The CEO's Little Surprise (6 page)

“Well...” She crossed her arms, hiding her hands underneath, as if she'd sensed that he'd been contemplating taking one of them. “We were supposed to be talking about the leak. I think we have to do that together.”

Which wasn't an answer at all. “You know dinner wasn't about the leak. Don't be dense.”

“I was giving you the benefit of the doubt,” she countered. “I'm well aware that you're playing all the angles.”

And that was the opportunity he'd been waiting for. Since her hands were still locked behind the cross of her arms, he opted to slide one chunk of hair from her cheek and lingered at her neck. Touching that beautiful alabaster skin had suddenly grown more important than breathing. So he indulged himself, letting his fingers play with her neck. And then he tipped her head back so he could meet her gaze.

A shield snapped over her expression. That look he recognized. The ice goddess returneth. Excellent. Now he could get started melting her, like he'd planned. Though the reasons that had felt so necessary at the beginning of the night weren't the same as they were now. At all.

“No angles,” he murmured and drew her face closer. Almost within kissing distance. But not quite. “I asked you to dinner because I wanted to. You...interest me. I want to find out how you've changed since college. Discover what's still the same.”

Cass didn't look away, challenging him with merely the glint in her eye. “So you can use it to your advantage.”

God, that was sexy. In-charge, take-no-prisoners Cass was something else. His motor started humming. “Absolutely. I fully intend to use every scrap of information I learn to seduce you.”

Not even a blink to show she'd registered that he'd shifted away from business and zeroed in on pleasure. Which was where they'd keep it if he had his way. Oh, he'd eventually wind his way back to the formula. But for now, it was all about Cass.

“I think you've forgotten that I specified this dinner should be strictly business. I was about to thank you for sticking to it.”

Ah-ha.
Her voice had grown a little huskier and it skated through his blood, raising the heat a notch. She wasn't as unaffected as she wanted him to believe.

“Sorry,” he apologized without a shred of regret. “I never agreed to that. But we're smart people. We can keep business and pleasure separate. Like we did in college.”

He watched her expression smooth out, becoming blank. Which meant he'd hit a nerve.

“I can,” she said firmly. “I'm not so sure about you.”

“I'm good for it.”
Press your advantage. Now.
“If you are, too, prove it.”

Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “How?”

Heat and awareness shot through the roof. God, that dress clung to her curves like a second skin. Would it be terrible if he hooked both sleeves with his thumbs and yanked it down so he could feast his eyes on her beautiful bare breasts?

Gage tipped her chin up with a crooked finger to bring her mouth in range. But he didn't take it with his. Not yet.

“So, let me see if I've got this straight,” Cass murmured, her breath mingling with his. “By your logic, if I kiss you, that'll prove I can separate business from pleasure?”

“Who said anything about kissing?” he countered. “Is that what's on your mind, Cass? Because I'm game if you think kissing me will make your point.”

It was a dare and a challenge—guaranteed to get an in-control, powerful woman like Cass hot—and she caught both full force. Her mouth curved upward as she contemplated him. “I think it'll make your point, not mine.”

“Oh?” Barely six inches separated their lips and he ached to close that distance. “What point is that?”

She leaned in, almost there but not quite, lips feathering against his, and it was more evocative than if she'd gone for it. Her perfume engulfed him in a sensuous wave that heightened the sparking awareness. Her breasts brushed his chest aggressively and he nearly groaned with the effort it took to keep his fingers from her dress.

One little signal and he'd slide his arms around her, pulling her into the fiercest kiss. The only prayer he had of cracking that ice was to give her something sizzling hot to grab on to with both hands.

Public place, public place, public place
, he reminded himself furiously.

“Your point—if I recall—was that you'd use all the information at your disposal to seduce me,” she murmured throatily. “I don't think you have a shot.”

“Guess there's only one way to find out.”

The irresistible draw between them sucked him in, and finally his arms closed around her and her mouth sought his. A scorching kiss ignited the pent-up emotions and desire Gage had been fighting since he'd first laid eyes on Cass in the parking lot of her building.

They twined together, shifting closer. As close as they could on the bench without turning the kiss into something too indecent for public consumption.

Yes.
Oh, God yes. Her tongue darted out in a quest for his and he lost himself in the sensation of her hot flesh. She tasted of wine and familiarity, throwing him back to a time when she'd been a major part of his first round of freedom.

