Breaking Free (8 page)

“Oh yes, the offer was very generous.” She gripped her phone tighter. “I’m a little embarrassed to ask this, but did you happen to overhear my conversation?”

“Bits and pieces.” I wanted her to open up to me, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

She blushed. “I’m sorry. Normally I’m completely focused when I’m at work, but I got into it with my fiancé before I flew out, and well…” She pressed her ear piece closer to her ear. “Sorry, there’s an issue in the kitchen. I just need to make sure my assistant has it under control.”

I didn’t care if they’d set the damn kitchen on fire. I wanted to hear more about her argument with her fiancé. “You said you and your fiancé argued before you left town? I hope he wasn’t upset about you taking this job.” Actually, I’d be thrilled to learn I’d caused a rift between them, but she didn’t need to know that.

“Oh no, nothing like that,” she said quickly. “It was nothing. He’s just being silly.”

I could tell she wanted to talk, but she was uncomfortable opening up to a stranger about her personal problems. “Why don’t we grab a table? Let me get you a drink.”

“Thank for you for the offer, but I couldn’t. I’m on duty until the last person leaves.”

“And if I’m the last person to leave, will you have a drink with me then?”

She laughed, obviously taken aback. She had to know I was flirting with her. Subtlety wasn’t my strong suit. Never had been. Especially with her.

“I really shouldn’t.”

I smiled and appreciated that she seemed a little breathless when I did so. “Of course you should. I’m footing the bill for this event, after all. I like what I see. I’d like to discuss the possibility of working with your company again in the future.”

“You would?” She seemed shocked. “Oh, well, okay. I mean, that’s great. Sure, let’s have that drink now.” She pointed at her earpiece. “But if there are any emergencies, I’m afraid I’ll have to bail on you.”

“I understand.” I led her to a table near the kitchen, away from the crowd and where I assumed she would have easy access to her crew. I wanted her to feel comfortable. It was the first step in gaining her trust and building an easy rapport.

“Why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll see about getting us that drink?” I could have snapped my fingers and had waiters hovering, but I needed a few minutes to catch my breath. I wasn’t expecting to have such a strong visceral connection to her after so many years, and it threw me. I needed to get my head back in the game, to remind myself of the ultimate goal.

“Um, Blaise,” she said, reaching for my arm. “God, I’m sorry, Mr. Walsh.”

“Blaise is fine,” I said, smiling at her. “What can I get you to drink?”

“That’s what I was going to say. I don’t drink on the job. Just water would be great.”

“Coming right up.” I knew I could have convinced her to have a drink with me, and later I would, but I had to go slowly.

She was obviously on edge, and the last thing she needed was me putting pressure on her. If I had my way, I’d be relieving her stress tonight, not adding to it. I had a room upstairs, and I intended to make very good use of it… with Miss Lancaster.

I got water for her and a scotch for me and made my way back to the table. “Here you go.” I set the drink in front of her.

“Thank you.” She took a long drink before setting it down. “I’m a little parched. I’ve been running around all day. I haven’t even had time to eat.”

I frowned. “We’ll have to rectify that.” I beckoned to a waiter.

“Oh no,” she said, reaching for my arm. “It’s fine, really. I only have a few minutes now. I’ll grab a salad later, when the party wraps up.”

“That’ll be hours from now. You need to eat.” When the waiter appeared, I whispered in his ear, asking him to bring her a generous plate from the antipasto table. Once we were alone, I released the button on my tux and sat beside her.

“Are you always so… determined?”

I raised an eyebrow at her description of me. She had no idea how determined I was, but she was about to find out. “Tell me what your boyfriend did to upset you.”

Shifting uncomfortably, she said, “He’s my fiancé.”

“Right, your fiancé.” I brought the scotch to my lips, waiting for her to continue. When she didn’t, I prompted her. “It looks like you could use someone to talk to. I know what that’s like.” I didn’t really. If I shared the truth with anyone, I’d be back in that jail cell before I knew what hit me.

“He’s just been putting a lot of pressure on me.” She sighed. “He wants me to set a wedding date, but I can’t. I have a full schedule, and I haven’t been able to find the time.”

