Carnal Risk

by Kym Grosso

  “You did well today in there. Evan and I had this all hammered out before his accident, but we hadn’t taken it to the board. Garrett’s a yes.”

  “Hmm…well, he could have said so during the presentation. Would it have killed him to let Nate and Ryder know that this was a done deal? It’s like he wanted me to go through every last detail of the feasibility study. I read Evan’s notes. He’d paved the way for this project. But you would never have known that this morning.” She sighed, considering how much she should share with Lars about what had happened last night. “Speaking of Evan, how close were you? I mean, we’ve known each other a long time and I never met him before. But when you talk about him…I don’t know, it just seems like you all were really close.”

  “Yeah, we all were close friends. I met him after you and I got out of college. I guess I never introduced you to him for the same reasons I never introduced you to Garrett. It’s not like you all have anything in common. And Evan was always the craziest out of all of us. It’s not like you’d date the guy.”

  “How would you know?” she countered. Not only did I date him, I kissed him and he tried to get me to steal for him.

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but it’s no secret that you’re kind of tightly wound. You’re all about control. And some of us… we like being out of control.”

  “I just like being alive is all. Death isn’t up there on my to do list.”

  “I’m just saying that Evan would not be your type.” Lars paused, scrubbing his chin with his hand. He cocked an eyebrow and gave her a sideways grin. “You want me to be honest about this morning?”

  “No. Lie to me. It’s awesome.” She knew his critique was coming but couldn’t stifle her sarcasm. Lars always enjoyed pushing her buttons.

  “Garrett’s main concern about you is that you really don’t get his company and why people want what they provide. You already know that some of the stuff they develop is used for the military, things having to do with the skydiving, advanced technologies. But some of their products are for everyday people who just enjoy the extreme adventures we partake in. The bottom line is that no matter what the numbers say on the deal or how much money his company brings in, this is still not a publicly held company. Garrett built this from the ground up. All those guys sitting around him know it and most of them helped him.”

  “How’s that different than some of our other clients?”

  “They are a part of the company. Nate. Yeah, he’s a hardass but he loves climbing any mountain that he thinks is impossible to climb. Ryder, he base jumps. Almost every single person in that room with the exception of Janice, his HR VP, is heavily invested in Emerson Industries. They don’t just work here. They get the business, know why their customers do what they do. I love ya, Selb, but you’re an outsider.”

  “Fair enough, but then why ask me to do this job?” She couldn’t understand for the life of her why Lars would put her in this position. Knowing that Evan had propositioned her to steal made the situation all the worse, but now it dawned on her that she was the persona non grata.

  “Because you’re the best. And Garrett could barely breathe, let alone run his company after Evan died. Honestly, things could get worse before they get better,” he admitted.

  “I’ll do what I can, but I’m not taking shit from assholes who don’t know our business. After reviewing the data, there’s no question we can save them money. And you know we’ll do it better.” Selby wished she could ask Lars more details about Evan, but like Garrett, she sensed he was holding back on her.

  Lars stood and stretched his arms above his head. Selby inwardly smiled, aware that he’d never be so casual in front of anyone else. A knock on the door jolted her back into reality, reminding her they weren’t in their own offices.

  “Miss Selby.” Garrett’s secretary, Norm, entered her office and set a silver shopping bag onto her desk.

  “Um, what’s this?” she asked, her eyes darting to Lars.

  “Mr. Emerson said you’d forget, and asked me to bring you your things for this afternoon’s assignment.”

  “Oookay.” Selby smiled, aware that she’d deliberately left her suit at home. She reached inside the sack and retrieved a peach-colored bikini top. A laugh bubbled out of her and she shook her head. “I guess he wasn’t kidding.”

  “Garrett never kids. Looks like he’s about to clue you in as to what they do here.”

  “How’s a bathing suit going to school me on a multi-billion dollar company?” Astonished, Selby dug further into the satchel and pulled out the rest of the suit, a sarong and flip flops.

