Claim (A Dangerous Man, #3) (2 page)

She keeps talking, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the lush pinkness of her lips. The hunger to kiss those lips spreads from my brain to my fingers, and straight to my groin.

“What’s your name?” I interrupt. I’m more interested in her than in anything stocked in the shop.

At first, she looks bewildered, like she has no idea what I just said. “Sophie.” She says, after a short pause. “Sophie Bennett.”

“Sophie.” I repeat. The name suits her. She looks quite young, I think, studying her face. I find myself desperately hoping that she’s not in high school or something else that’ll make me feel like a pervert. “And how long have you worked here, Sophie?” I’m trying to play it cool, even though my fingers are itching to touch her, to feel the smoothness of her skin.

“I... um...” She blinks rapidly, “a few months.”

“Interesting.” I assume she works part time while attending a local college. At least I hope so. That would make me feel less degenerate. “College?” I ask, studying her face.

She shakes her head.

I frown. “How old are you?”

She pauses, licking her lips in a quick movement. I stare at her moistened lips, unable to look away, or to ignore the sudden and insistent thickening in my pants.

“Eighteen.” She says, her voice so low I almost miss it.

Eighteen! I’m lusting after a baby.

I take a small step back, disappointment and common sense piercing through my overwhelming desire for her. “You’re very young.” I say unnecessarily.

She doesn’t reply. I watch as her gaze drops from my face. I’m wondering what she’s thinking when she looks back up again, swallowing me with deep green eyes. Lost in the green depths, I can’t think clearly, my mind fills of images of all the things I want to do to her, with her.

I am a pervert.

I look away, desperate for a distraction. My eyes catch on a small glass sculpture. “I’d like the glass swan.” I tell her.

She looks like I just spoke in Greek. “The what?”

The nonplussed expression on her face brings a chuckle to my lips. I incline my head towards the sculpture, noting her embarrassment as she picks it up. I follow as she takes it to the desk at the front of the shop, trying this time not to ogle her perfect behind.

“Do you want it wrapped?” She asks.

“Yes, and delivered.” I give her my address in Seattle, and wait as she jots it down on a notepad, then I hand her my card, and as she takes it, her fingers brush against mine. They’re cool and soft, and I suddenly have an urge to take her hand and kiss it. The contact is only for a few moments, but those moments seem to last for a long time.

She’s staring up at me like a deer caught in headlamps. She feels it too, whatever this is.

Abruptly, she pulls her hand from mine and swipes my card, not looking at me.

“I want to see you.” The words escape my lips without any input from my brain. She stills, and those green eyes find mine again. “What are you doing tonight?”

“Nothing.” She says after a pause.

“Then have dinner with me.”

She looks as if she’s thinking about it, confusion, and a whole lot of other emotions running through her features. “Please.” I persist, giving her a smile for good measure. Somehow, I want this very badly.

I watch her expressive face, waiting for her to decide. “Okay.” She says finally.

I feel as if I’ve won a major triumph. I realize that I’ve been leaning over her, eagerly waiting for her reply. I straighten. “When do you finish here?” I ask.

Her face creases again in a tiny frown. “At five.” She tells me, still looking hesitant.

“I’ll be here.” I give her a reassuring smile, backing slowly towards the door. Outside, Steve is waiting patiently in the car. He doesn’t ask me why I’m grinning so widely as I climb into the back seat.

“L
ET’S FIND A HOTEL.” I SAY to Steve as the car starts to move. Since I’ve committed myself to remaining in Ashford until evening, I might as well find a place to have lunch, and get some work done. It’s not such a big deal. I can work from anywhere, most of the time.

Steve catches my eye in the rearview mirror, then turns to the GPS and begins to search for a hotel.

I have work to do. If I’m going to be fighting a takeover attempt, then I need to be ready. I’m actually excited. This is a challenge, and they don’t come often to me. These days, too many things come too easily.

My mind goes back to Sophie Bennett, and my excitement takes a different dimension. I’m incredibly keen to find out what lies beneath that quiet facade, and to explore the silent promises in her eyes. I take a deep breath.

I can’t wait to see her tonight.

