Untangle My Heart: Book # 2 The Hunter Brothers

by Iona Rose

  Someone clears their throat and the moment between Kimberley and I is broken. She looks away and lets out a long breath. A breath she was holding because she too froze when our eyes met.

  “How are you Sebastian?” she smiles, gaining her composure a lot quicker than I do.

  I still can’t speak, and I just nod to her. It’s enough to break the spell in the room and the three newcomers take their seats. An awkward silence still hangs over us, and I still feel as though everyone is looking at me. It’s as though my whole fucking life has been projected out for the entire room to see.

  I finally find my voice and I turn to Chance.

  “Want to get this started?” I say.

  He nods and begins to talk and the atmosphere in the room melts away. I try to focus on Chance’s words, but it’s almost impossible for me to look anywhere but at Kimberley. It doesn’t matter. I know Chance’s spiel almost as well as he does.

  I shift uncomfortably in my seat as my cock begins to respond to the vision of beauty sitting across from me. Her breasts have indeed filled out, as have her hips. She’s all woman now, there’s no denying that. That innocent look she always had is gone, replaced with a quiet inner confidence that radiates out of her, showing her to be a force to be reckoned with.

  That’s my Kimberley. A force of nature. A force of nature that might just be about to break me once again.

  Chapter Four

  Sebastian

  This damned meeting drags more than any meeting I’ve ever been in. Hell it drags more than my classes at school used to when all I wanted was for the school day to be over so I could spend time with … well, her.

  Kimberley and the others ask questions; way too many for my liking. No, actually that’s not fair. They clearly know their stuff. They ask all of the right questions. All of the questions I would have asked had I been on their side of the table. But it feels like a slew of pointless questions because I have a list of questions of my own. Questions that I can’t ask in a meeting. Questions I’ll probably never get to ask and never get the answers to.

  I want to ask Kimberley a thousand questions. Why she is back. Why now? Why did she choose our firm for the merger when there are hundreds of other firms out there she could have done business with? I mean I get it. We’re the best. But she must have known she’d have to face me. Which leads to me more questions; the ones that will really hurt. Does she not care at all about seeing me again? Am I really just a short chapter in her life’s book? Why did she …? No I won’t go there. I’m not even going to ask that question in my head. Not now. Not ever.

  And I have a ton of questions for Matt and Chance too. How long have they known Kimberley was involved in the merger? Where they talking business when they went for coffee and just forgot to mention that part to me? And why the fuck did they think springing her on me like some unwelcome surprise birthday present in the middle of a meeting like this was a good idea? Did they really think I would just welcome her with open arms? Do they really think I don’t have a right to be so damned pissed at her?

  I honestly can’t believe Matt had the front to lecture me about being unprofessional after what happened with Natalie when all along he knew he was planning on this damned ambush. If he makes even one comment about my conduct in this meeting, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself from punching him. Seriously, what was he expecting to happen here? Why does he enjoy my misery so much? And why did Chance go along with it? Don’t they know how much is resting on this deal?

  “Sebastian,” Bradley hisses, pulling me away from the list of unasked and unanswered questions in my head and back to the meeting, where I’ve clearly been asked a question I should be able to answer. Perfect.

  I take another quick glance at Kimberley. She’s poised, confident. She doesn’t look the least bit perturbed by us being in this room together. Other than her short gasp when our eyes met, it’s like she doesn’t even know me. Well two can play that game. It’s time to put my game face on.

  “I’m sorry,” I say, flashing my most charming smile at the three people opposite me. “I tend to zone out through the formalities. The truth is, you know this is a damned good growth opportunity for Benton’s. We know the same is true for us. So why don’t we cut the bullshit and get down to the real questions.”

  Joe looks at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. I stand my ground, holding his unwavering gaze. It’s a make or break moment for the deal and I should be sweating buckets right about now, but honestly, I’m just glad for the excuse to keep my eyes off Kimberley for a moment. As Joe and I face off against each other, the whole room goes silent. It’s that moment where no one dare so much as breath.