Memories zipped by of Cass spread out under him, hips rolling toward his in a sensuous rhythm, hair spread out, her gaze hot and full of anticipation and pleasure as they came together again and again. Memories of her laughing with him, challenging him, filling him.

He wanted her. Just like that. Right now.

He forgot about the hard bench and pulled her closer, nearly into his lap as he let the lace of her dress pleasure his fingers.

She tilted her head, sucking him deeper, her hands sliding across his back, gripping his waist. Driving him wild with the need she'd enflamed with a simple touch. He wanted to feel her again, feel like the world was his for the taking, like life had endless possibilities. How had he not realized that Cass had been such a huge piece of that?

Masterfully, purposefully, she kissed him, breaking down everything he'd thought he was doing here. Everything went out the window: plans, strategy, formulas. Who cared? This was pleasure at its finest and he wanted more.

Then she pulled back, separating from him before he was ready, and his knees went weak. She smiled, her expression heavy with something he couldn't identify.

“Nice,” she said conversationally. “And now it's time for the business talk we've been avoiding. Join me when you're done with the pleasure part of the evening.”

She stood, swishing away from him on her dangerously sexy heels and sashaying out of the hall. The ice in her spine appeared firmly in place.

Blearily, he watched her go, too floored to call out. That had been hotter than he could have ever imagined. Hotter than it had ever been with Cass in the past. Hotter than he would have credited, given the ice-goddess routine she'd perfected.

He'd goaded her into kissing him in hopes of getting past all that icy reserve, past her CEO exterior, past all this business talk so he could seduce her into his bed. Instead of melting her, he'd learned he wasn't quite over Cassandra Claremont. And she hadn't been affected at all.

That turnabout was anything but fair.

Six

G
age paid the tab and followed Cass out of the restaurant.

Thank God he was behind her. That gave her a good three minutes to get her shakes under control.

It wasn't long enough. By the time they hit the sidewalk and Gage gave the valet his ticket, she'd almost managed to stop hyperventilating.

That kiss still singed her lips. His touch still burned her back. Worse? She'd touched him, too. Her own fingertips had reacquainted themselves with Gage's broad shoulders, thick hair, muscular torso. They'd explored him thoroughly and she ached to memorize him all over again.

She was supposed to be seducing him so she could get some answers about his involvement in her company's problems. Somehow that hadn't happened. She had to get the advantage back. Pronto.

As they waited in tense silence for his Hummer to appear at the curb, she prayed he wouldn't try to corner her again, maybe in one of the shadowy alcoves off to the right, where he could back her up against the brick away from prying eyes and kiss her like that again. Because she could almost feel the bite of that brick against her back. Could almost feel his hands on her. His mouth.

That would be...too much. And it was all she could think about.

“Hi, Cass. I thought that was you.”

The enthusiastic female voice on her right snapped her out of the fantasy where Gage had hiked up her dress as he kissed her in that shadowy alcove and...
Get a grip, for crying out loud.

Cass turned. And her heart tripped as she came face-to-face with Fyra's accounting manager. Who was eyeing Gage with undisguised interest as she gripped her own date's arm.

“Hi, Laurie,” Cass croaked before clearing her Gage-riddled throat.

“Fancy seeing you here,” Laurie commented and gestured to the man with her. “This is my husband, Mark. You may remember him from the Christmas party? But I haven't had the pleasure,” she said to Gage, sticking out her hand in expectation.

Oh, no. This was not the time or place to be caught with a rival CEO. They needed to play it cool and extract themselves without—

“Gage Branson,” he announced cheerily, completely ignoring the elbow Cass had just shoved in his ribs.

Too late. She stifled a groan as Laurie's expression lit up.

“Not
the
Gage Branson of GB Skin? I'm a huge fan of your body wash. I use it all the time, but don't tell my husband,” she said with a laugh.

Cass glowered at her but Laurie just shrugged. “What? Ours is too flowery. Men's scents are more outdoorsy. Lemon and sage and such.”

Gage grinned. “That's what I like to hear.”

The mutual admiration club gained another member when Laurie's husband jumped into the mix to announce his own GB Skin product preferences. This was beyond uncomfortable. Not simply because it grated to hear that Gage had one-upped her, but also because he'd just kissed her.

Could Laurie and Mark tell? Of course they could—she was probably mussed, and she hadn't had a chance to slick on more lipstick. It was a cardinal sin to stand here on the curb with missing makeup. They'd probably noticed her naked lips the moment she'd turned around.

