Something More (5 page)

“No family here. My sister and niece currently live in North Carolina. But I do have a friend who’s absolutely insane. As a matter of fact, she talked me into going on a cruise. That’s why I was at the airport. We’d just gotten back. Our plane landed late and she had to run to catch her connecting flight.”

“She doesn’t live here?”

“Actually, she does. The cruise was a last minute thing. She’d already made reservations to visit her parents and things just worked out that way. With the storm and our plane arriving late, she didn’t have time to go home. That is why you found me alone.”

“My good fortune. Dance with me.” Without waiting for a response, Matthew rose and pulled out her chair. He led her to the center of other dancing couples.

With his fingers curled around hers, he drew her close and slid one hand to the small of her back. Because of his height, she fit perfect in his arms. She released a heavy sigh of pure enjoyment and tucked her head in the curve of his neck. Even though their bodies touched, he did not enfold her tight in his embrace the way she had expected.

Her cool exterior disappeared at the warmth generated from the heated palm on her back. Waves of musk and a hint of indescribable tang assaulted her senses. She inhaled deep, savoring the heady scent. Being in Matthew’s arms felt too good. Sliding her hand up to touch the skin above his collar, she smoothed her fingers on the back of his neck, delving in the soft curls lying there. Her blood heated and simmered low in her belly.

He pulled her closer against the warmth of his broad chest, and the top of her head barely touched his chin. Leaning into his strength, she relaxed in his arms. Like a hand in a glove, the fit was perfect. Their bodies moved to the rhythm of the music while Carrie’s defenses melted a little more with each swaying step.

Sure in his movements, Carrie followed his lead. He danced like a dream you didn’t want to wake from. Her passions in utter chaos, she suffered his close proximity while her fingers absorbed the heat of his skin and her breasts the potency of his body. So lost in the sensation, she wanted to melt into his warmth and be consumed by his fire.

He didn’t act like most of the healthy red-blooded males she knew. Jerks with wandering hands or womanizers who capitalized on seduction. Many tried to cop a cheap feel and seduce her before they got halfway through their first dance. Not Matthew. The hand at her back had not moved. Wondering what was going through his mind, she raised her head.

He glanced down at her and smiled, never uttering a word. At that moment she willed him to lean down, maybe whisper in her ear or place a gentle kiss to her cheek. Hell. Who was she kidding? She wanted him to do a whole lot more.

Chapter 8

What the hell happened? The end of the evening was a blur. Carrie thought back over the events leading up to the moment last night when Matthew turned and walked away. She’d stood there like a moron, waiting to be released from the stupor in which she found herself. The evening had started out so perfect.

Carrie did not sleep around. She chose her lovers carefully, few and far between. Once she finally acknowledged the urges discovered in college, she became an enthusiastic partner in the game of sex, never allowing any emotion to surface. After all, what had it gained her sister?

A tap on the door brought Carrie back to the present. Brenda entered her office carrying a vase filled with pink roses. The smile on her assistant’s face looked like the fat cat after consuming two
canaries.

“More roses.” Brenda beamed.

“Obviously.” Carrie couldn’t help remembering the kiss at the end of a most enticing evening.

“I’ll bet
these
aren’t an apology.”

Her cheeky assistant was fishing and Carrie would be damned if she’d satisfy her curiosity. “Thank you, Brenda. That will be all.”

The surprised look on Brenda’s face made Carrie realize she’d been sharp with her. Being the professional assistant she was, Brenda kept silent. Whether business or personal, she knew when not to question or interfere. After all, Carrie was her boss.

Brenda had been her assistant for five years. She exhibited great organization skills and a knack for handling people. With a gift of sorting potential clients from the ones who simply needed a little financial advice, she tactfully redirected them to other agencies that suited their needs. Her wit and sharp remarks were perfect in dealing with Edward and other unwanted pests.

Brenda possessed the memory of an elephant, and for a hobby she researched people and the current events of the universe. She made it her mission in life to know ‘
who’s who’
in the corporate world, which made her a great asset. Not to mention her quirky ways and extravagantly colored toenails. Carrie would be lost without her.

She closed her eyes and inhaled the heavy scent of roses. She could call Brenda back and apologize, but she had no intention of divulging the events of last night to her assistant, or anyone else for that matter. She had enough difficulty herself abiding what happened, and more to the point, her bewildering reaction.

Matthew had been attentive. Easy to talk to. He seemed to latch on to every word as if he were interested and not just being polite. There were times when his eyes blazed as if he wanted to devour her. Secretly, she’d been willing.