  Joe’s face breaks into a grin and I hear the collective exhale around me. He gives a short laugh.

  “I like this guy,” he announces. He turns to Kimberley. “Good call to approach the Hunter’s with our proposal.”

  That causes me to raise an eyebrow. So Kimberley has been talking to Joe about me. Or at least about my family. Her cheeks turn the tiniest bit pink and I take a moment to enjoy her discomfort. Call me petty, but it’s kind of nice to not be the only one on the back foot here, even if it is only for a fleeting second before Kimberley regains her composure. She gives Joe a warm smile.

  “What can I say? I know you hate this dance and I know Sebastian likes to get down to business as much as you do.”

  So it was me specifically she’s been talking about. I’m not keeping score or anything, but if I were, I’d be thinking Sebastian one, Kimberley nil right about now.

  “Kimberley is right. I do hate this dance. My time is too precious to waste and I’m sure you all feel the same way about your own time. As Sebastian here said, we all know this merger is a good opportunity for both of our businesses. So how about we stop with the questions we all already know the answers to and move onto the real dealings.”

  “Works for us,” Matt says.

  “Good,” Joe replies. “Let’s arrange a date to exchange our books and get the financial stuff out of the way so we can open the doors to a discussion on how exactly this is all going to work.”

  Chance opens up his laptop and goes into our calendar app.

  “Does tomorrow afternoon work for you?” he asks.

  Joe raises an eyebrow and I have to bite my lip to stop myself from smiling. Chance doesn’t even bother trying to hide his smile. He’s got Joe and he knows it.

  “Sorry is that too soon? Just you said you didn’t want to mess around and we’re prepared to get this thing done as soon as possible.”

  Joe regains his composure and nods.

  “Tomorrow works for us.”

  I stand up, and again all eyes are on me. Jeez, they’re acting like I’ve just pulled my fucking pants down or something.

  “What?” I say, faking innocence. “The meeting is over isn’t it? Unless anyone else has any questions that can’t be answered in the next stage?”

  I pause giving everyone a measured look and a chance to respond. No one speaks up, just like I knew they wouldn’t. Who would dare ask a question at this point when it’s clearly on the table that we’re past that point? I nod, vindicated and leave the room without a backwards glance.

  My abrupt exit isn’t just about Kimberley. It’s about keeping the power on our side of the table. Waiting to be dismissed from a meeting is the equivalent of saying the other side is in charge and I’m not about to go there. Both Matt and Chance know this is my style, and they know it works. But I can still feel the daggers on my back as I leave the conference room. They think it’s all about Kimberley. And they think I’m the one who is obsessed with her. I’m starting to think they’re the ones who think everything is about her.

  I walk towards the elevator without looking back, aware that I am being watched through the glass wall of the conference room. I pull my cell phone out and put it to my ear. It’s not ringing, but it gives me something to do with my hands and it makes it look like I have already moved onto
something more important than the meeting I’ve just left. Another power play.

  I reach the elevator and step inside. I put my cell phone back away and press the button for the fifth floor so I can go back to my office. I change my mind as the door pings open and press for the ground floor. I need a cigarette badly.

  I hurry through the busy lobby and go around to the side of the building. I lean back against the wall for a moment and take a few deep breaths. It’ll be fine. Joe Benton wants this merger as much as we do, and if he wants it, it’ll happen. Unless we fuck it up. And we won’t, because I am staying firmly away from it from now on. I’ve showed my face and there’s no reason Matt and Chance can’t handle the rest of the negotiations. And Bradley can step in for the numbers element.

  I pat my jacket pockets and then my pants pockets looking for my cigarettes.

  “Fuck,” I say when I come up empty.

