Читать книгу Need You Now - Yahrah John St. - Страница 12

Kayla was still lying in the bed the next morning and it was well after seven. She knew she should be getting ready for work, but how could she? She’d slept fitfully the night before. Visions of Ethan and the sudden surge of lust he’d evoked had kept her awake.

She told herself it was just curiosity from finally having the object of her teenage infatuation. Or maybe it was because it had been a long time since a man had roused that kind of passion in her. But she knew better. The sexual chemistry between them was so strong it had consumed her and shattered her resolve to keep him at bay. She was furious with her body’s betrayal. In the cold light of day, it was impossible to ignore that every part of her had wanted Ethan last night. The question was, what was she going to do about it?

Kayla was anxious. The prospectus listing the shares of Adams Cosmetics had gone out confidentially to several private investors and companies, but it had been over a week and she hadn’t heard a thing. She was beginning to worry that their company could be going up in smoke when her assistant, Myra, poked her head in the door.

“Kayla, are you free?”

Kayla smiled warmly at Myra. She had come a long way in the past two years. She’d started out as a mousy mess, but now after working with Kayla she was poised and confident and had no problem calling her by her first name. “Yes, what is it?”

“Ethan Graham is here to see you.”

“Excuse me?” Kayla’s head popped up from the file she was reading. She hadn’t expected to hear that name so soon, especially after their encounter last night. Sure, she suspected they would reconnect at some point, but not so soon.

“Umm, umm,” Kayla stammered and began shuffling the file around to close it. Myra stared back at her, clearly stunned to see her boss at a loss for words. “Tell him I’ll be with him in a minute.”

“There will be no minute,” Ethan said from the door of her office. “We’ll talk now.”

Kayla’s eyes rose to meet his and when she did, she inhaled sharply. Ethan’s mesmerizingly dark, deep-set eyes, the ones she’d gotten lost in as a naive young girl, were directly on her.

“Kayla.” Ethan walked toward her, commanding her absolute attention from his six-foot-three presence.

Kayla managed to tear her eyes away from Ethan for a second to tell her starstruck assistant, who was also staring at Ethan, “That will be all, thank you.”

“Ethan.” Since they were in a professional setting, Kayla offered her hand as she rose, which Ethan shook.

“You’re looking good,” Ethan stated, standing back to admire her in the two-piece navy suit she was wearing. It was completely professional, showing little of what he knew to be a curvy body underneath all those clothes.

“Ethan!”

“I don’t believe in wasting time,” Ethan returned as he sat across from her. “I believe in getting down to business.”

“And you think I’m your business?”

“Not yet, but you will be,” Ethan responded. “I’m here to discuss Adams Cosmetics.”

“I told you I was not interested in Graham International as a potential investor,” she countered icily.

“I think that would be a grave mistake. Why don’t you try treating me as you would any other investor? You might be surprised at what I have to offer you.”

“Fine.” She sighed. She was tired of fighting. “Have a seat.” She motioned to the chair in front of her large executive desk. “All right,” Kayla said, folding her arms across her chest. “Well, we have some great projects in the pipeline, but have run short of capital, as I’m sure you’re aware. If you’d like, I can contact Shane and bring him in to discuss some of the plans we have.” Kayla reached for the phone on her desk, but Ethan placed his large masculine hand over hers. His touch sent a tingling sensation shooting right through her core and she pulled her hand away suddenly.

“I don’t need Shane,” Ethan returned. “I only need you.” Kayla was chattering endlessly because he’d caught her off-guard, which was good. She wouldn’t expect what was coming next.

Kayla swallowed hard and suddenly became uncomfortable. Ethan was looking at her with the same intent gaze he’d had last night before he’d kissed her.

“What is it that you want, Ethan?”

“I want what you offered me seventeen years ago but I couldn’t collect on then.”

Kayla laughed falsely. “What are you talking about?”

Ethan smiled broadly, revealing a set of perfect white teeth behind his large succulent lips. “You know what I’m talking about.” He stared her directly in the eye and watched Kayla’s cheeks burn in acknowledgment of the memory.

“Are you kidding me? I was young and clearly out of mind when I came on to you. And I can’t believe you would dare to bring that up.”

Ethan popped out of his seat to lean across the desk. He gave her body a raking gaze. “I’ve been wanting you since that day, and we both know I’m used to getting what I want.”

Kayla’s eyes narrowed and she smirked. “Yes, we do.”

“You were too young for me to act on our mutual attraction, but we’re both adults now…”

Understanding started to dawn on Kayla. “Oh, I see, in exchange for a romp in the sack with me, you’ll invest in Adams Cosmetics. Get out of my office!”

Kayla hurried to the door to show him out, but with long purposeful strides, Ethan reached her in no time and grabbed her arm. “I’m offering you a darn good deal. Not only do you get me, but Graham International will pour millions into Adams Cosmetics and save it from bankruptcy.”

“There are no limits to your audacity, are there?” She snatched her arm away. “You have no right to come into my office, manhandle me and demand I sleep with you or else you won’t invest in my company. It’s despicable.”

“I have every right.” Ethan stepped closer to her and Kayla could smell his musky masculine scent. “You want a great deal of money to save this sinking ship, and it comes with a price.”

“Sleep with you or else?”

“No,” Ethan returned. “Marry me or else.”

Shane burst through her office door seconds later. “Sis, I heard Ethan Graham is in the building—” He stopped short, blinking in bafflement that he’d clearly interrupted a moment.

Ethan walked toward him and shook Shane’s hand warmly. “Shane, it’s good to see you again.”

“You, as well,” Shane responded and glanced over at his sister. “Kay, are you okay?” he asked, because all color had gone out of her face.

“I…I…” Kayla glanced at Ethan’s smug face and then back at her brother. She was experiencing a gamut of perplexing emotions. “I…I need a glass of water.” With leaden feet, she walked over to her wet bar and with trembling hands opened a bottled water. Marry Ethan or else? What the hell was he thinking? He was the last person she wanted to marry.

She brought the bottle to her lips and turned to face them.

“Are you here to talk about investing?” Shane inquired.

“More or less,” Ethan glanced at Kayla, whom he’d struck into silence with his bold offer. He’d thought long and hard and realized that Kayla was the only woman he’d ever known who shared his love of money and thrived on power. He’d spent years searching for someone who could hold her own with him, when Kayla had been that someone all along.