Matthew was—as some would say—God’s gift. Every woman’s dream. So what the hell happened? She could have sworn he planned to spend the night. Or at least part of it. At the end of the evening, every move, every gesture he made, had been one of respect.

When she was about to invite him inside, he took her into his arms. She tensed at the remembered moment. He had placed his hand behind her head, pulled her close and then kissed her senseless.

Anticipating his move, she’d been excited and eager. The thought never crossed her mind that she’d lose control. When he slid his tongue into her mouth, a boiling heat flowed from his body to hers. She forgot to breathe. She had not expected the rush of fire and the melting of bones. At some point he ended the kiss. Lost in desire, for a brief time she forgot where they were. Then his eyes seared hers and that body-liquefying smile reduced her to absolute shambles.

She shook her head as if she could shake off the stunning memory. The fact that she’d lost herself in the moment didn’t scare her, it made her furious. She refused to be at any man’s mercy.

Even though she knew he desired her, he never once gave any indication he
expected
her to sleep with him. Every man expected a woman to put out. Yet, Matthew had walked away, left her standing at her door. He disappeared before her mind had a chance to function again.

So not like her.
She had to get her act together and stop mooning over a man.

“Ginger, line three.”

Brenda’s voice snapped her from her thoughts. She pushed the blinking light. “Hi, Ginger.”

“What’s up, kiddo? You don’t sound so good.”

“I’m frustrated, that’s what’s up.”

“As in, doing the body slam?”

Of course that would be the first thing her brazen friend would think. Only this time she was right. “Yes. Sexually frustrated.”

“You’re kidding.” When Carrie didn’t answer, she continued. “You’re not kidding. What’s the problem? Get a man.”

“I did get one. Or at least I thought I did.”

“You’ve never had trouble in that department. I don’t believe it!” Carrie glared at the phone while Ginger’s laughter floated across the line. “Okay, Okay. I’m calm now. Explain. Mr. Perfect or someone else?”

Carrie related the tale beginning with the cab hijacking at the airport. She left noting out, knowing her friend would pull every detail from her, right up to her dinner and the end of a frustrating evening.

“Chasing you in the rain and throwing you in a cab sounds a bit like foreplay. You haven’t had sex yet? Drop him! There are plenty of other men out there.”

“Ginger. I don’t pick up men. You know I’m selective.”

“Like Mr. Perfect?”

Ginger always referred to Edward that way. An established businessman, doors opened for him. He had been climbing that social ladder and he’d chosen Carrie to be the perfect showpiece clinging to his arm. He had accused her of throwing it all away. The arrogant bastard had said when she returned to her senses, she’d come crawling back to him.

Crawl.

No way in
hell
would she crawl to any man.

Some people live their entire lives with less than what she’d had with Edward. No commitments, which was just the way she liked it. So why had she felt so empty? Why did she continue to feel that something lingered just beyond her reach?

“Okay. What’s wrong with this new guy?” Ginger asked.

“Nothing. He’s an absolute hunk!”

“Uh, oh. He’s gay.” Ginger thought the best-looking guys were gay.

“Not likely.” Last night’s kiss disproved that idea. Warmth speared her center.

“Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?”

She may not have been her normal self, but she’d most assuredly been awake.

“What did you do to keep him there?”

“I couldn’t do much more. I wore a sexy number, gave him the come-hither look and he left me at my doorstep.”

“Like I said. Gay.”

“He’s not gay,” Carrie shot back in defense. “His kiss made my toes curl.”

“And you let him walk away? You’re losing your touch.” Ginger sighed and admonished, “You know you could have prevented him from leaving.”

“What was I supposed to do, chase him down the hall?” If she hadn’t been so surprised, she might have done just that. What was she thinking? She chased no man.

“You coulda showed some skin?” Ginger answered in a singsong voice.

“You know my boobs try to pop out of everything I wear.”

“Just take the dress off. Grab his balls. A man is not gonna walk away from that!”

“I don’t know, Ginger. There’s something different about this one. He was a
perfect
gentleman.”

Ginger let out a huff which indicated she obviously did not agree. “Not many of those out there.”

“How about your brothers?”

“They’re a breed of their own.”

Ginger’s brothers were raised by their mother to treat a lady with respect. According to their sister, their actions exhibited were more like wolves in sheep’s clothing.

“I didn’t want Matthew to be a gentleman. I wanted to get laid. No. No, I didn’t.”

Then where had the sudden urge come from to run him down?

“What’s with you? Either you did or you didn’t?” Ginger sounded annoyed.

Surprised at her own thoughts, Carrie was distracted. “What?”

“Do you want a
gentleman
or a
man
?” Ginger’s clipped voice exasperated her.

