Page 4 of Naughty Bedtime Stories

His lips twitched, his zipper expanded. “What happens at six tonight, Mike?” he called over his shoulder.

“UT kicks the Aggies’ butts, sir.”

Ryan arched a brow. “Satisfied?”

“Like I said, you had a plan, which I assume is to startrumors about my private meetings with the competition, and shake up my staff.”

“If I wanted Delights,” he said, lowering his voice, “I’d go after Delights in a far more aggressive way than starting a few rumors. And just so we get this behind us once and for all, I couldn’t buy Delights even if I did want it, not with its present balance sheet, and not without my stockholders having me shot.”

Her eyes widened. “What do you know about our balance sheet?”

Compliments of their many legal issues with unpaid vendors—plenty. “This isn’t a conversation for the lobby,” he said. “Invite me upstairs.”

She inhaled a sharp breath, her gaze probing, assessing his resolve, before she accurately determined that he wasn’t going away without some one-on-one time. “Not upstairs,” she said. “Outside.” She turned on her heels and marched toward the door.

Holding his ground, he tracked her retreat with what he knew was a hot, hungry gaze, enjoying the sway of her hips and picturing the moment he’d hold that tight little swimmer’s butt in his hands. It was true there was a business element to his visiting Sarah, but not one she would ever expect, and not one he’d even determined he was willing to pursue. But he’d been curious about the little girl who’d become a beautiful woman with erotic tastes. Curious if she’d ever pursued those tastes beyond a secret corner. The answer was no, she had not. He could see it in her eyes, feel it in her presence.

And so he let her run for now, let her have a few seconds to compose herself, knowing he had her on edge, when his real intention was totake her to the edge. That meant being gentle, giving her the safety and security to explore and let go, with him, through trust. And shewasmost definitelyrunning—from him, from what she was going to have to do to save her family business, and from the secret they’d shared so many years ago. But most of all, she was running from herself, and while he’d be easy with her, while he’d protect her, he wasn’t going to let her hide.

When he finally joined her outside, as expected, she’d recovered any lost composure, and her gaze flashed hotter than the high Texas sun. He’d already surmised her anger and sharp wit were her shields, her protective walls, and they would have to go, quickly.

“I’ve told you,” she said. “Chocolate Delights—”

“Isn’t for sale,” he said. “I know.” He stepped toward her and gently but forcefully guided her by the elbow. “Over here.” He maneuvered them inside the intimate enclave created by the side of the entryway and a large round pillar, and he settled her against the wall, cornering her with his big body, but dropped his hand, didn’t touch her. Anticipation had value—it excited and intensified pleasure. “I also know how protective you feel about the company and your father right now. But we are not our fathers. And I’m not your enemy. Even if Delights was thriving right now, it’s gone a different direction than Deluxe. We aren’t even direct competitors anymore.”

Her eyes flashed. “And if I change that?”

“I hope you do,” he teased. “Then I really could buy you out.”

“Maybe I’ll buyyouout.”

“Let the challenge begin,” he said, smiling, and then sobered quickly. “Sarah. I saw my father’s face when he heard about your father’s cancer. He cares about him. I’m not even sure either of them really even remembers why they’re fighting. If mine does, he refuses to talk about it. They’re just old and stubborn, and just won’t get over it, whateveritmay be.”

“They fought about how fast to grow the company,” she said.

“Did they?” he asked. “I’m not sure my father would be so secretive if that were all there was to it. But either way, you’re in the same boat I was. And let me tell you, taking over for my hardheaded father was no walk in the park.” Ryan hadn’t had the guilt of a cancer diagnosis either, like she did now. “I bet you didn’t know we were near bankruptcy when I took the reins, now did you?”

Her eyes went wide. “No. You… I had no idea.”

He nodded. “My father was a great visionary, not a great leader. So when I said I know what you’re going through with the company, I do. You can talk to me, Sarah.”

“I can’t talk to you, Ryan,” she said. “I can’t just forget who you are.”

“Why?”

“Because,” she said. “I just…can’t.”

“Even though you know you want to?” A welcome cool breeze slipped past the pillar, and a wayward strand of Sarah’s rich brunette hair fell over her brow. Ryan reached up and brushed it from her eyes, the touch hissing with an instant, intense charge of electricity. Her eyes were warm with awareness, and he wondered what they’d looked like when she’d watched him in the shadows of that club. “Do you ever secretly wish you could let go of control, Sarah?”

“Never,” she said, her mouth a lush pink, her eyes telling a different story.

“Liar,” he accused, letting his hand drop.

“Do you?”

“Pleasure is my form of control,” he said. “I do believe it’s your personal hell.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong.” She laughed, but there was an edge of bitterness to it, an edge of discomfort. “Not having control is my hell.”

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