticipation of filling her completely. He moved to cover her mouth with his, parting her lips with his tongue and sliding inside to taste her essence.

As her breathy groans grew more frantic, his own body tightened with unbearable need. Then she screamed and collapsed against him. He quickly gathered her in his arms and placed her onto the bed. He stripped completely and joined her, wondering if he might expire from the agony of need that had built up inside him.

Blood roared in his ears and he felt himself tremble as he angled his hips and filled her to the hilt. She gasped and lifted herself to allow him to fill her even more, then wrapped her legs around him. They moved in harmony, as though they’d been lovers for years and not just a couple of weeks. He lost himself inside her, lost control, lost sense of everything except the exquisite joining of their bodies as their heartbeats thundered in unison.

He opened his eyes and looked directly into hers and saw the raw desire reflected back at him. As he plunged and thrust to meet her need with his own, he watched as her mouth rounded and she whispered sweet moans of pleasure. The craving for her was so strong, he couldn’t resist the pull and he kissed her, swallowing her cries of joy as he followed her to the peak and emptied himself inside her.

Nine

R
oger and his group checked out the next day, and Kelly couldn’t have been happier or more relieved to see the last of him. As she strolled back to the office along the pretty, flower-lined path, she thought about the night before. Brandon had been right; Roger really was a jackass and seeing him again made her wonder what she’d ever seen in him in the first place. But that didn’t matter anymore.

The only thing that mattered was that before he started insulting her last night, Roger had made it clear that he wanted her back in his life. And Kelly had turned him down flat. Everything had gone according to plan. She had to admit it had been painful to see his true colors, but she finally had closure and that felt really good.

But now she had a much bigger problem to deal with. Brandon. She knew she had to be strong and end things with him, for good. They couldn’t continue sleeping together, because even though she’d been teasing him the night before, what she’d said was true. He really did only want her for sex!

Well, of course he also wanted to keep her as his office assistant. He’d told her over and over that she was indispensible to their business. That was nice to hear, and she certainly didn’t want to lose that part of her life.

But as far as playing the role of his girlfriend? She couldn’t do it anymore.

Facts were facts. Brandon never stayed with one woman longer than a month or so, and he’d already spent almost two weeks with Kelly. Two wonderful weeks. She’d much rather have the happy memories contained in those two weeks than suffer through a painful breakup and be left with nothing but sad memories. And no job.

But above and beyond all of those worries, there was one more thorny issue that Kelly hadn’t been willing to face until now.

She was in love with Brandon Duke.

“Oh God,” she whispered, and sucked in a breath. How foolish could she get?

She’d finally realized it last night when Brandon came rushing into Roger’s room to defend her. He’d been her shining knight, willing to break down doors to protect her, and she’d just about melted at the sight of him. That’s when it had dawned on her that she’d lost her heart.

So that was it. She was a fool. She’d broken all the rules and fallen in love.

She would never be able to tell Brandon the truth because she knew it would make him uncomfortable. And if he was uncomfortable, it meant that ultimately, she would have to leave her job and then she would never see him again. So she had already decided to say nothing, to brave it out. She would break up with him, and then get back to doing the job he was paying her to do.

It would have to be strictly business between them from now on. And somehow, some way, she would eventually figure out how to get Brandon Duke out of her heart.

Kelly turned on to the highway and headed south.

Instead of facing Brandon with the truth, Kelly had returned to the office, taken one look at her handsome boss and completely chickened out. She’d claimed exhaustion and begged to take the rest of Friday and all day Monday off. Brandon was gracious enough to give her the time, surmising that she had to be wiped out from her unpleasant run-in with Roger.

She hated lying to Brandon, but she wasn’t ready to face the truth and do what she had to do. Now she would use the long weekend to gather her thoughts and figure out the best way to deal with her new reality.

She’d packed a small bag and chosen to drive down the coast and home, to Dunsmuir Bay. Less than four hours later, she pulled her car into the driveway of her marina duplex apartment and turned off the engine. Climbing out of the car, she stretched her limbs and breathed deeply, filling her senses with the pungent scent of cool, salty ocean air. It was good to be home.

She spent what was left of the afternoon dusting the living room and bedroom. Then she poured herself a glass of wine and sat on her terrace, trying to think of nothing at all as she stared at the dark blue water and the movement of boats in the marina.

The next morning, she woke up early and went for a long walk along the waterfront. On her way back, she detoured through the charming block-long section of shops and restaurants known as Old Town Dunsmuir. The intoxicating scent of baked goods lured her into CUPCAKE, Julia Duke’s bakery.

