“You may be my new favorite person,” Shireen said, holding out her glass for a refill, too.
“Back at you, darling.”
“Let’s change the topic,” Caitlyn said diplomatically. “Spencer, tell us about New York.”
“Blah,” Shireen cut in. “Sorry, but there’s a reason I don’t live in the East. Tell us more about Damien’s damaged past.”
“I’m not damaged,” he said.
Three people snorted.
“People in glass houses. Just saying,” he replied.
Fair point.
“Damien was always the knight among us,” Spencer said, ignoring his friend. “You could count on him to make sure everyone got home on our nights out. He’d come through with an epic paper at the last minute on group projects. And he even rescued a damsel in distress one evening when we came upon a drunk girl making friends with a flower.”
“Been there,” Shireen said.
“He always had a chivalrous streak in him.”
She leaned back with a frown.
Am I a damsel in distress to him?
Was she rousing protective instincts when the last thing she wanted was a man riding to her rescue?
Damien tossed her a sardonic smile as if he could read her thoughts. “You’re not a damsel in distress, Caitlyn,” he said. “More often than not, you’re the freaking dragon.”
Another woman may have taken issue with the comment. But to her it was the sweetest compliment she could have received, and her smile said so.
“Perfect man, twelve o’clock,” Shireen whispered to her.
Don’t I know it.
…
He hadn’t meant anything by his comment. Really, he hadn’t.
Yet Caitlyn was staring at him as if he’d just given her a gift.
Some unnamable emotion rose within him. One that wanted to ensure she always looked at him the way she was now. He shifted uneasily at the thought.
Temporary. This needs to be temporary.
Because Spencer was right. He didn’t have any room in his life for family. Dating someone like Caitlyn could only lead to serious. Fast.
I’m not ready for that.
He probably never would be.
Even if a tiny voice in the back of his mind whispered she might be everything he’d been waiting for.
She’s a good person, and I had a front-row seat to the train wreck that was my parents’ marriage.
If he was smart, he’d stay the hell away from her before he did something he couldn’t take back.
“What about you two?” Shireen asked. “You seem like unlikely friends.”
He tore his gaze away from Caitlyn. “You’re right. I did my best to get rid of him.”
“Like hell. We were sorted into the same dorm in our first year and Mr. Socially Awkward over there needed a buddy to go out in public. Honestly, you should have seen the things he said to girls. It bordered on murdery.”
“I just asked Elizabeth Carmer to go stargazing with me,” Damien said.
“Tell the whole story.”
He sighed. “I may have asked her to drive off the beaten trail into a dark forest with me without her knowing who the hell I was.”
“See? Murdery.”
“I chose to see it as romantic.”
“Her horrified look said otherwise.”
He would have objected more, but the delighted expression on Caitlyn’s face stilled his words.
For the first time, he was seeing her open and unguarded. He thanked the generous flow of sangria for that—and Spencer, who proved once again to be the perfect foil. How often had they done this in school? Riffing off each other to charm the women around them. It was easy to fall back into the old habit.
Except the old him wouldn’t have cared which woman he charmed.
Tonight, there was only one person on his mind.
She’s all I want.
All week he’d been meeting interesting people from every industry. The amount of offers for after-conference activities had not been lost on him.
But he’d turned down each and every one.
For her. It has to be her.
No other woman would do.
You’re in trouble. Deep trouble.
It was like he was in high school again. One kiss had him in knots.
All for a girl with tousled red hair and eyes too big for her face.
What is it about her that makes her so…
Special.
“We all learned how to flirt the hard way,” Caitlyn said, clearly trying to help him.
Wrong move, Brooks.
“Sounds likes there’s a disastrous story in your past, too.”
Her eyes widened, seeing her mistake too late to correct it.
“Tell us more,” Spencer said, resting his chin in his palm, elbow balanced on the table.
“No, no, trust me, there is no story.”
“I do not trust you even slightly on that,” Shireen said.
“It’s nothing.”
“Gotta tell us now,” Spencer said as he took a drink.
He watched her gaze dart around as she looked for an out. With none forthcoming, however, she relented. “It’s not an exciting story. In high school I was super shy. When I finally worked up the courage to ask out the boy I’d been crushing on, he was surprised and asked when I’d transferred into the school. We’d taken at least two classes together every grade for four years.”
The other two erupted into laughter with Caitlyn smiling gamely along with them.
But he’d heard the underlying pain in her story. And despite her smile, when she glanced his way, he could see the devastation below the tale.
Kids are idiots.
Couldn’t they have seen what a gem she was, even if her voice had been quiet?
“His loss,” he said before he could think twice. “You’ve become the boss of hundreds of people. Nothing about you is quiet now.”
Something gentled in her eyes as she stared at him. “Exactly. His loss.”
