The Billionaire's Demands (A Boardrooms and Billionaires Series Book) (Entangled Indulgence)

by Fox, Addison

  He’d only intended to kiss her to disprove her point about spontaneity, which made it that much more incredible how she’d managed to turn the tables on him. While he’d had no doubt the woman was filled with a rare and passionate heat, he also knew full well she kept a tight rein on her emotions. What he’d glimpsed earlier at the pier had been nothing compared to the hot armful of woman who’d sent his senses reeling in the back of the car.

  The businessmen they were meeting hadn’t arrived yet and he used their few remaining, private moments as the hostess escorted them to their table to keep a firm hand on Camryn’s back. He didn’t miss the light flush that suffused her cheeks or the subtle tremor he sensed under her skin when he brushed her bare shoulder after helping her to her seat.

  Their hostess departed after taking their drink orders and Booth willed his raging hormones down several hundred notches. The subtle flush had faded from Camryn’s cheeks, replaced with a calm mask that was as intriguing as the passion.

  “You look ready to conquer the world.”

  “Is it that obvious?” Her fingers abstractly resettled her silverware next to her plate, but other than that small, subtle shift, she could have been preparing for a standard staff meeting, she was so calm and poised.

  “Actually, I’m trying to take pointers. I’ve never seen anyone walk into a major business meeting looking as calm and collected as you.”

  “It’s just a meeting and they’re just people, Booth. I’m looking forward to talking to them. Learning about their business. A bit about them as well.”

  “Really?”

  “Of course.” She leaned forward and reached for her water glass, her glance thoughtful, as if she searched for the proper words. “The men we’re meeting with have flown over five thousand miles for this dinner. They’ve grown up in a different country and a completely different culture than mine. I realize it borders well into geeky territory, but I’m excited.”

  It was hardly geeky and more than a little fascinating. Although he’d been privileged to travel the world since childhood, Booth didn’t think he’d ever considered himself excited to meet someone new.

  “You’ve traveled throughout your life, haven’t you?”

  “It was one of the things my mother always insisted on. Oddly, it was one of the few things my father not only agreed with her on, but took an interest in as well.”

  Booth was prevented from remarking on that cryptic glimpse into her childhood by the arrival of the rest of their party. He smiled as introductions were made, allowing Camryn the lead. Fascinated, he watched as she moved through the elaborate ritual of the business card exchange before they all took their seats for the meal.

  Booth settled in for the evening and prepared to watch her as she engaged with their guests. While he hadn’t doubted her words, in the ensuing hours, what had been increasing attraction on his part expanded, adding even more layers and dimensions than before. Yes, she was a beautiful woman, but there was a quality to her beauty few women of his acquaintance had. A soft smile perpetually hovered around her face, widening in welcome as she met someone new. She engaged in discussion—genuinely and with interest—and people responded to her.

  She charmed the two businessmen and Booth couldn’t help but feel charmed and captivated as well.

  For reasons he didn’t fully understand, their relationship had managed to acquire an uncomfortable number of observers. His brother. Camryn’s sisters. His father. Even Sinclair had a piece of the action. For a woman used to fading into the background, her emergence into the spotlight was bound to be frustrating.

  In spite of those things, she pushed forward, that bright, vivid smile firmly intact. She humbled him. Intrigued him. Inspired him. And maybe, if he looked down deep in his heart, he might even feel something more. Something that tickled the back of his mind and whispered it might be love.

  Chapter Seven

  Booth wasn’t sure if it was the enjoyable meal, the easy conversation, or the celebratory glass of champagne they shared in the car, but where there had been a subtle wariness in Camryn in their previous interactions, all he saw as he helped her from the limo was a bright, easygoing lightness that projected off of her in warm waves.

  “Care to join me for one more cocktail?”

  “I’d love to.”

  They took the elevator to The Lounge, the San Francisco skyline spread out before them as they took a seat at the windows. Within moments, a waitress had greeted them with a small bowl of light bar snacks and a promise to return with their drink order.

  “Are you excited about Hawaii?” Camryn shifted back from the window, her attention fully focused on him. “It’s hard to believe it’s here already. When you invited me to speak it felt like there was still so much time, yet here we are.

  “So I realize it’s basically paradise, but what made you pick Hawaii?” Camryn said.

  “It’s both beautiful and functional. Despite the acres and acres of paradise at your fingertips, the hotels know how to do major conferences. And my father loves it, so it’s easy to keep him engaged in the event.”

  “He likes Hawaii?”

  “With a passion. He’s already there with my stepmother, staying in their condo for a few days.”

  “Which either means he’s out of your hair or he’s ahead of the game, causing trouble out there.”

  Booth laughed at that, and her astute assessment, before nodding. “I’ve had more than a few e-mails over the last week, full of him barking out orders. I’ve learned to ignore the bluster and only reply to the stuff that truly matters. I also sent my stepmother a tersely worded e-mail ordering her to send him off to the golf course. I think she was all too happy to oblige.”

  The lightness of the moment faded as their gazes caught and held. With tentative fingers, Booth reached out a stroked her bare shoulder. “Nathan asked what my intentions were.”

