The CEO's Dilemma ; Undeniable Passion

by Lindsay Evans

Keith was kissing her, and not just an I’m-happy-you’re-okay kiss. This was slow, hot, sensual. Keith was holding her body against his, splaying his hands over her back, rubbing them up and down. Slipping his hands into her hair, holding her face to his as he ravaged her mouth.

  It was as if he needed to verify for himself that she was alive. That she was really here.

  Her body erupted in flames. She looped her arms around his neck and surrendered fully to his kiss.

  The sound of a door opening had them both pulling apart. A woman walked by, a knowing smile on her face. Once she was partway down the stairs, Keith whisked Rita to her doorway. “Let’s continue this inside.”

  * * *

  The next morning, Rita felt like a whole new woman. Another incredible night with Keith. The way he made her feel... She giggled as she drank the last of her coffee, remembering how he had touched and kissed every erogenous zone of her body.

  They’d been even more in sync last night than the first time, and she knew that sex between them would just get better and better.

  She could certainly get used to this.

  Rita got dressed in a Lycra tank top and leggings. She was energized and wanted to do a run. The path around the lake would be the perfect spot.

  She headed downstairs and started off by walking briskly, and taking in the sights of the towering oak trees, the blue jays, the robins and the squirrels scattering about. She smiled, her shoulders feeling truly light for the first time. This place was idyllic. A perfect place to unwind and let your problems go.

  And it felt really good to have done just that yesterday. Her parents were getting married. She was vowing to move forward from the pain of not having her father in her life. She breathed in the fresh air and looked up at the blue sky and the sun shining through the leaves. Here she was, a small part of this big magnificent place.

  She walked for ten minutes, then started jogging, passing some of the beautiful homes that bordered the lake. Everyone she passed raised a hand in a wave. She did the same. These people no longer seemed weird. They seemed wonderfully human.

  After thirty minutes, Rita stopped running. She bent over to catch her breath. Then she started to make her way back. She never would have considered this—but wouldn’t it be nice to have a cottage in a place like this? A small town with friendly people, where crime was basically nonexistent and you didn’t have to worry about locking your doors? Where nature resembled what God intended? The high-rises and concrete jungles were just not what the soul needed to rejuvenate.

  Rita found herself chuckling. “Who have you become?”

  She was suddenly someone she didn’t recognize, and she couldn’t have been happier about that.

  * * *

  Her happiness faded when she went into her apartment and saw Rashad’s face flashing on her phone. He was calling again!

  She snatched up the phone, determined to put an end to Rashad’s calls once and for all.

  Rita swiped to answer the call. As she put the phone to her ear, she was unable to stop the groan that slipped from her mouth. “What do you want, Rashad?”

  “Is that how you greet me now?”

  Rita didn’t say anything. What was the point? She had answered this call in the hopes that Rashad would finally leave her alone. “Why are you calling?”

  “Because I want to speak to you.”

  “That’s obvious,” Rita said, her tone holding a hint of snarky. She wasn’t interested in any cute banter with her ex.

  “Hopefully in person,” Rashad added.

  “I’m out of town,” Rita told him. It was a convenient excuse, but not the reason she wasn’t interested in speaking to him. Their relationship was over, and after what he’d done, they could never be friends.

  “For your mother’s wedding?”

  “How do you...” She frowned. “How do you know about that?” Had she told him and she couldn’t remember? Their engagement had ended before her mother had announced that she was marrying her father.

  “I spoke to your mother,” Rashad answered.

  “What? When?”

  “When I couldn’t reach you. I wanted to make sure that you were okay.”

  The little weasel! No wonder her mother had started on about how she should have given Rashad another chance. “I’m fine,” Rita told him tersely, knowing that she sounded anything but fine. “If that’s all—”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Rashad interjected. “Hold on there a second.” He chuckled softly. “Will you please give me a few minutes of your time?”

  He was using that soft pleading tone, the one she had found endearing and hard to ignore. “Three minutes,” she told him. “Not a second more.”

  “All right. I messed up. I know I already told you that. But I want to make sure you know that I realize that. What happened had nothing to do with you. It was all on me.”

  Rita said nothing. There was nothing to add. Besides, she didn’t care to rehash any of this.

  “It took me losing you for me to know that I will never do anything to hurt you again. Ever.”

  “You can’t hurt me anymore,” Rita chimed in. “Because we’re not together.”

  “But we can be. If you’ll give me another chance.”

  “That’s not happening.”

  There was a soft sigh on the other end of the line. “Rita...”

  “Why is this so hard for you to understand?” Rita asked him. “When you had me, you betrayed me. It’s over.”

  “I made a mistake, baby. Please forgive me.”

  Again with that tone. The one that he thought would get her to bend to his will. “Rashad, don’t call me again.”

  Then she ended the call and tossed her phone onto the sofa.