Will it be mine, too?
As the conversation moved on, and the wine continued to flow, he wondered if it just might be.
Chapter Nine
Caitlyn stood at the final reception, and for the first time in years, dreaded the end of the conference.
Tomorrow morning was a closing address she had no intention of going to and a plane ride back to Boston. Next week she’d go into work and everything would be back to normal. Back to running her company and back to life without Damien.
“Sadness has no place here tonight,” Shireen said, appearing at her side.
“Hey,” she greeted. “Good day?”
“Long day. You?”
“Same.”
“Once again we have to part ways. You need to come visit California more often.”
“Or you could come to Boston.”
“Perhaps this will be the year,” she agreed, snagging a drink from the waiters making the rounds through the massive convention hall with trays of food and drink.
“I’ll cross my fingers.”
“Have you heard from Damien today?”
She took a sip of her own wine. “We ended up in the first workshop of the day together.”
He’d taken the free seat behind her and leaned in to whisper his commentary on the terrible presentation to her the whole way through. She’d been grinning like a fiend by the time it was over.
“Real talk,” Shireen said. “What are you doing with that man?”
“I haven’t a clue,” she replied. “We’re walking a weird line between flirting and being professional.”
“Have you kissed him?”
She blushed but said nothing.
“I’ll take that as a yes. Looks like you’ve already crossed the line. Why not enjoy the fall?”
“Because I know what happens at the end of this story,” she replied.
She’d get emotionally involved, and he’d whistle his way over the horizon.
“Come back with me to Boston,” she offered impulsively.
Shireen laughed. “To play third fiddle to an already complicated relationship? No, thanks.”
“It wouldn’t be like that.”
“Whatever you say. How about I just share a cab with you to the airport tomorrow?”
“I’ll take what I can get.”
“There are my two favorite conference goers.”
Turning, they saw Spencer making his way over to them. “We should have known you wouldn’t miss a party,” Caitlyn said.
“Not on your life. This is our last night of freedom before we all head back to real life. Better enjoy it,” he said.
That’s not terrible advice.
Despite herself, she glanced around for Damien.
“He’s not here,” Spencer said, watching her.
“Who?” she asked, trying to downplay the slip.
“Damien left for a client dinner. I doubt we’ll see him.”
“Not who I was looking for,” she lied.
Spencer’s lips twitched. “I almost wish I lived in Boston to watch how this plays out.”
“Nothing will change because of a weeklong conference.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Liar, liar.
“What about you, Spencer? What waits back in New York for you to return to?”
“Nothing that matters,” he said before launching into a description of his life back home.
Caitlyn smiled politely as she listened and tried not to feel disheartened at Damien’s absence. So what if she’d been hoping to get a goodbye kiss in tonight?
Right. A kiss is all you wanted.
Moot point, now. With Damien out in the city, she’d been handed a reprieve. She’d never have to decide whether or not she wanted to leap across a few more lines with him. Odds were, she wouldn’t see him again until they met in a boardroom.
Switching her glass to her other hand, she massaged a phantom pain in her chest with a frown.
Buck up.
This was her last night, and she intended to enjoy herself. With or without Damien.
…
It was close to midnight when she finally said her goodbyes. Everyone promised to come back next year like summer camp for adults.
Smiling to herself, she was crossing the lobby to the elevators when she heard her name.
Turning, she saw that Damien stood behind her, looking as startled by her appearance as she was by his.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, taking a step toward him. “I thought you were out with clients.”
“I was. Just got back.” He gestured to the front entrance behind him. “You?”
“I was at the farewell reception. Spencer’s still in there if you want to enjoy the tail end of it.”
He walked toward her at a slow, leisurely pace. “Spencer was not the one I wanted to see tonight.”
Her heart beat kicked up a few notches. “No?”
“No.” He stopped before her, his gray gaze capturing hers.
She rolled her shoulders back and opted for honesty. “I was disappointed to hear you wouldn’t be there tonight.”
“Clearly fate had other ideas.” He glanced over her shoulder to the elevators. “Headed up?”
“Yeah.”
What are you doing? Take him into the ballroom, not closer to a bed.
But when he held out a hand, she slipped hers into it without thought. Together they walked over to the elevators as her pounding heart drowned out all other sound.
They rode up to their floor in silence that was anything but comfortable. She searched for something to say, but everything she came up with sounded too flimsy to speak aloud.
Instead she followed his lead when the doors opened at their floor.
You’ve got half a hallway to make a decision. Whose room are you sleeping in tonight?
She should know but was conflicted as ever.
They reached their rooms, and Damien dropped her hand, leaning back against his door.
She glanced at her room. “I guess this is goodbye for a while,” she said.
“It could be,” he agreed. “When’s your flight?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Then we still have time.”
