Tempting Aquisitions (4 page)

“Innuendo and suspicion, Nathan? I’d have thought you had a far better arsenal of weapons than that. Especially since you’ve prickled up on the few occasions your father’s been mentioned.”

She was cool; he’d give her that. Of course, she’d have to be to survive—and thrive—in business as she had.

“You can’t run from the truth. His actions put the company in a vulnerable position by making it public.”

“And you somehow feel that vulnerability means it’s your God-given right to come in and steal it.”

“I’m not stealing anything, Keira.”

“That’s a matter of opinion.”

Before he could say anything, a discreet knock echoed from the doorway and her assistant came back in. “I’m so sorry to disturb you, but you said you wanted me to let you know when your car arrived.”

“Thanks, Stacy.”

As soon as the woman left, Keira stood, her actions effectively dismissing their conversation
and
him.

“I have a lunch appointment I need to keep. Which is probably for the best, as it’s clear you and I aren’t going to see eye to eye.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Nathan wasn’t sure where the response came from—had really only said it as a reaction to the heat of the moment—but now that the words were out the idea took on considerable merit.

And couldn’t deny his interest in seeing how she handled herself in a business transaction, one that was, presumably, not as tense and argumentative as what was evolving between them.

“I’m not bringing you on a business lunch.”

Warming up to the idea, he couldn’t stop the smile. His own meetings could wait. This was far more important. “Sure you are. It’ll give me a chance to see you in action.”

“So you can steal my secrets?”

“So I can see how it’s done right.”

He saw her momentarily stumble before she stopped stuffing a few items into a pricey designer tote to stare at him, her expression softening a few degrees. The shift in tactic was not nearly as subtle as he suspected she’d intended, but he was intrigued all the same. Keira struck him as a professional who did nothing without very deliberate intention.

“Nathan. I’ve worked to get this appointment for six months. It’s with the head of Rejuvenate Cosmetics. As someone who wants to take over my company, surely you can understand the importance of growing the business of a client like this.”

“All the more reason for me to come. I’ve known Simon since my university days. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

…

Keira fought the urge to scream in frustration.

Barely.

“You do realize that inviting yourself somewhere is rude.”

“Not the first time that label’s been thrown at me.” A quirky grin lit his lips and she fought the magnetic pull of that odd little smile that was both self-deprecating and perhaps the tiniest bit sad. Then the smile vanished as he leaned toward her with a conspiratorial wink. “People tend to find takeovers, as a rule, bad-mannered and impolite.”

“So why do them?” Her own words were out before she could stop them, her thoughts still filled with the sadness she’d sensed in him.

“Because I’m a businessman and it’s what I’ve built my company to do.”

“Surely you could find other ways to make investments. Other ways to grow your company.” Why was she even responding to this? Asking questions only gave credence to his choices and made it seem as if she cared.

Which she didn’t.

“I do make other investments, but this is a major strategy of Maverick Capital.” Clouds filled his blue gaze and yet again, Keira sensed there was something under the surface—something that pulled at her—before it vanished. “Come on. Simon doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

Keira brushed off whatever strange fascination had given her even the slightest pause in her own anger and re-checked she had everything for her meeting. With one last dark glance in Nathan’s direction, she stuffed her proposal into her bag and breezed past him as she moved around her desk.

This was
her
game.
Her
meeting. Let him try to keep up.

Fifteen minutes later, insult was layered over injury as Nathan and Simon slapped each other in that harsh-yet-jovial way of men. Simon turned his attention toward her, his legendary charm front and center. “Keira. It’s so lovely to see you. It feels like we’ve been planning this lunch forever.”

“You’re a busy man. I understand how hard it is to get away. I appreciate you making the time.”

“You’re quite busy yourself, from what I hear.” Simon extended a hand for her to follow after the ma
î
tre d’ before falling in step behind her. If he’d thought it odd she’d brought Nathan along, he hid it well. More likely, Keira thought, he was too polite to admit he’d read the business press and knew
exactly
why Nathan Cooper was along on their lunch.

