Cursed Kiss (Paranormal Romance) (26 page)

"No, sorry. I did ask but he wouldn't give anything away."

The only matter he was currently handling was the sale of Edward's shares. Luckily, Monique's will had been quite specific; if Edward resigned his position at Moray, his shares reverted to Clare. David had advised her it would be prudent to sell some of the shares and spread her investments. She'd instructed him to use his contacts to discreetly put out the word and look for a buyer. Maybe he'd found one.

Clare glanced at her watch. "I should make it. Can you let him know I might be a few minutes late." She put her briefcase inside her office and strode down the corridor.

"Hold up," Susan shouted as Clare reached the elevator. The woman picked up a narrow white box, ran down the corridor, and handed it to her as the bell dinged and the doors slid open. "Looks like flowers. You must have a secret admirer."

Clare grabbed the box and checked her watch as she traveled down in the elevator. She hurried across the reception area and hailed a taxi outside the building.

Once she was on her way, she turned the shiny box over in her hands, only mildly curious. She didn't have the time or inclination to get excited about a secret admirer. She unfastened the white ribbon and eased off the lid. Five roses lay nestled among pleats of heavy white silk, beaded with freshwater pearls. Very mysterious. She couldn't think of anyone who'd send her flowers, unless…

The sun slanted down between gaps in the skyscrapers and gave the red petals a rich velvet gloss. Something inside her flexed and woke. Something she'd nearly given up on.
Hope
. Her mind flashed to Luka. Heart beating a hollow tattoo in her chest, she searched through the silk for a card. Nothing.

Why would he suddenly send her flowers now? And if he had, there'd be a note. She released her breath slowly and stared out at the traffic as they drove along Fifth Avenue.

The taxi double-parked beside a limousine outside the Palace. She wedged the flower box beneath her arm as she climbed out, paid the driver, and strode into the hotel.

David Goldberg was seated in the baroque splendor of the lobby on a gold velvet chair, which didn't look sturdy enough to support his weight. "Clare." He sprang up and offered his hand. "Sorry for the short notice. These guys flew in this morning and want to make a deal on your Moray shares. It was too good to pass up."

"Fine." She looked around and tapped her fingernails on the flower box, eager to get this over with. "Where are they?"

"They want us to go up to their suite." He put his hand on her back and guided her towards the elevator. "Some of these Europeans are real whackos. But they're loaded whackos. So I advise you to go for it." He patted his briefcase. "I've got their offer here and it's as good as you'll get."

A small tremor of anticipation started in Clare's stomach. Two Europeans. Was it possible? They stepped into the elevator and the doors hissed closed. She gazed at herself in the mirrored wall and checked her hair and makeup just in case. "What country in Europe, David?"

He shrugged. "Europe's a crap shoot. Can't remember." He straightened his glasses. "The guy with the money is some kind of big shot businessman. They both speak English and they've got a top New York attorney. They're definitely legit. Anyway, you'll still have the majority shareholding."

Clare's heart beat so fast she couldn't draw breath. As she stepped out of the elevator, she felt light-headed. "Which way?" she asked and had to clear the husky burr from her voice.

David pulled a note from his pocket and his chunky fingers fumbled to unfold it. He pointed along the corridor. "Near the end, I think."

Clare stroked her fingertips over the silky ribbon on the flower box as she paced along the thick carpet. If Luka was here, the roses must be from him. But why the secrecy?

They arrived at the door, and as she raised her hand to knock it opened. A room service waiter pushed a trolley out, and Clare caught the door behind him. She splayed her fingers against the white wood and took a moment to compose herself.

Luka and Pablo stood in profile against the window, framed between blue and gold drapes and silhouetted against the sea of green treetops in Central Park. Clare quivered like a newborn lamb, unable to move. The afternoon sun picked up the chestnut highlights in Luka's hair and gilded each glossy black strand of Pablo's. Pablo had his arm around Luka's shoulders, their heads bent close as they spoke.

"Look like a couple of queers," David said softly behind her.

She hardly heard him. Her heart beat so hard it threatened to burst out of her chest. Pablo looked striking in white slacks, a navy blazer, and a horizontally striped navy and white collarless shirt. In contrast, Luka wore a classic charcoal gray suit, white shirt, and burgundy tie.

"Hi there." Clare grinned as their heads snapped around.

"Clare!" Pablo came to her first, striding across the tan carpet, all flashing white teeth and sexy grin. On unsteady legs, she walked forward and dropped the flower box on a table beside an ice bucket. He slid his hands beneath her arms, picked her up, and spun her around. "I've missed you so,
mi amor
."

She was relieved to find Pablo happier, and pleased to see him again, but her attention was on the man standing quietly beside them.

Pablo set her on her feet and kissed her cheek.

"You're obviously back to your normal self."

His lips quirked into a smile that was pure happiness. "Luka and I have spent weeks in Spain researching my family. I have lots of relatives in Andalusia, some in Barcelona, two in England, and five I haven't traced yet here in America." His eyes sparkled like a little boy on Christmas morning. "I have lots of family who want me to visit."

Clare reached up and patted his cheek. "They'll love you, Pablo." Clever Luka. He'd given Pablo a new direction to focus his emotions.

She gently disentangled herself from Pablo's arms and took a step towards Luka. His complexion was tanned and he looked much healthier. "You've been busy since I left."

He inclined his head. "The past is laid to rest, the future beckons us."

