Prodigal Son (10 page)

Chapter Nine

J
ack opened the drapes and returned to the bed to watch the growing light creep across the room. He gently shifted the lock of hair curling across Samantha’s cheek so that he could see the pale skin and the curve of her mouth.

She was beautiful, which wasn’t news, but still struck him this morning. She lay across rumpled sheets, with the blanket tangled in her legs. Her bare arm stretched toward him and he could see her naked right breast.

Just looking at the tight nipple sent blood surging to his groin. He wanted her again, but after last night, he didn’t think he should indulge himself. Three times was impressive, four was greedy. Besides, he didn’t want to make her sore.

He touched her curls again, rubbing his fingers against the soft texture of her hair. He didn’t even have to close his eyes to remember what it had been like the second time, when she’d straddled him, claiming him, moving faster and faster as her body gave itself over to pleasure.

He’d watched her as she’d arched her back, her breasts thrusting toward him, her hair spilling down, swaying with each thrust of her hips.

They were good together, at least in bed. But would she see that? Or would she revert to type—second-guessing what had happened and telling them both that this was all a mistake?

She stirred slightly, then rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. The sheet pooled around her waist, leaving her breasts bare and even after she’d seen him, she didn’t try to cover herself.

“Good morning,” she whispered. “Did you sleep?”

He nodded.

Her mouth curved into a smile. “You’re looking so serious. What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine.”

She rolled toward him and touched his bare chest. “Then what?” she asked, her smile fading. “Are you sorry about last night?”

“That’s your line.”

“Oh.”

He saw the hurt flash in her eyes and groaned. “Samantha, no. I didn’t mean it like that.”

She sat up and pulled the sheet so she was covered to her shoulders. Her messy hair tumbled across her bare shoulders and her mouth twisted.

“You did mean it like that and you have every right to expect me to bolt,” she said firmly. “Based on how I’ve been acting, what else could you think? I’m sorry I was a total change-o girl.”

He stared at her. “A what?”

“You know what I mean. I’ve been the queen of sending mixed messages. I hated that I was doing it and I didn’t know how to stop. I’ve since given myself a stern talking to. I’m working on being in the moment and letting the future take care of itself. You’ve been nothing but terrific since I moved to Chicago. You’re a great guy and I have no regrets about last night.” She shook her head. “I take that back. I have one regret. That it took me so long to get you into bed.”

He’d braced himself to hear a lot of things, but that wasn’t one of them. “You’re not sorry.”

“Nope. Are you?”

He grinned. “Are you kidding? Last night was incredible.”

“I do have a special talent,” she said modestly, then smiled. “Okay, what happens now? What are your usual rules of play?”

“You assume I have rules.”

“All guys do. Tell me what they are and I’ll tell you if I agree.”

Dangerous territory, he thought. Although maybe not. Samantha was coming off a rough divorce. He doubted she was looking for anything serious any more than he was.

“Serial monogamy,” he said. “We stay together as long as it’s good. No forever, no hurt feelings when it’s over.”

She batted her eyes. “So you’d be, like, my boyfriend.”

He chuckled. “If that’s what you want to call it.”

“Would we get matching tattoos?”

“Never.”

“Would we make love?”

“Almost constantly.”

She flopped back on the bed. “What makes you think I want you?”

“Last night you were screaming.”

Her cheeks darkened with color. “I don’t remember that.”

“Trust me. You screamed.”

Her humor faded. “You’ve been really patient with me, Jack. I’ve been so scared about messing up and being taken. I thought it was best to just avoid any kind of relationship. But that’s no way to live. Complicating the situation was my reaction to you.”

He took her hand in his and rubbed her fingers with his thumb. “What reaction?”

“You know, mine.”

“You have to be a little more specific.”

She sighed. “Look at the situation logically. If I didn’t want to get involved, why didn’t I just stay away from you? Why did I keep coming back for more?” She shrugged. “You’ve always been something of a temptation.”

He liked the sound of that. “Since when?”

“Since before. When we were in grad school.”

