by Addison Fox
“I never lied about it. From day one, you knew how I felt about McBride Media, and you damn well knew how I felt about you. Don’t suddenly accuse me of having no conscience when you know exactly what lives and breathes between us.”
“Nothing but adversity and animosity.”
“I don’t think so, darling.”
He reached for her with whip-quick movements. Recognition flashed in her eyes as they widened, just before his mouth fastened on hers. Hard and unyielding, he pressed his lips to hers, satisfied when her mouth instinctively opened for his seeking tongue. And without a single thought for any of the reasons that had brought them both to this place, he sought to show her why none of it mattered.
Why all that mattered was what they had here, together.
Chapter Nine
Keira fought for some semblance of control as Nathan’s tongue dueled with hers. All the pain of the last few days coalesced in her stomach like a ball of lead, full of sadness, fear, and a large helping of guilt. Yet through it all throbbed a raw need she couldn’t shake and couldn’t understand. That same raw need gripped him as clearly as it did her, evident in the hands that roamed over her body and the hard length of him that pressed up against her, pushing her back against the conference room chairs.
She knew she needed to put an end to what was between them, but the desire to take what he offered was so strong. The heavy press of his lips enthralled her and her head fell back a little farther as he consumed her. The erotic thrusts of his tongue sent shock waves of heat to her core and she shifted her hands against his waist, her fingers restless on the soft material of his shirt. Fistfuls of the silk bunched in her hand, the need to reach the heated skin underneath driving her movements.
He moaned into her mouth and pressed against her, the hard lines of his body stamped with sexual intent. Her back was cushioned into the oversize conference room chair, the imprint of it registering somewhere in some deep recess of her mind that screamed she needed to stay rational.
“Nathan—” She pulled her lips from his.
Passion glazed the blue of his irises in a hazy wash of need before he lowered his head once more to hers, but she pushed at his shoulders, willing him to understand.
“We can’t do this. And we certainly can’t do this here.”
“I want you.”
Her knees buckled and she fumbled on her high heels. Damn the man and the weakness a few simple words could incite.
“You need to leave.”
The glassy need in his eyes began to fade as the reality of the moment returned and he planted on a grim smile. “I’m not walking away. You can’t even begin to think I’d walk away from what’s between us.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“No, Keira.” His hands were on her face and she felt the gentleness underneath the firm length of his fingers where they rested along her jaw. “We don’t have a choice.”
With one more soft press of his lips to hers, he pulled back. His gaze was steady on hers as he moved to gather his slim attaché case before he walked out the door.
…
She wasn’t ready to deal with the sisterly inquisition, no matter how well-meaning, so Keira headed for the thirty-fifth floor after ensuring enough time had passed for Nathan to make it to the elevator bank and out of the building.
The comforting smell of old paper greeted her as she passed through the double glass doors outside the elevator lobby. The McBride Media Archives had been in place since the inception of the company, and she’d found refuge in the stacks more times than she could count throughout her life.
Archival material had formed the basis for her first pitch to her father to take over Home and Family. The library’s photographs had been used as the backbone of a magazine retrospective done by the New-York Historical Society, an initiative she had spearheaded. And it had been to the Archives that she’d run the day she got the news of her mother’s cancer diagnosis.
The Archives had been updated about six years before. It was the first project she’d commissioned after taking on the group publisher role. What used to be a floor filled with neatly ordered rows of magazines now boasted a sizable computer lab and a climate-controlled vault to house every issue ever published by McBride Media.
“Keira, dear. I didn’t expect to see you today.” Monica Adams, the librarian who’d ruled over the archives for more than forty years, greeted her with a broad smile.
“I needed a bit of a break from my morning.”
“Board meetings have a way of winding us up.” Monica patted her arm before gesturing Keira into the room. “Come on in and spend a few minutes winding back down. I just made a fresh pot of coffee. I’ll get us both a cup and we can sit for a few minutes.”
The evidence Monica knew about the morning’s meeting had Keira stopping short before she started moving again with a rueful head shake. She didn’t know why she wondered at the older woman’s nearly omniscient knowledge of what went on at McBride.
Monica Adams knew everything.
Monica poured two cups of coffee and nodded toward the far side of the room. Keira followed the trim, lithe woman, whose spry step defied her age, to a small conversation pit along a wall of windows. A glance over the Manhattan skyline indicated the rain that had threatened that morning on her way in had turned into a full-pitched battle as a storm raged outside.
“The weather seems oddly fitting.” Monica’s voice was gentle as she crossed her legs.
“I’ll say.”
“Do you want to tell me what happened this morning? While I know what the meeting was about, those involved clearly aren’t spreading the details.”
Keira knew the truth of that—she, Camryn, Mayson, and Sally had made a pact to keep details about Maverick Capital’s attempts as upbeat and professional as possible. But word had spread through the company like wildfire after the Financial Journal’s article the week before. “It’s complicated.”