David Goldberg cleared his throat. Her attorney stood in the doorway, his expression curious.

"As you can tell, David, I know the two mystery Europeans."

"I'd gathered that."

"So you want to buy into my company, Mr. Vlad. I'll have to give that some thought. You have a reputation for taking control."

Luka smiled and his eyes twinkled with humor. "Would I dare try to force my way of thinking on you?" He lifted her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles.

Clare stared back, oblivious to everything else in the room. A storm of emotion raged in the dark depths of his gaze, tearing down the barriers she'd built in the last two months to contain her feelings. She wanted to crawl inside him, never leave him again.

Clare touched the tanned skin of his jaw. "No more bruises. How's everything else healing?"

"I can do most things without pain."

David Goldberg chuckled. "I think I misjudged these gentlemen. Seems like they're right friendly with you, Clare."

Luka fixed him with an assessing gaze. "Thank you for coming, Mr. Goldberg." David held out his hand but Luka ignored it. Although Luka could touch safely now, old habits obviously died hard. "Please call me tomorrow about the shares."

David peered around Luka. "You want me to leave you, Clare?"

Pablo grinned. "We will look after her very well.
Adieu
, Mr. Goldberg.
Adios
. See you tomorrow." Pablo laughed.

"I'm fine, David," Clare said. "I know these two pretty well."

"Yeah, looks like it." David grunted.

"I trust I can depend on your discretion, Mr. Goldberg?" Luka said, a razor-sharp edge to his words. "Miss Moray is very important to me. I would take it as a personal insult if any mention of this meeting comes out."

The attorney paused, eyes wary. "Sure thing." His expression transformed into one of grudging respect.

Luka indicated the door. "Thank you for coming."

Clare watched Luka as he locked the door behind David. She'd forgotten how aloof Luka was when she'd first met him. She understood why now. His manner was the defense he used to keep people at a distance. As he strolled back, a smile spread across his face and his cool formality faded.

"I've missed you, darling." His eyes devoured her face. He ran his thumb over her lower lip, then dipped his head and kissed her. "I've been dying to do that, but not with an audience."

She melted like chocolate in the sun as he tipped back her head and gazed at her mouth. He gave her a long, lingering kiss and sighed. "You taste divine."

She wanted to let herself go and just enjoy being in his arms, but her mind raced around in circles, wondering about his plans. "Tell me more about what you've been doing since I last saw you."

"Ah, you should have seen how Luka pined for you," Pablo said. "He had no eyes for the beautiful Spanish girls who fluttered around him like butterflies and wanted to warm his bed."

"Pablo," Luka grated out in warning.

Pablo winked at her. "My friend will never stray. He is addicted to his sweet Clare."

Clare gazed up at the pink flush of embarrassment staining Luka's cheeks. So he hadn't tested out his newfound freedom to touch. Relief came as a warm, heady rush.

Luka guided her to a blue and gold striped sofa and encouraged her to sit. He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a small red velvet box. For a moment, Clare thought her heart had stopped beating.

With a wide smile he dropped to one knee, and flipped up the box lid to reveal a gold ring set with numerous tiny pearls and diamonds in a beautiful old-fashioned design that captured the styles of both Taldom and Earth.

Clare pressed a hand over her pulsing heart.

"Clare Moray, I've been without you for two long months, and I never want to be without you again, my love. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

For a second Clare couldn't breathe. She hadn't expected this. Dinner and a night in his arms would have been a good start, but… "Yes," she whispered, warming to the idea as the shock of surprise passed. "Yes, I'd love to." She threw her arms around his neck. Love welled up, leaving her light-headed. No words were enough.

"
Brava
." Pablo clapped and then wrested the bottle of champagne from its icy cradle and peeled back the foil. The men had obviously planned this, and Pablo didn't mind.

Luka took her left hand and slipped the ring onto her third finger. He stared at it for a few seconds, then bent his head and kissed her skin beside the diamond.

Tears of joy sprang into her eyes. She loved him and his old-fashioned ways. "Get up." Clare tugged at the lapels of his jacket to pull him onto the seat, and smothered his face with kisses while he tried to comply. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face against his chest. Suddenly all her fears of the past weeks seemed silly. "I was so worried. I didn't know if you—"

"Shh." He eased her head away from his chest and stared into her watery eyes. Then he dropped his gaze to her lips, tilted his head, and kissed her gently. "I adore you. I want us to be together. That's why I want a stake in Moray. We'll work together to get the business back on track."

For the first time she had someone to share her life with. Someone to love.

With a pop that made Clare jump, Pablo uncorked the champagne. "Ay, ay, ay," he said as the foaming golden liquid overflowed the bottle while he sloshed it into three tall flutes. He waggled his eyebrows at her while he sucked the spill from his fingers, then passed them each a fizzing glass. He held up his own. "To a happy future. For us all."

Clare leaned back against Luka's chest and sipped champagne. Bubbles tickled her nose. Every nerve in her body hummed with the awareness of Luka's hot skin beneath the sober suit.

Luka and Pablo shared a look. "Pablo plans to spend time getting to know his family. He'll be leaving soon. Won't you, my friend."

Pablo grinned and tossed back the rest of his champagne. "I'll miss you both but I will be back to visit, so don't forget me."

"How could we," Clare said.

With a lingering breath, Clare melted back into Luka's embrace. For the first time in her life, she belonged with someone and it felt wonderful. She'd thought all she wanted was a successful career, but now she knew that meant nothing without the man she loved.