Business Pleasures (Pleasures of the Heart) (2 page)

Aimee dropped her shoulders. Her sister was right. Every day of their marriage Roger repeatedly reminded her that no one could love her like he did. When she tried to look sexy for him, he’d accuse her of sleeping around. Then proceed to tear down what little self-esteem she managed to cobble together.

Grace wrapped an arm around her and squeezed. “You’re better than you give yourself credit for. It’s okay to feel good, build your confidence, and be the beautiful person you are inside and out. You’re free to be yourself and be desired.”

A lump formed in Aimee’s throat. It’d been a little more than five years since Roger’s incarceration. Besides, he would be in prison for a long time for trying to kill her. He couldn’t touch her, couldn’t make her feel inadequate anymore.

Straightening her spine and gathering courage, Aimee stood and took the black silky dress from her sister and proceeded to put it on. The soft fabric slid over her skin like a lover’s caress. When Grace rushed over and zipped up the dress, it felt like it was made for her.

Grace let out a sigh, then a fake sniff. “My baby sister looks so pretty.”

Aimee rolled her eyes and stepped in front of the full length mirror, then gasped. Not pretty, the reflection in the glass could only be described as gorgeous. The dress appeared tailored to her figure, showing off her modest curves and her more-than-a-handful breasts. “I can’t wear this to dinner.”

“Why not?”

The woman in the mirror wasn’t her. She appeared confident and whole—alive and ready to take on the world. Something Aimee wasn’t sure she was ready for. She turned to face her sister. “It’s a business meeting.”

Grace pursed her lips, placed her hands on Aimee’s shoulders, and whirled her around to face the mirror. Grace hugged Aimee from behind and rested her chin on her shoulder. “This isn’t just a business meeting. You know as well as I do, the Camptons are personal friends of Kenton and the whole firm. Plus, I’ve seen the way your boss looks at you.”

A spark of hope mixed with a tinge of fear settled in her belly, intensifying the already ill feeling this business-date had caused. “He doesn’t look at me.”

“Not when you notice. Believe me, he looks. I’ve caught him a couple times when I picked you up for our weekly lunches.”

Aimee shook her head, not wanting to hear it. She wasn’t sure she could date, especially her boss. She’d been in a relationship. Spent five years trapped in a loveless, abusive marriage. She would never allow another man control her like Roger had, even if it meant spending the rest of her life alone. “I can’t. I don’t know why I said yes to begin with.”

Grace frowned. “You said yes because it’s time to move on. Do you trust Kenton?”

Aimee instantly said, “Yes.” And she meant it. Kenton was the first man, besides her father, that she felt comfortable with. Plus, she’d seen him with Julie many times. He’d opened doors for her and always stopped to take her call. He never spoke one ill thing toward her—not to her face or behind her back.

All the little things that mattered and Aimee craved.

Grace stepped away and Aimee watched her through the mirror as she dug through the pile of clothes on the bed. She retrieved a cranberry-colored lace wrap from the middle of the pile and came back over. Wrapping it around Aimee’s shoulders, Grace smiled wide. “I have a cute pair of heels to match that shawl.”

Grace darted out of the room, most likely to get the shoes from her closet across the hall. Aimee sighed and peered back into the mirror. The wrap completed the outfit perfectly. She looked amazing, yet she was scared to death.

Her sister entered the room, holding up the shoes, just as the doorbell rang. Aimee’s heart hammered against her ribcage and her stomach flipped as if preparing for an Olympic event. “Crap. He’s early. I’m going to be sick.”

Grace cupped her face and forced their gazes to meet. “Breathe. You’ve worked with this man every day for the last five years. It’s just Kenton.”

Aimee took deep breaths and nodded. “Okay. I’m good. I think.”

Grace dropped the shoes to the floor and released her face. “Come on. You mustn’t keep the sexy lawyer waiting.”

“You are so not helping.” Aimee slid into the heels.

Her sister laughed as she led the way to the living room and answered the door. Aimee’s heart stopped for a brief moment. She’d seen Kenton in suits before and seen him in just his white dress shirts and black slacks many times. But she’d never seen him outside the office. Not like this anyway.