I smirked. This was going to be easier than I’d thought. “You haven’t been able to find a single day in your calendar to marry the man of your dreams? Perhaps there’s a reason for that.”

“It’s all the preparation that goes into planning a wedding,” she said defensively. “Why do you think brides hire people like me to tend to the details?”

“Couldn’t you hire a wedding planner?” I asked, draining my glass.

“A wedding planner hiring a wedding planner?” She stared at me as though I’d sprouted a third head. “Don’t be ridiculous. I have to tend to the details of my wedding myself. It’s what I do. It’s my passion.”

“You’re a romantic, Maura.” It had been years since I’d felt her name on my lips. I still loved the way it sounded, but I couldn’t afford to get distracted by pointless sentimentality. Maura was simply a means to an end. “You must have been planning your wedding in your mind for years.”

The waiter rushed over with the plate and two forks. I tapped the edge of my glass, indicating I’d like another drink.

“Right away, sir,” he said, scooping up the empty glass.

Maura watched the young man race to the bar. “It must be nice to have people at your beck and call all the time. I guess that’s one of the many advantages of extreme wealth?”

When I’d been dating Maura, I thought her parents were extremely wealthy. Now I would describe them as comfortable. Amazing the difference fourteen years and a couple billion dollars made. I leaned back, setting one hand on the table. “I guess. But money doesn’t mean all that much to me.”

She smiled when she caught sight of my diamond Rolex and four-carat diamond ring. “Is that so?”

My lips twitched. She was teasing me. Most people cow-towed to me, afraid to challenge me, and I liked that she wasn’t one of those people. Damn it. I couldn’t afford to like her. “I’m not saying I don’t appreciate the finer things. Obviously I do. But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t live without them.”

She tried, unsuccessfully, to keep a straight face as she said, “Nice Bugatti, by the way. You were pulling into the parking lot when the florists arrived with the table centerpieces.”

“Maybe I’ll take you for a spin later.”

“I don’t think so, but thanks for the offer.”

“Because you don’t think your boyfriend would approve?” I purposefully refrained from using the word fiancé. I didn’t like it. It sounded more permanent than boyfriend, and whether the pretty boy realized it or not, he was just a temporary fixture in Maura’s life.

“Because I’ve seen you with a glass in your hand all night.”

I grinned, watching her pupils dilate as they fixed on my mouth. She was attracted to me. It was time to lay my cards on the table. “You’re right. Let’s save that spin until tomorrow. Tonight I have a room upstairs, which means I can drink as much as I want. So can you.”

Her breath escaped her lips in a slight gasp. “Are you propositioning me?”

“You’re a stunning woman. I’m willing to bet everything I own you haven’t been with a
real
man in a long time.”

She leaned back, putting some distance between us. “You’re so used to getting what you want, aren’t you? You think I’ll fall into bed with you just because you’re wealthy and handsome and powerful—”

“You think I’m handsome?” I picked up one of the forks before spearing a square of cheese. I hadn’t expected her to make this easy for me. In fact, I would have been disappointed if she had. There was nothing I liked more than a challenge, and nothing I wanted more than Maura Lancaster back in my bed. “Come here.”

She moved in hesitantly, opening her mouth as I brought the cheese to her lips. Her eyes locked with mine as she chewed slowly.

“Your drink, sir,” the waiter said, setting it beside me.

I wanted to mutter a curse instead of a thank you. He must have sensed my annoyance because he rushed off to tend to another table without awaiting my response.

“You didn’t answer my question,” I said, watching her stack a slice of prosciutto on a cracker. “Do you think I’m handsome?”

She chewed carefully as she looked me over from head to toe. She touched the corners of her mouth with a linen napkin before she spoke. “Too handsome.”

That’s my Maura. Sassy, sexy, and brutally honest. She was right, of course. The cosmetic surgeon had gone over the top. I’d told him I wanted my face to look different, but I’d never said I was going for perfection. I was almost tempted to step into the ring with one of my fighters because I thought a broken nose may make my face a little more… real.

“Is there such a thing as too rich or too handsome?” I asked, breaking off a piece of bread and popping it into her mouth.

