Page 11 of Caught off Guard

At that moment, I was happy Geoff didn’t join us, since he told me he had an emergency at the bank. I could only imagine how intimidated he would be at not being the center of attention around Cairo. Although I rode Lena for being mean to Geoff, I didn’t mind admitting that his quirks were sometimes problematic.

“Are you ready?” Mr. Kinney flashed a megawatt smile my way when the crowd thinned enough for him to return to his bodyguard’s side.

“Of course. Right this way.” I extended my arm and pointed toward the administration building, three buildings ahead of us.

On the way to our destination, I gave a brief history of the university and several landmarks around us. When we reached the third floor, I greeted my assistant and directed them to my office. Cairo placed his hand on top of Luther’s black leather coat to hold him back.

“This is a private meeting between Dr. Langston and me.”

I looked between the men, confused at why I needed to be alone with Mr. Kinney when Luther had stuck to him like glue all day.

“Mr. Kinney, I have no problem with Luther being in the room with us. If you trust him, I do too.”

“It’s not that. I prefer to discuss our business…privately.”

A chill went down my spine as Mr. Kinney raked his tongue over his teeth and looked at my chest so quickly that I thought I must have imagined it.

“Luther doesn’t mind waiting in the lobby, do you?” He shot a glance Luther’s way, giving him some kind of nonverbal exchange I couldn’t decipher.

The thick-framed bodyguard, who carried himself like a retired boxer, furrowed his brow at Mr. Kinney before he gave his boss a sharp nod. I played what that was off, turned to Whitney, and smiled.

“Whitney, please make sure Luther is comfortable.” She nodded and directed him to our small kitchenette, where an assortment of beverages and snacks were laid out.

On her way there, she held out a pink sticky note, which I accepted. I stepped to the side and read the note, which readThat man is hotter than hell fire. If you don’t want him, I do, followed by a tongue drawn in ink.

I crumpled the note and raised my head to give Whitney a reprimanding look, but all I saw was the back of her black and white houndstooth dress as her black patent leather heels clicked toward the kitchenette with Luther. I plastered a quick smile on my face and led Mr. Kinney to my office, closing the door behind me.

I motioned for him to sit next to me in a walnut brown wingback chair that mirrored the one parallel to mine. Once settled, he stretched his long legs out and rested his hands on his knees. His pensive look had me fidgeting again as his eyes leisurely traveled from the top of my head to my neck, then my torso and legs. Once he returned his eyes to my face, I crossed my legs at the ankle and pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose, holding my body tight and still so I wouldn’t draw unwanted attention to other parts of my body.

“Thanks for your generosity, Mr. Kinney. I wasn’t expecting the day to turn out as it did.” I smiled, genuinely appreciative of the philanthropy of the man who had cemented his position as the most generous donor in the school’s history.

“My pleasure. And it’s Cairo. I’ve read up on you and your strategic plans. I know the foundation’s funds will be in good hands.” He threw the prettiest smile I’d ever seen my way.

Although warmth overtook me, I refused for him to disarm me. That charm of his crossed a boundary. I’d bet a month’s salary he knew he wasn’t being 100 percent professional. Since he was being informal, though, I would match his energy too.

“Thank you. And in that case, please call me Zora.” I offered a genuine smile. “I know you’re a busy man, so thank you for going above and beyond to bail me out of what was turning into a public jam.”

Maybe my vulnerability would make him pull back a little by catching him off guard the same way he did me.

“Dear Zora, it is my absolute pleasure to support such a captivating leader.” His voice oozed even more charm as he undoubtedly flirted with me.

When Cairo reached toward me for a handshake, I offered my right hand in appreciation. I should have realized it was a trap, though, as he clasped it in both of his hands and held it firm, stroking my inner palm with his thumb and staring at me with an intensity that had me shifting in my seat.

“Do you ever wear your hair down? It’s beautiful.”

I sucked in my breath and blushed, startled at the turn of the conversation. I pulled my hand from Cairo’s grasp and folded my hands in my lap to prevent myself from playing with my hair. I hoped that my bun was as intact as I thought it was.

“Excuse my directness, but the way I wear my hair has nothing to do with university business.”

“I’m sorry for offending you. It’s just that your online photo doesn’t do you justice.” The twinkle in Cairo’s eyes gave me what was now a routine warmth that drew me deeper into the sticky web that was Cairo Kinney.

He tilted his body my way and lowered the volume of his voice so I had to lean in too.

“Zora, I have a simple request for you.”

I took in the wholeness of his carriage, which reminded me of a crouching tiger ready to pounce. Given how I had been off my game all afternoon, I knew not to poke the bear, but curiosity got the best of me. I mirrored his posture and smiled, inhaling his clean scent like it was a drug. My eyes gravitated to the pink tongue that briefly traced his bottom lip as he wet it. I kept my voice low as if we weren’t the only people in the room.

“What’s that, Cairo Kinney?”

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