by Cher Carson
“The stroke left him incapacitated?” he asked, pushing the button to turn the radio off. He knew confiding in him must be difficult for her. He didn’t need or want any distractions.
“He’s learned to do everything all over again: walking, talking, dressing himself…” Her voice broke. “Watching him struggle is so hard.”
“I can imagine,” he said, quietly. “I lost my father a few years ago, a heart attack.” He was still getting used to life without him. Sometimes he would pick up the phone on a Sunday afternoon to ask him whether he wanted to play a round of golf, and he would remember he was gone. The pain hit him all over again every time he realized his father, his friend, wasn’t going to share the big moments, like his wedding, the birth of his first child…
“I’m so sorry,” she said, reaching out to touch his leg. “Here I am complaining about my situation. At least I still have my father.”
He turned down the street toward his house, almost on auto-pilot. He hadn’t intended to bring her here, but the need to be alone with her was obviously fueling his subconscious. “It’s okay,” he said, reveling in her genuine compassion. He hadn’t shared his pain with anyone outside of his immediate family in a long time. His sister and mother were the only ones who could begin to understand, so while they often shared fond memories, he’d chosen not to burden his friends and colleagues with his private pain. “I just wanted you to know that I understand, and I’m a good listener, if you want to talk about it.”
He lowered the window and pressed the buttons to open the gilded wrought iron gates leading up to his home. He wasn’t trying to impress her; he just wanted to invite her into his inner sanctuary so she could begin to understand him. “I hope you don’t mind? I thought we could grab some lunch and talk for a while before you have to go back to work?”
She drew her plump bottom lip between her teeth as he studied her. She was gorgeous, but real, something he rarely saw in his line of work. Her lips were full and sensuous, but he knew they weren’t filled with Botox. Her teeth were straight and white, but one was ever so slightly tilted, which told him they weren’t veneers.
She laughed. “Why do I feel like you’re sizing me up?”
God, was he being that obvious? “I’m sorry,” he said, cutting the engine. “Occupational hazard, I guess.”
“Thinking about all the ways you’d like to mold and shape me if you ever got me under the knife?”
He heard the edge to her voice and knew his comment was misconstrued. “You can’t be serious? In my mind, nothing is sexier than a natural beauty.”
She rolled her eyes as she reached for the door handle. “Whatever you say, Doc.”
He grabbed her other hand. “Alana, I’m serious. I think you’re gorgeous.” He leaned in, brushing his lips against her cheek. “Why do you think I haven’t been able to get you out of my head?”
She pulled away, obviously unimpressed by his declaration, and opened the door.
He cursed himself for feeding her what must sound like a cheesy line and met her around the front of the car. After following the direction of her gaze, he knew he was busted.
“I can see why I didn’t have to sell you on the features of the car. You already own one.”
He shrugged. “It’s a couple of years old. I’m thinking it might be time for an upgrade.”
She smirked. “You’re a good liar. I’ll give you that.”
He wasn’t lying. He wouldn’t hesitate to buy the car if it would convince her he was serious about pursuing her. “I can write you a check for the car right now.”
She gaped at him. “You would do that? Why?”
“Because I like you, a lot.” He tucked a strand of her long, platinum blonde hair behind her ear and smiled when she turned into his palm, closing her eyes. He would bet the cost of that car that she hadn’t been with a man in a long time, too long. “And I want to get to know you better.” He moved in, circling his arms around her waist. “I’d like to see where this could go, Alana.”
She shook her head, flattening her palms against his chest. “I already know where it’s going. Nowhere.”
Chapter Two
She could tell Dr. Ryan Lang was not well-acquainted with rejection. He probably had his choice of perfect specimens lining up to share his bed; he wouldn’t take more than a minute to move on to one of them. “I hope you’re not too disappointed?”
Without a word, he took her hand, and led her up the cobblestone walkway to the front door of his impressive estate home. He unlocked the door and de-activated the alarm before leading her inside.
“I really don’t have a lot of time,” she said, hoping to break the uncomfortable silence.
“You have to eat,” he said, apparently careful not to move beyond the invisible barriers she’d erected to keep him at a safe distance. “Might as well be here, with me. Unless you think you might get a better offer?”
She realized her rejection hurt him, and that surprised her. Surely a man as handsome and successful as he was must know the package he presented was difficult, if not impossible, for a woman to resist. “Ryan, please try to understand. This has nothing to do with you.”
He shook his head, holding his hand up. “Please, spare me the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech. I’ve heard it all before.”
She wanted to say something to help him understand, but that required her to open up to him, and she wasn’t prepared to take that kind of risk. “You must know I’m attracted to you. I’d have to be blind not to be.”
“I get it. So you think this is just a physical attraction? We’d get our fill of each other and that would be the end of it. Am I right?”
She imagined what he would be like, how long getting her fill of this man would take. Weeks? Months? Maybe years. “Something like that.”
“I’m okay with that,” he said, the hint of a smile on his lips.
“You’re okay with what?” she said warily. The smile morphed into a full-blown grin, making her feel as though she’d just been taken by a hustler.