  “Garrett doesn’t do anything half way.” Lars smiled and stood. He smoothed down his trousers before making his way toward her door. “I’d suggest we celebrate tonight, but I have a feeling you might be too tired for dinner.”

  “I don’t work for him, Lars.” She gritted her teeth, wondering what Garrett had planned. Numbers and technology she could do with her eyes closed. Surprises were up on her list of things to avoid, along with spiders and mold-covered bread.

  “You need to look at this as a learning experience. You’ll do fine.”

  “I’m not fine.”

  “Tangerine is a good color on you.” He laughed.

  “It’s peach, dumbass. And I don’t see any good reason why I should be wearing a bathing suit while I’m at work,” she huffed.

  “Ah, but you’ve never worked for Garrett. Welcome to my world.” Lars winked as he left her office.

  Frustrated, Selby grabbed the bag off her desk and hurled it across the room. Everything about the situation was uncomfortable. She may have idolized his maverick business sense but she had no intention of getting caught up in his dangerous lifestyle. He could jump off the space station for all she cared, but whatever he was planning simply was not happening.

  Selby pursed her lips around the candy, the rough edges scraping her tongue. She glared at the contents of the bag, which had spilled onto the floor, and tried to reason why she shouldn’t just gather her things and walk out of the office. She suspected that whatever Garrett had planned would test not only her deepest fears but her ability to resist him. Every second she spent in his presence deepened her attraction for the charismatic billionaire.

  She bit down into the confection, the sweetness dancing in her mouth. Do not be afraid, she told herself. You can resist, she repeated. All the while, she knew it was a lie. She blew out a breath and walked around her desk. As she fingered the silky fabric, it was as if she’d been ensnared in the web of his temptation. She untied the strings of the bikini top and held it to her chest, and laughed. If there was one thing she knew, it was that no challenge would go unmet. She’d punish Lars later, but this afternoon, she’d show Garrett that she wasn’t scared of his games. Hell, people didn’t go skydiving in bathing suits; whatever he had planned, how bad could it be?

  Chapter Nine

  Garrett shifted his Jeep into gear, the warmth of the sun shining on his face. He loved the convertible, aware that it wasn’t the luxurious car she’d be expecting he’d drive. He glanced over to Selby, who gave him a nervous smile. Watching her command the boardroom had given him an erection so hard he thought he’d have to ice himself down. Jesus almighty, the woman was smart. Despite her obvious IT knowledge, Ryder and Nate had protested her lack of experience with their products. Having a fancy degree wasn’t enough at Emerson. Hell, some of his managers had never even been to college. What they did have above all else was subject matter expertise.

  At the meeting she’d looked to him to intervene, but he’d purposely kept silent. No matter what the fucking contract said, he couldn’t keep her on if she wasn’t able to prove her worth to his operation managers. He’d known full well that the IT staff would be retained no matter the results of the deal. He, Evan and Lars had hammered out the details long before today’s meeting. But if she was overseeing the transition process, she’d have to hold her own ground with his team.

  His executi
ves would expect Selby to have at least a basic understanding of all the key aspects of his business, what drove customers to seek the thrill that only certain high risk sports could bring them. Unfortunately, Selby had no experience, nor did she have the desire to embrace the rush he sought practically every day of his life.

  Garrett had talked to Lars, had Selby investigated. She didn’t smoke, rarely drank. Living within the confines of the law, she’d never even had a parking ticket. According to Lars, she’d had a few boyfriends but nothing serious. The woman didn’t engage in any sports, let alone any kind of high risk ones. Despite her conservative profile, she’d demonstrated both courage and tenacity.

  As he made his way through the industrial complex and turned onto the gravel road, his thoughts were drawn back to how he’d planned to teach Selby more about Emerson Industries. He glanced over to her, noting that her expression was well hidden behind her sunglasses. Garrett gave a small laugh, enjoying how their banter appeared to vacillate between sexual innuendo and business. He’d told Lars he wouldn’t sleep with her, yet he’d already tested the limits of his promise. The previous night in his office, he’d lost control, indulging in their provocative exchange, telling her he’d bed her. Worse, she hadn’t said no, leaving the experience entirely on the table.