She covered her mouth with one hand as she pulled her perfectly arched brows together. I was glad she hadn’t opted for Botox. She was perfect exactly as she was.

I cursed myself for letting my thoughts wander into forbidden territory. She was the woman who put me behind bars. My old lover, the woman who’d stolen my heart, and slipped off my radar the day I heard the verdict passed down. At least I thought she had. Seeing her again, being so close to her, was blurring the lines. I couldn’t afford a mistake at this stage of the game.

“Why do you keep feeding me?” she asked when she finished chewing.

I knew there wouldn’t be many opportunities for honesty in our relationship, so I took advantage of that one. “I like taking care of you.”

She seemed caught off guard. “I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”

“But you like knowing that your man can take care of you.” It wasn’t a question.

Her current lover was a prosecutor, which made me hate him all the more. He was also half my size and had a whiny voice that grated on my nerves. Yeah, I’d cyber-stalked him. I had to know everything I could about my competition.

“My man can take care of me,” she said, squaring her shoulders.

I laughed, drawing the attention of a few guests at surrounding tables. Once they realized it was me, they quickly looked away. “I’ve seen him. I’m pretty sure you could take him.”

“You’ve seen him?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. “How do you know Jeff? He didn’t mention that to me.”

“I said I’ve seen him, not that I know him.” I knew I had to confess that I’d offered her the contract because I was attracted to her. She’d either be flattered or offended. The latter would make my
job
more challenging. Not that I wasn’t up for a challenge.

“When did you see him?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest.

It drew my attention to her incredible tits, and I wasn’t above letting her know I appreciated her... assets.

“Stay focused,” she said, pointing toward her eyes. “I asked you a question. When did you see Jeff?”

“Just online.” I shrugged. “When we decided to hire you for this event, I Googled you to make sure you were qualified to handle it.”

“Oh.”

I guessed she bought my explanation because she didn’t challenge me further. Still, I added, “When I saw your picture on your company’s website, I was even more intrigued.”

She blushed, dipping her head. “You were?”

“How could I not be? You’re gorgeous.” I tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, grazing her cheek as I did so. Her skin was as soft as I remembered, and that knowledge made me hungry for more. I told myself to take it slow, to execute my plan carefully, but it wasn’t easy. She was even more tempting than I remembered. I wanted to take her up to my room and remind her how incredible we had been together.

“Thank you.” She gripped my wrist, presumably to pull my hand away, but when her hand seared mine and we both felt the connection, she couldn’t tear herself away any more than I could. “I’m engaged, Blaise.”

“So you’ve said.” My eyes were on her lips as I licked mine.

She swallowed, obviously trying to tear her eyes from my face. “I can’t… we can’t…” She shook her head furiously, finally dropping her hand. “This doesn’t make any sense. I love Jeff. I shouldn’t be attracted to you.”

“You shouldn’t be, but you are.” In so many ways, she was still the sweet girl I remembered, the one who’d turned my world upside down. But I had to remind myself she was also the same woman who told a courtroom full of people she believed I’d committed unspeakable acts. She could have saved me, but she chose not to. It was only fair she got a taste of the poison she’d pumped into my veins. “It’s okay to admit it.”

“No, it’s not.” She pressed the earpiece closer. “I’m sorry, I have to go.”

“You haven’t finished eating.” She stood, ignoring me, but I reached for her wrist and said, “We haven’t finished this conversation. Later, Maura. That’s a promise.”

I watched Maura move through the crowd, speaking to her staff and directing the events, but all the while, she kept stealing glances at me. I knew that because I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

“She’s a seriously hot piece of ass, isn’t she, boss?”

That came from one of my best fighters. He was a reigning champion with an ego and bank account to back up his title, but I was the one who’d made him rich. Putting him in his place was sport for me, mainly because he reminded me of the guy I used to be: arrogant, cocky, and opinionated. I was still all of those things, but I’d earned the right to be. Our organization was the best because my approach made our fighters hungry. I made them winners because I made it known from the start I didn’t back losers.

“Watch your mouth, Brooks.”

“Hey, hey,” he said, raising his glass. “I didn’t know you were banging her. I’ll back off.”