“Kayla, did you hear what I said?” Courtney repeated herself.
Kayla blinked several times. She was preoccupied looking across the field for some sign of Ethan. “Hmm…what was that?”
“I asked if you wanted to go to the stables to look at the horses.”
“Oh, sure,” Kayla answered. She’d always loved riding and competing. This was just the thing she needed to get her mind off Ethan. She was wound up like a knot waiting for Ethan to make his presence known and it was driving her crazy.
The two of them made their way through the crowd to the stables to look at the beautiful animals. The stables were filled with jockeys, their families and general spectators.
No sooner had they arrived than Courtney abandoned her in favor of a hottie she saw in the stables, so Kayla took the time to get her head together. She found a prize beauty of a horse, a beautiful chestnut Arabian mare that was chomping at the bit. Kayla loved her long lean body, large eyes and high-carriage tail.
“May I?” Kayla asked the jockey, and when he nodded, she took the liberty of grabbing the brush off the nearby hook and brushing the thoroughbred’s shiny chestnut coat. “She’s beautiful,” Kayla commented to the jockey.
“Yeah, but she’s a handful.”
“Beautiful things usually are,” another masculine voice said from behind her.
Kayla didn’t have to turn around to know the owner of that voice. He’d found her. Kayla glanced sideways at him. “Ethan.”
“How did I know I’d find you here?” Ethan said, smiling as he strolled toward her.
Kayla didn’t answer. Instead, she just talked softly to the horse and fed him a carrot.
“Boy, do I wish I was that horse,” Ethan said as he stood watching her. When the jockey stepped away, he whispered in her ear, “I would love to have you stroke me gently.”
Kayla stiffened and stopped brushing the horse. “Must you equate everything to sex?”
Ethan laughed heartily. “It’s funny, but when I’m around you that’s all I seem to think about,” he admitted.
“Well, keep it clean.” Kayla returned. “There are children around.” She nodded to the children around them in the stables.
“Of course,” Ethan responded, glancing around him. “Have you given my offer any more thought?”
Kayla leaned around him to put the brush back on the hook. “No, I haven’t.” She turned and started walking toward the entrance. Ethan fell in step with her.
“Don’t you think you should? Time is running out.”
Kayla stopped short. “I didn’t recall that I had a time limit on my answer.”
Just then, a bell rang in the distance, signaling the races would begin soon. Everyone began to disperse as the jockeys began ushering the horses out onto the grass. Kayla started toward the exit, but Ethan grabbed her arm.
“Not so fast.” He spun Kayla around into the nearest empty stall.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Kayla asked when Ethan backed her up against the stall and put his hands on either side of her face.
“Reminding you of what’s between us.” He lowered his head and started nuzzling her neck. He took little nibbles at her neck and then his tongue began a hot trail all the way up to her ear. He flicked his tongue back and forth across one ear, teasing her into submission. Kayla pushed against his rock-hard chest, but it was useless, she could feel her guard collapsing. The prolonged anticipation of having Ethan’s lips on hers was unbearable. Her stomach began to quiver and her heart began to thunder loudly in her chest.
Ethan made his way to her face, kissing her forehead and her cheeks before landing on her mouth. Oh, yes, the luscious mouth he’d spent the last week dying to taste. He explored her mouth thoroughly, sampling and devouring all at once. He ravished her mouth while his hands moved gently down the length of her back, reveling in her curves until she floated weightless in his arms. His hands explored her waist and her hips before cupping her backside to press her more firmly against him. She kissed him back with a hunger that belied her earlier calm.
“Ahem.” A cough from the stable door caused them both to look up. It was Courtney.
“Uh…” For once Courtney was too stunned to speak. She blinked several times at the shock of finding Kayla and Ethan in each other’s arms. “Uh…I…I was looking for you.”
“Well…I…I’m here,” Kayla panted breathlessly. Chest heaving, she stepped out of Ethan’s arms, smoothed down her dress and walked toward her sister. “Let’s go.”
Ethan smiled to himself as the women departed. He was breaking down all of Kayla’s defenses, and with any luck, he’d finally be able to have her.
“What the heck was going on back there?” Courtney asked once they were no longer in earshot of the stables.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Kayla looked straight ahead. She felt like a breathless girl of seventeen and it scared her.