  The audience at the meeting hadn’t stifled their heated gaze. Although she’d averted eye contact, it was as if they were the only two people in the room. He knew it. She knew it.

  This morning, when he’d woken up, he swore to himself that he’d resist temptation. But as Garrett’s eyes darted from the white caps in the distance to the flimsy cotton fabric that had ridden up Selby’s leg, exposing her tanned thigh, he knew it would be difficult to keep his resolve.

  “Are we going to talk about the meeting today?” she asked.

  Selby’s voice drew Garrett’s attention, jarring his train of thought. He cursed as the tires hit a pothole, and his eyes focused back onto the gravel road.

  “Sure, what would you like to discuss?” he asked.

  “Are you signing us on? Is it a go?” Selby kept her eyes on Garrett.

  “Of course.” He smiled.

  “You planned on approving it?” Selby crossed her arms and took a small breath. “I was right. It was a test.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t put it exactly like that. I wanted buy-in from the team.” Garrett pulled into a small parking lot. A narrow path led to the beach, which beckoned a couple of hundred feet away. He switched off the ignition and turned to Selby. “I can see from your résumé that you’re good. Lars thinks you walk on water. But I need everyone to feel they had a say. Evan…he wasn’t just a C-level pencil pusher.”

  “I’m really sorry for your loss,” Selby offered. Her palm touched his shoulder, causing him instant arousal.

  “Thank you. Evan was close to a lot of people here, not just me. As far as today, no matter what qualifications you have on paper, I’m afraid it doesn’t hold much water with the others. The people, my team, they all get what goes on at Emerson.”

  “I told you I studied…”

  “And I told you last night that you need to understand our brand. I expect my execs to live Emerson. How else can they manage it if they don’t get our product?”

  “Not all executives who run hospitals are doctors or nurses. But they still run healthcare companies,” she countered.

  “Yeah, and that’s workin’ out real well.” He rolled his eyes, leaned over and unclicked her seatbelt. “Last night…”

  “I’m sorry I went in Evan’s office.”

  “I’m not talking about that.” Garrett jumped out of the Jeep and rounded to open her door. He reached for her hand and the heat sizzled his palm. Despite his promises to himself, he’d touched her already and didn’t want to let go. “What I said about learning your limits, to feel the rush of adrenaline; some of us are like junkies, trying to get our next fix. Others are simply weekend warriors, reminding themselves that mortality comes for all of us. They’re fighting back against the inevitable. And you need to learn.”

  “I can’t date you,” Selby blurted out, and pulled her hand away. She looked away to the dunes, avoiding eye contact.

  “Why do you sing in that club?” He ignored her statement and changed the subject, forcing her to recall what she’d done to him.

  “It relaxes me. I enjoy it. Besides, I don’t get out a lot with my schedule. I like the people there.”

  “Why don’t you get out? Lars pays you well, right?” He opened the trunk and retrieved a large backpack.

  “I really shouldn’t be telling you this…it doesn’t matter.”

  “Everything about you matters, Selby. Why the gig at the club? No offense, but it seems so different than how you are in the office.”

  “It’s just that I get anxious sometimes.” She traced a small path in the sand with the toe of her sandals. “You might as well know. It’s not like I can have any secrets, with you as my client. I’m surprised you didn’t see it in the clearance paperwork.”

  “I haven’t read it yet,” he lied.

  “I…I’m afraid of heights, small spaces. But mostly,” she hesitated and her eyes met his, “look, no one’s ever asked. It’s never an issue because I try very hard not to put myself in situations that will exacerbate the problem.”

  “What problem?”

  “Panic attacks,” she confessed. “You don’t need to worry about this, though. I swear to you it’s under control. No medication either. I know it works for lots of people but in my job…I just can’t risk interactions. I meditate. Get acupuncture.”

