Mistletoe Maneuvers

He hesitated, looking at her sternly. She could almost see the inner machinations of his mind. “Then we’ll do it now. Get your coat,” he said. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”

Lessa found Fran on the second floor. “I have to go.”

“You’re going? You can’t go! We haven’t done the toast.”

“You’re going to have to take care of it. Rick and I need to discuss Antigua.”

“You’re both leaving?” she asked, her eyes widening.

“Yes, but-” But what? She couldn’t very well deny an affair. So instead she shrugged her shoulders. “Thank you for taking care of things.”

“Sure,” Fran said, obviously stunned that the CEO and the chairman of the board would be leaving so soon and so together. “Have fun.”

Fun, she felt like saying, was the last thing she would be having. She had never seen Rick so angry-not even when she’d fired him.

“All right,” he said as they walked to the car. “Where to? Your place?”

Her place was not a good idea. She could just imagine trying to work with her aunt sitting at the table with them, making snide comments about Rick. “Your place,” she said without hesitation.

Without saying a word, Rick turned the car toward his apartment.

Even though Lessa was the one who’d suggested that they go back to his apartment, Rick couldn’t help but feel that this was a bad idea. It might have been okay if she weren’t wearing a skintight red velvet dress that left little to the imagination.

But where else could they go? he asked himself defensively. Besides a restaurant, a coffee shop or any of the other million places that were available in New York City.

“How long have you lived here?” Lessa asked as they stepped inside the elevator in Rick’s building.

He thought for a moment. “Five years.”

Anger. He had to hold on to his anger. How could she presume to sell his property without even conferring with him first?

The doors opened directly into his apartment and they stepped out. He turned on the light. He took her coat, trying hard not to notice the curves beneath her dress. He hung up her coat as she walked over to the window and admired the view. She turned back to face him and asked, “Are you putting up a Christmas tree?”

“No. I never do. As I told you, I’m usually gone for Christmas.”

“But you’ll be in town this year,” she said.

He would not allow himself to indulge in another personal conversation. It was too dangerous with them alone in his apartment. “Let’s get to work, shall we?” he asked gruffly, nodding toward the table. She sat down beside him and began to talk.

An hour later, she looked at him and said, “Well? What do you think?”

He sat back, impressed. He had to admit that the proposal was not as farfetched as he’d initially thought. She had done her research. She understood the problem of the competing marketplace in Antigua as well as the potential and future worth of the property in Florida. “I’ll take a look at this Florida property,” he said after thinking it over. “Set up an appointment.”

She smiled, obviously proud of her accomplishment. A lock of her hair fell over one eye and he had to stop himself from pushing it away. She may not have succeeded in convincing him entirely, but one thing was certain. He was not ready for her to go. He suddenly realized he was hungry. He hadn’t eaten at the party and was fairly certain she hadn’t either. “Are you hungry?”

“A little.”

“I have a housekeeper who keeps me stocked with some basics. Or we can order in.”

“Let’s see what you’ve got,” she said with a smile. He led her into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. She bent down and looked inside.

“Anything good?”

“You’re right,” she said. “Basics.” She handed him a package of eggs. She put a block of cheese on top and grabbed a loaf of bread.

“Omelets?” he asked.

“No. I’m going to make a souffle.”

“A souffle. Can you cook? I thought your aunt cooked for you.”

“I’ve picked up a few tips along the way,” she said with a smile.

An hour later, his apartment was filled with the warm, homey smell of fresh-baked biscuits and a fluffy souffle.

When they sat down at the table, she waited for him to take a bite. “It’s great,” he said, eliciting a smile from Lessa.

There was something about her smile, something about the tenderness in her eyes that tugged on his heart. He felt a sudden surge of protectiveness, a desire to take her in his arms and protect her from the world.

And suddenly he remembered how he had felt when he’d made Karen smile. He could still see her laughing at the beach, her blond hair flowing in the wind. He had loved her with all the passion and naivete of youth. But would their love have survived? If Karen had not died that day, would she still be beside him?

It was something he was ashamed to admit that he questioned. But how could he not? He had seen friends marry the woman they claimed to be madly in love with then file for divorce several years later. But, he reminded himself, those were his friends. He knew himself well enough to realize that he would never make the same mistake. When he fell in love again, it would be forever.

“Rick?” she asked and smiled. “Where did you go? You look so deep in thought.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. Focus. She was a business associate. The line was drawn. There would be no reprieve. But he couldn’t help but wish otherwise. He remembered the way she had felt in his arms, the way she had looked up into his eyes. He had felt something, a stirring in his soul that he hadn’t felt for years. But it was ridiculous. He could not have her. Never. His very career depended on it. “I should get you home,” he said. “Your aunt will be worried.”

“I’m not a child, Rick. I don’t have a curfew.”

What was that supposed to mean? “Just leave the dishes here,” he said, standing. “The maid will take care of it tomorrow.” He grabbed her coat and headed toward the elevator.

“Wait,” she said, touching his arm. “Did I say something to upset you?”

How could he explain that he needed to get her out of there before he did something he would regret?

She stood in front of him, looking at him with her big emerald eyes. And then that damned lock of hair fell into her face again. But this time he didn’t hesitate. He gently brushed it out of her face. And then she kissed him.

Nine

“I’m sorry,” Lessa said quickly, breaking away. What was she doing? What had possessed her to kiss him like that? “I don’t know what got into me.”

But Rick did not look offended. There was electricity in the air as he gazed at her seductively. “Stay with me tonight,” he said finally. He stepped toward her, trailing his hand down the side of her neck. She held her breath, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the delicious sensation. He tilted her head slightly upward, as if to kiss her. She felt her resistance fade away. He kissed her again, rough and hard. It was as if every part of her were on fire. She was powerless to do anything but give herself to him.

He took his time, intimately exploring her mouth. His tongue tickled and probed, claiming ownership. She arched against him, craving more. She ran her fingers up and down his back, feeling the strength of his muscles underneath his starched cotton shirt.

Her brain had long ago stopped working. Lawrence Enterprises seemed like a name from a distant past. All that mattered was what she was feeling right then and there.

She inhaled slightly as his hands slipped under her dress. His fingers made their way up her legs and sides, lightly touching her lacy bra. She arched her back, silently begging for more. Within a second, he had unhooked her