Reunited in Love (2 page)

“Of course.” He glanced at her suitcase. “Is that all?”

“I had my other bags Fed Ex’d to my hotel.” She’d gotten one of the analysts to do the honors of sending her
real
bags directly to Virginia under a managing director’s name. Then at Hong Kong International Airport she’d checked two large empty suitcases, and as soon as US customs cleared them in Dulles she’d handed them to the airline luggage workers and hit the ladies’ room to change. The private investigators would report everything to her family in great detail. It was important they didn’t know what she was up to—that she was leaving Hong Kong for good.

Ethan nodded. “May I?”

He put his hand over hers on the smooth luggage handle. The instant of skin-to-skin contact felt shockingly good. Precisely because of this, she pulled away as if scalded.

He tossed the sign into the nearest trash can and led her into the parking structure, one hand dragging her bag and the other on her elbow, the contact courteous yet somehow more than that. He moved with confidence and an animal grace that said he was utterly comfortable in his body. This close, she could smell mouth-watering warm dark spice and male flesh. She wanted to lean into him, just melt against his towering height and strength. The thought sent a fissure of shock through her. This wasn’t like her.

On the other hand, Ethan wasn’t like any of the other men she’d dealt with.

Men didn’t crowd her like this. When they came to her, it was because they needed something impersonal, such as an opinion on a merger or help with a spreadsheet. Even the ones she’d dated wouldn’t have taken her arm after she’d withdrawn a hand, not without an encouraging signal from her first, which she hadn’t always given. Relationships, when she had them, required careful planning and management.

Ethan had triggered her finely honed radar for unsuitable men. He would not only demand at least fifty percent input on both the planning and management, but expect more than what she was comfortable giving. As tempting as he was, those two things disqualified him from the pool of potential dating candidates, which was why she’d snuck out the morning after their one-night stand.

A subsequent encounter with a friend of his had further confirmed she’d made the right choice.

He wants you. Come on, Jacqueline. You work your ass off for shitty pay. He’s fucking loaded. Why not give him a call and see where things go?

Had either of them thought so poorly of her? That she’d date a man so she could live the easy life?

Working every second of her free time to pay for her college education hadn’t meant she was in need of a sugar daddy. If she’d wanted easy money, she would’ve run to her family. They redefined the term
loaded
.

Kerri shook off the memory. No point in letting it bother her. If Natalie thought Ethan was good enough to pick her up, then everything was cool. Natalie was an excellent judge of character. She’d probably sent Ethan for his mad driving skills.

They reached a shiny black BMW with temporary tags and he opened the door for her, then picked up her suitcase like it was loaded with helium and put it in the trunk. So. All that new muscle wasn’t just for show.

She settled into the soft seat. Her fingertips tingled as they brushed over the smooth, luxurious leather. His car didn’t have any personal clutter, not even a single receipt. But then it had that new car smell. He probably just hadn’t had a chance to put his mark on it yet.

He got in, closing the door with a solid
thunk
, and turned the engine on. A powerful purr vibrated through her skirt.

The pleasant, warmly slick feeling between her legs must be from that, not from Mr. Gorgeous sitting next to her. No, not quite sitting, but not slumping either. She couldn’t come up with an exact term for the posture, but he looked sort of boneless and utterly relaxed in his seat.

“You’re at the Marriott, right?” he asked, maneuvering his car out of the parking garage. His large hands hooked casually around the steering wheel.

“Yeah, the one not too far from Natalie’s.” She checked her phone and rattled off the address. “Guess she told you?”

He nodded.

“So, what are you?” She wanted to understand the mystery that was Ethan. If she knew, maybe she wouldn’t respond to him so strongly. It had to be the process of solving a puzzle that was intriguing her, not the puzzle itself.

He glanced over. She almost tugged on the hem of her skirt. Wearing the feminine clothing had seemed to make perfect sense earlier, when her primary objective was to lose the PIs her family had sicced on her. They’d never seen her in anything but power suits—with trousers, of course.

She hated how the skirt left her legs three-quarters bare and the baby tee clung to her torso. She couldn’t have felt more exposed if she’d been sitting next to Ethan in her underwear.

