Page 41 of The Exposed Heiress

Crossing her arms, she said, “We’ve been over this. It was hard.”

“How was it hard?”

She turned back to him and sat down. “The reactions were all so different. Some of the employees worried about me more than themselves. There was also anger. One younger man named Martin said I should have seen some of these problems a year ago. His wife is expecting a baby in a few weeks. He can’t stay if we reduce his pay.”

“How did you handle that?”

She turned and looked at him. “I told him that I’d call another couture house on Monday for him and give him a stellar recommendation. The truth is that I don’t know if we’ll be around in a year. I couldn’t ask him to give us more time. We’ve had enough time.”

He shrugged. “You gave him good advice. You can’t allow yourself to take on the burden of providing every employee a living. It’s also up to them.”

“How did you do with all of the stress today?” She asked, raising her voice over the noise of the fluttering sail.

He had been appalled at Peter’s behavior. A new wave of anger flowed through him. “Peter Lake was tricky. He could smell desperation and wanted a better deal than he first proposed.”

Emma shielded her eyes from the setting sun. “What did you do?”

The sound of the wind and water flowed over him. Steering away from an old wooden pier, he said “I stayed firm on the price. I’d prefer that the transaction happens quickly, but there is still value. The building has been well-maintained and is located in an ideal spot. Someone else would have come along.”

She ran a hand through her hair in an effort to untangle the long strands. “I’ve been in survival mode for weeks, but soon I’ll have to finish the new collection and have a solid plan to move forward.”

“There’s an alcove here. We can put the anchor down.”

He turned the boat into the wind and it slowed down. After a few minutes, he took in the sails and put the anchor down. The tide was coming in and water hit against the side of the boat.

“This boat is beautiful. Do you come out here often?”

“Not often enough. Life can get too busy at times.”

She smiled at him and his heart compressed. “And now you’re helping to save Francis Bolles.”

Opening a bottle of chardonnay, he placed it on the seat near him and went down into the galley to find glasses.

She came down below deck and said, “I’m going to put my swimsuit on.”

The small cabin brought her within inches of him. He could almost feel the heat emanating from her skin. His hands began to tingle and instead of touching her, he picked up two glasses. “The water is cold.”

“It looks inviting.”

He met her gaze. “I’ll give you some privacy.” It wasn’t what he wanted to do, but getting involved with her held too many complications.

Closing the small cabin door behind him, he glanced out at the river. He shouldn’t have brought her onboard. Seeing her in a bikini wasn’t going to help the craving coursing through his body.

Pouring wine into both glasses, he took a long swallow from his glass. He more than fancied Emma Bolles. There had always been an awareness between them, and now that he was getting to understand her thinking and reactions, it was difficult to block her out. But she had been Tyler’s fiancée, and he had no interest in complicating his personal life. He kept his relationships straightforward and honest for a reason. He would not allow himself to fall into the trap of rationalizing the facts or making stupid decisions. His father had been a master at deception, but it wasn’t how he would live his life.

Emma climbed out of the cabin wearing a black bikini and the breath stalled in his chest. Her slender, toned curves drew his interest, but he glanced away and placed his wine down.

Passing by him in a graceful movement, she stood on the edge of the boat for several seconds then dived into the murky water.

He let out an expletive. She wasn’t playing fair. They shouldn’t be swimming or flirting or anything else that drove the attraction between them. Instead of going below, Leo striped off his shirt and jeans. Stepping below for a second, he removed his boxers and pulled on his swimsuit.

Leo climbed back on deck and could see Emma swimming on her back. She had to be freezing.

Hesitating for a brief second, he dove into the river and surfaced near her. The shock of the cold water reminded him of sitting in an ice bath following a tough rugby match. He shouted, “It’s cold.”

She laughed. “It’s exhilarating.”

He treaded water and looked over at her. “We’ll catch the death of us.”

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