He wore a pair of black jeans and a royal blue button down with the top two buttons undone. His short black hair appeared like he’d ran his fingers through it. Her own fingers itched to do the same. She lowered her gaze to his lips and wondered if they were soft and gentle, or hard and demanding…

Grace rested her head on Aimee’s shoulder, making her jump. “Are you two going to stare at each other all night? The A/C is running, you know.”

Kenton smiled and Aimee’s legs wobbled.
Damn
. Why hadn’t she noticed how hot her boss looked? Okay, so she answered her own question. He was her boss. Plus she didn’t want to date. Ever.

He lifted her hand and brought her fingers to his lips. “You look beautiful.”

Her cheeks heated and she averted her gaze. “Thank you.” Tugging her hand free, she stepped aside to allow him to come in. “I’m almost ready. All I need to do is put up my hair.”

“Please don’t,” he said and gently gripped her elbow.

She met his gaze. “What?”

“Leave your hair down. Please.”

She glanced to Grace, who instantly looked down at her watch. “Wow, look at the time. I have to go pick up the kids from their father’s. Remember we’re going to Disneyland for the week, so you’ll have the house to yourself.”

Aimee wanted to kick her. “Grace,” she warned through her teeth.

Kenton chuckled. “Have a wonderful time with the kids, Grace.”

Grace snatched up her purse and kissed Aimee on the cheek. “Have fun.”

After her sister left, closing Aimee inside the house with Kenton, silence filled the room. Her hands began to clam up and shake.
He’s your boss, you see him every day, and you’ve worked with him for the last five years. Grow up!

She turned to grab her hand bag, but froze in place when he gripped her elbow. Lifting her gaze to his, she swallowed, unable to tamp down the slight fear racing through her.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

She blinked and realized she did have a choice. Her internal debate ended as she realized one very important fact—she
chose
to go to dinner with him. “Yes. I’m just nervous, is all.”

He slid his hand down her arm to link their fingers, then picked up her purse and handed it to her. “Come on, before I lose my nerve.”

Aimee laughed softly, feeling the tension loosen a bit. She would do this. She needed to, both for herself and because she liked Kenton. Roger couldn’t hurt her from behind bars, where he would be for the next fifteen years. It was time she stopped looking over her shoulder and started to live her life.

Chapter Three

Kenton tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he pulled into the parking lot of Frankie’s, a small beachside club and restaurant. The modest-sized, red brick building used to be a night club until Frances Powers bought it ten years ago and turned it into an upscale restaurant and comedy club. During the drive, he’d fought the temptation to reach over and touch Aimee. If that happened, they wouldn’t make it to their destination.

When he’d first saw her in the short black dress with the red lace wrap, he couldn’t find words. The way her long black hair hung loose around her shoulders begged him to run his fingers through the silky strands.

Pulling into a parking space, he put his Lexus in park and turned off the engine. Damn it, he felt like he was in high school again.

He stepped out of the car and rushed around to the passenger side to open her door before Aimee could. He held out his hand and smiled when she took it and allowed him to tug her to a stand. “There’s one thing I have to do before we go inside.”

She tilted her head slightly and narrowed her gaze. “What’s that?”

He lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. She stiffened for a moment, but when he brushed his tongue against the seam of her lips, she relaxed and opened for him. Their tongues tangled in an erotic dance as their mouths moved against each other. Aimee melted against him and he wanted to take her straight to his place so he could have her all to himself. The selfish side of him didn’t want to share her with his friends tonight.

Breaking the kiss, he stared into her green gaze and smiled. “That was hotter than I expected.”

She laughed. “You have away with words, Mr. Romantic.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Sorry…”

She pressed a finger to his lips, stopping him from swallowing his whole foot since he’d already stuck it in his mouth. “Shush. That’s what I admire must about you. You’re honest and don’t sugarcoat things. We should go inside. The Camptons are probably here already.”

He kissed her forehead and stepped back. “You’re right, as always.”

Taking her hand, he led her into the Frankie’s. The savory scents of grilled onions, roasted garlic, and fresh baked breads hit him in a mouthwatering wave. He spotted Alan and Regina cuddled together in a corner booth and nudged Aimee. “There they are.”