“Sex.”
The word conjured up all kinds of images. Sex. Standing up, lying down, from behind, in the shower, on the floor, right there…
He tipped her chin, looking her in the eye. “You’re thinking about it. Admit it.”
His eyes were hazel, with flecks of gold and chocolate. Unforgettable, just like everything else about him. She knew she was venturing into dangerous territory, but retreating now would make her seem like a coward, and for once, she wanted to put her own needs first. Needs she’d denied for too many months. She wanted to feel a man’s intimate caress, his hard cock thrusting into her as she pleaded for him to help her reach that unforeseen peak.
“Okay,” she whispered, wondering if he would retreat now that she’d surrendered. Would the thrill of the chase be as exciting to him now that he’d caught her?
“You’re serious?”
“What’s wrong, Doc? Were you just baiting me?”
“Hell no,” he growled, stripping her jacket off and letting it fall to the ground at their feet.
She was wearing a matching black dress with thin straps and a wide belt cinching her waist.
“It’s a sin to cover this body, baby.”
She found it hard to believe a man who specialized in perfection wouldn’t find fault with her. She was proud of the body she spent hours in the gym maintaining, but she was also a realist. Perfection came at a steep price, one she wasn’t willing or able to pay. Her friends at the gym often talked about their latest enhancements, boasting how much it cost and how much they gained. She’d be lying if she claimed she wasn’t tempted, but cosmetic surgery didn’t fit into her budget now or in the foreseeable future. Her main priority was paying her father’s medical bills, covering her brother’s tuition, and meeting her payroll. She drew a small salary to cover her monthly expenses, but she refused to take more than she needed to survive.
“You don’t have to say that,” she said, suddenly
wishing he was an auto mechanic, anything other than a doctor who molded and shaped bodies until he achieved perfection.
He brushed his lips over her collarbone. “I don’t say anything I don’t mean, Alana. I meant what I said earlier. I love that you’re all natural. It’s been so long since I’ve had my hands on a body that wasn’t…” He shook his head. “Forget it; I don’t want to talk about that right now.”
His point raised the question. How many women were sharing his bed? She didn’t want to be one of many, even if this was only a one-time deal. “Are you involved with anyone right now?” she asked, letting her hands fall to her sides.
Frowning, he asked, “Would I be here with you if I were?”
“You can’t blame me for asking. I don’t know what kind of man you are. Just because I’m attracted to you, that doesn’t mean…”
“There’s no one else,” he said quietly. He claimed her mouth. At first, it was soft and sweet, but it quickly escalated to urgent, hot, and out-of-control. “No one else sharing my bed,” he said, kissing her neck. “No one else I want,” he said, reaching for her belt.
She wanted to believe him, more than she wanted to draw her next breath, but she’d been burned enough to not take anything a man said at face value. She needed to keep things in perspective where this man was concerned. He said it himself. This was about sex, mutual gratification, nothing more.
His hands skimmed her back as he inched the zipper down. His hands and mouth were everywhere at once, searing every inch of her.
She wanted to beg him to hurry. She couldn’t wait to feel his hands all over her, caressing her, pleasuring her. Instead of waiting for him, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She reached for his belt and watched his eyes travel to her hands.
“It’s been a while for me,” she whispered, feeling the need to explain her haste.
He chuckled. “I can’t say I’m sorry to hear that, sweetheart.”
God, this man was a sexy paradox. He had that bad-boy biker persona down, but judging by his profession, home, and car, he also appreciated the finer things in life. He was intelligent, well-educated, successful... everything she would have looked for in a man. If only she were looking.
“A long lunch? Sorry, not gonna work for me,” he said, backing her into the door, his eyes fixed on hers.
Her heart plummeted. He was having second thoughts. “If you’ve changed your mind…”
He laughed, tilting his head back. “You must be joking, right? Honey, I’ve fantasized about this.” He ran his forefinger down her cheek. “I’ve fantasized about you.”
Her head told her he was feeding her a line, but her heart wanted to believe he was telling her the truth. “Why me?”
Frowning, he asked, “Why not you? You’re gorgeous, smart, sexy, and successful.”
She sputtered at his inept description. “You think I’m successful?” She rolled her eyes. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m barely keeping my head above water most months.”
He held her face in his hands, kissing her lips gently. “Life doesn’t have to be such a struggle, Alana. Your life could be whatever you want it to be.”
If only that were true. He made it sound so simple, but for him it no doubt was. He probably didn’t have to carry the burden of his family on his shoulders. He didn’t have to cry himself to sleep at night wondering how he was going to pay the bills that month. Nor did he have to kiss up to the loans officer to get his line of credit extended at the bank. “My life is what it is, Ryan. It may not be perfect, but I’m okay with that.”
“You shouldn’t be,” he said, sliding the dress off her shoulders. “You deserve the best, and you shouldn’t settle for anything less.”
She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his tongue swirling around her neck, saturating her panties. Moaning, she clung to his shoulders. “God, I love the way that feels.”
