by Lauren Wood
“Yes we should go if you want to have a late breakfast before the first seminar starts for the day.”
“Don’t worry about that talk, it isn’t going to be worth gong to.” Keenan smiled at me and I frowned back at him. The speaker hasn’t made that much money yet, so why would we take advice from him?”
“Well whatever we are doing, I am getting hungry. Do you want me to go down…”
Keenan’s phone rang and it was a special ring that he knew all too well by the way he answered it. I shot a look to Stacy that didn’t comment or really even look at me. How was I doing so badly with her when every other woman would have already been mine? I didn’t understand and I had to keep wondering if she knew who I was. Surely if she knew, she would make sure that I was content and take me up on my offer. Everyone else did. Why couldn’t she?
“Okay Gemma, I will be there in a few hours.”
That was all I heard of Keenan’s conversation. I knew then that he was leaving and it was because of his wife. I didn’t realize that she had such a strong hold on him, though I should have seen it coming because of how he acted at the charity event with her. The very fact that he was completely out of the loop should have been another good guess.
“I am sorry Chris, but I got to get out of here.”
“What is wrong Keenan?” It was Stacy that seemed worried and I waited to hear the answer myself. What could be so important that he was going to leave such a great event to go home to his wife? Didn’t he get enough of her?
“Well Gemma is pregnant and she is having some pain. I am going to take her to the doctor.”
“She can always just go to the emergency room, you don’t have to go.” I was trying to put some sense into him and it bothered me that he was leaving. I wanted to spend time with my old friend, but by the look he gave me, I was wrong for even suggesting that she go by herself. How was I supposed to know that she was that delicate?
“No, I want to go with her. She tried to get me to stay, but I don’t want her going through it alone. She is scared and if I can be there, I am going to be.”
Stacy kind of sighed and she had the look that all girls had when a man did something sweet. It was hard to stomach that look, especially when it meant I was losing my friend for the weekend. I had hoped that I could get him out and about, back to his old self before he got married and everything changed.
“I can understand that Keenan. I was just hoping that we could hang out. It has been a while since we are so both busy, but family comes first.”
Keenan was skeptical to hear me say that, but I knew that it was what he wanted to hear. It wasn’t necessarily what I felt was true, but I knew when I was beat. I was beat.
“Do you want me to bring you the notes when I get back to the city?”
“No, don’t worry about that. I am going to leave Stacy here to take care of it. If you could help her out a little bit though Chris, I would be grateful.”
I looked to Stacy and I could tell that she didn’t know about her boss’ new plan. I was more than willing to help the woman out, but I knew that she wasn’t too excited about it.
“Is that okay with you Stacy?”
She glanced at me for a minute and then shook her head that it was. I smiled to myself and I knew then that she was going to be mine. No woman could resist me for very long.
Chapter 4
Stacy
The last thing that I wanted to do was spend my weekend here with him. The man was a bit much to deal with and if Keenan used to be anything like him, it was clear that I was lucky he was no longer that way. Keenan hadn’t even looked at me wrong, but with Chris I knew exactly what it was that he wanted. He made no qualms about telling me. I had a feeling that I was going to be tested this weekend and even though this was all boring to me, I was going to do my best to learn as much as I could and to take good notes for Keenan.
“So are you ready for breakfast?”
Keenan had walked upstairs to get his items and leave. Because he was taking the jet back, I was going to have to ride back with Chris, another part of the weekend that I wasn’t looking forward to. I didn’t think he would really do anything, but he was going to flirt and look at me how he was now. Usually I wasn’t bothered by such admiration, it wasn’t the first time, but with him it felt different. With him, I couldn’t stop the way my body reacted to him, no matter how hard I tried.
Walking with him into the restaurant in the bottom floor of the hotel, I almost made a comment that we could have just ordered room service. The idea of him in my room was enough to keep my mouth shut though. The last thing I needed was any more intimate moments with him.
He held out my chair like a perfect gentlemen, but I wasn’t impressed. I was just anxious as to why he as being nice all of a sudden. Men like him worried me because they were the types of men that got what they wanted. I knew what Chris wanted and I wasn’t willing to give it up. The price would be too high and I hadn’t been so careful all of this time to lose my heart to a man that would crush it without a second thought.
“So what brings you to work with Keenan? Are you studying stocks in school to be an analyst or something?”
I shook my head no and for a while I wasn’t going to say anything more. I didn’t want to sit here and talk to him like everything was normal or that I even wanted to be here. I didn’t. This was my job and I knew that this man was Keenan’s friend, so even if I didn’t like him, I could at least be respectful for my employer’s sake. Unlike all of the people that I had met since I started working for Keenan, I actually needed this job and the paltry amount of money that it was going to supply to me.
