Wesley was one good-looking man. He wore a form-fitting, black cotton T-shirt that flattered his exceptionally broad chest, and his shoulders and biceps bulged from regular workouts in a gym. He filled the black denim jeans he wore nicely. The distinctive stitching on the back pockets of his Levi’s curved sweetly around his backside. The bubble of his ass was so large and high that she imagined she could rest a glass on the ledge and not have it fall off. She herself had a great backside, but his was even bigger and better. She couldn’t help but imagine herself squeezing each cheek in the palms of her hands, fueling a fantasy that suddenly had her panting ever so slightly. Black Timberlands completed his ensemble.
She shifted forward in her seat, her hands folded in her lap as he returned to her side. He carried a tray with two ceramic mugs of coffee laden with cream and oversized slices of buttery lemon pie.
“This is one of their best desserts,” he said, as he sat back down in his chair. “I thought you might like to give it a try. Or, if you prefer, I could get you coffee cake?”
“The pie is fine. It looks really good,” she said, as she accepted the dessert he set gently on the table in front of her.
She took a sip of her coffee, pausing briefly as he shut his eyes and whispered a quick blessing over his food. The gesture was slightly unnerving, and Kamaya was mildly embarrassed that she’d not thought to do the same.
Her mother had often admonished her to do better, and for the first time Kamaya actually wished she had. She couldn’t help but wonder if Wesley had noticed and what it had him thinking about her. She took a deep breath, and then a second, to stall the quiver of anxiety that had quickly taken hold.
She suddenly realized he was staring at her. She lifted her eyes to his, their gazes locking. The moment was surreal, seeming like a dream gone awry. But there was still something comfortable about the look the handsome man was giving her. She felt the corners of her mouth lift in an easy smile. Wesley smiled back, and in that brief moment she realized he’d been as nervous as she was.
He seemed to read her mind. “I apologize. I’m not usually so...awkward.”
She nodded. “I hope it’s not something I did.”
He shook his head. “Not at all. I...well... I just want to make a good impression, I think.”
Kamaya nodded. There was something refreshing about his openness. She had wanted to do the same thing but she was hardly about to be as honest about it. She shifted to neutral ground. Business, her comfort zone. “So, tell me about these concerns and questions you have that were so important.”
Wesley took a deep breath. He’d been practicing how he planned to say what was on his mind since getting up the nerve to call her. In all honesty, he hadn’t expected her to answer the phone and when she had there had been no turning back.
His large hands were wrapped around his mug. He finally released the air he’d been holding deep in his lungs. “I’m a man who likes to know who I’m doing business with. I think you of all people can understand why I would want to tread cautiously”
“I do.”
“Well, I’ve done some research. To be honest, I wanted to trace the ownership of the business. To see who it was I was getting in bed with, so to speak.”
Kamaya felt herself tense slightly. Her eyes widened. She realized he’d shaken a hornet’s nest, not at all prepared for her sting. She was even more intrigued now, his boldness impressing her. She shifted in her chair. “And what did you discover?” she asked, expending some effort to maintain a casual tone to her voice.
“I kept running into one dead end after another. But what I did learn was quite intriguing. Now I have more questions than I have answers.”
Kamaya nodded. A pregnant pause grew thick and full between them as she pondered his comment. She took a slow sip of her coffee before resting her cup back against the tabletop. He was still eyeing her intently. “I’m sure you can appreciate the owner’s need for privacy,” she said.
“I can appreciate that you would like to keep what you do secret, but if I’m going to partner with you I’d appreciate knowing why.”
Kamaya bristled. “Excuse me?
“It just made sense. Your interest in the company’s operations feels very personal. Someone has gone to great lengths to conceal the company structure and it took some serious digging to tie the adult operations of the company back to the parent organization. Again, I had to ask myself why someone would go to the trouble. But when I researched your family ties, well, like I said, it just made sense. So, why did you?”
Wesley had rested his elbows against the table, dropping his chin atop his clasped hands. Kamaya had never before imagined anyone being curious enough about The Michelle Initiative to do what he had done. She’d never intended to take her company public, so only two other people besides Paxton had needed to know her connection to each individual company under the business umbrella, and she paid both her attorney and her accountant handsomely to keep that information secret.
She had often wondered how she might respond if the question was posed, but as Wesley sat waiting for her to reply, none of the responses she’d imagined came to her. She took a bite of her pie, needing a moment to reflect. She finally spoke. “The pie is good. Great choice.”
Wesley laughed. The tone was creamy and thick and slightly intoxicating. He sat back in his chair, his body relaxing as he continued to eye her curiously.
She took a deep breath. “But we’re not partners. And the legal agreement that we’re about to enter into doesn’t necessitate you knowing anything I don’t want you to know.”