“Take the day off,” he whispered. “It’s Saturday. Play hooky and spend the day in bed with me.”
Saturday was typically their busiest day of the week, and she had that sales meeting at 3:00. As much as she might like to, she couldn’t shirk her responsibilities, not even for a day. People counted on her. She couldn’t let them down. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”
He pulled back to look at her. “When was the last time you took a day off?”
“The dealership is closed on Sundays.”
“That’s not what I asked. When was the last time you took a day off or went on vacation? Hell, when was the last time you did anything for yourself?”
She knew he was trying to help her put things in perspective, but she didn’t appreciate his interference. She was doing what she had to do for her family and her employees. This was why she refused to get involved with anyone; she knew her lack of personal time would be a point of contention in any relationship. “I don’t think that’s any of your concern.”
“You just answered my question,” he muttered. He braced his hands on the door behind her and leaned in, getting in her face. “This is crazy. You can’t keep doing this to yourself, sweetheart.”
His words were sweet, laced with concern she could almost believe, if not for the fact that he was a stranger expecting to get her into bed. Believing his motives were altruistic was naïve. “Can we get back to the matter at hand?” she said, easing his jacket over his shoulders. “I believe you were going to help me to relax, weren’t you?”
“Honey,” he said, framing her face with his hands. “I’m worried about you. I’d like to help make this easier for you, if you’ll let me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“If this is a financial issue, I can help you with that.”
Was he proposing sex for money? “Are you suggesting…”
He muttered a curse and dropped his head, chuckling. “No, shit, that didn’t come out right. I was suggesting a business loan. It would be strictly on the up and up.” He raised his hand, disarming her with that sexy grin. “Favorable interest rates and terms, I promise.”
She could definitely use an operating loan right now, but she couldn’t afford to acquire any more debt. If only she could find a buyer to take the business off her hands. That wasn’t a problem five years ago when the dealership was making bags of money, but this was a different time. Even the wealthy weren’t spending money on new cars these days. The CEOs who used to buy their cars had struggling companies now. They were laying off employees, and they couldn’t pull into the parking lot behind the wheel of a new car worth more than the houses their employees were losing. It would be bad for morale. At least, that’s the story they gave Alana when she called to make her sales pitch to their long-time customers.
“I couldn’t accept that,” she said, quietly. “But thanks for the offer.” He was the first person who’d offered to help her find a way out of this mess, even if he did have an ulterior motive. Sex.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he whispered, stealing a kiss. “But I didn’t make this offer just because I want to get you into bed.”
She smiled as she waited to hear his reasons. This should be good. “No? Then tell me, why would you want to extend credit to a business on the verge of bankruptcy?”
He grimaced. “Is it really that bad?”
It was worse, but she still had some pride, and despite his generous offer, he was still just a handsome stranger who would undoubtedly disappear with the sunrise. “Yeah, it is. So, tell me why you’d want to do this for me.”
“My father’s best friend gave me a loan when I was starting out. Let’s just say this would be my way of paying it forward.”
She wanted to question him about it, but they were already getting in too deep. She hadn’t talked about her failing business with anyone outside her immediate family and advisors. “Look, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, I just don’t think it is a good idea. It certainly isn’t a sound business decision for you.”
He smiled. “You’re something else, Alana. I’m o
ffering to bail you out of your financial trouble, and you’re worried about how this might affect me? Maybe that’s your problem, sweetheart…” He trailed a finger down her neck then between her cleavage. “You need to develop a thicker skin if you want to succeed in business.”
She tipped her chin, glaring at him. “I’ll have you know that I have a MBA, Ryan. I know more about what it takes to succeed in business than you ever will.”
He laughed. “I don’t doubt that. I do my thing, and I do it well. But I’m smart enough to leave the rest to a capable team of professionals. Why don’t you join that team? Show me how much I don’t know.”
Frowning, she asked, “You’re offering me a job?” What was the deal with this guy? One minute he was offering her a loan, the next minute a job? He was hell-bent on being her hero. She had taken care of herself and everyone else for so long she’d forgotten having someone take care of her felt like.
“I’m opening a third office soon. I’m looking to hire a business consultant. What do you say? Are you interested?”
“I’d say thanks, but no thanks. I’ve got my hands full with the dealership.” Truth be told, she ate, slept, and breathed the business.
“This would be flexible. You’d be an independent consultant, you could set your own hours, and the compensation package is tough to refuse.”
She had to admit, the offer was tempting. A year ago, she could have built her jewelry business while working as a part-time consultant with start-ups who had the budget to hire someone with her expertise. It would be the best of both worlds: a steady income and the freedom to build her business without the pressure of having to bring home a pay check right away. “I wish I had the time to take on something like that, but I don’t.”
“Couldn’t you hire a manager at the dealership?”
She laughed. As if the budget had money for that. “I don’t think so.”
He leaned into kiss her, stealing her breath. “I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of talking about business. Will you do something for me, please?”
When he asked like that, she would be hard-pressed to refuse him anything. The man was irresistible, and she suspected he knew it. “What would you like me to do?”