“No, just a business degree, with a minor in advertising and marketing. I like to sell ideas, not really the numbers side of it. I like the creation side of things. Numbers bore me.”
“So why are you working with Keenan then?”
I shrugged, not really sure how to explain in a quick sentence or two how I got here. “Well my scholarship only covers tuition and just barely, so Aunt Ashlyn knew I needed to find a summer job. Keenan will look good on my resume and he pays well.” I guess it wasn’t so hard after all when I said it like that. I knew why I was here, the money. It was something that I knew the man looking at me now wasn’t going to get. He had probably never needed money in his life. Like Keenan, I was sure that he came from a good family that was loaded.
“I remember my summer jobs. I made pizzas the first two years I was in college. My grades weren’t good enough for a scholarship so I had to work pretty much every day when I was getting my degree.”
That little tidbit of information was a little shocking. “What, did your family cut you off or something?” I was sure that he was born with the silver spoon firmly in his mouth. I couldn’t think of another way because he was just so comfortable in his skin as a rich man that I knew he must have always been that way.
But he surprised me further, by shaking his head and smiling back at me from across the table. “No, my parent’s died when I was little and I really don’t have any family. I had no one to cut me off dear.”
“Oh, well I am sorry to hear that.”
It was his turn to shrug like it was no big deal, when it obviously was. I was starting to realize that I had been very wrong about him. I didn’t like the way that felt, but I had to admit to myself that I wasn’t thinking right. He was not at all what I thought he was.
“Don’t be sorry, it was a long time ago. But if you would like to make me feel better, I can think of several ways to make that happen.”
I groaned to myself and shook my own head. Here I was feeling bad for him and then he reminded me why I was avoiding him to begin with. “No, like you said, it was a long time ago, besides, I am sure that you have plenty of women that are lining up for the job.”
He smiled at me and was about to say something when our breakfast was brought out. He had ordered for me, which was a little assuming as far as I was concerned, but it was really good, even tho
ugh I wasn’t quite sure what I was eating. I didn’t want to seem uncultured and it appeared that I would because I didn’t even know what this pile of food was with a yellow sauce on top.
“Do you like it?”
I nodded to him, not really looking up.
“It is good to see a woman with an appetite. I hate going out and watching a grown woman pick at her food.”
“Well you most likely date models that only worth are measured by her waistline. I think I would most likely worry about what I was eating as well.”
“You have a great figure. Do you work out?”
“Not really. I swim when I can, but that is about it. Maybe I will step foot in a gym once a week, but with my schedule I don’t have time. I work at another place as well as with Keenan.”
“Really, where else? Would I know the place?”
I knew that he was from the city, but I also figured that he wouldn’t know the place. “It’s just a bar in the city that I work at.”
“What do you do?” Chris appeared interested and I wasn’t going to be able to eat until I told him, so I put down my fork and took a drink.
“Just tend bar. Make a few drinks. The pay is crap, but the tips are good.”
“So you are a hustler?”
“I don’t like to call it that. It is just survival.”
“I admire your attitude. Most people would feel sorry for themselves to have two jobs.”
“Well work like no one else for a little while, so you can live like no one else the rest of your life, right?”
Chris liked that saying and I could tell that he was warming up to me. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or not, but at the end of the day being admired by such a man for anything other than my looks was good enough for me.
“Exactly. That is what I tell people all the time. Keenan used to be the same way. There was no stopping him, but now he is ruined, chasing after some skirt.”
“You really don’t like women, do you?”
“I do, I love them, but there is a time and place for all of that. A woman should never come between a man and his business.”
“Maybe you haven’t met the right one yet.”
Chris chuckled and sat back. “Yeah, I have heard that before. I don’t see a reason for one more than a few hours.”
“Pity.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You will never find anything of substance looking for a few hours of a good time. How can that be conducive to anything good?”
“I make them come until they can’t walk and I get my own pleasure. It is a win-win situation. No one has complained.”
“Did you stay long enough to hear a complaint if one was made?”
He laughed a little harder. “Not usually. Man, you sure have my number.”
“I have met men like you before, rich men.”
“I am not like all of the rest.”
I could tell that there was something special about him, but it didn’t mean that I wanted to have anything to do with it. I knew that he was a dangerous man that I had to stay away from. It was going to be hard to do with this weekend looming ahead, but it was just a couple of more days and it was strictly business. I told myself that enough that I started to believe it.
“I am sure you are not Chris.”
He just smiled at me like I was being silly and I couldn’t help but return the gesture. His whole face softened and my body responded to the change in just one smile.
“Well let’s get out of here. I am afraid you are going to be wildly bored for this first meeting. I am the speaker and I have a feeling you don’t want to hear me talk.”