  Of course I don’t have any cigarettes on me. I quit like two years ago. I guess Kimberley is having more of an effect on me that I realised. Fuck it. One won’t hurt. Maybe even one packet. I’ve quit once, and I can do it again. Once Kimberley is gone from my life again. Even if the merger is successful, which I know it will be, I can make sure I don’t end up in a position where I have to work with her, or see her again.

  I head back towards the building. I decide to ask Sheila, Matt’s secretary, to run out and grab me a packet of cigarettes. I really don’t need the lecture I’ll get if I ask Bernie to go. I’m almost back at the elevators when one pings open and Kimberley, Joe and Gary step out.

  Dammit.

  I turn around quickly and head back for the main doors. I hear Kimberley telling Joe and Gary she’ll catch up with them.

  Double dammit.

  Obviously they saw me. I hoped I had turned away quickly enough, but clearly I haven’t. I up my pace, hoping if I just keep my head down and keep going, Kimberley will take the hint and leave me alone. She doesn’t of course. Taking a hint never was Kimberley’s style. She likes thing straight forward. No mind games, no drama. No hints. Just say what you mean. I thought walking away made my meaning clear enough, but evidently not.

  “Sebastian,” I hear her calling. “Wait up.”

  I can hear her heels clicking as she hurries along behind me. I know I can just keep going. She’ll never catch up to me in heels. But I also know that she knows there’s no way I won’t have heard her calling out to me. If I just keep going, she’ll know I’ve done it on purpose to avoid talking to her. And she’ll think it’s because her presence is getting under my skin.

  She’s so far under my skin she’s practically a part of me, but she doesn’t need to know that. I stop walking and take a deep breath and then I slowly turn around to face her.

  She’s wearing a tight black pencil skirt and a yellow blouse that’s open at the collar. It’s open enough to suggest that the good stuff is underneath it, but not enough to be unprofessional. Her hips push the skirt out nicely, showing off her shapely waist and her gorgeous curves. Her bright red hair shines like a fucking halo and her eyes hold me under their spell the same way they always have.

  The way my cock stands to attention at the mere sight of her isn’t just because of our history. There’s no denying that she is beautiful, but it’s more than that. Kimberley Montgomery is a force to be reckoned with and it shows. Her quiet confidence oozes out of her and she owns any room she walks into.

  If she was a stranger who walked past me in a bar, I know for a fact she would capture my attention just as she is now. To be honest, if we didn’t have history, I’d be all over that, in a bar, in the office. Fucking anywhere.

  She covers the couple of paces that separate us. I force myself to smile.

  “Hey Kimberley,” I say.

  She smiles back at me and I think I see relief in her smile. She thought I was going to be a dick about this. She thinks I’m still hung up on her. Screw that. I’ll show her I couldn’t give a flying fuck about her one way or the other.

  “It’s good to see you Sebastian. How’s things?” she asks.

  Fantastic until you showed up and reminded me why sex with other women, even smoking hot ones, is almost always unsatisfactory.

  Chapter Five

  Kimberley

  As Joe, Gary and I step out of the elevator and into the crowded lobby, I see him. Sebastian Hunter. It’s all I can do not to suck in an audible breath. That guy knows how to rock a suit.

  He’s changed a lot since I last saw him. His body has filled out. His shoulders are broad, his chest muscular beneath his shirt, and I just know that he has a six pack to die for. He’s definitely not the gangly teen I remember. His hair is what I can only describe as city trendy. A tad too long to be a corporate look, revealing the rebellious nature of him. Typical Sebastian. He was never one to follow the rules.

  His eyes seem to be darker than I remember them. Beautiful eyes that I could lose myself in if I let myself. His smile hasn’t changed a bit though. The way his lips turn up at one corner, the smirk of a man who knows exactly who he is and doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks of that.

  It’s the sort of smile that turns my knees weak and makes my pussy wet. It makes me wonder what sex with Sebastian would be like now. It makes me think it would be a whole lot better than the fumbling sex we had as teens when neither of us really knew our bodies or what we liked.

