Chapter Five #2
“I’m sorry, but we just met, for God’s sake. I don’t know you at all. I also can’t understand why you’re even paying attention to me,” Jennifer whispered against his chest.
“Just listen to me.” He kept his voice firm but soft and waited until he had her full attention.
“We’ll get to know each other better. I already know a lot about you, and you seem to understand me better than anyone else ever has.
You’re not afraid of me at all, which I find interesting and amazing, and we want each other.
I’m paying attention to you because I’ve never wanted a woman more than I want you.
” His hands gripped her shoulders, and his gaze pierced hers.
“Is that true for you, Jennifer? Do you want me?” He continued when she only watched him.
“Do you want me more than you have ever wanted a man before? I need you to give me an honest answer, baby. Because if you don’t want me, I won’t continue to pursue you. ”
Jennifer stared at him.
“Jennifer?” Grant warned.
Jennifer’s heart twisted at the vulnerability she saw. “Yes, I want you.”
He tightened his hands and let out a silent sigh of relief.
“More than any other man you’ve had?” Just the thought of her with anyone else spiked his blood pressure. He gritted his teeth against the irrational anger.
“I haven’t ever wanted a man more than you.”
He relaxed his grip when he was able to take a deep breath.
“But I’m not going to your apartment, and don’t even think about going to bed with me. I am not ready for that.”
Grant chuckled. “We don’t have to wait until we find a bed. My desk will do just fine.”
Jennifer gasped. Her eyes widened as her gaze went to the desk and then back to him. “But...”
Grant watched as a red tinge crept across her face, and he chuckled. She was so damn sweet.
“I know. It’s too soon. Besides, the first time I take you, I want you on a comfortable surface, like my bed.
” He smiled when her blush deepened and she stood before him mute.
He was afraid she’d burst into flames if her face got any redder.
“There is no reason you can’t go ahead and do the presentation .
.. stop it,” he growled when she shook her head. “Goddamn, you’re stubborn.”
He stared at her silently for so long that Jennifer started to fidget. “Okay, how about this? You give me, just me, the presentation ... Jesus Christ, woman. Why the hell not?”
She stopped shaking her head. “Because I’d feel sleazy trying to take money from you now. You kissed me. I mean, isn’t that the way prostitutes make a living?”
Grant snorted back a laugh. “I don’t know too many prostitutes who’d sell themselves for puppies. Besides, I haven’t gotten you under me. Yet.”
Jennifer gasped at his arrogance and then narrowed her gaze. “And you might nev—”
Grant’s nostrils flared as he bent to get in her face. “Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it because it is going to happen with us, and you need to get used to the idea.”
Jennifer inhaled sharply. “No. You can’t just say something like that. We don’t know each other and are from totally separate worlds. I think if you took some time to think about it, you’d agree we’re too different.”
At first, his anger spiked until he reminded himself that she didn’t seem to have a lot of experience. He lifted his gaze toward the ceiling and sighed before looking back at her.
“We’ll deal with th—”
She shook her head.
With a growl of pure frustration, he bent and got nose-to-nose with her.
“As I was saying, we’ll deal with our differences and relationship later.
Let’s just deal with your shelter right now.
” He sat back. “Please, Jennifer. You and I having a personal relationship doesn’t have anything to do with this.
” He gritted his teeth and ignored her shaking head.
“What’s important to you right now? The shelter, right?
Do you really want to walk away from a potential donor? ”
Jennifer bit her bottom lip as a worried frown puckered her eyebrows.
“How much money does your shelter need?” he asked.
She shook her head again. “I—”
“Jennifer! You are so close to going over my knees right now. Stop pushing me. Now tell me how much?”
Her eyes widened at his threat.
“Twenty thousand dollars.” She cringed at the amount and looked at the buttons on his dress shirt because she couldn’t look him in the eyes.
“That’s it?”
Her gaze flew to his. He had to be joking. “Yes.”
He grasped her arm and led her to a chair in front of his massive desk before he walked around to sit in his chair. She watched as he took something from a desk drawer.
“Grant, I rea—”
The look he gave her stopped her mid-word, and only when he was sure he had her silence did he lower his gaze back down to his desk.
A minute later, he walked around the desk and sat on the edge before handing her a piece of paper. She watched him suspiciously before she looked down. She choked when she swallowed, and she gasped at the same time.
He walked to her side and lightly patted her back. “Sorry.” Amusement was evident in his voice.
“Grant, I can’t accept this. It’s more than I even asked for.” Tears started to pool in her eyes as she stared at him.
Grant leaned against the desk in front of her and pulled her up to stand between his legs. “Don’t you dare cry.” His hands gripped her hips gently, even though his words sounded harsh.
Jennifer sniffed. “Grant...”