His lips twitched in a suppressed smile as though he knew how much his presence unbalanced her. “What am I? I’m the guy who’s picking you up from the airport.”

“You’re not a driver,” she said, deciding to focus on anything but her discomfiture. The drive would end soon enough, then she could change into something that would shield her better. “You’re also not Natalie’s friend because I would’ve heard about you. So I’ll ask again: what are you?”

He chuckled. “I was the best man at her wedding.”

Which probably made him the groom’s best friend. Since Natalie’s husband, Alex Damon, was one of the richest men in the world, Ethan must also be a member of the same upper echelon. Maybe “fucking loaded” hadn’t been an exaggeration. “Have the best man’s duties expanded to include picking up the bride’s friends from the airport weeks after the ceremony?”

“I owed her one.” His tone said the topic was finished. “And you?”

“I don’t owe her anything.”

He laughed. It was still the warm and rich sound she remembered. A dangerously seductive one too. It was part of the reason she’d succumbed to his charm.

“So what did you owe her?” she asked.

His eyes narrowed slightly, though the corners of his lips quirked. “I almost cost her her husband.”

“Wow.” This was totally unexpected. “Does Alex play for both teams?”

“Ah, no. It was a business thing. I told Alex she was involved in some corporate espionage, which he didn’t take kindly. We were certain—well, I was certain—that she was working for the enemy.”

Kerri gasped. “That’s ridiculous.”

He shrugged. “A monumental screw-up on my part, and I don’t screw up often.”

“Let me guess. She forgave you for everything until she decided she wanted you to do something for her.”

“Something like that.” He made a quick left turn. “Do you still play the violin?” he asked suddenly.

“No, I quit years ago. No time once I got into investment banking.”

“Natalie mentioned something about that. VP, right?”

“Actually…” She sighed. Well, she’d have to admit her unemployed status sooner or later. “I’m a bum at the moment. Between jobs.”

“A bum?” He gave her a quick once-over, head to toes. “I’m sure you could find work if you wanted.”

Her face warmed, and whatever thoughts she’d held in her mind evaporated. She couldn’t believe she was acting like a silly teenager with the captain of the football team. She was twenty-eight, far too old and sensible for these kinds of feelings. If anybody other than Ethan had made the comment, she might have rolled her eyes or arched an eyebrow in silent reprimand.

But everything out of Ethan’s mouth sounded like bedroom talk. Maybe it wasn’t the words but the way he spoke, the way he looked at her, the way his voice hit her senses like the finest whiskey.

Damn, she needed to be more careful. It wasn’t just the girly clothing making her feel vulnerable and susceptible. A ski suit wouldn’t have negated the effect he had on her.

“Virginia isn’t the first choice destination for most bums,” he mused. “California beaches tend to be higher on the list.”

“A beach bum?” She forced a light tone. Regardless of the effect he had on her, this was just banter. “Too bad I don’t swim or surf.”

“Seriously? You never learned?”

“Never had the chance.” Not for the lack of desire. But what she wanted hadn’t always been a priority for her family. Still wasn’t. Everyone had more important issues to deal with than her.

Before he could probe, she said, “It sort of sucks, you know.” She leaned against the door, trying to put some distance between herself and Ethan. The BMW was supposed to be spacious, but not with him inside. The cool glass felt refreshing against her heated skin. “If I’d been free just a little sooner, I could’ve been Natalie’s maid of honor. You know, helped her plan the wedding of the century and everything.”

No, you would’ve found an excuse to avoid her wedding at all costs since a few Sterlings were invited
.

In fact, Barron himself had been invited, and there was no way she was going anywhere near her grandfather. Nobody knew she was Barron’s only grandchild, and for good reason—she’d worked damn hard to keep it that way.

Ethan laughed. “She didn’t have one. Didn’t need one. She had a platoon of professionals working on every detail. It was what Alex wanted.”

“What was the rush? She wasn’t going anywhere.”

“Probably wanted to make sure she was his.”

“She’s been his ever since they got engaged. Maybe even before.” Kerri had heard everything her friend felt comfortable sharing about her romance with her billionaire boss. If he hadn’t made things right at the end, Kerri might have flown out—job or no—and kicked his ass herself.