“The moments that try us in life often are.”
Despite her vast knowledge of the inner workings at McBride, Keira also knew Monica could be trusted. Her knowledge at what went on inside the walls was only rivaled by her deep sense of discretion.
“We’re the target of a takeover. As you know.” Human Resources had sent a memo that morning to the management team detailing the individuals who’d already begun to depart for what they believed to be greener pastures.
“And what don’t I know?”
“That I’m in love with the enemy.”
The words were out before she could stop them. And as they sat hovering in the quiet between Monica and her, Keira knew she didn’t want to stop them. The truth was far simpler than she’d ever imagined. Strangely, it was even more painful when acknowledged out loud.
“Well. That’s a whole different conversation.”
Keira looked away from the rainy view and into gentle hazel eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Here I was, all prepared to give you my pep talk on perseverance at work. This is clearly not going to be that conversation.”
The nervous laugh, whether from lack of sleep or copious amounts of coffee, escaped before she could stop it. “Everything I’ve worked for. Everything I’ve thought was important. And I’m at risk for losing it all. What am I doing?”
“You’re listening to your heart.”
Keira knew how tempting that thought was. To look at the entire situation between her and Nathan and believe that true love could grow and flourish, even in the most difficult circumstances. Heck, she’d spent years as a single career woman being bombarded with pithy, well-meaning lectures from more people than she could count.
It’ll happen when you least expect it.
It had happened, all right. And it was about as convenient as a heart attack. While on vacation. With nonrefundable tickets.
“The real question is what you’re going to do about it.”
“Isn’t that always the question? It’s not our challenges in l
ife,” she whispered. “It’s what we do when presented with them.”
Words her mother had drilled into her from the earliest age. And with that thought came another. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my parents. Mom in particular.”
Monica’s smile was gentle, her tone soft and full of understanding. “Our memories of those we’ve lost never leave us, no matter how old we get or how long they’ve been gone.”
“I know.” Keira took a sip of her coffee, and as the warmth spread through her midsection, she tried to put words to feelings she couldn’t quite define. “And I do think of her often. But it’s been more intense, more vivid. And specifically about what she and my dad could have had if he’d only been braver. Less wrapped up in his pain.”
“Your family isn’t just your family. They’re a real and tangible presence in your work life as well.”
Was that why her feelings for Nathan had such a difficult edge to them?
She’d never been afraid of falling in love. In fact, she’d looked forward to the time in her life when she’d finally share it with someone. But her whirlwind relationship with Nathan veered firmly into all the family baggage she worked hard to keep packed up and locked away.
Monica patted her on the arm. “I think your mother would have been quite proud of who you’ve become. And I know your father is, even if he isn’t able to show it in a way that matters. You lead with grace and dignity, and you’ve built a loyal following, both inside these walls and within the ad community at large.”
“Thank you.”
“I’d also say that man is very lucky to have found you. I do hope you feel the same way about him.”
Whatever she’d been about to say skittered from her thoughts as if it had never been. Instead, the reality of why she was in love with Nathan lit her up like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
His admiration for her mind as well as her feminine attributes.
The way he listened to her when she spoke as opposed to simply granting her an indulgent few moments of his time.
And an attraction that made every facet of who he was—from the physical to the deepest, darkest places inside of him—interesting and necessary.
She even had to acknowledge that the personal aspects that underpinned his drive to succeed—despite the fact it was McBride Media in his sights—came from the life he’d created for himself out of a difficult childhood.
Monica’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Now. What can I do to help with the takeover? Your new man may wear a custom-tailored suit like he was born to it, but I think we’re all up for fighting the good fight.”
Keira took her first easy breath of the day. “Did I mention how glad I am you’re on my team?”
“It’s a team I’ve been delighted to play on for more than four decades. And this old girl’s got some life in her yet. Now. Mayson was down here yesterday pulling some of the photos that made their way into a presentation. What else can I do to help? I’ll have you know I’m more than prepared to fight a little dirty.
“In fact…” Monica stood on that thought and crossed the room, a telling smile edging the corners of her lips. She zeroed in on a filing cabinet and opened a drawer. “Yep. Right where I thought it was.”
When she crossed back over to the room with an oversize photo in her hand, it took Keira a moment to register the image.
“My grandfather?”
“And the president. I’ve got copies of him with all the other presidents since the inception of the company. No reason we can’t pull up all of those and begin to chronicle the history of the company in photos. I’m sure this morning wasn’t the first presentation you’re going to give.”
“There won’t be many more. If Nathan’s successful, it’s going to happen quickly.”
“Then I’d better get cracking. I should have something ready for you to take along tonight for the launch party you’re hosting. I think a quick overview of the history of McBride along with the history of the Jupiter Automotive Corporation would be just the thing to get everyone excited and kick off tonight’s benefit in style.”
Keira leaped up at that. She’d only been prepping for this event at the Natural History Museum for six months. “I need to get going.”
