Chapter 19
SHAWN
How the hell was I supposed to pay attention after that? I would have agreed to any proposal or signed anything put in front of me. I’d have sold the entire company with an idiotic smile plastered on my face.
I avoided my mother’s gaze, who thankfully was seated far down the conference table from me.
Fuck, Kara had been a fantasy in that lingerie, and the sex had been better than anything I could have imagined.
The more time I spent with her, the more it felt like I might be falling for L’s sister, an American who complained all German sounded angry to her delicate ears. Like a cruel joke.
I still had Kara’s panties in my pocket. Would she spend the rest of the day like that? I was looking forward to asking her tonight. What color of red would that draw out of her?
When the meeting ended, I fled the conference room and returned to my office completely aware my mother had followed me.
“We’re not going to discuss it,” I said before she could get anything out. She gave me the look she was world famous for, the same one Jason and I had spent our lives trying to perfect. Intimidating and ruthless. There was no arguing with her.
“I didn’t come in here for that.” She moved toward the back wall and gazed down at the production floor. “However, you brought it up, so I’d like to point out that she’s L’s sister. You shouldn’t burn bridges that don’t belong to you.”
We usually didn’t discuss personal matters at the office, so I was anxious to move past it. “Yes, Jason has explained that to me. I understand.”
“I’m told you’re not planning to attend the fundraiser next Friday.”
“That’s correct.” I sat in my chair, and it took all my strength to block out the memory of what had happened the last time I’d been seated behind my desk.
“Change your plans. You need to be there.”
“No, I really don’t.” It was good policy to host charity events. But sponsoring was one thing—actually attending was another. There were long speeches and bad food, not to mention I found them tedious.
The Forbes list had made them unbearable.
It wasn’t like I was mobbed with women, but the volume had grown exponentially while the quality had declined.
One had bragged she was working her way up the list, like that was supposed to impress me.
I had to inform her she wasn’t going to make it very far.
Besides, what need did I have for any of that? A blonde American, one willing to challenge me in my own office, commanded my total attention.
“Please just do as I tell you.” She sounded far more like my mother than I’d heard in years.
I arched an eyebrow, displeased. “You do realize what day that is?”
“Your birthday? Yes, I was there.” She didn’t cover her frustration. “The company is expecting you. They want to help you celebrate.”
“That is not how I want to . . . celebrate.” I said it like it was a dirty word.
“You’re turning forty. I assume you’ve had to do something you didn’t want to in all your years.”
That was the end of the discussion.
The day dragged endlessly. All I could think about was Kara. What she might be doing at that moment. What I would like to do with her when I finished my work.
The last meeting ran excessively long, and I drove faster than necessary to the Palace hotel, eager to see Kara.
I flew into the hotel room, startling her off the bed where she’d been sitting. I needed her in my arms, her clothes off, her body beneath me. I didn’t notice anything else. Only her embarrassed expression when she broke off our kiss gave me a clue something was wrong.
“Hey, asshole,” my brother grumbled. “I’m sitting right here.”
Jason? What the hell was he doing here, sitting on the couch? And why did she look nervous? “What’s happened?”
“Scott Rhodes is dead,” he said. “The man who pulled a gun on Kara at her office.”
“What? How?” I tightened my hold on her, sensing danger. Obviously, her former employee’s mental state had been bad. “Suicide?”
“No. Suspicious circumstances while in police custody.”
My heart thudded slowly. “He was murdered?”
I peered into her icy blue eyes, needing confirmation, and when she nodded, my emotions battled with each other. Worry, confusion, and anger. What did this mean? Juric was gone. She was supposed to be safe.
Jason massaged a hand behind his neck, looking tense. “My friend in Chicago has a contact in New York’s PD. She said they don’t have any leads yet, but this only happened a few hours ago.”
“Is this tied to Kara?” I asked.
As he considered how to answer, he frowned.
“It sounds like someone went to a lot of trouble to get to Rhodes, which makes me think it’s unrelated.
Maybe he had a gambling problem and got mixed up with people he shouldn’t have.
” He stood and turned his focus to Kara, who was still locked in my arms. “But I don’t like coincidence, either, so we’re going to be cautious. As soon as I hear more, you will too.”
“All right,” I said.
He gave me a sharp look. “I was talking to her.”
Eventually, he was going to get past this. The woman I was holding on to wasn’t the first Hayward to interest a Dunn. He should fucking relate to my situation.
“Thank you,” she said.
He nodded. “Can you get your things together?”
She squirmed, perhaps wanting me to release her, but I wasn’t ready to let go. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Her icy eyes flooded with annoyance. “I’m going to stay at Jason and Laurel’s.”
That was . . . unacceptable. “No. Come home with me.”
She pulled her chin back in surprise, but my brother’s reaction was bigger. He made a sound of shock, like I’d just offered her a fifty percent stake in the business. “You’re taking her to your place?”
It was true, I didn’t bring women home with me. Allowing someone that much access to my personal life was dangerous in all sorts of ways. This was different. It was what I wanted.
Kara recovered quickly. “Do you honestly think I want to go home with you, after you tried to force that job on me?”
“Yes, I do.” I had plenty of confidence there. “Or do you not remember our discussion in my office?”
There was that gorgeous blush I loved. It colored her high cheekbones and matched the soft pink of her lips.
“I’m asking you to come home with me tonight. Please.” I said it softly, hoping I sounded irresistible. “You can stay with them tomorrow.”
I needed her in my bed. In the morning, I’d convince her to stay another day if I hadn’t accomplished that already.
Her expression was dubious, but I saw the cracks beneath it. She wanted this. In fact, it looked like she had a touch of excitement about staying the night with me.
Good. Me, too.
She pulled her mouth to the side in an annoyed glare that was kind of sexy. “Is there any point in saying no?”
I tried not to laugh. “I certainly can’t see one.”
She shifted her weight on her feet, relaxing subtly into me, but painted on a stern look that was all for show. “Fine. One night.”
“I don’t like this,” Jason said. “It’s better if you stay at my place. That’s what you should do.”
When annoyance flashed in her eyes, I secretly thanked my brother.
“Oh, I see. Trying to tell me what to do is a Dunn family trait.”
She let my lips travel the line from her ear down her neck, ending where her shoulder began.
He watched, unhappy with the display, and issued a sound of discomfort.
“You’re always all over my sister,” Kara said, beating me to it. “Like you have any room to judge us.”
I grinned. The word gave me pleasure.
Us.