With Love From Las Vegas. Cat Schield

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      Piece by piece, she consigned her wardrobe to the waste-basket beneath the desk. The act of emptying her suitcase was no less cathartic than quitting her job or wagering five thousand dollars on one spin of the roulette wheel. She’d become too complacent in her life. No wonder Tim had found somebody new.

      A firm knock sounded on the door that connected her room to the suite. Startled by the sudden noise, Missy answered it without considering her attire. Sebastian stood before her, holding her purse.

      “Are your father and Lucas Smythe gone?” she asked.

      “Were you hoping to offer them an encore?” His gaze burned hot enough to torch the towel she’d wrapped around her body.

      An encore? As if she’d planned for his father and business associate to catch her half-dressed. Whatever had transpired after she’d left had turned his mood from bad to foul.

      She glared at him. “Of course not. What is your dad doing in Las Vegas?”

      “He didn’t say.”

      “Did you ask?”

      Sebastian communicated more with one raised eyebrow than most men could with a ten-minute rant. “He claims he’s here to help with the leadership summit.”

      “But you don’t believe him?”

      “Let’s just say I wasn’t happy to see him in Lucas Smythe’s company.”

      Few employees at Case Consolidated Holdings would know the vast chasm that existed between Sebastian and his father when it came to business strategy. Brandon liked to take risks and chase profits, often losing huge amounts of money in the process. Sebastian and Max preferred to use more structured methods when it came to growing Case Consolidated Holdings. Acquiring Lucas Smythe’s company was a perfect example of where they differed.

      The two brothers liked the conservatively run company and the way the acquisition would help diversify their mix of product offerings. Brandon wanted to spend their investment capital on something that might offer more growth potential, and he had an ally in his youngest son, Nathan. Problem was, to get to the big gains, it was often necessary to risk big losses.

      “Do you think he wants to sabotage the deal with Smythe?”

      “He hasn’t had one good thing to say about the purchase. His showing up here means I have to keep an eye on him.”

      “What did you tell them about us?”

      “Us?” he echoed softly, the warning hiss of a cobra. “I didn’t tell them anything.”

      “Why not?”

      “It’s none of their business.”

      “But they’re bound to wonder. The contracts aren’t yet signed. What if Lucas decides not to sell you his company? You have to make some excuse why I was in your suite, wearing just your shirt.”

      “Like what?”

      “You could have told him I’d gotten something on my dress and needed to rinse it out.”

      “That might have worked if you didn’t look like a woman who’s been thoroughly made love to.”

      She tingled all over, reacting not to his sarcastic tone, but to his choice of words. And his sizzling gaze. Her argument went numb.

      “And the fact that we’re sharing the suite.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Why are we sharing the suite, by the way?”

      “We’re not sharing the suite. My room adjoins yours. The door between us has a lock.” That last bit sounded somewhat foolish. As if she didn’t trust him. As if he couldn’t persuade her to let him in. “You could have told them that I got drunk and quit. That I came on to you because I’ve had a thing for you for years.”

      His gaze rested heavily on her, weakening her knees.

      “No.”

      “Don’t be a …” She bit her lip before the rest of that sentence came out. Had she almost called the imposing Sebastian Case a fool? “What about the deal? Are you still going forward with the purchase of his company?”

      “I don’t know.”

      Her breath caught. She scrutinized Sebastian’s impassive features, searching for anger, frustration, disappointment, but she saw nothing.

      “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

      “Just that.” His lashes lowered, giving him a sleepy look until you noticed the intensity of his watchful gray eyes.

      “Yesterday, he was ready to sign the contract once one or two points were ironed out.”

      “Some things have come up since then.”

      “Like him thinking you make a habit out of seducing your employees?” Missy couldn’t believe how angry she was at the moment. Angry with herself for lingering in Sebastian’s suite because of some silly romantic hope that maybe last night had been the start of something. Angry with his father for showing up this morning with Lucas Smythe. But most of all, angry with Sebastian for his stubborn refusal to make explanations. “You need to tell him the truth. And if you don’t, I will.”

      His fingers wrapped around her upper arms and bit deep. “Stay out of it.”

      Eyes blazing, he pulled her onto her toes and bent down until inches separated his mouth from hers. Memories of their night together swamped her. Her fingers loosened their grip on the towel, ready to discard it if he showed the slightest hint of wanting to pick up where they’d left off in the wee hours of the morning.

      He must have read her thoughts because he lowered his head still farther. Missy closed her eyes in anticipation of his kiss. When it didn’t come, she blinked in surprise. Sebastian had his own eyes closed. Tension pulled at his features, drawing his mouth into a grim line.

      His chest lifted as he sucked in air. A second later she was free. Her heels hit the floor with a jarring thud that loosened her grip on the towel. It slipped off one breast before she caught it.

      Snarling a curse through clenched teeth, Sebastian shifted his gaze to the pile of clothes spilling out of the trash. When his attention resettled on her, the only emotion he let her see was cool curiosity.

      He used his chin to gesture toward her former wardrobe. “What’s going on with you?”

      “Nothing.”

      “You’ve thrown away your clothes.”

      “I don’t need them anymore.”

      Iron-gray eyes swept down her body once again. “Planning on spending the entire week naked?”

      “No.”

      He’d buried his mood beneath a neutral tone and an impassive expression, but her stomach muscles tightened. Getting caught half-dressed in Sebastian’s suite meant their encounter was no longer a complete secret. Were they to be boss and assistant or secret lovers? СКАЧАТЬ