Dalton, Tymber - Love and Brimstone [Brimstone Vampires 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) (7 page)

Narcissistic much?

But they always did. Robertson knew that. No matter what, whenever she worked in close proximity with a man for any length of time, except for Robertson and, of course, her own father, it always happened. It wasn’t a problem socially, because she could choose whom to date. At work, however, she had a lot of practice maintaining a cool, aloof professionalism, discouraging any personal interactions.
The Ice Queen in action. Watch my frost.

“You know what happens to me,” she said. “Guys usually hit on me after a while.”

He nodded. “I do know. Believe it or not, that’s normal. You’re an attractive woman, Taz. Just because a man finds you attractive doesn’t mean you’ll fall for him.”

“Oh, you have
no
idea what this guy is like.”

“He’s different?”

She nodded. “That’s what scares me. There’s something different about him. What if
I
can’t say no?”

“You’re a lawyer. You know how to say no. Besides, what if he’s already attached?”

“No wedding ring.”

“You know that means nothing.”

“Okay, you’ve got me there.” She chewed her lip. “I don’t like going into a situation where I don’t have the advantage.”
Or the control.

“And there lies the crux of your anxiety and fear, my dear.” He walked over to her, put his hand on hers, and stared into her eyes.

Twenty minutes later, she found herself in her bedroom with no memory of how she got there.

I must have talked his ear off
. She went to take a shower.

A long, cold shower.

Chapter Five

Thompson reached for the ringing phone, instinctively knowing who the caller was. “Yes?”

“It’s me,” Robertson said. “Tell Matthias to lay off. He scared her half to death.”

“I think he needs an ice bath.”

“So does she. Thank God he told her the dinner couldn’t run late. We’d have to take a fire hose to them both.”

“Match made in heaven then?”

“Not if she tells you no on Friday.”

“What?” Thompson sat up. “How could she possibly say no?”

“I’ve been telling you,” Robertson said, “she’s not to be played. She senses a trap.”

“Do we need to up the offer?”

“Absolutely not. She’ll get suspicious.”

“Well, what is it then?”

“Matthias.”

“I thought they got along rather well.”

“That’s the problem. You don’t know her. I raised her. If there’s one thing that scares her, it’s feeling out of control. I’ve spent her entire life teaching her self-control, and she has practically none around him.”

“I could send him to talk to her personally.”

“No. She will refuse for sure.”

“You don’t understand how he feels about her.”

“Yes I do, and that’s the problem.
She
could sense it.”

“How? That’s not possible.”

“Have you ignored everything I’ve told you about her? She isn’t like us. She’s not even like Matthias and Rafael. She’s extremely perceptive.” Robertson fell silent for a moment. “I have an idea. Have Matthias schedule a board meeting Friday afternoon.”

“What?”

“Just do it. Routine stuff. Make something up. When you call her on Friday, don’t get her answer. Just ask her to drop by his office. Tell her Matthias wants a few moments of her time after the meeting to talk and get her answer in person. Say he’s on his way out of town and has a couple of minutes between the meeting and the airport. Set it up so she’s there for the tail end of the meeting, let her see him being professional. You’re smart. Figure something out. And ice him down. Maybe she’ll say yes.”

“This is silly.”

“It’s going to be a lot sillier if you don’t want her saying no. We won’t get a second chance.”

“No one ever tells him no.”

“She will if you don’t do what I say.”

Thompson thought it over and sighed. “Fine. I’ll set something up.”

“Good.”

Thompson hung up and walked upstairs, where he knocked on Matthias’ door. He related the conversation, and Matthias considered it.

“Maybe I did come on too strong.”

“He thinks she’s attracted to you.”

“Really?”

“Matthias,” Albert scolded, “concentrate. This is no time for you to think of yourself.”

“You don’t understand.”

“That was by your choice. I still don’t understand your logic.”

“When was the last time you were married?”

Albert didn’t answer.

“Exactly my point,” Matthias said when Thompson didn’t respond.

“I have loved.”

“And they’re still alive, somewhere out there. It’s no fun burying your wife.”

Albert softened his tone. “You can’t be sure she’ll love you, or even like you, Matthias. You’re waiting around like this, and you might be setting yourself up for disappointment.”

“I’ve waited ten years. And a lot longer than that to meet someone like her. It’s nothing. I can wait as long as it takes.”

“Well, you’ll have to back off regardless of your feelings. Let her get to know you. In fact, it might not be a bad idea if she doesn’t see much of you for the first several months.”

“What?”

“You said yourself you waited ten years. You can wait a while longer.”

