Standing with the press, most of whom she knew by name, Cara looked around the main foyer of the Kings building. The set up for the Valentine’s promotion was long gone, but she couldn’t help the pang of regret that she didn’t get to work with everyone who had made that campaign such a heart-felt one. A hush ran around the crowd and Cara looked forward.
“Thank you all for coming.” It was him. Joe. His voice did its usual trick of inciting an erotic rebellion in her bones, and Cara had to stand very straight so as not to let her knees wobble. He was standing on a small stage with a couple of people, including Mr Tsiolkas, next to him. She ducked her head, just to make sure Joe didn’t spot her in the crowd.
“Sorry for dragging you out in the cold, but this is big news for us, so we wanted to announce it personally. As many of you know, Cara Reynolds created an incredible campaign this Valentine’s Day which touched the hearts of millions of people.”
Wait? What? Cara snapped her head up. He was looking right at her. Oh, no. She waited for him to call her out for being there when he’d thrown her out. But he didn’t, he just continued. “That campaign, and the re-branding of King Kondoms as one of the world’s most reliable, cruelty-free condoms, was a dream brought about by King’s previous owner, Geronimo Tsiolkas, and Cara Reynolds. Now, I’m proud to announce that all Kings products, from our cosmetics line, to our toiletries line and everything in between will be one hundred percent cruelty free. Kings will no longer test on animals, use animal products or have any impact on animal habitats.”
There was a buzz of comment throughout the room but Cara couldn’t take her eyes off Joe’s face as he locked his eyes with hers. “You’ll find a goody bag at the tables at the back of the room, all containing a press kit with further details, and obviously a few goodies. The information will also be emailed to you. Any questions can be directed to Cara Reynolds, Mex Industries Group, Head of Public Relations, in an hour.”
Her mother turned to her with a big grin and Cara felt her eyes grow wide. “What did he just say?”
“I think you got a promotion.”
“You knew about this?”
“Not the details. But the general gist. I was in charge of getting you through the door, the rest was up to him.”
Cara looked around but it wasn’t until the crowd parted near her that she realized that Joe was coming right up to her. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I was an ass.”
“Wait. Did you just apologize?”
“Yes.”
Cara shut her eyes then opened them again but Joe was still standing right in front of her. “I didn’t think you knew how to do that.”
He shrugged. “I’m no expert. Would you like it better if I said I was a fool?” Letting him take her hand, Cara’s heart beat so hard she wouldn’t have been surprised to see it fall out of her chest onto the floor. “Will you come with me for a moment?”
In a daze, she let him drag her into one of the downstairs offices before he continued. “I didn’t get to explain about the documents I planted. You were right. I was suspicious. You’d run out on me in New York and I had no reason not to think it was you. When you turned up on the payroll at King—”
“—You thought I was playing the same game.”
“Something like that. You’re right that I didn’t understand how family worked. But I’m starting to get the picture. My whole family are coming to visit. I’d like you to meet them.”
“Meet your family?”
“And your dogs, if they still need a place to stay.”
Cara’s head reeled. “And up there, changing the company? You did that for me?”
“Not for you, because of you,” he said and she suddenly realized he was still holding her hand. “You made me realize the value of compassion. Of standing up for what you believe in. I spent so much of my life fighting. Fighting my condition, fighting to hide it, fighting to run from what I thought my family were trying to drag me back into. But it took you to make me realize that sometimes what you need is right in front of you. If you need me to fight for you, I will. And if you don’t want the job, I’ll understand. But I want you in my life Cara Reynolds. I love you. I’m in love with you. I have been for the past five years.”
After its fast beat, Cara’s heart stopped a moment and she put a hand on her chest to check that it was okay. But when it started beating again, it was at a steady regular rhythm. Beating out the pattern of her love for the man in front of her. “I love you too.”
Neither of them moved, the bubble that she’d wanted suddenly wrapping around them like a velvet shroud.
“Say it again,” Joe said, his dark eyes sparkling.
“No,” the daze lifted and Cara straightened. “You say it again.”
His face split in a wide grin and that look was almost worth all the pain and heartbreak and emptiness of the past few days. It was the look she’d craved when she’d first met him, the one that made her feel whole.
