Page 40 of A Billionaire Between the Sheets

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

What the hell is going on, Olivia?” Parker didn’t even wait for Olivia to close the door of the boardroom before he started in. And she couldn’t blame him. She wanted to ask herself the same question.

What the hell is going on, Olivia? How could you almost have sex with Deacon Beaumont on the boardroom table?

There was no good answer. Save for one. Deacon was very good at giving orders and having people follow them. Now lift up your skirt and show me your panties. And she’d done it. Not because he’d liked her designs and given her a way to save French Kiss, but because of the look in his eyes. A hungry, pleading look that wiped out all thoughts of resistance. Then he’d kissed her, and her brain had stopped thinking and desire had taken over. She wanted Deacon. And if Nash hadn’t opened the door, she would’ve had him right there on the boardroom table.

She closed her eyes and cringed.

“Olivia? Are you listening to me?”

Parker’s angry voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She opened her eyes to find him glaring at her.

“I’m sorry, Parker.” She sat down in the chair and studied her hands like a guilty kid in the principal’s office. “I should’ve explained things to you sooner.”

“What things? Don’t tell me you’re having an affair with your cousin.”

Her gaze flashed up. “No! Of course I’m not having an affair with Deacon.” Certainly two kisses didn’t constitute an affair. “And he’s my step-cousin.”

“He’s a jackass.” Parker stood over her. “A jackass you need to get rid of ASAP.”

It wasn’t what he said as much as how he said it that took Olivia by surprise. He wasn’t offering advice. He was issuing an order. Something that he had never done before—not even in the bedroom. Since he had caught her and Deacon in a compromising position and was no doubt allowing jealousy to control his decision-making, she tried to ignore his tone.

“I can’t fire him, Parker. Michael left him and his brothers the majority of stock in the company. Which means they own French Kiss.”

“So I heard, and I also heard that you were going to buy them out. So do it and get the Beaumonts out of here.”

At one time she’d thought the same way. She couldn’t wait to have the Beaumont brothers sign the contracts and go home. But things had changed with just one PowerPoint presentation. What had made Deacon do it? Why had he taken the time when he could’ve easily walked out the door with fifty million and left all the problems to her?

“I hope you realize that you won’t have a company if you let those hillbillies run it,” Parker said.

“I won’t have a company if I don’t.” The words came out before she could even think about them. But she quickly recognized them as the truth. She might not like Deacon, but she needed him. The presentation had been good and Grayson’s sketches amazing, but there was little doubt in her mind that Deacon’s strong, commanding personality was what had sealed the deal.

Parker knelt in front of her and took her hands. “And maybe that’s not a bad thing, Olivia. Maybe it’s time to let go of French Kiss and move on. I deal with our accounts daily, and French Kiss isn’t going to make it, especially with those cretins running it. So let’s forget about French Kiss and start our own lingerie company. I’ve put a little money aside and, with your money, we could make a real go of it.” His eyes got a funny gleam in them. “In fact, why don’t we get married?”

Olivia felt like she’d been punched hard in the stomach and had all the wind knocked out of her. And somehow she didn’t think that was a normal reaction to a marriage proposal—even a really bad one. The conversation with Deacon came back to haunt her, and she had to wonder if he wasn’t right. If she was Parker’s woman, why had she let Deacon kiss her? The answer came quickly. Because she didn’t see herself as Parker’s woman. She saw them as two business associates who occasionally had dinner and sex. And not even very good sex.

“Thank you,” she said as humbly as possible. “But I can’t marry you, Parker. We don’t even know each other. I’ve never met your parents, and you’ve never met my mother. I don’t even know if you have a pet, and you know nothing about Jonathan.” Not that the seagull was a pet. But now that she thought about it, he was the closest she’d come to owning one.

After only a moment’s hesitation, Parker released her hands and stood up. “Deacon seduced you, didn’t he? Maybe you haven’t had sex, but you want to.” Olivia couldn’t help the heat that filled her face.

“Great!” He threw up his hands and turned away. “That’s just great.” A few minutes passed before he turned back around. “So you’re planning on staying and running the company with that cretin and his brothers?” When she didn’t answer, a look of disgust entered his eyes. “I should’ve known you’d do anything for French Kiss.” She couldn’t blame him for being angry when she had turned down his marriage proposal and practically told him she wanted to have sex with Deacon. She should’ve adamantly denied it. Except she couldn’t. She did want to have sex with Deacon. Which was wrong. So terribly wrong.

“I’m sorry, Parker,” she said.

“Yeah,” he said, “me too. This is going to make things much more difficult.”

She nodded. “But I hope you don’t quit. I’m sure we can still work together—”

A knock sounded on the door before Kelly stuck her head in. “Sorry to interrupt, but I thought Mr. Calloway would like to know that his car is being towed.”

“What?” Parker hurried to the door. “Why would it be getting towed? I parked it in the space I always park it in.”

Kelly shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you. All I know is that the security guy from downstairs called to say it was towed away.”

“They already took it?”

Kelly nodded. “I’m afraid so. But the guard did get the name of the company, and I’m sure you can track them down and clear up the matter.”

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