What? “You blew me off. You said it was a mistake.”

“I was scared.”

“Not of me. What did I ever do wrong?”

“Nothing. That’s my point. My fears were about me. But even they weren’t enough to keep me away. I was so torn. You were a lot like my father in that whole rich, powerful way and I didn’t know how to handle it.”

Which meant he was also like her ex-husband. How did he convince her that he wasn’t the enemy? That he wasn’t interested in hurting her?

“I never forgot that night we shared,” she said, not quite meeting his gaze. “After a while I convinced myself that I’d made it better than it was in my mind. That no one was that good. After last night, I know I was wrong.”

He wanted to tell her that their incredible time in bed together had a whole lot more to do with chemistry than with him, but it was kind of nice having her think he was special.

“At least half of last night was about you,” he said. “You’re very responsive.”

“Not all the time. Pretty much only here. So is this okay? Is this what you want?”

He nodded. “I’ll be your boyfriend.”

She laughed. “That sounds nice. I could use a little normal in my life right now.”

“Normal?” He moved in close and pressed his lips against her ear. “Not normal. I have some very kinky fantasies in mind.”

“Really? Like what?”

* * *

Samantha finished her speech to nods and smiles. She collected her materials and returned to her seat at the side of the room.

This had been her first ever presentation to a board of directors and it had been pretty high up on the nightmare scale.

“Sort of like facing down seven stern principals in school?” David asked in a low voice.

“Worse,” she whispered. “Do they all have to look so disapproving?”

“It comes with being on the board. They’re supposed to take things very seriously.”

“Obviously. I’m just glad I wasn’t trying to do stand-up.”

She reached for her cup of coffee and swallowed the tepid liquid. When this was all over, she owed Jack a big apology. He’d insisted everyone practice their presentations several times before the board meeting. They had all endured long evenings, perfecting their pitches.

At the time, she’d thought his anal obsession was foolish. Wouldn’t spontaneity be more interesting? But having just endured the stern expressions and pointed questions, she realized the importance of being prepared.

“I’m up next,” David said as he was called.

Samantha leaned back in her chair and did her best to relax. She’d heard all the talks so many times, she knew what to expect and could tune out the words. So she found herself with a little time on her hands.

She used it to good advantage, turning her head so she caught sight of Jack sitting at the end of the long conference table.

He looked good—all buttoned up and formal in his black suit. If she didn’t know him, he could have seriously intimidated her. But she did know him—every inch of him. And there were some mighty fine inches.

She watched the way he listened intently—as if he hadn’t heard every sentence at least a dozen times—and took notes.

He was a great guy, she thought happily. Smart, caring, funny. The man owned a dog. How was she supposed to resist that? If she hadn’t known about—

Samantha stiffened in her seat as a single thought flashed through her brain, on and off, over and over again. She wasn’t able to think about anything else, and as she considered the truth of the statement, she wondered what on earth she was supposed to do about it.

Jack wasn’t just some guy she’d hooked up with. He wasn’t just an old friend or a new boss or a terrific lover. He was all that and much more.

He was the one who got away.

* * *

The board meeting was endless and three kinds of torture, Jack thought when the presentations finally finished. The board excused everyone but Helen and him. He thanked his team as they left and braced himself for the inevitable confrontation. He’d put it off as long as he could, but there was no going back now.

Baynes, the chairman, waited until the door closed before looking at Jack. “You’ve pulled the team together. I’m impressed.”

Jack nodded, but didn’t speak.

“Obviously our goal is to keep Hanson Media Group alive. Between the bad stories in the press and troubles internally, that’s a challenge. You’re well on your way here. The new programs are very exciting. But we need to do more. We need to provide stability over the long haul.”

Several of the board members nodded in agreement. Helen shook her head.

“We don’t have to do anything right now,” she said. “I know where you’re going and it’s too soon. If we simply announce Jack as the new president, it will be seen as a knee-jerk reaction. Let’s think this through.”

