Читать книгу The CEO's Scandalous Affair / Seduced by the Wealthy Playboy - Roxanne St. Claire - Страница 8

Three

“I thought I should wear a wrap.”

Parker gave in to the urge to check her out top to bottom one more time. Anna was stunning. Extraordinary. Perfect.

“Why would you cover that up?” he asked.

“I just… I’m cold.” She rubbed her bare arms self-consciously, the gesture drawing her breasts together in the most provocative way.

He’d reached to touch her shoulder, but his hand continued over her back, drawing her closer, warming her. “You don’t need a wrap. You’ve got a date.”

Goose bumps rose on her skin, and beneath the thin red material that hugged her breasts, her nipples hardened, sending a few gallons of his blood below the belt.

What was that stupid decision he’d made on the plane? Something about kindred spirits and messing things up with sex and…

Never mind. Some decisions just screamed to be second-guessed.

“You look incredible,” he said, letting genuine admiration warm his voice as he leaned closer and took a whiff of her musky perfume. “And you smell like heaven.”

“Thanks,” she said softly, stepping away from him in one easy move. “You clean up nice, too, Mr.—”

He pointed a playful finger at her. “Don’t you dare.”

“Parker.” She smiled and moved another step away. “I’m sorry, it’s a hard habit to break.”

“I’ll help you.” Reaching for her hand, he lifted her knuckles to his mouth and placed a soft kiss on her silky skin. “Every time you use the word mister, I’m going to kiss you.”

Her eyelashes shuttered and the goose bumps returned, but she laughed softly. “Kind of like Pavlov’s dog?”

“Nothing like Pavlov’s dog.” He guided her toward the door. “But consider yourself warned. And every time you force me to kiss you, it’s going to get…” He tempered his smoky look with a half smile. “More serious.”

Maybe that would nudge her toward that “cue” he’d been waiting for.

“Then I’ll have to be very careful of what I say,” she promised, her pretty mouth turned up in a teasing smile.

As they walked toward the elevator, he drank in her staggering combination of sexuality and elegance. The gown narrowed at her waist, then flared and then…

Oh, man. The thigh-high slit made his mouth go bone dry. How was a guy supposed to keep his hands out of that treasure trove?

He hit the elevator call button and leaned closer to her. “I have to tell you,” he said, glancing down at the open pleat. “You have great legs, Anna.”

Color darkened her cheeks. “Thank you, Mist—”

Parker grinned as he dipped down and kissed her cheek. “What were you going to say?”

She chuckled softly. “Thank you, Parker.”

“My pleasure,” he said, his voice rich with double meaning. Sliding his arm around her waist, he placed his mouth close to her ear as the elevator bell dinged and the doors opened. “Next time it’ll be on the lips.”

“Well, if it isn’t the Grand Garrison himself.”

Parker froze at the ice in the familiar voice, the frisson of sexual play extinguished by the sound of an archenemy. He led Anna into the car, sparing Jordan Jefferies no more than a passing glance as he nodded hello. Just long enough to see the tall, muscular man looked tan and fit, and wore a tuxedo.

Parker swore mentally. Jefferies was headed to the same gala, no doubt.

“I’m afraid your escort is too rude to introduce us,” Jordan said to Anna. “I’m Jordan Jefferies.”

She gave the man a blank look as if she’d never even heard of him before. But how could she not? She must have heard the name around the office. She had to know the Jefferies brothers, both this one and the adopted Emilio, were the bane of Parker’s existence. What the hell was he doing here, anyway? He hadn’t been on the guest list Parker had requested to see before he’d left.

“Anna Cross,” she said politely, shaking his hand.

Jefferies turned her fingers, gave a little fake Euro-bow and kissed her knuckles. Parker seethed silently.

“A pleasure, Anna,” Jefferies said.

“Couldn’t find a date, Jefferies?” Parker said, only half teasing.

“I decided to fly over at the last minute,” he replied, his blue eyes riveted on Anna. “And certainly I couldn’t find anyone to rival this beautiful woman.”

Anna sneaked a sideways glance of disbelief at Parker, and he wanted to kiss her again for not succumbing to the wiles of this snake. Instead, he slid a possessive arm around her and eased her into his side. Where she’d be spending the evening.