  About a minute later, when her phone began to ring, she looked toward it with a sense of trepidation. But seeing Keith’s name on her screen, she perked up. She snatched up the phone and answered it.

  “Hey, you.”

  “What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked without preamble.

  “Nothing in particular.”

  “Great. Keep it that way.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Because I have a surprise for you.”

  Chapter 17

  Rita thought about Keith all night, excited over what his surprise could possibly be. When she woke up, she checked her phone to see if he had sent another message. When she found that he hadn’t, she called him.

  “Rita,” he answered, a smile in his voice.

  “You know the suspense is killing me, right? You haven’t told me if we’re going to the surprise, if it’s coming to me, anything.”

  “I was just going to call you. How about I pick you up at three?”

  “Three,” Rita repeated, silently wondering what could possibly be happening in the afternoon. “Do I need to wear anything special?”

  “Something nice,” he told her. “But also comfortable.”

  Rita frowned. “That could be two completely different outfits.”

  “It could be,” Keith agreed. “But I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

  “That’s it?” Rita asked. “That’s my only instruction?”

  Keith chuckled softly. “See you at three.”

  * * *

  Rita was ready before three o’clock, and when Keith knocked on her door, she swung it open almost immediately. She had been standing there, waiting.

  “I’d ask if you’re ready,” Keith said, “but the answer is obvious.”

  Rita started walking out the door. “I’m anxious to know what this surprise is.”

  “You look nice,” Keith said as she began to lock her unit. “That’s a pretty blouse. It goes well with your jeans.”

  Rita glanced over her shoulder at him. “Thank you.”

  “Can I kiss you?” Keith asked.<
br />
  The door locked, Rita turned to face him. “That depends. Is it a good surprise, or a bad one?”

  “Why would it be a bad one?”

  Rita shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “You really don’t trust easily, do you?”

  Averting her gaze, Rita shook her head. “I’ve been disappointed a lot.”

  Keith leaned down and gave her a soft peck on the lips. “You won’t be disappointed today.”

  * * *

  A short while later, Keith was pulling into the parking lot of the Sheridan Falls Community Center. He exited the car, and Rita followed suit. She looked up at him with a curious expression, but he offered her no answers.

  She followed him to the door, surprised that this was where they were. She had thought for sure he was going to take her somewhere romantic.

  Keith opened the door to the building and led the way inside. It didn’t take long before the sounds of happy children’s laughter filled the air.

  “What is this?” Rita asked. It was obvious what it was, but she was really asking why they were there. Did he have a child he hadn’t told her about?

  Keith’s expression was playful as he opened the door to the gym. Rita looked inside. She saw the group of children immediately, but it took her another couple of seconds to realize that they were physically challenged. Some had artificial limbs and some were in wheelchairs. They were all involved in a lively game of basketball.

  Keith stepped into the gymnasium and Rita sidled up beside him. They both stood outside the court, watching the children play.

  One of the boys glanced to his right and noticed Keith. He quickly wheeled his way over to him, his eyes alight and a huge grin on his face.

  “Keith!” the boy exclaimed.

  Keith lowered himself so that he could hug the boy, who looked to be about ten. Others then came to greet him, throwing their arms around his legs and giving him high fives.

  Rita noticed a man across the room, obviously the leader of whatever this group was. He raised a hand in a wave and began to cross the room with the discarded basketball under his arm.

  The boy who had first greeted Keith looked up at Rita from his wheelchair and offered her a bright smile. He extended his hand. “I’m Simon. What’s your name?”

  “I’m Rita.”

  “Nice to meet you, Rita.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too, Simon.”

  Simon had pale skin and raven-colored hair. Rita wondered how long he’d been in a wheelchair.

  He must have sensed the direction of her thoughts, because he said, “I was in a car accident when I was seven. I’m paralyzed from the waist down.”

  Rita bent down and took Simon’s hand. “Oh, Simon. I’m so sorry.”

  He shrugged. “At least I didn’t die.”

  A simple statement, but it exemplified such a positive attitude that Rita couldn’t help feeling silly for letting so much in her own life get her down.

  “I’m glad you didn’t die,” she told him, squeezing his hand affectionately.

  She stood tall, and Keith said into her ear, “When I’m feeling down, I like to come and spend some time with these kids. They remind me what’s important in life.”

  As Rita looked around at the physically challenged children, she knew exactly why Keith had brought her here. She had spent so much time in Sheridan Falls whining about what was going on in her life. The circumstances in her life were not permanent; they weren’t challenges that would always hold her back. These children had real challenges to face for the rest of their days. And yet, looking around at the smiling faces, you could see that they weren’t letting their circumstances keep them from being happy.

  Rita faced Keith. “Thank you.”

  “I find giving back always helps. Plus, these kids are like little brothers and sisters to me.” Keith wandered over to a girl with an artificial arm. He ran his hand over her hair affectionately. “This is Olivia. Olivia was born without a right arm. But wow, you should see the paintings she creates.”