“No, technically we aren’t partners. But I believe for the business to grow where I think we’d both like to see it, it’s going to require a mutual respect and equal effort from both of us. And that starts with honesty.” He grinned from ear to ear, and his eyes narrowed slightly. “But I think you want to tell me. There’s something in your expression that tells me you’re ready to open up and have someone other than our friend Paxton know what’s in your heart.”
She chuckled softly. “So now you’re a mind reader?”
“Of sorts. I didn’t get this far without being able to read people.”
“People? Or women? Because I’d venture to guess that you have a few secrets of your own. Are you willing to share?”
There was a glint of something mischievous in his gaze, the look he gave her slightly smug. “So is this an impasse? The I’ll show you mine if you show me yours moment?”
Kamaya laughed, the low trill causing a rumble of heat to simmer through his lower quadrant. She leaned forward, the gesture almost conspiratorial as she motioned for him to meet her halfway. “Showing you mine isn’t the problem,” she said, her seductive tone teasing.
Her tongue peeked past the line of her lush lips, and for a split second Wesley felt his breath catch deep in his chest. Her comment actually surprised him and he felt a blush of heat warm his cheeks. He laughed again as they both eased backward in their chairs.
Kamaya shook her head. She took a deep breath, and her gaze met his evenly.
As she blew warm breath past her lips, Wesley found himself wondering what it might be like to kiss the sugar from her mouth. Imagining what she might feel like in his arms suddenly had him heated. He shook the sensation away, twisting about in his seat as she continued to speak.
“Since you’ve done your research then I’m sure you know of my brother Mason’s business accomplishments.”
“I do. I heard him speak at a business seminar a few years ago. I have great respect for his past and current endeavors.”
“And I’m sure you also know that my parents are both quite active in the community?”
He nodded.
“My mother works closely with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. My father served on their board for many years. It’s one of thei
r many missions to oppose sexual exploitation of any kind. They rally against pornography, sex trafficking, prostitution, violence and abuse against women and children, and a host of other man-made ills. The adult entertainment aspect of my business would not sit well with them. And yes, it is my business.”
“So they don’t know about your connection to The Michelle Initiative?”
“They know I own the business and its chains of gas stations, groceries and convenience stores. They don’t know anything else. And I work very hard to keep it that way.”
“And your brother?”
“There has never been any need for him to know. In the beginning he gave me great advice that allowed me to grow the business. When I made the decision to take it in the direction I took it, I kept him out of the loop. He would have told the old people and they would have insisted I stop.”
“And you didn’t want to stop?”
“When you consider that the sex industry is a fifty-seven billion-dollar business annually, why would I?”
“So, are you thinking of doing more than strip clubs? I know you have sex toys and the sex health division. Are you considering pornography or...?”
She shook her head vehemently. “Not at all. I’m only planning to go but so far. And my strip clubs will never feature women. We have more than enough of that. But when you consider that here in the United States there are more strip clubs than any other nation in the world, employing hundreds of thousands of people, why not claim a small piece of that pie? Statistics show that a single gentlemen’s club in a major metropolitan area can average up to twenty million dollars per year in gross revenues. Male strip clubs are truly an untapped revenue stream and I plan to corner the market. If I don’t, someone else will. So why not me?”
Wesley nodded. “I like how you think. I look forward to sharing a piece of that pie with you!”
Kamaya grinned. She pushed her empty plate away from her. “So, what else did you find out about me?” she asked.
Wesley shrugged his wide shoulders toward the ceiling. “You like country music. You eat way too much fast food and you’re vicious when guys show you any interest.”
Kamaya smiled. “Facebook is not an appropriate spot to do research on me. It is, however, an ideal place to throw folks off when they’re trying to be nosy. You should have done what I did and hired a private investigator.”
The faintest shimmer of surprise crossed Wesley’s expression. “A private investigator? You went through a lot of trouble.”
“You don’t really think I would go into business with just anyone, do you?”
“You could have just asked. I don’t have anything to hide. I’m an open book.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Kamaya said, chuckling softly.
“You’ll never know, will you? I’m sure there’s nothing else I can tell you about myself that you don’t already know.”
“Oh, there’s something!”
“What’s that?”
“Will you be dancing on opening night, Deuce?”
* * *
Wesley laughed heartily, thoroughly amused by Kamaya. Calling him out on his own secret had given her much pleasure, and he had to admit he found her resourcefulness sexy as hell.
“How did your private investigator find out that I was Deuce?”
“She’s very good at what she does. Having a husband and a brother who both work for the Secret Service didn’t hurt, either.”
“She?”
“My sister Maitlyn. If it exists, she can find it.”
“Wow! So you do like to keep things in the family.”
“Some things.” She smiled sweetly. “So, tell me about this second career of yours.”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “It was a means to an end,” he said, explaining the hows and whys of his choices.
When he was done, Kamaya was still staring at him intently. Her expression was a mix of amusement and reflection, clearly taking it all in, contemplating it and forming an opinion about him and all that he was.
