Page 22 of Captivated By You

“Missing Mom already?”

“Of course. But I missed you, too. It’ll be nice to have some father-son bonding time. I plan to fly down to LA to see Johannes tomorrow and then on to New York to drop in on Penn.”

“I’m sure they’ll appreciate that.”

Dad, like me, based himself in Seattle, our company headquarters, as did my two uncles. But my siblings and my cousins were located all over the United States, and one of us had set up overseas, in the South of France. We tried to get together in person a few times a year. Virtual meetings were fine, and necessary for board meetings, but there was nothing quite like catching up in person.

“See you at eight,” Dad said.

“I’ll be there.”

As soon as the door to my office closed, I resumed pacing. The clock counted down, making painfully slow progress. There was an old saying that a watched pot never boiled, and while the physical transition of time moved at exactly the same pace, it was true that watched clocks ticked slower.

To distract myself, I went through a few emails, scanned a proposal for a new liquor supplier, drank too much coffee.

Jesus. Still fifteen minutes before she was due to arrive.

I analyzed why I was so restless and jittery. Was it the dishonesty of our initial liaison, and Kiana’s reaction to uncovering the truth, that had me wearing out the soles on my leather shoes? Or was it excitement camouflaging itself as nerves at the idea of seeing her again? Smelling her sweet scent, gazing into her whiskey eyes, remembering how hard she’d made me simply by being her?

It had been a long two weeks. I’d dreamed of her often, and it was that simple fact that led me to believe she was different. It hadn’t been a one-night stand in the true sense. Not for me. I’d had many of those, yet not a single one had held my attention the morning after, let alone fourteen days later.

What gnawed at me was her thoughts on the matter. Maybe she’d only wanted the one night. Perhaps meeting me would be right up there with her worst nightmares. Screwing a stranger you hoped never to see again, only to find out he owned the hotel chain you’d secured an internship with.

Fuck. I wiped my hands on my trousers, jumping as the phone on my desk rang.

Get a grip, Kingcaid.

I picked it up, a slight tremble to my fingers. “Yes?”

“Miss Doherty has arrived, Mr. Kingcaid. Would you like me to show her to your office?”

I cleared my throat and stood in preparation. “Yes. Thank you, Susan.” I hung up, my stomach churning, tying itself in knots as my mind conjured up several scenarios, ranging from Kiana being thrilled to see me again to one where she gave me a slap.

I’d take somewhere in between as a win.

Susan tapped on the door, and I invited her in. I held my breath as she smiled, then stood back to admit Kiana.

It took her less than a second to recognize me. Susan hadn’t even closed the door when Kiana’s eyes flared, her full lips that had wrapped so beautifully around my cock parting, a red flush shooting up her neck and over her cheeks.

“You?” She squared her shoulders, her throat bobbing on a swallow. “What is this? What’s going on?”

She glanced around as if she were expecting the cast ofImpractical Jokersto jump out and shout, “Surprise!”

“Hello, Kiana. Or should I say ‘Ethel’?” I grinned in the hope that she’d take the gentle teasing in the manner I’d intended—to relax her. I gestured to the chair my father had vacated earlier. “Please take a seat.”

She remained standing, her jaw locked, hands fisted by her sides. I rearranged my features into something more serious. Clearly, she wasn’t ready for anything playful yet.

“I-I don’t understand what you’re doing here. I’m supposed to be meeting Mr. Kingcaid.”

I smoothed my tie and gave her a crooked smile. It was the only sign she needed to figure it out.

“You’re him.”

I ran my tongue over my top teeth and nodded. “I’m him.”

“But… but… why?” She rubbed her forehead. “Strike that. Wrong question. The correct question to ask is ‘Why am I here?’?”

I startled, my head jerking back. “You accepted a job with my company.” I kind of thought that was obvious.

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