  Olivia shook Rita’s hand with her left arm. “What’s your name?”

  “Rita.”

  “I’m seven,” Olivia announced proudly.

  “She kind of reminds me of the little sister I lost,” Keith told Rita. “She has the same bright eyes and look of wonder.”

  Rita swallowed, suddenly feeling emotional and unsure why. No, she knew why. She was seeing an entirely different side to Keith that she hadn’t expected. “You come here often,” she surmised.

  “Of course. And not just for them.”

  Simon wheeled himself over to them again. “Rita, do you play basketball?” he asked.

  Rita made a face. “Not hardly.”

  “Then you’ll fit right in.”

  Rita giggled. And the next thing she knew, she was amongst the group, trying to catch the ball, catching the ball, trying to throw it. Making an attempt to score and failing.

  But most important of all, she was laughing.

  Keith eyed her from across the court. He winked at her.

  Butterflies went wild in her stomach. There was something extra special about this man.

  Something she could fall for easily.

  * * *

  “There’s one more stop we have to make,” Keith announced when they were back in his vehicle.

  Rita faced him, her beautiful eyes narrowing. “Where are we going? Or is it another surprise?”

  He chuckled softly. “You’re starting to figure me out.”

  “Is it as good as this one?” she asked. “Though I doubt it.”

  “It’s even better.”

  “Better? This was pretty incredible. And you got me thinking about my life, the anger and resentment I’ve been holding on to. Yes, I just made amends with my dad but this was a good reminder that I need to stick with the plan to move forward, not let the past hold me back. If those kids can be so happy despite their circumstances, what’s my excuse?”

  “I’m glad to hear you say that,” Keith told her. He wouldn’t be able to understand the depth of the pain she had endured, but he was glad to know she and her father had made real strides toward resolving it. Carrying that pain around with her for the rest of her life would lead to a miserable existence.

  “I’m focusing on the future,” Rita said. “The positive things it may hold for me.”

  She held his eyes for a long moment, and he could see the hint of excitement. Was she including him in the positive things that were to come?

  “The only downside to today...”

  Keith made a face as he regarded Rita. “Downside?”

  “I just wish you’d told me to wear sneakers instead of sandals.”

  Keith laughed, relieved. “Your footwear is perfect for the next stop.”

  “No hints at all, hmm?”

  She really didn’t like surprises. “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”

  Rita pouted a little, but Keith could tell she wasn’t being serious. She angled her body toward his in her seat, getting comfortable, and Keith could imagine her like this all the time. Riding shotgun as they went on road trips or, heck, just traveling together to pick up dinner.

  She looked content, happy even, and his heart fluttered. And suddenly he was reaching for her hand. He linked fingers with hers, and a small smile touched her lips before she glanced away.

  Keith ran the pad of his thumb over her skin. He hadn’t known her very long, but already he couldn’t imagine her being gone out of his life.

  Minutes later, when they arrived at the hotel, Keith saw the confusion in Rita’s eyes. “Oh...a hotel...?”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter,” he quickly told her.

  “I wasn’t thinking that,” she added with a smirk. “But...what’s here? Full body massage? An evening of
pampering?”

  Keith pulled the car into an available spot near the front entrance and parked. “You’re just going to have to find out.”

  A minute later, they were heading inside. Rita was looking around with confusion. Keith took her hand and led her down the hallway to where the boardrooms were. Then he started to open the door to the conference room named Daffodil.

  Rita gripped his hand, pulling him back several steps from the door. “Keith?”

  He paused. He saw alarm in her eyes. She’d no doubt caught a glimpse of who was sitting inside the room, and now she was freaking out.

  “My brothers are in there?” she asked, needing verification that her eyes hadn’t been playing tricks on her.

  “Yes.”

  Rita bit down on her bottom lip. He couldn’t imagine the thoughts running through her mind, but it was obvious she was a little spooked.

  “You should have told me,” she said.

  “I didn’t want you to stress. Because this is a good surprise, Rita.” He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “They’re expecting you. They want to see you. They know that things got off on the wrong foot through no fault of your own. Brandon’s talked to me about how bad he feels that you’ve been hurting all these years. I figured I’d help facilitate a meeting where you guys could clear the air.”

  Keith took a step toward the door again, but when Rita didn’t budge, he stopped and looked down at her, saw the worry on her face.

  “Do you trust me?” Keith asked her.

  One second passed, then two. Keith held his breath. He hoped to God that the strides he’d made with Rita didn’t die an instant death now.

  “Yes.” Her reply was faint. “I trust you.”

  “Then believe me when I tell you that your brothers love you. They want a relationship with you. More than anything.”

  Seconds passed, and finally Rita nodded. Keith moved toward the conference room. Rita positioned herself behind him as he fully opened the door. Brandon and Daniel looked first at him, then at Rita. Their expressions projected affection and warmth.