Samantha might sing her friend’s praises, but obviously Helen, like the board, was ready to sell him out if that’s what was best for Hanson Media Group.

“Helen, it’s necessary. Do you want to see George’s legacy bankrupt, or worse, lost in some mega-conglomerate takeover?” Baynes shrugged. “I don’t. The only way to keep Hanson Media Group going is to announce a permanent president. Jack, I know you’re anxious to get back to your law practice, but we all have to make sacrifices. It’s time for you to make one. I’m asking you to accept the job.”

Jack looked at the older man. “What sacrifices are being made aside from mine?” he asked calmly.

“You know what I mean,” Baynes told him.

“Actually, I don’t. I’m not interested in running Hanson Media Group any longer than the three months I’ve already agreed to.”

Several of the board members started speaking at once.

“This is a family company. Always has been. You owe it to your father.”

Not an argument designed to get his vote, Jack thought grimly.

“Think of the stockholders. What about them?”

“You’re the best man for the job. The only man.”

Baynes quieted them. “Jack, your family owns the largest percentage of stock, but we still have an obligation to the financial community.”

“I find it hard to believe you can’t come up with a single qualified person to take over this company,” Jack said. “Have you even been looking?”

“You’re the one we want.”

“Has it occurred to any of you that forcing Jack to stay when he doesn’t want to is incredibly foolish?” Helen asked. “Someone unhappy in the position isn’t to anyone’s advantage. Now if he wanted to be here…”

“I don’t,” Jack said flatly.

Baynes narrowed his gaze. “I would think you, Helen, of all people would want a family member in charge of the company.”

She leaned forward. “I agree that Jack is very qualified and I trust him implicitly. But I see no advantage in guilting him into staying on. It’s a short-term solution and I don’t want that. We’re doing fine for the moment. Let’s not make a change before we have to. Leave Jack alone to do his job. In the meantime, we can be looking for a suitable replacement. If there isn’t one, then Jack gets my vote.”

“I don’t like it,” Baynes said.

“Just so we’re all clear,” Helen continued, “until George’s will is read, I control his voting stock, which means I get the final say.” She looked at Jack. “I still believe you owe your father but I’m reluctant to put his legacy in the hands of someone who doesn’t respect his vision.”

Not respecting his father’s vision was the least of it, Jack thought. But before he could protest, Baynes cut in.

“What do you know about the will?” he asked Helen.

“Nothing,” she said. “I’ll find out when everyone else does. That’s not my point. We have time to think this through and make the right decision for Hanson Media Group. As long as the company is moving in the right direction, then I say let it be.”

* * *

Samantha paced the length of Jack’s office, then turned around and walked back the other way. He’d already been in with the board for nearly twenty minutes. What on earth did they have to talk about for that long?

Finally he walked in. She hurried over to him.

“All you all right? Did they pressure you to stay?” she asked.

He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “You’re worried about me.”

“Well, duh. What did you think? Now tell me everything. You didn’t accept the job permanently, did you?”

“What makes you think they asked?”

“It’s just a matter of time until they start pressuring you. You’re doing a great job. Why wouldn’t they want to keep you?”

He led her over to the sofa, then pulled her down next to him. “You’re right. That’s what they wanted. Helen held them off, saying they should make sure they had the right candidate. While I’m not interested in staying, at least she bought me some time.” He took her hand. “She’s not on my side in this. She cares about the company.”

She leaned back into the leather sofa and sighed. “You don’t know that.”

“Actually, I do. I respect her position. If I were her, I’d do the same thing.”

“But you’re not her. You still want to leave.”

“I
will
leave.”

She looked at him. “Were they all upset?”

“They weren’t happy but until the will is read, Helen controls the majority of the stock. That puts her in power.” He pulled her close. “Don’t kid yourself, though. If she decides she needs me to stay, she’ll be the first one holding out the employment contract.”

“I don’t want to argue about Helen,” she told him.

“Me, either.” He stood and crossed to a glass cabinet by the window. After opening one of the doors, he held up an empty glass. “Want a drink?”