Straightening her back, she faced him full on. “For what?”
He smiled. The one that made him look younger, happier, and robbed the breath from her lungs. “I’ve got a confession to make.”
“You’re stepping down as CEO and we have no more conflicts of interest to worry about?”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
She sighed. “Can’t win them all.”
“No, what I was going to say is that I requested a room on the same floor as you.”
She blinked at the confession. “Why?”
He watched her with hooded eyes. “It was an impulse when I checked in to ask if you were attending. Then the concierge asked if I wanted a room close to you, and I found myself agreeing. We are always at each other’s throats, but…” He ran a hand down his face. “But I find I couldn’t get you off my mind. Even when we walk away from each other.”
“Which we’ll do tomorrow.”
“Back to the real world.”
Back to being enemies.
She didn’t want to. And from the expression on his face, she wasn’t the only one.
What alternative is there?
Their companies were rivals. He wasn’t going to go easy on her just because of a couple days’ time-out from their war, and she didn’t expect him to. She had no intention of easing off, either.
Which meant all they could ever have was this week. A handful of days with a man who intrigued her far more than she wanted to admit.
A couple of days, and possibly a night?
Could she do it? Throw caution to the wind for one mind-blowing night?
“Tomorrow…” His voice trailed off.
“What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
She nibbled at her lower lip. “Tomorrow’s not here yet.”
“No.” He purred the word like a caress. “What could we possibly do to fill the hours?” A wolfish grin crossed his face. “I have a few ideas.”
“I bet you do.”
“Would it be so bad?”
“Terrible.”
He leaned his head back against the wall. “Yeah.”
Sleeping with him would complicate everything. She couldn’t afford to have feelings for him. It was a weakness he’d use against her.
What about the feelings you already have?
Because as much as she wanted to deny it, she thought about him, too. A lot. More than she should. More than was good for her.
This is a mess.
Enemies in the boardroom and lovers after hours? It could never work.
But it can work tonight.
One magical time-out before they crashed back to reality.
Her heartbeat sped up as she debated her options. If she walked away right now, back to her cold, empty room, wouldn’t she regret it? CEOs were supposed to be brave enough to take chances. Wasn’t she every inch the CEO he was?
Face it, you just want an excuse to do what you’ve wanted to do since the day you met.
She’d stepped away from the wall before she’d really processed the decision.
His eyes zeroed in on the movement, watching her like a hawk as she closed the small distance between them.
Lifting a hand, she traced his jaw with a light touch.
“Caitlyn?”
She knew what he was asking.
What are you doing? Don’t start what you can’t finish.
Except she had no intention of stopping.
One night. One chance. It won’t change anything. If he can be unaffected, so can I.
She hoped.
He stood still under her fingertips, his gaze sharp.
It’s my choice.
He wasn’t going to push ei
ther way. As much as she hated to admit it, he knew her too well. This way, she couldn’t blame him later. The decision was hers alone. And so were the consequences.
Screw it.
Rising to her tiptoes, she touched her lips to his.
A growl rumbled through his throat before he spun her around, pressing her back against the wall.
A smile curved her lips as he pressed a leg between hers. This was what she’d wanted. What she’d craved. One unrestricted night to take everything she desired from him. Everything he wanted from her. One night of peace before they returned to their mutual war.
Better make it count.
Because this chance would probably never happen again.
Decision made, she gave herself over to his expert touch.
“Room key,” she demanded against his lips.
“Not an exhibitionist?”
“Keep taunting me and I’ll walk away.”
He rolled his hips forward, pressing his hard length against her. “No, you won’t.”
She pushed him back with a finger. “Key.”
He pulled it out of his pocket and swiped it against his lock. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he tugged her through the entrance.
Without any hesitation, she stepped into the dark room. The door clicked shut behind them as he crowded her in the entranceway.
“What do we do in the morning?” she asked, leaning against the wall.
“I don’t know.”
“Me neither.”
He stepped forward, one hand tracing along her cheek. “Want to leave?”
“No.” The word was automatic. Said before reason could catch up.
I should go. This will complicate everything.
And yet she didn’t move.
Because despite everything else about their turbulent relationship, she wanted this. Him.
Just once.
Gathering her courage, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.
It was all the encouragement Damien needed. Wrapping his arms around her, he swept her off her feet, taking them both farther into the room.
“Put me down,” she laughed. “You’ll break your back.”
“I won’t,” he replied. “You’re perfect.”
She sucked in a sharp breath as her feet returned to the floor. “We shouldn’t say things like that.”
“Because it will make Boston more complicated?” He touched his forehead to hers. “If all we can have is one night, then I say we make the most of it. A handful of hours to act out every fantasy, and when tomorrow comes, this attraction will be out of our systems.”
Catching the CEO (Billionaire's Second Chance) Page 7