“I’m impressed,” she said finally.
“Thank you. And, much like you, my parents wouldn’t necessarily approve so I’ve never told them.”
“So you do get it?”
“I do. With my mother, if it’s not ordained by God himself, it can’t be any good. And my father literally put the old in old school!”
Kamaya laughed. “Do you have any siblings?”
“An older sister. Lillian is a doctor. Right now she’s doing missionary work in Gambia. She definitely wouldn’t understand or be supportive. She wanted me to go to medical school and follow in her footsteps.”
“If it really came down to it, I could probably tell my sister Maitlyn, but then it would put her in the position to lie to everyone else and I can’t do that to her.”
Wesley leaned forward in his seat. “So what about your boyfriend? How does he feel about your line of adult businesses?”
“What boyfriend?”
“Your girlfriend?”
Kamaya laughed. “Neither. I think you’ve received some inaccurate information!”
“Paxton had said you were involved with someone. I just assumed...”
“Fatal mistake. You should know better. To be successful you need to deal only in facts, not assumptions. Business 101!”
He tilted his head at her. “Touché!”
“I’m not in a relationship. I don’t have a significant other. And it’s a point of consternation for my family. My mother in particular. I’m the last of the brood who doesn’t have a spouse or children. She thinks there’s something wrong with me.”
Wesley nodded. “So far I’ve been lucky. Mom and Dad know I’m about building my career right now. I’m sure in a few more years I’ll be hearing it, too, the family wondering what’s going on!”
“Things could change in a few years. You never know.”
Wesley met her deep stare with one of his own. “You’re right. You never know.”
“You still didn’t answer my question, though. Can we count on you to dance for us opening night, Deuce?”
He shook his head. “Deuce doesn’t exist anymore. So, no, I don’t think he’ll be making any appearances any time soon.”
“Not even if it’ll be good for this business we’re growing together?”
He gave her a look, his eyes wide. “Trust me when I tell you, I really wasn’t that good.”
Kamaya laughed. “That’s a lie. I saw the video!”
Her amusement was infectious and Wesley laughed with her, the beauty of the moment resonating between them.
Wesley reached into the briefcase that rested beside his chair leg. He passed her the folder of documents. “They’re all signed,” he said, as he extended his hand to shake hers. “I look forward to working with you, Kamaya Boudreaux.”
She slid her palm against his, the warmth of his touch heating her spirit. “Same here, Wesley Walters. I imagine we’re going to make a formidable team.”
“Team! I like that.”
“You should. Because it’s so out of character for me! I don’t usually play well with others.”
He chuckled. “Then I’m glad you chose me to play with first.”
A cup of coffee and a few questions kept Kamaya and Wesley talking for almost three hours. After sharing more than either had planned, they stood, saying their goodbyes and making plans to see each other again.
“I would really love to take you to dinner,” Wesley said, as he walked Kamaya to her car.
“Are you asking me out on a date, Wesley Walters?”
He grinned. “I am. With one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“We don’t talk business. I get the impression that’s not an easy thing fo
r you to do. So will you accept the challenge?”
As they reached her car, she smiled as she nodded her head. “I’d love to.”
“I mean it about not talking business.”
Kamaya laughed. “Boy, please! You really don’t know me.”
He laughed with her. “I don’t, but I definitely look forward to changing that.”
Wesley opened the door of her vehicle. The air between them was thick and heavy, carnal energy sweeping from one to the other, fervent with desire. It was intense and unexpected, and left them both feeling a little awkward and definitely excited about what might come.
“Drive safely, Kamaya,” he whispered softly, watching as she slid into the driver’s seat.
She nodded. “You too, Wesley. Have a really good night.”
* * *
Kamaya was sifting through spreadsheets when the intercom sounded for her attention. She slid one set of financial projections off to the side and reached for another as she ignored the persistent chime. The knock on the office door finally moved her to respond. “Yes!” she snapped, clearly annoyed by the interruption. “I said I didn’t want to be interrupted!”
Virginia opened the door and peeked her head in the room. “I’m sorry. I know you didn’t want to be disturbed but Wesley Walters is here to see you. He insists he has an appointment but I don’t have anything on your calendar. He refuses to leave until he talks to you.”
Kamaya’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wesley’s here? In the office?”
Virginia nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
Kamaya’s gaze skated from side to side as she collected her thoughts. He had called her earlier, leaving a message that he was still interested in dinner and imploring her to set a date. She hadn’t returned his call, having second thoughts about having dinner with the man.
There was no denying that something was simmering between them. After their shared coffee, leaving him had actually been hard, emotions surfacing that Kamaya wasn’t familiar or comfortable with. She couldn’t begin to imagine anything good coming from what she found herself feeling and so she was questioning if spending personal time with him would be a good thing for her, or her business. The doubt must have registered across her face.
A Pleasing Temptation Page 6