“Sir, you have me mistaken.”
“You were clear this morning how you felt.”
“Well you ruined a good swim for me. I didn’t know who you were and in my world if some drunken guys starts calling you sexy, getting close, you get away from them.”
Chris’ smile faltered and I was almost wished that I hadn’t said anything to get him upset and to take that smile away, almost. I had to lay down some ground rules if this was going to work.
“I didn’t mean to appear like some drunken thug.”
I laughed that time, surprising us both. “I can’t see you as any kind of thug, drunk or not.” The idea was preposterous. He was so straight and narrow that I doubted that he even knew the real meaning of the word.
“There is a lot that you don’t know about me Stacy.”
He was so serious for a moment I was at a loss of words and didn’t really know what to say. It was clear that there was more to the rich bad boy than what met my eye first. Maybe there was more to him, but once again, not for me. I didn’t need the stress.
“I am sure there is. Keenan told me a little bit about you, but I know enough for the capacity of this weekend. I thank you for the ride home and help. I will make sure that Keenan feels like he was actually here.”
“Back to business huh?”
“I think it is better that way.” I stood up and waited for him to sign the bill and do the same. Truth was that I had to get away from him before I forgot what I kept reminding myself of. Chris was bad news and I needed to stay away from him.
**END OF PREVIEW**
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BE MY DADDY: SNEAK PEAK
PREVIEWS
Be My Daddy
A Billionaire and Virgin Romance
BLURB:
I wanted to give her the full service treatment.
Meri was a client that I wanted to break all the rules with.
I met her at a wild time, in a wild place.
One night with Meri changed everything.
I’m a professional.
I don’t f*ck clients.
It’s against all of the rules.
But with Meri, I’m learning
Rules are meant to be broken.
I have my share of women.
Forgetting them all before they left in the night.
I didn’t need any more to deal with.
Didn’t want anymore.
With so many reasons why not.
I ignored all of the reasons why.
Her soft smile and curved body.
The way her eyes darkened when I turned her on.
I couldn’t deny myself any longer.
I had to have her.
Just a kiss makes her whimper.
What will happen when I slam inside of her?
Taking her innocence with it.
I long to hear the moans and screams.
Mind made up, I settle on seduction.
It won’t take much.
I’m rich, handsome and skilled in charm.
I will have her.
I will make her mine.
Chapter 1
Meri
The sun was beating down on my scantily clad body and there was nothing better than this moment. It was a little celebratory trip that I had decided to take to reward myself for finally finishing 6 years of school for my CPA license. I had less than a week before I started my internship in New York and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.
But for now, all there was this second, this place, this beach and the hot sun above me. The drink in my hand somehow tasted sweeter in the surroundings and I didn’t even feel the warm buzz that ran through me. I had to go home tomorrow, but I wasn’t ready to go back. What I was ready for, was another week, month or so here in Thailand. The waves were beautiful and I never wanted to leave. I knew I had to of course, but that didn’t mean that I wanted to. It didn’t mean that I hadn’t fantasized about staying around and finding another life that wasn’t part of the plan.
“Miss, would you like another drink?”
I looked down at the glass I was holding. It was halfway full, but I ordered another anywa
ys. They were ridiculously cheap, as well as the fact that I would need another by the time that tanned man came back. I didn’t miss the ravenous looks that he was giving me and I knew what it was that he wanted. I wasn’t sure if I agreed with it, but I didn’t really have a choice on how he looked at me. I just smiled and tried to be nice, with the same thought that I didn’t want to lead the man on at all. I wasn’t here for anything but the waves and some quiet time to read a book. I wasn’t interested in what the man was selling, unless it had a little umbrella in it.
Watching the couple on the towel not too far from me, I envied the show of affection. I didn’t date much, mainly because I told myself I was too busy with work and school, but the truth was that intimacy freaked me out. Getting that close to someone was scary and I didn’t know if I was cut out for it. I had been on a few dates through the years out of high school, but they never really amounted to anything. It was all just a waste of time, so for the last year I had given up all together. They wanted one thing only it seemed like and I was waiting for the right man to come into my life. My unwillingness to give it away to just anyone made me a social pariah when it came to college boys.
The tanned man that was slim and obviously a local kissed on a woman that was much older than him. For a few minutes I had thought that they were a couple, but then I started to think that maybe I was wrong about all of it. He was her lover, but maybe he was not her lover but for more than one day. The man was all over the giggling woman and I looked away, sure that I was seeing something rather unsavory unfolding in front of me. I knew that this sort of thing happened here, far crazier things, but it was another thing all together to see it with my own two eyes.
“Meri, there you are. I have been looking all over for you.”
I looked up to see Carol standing there. She was getting as tanned as the locals in the short time that we had been here.