She was cheered by the bright blue and white décor and attractive bistro-style tables and chairs that lined the wide, bay windows on either side of the door. She stepped up to the counter and began to drool over the view of so many delicate pastries stacked neatly inside the case.

“Kelly?” someone said.

She glanced over at a small table at the opposite end of the room and saw Julia, Trish and Sally Duke sitting together, enjoying lattes and freshly baked scones.

“Come join us,” Sally said.

“Oh, I don’t want to intrude on your breakfast.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Julia teased, and pulled a chair over from a nearby table. “Come sit down. What are you doing here?”

She sat down and smiled gratefully. “I decided to take a few days off and drive down to open up my apartment. We’ll be moving back to headquarters in another week or so and I wanted to be prepared.”

“Oh, I’ll be so glad to have you both back in town,” Sally said.

“I’ll be glad, too.”

Julia stood. “Let me get you a latte.”

“Oh, please don’t go to any trouble.”

“It’s no trouble, it’s my job,” she said with a grin. Just then, Lynnie, the counter girl, came over to take her order and refill Trish’s teacup, so Julia sat down again.

“It was great to see you all up in Napa,” Kelly said.

“We had a wonderful time,” Trish said. “I still dream about Ingrid’s magical massages and wake up moaning. I’m sure Adam’s getting all sorts of strange ideas.”

They all laughed.

“Your husbands are both so wonderful,” Kelly said to Trish and Julia. “I probably shouldn’t say anything because they’re my bosses, after all, but it’s so nice to see how much in love they are with both of you.”

“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” Sally said, smiling fondly at her daughters-in-law. “But what about you, Kelly? Wasn’t this the week you were going to see a special visitor from your past?”

“Sounds intriguing,” Julia said, pulling her chair closer. “Tell us everything.”

Kelly laughed. “Oh, it all amounted to a bunch of nothing, really.”

“But that’s why you wanted the makeover, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.” Kelly felt herself blush and was glad that Lynnie brought her latte just then. She took a few sips to hide the awkwardness she felt.

“Oh, come on, don’t stop now, tell us what happened,” Trish said.

Julia patted Kelly’s hand. “We promise it won’t leave this room, if you’re worried that Brandon will find out.”

“I’m not worried about that,” Kelly said with a frown. “He was right in the middle of it.”

“Curiouser and curiouser,” Julia said.

They all laughed again, and Kelly went ahead and spilled the story of Roger breaking up with her years ago and her wanting to get back at him.

“He sounds vile,” Julia said.

“I’m just happy you got to eat a full dinner,” Trish said, rubbing her stomach as the Duke women commiserated with her.

Kelly laughed again. “Yeah, I was happy about that, too.” She took another sip of her latte, glad that she’d decided to stop by the bakery. She really liked these women and felt a bond with them, even though she didn’t really fit in. Yes, she was sleeping with one of the Duke men, too. But they didn’t know about that. And it was over anyway.

That thought was too depressing, so she swept it out of her mind for now.

“This back pain is getting worse,” Trish said, arching and twisting to find a more comfortable position. “I hope it doesn’t last much longer.”

“How long has it been bothering you?” Sally asked.

“All morning.”

“Any contractions?”

“Yes, but they don’t mean anything. I’m not due for three more days.”

Sally and Julia exchanged looks.

“Should we call Adam?” Kelly asked.

“No, no,” Trish said, her voice sounding a bit weaker as she stretched her shoulders. “He’s at the office today. They’ve got another big closing this week. I guess you all know that.”

“I’ll drive you home,” Sally offered.

“Or to the hospital,” Kelly said.

Trish waved them away. “I’m fine. It’ll pass. I’d much rather hear more dirt on Roger. It’ll distract me from my aches and pains.”

Sally’s smile was strained. “Yes, Kelly, and tell us how in the world Brandon got in the middle of this mess.”

Kelly willingly explained what happened when Brandon pounded on the door and everyone was impressed by his heroics.

“Uh-oh,” Trish said, trying to stand up. “I hate to interrupt the story, but I think my water just broke.”

“Don’t move,” Kelly said, and helped Trish ease back down in the chair. Kelly grabbed her phone and called the office to alert Adam, telling him to meet Trish at the hospital and offering to alert his brothers. That wasn’t necessary, since Adam was on a conference call with both men at that moment.

Julia ran into the kitchen and brought back clean dish-cloths.

Sally rubbed Trish’s back. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry you’re in pain, but I’m so excited. We’re going to have a baby!”

