A Clandestine Corporate Affair. Michelle Celmer

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ Oil. But there was more to it than that.

      “I think that’s a good idea,” he said.

      “We’ll have to be really careful. These things have a way of blowing up, and that could be devastating for Max.”

      “He’s a baby. It’s not as if he can pick up a newspaper.”

      “Not yet. But someday he will. If you decide, for whatever reason, that you can’t be a part of his life, I don’t want him to know about you. If your identity gets out now, you can bet he’ll hear about it eventually. Besides, my father adores Max, but if he were to learn that you’re the father, he would know that our affair was just another way of defying him. He would disown me and Max on principle.”

      “Still trying to win his affection?”

      “I don’t give a damn what he thinks about me, but Max has a future at Birch Energy, if he should so decide that’s what he wants to do. Right now it’s his legacy. It doesn’t seem fair to deny him that for my own selfish reasons.”

      “Yet if I decide to be a part of his life you risk that very thing.”

      “Because knowing his real father is too important. He needs a male influence in his life, and as it stands, my father is the best I can do. And who knows, maybe Max isn’t destined to fail him. With me, he never seemed to get over the fact that I wasn’t the son he’d always wanted.”

      “So, is that really all I was to you?” he asked. “Just another way to defy your father?”

      At first. Until he wasn’t anymore. Until she fell stupidly and hopelessly in love with him. But that would have to remain her little secret. Her pride depended on it. “Does that come as such a shock?”

      “Not really, considering we both know it isn’t true.”

      And what about him? Did he get off on making women fall for him, then breaking their hearts? Was it all just a game to him? And how was she supposed to react to his accusation? If she denied it, she would look as though she were hiding something. If she admitted the truth … well, that wasn’t even an option.

      She refused to give him the satisfaction of any response.

      “So, what days would be best for you to see Max?” she asked him. “His bedtime is eight, so if you want to do weeknights it will have to be before that. Sunday afternoons would work too.”

      “Weekdays will be tough. I’ve been swamped at work. I’m lucky if I can get out by nine most nights.”

      “No one said it was going to be easy. You have to make priorities.”

      His look said he was poised to jump to the defensive, but instead he took a deep breath and said, “If I go into the office early tomorrow, I could be out of there by six-thirty. That would get me here a little before seven.”

      “That’s a start,” she said.

      “Tomorrow it is then.”

      A long, uncomfortable silence followed, where neither seemed to know what to say next. Or maybe they had said all there was to say.

      “Well, I guess since that’s settled …” He rose from the couch.

      “It’s been a long day, and I don’t know about you, but I could go for a glass of wine.” She knew the second the words left her mouth it was a bad idea, but she just wasn’t ready for him to leave.

      You can’t force him to love you, she reminded herself. And she wouldn’t want to. She wanted someone without the relationship hang-ups, who loved her unconditionally. If that kind of man even existed.

      Nathan studied her, one brow slightly raised. “Are you asking me to stay?”

      Yeah, bad idea. “You know what, forget it. I don’t think—”

      “Red or white?”

      His question stopped her. “Huh?”

      “The wine. Do you have red or white?” The hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “Because I’m partial to red.”

      She shouldn’t be doing this. She was still vulnerable. She was only setting herself up to be hurt. For all she knew he could be involved with someone else now. Maybe that was part of the reason for the trial period.

      Character flaws, she reminded herself. She couldn’t find them if she didn’t spend at least a little time with the man.

      Just this once, and after this, she would see him only if Max was there.

      “Then you’re in luck,” she told him. “Because I have both.”

      Four

      “If you’re sure it’s no trouble,” Nathan said, a part of him hoping she would say it was.

      “No trouble.”

      She walked to the kitchen and he sat back down. He wasn’t sure what the hell he thought he was doing. He came here to discuss his son, and now that they had, he had no reason to stay. The problem was, he didn’t want to leave.

      Maybe it was time to admit what deep down he had known all along. He still had unresolved feelings regarding his relationship with Ana. Despite what she probably believed, ending it hadn’t been easy for him, either. Ana was the only woman who had ever made him feel like a whole person. Like he didn’t have to hide. Almost … normal. But he knew that eventually his demons would get the best of him—they always did—and she would see the kind of man that he really was. Knowing Ana, and the kind of woman she was, she would want to try to fix him. Well, it wouldn’t work. He wasn’t fixable. And the less time he spent with her, the better. Especially in situations where Max wasn’t there to act as a buffer. So why wasn’t he stopping her as she walked to the kitchen and pulled two wineglasses down from the cupboard? Why didn’t he get up, grab his coat and get the hell out?

      Damned if he knew. Although he was sure good old-fashioned stupidity played a major part.

      “So,” she said from the kitchen. “You said you’re up for the CEO position?”

      He turned to face her. She was standing at the counter opening a bottle of red wine. “It’s between me, the CFO Emilio Suarez and my brother Jordan.”

      “Your brother, huh? That must be dicey.” The cork popped free and she poured the wine. “If I recall correctly, your relationship has always been … complicated.”

      “Is that the polite way of saying he’s an arrogant jerk?”

      “I actually met him at a fundraiser last year,” Ana said, carrying the two glasses into the room.

      “Did he hit on you?”

      “Why? Are you jealous?” She handed him one, their fingertips touching as he took it from her. It was an innocent, meaningless brush of skin, but boy, did he feel it. Way more than he should have. If she noticed or felt it, too, she wasn’t letting on. She sat back down in the chair, curling her legs beneath her, looking young and hip and sexy as hell. And yes, maybe СКАЧАТЬ