She smiled. “They are a beautiful couple.”

He couldn’t agree more. “And they’ve been the best of friends since the first grade.”

She jerked her gaze to his, her green eyes sparkling with interest. “Really? That’s amazing.”

Just as quickly, her features darkened like storm clouds covering the sun. He pushed it aside for now because he had plenty of time to learn all he could about her. Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, he directed her to the table.

Alan stood, gripped Kenton’s hand and tugged him into a one arm hug. Pulling back, Alan nodded to Aimee as a one-sided smile formed. “You look beautiful tonight, Aimee.”

Aimee blushed and averted her gaze to Regina, who stretched her hand around Alan to offer it to her. “My husband is being modest, dear. You look gorgeous.”

“Thank you.” Aimee took Regina’s hand and relaxed a little more.

Alan and Regina had that effect on people. They radiated some kind of positive warmth, making it hard not to love them.

Pulling out a chair, Kenton motioned for Aimee to sit. She smiled shyly and sat. After pushing in her seat, he met Alan’s stare and shook his head.
And here it comes…

“Where’s Julie?” Alan leaned back in his seat and draped an arm over the back of Regina’s chair.

His wife swatted at his chest. “Alan. Don’t be rude.”

Kenton laughed as Regina studied him as if she too wanted to know the answer. “Julie left this morning.”

Regina sighed and covered Aimee’s hand. “It was coming. Alan and I saw it after the first week, but then again we all were, and still are, friends. Although she hasn’t bothered to call me in a week. Anyway, I’ve always liked Aimee. She’s good for you.”

Eyes growing round, Aimee shook her head. “Kenton and I aren’t…”

“Maybe not now, but there could be something.”

Alan hugged his wife to him. “Now, leave her alone, Gina.”

A nervous laugh escaped from Aimee’s lips. Instantly, Kenton took her chilled hand under the table. Closing her fingers around his, she gave a little squeeze and relaxed her shoulders. “Kenton says you two have known each other since the first grade.”

Beaming, Regina straightened in her seat. “Yes. We’d had our rough times, but our love has only grown over time. Have you ever been married?”

Aimee averted her gaze as she answered. “Yes. We were high school sweethearts. Even married the day after graduation. Although the honeymoon ended a few weeks later.”

A chill went up Kenton’s spine at the flat tone of her words. Although the couple they were with seemed to intuitively pick up as much as he did from her statement and changed the topic, Kenton found it a bit harder to let her words go in his thoughts. When had she been married? To what sort of man and how had the relationship ended? Why hadn’t she ever mentioned a husband in the past—trying to forget a past mistake or to hide something? The mystery of it all rumbled around in his mind as he raised his glass at Alan’s next comment. “To new business and new relationships.”

Kenton could drink to that, even as he processed the new fragment of Aimee’s history.

****

“Dinner was great.” Aimee walked shoulder to shoulder with Kenton, one hand linked with his, the other carrying her heels.

Raising their hands and kissing her fingers, he smiled. “I’m glad you had a good time.”

Warmth traveled up from her hand to her arm and continued through her whole body. Or maybe the wine from dinner made her sense things that otherwise made her want to run away. Going with the wine thing and her comfortably numb state, she leaned into him and inhaled. The rich, yet soft spicy scent of his cologne filled her head and did things to lower regions, making her long for something she hadn’t in a very long time.

Again, it must be the wine.

“I think I would like to go on that second date.”

He stopped walking and turned to her. He studied her with his solemn brown eyes, delight seeming to warm the depths of his gaze. “I thought this wasn’t a date.”

She laughed. “I changed my mind.”

A moment later his mouth claimed hers, his tongue pushing inside, searching for hers. She groaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. Need like she’d never felt before flooded her senses and her panties dampened. In that moment, she’d let Kenton do whatever he wanted with her. What would it be like to totally submit to him?

Invisible, icy fingers crept up her spine, making her break the kiss and scan the beach around them. Unsure what spooked her, she stepped out of Kenton’s embrace.

“What’s wrong?” Kenton caressed her cheek, drawing her attention back to him.

“I don’t know. Can we go somewhere else? Somewhere more private?”