Okay, yes. She'd been kissing the CEO of GB Skin. Cass had kissed Gage. Strictly in the name of finding out whether he'd been the mastermind behind the leak, which had somehow turned into something else.

Her guilty conscience was probably seeping from her pores. She had to get out of here.

Cass gritted her teeth and broke in at an opportune moment. “Laurie, you know we welcome suggestions from employees on Fyra's products. Just send me an email with your thoughts about how to improve the scents in our body wash, and I'll get it into the right hands.”

“Oh, I know I shouldn't be gushing over a competitor's products in front of my boss's boss.” Laurie's giggle was the opposite of contrite. “But I figured it was okay to admit it. After all, I'm just using the products, not dating the CEO.”

“Oh, this isn't a date,” Cass interjected swiftly. “Mr. Branson is...uh—”

“Providing consulting services to Ms. Claremont,” Gage finished for her smoothly. “Cass and I went to college together and she contacted me to ask for strategic advice.”

“That's a pretty fancy dress for a business meeting.” Laurie sighed a little over it. “I would love to be able to wear something that sexy.”

Her husband murmured something in her ear and she laughed as the valet rolled up in a Lexus. “That's our ride. Nice to meet you.”

The couple disappeared into the interior of the car.

“A consultant, Gage? Really?” Cass muttered as the valet parked the Hummer behind the Lexus. A horn blared behind her but she didn't take her focus off the traitor at her shoulder.

“Yeah.” He opened her door and helped her into the monstrously high seat without asking. Which she appreciated because she hated needing help.

As he handed her up, she pretended she didn't notice that his fingers brushed her thigh and hung around a little longer than was absolutely necessary. Just like she was pretending she wasn't remembering what had happened a few minutes ago. But noticing was a little hard to stop once she'd opened that Pandora's box.

When he slid into his own seat, he glanced at her. “Would you have rather I corrected you? I can run up to the window of Mark and Laurie's Lexus and let them know it really
is
a date. I'm sure the company grapevine would catch fire as quickly as that news would travel.”

“I get the point.”

“Thank you, Gage,” he mimicked in a high voice. “You're the best, Gage. Your quick thinking saved me, Gage.”

A spurt of laughter burst out through her clamped lips. How dare he make her have a good time? He was not allowed to be funny and charming. And sexy. Or such a good kisser. There should be a law.

How in the world did Gage get her to have fun on this date that wasn't a date?

She sobered and crossed her arms. “It wasn't a terrible cover. Now you can come by in the morning to continue digging into the leak. The other girls know you were my mentor and they'll believe me if I say I'm consulting with you.”

He shot her an amused once-over, brows raised and she resisted sinking down in the seat.

“Thank you, Gage,” she said in a high voice, imitating him mimicking her because she was not about to admit she should have already thanked him. “You're the best, Gage. And so on.”

She didn't like how masterfully he'd handled her. It was supposed to be the other way around.

“That's more like it.” Oblivious to her sarcasm, he grinned and nodded out the windshield. “Where to?”

Everything rolled off him like water off a duck's back. She wished she had that skill; she had to work at making it
appear
as if she did, when in truth, nothing rolled off. He'd missed teaching her that back in college—how to not care about anything and always squeeze the maximum amount of fun out of everything.

Perhaps she needed to practice. Retreating wouldn't get her what she needed—answers. She threw her shoulders back.

“Turn at the next light,” she instructed impulsively. “There's a great little area that overlooks the lake.”

As it wasn't too far from her house, she often used the trail for jogging, though she'd never been there at night. The spot had nighttime assignation written all over it.

“Are you asking me to
park
, Ms. Claremont?” The innuendo in his tone was half amused and half
hell, yeah
.

She forced a laugh as he followed her directions and pulled into the parking lot. “I'm asking you to stroll. It's a walking path.”

They could walk along the secluded moonlit path and she'd get him comfortable enough so she could ask a few pointed questions. And then when he least expected it, she'd move in for the kill.

It was no less than he deserved.

And she'd keep the reminder front and center, no matter how good it felt to be with him again. He'd kissed her. She'd kissed him back. No big deal. She didn't have to fall in love with every man she kissed. In fact, she'd never fallen in love with any man she'd kissed. Except one.

The key here was to work with Gage to find his connection to the leak and go on. A kiss was just a kiss. Emotions didn't belong in the middle of this and she'd make sure to keep it that way.

No problem.

She wished she didn't have to keep reminding herself of that.

