Twice the Temptation. Rochelle Alers

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СКАЧАТЬ into a one-bedroom apartment at the Winston House. It had taken her a year to finalize her move from the City of Brotherly Love to the nation’s capital.

      The walk was what Denise needed to compose herself when she nodded to the doorman, who’d opened the door to the entrance to the Hay-Adams. “Thank you.”

      Touching the shiny brim of the hat, the man bowed as if she were royalty. “You’re welcome, miss.”

      She entered the opulent lobby of the building that had been originally designed in the 1920s as a residential hotel. However, Denise felt as if she’d walked into a private mansion on Lafayette Square that featured suites with views of Lafayette Park and the White House.

      Her eyes swept around the lobby, searching for a woman wearing a tan pantsuit with a white blouse. She checked her watch. It was six forty-five, fifteen minutes earlier than their appointed time. Walking over to a plush armchair, she sat down and waited for Camilla Henderson.

      Rhett Fennell’s hands tightened on the arms of the chair as he forced himself not to move. He’d come down to the lobby at 6:30 p.m. to wait for a glimpse of the woman with whom he’d waited six years to exact his revenge. The deep-seated anger that had gnawed at him day in and day out burned as hotly as it had the day Denise Eaton walked out of his life and into the arms of a man who’d gone from friend to enemy.

      His mother had pleaded with him to let it go—forget about the two people he’d trusted—but he couldn’t. It was the thirst for revenge that fueled the fire to propel him to get up every day to grow the business he would use to inflict Denise Eaton with the emotional pain he’d carried for longer than he wanted to remember, and bring Trey Chambers to his knees.

      At exactly seven o’clock, he stood and counted the steps it would take to bring him face-to-face with her. A wry smile tilted the corners of his mouth. It was half a dozen—the same number of years since the fateful day that would forever be branded into his memory.

      “Good evening, Ms. Eaton.”

      Denise froze, her breath catching in her throat and making it impossible for her to move. She heard the roaring in her head, fearful that she was going to faint when she registered the voice of the man she’d feared running into since moving to D.C. Rhett Fennell was the only man she knew who could shout without raising his voice.

      Her lips parted and she expelled a lungful of air and the roaring stopped. Her head came up as if pulled by an invisible string. Standing less than a foot away was Rhett Fennell, the man with whom she’d fallen in love, given her heart, virginity and a promise to share her life and future with him.

      He’d matured. His face was leaner, his black hair close-cropped and there was an intensity in the deep-set dark eyes that didn’t look at her but through her. Rising on shaking knees, Denise extended her hand.

      “It’s good seeing you again, Rhett.”

      Rhett reached for the proffered hand, holding it firmly within his large grasp before releasing it. His impassive expression did not change as he stared at the heart-shaped face with the wide-set dark brown eyes, delicate nose and temptingly curved mouth that conjured up memories of what he’d been reduced to after they’d finished making love. It was her mouth and what came out of it that had enthralled him before he’d turned to see her face for the first time.

      Denise had been blessed with the voice of a temptress. It was low, sultry and definitely had a triple-X rating. She was the only woman he’d known or met who’d been able to seduce him with hello. However, time had been more than kind to her. Although appearing slimmer than she had when they were in college together, nonetheless she was strikingly beautiful.

      He forced a smile that stopped before it reached his eyes. “And, it’s very nice seeing you again. How long has it been?”

      Denise’s eyes narrowed. She wanted to tell Garrett Fennell there was no reason to play mind games with her. He was brilliant. Everything he saw, heard or read he remembered, and it was his photographic memory that made him an outstanding student and astute businessman.

      And he looked every inch the successful businessman in a tailored charcoal-gray suit, pale blue shirt, purple silk tie and black wingtips. Garrett Mason Fennell was the epitome of sartorial splendor.

      She’d admitted to her cousin, Chandra Eaton-Tucker, that if she did run into Rhett again she would lose it. Well, she hadn’t—even though she was becoming more uncomfortable with each passing second. She’d also confessed to Chandra that she hadn’t gotten over her former lover and if she were completely honest with herself she would have to admit she would never get over him because she hadn’t wanted to.

      “Six years, Rhett.”

      Rhett angled his head. “Has it really been that long?”

      “Yes, it has,” Denise retorted sharply. Either he was feigning ignorance, or what they’d shared was just a blip in his memory. She glanced at her watch again. “I’d like to stay and reminisce with you, but I’m supposed to meet someone for dinner.”

      Rhett glanced around the lobby. “Is he here yet?”

      “It’s not a he, but a she.”

      “I hope you’re not waiting for Camilla Henderson.”

      Denise stared at Rhett as if he’d suddenly grown a third eye. “You know Camilla Henderson?”

      Rhett felt like a cat playing with a mouse he’d trapped and stunned, but was reluctant to kill. It was time he put an end to the charade and reveal his intent.

      “She works for me. Unfortunately, she had an unforeseen situation where she couldn’t be here, so you’re going to have to deal with me tonight.”

      “You’re involved with Capital Management Properties?”

      “I’ve just taken over as CEO of CMP.”

      “You…you’re responsible for the one hundred percent increase in rent on my child care center?”

      Rhett’s eyebrows lifted a fraction. “Aren’t you being premature?”

      “What the hell are you talking about?” Her voice had lowered as her temper escalated.

      “Didn’t you agree to meet with my chief financial officer to negotiate the terms of your center’s lease renewal?”

      “Yes, but—”

      “Let’s talk about it, Denise,” Rhett said, interrupting her. He cupped her elbow, steering her across the lobby. “I’ve reserved a table in The Lafayette.”

      Denise attempted to extricate her arm, but encountered resistance. She could not escape the fingers tightening like manacles. “You deceived me!”

      Rhett stopped abruptly, as she plowed into his side. He turned toward her. “Spoken like someone who’s quite familiar with the word.”

      “I didn’t deceive you, Rhett.”

      “Save your breath, Denise. You’re going to need it after you hear my business proposition.”

      “What kind of proposition?” Denise asked, unable to ignore the shudder swirling throughout her body. СКАЧАТЬ