I don’t want to ask myself what the point is. She’s little more than a child. If I left Ashford at this very moment, there would be more than enough women, willing, eager even, to help me forget her.

Except I don’t want to forget.

There can’t be many choices for hotels in Ashford. In a few minutes, Steve is already parked in front of a six-storey building with a sign that says ‘The Ashford Fairview’.

It will do, I decide, picking up my phone from the seat beside me. I’m about to step out of the car when I see the reminder flash on the screen.

Lunch with Carole Banks.

I frown. I had forgotten all about Carole. How could I not, when my mind has been, and still is, on Sophie. I can always call Carole and postpone. Right now, what I have is a driving desire to see Sophie again.

I almost step out of the car before the folly of the decision I’ve just made makes a full impact in my brain.

I’m postponing a meeting that could save my company just so I can see a girl.

An eighteen-year-old girl.

It’s insane.

I frown. “Let’s go back to Seattle, Steve,” I say, a little annoyed with myself. “I have things to do.”

~§~§~§~§~

Under Steve’s guidance, the Jaguar eats up the distance, staying just below the speed limit, and we get to the city in less than half an hour.

He drops me off on the sidewalk, in front of the glass revolving doors of the multi-storey edifice that is Preston Corp. These days, I no longer spend a few seconds just standing outside, relishing the knowledge that it’s mine. It just is, and I’m not going to let anyone take it away.

I clear the marble and glass reception area, acknowledging the greetings without pausing. I take the elevator to the penthouse floor, going through the security doors and giving a cursory nod to the receptionist as I walk past her.

My office is at the end of the floor. To get there, I pass by the office where my assistants Linda and Cole are busy at their computers. They both look up when I walk in.

“Good morning Mr. Preston.”

“Good morning Linda, Cole.” I don’t pause in my stride, going directly into my office. Once inside, I ignore the desk and go to stand at the floor to ceiling windows through which I can see the city spread out below me. The office is large, slightly less than a quarter of the entire penthouse floor space, with a bar, seating areas and a very large teleconferencing screen opposite my desk, but it is here, at the windows, that I get most of my work done.

I frown and push images of soft green eyes and wavy gold hair out of my mind. If my suspicions are correct, and Carole has gotten an offer for her shares, my lunch with her will tell me whom I’m going to have to deal with.

I spend a few more minutes at the windows, drawing up, and discarding plans in my head. I’m still there when Linda comes in with a list of all the things I have to attend to.

~§~§~§~§~

An hour later, I walk into the hotel restaurant where I’m meeting Carole for lunch. A smiling, middle-aged man in an immaculate suit introduces himself as the host and leads me to a table. As I take my seat, I see Carole walk in through the entrance.

She looks beautiful, as usual, red curls framing her oval face like a high maintenance halo. Today, her lips are deep scarlet against her pale skin, and set in a smug smile.

She pauses at the door, and then, when she’s sure that all the eyes in the restaurant are on her, she saunters inside. I watch as she whispers something to the host, leaning towards him - not too close to be indecent, but close enough that he probably loses some of the blood flow to his brain. I watch as he nods, his eyes drinking her in, before he leads to my table.

I get up as he pulls out her chair, after which Carole dismisses him with a light pat on his arm and takes her seat.

“David!” She smiles. Her voice is a whispery, teasing, girlish sound, diligently cultivated and maintained.

“Carole.” I settle back into my seat.

“It’s been so long since we saw each other, David.” She says, giving me her debutante smile. She leans forward, her voice turning intimate. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were avoiding me.”

“Why in the world would I do that?” My sarcasm isn’t lost on her. She watches me archly as I pick up a menu and glance through it. After a brief pause, she does the same. When she seems ready to make her order, I signal for the waiter.

“I’m exhausted.” She exclaims, after we’ve ordered. “I feel like I’ve been in a plane for years.” Her eyes are on my face, looking expectant as she waits for a response. When I don’t show any interest, she continues anyway. “I just returned to town.” She says. “I’ve been staying at this lovely villa in the south of France.”

