Chapter Two

Caitlyn Brooks was a problem.

Damien took a sip of his scotch, scanning the reception as he did. The ballroom had been converted into a makeshift bar as conference goers flooded in, eager to mingle before the seminars started tomorrow. He told himself he was only interested in checking out the scene, but that didn’t stop him from looking for a particular head topped with riotous red curls. Of course, she’d be a redhead with a temper like hers. All that energy packed up tight in a curvy little package. Not that he should notice.

Life would be a hell of a lot easier if I didn’t.

Since his goal was to crush her. Brooks Corp had been little more than an annoyance when her father was in charge, but the three years she’d been at the helm had seen a shift in the company. They were gaining steam, and Damien needed to put a stop to it. Unfortunately, his efforts to buy them out had been firmly rejected, the last with a less than amicable meeting. Caitlyn had gotten so angry at his request her porcelain skin had turned nearly the same shade as her hair.

Not that he’d been fascinated to watch the flush inch down her slender throat.

His hand fisted by his side. All he’d wanted was a week away from the rat race. Was that too much to ask? He’d been feeling great when he’d checked in.

Until he’d seen Caitlyn whirl into a closet to escape crossing his path.

He should have walked away. A gentleman would have. Clearly, she wanted to see him as much as he had her.

But instead of walking in the opposite direction, his feet had taken him directly to that broom closet. With every step, anticipation had coursed through him. She was his rival. She hated his guts.

And yet, he wanted to needle her a little. See those green eyes snap at him. What was it about her that made him want to push her buttons?

Keep your mind on the conference, Reid.

The last thing he wanted was to get even more tangled with the feisty CEO of a company he needed to either acquire or destroy.

Even if the sight of her in those sky-high heels had made him think of pleasure rather than the boardroom.

She’s off-limits. Always has been. Don’t even think it.

Because feelings were complicated, and if there was one thing he wanted to avoid, it was more complications with Caitlyn.

“Reid, good to see you here.”

He turned to see a familiar face walking up to him. “Spencer,” he greeted with a handshake. “Didn’t think you’d make it. Aren’t you going through a merger right now?”

“My team can handle it,” the other man replied.

“We’ll have to make the most of this opportunity, then. It’s rare we’re both in the same city at the same time.”

“I keep telling you to come visit me, and I’ll prove once and for all Boston is not worth your time.”

“My company is based there,” he said drily.

“Headquarters can move.”

“I’ll take that under advisement. Think we’ll overlap in any workshops this week?” he asked, clearly changing the subject.

“Good selection this year. And the opening keynote tomorrow should be interesting.”

Damien inclined his head, listening with half an ear as Spencer went on about the seminars he’d signed up for.

He twirled his scotch around the glass as he caught sight of the one woman he was looking for.

Spencer’s voice fell away as his gaze zeroed in on Caitlyn. Her curls were piled high on her head, her body encased in a simple black dress.

One that hugged her generous curves and made him think of less than professional desires.

Giving himself a mental shake, he continued his examination. She sported her typical black high heels. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her in anything else, but when working in a male-dominated world he supposed the extra inches helped even the playing field over her diminutive height.

Her face was animated as she surveyed the room. The sight brought a smile to his lips he couldn’t bite back. If there was one thing he’d say for her, she had an eagerness to learn that he admired. And she wasn’t one to avoid taking a calculated risk or two. No, the woman did her research and set the best course she believed in. Far too many times, that course had come in conflict with his own aims.

All the more reason to avoid her.

Those bright-green eyes swept passed him only to zip back when she realized he was in the room.

Electricity snaked through him as he raised his glass to her.

She scowled, turning on her heel and marching in the other direction.

His lips twitched.

“Who is that and why haven’t I met her before?” Spencer said by his side.

“Caitlyn Brooks,” he replied. “CEO of Brooks Corp.”

“Well, damn me. Wasn’t that company a thorn in your side a few years ago? I heard the old owner retired for health reasons and figured they’d pack up shop. She related?”

“His daughter,” he said. “She took control when her father got sick.”

Spencer whistled. “Smart and a bombshell of a body. I think I should introduce myself.”

Damien’s humor disappeared in an instant as he turned his full attention back to his friend. “What?”

“Where’s the harm? It’s not like I care about her company. Don’t tell me you do.”

“Trust me, that woman isn’t one to mess with.”

“Come on. You could buy and sell her whole world in a heartbeat. You can’t tell me she’s any threat to you.”

“Every company playing in the pharma industry is a threat to me. Brooks Corp isn’t as inconsequential as it once was.”

“Good thing I’m not in the drug world, then.” He tossed back his drink before handing the empty glass to one of the passing servers. “I think I’ll go introduce myself.”

With a wink, he was on his way.

And there wasn’t a damned thing Damien could do about it.

What do I care, anyways? If Caitlyn fell for Spencer’s consummate flirting, then that was her cross to bear. It had nothing to do with him.

Except the urge to intervene was so strong he swallowed the remainder of his scotch in one gulp.

“I need more alcohol,” he muttered to himself. “Immediately.”

Heading for the bar, he forced himself to ignore Caitlyn.

And the cursed man who’d just made her laugh.

…

Caitlyn chuckled at the stranger who’d just come up to her with one of the worst pickup lines she’d ever heard.