“Oh, that is not going to fly, big sis,” Courtney returned. “It’s not every day I find you making out with the object of your affection.”
“You are making too much of this.”
“Are you kidding me?” Courtney laughed from her side. “Matter of fact, I think Daddy would love to hear about you and Ethan’s newfound romance.”
That stopped Kayla dead in her tracks and she spun around. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“I will if you don’t spill the beans.”
“That’s blackmail.”
Courtney bunched her shoulders.
“Fine.” Kayla sighed. She would tell Courtney the least amount of information as possible. There was no reason for her to know Ethan’s true motives or what she might have to do to save the family company. “Since Ethan returned, we recently started seeing each other.” It was part truth and part fiction. They weren’t really dating, but she needed to satisfy her sister’s curiosity.
“And those flowers last week. Were they from him?”
Kayla nodded. “Please don’t tell Daddy. You know how he feels about Ethan.”
“I do,” Courtney said. “But I also know you’ve been harboring a crush on Ethan for a very long time. It must be pretty thrilling to finally be with him.” She smiled knowingly.
“Courtney!” Kayla’s cheeks colored. “Things have not gone that far.”
“But wouldn’t you like them to?” Courtney winked.
Her sister was incorrigible. “Do we have to continue this conversation?” Kayla rolled her eyes upward.
“No, we don’t.” Courtney smiled brightly and continued walking toward their picnic box. “You are no fun, Kay.”
Kayla followed behind her. “I like my privacy.”
“I won’t tell Daddy a word,” Courtney responded. “Scouts honor.” She turned around and held up two fingers as she walked backward. Kayla could only hope Courtney would keep her word. Otherwise, their father would blow a gasket.
By the end of the following week, after another failed meeting with an investor, Kayla was at her wit’s end. She was running out of options. What was she going to do? Today, she had her final meeting with Rupert Martin, a German investor who was known for taking risks. She was holding out hope that this meeting would be what they needed to get them back in the black.
Kayla stared out the window of the Adams Cosmetics building. If this meeting failed, she would be forced to seriously consider Ethan’s marriage proposal.
Kayla made her way to the boardroom and found Shane and Courtney had already arrived. This time she’d brought reinforcements. They would both sit in on the meeting, as they realized just how important this investor was to the company’s existence. Shane had prepared prototypes of the perfume bottles and had test samples of his latest fragrance creation for the investor to sample.
“Are you okay?” Shane asked when she walked in and concern was etched across her face. “You’re looking a bit tense.”
Kayla pulled Shane aside. “You and I both know that this is the last meeting Michael has set up.”
“True, but Rupert Martin is not the only investor. Michael went after the top four, but there are others out there.”
“Not who can come up with the kind of cash we are looking for as quickly as we need.”
“Don’t lose faith, Kayla.” Shane squeezed her shoulder.
Kayla nodded, but she knew better. Adams Cosmetics was hemorrhaging money at an alarming rate and if they didn’t stop the bleeding soon, they would no longer be able to operate.
“Today is the day, yes?” Ethan asked Daniel in his office.
“Yes,” Daniel stated. “Adams Cosmetics’ meeting with Rupert Martin is this afternoon.”
“He’s the last one.”
Daniel nodded. “Rupert felt he owed her the courtesy of at least hearing her offer before making his final decision, but I feel it’s a moot point. After he turns her down, Kayla will have no choice but to take your offer of 51 percent ownership. Adams Cosmetics will be yours.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair. Adams Cosmetics would fit nicely with Graham International and shore up his cosmetics division, which despite all the high-level executives he’d brought in had never quite lived up to its potential once Byron Adams started his own company. It’s why he’d focused his attention on the clothing and leather goods division.
“Good. Have my car brought around. I’m going to the Adams Cosmetics offices.” The AC offices were in downtown Atlanta, just a few blocks from Graham International’s corporate headquarters. He knew he was just a short ride away from victory.
“Do you think that’s wise?” Daniel asked. “They’ll be licking their wounds after today’s meeting.”
“Which is precisely the reason to strike now.”
Daniel was amazed at Ethan’s cutthroat tactics, but what could he expect from a man who was slowly developing a reputation as a corporate raider?