  He doesn’t grace me with that sexy smile now though. Instead, he turns away the second he spots me and begins rushing through the lobby although his intention was always to leave the building, even though he was obviously heading towards the elevators.

  Gary and Joe don’t seem to notice. Why would they? The lobby is busy enough that one person wouldn’t stand out to them. They wouldn’t be able to spot Sebastian through a crowd of thousands like I would.

  We step out of the elevator and I know I have to go after Sebastian. I have to talk to him. I have to show him that I’m here for business and nothing more. I can’t let our history get in the way of this merger. Not when I have worked so hard to get to where I am now. And especially not when I recommended the Hunter’s firm as the best option for us.

  There’s not many twenty-two year olds who can say they’re the CFO at one of the top accountancy firms in the city. In fact, there are none except for me. And I’m not about to let the history I share with Sebastian get in the way of that. I need him to know that I plan on handling this in a business like way; and I need to know he can do the same.

  Joe has no idea I have history with Sebastian. He knows I know the Hunter family of course. I had to tell him that much to explain how they got on my radar when Joe starting talking about a merger. I know I should have told him about our history, but if I had, he would have pulled me off the deal and sent in someone else. Someone who hadn’t put the hours of blood, sweat and tears into the prep work. I’m not about to stand by and let someone else take my moment.

  “I’ll catch up with you guys,” I say to Joe and Gary.

  “Ok,” Joe replies. “Meet us back at the hotel. We’ll go over the figures one more time and Gary and I will quiz you on anything the Hunter’s are likely to spot and question.”

  “Uh huh,” I say, barely listening as I hurry away.

  The numbers won’t be what throws me off my game. I know numbers. Numbers don’t have added depths or unresolved issues. With numbers, what you see is what you get. They don’t lie or tell a half a story as long as you know how to read them, and I know how to read numbers a damned sight more than I know how to read people. It won’t be the questions that trip me up. If anything, it’ll be the person asking them. The person with the warm brown eyes and the smile that can turn me into a melting pot of lust.

  I hurry across the lobby after Sebastian, cursing myself for wearing heels. I’ll have to call out to him. If he ignores me, then at least I know where I stand and I can prepare for a hostile meeting bubbling with old resentments. It’s the last thing I want, but if it comes to that, I can
handle it. I’ve handled meaner guys than Sebastian in my time working for Benton, although none of them have had any sort of personal connection with me. I don’t know how I’ll fair really if someone who is such a big part of making me the person I am today truly hates me.

  “Sebastian. Wait up,” I call before I can talk myself out of it.

  He stops moving, but he doesn’t turn around immediately. I know what’s going through his head. He’s debating walking away, but he knows if he does that, I’ll know that he heard me and chose to ignore my shout. This is the moment I will know for sure exactly how hostile the merger is going to be. If he waits for me, there’s hope we can be professional and get through it. And if he doesn’t, then at least I’ll know to brace myself for a dirty fight instead of a peaceful negotiation.

  I keep walking and slowly, Sebastian turns to face me. I feel the knot of tension in my stomach slowly begin to ease up a little. It’s still not going to be easy, but it’s going to be possible and for that at least, I am grateful.

  Sebastian smiles at me as I close the gap between us. I feel my stomach flip and my pussy tighten as I look at him.

  Dammit Kimberley, get a fucking grip. This is ancient history. It didn’t work out then and it won’t work out now. So be professional and nothing more.

  “Hey Kimberley,” Sebastian says.

  His voice is low, husky. And simply hearing him say my name makes my pussy wet. God I need to stop this shit. I’m not some stupid teenager anymore. I’m a grown woman with a real career and I need to start acting like it.

  “It’s good to see you Sebastian. How’s things?” I say.

  I’m relieved when my voice comes out sounding normal. I was half expecting it to be croaky or just die in my throat altogether. He doesn’t respond. He just stands there looking at me in amusement. What is so fucking amusing about this? Is he enjoying my discomfort? Most likely he is. I try again.