“Does that ever work?” she asked.

“No good? Let me try again. You must be from Tennessee, because you’re the only ten I see.”

She rolled her eyes. “Is your name Google? Because you’re the answer to everything I’ve been searching for.”

A wide grin split his face. “A woman after my own heart. Spencer Lundy,” he said, holding out his hand. “How is it our paths have never crossed before?”

“The world is a cruel place,” she said, shaking his hand.

He held on a second too long to be a quick professional shake, but she didn’t mind. The man was easy enough to look at with his wavy blond hair and lazy smiles.

The tension in her shoulders started to drain away. This she could do. Network, chat, make connections—it was all part of the job, and this ballroom was teeming with conference goers worth speaking to. The retreat might focus on corporate growth, but she was willing to bet there were attendees from every industry and every level of a company’s hierarchy here.

“Tell me you’re from New York, too,” he said.

“Boston, I’m afraid. Born and bred.”

He clutched his chest. “The dangers of a conference romance. Brought together by knowledge, divided by geography.” His bright-blue eyes sparkled. “Guess we’ll have to make every day count.”

“Or,” she said, “we can focus on what we’ve come here to learn.”

“Not nearly as fun.”

She allowed her smile to show. “But far more useful when we go back to the real world.”

Spencer sighed. “You’re just like Damien. All work and no play.”

She stiffened at the mention of her nemesis’s name. “Damien Reid?” she said carefully.

“He said you knew each other.”

“We do.” Against her will, she couldn’t help looking in the direction she’d last seen him. Immediately her gaze clashed with his gray one.

Blood rushed through her ears, drowning out whatever Spencer was saying as she took Damien in. He leaned against the bar, arms crossed on the countertop. His suit jacket molded to his body, but he’d left off the tie he’d been wearing. Instead, his white shirt parted at his throat, giving her a glimpse of the bronze skin beneath.

He didn’t drop his eyes or try to pretend he hadn’t been doing exactly what she’d caught him at.

Watching her with an intensity that set her nerves on edge.

Movement flashed in the corner of her eye, and she jerked around to see Spencer had waved Damien over.

“Wait,” she tried, but it was too late.

Damien uncoiled with grace a man his size shouldn’t possess and proceeded to cross the room to them with sure steps.

By the time he’d reached them, she’d managed to smooth all emotion from her expression.

“You made it,” he said by way of greeting.

She arched a brow. “Did you expect me to hide in my room?”

“Nah. Not enough cleaning supplies in there.”

Anger pulsed in her chest, but she pushed it back, not rising to the bait. “Spencer was just telling me how you two knew each other.”

“College,” Spencer said, following her lead. “I had the misfortune of living on the same dorm floor.”

“My condolences.”

Damien gave her a tight smile. “I rescued him from a jealous boyfriend who objected to Spencer hitting on his girlfriend. Haven’t been able to shake him since.”

“You know what a good negotiator Damien is. By the time he was done with the guy, he’d convinced us all I’d been doing him a favor with the whole mess. Still not sure how you managed that.”

“He’s got a silver tongue,” she said.

Gray eyes fixed on her. “As if you don’t also talk circles around people when you need to.”

She rolled her eyes.

Spencer glanced between them. “I’m sensing you two aren’t BFFs.”

“Can’t get anything past you, Spence,” Damien said.

“He’s mad I’m coming after his little company,” she supplied.

“Little? It’s three times as big as yours.”

“It’s not the size that matters—it’s how you use it. Or haven’t you figured that part out yet?” she asked sweetly.

“Expertise has never been an issue for me in any area of my life.” His gaze turned sultry. “Nor, for that matter, has size.”

Heat bloomed on her cheeks that she did her best to ignore. There was no way she was dropping his stare just because he’d managed to embarrass her. She certainly wasn’t going to let her gaze jerk to the part of his anatomy that would back up his words.

Luckily, a chuckle broke their stalemate. “This week is going to be fun,” Spencer said.

She shot a glare at Damien’s friend. “I think it’s best all around if I move on. Enjoy your lectures tomorrow, Spencer.”

“Running away?”

Her head swung back to Damien. “I don’t run,” she replied. “Not in business and not here.”

He opened his mouth, and she held up a hand to stop him.

“I needed shampoo this morning.”

His smirk said it all.

“What happened to the ‘avoid each other’ plan we set up for the week?”

He shrugged. “That was your idea. I never agreed to anything.”

“You can’t want to fight for a week,” she said.

“Oh, I don’t know,” he replied. “Annoying you the way you constantly annoy me in the city has a nice ring to it.”

“Don’t you think that’s a bit petty?”

“Sure.” He crossed his arms and grinned at her. “Ask me if I care.”

Silently she counted to ten before trying again. “I promise you, your mere presence at this conference annoys me. Mission accomplished.”

The grin widened. “I don’t think so. In fact, the more I think about this, the more I like it. You keep nipping at my heels in the business world. I’ll enjoy a week getting even.”

Her hands clenched into fists. “Bring it on, Moneybags. Whether at this conference or back home, I’ll always beat you.”

His expression never changed, but something about the way he watched her made her heart race even as a chill snaked through her body.

In retrospect, taunting may not have been the wisest idea.

Damien raised the glass in his hand, saluting her. “Game on, cupcake.”

Yep. I’m in trouble.