“There's a gate with a keypad,” she called over her shoulder as they slid from the car. “This part of the lake is only for residents. Follow me.”

The area was secluded, with one dim light that illuminated only a small circle of the concrete lot. Trees marched away from the lot along the line of the path, sheltering it from the outside world.

“Sure.” Gage's voice had deepened in the dark, skittering along her bare skin and burrowing underneath to heat up her insides, as if he'd whispered erotic instructions instead of merely agreeing with her.

Lights would be good here. Gage and the dark mixed like oil and water.

Except she didn't have any lights to turn on. The dark blanketed them both as they walked to the gate, wrapping them in a secluded bubble that felt entirely too intimate.

As she punched in the key code, Gage's presence swept along her back, igniting her nerve endings with sensuous heat. He wasn't physically touching her, but she could feel him, hear his breath. Maybe even sense the beat of his heart.

The urge to move backward, flush against his body, almost overtook her and she bit her lip. He'd be warm, solid. Her core flooded with sharp desire and she covered her gasp with a cough.

The key panel flashed red. Wrong code. Dang it.

“Problem?” Gage murmured and leaned forward, decimating the space between their bodies.

Who was she kidding? Gage and darkness went together like chocolate and peanut butter. The dark was where he did his best work, wove his best spells. Wreaked the most destruction.

“I...fat fingered it,” she muttered back. “Give me a sec.”

She got it right the second time. How, she'd never know.

The gate swung open on well-oiled hinges and that's when the moon blessed her with an appearance, washing the path and the lake below with a silver sheen. Perfect timing. Her nerves couldn't take much more and the dark would only tempt the devil to perform his black magic.

“There's a gazebo a few hundred yards up the path,” she murmured. “We can talk.”

Yes, talking. She grasped on to the concept like a lifeline, hoping the short walk would allow her to get her brain in working order again. If everything went according to plan, she'd have the solid proof she needed to implicate Gage in the leak and then she could drop him like a hot potato.

Gage, to his credit, strolled to the moonlit gazebo as instructed. The heady scent of man and sage wound through the stillness, distracting her. She never would have identified the faint herbal notes of Gage's aftershave without Laurie's comments in front of the restaurant and now it was all she could do to keep from sticking her nose in the hollow of his shoulder bone.

“So,” she said as she glided up the gazebo stairs and leaned on the railing to peer out over the silvery lake. “You must have some great ears to the ground to have such detailed information about my formula.”

He leaned against a post, arms crossed, and watched her as if the gorgeous panorama beyond the gazebo didn't exist. “Pardon me if I have very little interest in that subject right this minute.”

She glanced at him and he wasn't even bothering to conceal his thoughts. Which must be very naughty indeed judging by the lascivious once-over he gave her. Answering heat gathered in her core, totally against her will.

All at once, she wished for a bunch of clouds to cover the moon. At least in the dark, she could pretend she didn't notice how he had such a beautiful body and gorgeous face, both of which had become more interesting with age. She shuddered as she recalled the way he'd kissed her. More heat flashed across her skin.

Why
did he do that to her?

“It's a great subject,” she corrected, ignoring the corkscrewing pulls inside her abdomen. “Very important. I'm just curious where you heard about it. If we're going to stop the leak, it might help to work our way backward.”

“You think?” he murmured as he unwound from his casual pose against the post to advance on her. “What if I want to talk about something else?”

She held her ground as he drew up within a hairsbreadth of touching her. “Like what?”

Without hesitation, he grabbed her hand, pulling her flush against him. Her body fell into alignment with his, nestling into the grooves like a mascara wand meeting eyelashes. His arms settled around her and somehow her head tipped back, exposing her throat to his hot perusal.

“Like how it would feel to kiss you when there's no danger of anyone interrupting us.”

“Gage,” she said and cursed the breathless delivery. She might as well announce how her core had gone liquid the moment his hard muscles came in contact with her curves. “Let go.”

“Are you sure that's wise?” he murmured, holding her closer, which she would have sworn was impossible. “You sound a little faint. I wouldn't want you to collapse.”

God, he felt good.

She needed to go on a real date, obviously, with a nice man who would treat her well and drink the wine she'd ordered. They'd have a pleasant evening ending with a romantic nightcap at her place and then he'd gently and attentively make love to her.

Above all, when she told him what to do, he'd do it.

“I'm okay. Thanks,” she threw in before he started mimicking her again.

“
I'm
not okay.” He bent his head to murmur into her ear. “And I like you where you are.”