Once they were seated, Simon picked up where he’d left off. “Your company’s doing some outstanding things. I’ve heard nothing but praise for the new app you launched a few months back.”

“The beauty finder?”

“That’s the one. The whole office can’t stop talking about it. We’ve already seen a significant uptick in sales. I appreciate the exclusive you offered us for the mascara category during our new product launch.”

Keira took the opening that was offered, leaning forward as the rush of adrenaline hit her veins. “We’ve seen similar results off the data but obviously aren’t privy to your actual sales figures. I’m so pleased the consumer interest is generating results.”

She caught Nathan looking at her from the corner of her eye as she picked up her menu. His gaze was a warm blue and, if she wasn’t mistaken, there was a distinct note of admiration as he stared at her from across the table. If it had been simple lust in his eyes, she could have ignored it. Could have chalked it up to something ephemeral and not worth her time. But the acknowledgment of her accomplishment and understanding of her skills? That she couldn’t deny.

A shot of need arrowed through her belly and heat suffused her chest as her fingers began to shake, and she hastily set down her menu to clasp them in her lap. Unable to resist, she shot one final glance at Nathan and knew she was in big trouble. The admiration that had been there only moments ago had transformed into something else as need and want washed the bright blue in a bold swath of fire that threatened to consume her.

Her earlier words to her sisters came rushing back to her.
He thinks he can have a fling with me and a go at the company. Like I’m somehow separate from McBride Media.

She
was
separate, wasn’t she?

As much as she loved her job, she was still a woman. And it was becoming increasingly evident the woman was in as much trouble as her business-focused alter ego.

Simon folded his menu and turned toward her. “So, Keira. You mentioned on the phone you’ve got a new proposal. I’d like to hear it.”

Reaching for the slim folder she’d packed before leaving her office, Keira debated briefly as she pulled out the two printed copies. Ignore Nathan and draw even more attention to their situation. Or give him her copy of the proposal and present from memory, showcasing how well she knew her material.

Acting on impulse, she handed both men copies and dove in. Within moments, she knew the move had been the correct one. Rather than focusing on the pages, she walked Simon through her vision for a new application, one that expanded on the beauty app and was sure to give his company a competitive advantage within weeks.

An hour later, she watched as Simon’s broad-shouldered form wove its way through the dining room, a signed letter of intent now sitting in her tote.

“Well played, Ms. McBride.”

The glow of a successful business lunch evaporated as if doused with a sudden rain shower. “Excuse me?”

“You had him from the word
go
. I’m impressed. And the presentation from memory was inspired. You had him completely captivated and eating out of the palm of your hand. That’s no mean feat with Baldwin.”

She wasn’t sure why the words chafed at her, but something in his tone did, as if her idea didn’t stand on its own merit but had to be sold by her looks. “I didn’t
have
him, Nathan. I presented him with a good business opportunity.”

“One he enjoyed taking advantage of. You were magnificent.”

The warm pleasure that had filled her stomach earlier twisted into something far more dark as she worked to decipher his meaning. “What are you implying, exactly?”

“You just sold Simon Baldwin, a notoriously hard sell, a project in an hour. The man’s ridiculously careful in his decision-making and doesn’t jump on anything, which has been a successful strategy for him, but it doesn’t change the fact it’s his MO. Yet here you are, selling him a million-dollar deal in the amount of time it takes to eat a salad and a piece of salmon. So I’m telling you, well played.”

It was silly of her to get upset. She was a saleswoman, first and foremost, in charge of a company full of salespeople. She looked for that special spark in her employees, someone who could passionately
sell
a proposal. No matter how good an idea, delivery made a big impression.

So why couldn’t she shake the implied insult of his words? Or the sudden throat-tightening anger at being patted on the head?