An hour later, Rupert Martin had turned them down. Graciously, but turned them down nonetheless. Kayla watched Shane sit slumped down in his chair. Even Courtney was surprisingly quiet and stared blankly at the wall. They all knew that the end was near. As Michael walked Rupert Martin out, Kayla made one last-ditch effort.
She rushed out of the boardroom and met the men at the elevator. “Rupert, I would love a private word with you.” He’d insisted she call him by his first name during the meeting.
“Ms. Adams, I really must be going.”
“Five minutes.” Kayla held up one hand. She was hoping he’d give her a second chance to plead her case.
“Very well. Lead the way.”
Kayla led Rupert to her office. She noticed Michael’s imploring eyes wondering what she was up to, but Kayla had no time. She had to react. She closed her door and came to sit beside Rupert who sat in the chair opposite her desk.
“I won’t waste your time,” Kayla said. “I’ll get right to the point. I know we’ve asked you to take a significant risk in investing in Adams Cosmetics, but I’m prepared to offer you an incentive.”
Rupert’s ear perked up. “I’m listening.”
“In exchange for your investment, I am prepared to sell you half of my shares. Adding my 12.5 shares to the 37.5 already on the table would give you a 50 percent ownership stake of Adams Cosmetics. We would be your partner.”
“Like hell you will,” a masculine voice said from the doorway.
Kayla looked up and saw Ethan towering in her doorway. He stormed toward them with a look of fury in his eyes that scared Kayla, and she literally jumped out of her seat.
Ethan stood in front of them. He was determined to thwart Kayla’s meeting and seize his chance to right what his father had done wrong with Graham International years ago. If Carter had been willing to compromise with Byron and give him more say in the company operations, they would never have lost their highest-grossing division. Today, he could bring Adams Cosmetics back into the fold where it belonged. And finally have a real chance with the woman who had eluded him for years.
“Rupert, you will have to forgive Ms. Adams,” Ethan said. “She had no idea that I’d put in this offer to her board.” He pulled out a slip of paper and held it out for Rupert to read.
“What offer?” Kayla asked. “Rupert, please listen to me. We can make this deal.”
But Rupert ignored her and spoke directly to Ethan. “Mr. Graham.” He returned the sheet of paper to Ethan. “That is quite a substantial offer and one I could not come close to meeting, even with 50 percent ownership.” He turned to Kayla. “Ms. Adams, best of luck to you in your new venture.” He nodded at Ethan before closing the door to her office.
“Ohmigod, do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Kayla cried. “You’ve just killed the last opportunity of saving my father’s company.” She fell backward into her chair. Her head fell to her hands and she began sobbing.
Ethan hated to see Kayla so upset, but he had no other choice. He bent down until he was inches away from her face. “You have one opportunity remaining, Kayla. Mine.”
Kayla glanced up at Ethan and saw red. “I hate you!” she yelled and rose from her chair.
“Kayla, please, you’re upset,” Ethan said. “And I understand why, but trust me when I say that this is for the best. Could you honestly have given up half your company to an outsider because you don’t want to merge with GI? Sign over thirteen of your shares to me, and as my wife, Adams Cosmetics will remain in the family.”
“I said get away from me!” Kayla yelled louder so Ethan would get the hint.
Ethan held up his hands and rose. “Okay, okay. I will leave for now, but I want you at my house tonight. I want this finalized by the end of the day.”
“Out!” She pointed to the door. As Ethan walked to the door, Kayla followed him, and he was barely out before she slammed the door and crumpled against it.
Kayla sat in her Porsche Carrera outside of Ethan’s estate. She was trying to decide if she wanted to race off the grounds and test out her Porche’s max speed limit of 205 mph. Because today had been the day from hell. After Ethan had left, Shane and Courtney had both come to her office to discuss the meetings, but she’d refused to see them. How could she look at them knowing she’d let them down? She was supposed to be their big sister. She was supposed to take care of them, but she’d failed miserably.
And so she’d paced in her office for hours after everyone left until finally deciding to meet Ethan at his estate, if only to turn him down to his face. She would rather close Adams Cosmetics’ doors than give in to him.
Ethan looked through the foyer curtain. Kayla had been sitting in her car for nearly half an hour. It was time he ended it, so he opened his front door and walked outside in the cool spring evening. He knocked on the driver’s window.
Kayla rolled down the window. “Yes?”