Matthias chewed it over for a few minutes and nodded. “Whatever needs to happen, set it up.”

* * * *

Albert called Taz on Friday morning. “Ms. Proctor, Mr. Hawthorne asked if you could please stop by his office late this afternoon to give him your answer in person. He has to leave for the airport by six, but his meeting should be over by five thirty. Then you can give him your answer in person.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Fine. What’s the address?”

Albert gave her the information, finished the call, and hung up. Robertson and Matthias looked at him. He fixed his gaze on Matthias. “Don’t screw this up.”

Matthias shook his head, looking younger than his years. “I won’t.”

* * * *

Taz quietly followed Thompson into the back of the boardroom. If Hawthorne noticed her entrance, he didn’t acknowledge it. He was cool, professional, courteous to the attendees. She wasn’t sure what they were discussing, but she liked the way he ran his meeting. Respectfully, controlled. A don’t-fuck-with-me kind of guy who didn’t throw his weight around just because he could. He seemed to welcome input from the attendees, and everyone appeared at ease discussing items with him, even if they disagreed.

She had decided on the drive over to say no, as much as she hated to. Now, after seeing him in action, she didn’t feel the heart-pounding yearning of the other night.

Oh, he was still easy on the eyes, absolutely. But this side of him, the president of the company, was a different persona. The Ice Queen could coolly keep her distance and maintain her professionalism if this was what he was like on a daily basis.

Couldn’t I?

When the meeting ended, Hawthorne glanced at his watch—a Timex, not some obscenely expensive thing, she noted—and started gathering paperwork. Hawthorne didn’t look up as Thompson led her to the front of the room.

“Mr. Hawthorne, Ms. Proctor is here to see you.”

“Thank you, Albert.” He flashed her a smile without looking up from his papers. “I’m sorry I’m in a rush, Ms. Proctor, but my flight leaves at seven. Can we talk while we walk?”

“Uh, sure.”
What the hell?

Well, okay. She wanted coolly professional? This was coolly professional.

Hawthorne slowed his long strides enough she could keep up without jogging. Thompson trailed behind them.

Hawthorne punched the elevator button. “So, have you considered our offer?” He didn’t meet her eyes, thumbing through his BlackBerry while he talked.

Okay, a little rude, but understandable considering how busy he is.
“Um, yes. Yes I did.”

“And?” Hawthorne finally glanced at her, but their eyes didn’t meet.

“Uh—”
What was I going to say? Oh.
“Yes. I think I’d like to try it.”

What the hell. Why not?

Hawthorne smiled. As his eyes briefly traveled across hers, she felt that deep warmth again, starting between her legs and spreading through her entire body. Then it disappeared as Hawthorne stepped into the elevator, motioning them both in behind him.

“Good. Can you start Monday?”

“I suppose. I might need to spend some time in the other office—”

“Fine. Coordinate with Albert. I understand you’ll have loose ends to tie up. Do you have a passport?”

“Yes, I do.”
If I can find it.
She hadn’t used it since her parents died.

No. Won’t think about that.

“You might want to keep it on you. Sometimes things crop up requiring immediate travel.”

“Okay. I—”

“Albert, you can get all the paperwork ready this evening? Walk her through HR and get everything completed?”

“Yes, Mr. Hawthorne.”

“Wonderful. Ms. Proctor”—Hawthorne shifted his briefcase and stuck out his hand, a quick squeeze and release before she had time to process it—“good to have you on board.” The elevator door slid open. Hawthorne smiled and stepped out into the parking garage. Again she felt a hint of the longing she’d had during their dinner. “Thompson will get everything started. I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Okay, thank—” Hawthorne walked away as the door slid shut, leaving Anastazia feeling slightly disoriented.

Albert smiled, punched the button to take them up to the main office suite. “Welcome to our family, Ms. Proctor.”

“Uh, okay. Thank you.”

* * * *

Matthias climbed into the limo. “Home,” he told the driver.

Robertson looked at him. “Well?”

Matthias’ smile stretched from ear to ear. “She said yes.”

Robertson let out a huge sigh of relief. “Finally.”

“I was afraid she’d say no. I was sure she was going to, I felt it. How the hell did you know that would work?”

“I raised her, need I remind you. I know her. Considering her parents and all she’s been through, anything that makes her feel the slightest bit out of control scares the crap out of her. And you, Matthias, make her feel out of control.”

He looked out the window. “God, she’s amazing. She’s beautiful. Those gorgeous, green eyes. I just wanted to reach out and…and her mind—” He fell quiet, thinking about her.