“Are you suggesting if I weren’t wearing makeup and showing off my legs, he wouldn’t have gone for the deal?”

“No, I’m not.” Confusion at the turn in the conversation imprinted itself in a small line between his brows. “But you have to admit it didn’t hurt. You’re a beautiful woman, Keira. You’re also smart and incredibly savvy. He’d have been a fool not to notice.”

Sly tendrils of pleasure unfurled within her at the compliment, and she ruthlessly stamped on it. She would not let him get the upper hand. “Yet again, Mr. Cooper, I can’t fathom why you seem to equate what I look like with my success.”

“It’s Nathan.” Whatever light had been in his eyes was gone as he threw his napkin down and reached for the bill. “And I fail to understand why you can’t accept
who
you are is as much of a business advantage as your mind and your ideas and your family history. It’s all a package, Keira. Why the hell are you so insulted by it?”

Something sparked to life inside of her, catching fire in her belly with the ember of forgotten memories. Her father had been that dismissive. That indifferent.

“Do whatever you want, Keira. If you and Camryn and Mayson want to play at running the company, be my guest. I’m done wasting my time with it. I should have let your grandfather get rid of it years ago.”

“It’s your tone I’m insulted by. As if I’m some object to be petted.”

“Is that really it, princess?” The light of battle set his shoulders in a hard line as he leaned forward. “Because I think it’s something else. I think it bothers you that I see you as a desirable woman. And you know what I think bothers you even more?”

He let the question hang there, and damn her if she didn’t respond. “Oh, please enlighten me.”

“I think it bothers the hell out of you that you see me as a man.”

Refusing to acknowledge the taunt, Keira reached for the bill, her trembling movements quick enough he couldn’t react and snatch it away from her. She picked up his credit card and tossed it to him as she slammed her own inside the bill’s sleeve.

“What are you doing?”

“It was my business lunch. It’s my company. It’s my expense.”

He sat back, the light of battle still a harsh aura around his powerful frame. Everything about him spoke of power. Control. Influence. His designer custom-fitted suit. His five-hundred-dollar haircut. His black and gold credit card. But even without those things, Keira knew it wouldn’t have mattered.

It was
him
.

Power dripped off him in the same way a lion owned the jungle or a lightning storm owned the sky.

“Truth hurts, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t run from the truth, nor do I run from competition. You can sit here and think whatever you’d like. About me, about my company, about how I’m going to approach this negotiation with you. You won’t win.”

The slash of his mouth shifted and spread until a wicked smile crested those lush, sinful lips. “You, or your company?”

“Both.”

“I do love a good fight. It makes winning that much sweeter. To that end, what are you doing Friday?”

She shook her head as she reached for the credit card statement their waiter had laid beside her. “Have you developed a sudden case of deafness, Nathan?”

“Not in the least. I want to see you again. Friday’s only a few days away. I’d like to get plans solidified.”

“We won’t be seeing each other again.” Keira slammed her wallet into her purse and stood, barely catching herself before pushing the chair back in a heated rush.

“You can’t deny there’s an attraction between us.” His voice was quiet but she didn’t miss a single word, despite the din of the restaurant.

And there it was. The one piece she’d attempted to delude herself into thinking would go away. “No, I won’t deny it. I also won’t act on something that can hurt everything I’ve worked for.”

“So just like that you won’t give me a chance? Won’t give us a chance?”

Temptation beckoned and for the first time in her life she had a sense of what must have gone down in the Garden of Eden. Nothing was rational about her attraction to Nathan, but the wisps of need that curled in her belly didn’t seem to care.

“I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“It’s a moot point as I’m out of town this weekend.”

“Where are you going?”

Where Keira thought the logic of being out of town would be a deterrent, the interest that leapt into his eyes had doubt inching along her spine. “That dying little magazine of ours you were so quick to dismiss?
Home and Family
? It’s our annual food and wine festival in Las Vegas. I’ve got plans.”