He tilted her head back with the side of one of his hands so she could see his face.
“Jen. Listen to me. We had an organization here last week. We also gave them one hundred thousand dollars.” He nodded when that got her full attention. “And do you want to know who they were?” He waited for her nod. “The Boy Scouts of America.”
“Why would—”
“Because they want to build a newer campground for the boys.”
“But that’s a lot of money,” she said and tried to control her tears.
“Yes, it is. It’s for the land and to build a weather shelter.
” He stayed silent for a moment to let that information sink in.
“So, you tell me. Are they more worthy than your animals? I know it’s a great organization.
I remember wanting to join when I was a kid.
But it’s boys camping and learning about the wild.
I assume with this money, you’ll be able to save some animals’ lives. Am I right?”
“Oh, God, Grant. You have no idea what I could do with this.” Her eyes burned with emotion.
He pulled her back against his chest and tightened his arms around her. “Good. Now, no more arguing about this, all right?”
She was silent and still for several moments before she nodded and sniffed.
“All right, then. Now, let’s talk about us,” he said.
“Wait. What? I thought we decided I would not become a prostitute.”
Once again, his eyes went to the ceiling as if asking for help. “That was business, and this is our relationship. Yes, our relationship, Jen.” He talked over her interruption. “Let’s try this. I’ll kiss you, and if you tell me it doesn’t affect you, I’ll leave you alone. Deal?”
She shook her head.
He growled. “Jen! I’m getting very tired of you disagreeing with me.”
“No. It’s just, that’s not fair, Grant. I’m affected just by looking at you, or God, your scent,” she huffed as her eyes slid shut. “You make me feel so shaky, so your experiment is not going to work.”
He snorted, then chuckled. “You just answered my question.” He turned to pick up his phone. “Mrs. Arnett, please bring Miss Mitchell’s things from the boardroom.” He hung up the phone, turned back to her, and held her tightly. Within a minute, there was a knock at the door. “Come in.”
Jennifer’s eyes grew huge as she tried to push away from him in embarrassment. “Grant,” she hissed, but he held her between his legs, ignored her struggles, and looked over her head.
“Thank you, Mrs. Arnett.”
The older woman smiled at them as she placed a briefcase and purse on the table in front of the couch. “Will that be all, sir?”
“Yes, thank you.” His gaze swung right back to Jennifer, and he laughed at the dark blush on her face. “You look like you’re about to burst. What’s the problem?” He knew full well.
“God, Grant. You kept me between your legs with your hands on me in front of your secretary.” Her voice got higher and more agitated.
“Yes, I did. And you both better get used to it because it’s going to happen a lot.”
Jennifer rolled her eyes. “Oh, for Pete’s sake. I thought we already said—”
“That you’re all hot for me.”
Jennifer sputtered a laugh. “Yeah, right.”
Grant’s face heated, and his eyelids lowered. “Do I need to prove it to you right now?”
Jennifer froze, her eyes widened.
Grant looked disappointed. “I’ll make it up to you later tonight.”
Jennifer pulled back. “Wait. What’s tonight?”
“Our first real date.” He grinned when she growled.
“Grant...”
“Jennifer,” he mimicked. “I’ll be at your house at six to pick you up. And if you roll your eyes at me again, you’ll be over my knees.”
Jennifer tilted her head to the side and stared up at him. “You have a fascination with me over your knees. Why is that?”
“Maybe because I want my hands on your ass?” he asked helpfully.
Jennifer gasped and snorted, then looked down at the check she held before looking back at him.
“Thank you very much for the donation. I’ll be sure to put you at the top of our donors’ pyramid and send you a letter of thanks.”
“I want to tell you not to bother, but I won’t because I know you’ll ignore me.”
She laughed.
“Do you see how well I know you already?” His hands became caressing. “But I have another way you can thank me.”
“I’m not sleeping with you.” Her expression fell.
He studied her silently for a moment before he slowly nodded.
“I agree. We are not sleeping together. All right?”
Jennifer narrowed her eyes in suspicion and nodded for a moment. She disliked or trusted the muted hunger that flashed across his eyes or the spark of humor.
Grant stood suddenly and pulled her into a gentle hug. “I’ll see you later, sweetheart.”
“Grant, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Let’s take some time to think about this.”
Grant stared down at her thoughtfully for a long moment before he urged her gently away from him, walked back around his desk, and sat down to look at some papers.
“Okay. If that’s what you want. I’m done fighting with you right now,” he said dismissively. He hated to see the shock and sadness on her face.
She cleared her throat. “Thank you again, Grant.”
He nodded his head without looking up from the papers. “No problem.” He listened to the door close behind her and sat back. He knew he confused her, but he knew he would never get anywhere at that moment. She just didn’t know she’d be seeing him later. He smiled.