Page 37 of Ruthless Financier
She caressed my cheek like she cared as she said, “You were a teenager. I was an adult, and it’s my job to help my family. I can help better with a cool head.”
Unexpectedly, my body hardened to take her. No woman had ever had me this tied up inside. I traced her arm and goosebumps followed as I said, “I didn’t have anyone like you. Sweet like cream on the inside, but pretending to be hard on the outside.”
Her face grew brighter and her eyes somehow had a light in them as she shook her head. “I’m not a piece of candy.”
“I beg to differ,” I said, and kissed her. “Candy and you are my weaknesses.”
She stayed in my arms and hugged me tight. “You have no weakness.”
She had no idea. Her hug made me hope she trusted me now. I let her go, and she let out a soft, satisfied sigh. She turned on the shower.
For a second, I thought of joining her. The thought of her naked body, wet, in front of me was tempting, but I’d promised to wait till tonight. I tore myself out of the bathroom and headed to the kitchen.
Her refrigerator was bare. And she had no coffee in any cabinet. I texted Russ again to ensure breakfast was on the plane.
As she came out, with her hair still adorably wet, she kissed my cheek. I pointed to the door and we both slipped our shoes on.
She ducked back into her room and pulled out her promised suitcase. I took it from her and we headed out. As we started down the hall, she asked, “So, do you want me to golf with you? My game really isn’t that good.”
She pressed the button for the elevator, and as we entered, I said, “No, but if you make friends with the people in the club, I’ll go shepherd our invitations to the party.”
The elevator worked fast in the morning and our limo waited for us in front of the building. We climbed in and found that, thankfully, Russ had sent some coffee and bagels. I was starving, though I offered her one first.
“I’m not quite sure how to be an armpiece,” she said, taking a bagel.
We both sipped coffee and ate our food. My mind raced to understand her. As we made it to the highway, I finished my bagel and asked, “What?”
She picked up her cup and then said, “A woman who only stands on the sidelines for her man. I’ve never done anything like that in my life.”
I scooted closer and her nearness still sent a spark through me. I’d need relief if I fired her up again, so I just took her hand and said, “You’re in PR.”
Her eyebrow shot up. “And?”
Her knee pressed into my thigh as I said, “We’re just creating the opportunity for contacts. And remember, I’m paying you to be my wife.”
She saluted me, sipped her coffee and said, “I’ll do my best, boss.”
I paused. I’d not order her to do anything, but I let her hand go as I said, “Then we’re perfect.”
The limo pulled into the private hangar as she asked, “How?”
Her staff and mine waited by the plane. Her nearness whet my appetite for more than food, and I whispered into her ear, “Because your best is better than everyone else’s.”
Then we stepped out of the car and greeted our staff.
As we boarded, I saw a breakfast spread waiting for us. Perfect. I made our plates while Indigo asked Frank about her sister. He said he’d file for Ridley to get custody immediately.
She joined me in our seats and nibbled on a strawberry. She finished and her blue eyes were almost gray as she asked, “Jacob, can you give me the pitfalls and dangers of your world?”
The plane started down the runway, but I didn’t understand why she was concerned. I offered her cream for her coffee and as she stirred it, I said, “Sure. The older women are the ones who supported their husbands before they were rich. Honestly, they keep their mouths generally shut and are the worst at offering up information that might be useful. Unless, of course, it’s for her benefit too.”
She tapped her seat and asked, “So who gives you the most important info?”
I’d never had a problem solver on my team other than myself. I wasn’t a charity case for her, though. I said, “I’m good at getting what I need from the overconfident bluffing of men.”
A soft chuckle rumbled in her throat and she gently elbowed me as she said, “So you play poker for a living.”
I sipped my coffee and studied her. My instincts had led me to marry the most interesting woman I’d met in years. She was unique. There was truly no comparison. And I was good at judging investments in a blink of an eye. I finished my coffee, and kept my voice down as I said, “That makes it sound like gambling.”