  “And sing? Hmm.” He raised an eyebrow at her and smiled. “In a corset?”

  “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with it. But I don’t dance. That night…” She paused. Garrett gave a small laugh as her cheeks grew red. “Ugh…Lars. He knows I sing but he didn’t tell me he was coming. I certainly didn’t know it was you when I…well, you know what I did. I was just feeling a little flirty…pushing myself to go a little further with my act. It’s therapeutic.”

  “So you don’t actually strip when you’re there?”

  “No way. I mean, not that there is anything wrong with it. It’s burlesque. Everyone is the same with their clothes off. It’s a great equalizer.”

  “And you have experience with this? Public nudity?” Garrett resisted the urge to laugh, given her background.

  “Well, no, but I’ve seen other people naked. It doesn’t bother me at all. It can be beautiful,” she said, her tone of voice indignant.

  “So you’re a voyeur?” he half joked. He’d hoped she was more of an exhibitionist, given her performance.

  “What would make you say something like that?”

  “You just said you liked to watch?”

  “Well, yeah, but…wait, are you teasing me?”

  “Maybe,” he lied. He’d been entirely serious. The temptation to play with her in front of others taunted him. His cock jerked, and he shook his head. Jesus, Garrett, not here.

  “You wanna know how far I’ll go?” she continued, giving him a small smile. “What gives me a rush? That’s what you asked me last night, right?”

  “Yes, I did.” He laughed. Neither of them had forgotten what he’d promised.

  “I may not like heights, Mr. Emerson, but there’s plenty I do like. Lots of things, as a matter of fact.” She winked. “But I’m not going to tell you. You’ll just have to find out for yourself.”

  “Garrett,” he corrected her.

  “I know who I’m addressing. Or do I? Is it my client who tests my knowledge in the boardroom? Or is it the man whose lips were on my skin last night? You know, the one promising me…what was that you said? A rush in the bedroom and out?” Selby teased playfully. She stopped as they approached the opening to the beach, and smiled at the sight of the ocean.

  So his little IT expert liked to flirt? Or was she angry that he’d let her go a round with his executives, knowing full well he’d accept the deal? If s
he thought she’d throw him off kilter with her remarks, she was wrong. Sure, she was going to drive him to break his promise only hours after he’d made it, but he’d never let her see him sweat.

  Garrett stopped mid-path and turned to face her. He lifted his sunglasses, his eyes devouring the sight of her.

  “I’m happy you didn’t forget our conversation.” He smiled and nodded toward the surf. “I knew you weren’t fond of heights, so I’ve got an easy lesson for you today.”

  “What makes you think I want lessons in anything?”

  “Ah, Selby, lying doesn’t become you.” Garrett stepped closer, his chest inches from hers. She lifted her eyes to meet his but he caught the slight tremble in her bottom lip that she attempted to conceal. “You feel it already, don’t you? We may not know each other that well yet, but I know you like being the best.” She rolled her eyes, and he grinned. “If you want to be the best here…really know what’s going on in this company, what drives my customers,” he leaned forward, his lips near her ear, “what drives me…not just something you read in a business class. If that’s something you want, then you’ll want this. If not, I’m sure you can do a half-assed job and we’ll eventually find someone to replace Evan. So what’s it going to be?”

  “Well of course I want to…”

  “Answer me. We’ll do this with your consent only. Otherwise, it’s a moot point.”

  “Do what with my consent?”

  “Anything. Everything. The other night…” He hesitated to show his cards.

  Garrett’s heart beat slightly faster, knowing he was pressing a sexual encounter with her. He still wasn’t satisfied with her answers regarding Evan. Yet every time he was within ten feet of her, he yearned to touch her. Worse, he wanted her to know him, why he did what he did. He struggled with his warring emotions. He wasn’t the kind of guy who had long-lasting relationships. Not many people were willing to put up with his dedication to work, let alone his infatuation with riding the crest of death. Only the people within his inner sanctum, ones who understood his thirst for danger, understood.