“You wouldn’t say that if you could see his body. Matthew is definitely all man.”

“You saw him with his clothes off? And you’re still frustrated?” Ginger laughed again.

“No,” Carrie gritted through her teeth. “He had his clothes on.”

“He’s gay.”

“Would you get off the gay wagon? You’ll just have to see for yourself.” How could she give good reasoning when her own reaction to Matthew was so out of character? “Just looking at him does things to me.”

“Well, quit looking and get busy. Or get another man. You want me to send one of my brothers? Either one would thank me to get horizontal with
you
.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. Matthew may not know it yet, but he’s doomed.”

“That’s the spirit. I know that sound and I know you. You don’t give up. You’ll have his pants off and panting for you like a hound before I get home. My money’s on you. See you in a few days.”

Carrie rose and paced the floor in front of her desk. Matthew had behaved like a true gentleman. What would he have done if she’d made the first move?
What do you think?
There wasn’t a man alive who turned down sex.

Why did she care?

She liked Matthew. And he’d been interested. With every feminine instinct in her, she knew he had not been immune. Thinking of his eyes devouring her body heated her blood. So, after a kiss like that, why did he leave?

The sensations he created in her were pure sin. Remembering his lustful kiss and her abandoned, wanton response made her insides tremble. How could the cool professional, with her well thought-out strategy in her career, oriented world be so weak in the knees at the mere thought of him? Acting like a silly girl waiting for the next chance to be with him.

She believed in a healthy body and she knew she looked damn good. The treadmill had a permanent place in her routine. She made time to exercise and spent a fortune in facial and body creams, her one luxury after her bath. She liked to keep her skin soft and smooth, not to mention avoiding the wrinkles in years to come. Men judged her on her looks and thought her an easy bed-partner. Their mistake. She enjoyed showing them the error of their unwise assumptions. So why did she lose all reasoning in the company of Matthew?

Even after he left her standing at her doorstep, she wanted him. Matthew, the first man ever to shake her sensuality. She didn’t jump into bed with guys easily. But, she’d been drawn to him from the moment she’d gotten lost in the magic of his twinkling blue eyes. Matthew created more than lust in her frenzied brain.

She studied the pink roses. After a few moments, she stepped behind her desk and sank down in the comfort of leather upholstery. Without reading the card, she knew the flowers were from him. Could he be playing mind games with her?

She tore open the card.

This gentleman entrusts you enjoyed the evening

as much as he did and sincerely hopes you will

dine with him again.

M

Carrie sighed as she leaned her head against the back of her chair. The card, once again written by his hand. “This gentleman,” she breathed. Had he been playing the part of a gentleman? Such fierce passion—that was no gentleman’s kiss. Had he stayed, he would have found, throwing her legs around a man was definitely not the actions of a lady.

Late afternoon, the meeting finally broke. Matthew looked at his watch as the board members rose from their seats.

“Congratulations, Matthew. You’ve managed another one.” Chester Simmons had been on the board for three years. He’d approved the idea when Matthew first suggested the merger.

“We’re well on our way. There’s still a lot of work to be done.”

“I don’t know how you got everyone to agree. I thought we’d be here all night.” Chester closed the lid to his briefcase and fastened the latch.

“I wasn’t about to let that happen,” Matthew said.

“You’ve got determination. And a set of balls. Everyone knew you wanted this deal to go through. But the way you pushed this afternoon . . . it was almost like you wanted out of here whether the deal went through or not.”

Matthew looked at the other executive and grinned.

“Damn.” Chester exhaled a breath and furrowed his brow. “You would have let this slip through your fingers?”

Matthew shrugged. “I have another priority. I gave them a deadline, and I meant it.”

“That’s just it. These high-rise tycoons knew you’d stick to your guns.”

He thought of how much time and energy he’d put into this venture. His people and the people in his father’s company would be rewarded. “This is a good deal for everyone.”

“I admit it’s more than fair. You care about the employees and it shows in your offer. If everyone cared about their employees the way you do, we’d see a better world.”

Matthew appreciated his employees, each and every one. They deserved their paycheck and any chance at a better future that he could give them. This deal would create more jobs and secure stability to his other establishments.

“Yes, I care. I know how hard they work. I’ve been there—at the bottom—immersed in every mundane job they do. I never asked an employee to do anything I wasn’t willing to do, or had done myself.”

“You’re a rock solid man, Matthew.” Chester extended his hand. As they shook, his other arm came up to slap Matthew on the shoulder. “And I’m damn proud to be with you.”

Matthew smiled. “Glad to have you on board, Chester.”