“Did you forget about the event?”
She was already reaching for the BlackBerry she’d slipped into her suit pocket. “Aren’t senior executives supposed to use words like reprioritized instead of forgot?”
Monica leaned over and gave her a quick hug, and Keira felt her spirits lifting from the tight squeeze. “Go deal with your reprioritization. I’ll get cracking here.”
“Thanks, Monica. For everything.”
“Anytime, sweetie. Anytime.”
…
Keira pulled the dress she’d purchased for the evening out of her closet, smoothing her hand over the delicate silk as she settled the filmy material of the gown over the edge of her bed.
She’d been so excited for this evening. The event at the Natural History Museum was the culmination of an incredible amount of hard work and collaboration among many divisions at McBride Media. The kickoff event, the year-long advertising schedule, and an editorial series that had come out of the agreement with the client was not only impressive, but it was the height of what she and her sisters had worked so hard for so long to build.
Where her father’s regime at McBride had been full of siloed groups, all fiercely protective of their profits, she, Camryn, and Mayson had created a culture where they all succeeded on a far greater scale when they worked together. It was industry-changing, and tonight was the culmination of all that work.
And she’d nearly forgotten it in the absolute madness that had gripped her life since Nathan Cooper dropped his little bomb on page one of the Financial Journal.
Why couldn’t he see this?
Why couldn’t he understand this?
Where modern business too often operated in a kill-or-be-killed mentality, the McBride women had proven that a team could come together, use all the unique skills of its individual members, and create something that was greater than the sum of its parts.
She shook her head, unwilling to let the increasing sense of melancholy mar the night.
There’d be time enough tomorrow to deal with the disaster that was currently her life.
As she walked toward the bedroom, her gaze alighted on the photo of her mother she kept framed on her end table. Lifting the photo, she allowed her gaze to trace the subtle lines of her mother’s face. A beautiful woman, her mother had grown increasingly distant as she’d aged, as if the disappointment of her marriage was a living, breathing entity under her skin.
Was this the image of lost love? This pervasive disappointment over failed expectations?
And would this be her life if she continued to pursue something with Nathan?
On a soft sigh, Keira settled the photo back on her nightstand and continued on to the bathroom. For the moment, her reflection in the mirror didn’t offer any clues.
…
Nathan worked his way around the Hayden Planetarium, the large, multistory dome that dominated the main exhibit hall of the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The Natural History Museum was one of his favorite spots in New York City, one he came to often, and he always marveled how a place that housed hordes of schoolchildren, harried parents, and tourists could transform into an elegant space for events like the one this evening.
He’d already run the gauntlet of several of Keira’s board members, the conversations full of eager curiosity and, in some cases, a raging desire for gossip. But it was the approach of Charlie and Marie Breslin, the CEO of Jupiter Automotive and his wife, that had him bracing for a difficult conversation.
After brief pleasantries, Charlie shifted straight into business. “The news has been blazing with your interest in McBride.”
“You know the financial papers. They love a good story.”
Charlie brushed off the attempt at evasion and went
in for the kill. “Especially one that’s true.”
“Things are in progress.”
“Which is why I’m walking around tonight trying to figure out what in the hell I’m doing here and why my company has made its largest marketing investment of the year in McBride Media. They can’t be long for this world if you’re gunning after them.”
Nathan heard the statement for what it was—an opportunistic ploy to get more out of the event than he was paying for—and downshifted into damage control. “Whatever my interest is in McBride, you can be damn sure it’s because they put out a superior product.” He made a show of glancing around the large hall. “Which is clearly what you’re getting tonight.”
“Save me the sales pitch, Cooper. I just spent a significant sum with a media company you’re about to buy up and chunk off in pieces to the highest bidder. That little dog and pony show about the history of the company that kicked off this event didn’t fool anyone.”
“I thought sales pitches were my job,” Keira said smoothly as she moved into the conversation circle. Nathan hadn’t missed the fact that the curious stares from onlookers had changed into avid interest as she joined their group.
“Charlie. Marie.” Keira kissed each of them on the cheek and navigated her way through the social pleasantries, the long column of navy blue silk she wore clinging to her like a second skin.
“I hope you’re pleased with the turnout tonight. The cars all displayed around the perimeter of the museum have had a massive amount of interest, and all of the local news crews, as well as the morning programs, have picked up the story. Even Mother Nature has cooperated with a gorgeous evening after a miserable day of rain.”
“None of it changes the fact that the product I thought I was making a year’s commitment to isn’t going to be around for much longer.”
“Excuse me, Charlie? I’m not sure what gave you that idea, but I can assure you we’re more than capable of living up to all of our commitments.” Frost edged Keira’s words, and Nathan couldn’t hold back the shot of pride at how she handled a difficult client while sticking up for herself. Especially after such a direct hit. “Regardless of what the news media would like you to believe.”
