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She nodded. Damn her for getting involved with a man who was exactly what she wanted yet exactly what she hated at the same time. Work would always come first for Neil Harrison and she wanted a man that would put her first.
“Good thing we don’t need to end anything because it never really started in the first place, right?”
She was not going to be the one to make this “relationship” more than it was. Last night, Neil had had made it perfectly clear that he wasn’t interested in opening himself up for more than just friendly, hot sex. She wouldn’t allow herself to be rejected again.
“Right.” He nodded. “We’re just having fun.”
“So, you got what I need, huh?”
The sneer that had monopolized his face had turned into a slight grin. His smile hit her right between the legs. He was feeling a little better.
But she was torn between fear and desire and her strong physical connection with Neil was winning. “I said I know what you need. Don’t twist my words.”
“My apologies, Ms. Kelly. And what is it that I need?”
She had no idea. She had just buying time in the hopes that maybe he would simmer down.
And she could simmer down.
He squeezed her tighter. “But maybe we can hide out here, just for today.”
He looked up and smiled just as her phone vibrated again.
She liked the sound of that.
She look down at him. He winked. And she melted. Were her daddy issues that severe that she’d fall prey to a player like Neil Harrison? A man who was no stranger to having women fawn all over him. Which is exactly the reason why she didn’t go out of her way to make him feel special. Which was exactly why she could never let him in.
But you’ve already let him in. She sighed. She’d let him in a long time ago.
Chapter Nine
Carson walked behind an administrative assistant who led her to the boardroom at Bower Industries.
Today was the day. The day when she proved that she didn’t need her father to secure a deal.
She had finally returned his call once she had settled in with Neil at her place. To say he was less than enthusiastic about his daughter being part of a sex tape scandal was putting it mildly, but she had managed to clear the air. For the time being.
It was hard for her father to argue when she turned his attention away from his embarrassment to the fact that she had been the victim of a crime. It was still an invasion of privacy and she didn’t need her father to be embarrassed. She had enough of that to deal with on her own.
She had even negotiated his silence during the meeting this morning. She couldn’t stop him from showing up, or from bringing Martin the toad, but at least she’d have time to dazzle the client all on her own.
When she entered the boardroom, her father and Martin were already seated at the large conference table with the President and CEO of Bower Industries. She wasn’t late by any means, but she should have anticipated the attempt at a one-up.
“Good morning.”
“Carson, dear. Nice of you to join us,” her father said.
Nice? Because she wasn’t the one who scheduled the meeting? Because she wasn’t the one who spent countless sleepless nights completing the project proposal?
“Mr. Bower. It’s wonderful to see you again.” She approached the front of the room and extended her hand.
Liam Bower, like Carson, was a second generation business person. He had taken over the multi-million dollar steel company from his father and had doubled the business in less than two years. No doubt he had achieved this with the full support of his family. It was easier to succeed when you had someone behind you.
“Likewise Ms. Kelly. I’m anxious to see what you’ve come up with.”
Carson had been tasked with recreating their head office space. She opted not for a complete demolition, but rather a gutting of the existing building to serve as both a warehouse and office. The goal was to bring together the two things Liam Bower preached—family and employee engagement. Carson had picked up on these two themes during their conversations and, combined with the list of wants and needs he had faxed over a month ago, she knew she had hit this one out of the park.
She plugged her USB into the laptop and fired up her presentation.
