Chapter Four #2
“What about it?” he countered.
“Don’t you have to go to work?”
“No. My vacation started the first of December. I’m off until after New Year’s.”
“I see.”
“Any more questions?”
“Yes. Will you involve yourself in the day-to-day operations of the company?”
“No. There’s no reason that I should. Handle your business just as you would if I wasn’t involved. And just so you know, the twenty-five percent that I would get will be going directly to my charities.”
That was another surprise. Drawing in a deep breath, she said, “I’ll call you tomorrow with my decision. I need to sleep on it. Good night, Sloan.”
“Good night, Leslie. Pleasant dreams.”
She quickly hung up. Saying “pleasant dreams” was how he would always end their calls at night, because he’d known her dreams would always be of him...and they would always be pleasant. Did he assume that now? Putting her cell phone back on the nightstand, she snuggled under the warm covers.
What bothered her more than anything was knowing she would have pleasant dreams of him tonight.
How could she not when Carmen and Stan were right?
Sloan had become her Christmas miracle. With that thought in mind, she settled in bed and closed her eyes.
The reality of the situation was that Sloan Outlaw was back in her life, and she honestly wasn’t sure how she felt about it.
The next morning Sloan woke up around seven, showered and got dressed while thinking about his conversation with Leslie last night.
After the call had ended, he’d tried turning his attention back to the murder mystery he’d been watching on television but found that he couldn’t.
He’d always thought she had a sexy voice.
This older Leslie’s voice was even sexier, which pretty much agreed with the rest of her.
He had tried not to let it annoy him that she had to sleep on his offer.
Although she had apologized and admitted she now knew Sarah had lied, he couldn’t get past the fact that she had believed her roommate in the first place.
Was that why she was having a problem trusting him now?
Even with his generous terms, did she think he wanted to take her company?
If she did, then she’d classed him in the same category as Longshire.
Sloan hadn’t wanted to take Leslie’s actions personally.
Any competent businessperson knew not to make hasty decisions.
She was merely following the rules, and he would expect the same of anyone he did business with.
But then, he’d never intended to sleep with any of his business associates.
That made this entire situation with Leslie different.
He’d meant what he’d told her last night.
He had never forced himself on her before, and he wouldn’t be doing it now.
However, if she thought they could stay together at the cabin and not share a bed, then she would only be fooling herself.
Whenever they were alone for any period of time, they were spontaneous combustion just waiting to explode.
Although they’d been apart for ten years, he’d picked up on the strong sexual attraction between them at the wedding reception. Even Redford said he’d noticed it from across the room, which was why he hadn’t come back to join them when he’d seen them talking.
Sloan had picked up those same vibes yesterday in her office. Even when they had been discussing something as important as the possibility of her losing her company, whenever their eyes met, desire had flowed between them—whether they wanted it to or not.
There was no doubt in his mind it had been a mutual attraction both times. For that reason, he could understand her call last night to clarify a few things. She of all people knew what potent sexual beings they used to be and still were.
And why he had held his breath at the possibility that she was seriously involved with someone.
Although after intense questioning, Redford had said he’d not heard she was dating anyone.
But still, Redford’s information might have been wrong.
Would it have mattered? Yes, it would have.
Unlike Redford, Sloan had never encroached on another man’s territory, and he didn’t intend to start now.
He was about to leave his hotel room for breakfast when his cell phone rang. Before going to bed, he had added Leslie’s phone number to his contact list and had even given her a special ringtone. He didn’t want to analyze the reason he’d done that.
He clicked on the phone. “Yes, Leslie?” He immediately wished he could bite off his tongue. Now she knew he had her name in his phone.
“I’ve made a decision, Sloan.”
He paused a moment. “And what is your decision?”
“That you and I become temporary business partners.”
Why was he releasing a relieved breath? He didn’t want to admit that the alternative was one he would not have been able to accept. The only reason he had gotten involved was because he refused to let a man like Martin Longshire think he could get away with being a bully.
“Okay. We need to meet tonight and plan our strategy. Let’s do dinner at six.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes, dinner. You know, that meal people usually eat at the end of the day.”
“Yes, smart-ass, I know it.”
Sloan couldn’t help but chuckle. Now this was the Leslie he knew.
The one who could hold her own against anyone, including him.
He had a feeling Martin Longshire had begun breaking her down when she hadn’t been able to see a way out.
Now Sloan was giving her one and she could go back to being herself again. The woman he used to...
He blinked, knowing he couldn’t go there. He would never go there with her again. “Okay, since you know what it is, will you be free at six?”
“Yes, but why wait until then? You can come to my office at five.”
“No, I can’t. There’s a business call I need to be on at four.”
“I thought you were off work from Outlaw Freight Lines for the rest of December.”
Was she questioning him? Would there always be an issue of trust between them? “The meeting has nothing to do with Outlaw Freight Lines. Will you be able to do dinner or not?” he snapped.
“Yes, just tell me where to meet you,” she said in a brusque tone.
“My hotel.”
“Excuse me?”
Sloan rubbed the back of his neck, getting more agitated by the second. “I said my hotel, Leslie, not my hotel room. There happens to be a nice restaurant, the Elderbrae, located in the Ghanis Hotel.”
“I know where it is. In fact, it’s right around the corner from where I live.”
He’d known that from his research and had chosen his hotel for that very reason. “In that case, there won’t be a problem in you finding it,” he said.
“No problem at all.”
“Good. I’ll see you at six.”