“Well, you know. Engagement isn’t the same, is it? Lacks the official tie, the legal bind.”

“Marriage isn’t as permanent as it used to be,” she pointed out, almost unable to help it since so many of her friends and coworkers had gone through separations and divorces. She sincerely hoped Natalie would never have a reason to even consider one. “Did you spend time in England or something? Sometimes you sound almost British.”

“I say, jolly good ear,” he said, hamming it up a little. “Yeah, I was there for a while on business. Speaking of which, how long are you going to be in the States?”

“I don’t know. Maybe a week?”

He raised an eyebrow. “That’s all?”

“Maybe longer,” she said. “I haven’t decided what to do yet, but I’m probably not returning to Asia for a while.”

“If you’re tired of Hong Kong, Tokyo’s not too bad.”

She flashed him a quick smile. “I don’t speak the language, and I’m not experienced enough to warrant a full-time interpreter.”

Ethan slowed down as they approached an intersection. “I don’t know about that. Natalie said you’re very good at your job.”

“Did she now?” Natalie didn’t know the full truth behind Kerri’s workaholic tendencies. Everyone thought she worked non-stop out of dedication to her career, when in fact she kept herself busy so she wouldn’t have time to think. “Nice of her to say so, but seriously, I’m not that special. I work hard, but then so does everyone else.”

The steering wheel glided under his palms as he released it after the turn. A sudden envy of the tightly stitched leather stole her breath away. She’d like to feel those strong hands on her as he reverently ran them over her back and legs. And a few other places.

She concentrated on breathing. It didn’t matter what she wanted. The only thing he’d found notable enough to comment on from their long-ago one-night stand was her name—Jacqueline.

But then, women throwing themselves at him and one-night stands were probably the norm for someone like Ethan.

He pulled into a parking lot in front of the hotel and handed the keys to a uniformed valet. Ethan climbed out, and the interior of the car seemed to expand. She let out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding.

“Feeling okay?” he said, opening her door for her. “You look a little flushed.”

Oh god. “I’m fine. Just tired from the flight.” She got out of the car.

The bellhop took her lone bag, and Ethan escorted her to the lobby. His large hand resting at the small of her back seemed to sear her, and the heat streaked through her until her nipples pebbled and wetness pooled between her thighs. Legs clenched, she checked in. The desk clerk smiled and said, “You’ve been upgraded to our junior suite. We put your bags there this morning. Four, correct?”

“Yup.”

“Is Mr. Daniel Johnson arriving later today?”

She felt the curious stare from Ethan at her back. “No. There’s been a schedule change, and he won’t be able to come.”

“I’ll make a note of that.” She handed Kerri the room keys. “Enjoy your stay, Ms. Wilson.”

Kerri frowned as she walked toward the elevators. She couldn’t imagine why the hotel would upgrade her. She’d booked the cheapest room she could find.

“Natalie arranged for the upgrade.”

Startled, she looked up at Ethan. It was uncanny how he seemed to read her.

“So who’s this ‘Mr. Daniel Johnson?’”

“A managing director from my office,” she said.

“Do you often share a room on business?”

She snorted. “No. Besides, Dan’s got about as much interest in women as I do in astrophysics.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

“None,” she clarified.

“Well, I didn’t want to assume. You could be a closet Stephen Hawking or something.”

“Ha. I can barely remember Newton’s Three Laws. Anyway, I’m sure you’re busy. Thanks for taking the time to come get me.”

“Oh no. I’m supposed to make sure you’re settled in.”

“It’s really not necessary.”

“Actually, it really is.”

Kerri stopped arguing. The determined look in his eyes said he’d do as he pleased. He’d leave faster if she just went along for the moment.

The elevator ride to the suite seemed interminable. His subtle cologne was stronger in the close quarters, and her skin prickled with hypersensitivity. She could feel his gaze on her, speculative with unfathomable intent. She licked her lips as the elevator opened with a chime.

What did Ethan want? Surely he didn’t think he really needed to help her find her suite. It wasn’t like she’d get lost.

She turned around to face him in front of her room. “Again, thank you, Ethan.”