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‘That’s an excellent idea—over two billion people use the web. But I should warn you that it doesn’t necessarily translate into sales straight away. The idea is to...’ She stopped suddenly, pushed the door open, the enthusiasm sparking in her eyes almost making him feel guilty. But then he remembered it was a real job, he’d got the funding approved by the board months ago—and he got the final say on who to hire, so he could hire her if he wanted. ‘Why don’t you come in? We can discuss it further.’ She glanced at her clothing. ‘I’ll get dressed and we can...’
‘No need to get dressed on my account.’ He let his gaze drift down the shorty robe past long, toned legs to bare feet, and toes painted cotton-candy pink. And imagined himself nibbling on that cute little pinkie. He let the innuendo heat the air, before returning his gaze to her face. Her breathing had speeded up, making her cleavage rise and fall against the confining lace. ‘I can’t stop to discuss it now. I’ve got a plane to catch. That’s why I need you to come to Savannah.’
‘But I don’t have to be in Georgia. Everything can be done online and we can correspond via email.’
He smiled—he’d definitely heard the disappointment that time. And the way her voice had lowered to the throaty purr that signalled her arousal.
‘I want you to see the mill, talk to the folks that work there, get a clear picture of who we are and what we do.’ Damned if he hadn’t almost convinced himself by the time he’d finished outlining all the elements of the operation he wanted her to get acquainted with.
‘Well, I suppose...’
He leant in and pressed a quick perfunctory kiss to her lips, heard her sharp intake of breath. ‘Great, that’s all settled. I’ll get my PA to negotiate a contract and email flight details. Can you make it down early next week?’
‘If you’re sure you need me to be there.’
‘I’m sure.’
‘Then I guess that settles it.’
He stepped back, cursing the fact that he’d be riding an erection all the way to the airport as his lungs filled with the sunny scent of her hair. He let his gaze wander over her figure. ‘As much as I like that get-up, you might want to pack a few more clothes. But keep them light—it’s hot and sticky in Savannah at this time of year.’ And even though his house in the city’s Victorian Historic District was well air-conditioned, he had a fee
ling it was going to be even hotter and stickier there once she was sleeping down the hall.
The smile she sent him made him suspect she wasn’t going to play all that hard to get. But then neither was he. ‘Okay.’
‘See you later.’ He nodded, the words more than a little husky.
But as he turned to go she touched his arm. ‘Just a second, Carter. Did you speak to Marnie this week?’
‘Sure, we had lunch on Tuesday.’ The usual strained, stilted affair.
‘And you didn’t tell her about us? About Friday night?’
‘I said I wouldn’t,’ he replied, not sure where the irritation came from. It wasn’t as if he and Marnie were bosom buddies. Even though their mama had raised her never to say it, he knew Marnie thought he was a womanising jerk. He knew that and he accepted it—it was part of the penance he paid for that night—and frankly Marnie’s bad opinion had been the least of his worries as he watched his marriage disintegrate.
Since the divorce and their mother’s death, Marnie had kept her distance, pursuing a career in New York that he knew very little about—and making caustic comments on the few occasions they met about his being the playboy of the western world. He didn’t bother to deny it, because he didn’t need her approval—and he hadn’t exactly been a monk. But he also didn’t plan to give Marnie more ammunition, so the last thing he’d be likely to do was mention to his sister that he’d had an all-nighter with Gina again. But the spurt of annoyance was there none the less. Not just because Gina had doubted his word, but because she seemed so damned determined to keep their thing a secret. He didn’t like secrets, because they could come back and bite you on the butt.
‘Could I ask you to keep quiet about this arrangement too?’ she said.
‘Sure, if that’s the way you want it.’ He shrugged, trying not to care. ‘Marnie doesn’t get involved in mill business, she just helps herself to the company’s equity,’ he said, the statement coming out with more bitterness than he’d intended when he saw Gina frown.
‘If you say so,’ she murmured and the prickle of irritation became a definite stab. ‘I’ll see you in a few days.’
‘Yeah.’ He waved her goodbye and jogged down the stairs, conceding that a few days seemed like a mighty long time.
* * *
Gina slammed the door and leaned against it, her diamond-hard nipples making the silk of her camisole feel like sandpaper.
Way to go, Gina. After going cold turkey for a whole week, your drug of choice appears and you resist temptation for precisely ten seconds.
She rolled her eyes and squeezed her thighs together to stop the insistent ache that had settled there as soon as she’d encountered Carter Price standing on her doorstop. His dark hair furrowed into rows and those cobalt eyes even bluer than usual.
She pursed her lips.
Carter wouldn’t have offered her this commission unless he thought she would do a competent job—his business was far too important to him for that—but the lingering sizzle where his mouth had touched hers in that casual but proprietary kiss told a slightly different story. That the decision to offer her this opportunity might not be entirely based on the glowing testimonials on her website.
As an independent working woman with a fledgling business she was proud of, she should be outraged.