“Do you plan on staying out here all night?” Ethan inquired. “Or do you plan on coming in anytime soon?”
That was the very question she’d been debating the entire time. After several moments, Kayla rolled up the window, took a deep breath and stepped out of the vehicle.
“Thank you.” Ethan closed the door behind her.
Kayla strode in front of him without looking back, but Ethan didn’t have a problem with it. He was enjoying the view of her rear end in the jeans she wore. As they entered the foyer, Ethan noticed she’d dressed casually in a fitted white top that ruched at the sides and a pair of skinny jeans. If she thought the effect would lessen how sexy she was to him, she was mistaken. He was even more aroused.
“Would you like a drink?” Ethan asked, closing the front door behind him.
“I could use a vodka straight up.” She followed Ethan into the great room and watched him pour her and him a drink while she paced the floor.
Ethan walked back with the drink in hand. “Do you plan on standing all evening? Or would you care to sit down?”
“If I’m going to the gallows, I’d prefer to stand,” Kayla returned.
“Stop being so melodramatic.” Ethan grabbed her by the arm and forced her down on the couch.
“Do you always manhandle women? Or do I alone have that special pleasure?”
Ethan took a deep breath. Kayla was testing his nerves. “Just you, my dear. I guess you bring out the caveman in me.”
Kayla couldn’t help but laugh at his comment.
“Finally.” Ethan sighed. “You relax. You know this doesn’t have to be unpleasant.”
“Which part? The part where I disgrace my father by selling his company to his most hated enemy? Or sell myself for thirty pieces of silver?” Kayla took a huge gulp of her drink.
Ethan grimaced. “Well, when you put it like that it does.” He turned to Kayla. “Listen, this is a win-win for the both of us. In exchange for marrying me, Adams Cosmetics will stay solvent and merge with Graham International. Everyone will keep their jobs and you will remain as president.”
“And what do you get out of this arrangement?”
“I get to rectify one of my father’s deepest regrets.”
“So this is about Carter?” Kayla had been too young to remember Carter very well, but he had always been known as a heartless man.
“Partly.” Ethan sipped his scotch. He didn’t particularly want to discuss his relationship with Carter. “And I get you.”
“This isn’t about me. I’m just an added bonus. It’s about making my father’s company yours,” Kayla finished. “Sounds like you get the better deal.” She downed the rest of her vodka.
“I think you will enjoy it, as well.”
“Is that so?” Kayla rolled her eyes upward at his arrogance. How could he be so sure of himself?
“Oh, I have no doubt you will enjoy the ways I intend to pleasure you,” Ethan said in a low, raspy voice. He downed his scotch and put the decanter on the coffee table.
Kayla swallowed hard and her body trembled slightly. “I did not say I was accepting your offer.” She scooted farther away on the couch from Ethan.
“Then why are you here?”
“I don’t know.” Kayla hung her head low.
“Oh, yes, you do,” Ethan said, and before she knew it, he’d scooted next to her, pulled her drink out of her hands and set it down beside his. “You came here—” he reached out to grasp the back of her head “—because you’ve run out of options and you know you have no choice but to give in. So give in…” he said as he lowered his head and his lips descended on hers.
His mouth plundered hers like a pirate capturing a vessel.
When he lifted his head from the earth-shattering kiss, Kayla said, “I give in, okay? Are you happy now that you’ve won?”
“Not just yet,” Ethan said, his eyes dark with desire. He leaned down and kissed her again. This time softly and gently. His tongue stroked hers with a hunger that was steadily rising. When she tried to protest, her lips parted and he took advantage of the ragged moan that escaped her. That’s when Kayla knew she was fighting a losing battle.
Kayla felt Ethan’s hands fumbling to pull her top up and cool air hit her skin. She didn’t have any time to react, because Ethan had already pushed her satin bra aside and begun feasting on her breasts. It was the only way to describe the way he lavished each breast with gentle nibbles and wet flicks of his tongue. The touch of Ethan’s hot tongue on her sent heat flooding through Kayla.
“Ethan…” she moaned.
