Page 51 of Captivated By You

Her familiarity and teasing lit me up from the inside. I hadn’t noticed how sycophantic those around me behaved until Kiana, in her inimitable way, had pointed it out this evening. But her direct approach was a breath of fresh air. Yet another reminder—as if I needed one—of how special she was and how determined I was to ensure she remained in my life. In both a professional and a personal way.

Kiana Doherty had the intelligence to challenge me, the body to torture me, and the heart to capture me.

“No can do. I’m not a quitter.”

She huffed, but her eyes glimmered. She might pretend she’d resist me to the bitter end, but eventually, she’d break. Hopefully soon.

Tonight, if I had my way.

“What do the desserts cost in this place? A spleen, or an appendix?”

I chuckled. Catching Emma’s eye, I motioned to her. She almost tripped over her feet in the rush to get to our table.

“What do you suggest for dessert, Emma?”

“Oh.” She brushed a stray hair out of her eyes and recovered her composure. “The raspberry soufflé is divine, Mr. Kingcaid, as is the duck egg custard tart with rhubarb ice cream.”

“Sounds delicious. We’ll have one of each.”

After Emma left, Kiana said, “I’m laying claim to the soufflé.”

I propped my elbow on the table and rested my chin on my hand. “You can have whatever you want.”

She fidgeted, pulling her eyes from mine. I waited. Three seconds later, she sought me out.

“Why are you staring at me?”

“Because you’re beautiful and intelligent and funny, and I can’t get enough of you.”

“Ash…” She shook her head. “I’m not being difficult. I have my reasons for not getting involved with you.”

“I know. You’ve already said. Me boss, you employee.” I beat my chest caveman-style.

She burst into laughter. “You’re crazy.”

“About you, yes. In general, not particularly. In fact, some would say I should have more fun, that I’m a workaholic who should learn to let his hair down more.” I shrugged. “Being the eldest son has its downsides. But I have a feeling that you’re the woman that fate has sent to encourage me to throw off the shackles of responsibility from time to time and remember that I’m only thirty years old.”

She opened her mouth, shut it, opened it again, and then turned away.

“What were you going to say?”

“It doesn’t matter.” She held up her wineglass. “To lower profit margins and happier employees.”

“When the next monthly report lands on my father’s desk, I’ll be sure to tell him that you made me do it.”

Her mouth parted, her eyes rounding. “You wouldn’t.” And then she caught on to my teasing. “You’re an ass.”

“Is that any way to speak to your boss?”

“When the cap fits, yeah.”

Christ, she was magnificent. From our very first meeting, she’d captivated me, caught me in her web, and yet, instead of me fighting to break free, it was her trying her damnedest to repel me.

I pretended to don a baseball cap, pulling down the imaginary peak. She let out an exasperated sigh.

“Do you take anything seriously?”

“Plenty. Like I said, I think you’re the one who brings out this side of me, and after one date, I’m hooked.”

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