The last thing I want is for her to treat me to a story of her aimless globetrotting, or of another poor sucker who has fallen for her charms. I don’t say anything. She either takes my silence for interest, or just decides to tell me anyway.

“The Villa belongs to Toby Felt,” She pauses, searching my face, “Have you heard of him? The investor? He’s a really charming man.” She smiles, “and he knows exactly how to treat a lady.”

My interest perks up, and not because of her obvious attempt to make me jealous. I couldn’t care less who Carole’s flavor of the month is, but Toby Felt isn’t just an investor, he’s a corporate raider, the kind of man who would acquire control of a company and sell off all the assets for his personal gain. If he’s behind the attempt on Preston Corp, it would totally explain why he’s sweetening Carole up with extended stays at his luxury villa.

“Some women find all men charming as long as they have money to spend.” I reply, keeping my face impassive.

“You think I’m one of such women?” She looks affronted. “For your information David, I don’t think you’re charming, no matter how much you have to spend.”

“I am truly heartbroken.” I state drily.

Just then, our food arrives, and as we eat, I listen to Carole’s small talk with half an ear. I’m determined for her to come out and tell me what she wants without any prompting from me. The moment she senses my apprehension about the takeover, her demands will skyrocket.

“What did you want to discuss, Carole?” I ask lightly, interrupting her chatter. “Why did you ask me to lunch?”

She stops and considers me for a moment. “Why did you accept?” She counters, “Usually you’d just tell me that you’re busy.”

I shrug. “I usually am.”

Her lips form a pout. “Maybe I just wanted to talk about us, David”

I chuckle. “Don’t be ridiculous Carole, there is no us.”

Her shoulders stiffen, and I can tell that she’s not happy with my reply. Then she relaxes and leans back in her chair. “But there used to be,” She manages a wistful expression, “and there could be again.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” I’m amused despite myself. “You can’t have run out of men to play games with, Carole. I’m sure if you look around you’d find a couple of eager playthings.”

She shrugs, looking up at me from under long lashes in an expression I assume I’m supposed to find sexy, “Maybe I want the one I can’t have.” She says.

“And that would be?”

“You.”

I snort. “Tell me, when was the last time you heard from that fitness guy you used to screw.”

“Enrique?” She laughs. “Not recently. He didn’t serve his purpose you know. Look at you, not even a little bit jealous that I cheated on you with him.”

“Perhaps you didn’t serve his purpose either.” I tell her. “The last time I saw him he didn’t seem very happy with you.”

Her eyes narrow. “What do you mean?”

I shrug. I don’t intend to tell her of the desperate fitness instructor’s attempt to blackmail me with a very explicit video of him and Carole. He hadn’t seen her in months, and she wasn’t taking his calls. So he came to me, making the mistaken assumption that I and Carole were still together.

She watches me in silence. When I don’t offer any elaboration, she sighs. “I have an offer I thought you might be interested in.”

Finally. I let her stew for a bit before I respond. “Which is?”

“I don’t know... you’re so mean and distant. I’m beginning to think you don’t deserve my help.” She frowns. “Maybe I’d prefer for you to lose your company.” She continues musingly, “I do hate you for leaving me, you know. Plus I’ve made a lot of silly investments with the money Daddy left me, and I need to sell my shares in Preston Corp to the highest bidder.”

“Or maybe you just want something from me Carole.” I say wryly, “Tell me what it is.”

“David...” She breathes, her voice lowering to an intimate whisper, “You already know what I want.”

I raise a brow. “No. I must confess that I don’t.”

“Don’t act obtuse David. Think about it,” Her voice is eager. “We were so good together, socially we’re a perfect couple. I have a perfect education, a perfect family, friends, and connections. I can navigate any society we ever find ourselves. I would be an asset to you David, and you know it.”

While you screw the fitness instructor, and anybody else you choose to play your games with, because every male within panting distance has to be crazy about you and no one else, I think silently. Thanks but no thanks.

“What I’m saying David, is that we should get married.” She smiles, as if she hasn’t just made the most ridiculous proposal ever. “You know it’s what Daddy always wanted. I’d give you my shares then. Think about it, nobody could ever take Preston Corp from you.”