  The hazy sheen that filled her eyes faded at his comment. “When? Where?”

  “I spoke with him earlier. He was very concerned that I don’t hurt you.”

  Where he’d heard the light overtones of need in her voice, all he heard now were the distinct notes of steel. “I don’t think it’s any of his business.”

  “Families have a funny way of making things their business.”

  “I suppose they do.”

  With an abruptness he didn’t expect, he watched as Camryn shuttered her emotions. That feminine awareness winked out of her gaze and she straightened in her chair. “And there’s some of the mess I’ve been talking about. He’s got no right poking into my business. Or our business, as it were.”

  “You’re upset.”

  “No.” She shook her head as she reached for her glass. “No, I’m not, actually. I just think his need to be overprotective was unnecessary. I’m sure he meant well. That doesn’t mean I need him looking out for me.”

  “He cares about you.”

  “It’s none of Nathan’s business. I told my family I was here on a business function. They have no idea I’m contemplating sleeping with you. Yet he’s still poking his nose in.”

  Every brain cell he possessed had suddenly, narrowly, focused on her words—specifically, I’m contemplating sleeping with you—and all he could imagine was Camryn in his bed. Despite the immediate needs of his body, desperately willing him to focus on that one telltale comment, Booth fought to focus on the bigger picture. “He cares about you.”

  “And I’m a grown woman who can make my own decisions.”

  “Why are you so bothered about this?”

  “Because. It’s exactly what I expected to happen. My sisters find happiness and they’re practically shoving me at you to find happiness of my own. And now my brother-in-law’s in on the act?” She stood up and his vision of an enjoyable evening in each other’s company rapidly vanished. “It’s none of their damn business!”

  He stood as well, anxious to calm her ruffled feathers. The green dress still clung to her skin like a lover and the heated
flush in her cheeks only added to the picture of a vibrant, desirable woman. “What are you so afraid will happen?”

  “I’m not like them. I like my world neat and orderly. I like being in control. I’ve no interest in giving that up.”

  How had the conversation gone off course? They were talking amiably about their families and he made a casual comment about his brother and now here they were, in the middle of an argument that seemed to have no answers. “No one’s asking you to give up control.”

  “Of course they are. I like the life I have and I don’t need interference from anyone else.”

  “I don’t think you were entirely honest with me before.”

  The heat in her cheeks faded slightly as confusion stamped itself in her dark eyes. “About what?”

  “A sense of spontaneity. The moment you let yourself think, those shields come up and any sense of impulse vanishes. Where’s that responsive woman from the limo? The one who obviously desires what’s between us as much as I do?”

  “You know, Booth, just because you’re not getting laid tonight doesn’t mean your amateur psychological theories have any merit.”

  “We’ve had an amazing evening. Why are you trying to sabotage that? Diminish it?”

  “Booth—” She broke off, that same delicious flush from earlier creeping once more into her cheeks.

  “I’m serious. What’s this really about?” He reached for her hand, satisfied when she didn’t snatch it away. “And don’t tell me you’re really afraid to start something between us because my brother asked my intentions.”

  “Why are you pushing this?”

  “Because I want you. And I want to spend time with you. And I enjoy your company. They’re all entwined in my mind. Those are my intentions.”

  With deliberate slowness, he leaned forward, pressing his lips to the shell of her ear. A light shudder racked her shoulders and he reached for her hand to capture it beneath his. “And what are your intentions, Camryn?”

  “I don’t have any.”

  “Oh come on, now.” Booth ran his thumb over her palm, gratified when her hand clenched under his. “You have to have some intention. Something that you want, perhaps?”

  Her pulse kicked up, evident under the pads of his fingers, and her voice held the slightest quaver when she spoke. “I told you I’d accompany you to Hawaii to speak at your sales conference. And in a few days, once my responsibilities are over, I’ll go home.”

  He lifted her hand and pressed a light line of kisses over that sensitive flesh, satisfied when another one of those sexy shudders quivered under her pale skin. “What’s between us is inevitable. Basic. Elemental.”

  “You say that like we don’t have a choice.” Her voice was breathless, the hushed tone only reinforcing his point.

  “I want you. Don’t you feel the same?”

  “Yes. But—”

  Booth felt the change almost immediately. Where she was on the verge of giving in, suddenly, she pulled away. Need and longing were stamped so clearly in her eyes it almost brought him to his knees.

  “We have to be practical.”

  He fought to keep his tone light, even as his body argued for more. “What happened to ‘spontaneity is a good thing’?”

  “There’s spontaneity and there’s stupidity.”

  “Well then.” Her barb hit its mark and he took a small step away from her.

  “Look, I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “What did you mean, then? Explain it to me.”

  “I’m traveling with you on a business invitation. I’m speaking to your company in a couple of days. I’m not sure mixing business with something…personal is a good idea. Not here.”

  Disappointment was a punch to his gut and he knew she saw it on his face. With the Harrison control he was known for, he pushed it all away. “I respect that.”

  “You do?”