At the hospital, Kelly kept trying to leave but Sally wouldn’t let her.

“But I’m not part of the family,” she protested.

“Yes, you are,” Sally insisted. “Besides, you’re so cool and calm under pressure, much better than any of us. So if you don’t mind, I’d appreciate it if you’d stay.”

“Okay, maybe for a little while.”

Adam came racing down the hall. “Where is she?”

“She’s right inside that room,” Sally said, and grabbed Adam’s arm. “Take a deep breath first and relax. And fix your hair or you’re likely to scare her to death.”

“Right.” Adam sucked in some air and let it out. His hair looked like he’d been grabbing it to keep from going crazy on the drive from his office to the hospital, so now he smoothed it back with his fingers. Then he grabbed Sally and planted a big kiss on her cheek. “I love you, Mom.”

Kelly smiled as happy tears sprang to Sally’s eyes.

Cameron jogged down the hall a moment later and greeted Julia with a kiss, then turned to Sally and Kelly. “Brandon’s taking the jet down so he should be here in an hour or so.”

“Good,” Sally said after pulling Cameron close for a hug. “I know Adam will want you all to be here.”

Hearing that Brandon would be arriving soon, Kelly touched Sally’s arm. “I really should go.”

“Please don’t,” Sally said, then paused and took a long look at Kelly. “Sweetie, did you want to leave because Brandon is coming?”

“No,” she said too quickly, causing Sally’s eyebrows to arch.

“Let’s have a seat over here,” Sally suggested. “I want to ask you something.”

Kelly didn’t dare refuse or Sally would be even more suspicious, so she followed the older woman over to a quiet corner seating arrangement.

“Now Kelly,” Sally began, “I don’t mean to pry, but I’m concerned. Do you have feelings for Brandon?”

“Well, of course,” she said, trying for a casual tone. “We’ve worked together for years and he’s a great guy. I like him.”

Sally folded her arms across her chest. “I think you know what I mean.”

Kelly couldn’t exactly lie to Brandon’s mother so she came clean. “Yes, I know what you mean, and yes, I do like Brandon. A lot. But I also know him really well, and I know that a relationship between us would never work out. He’s got women lined up from here all the way to New York City, Mrs. Duke.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Gorgeous, sophisticated women,” she continued with a note of resignation she couldn’t disguise. “I can’t deal with that kind of competition.”

“Oh, I think you can,” Sally said.

Kelly shook her head and tried to smile. “Thank you, but I really can’t. And even if I could, Brandon just isn’t a one-woman man. He goes through them like…well…” She stopped and frowned. It wouldn’t be polite to give Sally too many details about her son and all the women in his life.

“Oh, don’t bother trying to sugarcoat it, sweetie,” Sally said with a shake of her head. “I know my sons have always been popular with women.”

“To say the least,” Kelly muttered.

Sally took hold of her hand. “I also know that Brandon is a good, good man, and he’s so worthy of love.”

“I think so, too,” Kelly whispered. “I really do. I just wish, well, I wish I was the one he wanted.”

Sally hugged her. “If it means anything at all, I would love it if you were.”

Kelly felt tears spring to the surface and she brushed them away. “That’s so sweet of you. Thank you.”

Sally’s eyes narrowed in steely resolve and she murmured something Kelly wasn’t sure she heard correctly. But it sounded something like, “We’ll just see how sweet I can be.”

Brandon walked swiftly down the hospital hall and into the large waiting room. Glancing around, he spied his mother sitting with Julia and Cameron. His brother held a sleepy little Jake against his shoulder.

“What’s going on?” Brandon asked.

“Oh sweetie, I’m so glad you’re here.” Sally jumped up and gave him a hug, then walked with him out into the hall.

Brandon took another visual sweep of the room but didn’t see Kelly anywhere. Adam had said that she was the one who had called him earlier to say that Trish was going into labor. So for the last two hours, Brandon had been wondering what the hell Kelly was doing back in Dunsmuir Bay. He’d tried calling her when the plane landed, but she wasn’t answering her cell phone. And that rarely happened.

He’d known she was upset about Roger, but now he was worried that there might be something else bothering her. Otherwise, she would’ve answered her cell phone.

He glanced up and down the hall. Maybe she’d just gone off to the ladies’ room for a minute.

“Are you looking for someone?” his mother asked.

“Yeah, I thought Kelly would be here. Adam said she was on her way to the hospital with all of you.”

“She was here for a while, but she left.”

“Oh. Is she coming back?”