And, if all went well, the night.

The car stopped at a lower floor and when the doors opened, Parker’s stomach dropped at the sight of yet another archenemy.

Emilio Jefferies nodded to his brother, but his sage-green eyes swept over Parker, his olive complexion darkening just a little. “Parker. Pleasant surprise to see you here.”

Parker doubted that it was pleasant or a surprise, but he did the right thing and introduced the other Jefferies brother to Anna.

“I assume you are both headed to the gala,” Anna said.

“We are,” Emilio acknowledged.

“I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time,” she said.

He nodded and looked at Parker. “How is your family?”

“Fine.” Parker studied the numbers above the door, calculating just how many more seconds he’d have to exchange oxygen with Jordan and Emilio Jefferies.

“Your sisters?” Jordan asked.

Parker speared him with a look. He’d kill either of his sisters if they even talked to these two snakes. “Fine,” he repeated.

“Miss Cross.” Jordan directed his attention back to Anna, ignoring Parker. “Are you in the hospitality industry as well?”

“Anna is my assistant,” Parker said before she could answer, infusing the pride he felt into his voice.

Jefferies notched a knowing eyebrow. “Well, that must be convenient.”

Parker’s fingers twitched with the desire to land something convenient in Jordan Jefferies’s smug face but Anna just relaxed into him, her smile all grace and class. “It certainly is, as Mr. Garrison is so gifted when it comes to mixing business and pleasure.”

Jordan drew back as the door opened, surprise and admiration on his sculpted features. He stepped aside and let Anna out of the elevator first.

“You know I love nothing more than taking what you want, Garrison,” Jordan murmured to Parker under his breath.

“And I love nothing more than making sure you don’t.”

“Then you’d better hold on to your assistant.”

“I plan to.”

“And everything else,” Emilio added with a smile that looked more like a sneer.

Parker gave them both venomous looks, then muscled past to walk Anna through the Ritz lobby. They didn’t speak until they’d been whisked through the doors and cocooned into a waiting limousine.

“That was the perfect way to handle them,” Parker said as he handed her a bubbling glass of champagne the driver had just poured.

Anna accepted it, and tilted her head. “Why, thank you, Mr. Garrison.”

She’d used the name on purpose, he had no doubt. Flashing her a victorious grin, he leaned closer and brushed her lips with his.

“Next time,” he whispered against her lips, “it’s a French kiss.”

“Thanks for the warning.” The crystal clinked. “Parker.”

He sipped the champagne, admired his beautiful date and imagined just how many times he could get her to call him Mr. Garrison in the next few hours.

* * *

In no time at all, Anna surrendered.

How could she not? No woman could resist the magic of a magnificent, historic banquet hall shimmering with a million candles and a thousand elegantly dressed guests. She just gave in to the music, the moment and, of course, the man. The sounds of a full orchestra reverberated off the carved stone walls of Guildhall and echoed from the grandiose stained glass windows. Laughter, tinkling glasses and chatter vibrated around the well-dressed guests gliding across the glasslike marble floor.

From the moment they’d arrived, Parker teased, flirted, danced and introduced Anna as if she were his most prized treasure, keeping one possessive hand on the small of her back.

As they danced to a ballad, he whispered tidbits about the guests, making her laugh with his insights, impressing her with how well he knew so many of the people in his industry.

“That’s Davis Brookheiser, the owner of that new line of spa resorts out in California,” he said, tilting his head toward an older man who slowly—very slowly—waltzed with an attractive young woman.

“And that’s Davis’s daughter?” Anna asked, letting just a little sarcasm tinge her voice.

He laughed. “That would be the third Mrs. Brookheiser.” Then he frowned a little at the couple. “Maybe the fourth. I’ve lost track of Davis’s trophies.”

As the couple danced by, Anna caught Mrs. Brookheiser staring at Parker over her much shorter husband’s shoulder. But he ignored the obvious attention, keeping his focus on Anna.

“She hasn’t lost track of you,” Anna teased.