  “Of course. There are two of us in this relationship. Your wants and needs are as important as mine.” He took another step back and kept his hands at his sides. “Promise me one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Think about what I said. There’s something between us. Something I happen to think could be really, really incredible.”

  “Sex usually is.” The words were a muttered mix of frustration and annoyance, and he couldn’t help but smile at the honest reaction.

  Despite his attempts not to touch her, he did reach forward and take her hand. “I like you for all of you. And while I happen to think the sex will be incredible too, I want you to understand I see more of you than the beautiful woman sitting opposite me.”

  “Most men are irritated when their, um, sexual aspirations are left unfulfilled for the evening.”

  “I’m not most men. And I’m going to prove it to you.”

  …

  Booth’s words still echoed in her mind a half hour later as Camryn reread the same paragraph of a book she’d brought with her. I’m not most men.

  That was for damn sure.

  The bigger question was why she was lying in her bed, alone with a book, when that amazing, incredible man was lying alone in his.

  Her eyes caught on the green dress where she’d hung it on a hook near the closet. She’d taken advantage of the small steamer the hotel room provided to remove any wrinkles from the evening and at the evidence of her handiwork, Camryn let out a hard chuckle at herself.

  “Damn, McBride. Even on vacation, you’re perfectly pressed. The no fuss, no muss girl.”

  The thought galled her. Tonight she had an opportunity with a vibrant, interesting, sexy-as-hell man. So why did she let the opportunity slip through her fingers?

  What was she really afraid of?

  Her thoughts slipped, unbidden, to those dark days after her mother’s diagnosis. She’d been so happy. Fresh out of school with her future bright ahead of her and a relationship that had meant the world to her. Even now, she could recall the moss-green color of Matt’s eyes. Their quiet moments together when she felt that she was the only woman in the world.

  But once her mother got sick, he hadn’t tolerated her absences from Boston where they were living, hadn’t understood how badly she needed to be in New York with her family. And in the end, she’d made the only choice she could. She moved back to her family—without him—and she bricked up the pain in her heart with work.

  Work never disappointed. Never argued. And when you managed all of it in neat, orderly stacks, it was ever faithful and ever accepting of your time.

  Did that make her cold and empty? Probably.

  But it also kept her heart safe.

  Chapter Eight

  The questions that had haunted her the night before still rattled around Camryn’s mind the following morning as she dragged her bags behind her to the lobby. She hadn’t given Matt a thought in years, yet there he was, front and center in her memories and in the restless dreams she had when she finally fell asleep around dawn.

  Those dreams hadn’t produced any answers and all she had to show for her anxiety was a raging headache that had settled behind her eyes with the piercing intensity of ice picks.

  “Camryn!”

  She glanced up to see Patrick Martindale striding toward her across the lobby, and the ice picks hammering behind her eyes ramped up their tempo. If Matt was the lost love of her life, Patrick was the scourge she’d like to forget.

  “Patrick.” They exchanged the standard cheek kisses of people who knew they had to touch but really didn’t want to. “How are you?”

  “Good. Good. Out here closing a big deal.”

  Of course he was. Patrick did nothing without a reason, and whenever he could brag about his accomplishments, he took advantage of the moment.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Same. Business.” Before she could say much else, Booth walked up next to her.

  “Who’s this, dear?”

  Camryn didn’t miss the possessive glint in Booth’s eyes or the subtle press
ure of his hand against her spine. She did her level best to keep her voice even and smooth as she tried to unobtrusively put a few steps of distance between them.

  Booth’s grip stayed firm.

  “Let me introduce you to Keira’s new brother-in-law, Booth Harrison. We’re both here in San Francisco on business.”

  Camryn watched the various expressions flit across Patrick’s face, chief among them the realization that the two of them were traveling together.

  “We’re off to Hawaii next.” Booth’s jovial smile and good-natured description of the next leg of their trip took another few minutes of conversation and Camryn fought her inner urge to tell the truth about why she was really there. Despite her best intentions, every time she attempted to mention she was headed to Hawaii for business, Booth neatly shifted the subject.

  And if she were slightly reveling in Patrick’s speculative stares and thinly veiled male irritation, she could hardly be blamed for shifting a step or two closer to Booth, now could she?

  “Have a good trip.” Patrick leaned forward for one last kiss on the cheek.

  “Thanks. Congratulations on your new project.”

  The entire encounter was surreal, and she watched Patrick walk back across the lobby with a mixture of bemusement and subtle satisfaction. The two of them hadn’t been a successful match and it had always irritated her that the man seemed to be constantly one-upping her. But what were the odds he’d be here and her thoughts from the night before would be filled with images of a long-ended relationship? Was the universe trying to tell her something?

  She brushed off the odd thoughts and shot Booth a quick sideways glance. “You wanted to make him think something was going on between us.”

  “And it worked.”

  She couldn’t quite hold back the soft sigh that filled her chest. “Like a charm.”

  …

  Booth was still smiling to himself an hour later as the plane began its ascent toward Hawaii. A quick glance at Camryn showed only her profile as she stared at the fading skyline below them.

  “Patrick’s a bland fellow. Know him long?”

  Camryn turned away from the window. “We dated for about a year a few years ago.”