Ethan grasped her hips and brought Kayla into direct contact with his arousal. She felt him rubbing against her and soon she was grinding against him, desperate to relieve the ache in her. Ethan knew he had to stop, otherwise he’d be taking her right there on the couch, and that’s not how he intended to treat his future wife. Kayla wasn’t like the other women he’d bedded. He actually cared about her, and if they had sex now she would think that’s all there was between them. Sure, they’d have lustful moments as a couple and he couldn’t wait to see her naked body, but he wanted their first time to be as husband and wife. Which meant they would have to get married quickly, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to control himself.
Ethan pulled up on his haunches and looked down at Kayla. “I shouldn’t have let things get that far…at least not yet.”
Kayla pushed him away and sat up. Whenever she was with Ethan, he unleashed another side of her, one in which she had no control over her own body. She wasn’t used to it, and she hated that he knew it. Kayla dragged her fingers through her hair, readjusted her bra and pulled down her top.
“Let’s get some dinner,” Ethan said, and offered Kayla his hand to stand up. “It’s been an emotional day.”
Kayla declined his hand and stood up on her own. “I guess I am a little famished, plus I need to figure out exactly what I’m going to tell my family. Because trust me, they will not be happy about this.”
Instead of having his chef whip them up a meal, Ethan decided to grill up some steaks in the kitchen himself. He wasn’t much of a cook, but he knew the basics. And he could use the time to show her his gentle side and move beyond the business talk that had dominated their relationship.
Kayla followed Ethan to the kitchen and was surprised when he pulled out rib-eye steaks and the ingredients for a salad from the refrigerator. She slid onto a stool at the island and watched him preheat the grill. “So you’re going to make us dinner?”
Ethan looked up from the chopping board. “Does that surprise you?”
A smile spread across her face. “Actually it does. I didn’t think the great Ethan Graham would subject himself to menial labor.”
“I’m no chef,” Ethan said as he shook seasoning across the steaks and chopped up iceberg lettuce to make a wedge salad. “But I make a mean steak on the grill.”
Kayla’s stomach growled and she blushed. “Sorry.”
“How about a glass of wine?” Ethan said, grabbing a towel and wiping his hands.
“I would love some.”
“I’ll be back in a moment,” Ethan said. Once he was gone, Kayla finally had a moment to think about the momentous decision she’d made. What was she doing? Her father would kill her when he found out. But what could she do? She had no other options.
Ethan returned with a bottle of Merlot and a corkscrew. “This is from the collection in my wine cellar. You’ll love it,” he said as he uncorked the bottle. He reached above her to grab two wineglasses that hung from the ceiling and poured them both a glass.
“To getting reacquainted.” Ethan clicked his glass against hers. “So tell me all about Kayla.” He looked intently at her.
Kayla sipped her wine. “What do you want to know?”
“Hmm…let me think.” Ethan placed both steaks on the grill before turning back around to answer her. “Well, are you a morning person or a night person?”
“Morning person. And you?”
“Night, of course. It’s always more fun!” Ethan grinned devilishly.
“What’s your favorite restaurant?” Kayla asked.
“Luiginos, it’s a mom-and-pop place, but they make the best homemade gnocchi with vodka sauce that you’ve ever tasted. What’s your favorite book?”
Kayla paused for a moment before answering. “Little Women. I love that Jo is so independent and passionate about being her own person, even back then.”
Ethan laughed, turning over the steaks. “Of course, you would empathize with Jo. She’s the eldest and is strong and independent, like a certain woman I know.”
Kayla met his gaze evenly and sipped her wine. “And proud of it!”
Ethan smiled. For the first time, they were having a real conversation, one in which they weren’t arguing or yelling at each other. And he had to admit, he loved it.
When the steaks were done, they sat down to enjoy them and the salad at the kitchen table. It was very informal, which surprised Kayla. She hadn’t expected Ethan to be so laid-back. The conversation between them flowed easily from books to music to sports. She even found they were both Atlanta Hawks fans and shared a love of basketball.
“I have the best box seats,” Ethan said. “We’ll have to catch a game.”
“I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time once we’re…uh…married.” Kayla nearly choked out the word.
“Kayla.” Ethan’s dark eyes stared at her. “It’s possible we can make this marriage work. We both just have to be willing to try.”
“You make it sound so easy, Ethan.” Kayla looked up at him and found it impossible to look away. Even now, he had a way of making her feel like a besotted teenager again. “But you and I both know that my family will never accept this. Ever.”