He applied a gentle amount of pressure to her back, easing her closer so she could feel the steel muscles of his body and the unmistakable message of desire in his touch.

“No thanks. I’ve got my hands nicely full at the moment.”

Blood rushed through her veins, firing up her nerve endings, making her boneless and light-headed. If he had any idea how many nights she’d put herself to sleep with this very scenario in her imagination. Parker, holding her and making promises with his eyes. Parker, inches from her mouth for a kiss.

Parker.

She took a slow, steadying breath and forced herself to admire the pageantry around her. She had to remember why she was dead set against acting on her attraction. She had to remember why he was all wrong for her.

He’s your boss, dummy.

Yeah. Right. She was having a very difficult time remembering that. At the moment, she could barely remember her own name.

“Just imagine how many royals and prime ministers have danced on this very floor,” she said, leaning away, striving for casual conversation even though the music and the movement were anything but casual.

But her gesture just gave him an opportunity to lower his gaze to her throat, study the V in her neckline and eventually return for a good, long examination of her mouth. Only then did he politely follow her glance around.

“Many, since Guildhall has been hosting high-end affairs since the fourteen hundreds.”

“I guess the association can’t hold this event at a hotel,” she mused. “That would be like playing favorites.”

“Exactly,” he agreed. “This has to remain neutral ground for all the members. See that gray-haired matriarch under the arch? Genevieve Dufresne.”

“The Swiss resort Dufresne?”

He gave her a satisfied smile. “You do pay attention to the business, don’t you? Yes, she is the head of the mighty Dufresne family. So, believe me, there might be a spirit of shared camaraderie since we’re all in similar businesses, but there’s competition in the air.”

“Like in the elevator.”

He made a distasteful face.

“Why do you hate them so much?”

The music ended and he guided her toward the table, where she picked up her handbag.

“Let’s walk outside,” he suggested, pausing to snag two crystal champagne flutes when a white-tailed waiter walked by.

She took hers, but didn’t sip. The atmosphere and company were intoxicating enough. They wandered through one of the dozens of soaring archways that led to various halls, a museum and crypts housing centuries of folklore, legends and art.

On a wide stone veranda, where a number of partygoers dallied at tables and benches to enjoy the evening air, they found a cozy bench, blocked by a large planter and secluded from the other people.

“Perfect,” he said, taking her hand and tugging her next to him.

“You didn’t answer my question,” Anna said after a moment. “Why do you hate the Jefferies brothers?”

He gave her a wry smile. “You could ruin a perfectly awesome night with that line of questioning. Truthfully, I don’t hate anyone, but if I were going to, Jordan and Emilio would head the list.”

“Why?”

“They’re ruthless, cutthroat empire builders.”

She stifled a smile. “And you’re not.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but then let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh. “Not ruthless.”

“Yes, ruthless.”

“Not cutthroat.”

“Yes, cutthroat.”

“Not… All right.” He grinned. “But not underhanded. And I think they are and I don’t want that womanizer Jordan around my sisters.” He inched closer and draped a possessive arm around her. “Or you.”

“Me?” The champagne tickled her nose, mixed with the soft, masculine scent of man. Unable to resist, she nestled into the expensive fabric of his tuxedo jacket.

“Yes, you,” he said, his face perilously close to hers.

“He would want nothing to do with me,” she insisted.

“Not when you’re doing your level best to hide your assets behind your shapeless suits. But the secret’s out now.” He brought his face closer to hers, and lowered his voice to barely above a whisper. “You are a beautiful, sexy woman, Anna.”

She closed her eyes as the compliment washed over her, more potent than if she’d thrown back her champagne and his.

“Thank you,” she said, searching for some way to divert the conversation to a less personal area. “So how do you know the Jefferies brothers are cutthroat and ruthless? I don’t recall any dealings with them since I’ve worked for you.”

“You sure know how to wreck a moment,” he said, a smile on his lips. “Those brothers have made it no secret that they want to give Garrison, Inc. a run for its money. And they are doing a good job,” he conceded, taking a swallow of champagne. “They’ve made some major inroads into the luxury hospitality and entertainment fields.”

“You don’t strike me as a man who worries about competition.”