“Cara Reynolds. Move in with me. Kick my ass when I get too uptight. But please, please, love me.”
The smile finally made it onto her lips and Cara realized the full extent of what was happening. “Yes,” she said and threw her arms around Joe’s neck. “Damn right I’m going to love you.”
“Good, because my mom is here next week and is busting to meet you.”
Cara laughed. “And I’m looking forward to knowing you better once I’ve met her and pumped her for family secrets.”
His head bent to hers and drew the kiss from her with no apology and no pause. “You can try,” he said, as they came up for air. “But you know it all now. What you see is what you get.”
“Well then I’m excited,” she said running her fingers down his chest and biting her lip at the hot hardness underneath. “Because what I see is great.”
His grin grew even broader. Sliding her jacket from her shoulders and unbuttoning the top of her pantsuit he nibbled his way down her neck to the soft swell of skin above her right breast. “We have an hour,” he growled. “We have a lot of getting to know each other better to do.”
Laughing she pulled his face up to hers. “We have longer than an hour. We have the entire future to get to know each other better.”
“True,” he said catching her wrists in his hand. “But that doesn’t mean we should wait to start.” Releasing her hands he scooped her up and within two strides had her pressed against the wall of the office.
“The foyer is full of journalists,” she hissed even as she relished the feeling of him hard and urgent pressed against her groin.
“Well we better give them something to talk about then,” he said, flashing her a dirty grin. “What was that hashtag you managed to get trending? #KingLove? Shall we see if we can get it going again?”
She laughed and hit him on the shoulder. But as she fell into his embrace she couldn’t help the explosion of love filling her heart almost to bursting. #Kinglove was right.
About Michele DeWinton
Michele loves sunshine, chardonnay, (preferably together), chocolate, beaches, trees, great vegetarian food, steamy writing and happy endings. She’s been known to be an all-round arty type, dancing and producing theatre around the globe so it's no wonder that her first romance had a little sparkle of the stage tucked into its pages.
Being a writer was not was she was supposed to be when she ‘grew up' but then neither was being a dancer. Her poor parents. They thought that when she toddled off to law school they'd bred a responsible, useful adult and instead they got a performer and word junkie. Sometimes her performing past jumps into the dress up box and requires attention. But most of the time she’s content to stay in her PJs. All day. She writes surrounded by the whisper of trees from her home in New Zealand and with only intermittent interruptions from her two young sons and husband. (Okay more like regular interruptions, but dreaming is free.)
You can check out her other work or get in touch at www.micheledewinton.com
Thanks so much for reading! Luck
Stuck the next book from the Big City Billionaires Series is coming September 2017. To find out about this, and other work ranging from Motorcycle Gangs to Dream Destination Romantic Comedy, follow Michele on Facebook or twitter or sign up to her newsletter for updates, giveaways and bonus reads.
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About the Author
Michele loves sunshine, chardonnay, (preferably together), chocolate, beaches, trees, great vegetarian food, steamy writing and happy endings. She’s been known to be an all-round arty type, dancing and producing theatre around the globe so it's no wonder that her first romance had a little sparkle of the stage tucked into its pages.
Being a writer was not was she was supposed to be when she ‘grew up' but then neither was being a dancer. Her poor parents. They thought that when she toddled off to law school they'd bred a responsible, useful adult and instead they got a performer and word junkie. Sometimes her performing past jumps into the dress up box and requires attention. But most of the time she’s content to stay in her PJs. All day. She writes surrounded by the whisper of trees from her home in New Zealand and with only intermittent interruptions from her two young sons and husband. (Okay more like regular interruptions, but dreaming is free.)
You can check out her other work or get in touch at www.micheledewinton.com
Thanks so much for reading! Luck Stuck the next book from the Big City Billionaires Series is coming September 2017. To find out about this, and other work ranging from Motorcycle Gangs to Dream Destination Romantic Comedy, follow Michele on Facebook or twitter or sign up to her newsletter for updates, giveaways and bonus reads.
Read more at Michele de Winton’s site.
Valentine's Vengeance Page 10