“Of course I do. I worry about squashing it. And I worry about the fate and status of the Garrison brand, which, as you know, I’m responsible for.” A shadow crossed his expression. “At least I was until my father’s will was read.”

“What’s happening to the brand?” Anna relaxed a little, encouraged that the conversation had been steered away from the undercurrent of sexual tension that had been ricocheting off the Guildhall walls for the last few hours.

“We’re just taking hits in the media, and some investors I’d counted on have backed out from deals for no apparent reason. Properties I want have suddenly been sold to someone else.” He snorted softly. “Usually to someone named Jefferies.” After a moment, he added, “I seriously think there’s a leak in my company.”

A shiver danced down her spine. “A leak?”

“A spy. A mole. A…someone feeding inside information to competitors. To the Jefferieses.” He turned to her, his expression fierce. “I’m going to find out who it is and ruin them.”

White lights burst behind her eyes and it wasn’t stars or romance blinding her. It was the hard, cold smack of her past hitting her in the face.

“A spy?” She heard the shakiness in her voice.

“Don’t sound incredulous. It happens, you know.”

Oh, she knew. She knew firsthand. She knew so well it hurt. “I’ve read about things like that.” The only problem was that when she read about them, her name was in the articles.

Her name—not the man who’d committed the crime. Not Michael Montgomery, a man she’d thought she loved and trusted. A man who’d used her to get into the computer system of her boss, another CEO.

The night air suddenly seemed stifling and the back of her neck burned with perspiration. If Parker ever learned of her past, of the accusation—however wrong—that she’d let her lover access files from her boss’s computer, then she would be fired. Of that, there was no doubt.

Who would ever give her a chance to explain? Her old boss hadn’t. The media hadn’t. She’d just had to run.

“All it would take is one person who has knowledge of my deals to slip the information to one of the Jefferieses,” he continued, his voice suddenly sounding distant as blood thundered through her ears.

“Do you think…someone has?”

“I’m certain of it. Jordan and Emilio Jefferies weren’t going to come to this gala. They weren’t on the list. But then, wham. They show up and no one knew I was coming but a handful of Garrison employees.”

Including her. At his words, her stomach tightened, her fingertips tingled, her head spun. Only this time, her reaction had nothing to do with attraction, but everything to do with the fear of detection.

Of course, she was innocent. Totally and completely and wholly innocent, and the charges against her had been dropped. But the stain was still there.

Could a man who’d just admitted he was ruthless, cutthroat and competitive even see past that stain? Could he ever see beyond the fact that she had let one other corporate rival into the inner workings of another CEO’s desk…albeit unknowingly?

“It really bothers me,” he said, still staring into the night.

She had to get the subject changed, fast.

“In fact,” he continued, “I’m more determined than ever to find the leak.”

She had to get him off course.

“And with the change in my father’s—”

She reached up and pressed her lips to his cheek. He froze, then slowly turned toward her. “What are you doing, Miss Cross?”

“What do you think I’m doing, Mr. Garrison?”

He broke into a slow, sexy smile. “What did you call me?”

She lifted her face in invitation, forming the words she knew would derail his train of thought. “Mr. Garrison.”

He closed his mouth over hers instantly, kissing her exactly the way he did everything…thoroughly, expertly, with masterful control and brilliant timing.

Parting her lips, she allowed his tongue to explore her mouth. Chills and heat warred over her skin as he glided his hands over her bare back, burrowing his fingers into the hair at the nape of her neck.

She tilted her head, and he deepened the kiss, a tender moan vibrating his chest. He pulled her closer and murmured her name against her mouth.

“Let’s go back to the hotel,” he whispered in the kiss. “Now.”

Okay, she had definitely changed the direction of the conversation.

He stood, pulling her into him. “I want you,” he told her, confirming that with a full-body press that left no doubt he was aroused.

She melted into the kiss, torn by a secret delight that she’d caused that hard ridge against her stomach, and the secret horror that he’d find out why.

She inched back, catching her breath. “Parker…I…”

“Unless you’d rather talk business some more,” he said with a playful kiss on her nose.

“Not on your life,” she said. And, God knows, she meant it.