Romantic Acquisition (9 page)

Kate sighed and turned away from her mirror, grabbing a
black, satin
purse and leaving her house.  Would she ever be willing to
try again with a physical relationship?  She doubted it.  The idea of not having children to run around her house, a husband to share her life with was sad and cold.  But the
memory
of growing up with a father who didn’t want her was too painful. 

She remembered birthdays, dressing up in her prettiest dresses, combing her hair and putting in a pretty bow, with the hopes that her father would come just once to see her.  She’d always wanted to look her best for him, to show him that she was nice enough and wouldn’t be a bother to him if he’d just learn to love her a little. 

A tear formed in the corner of her eye and she brushed it away angrily.  She’d never put another child through that kind of pain.  She wanted children.  But she could live without them. Other women lived whole, fulfilled lives without children so she’d find a way.

Kate arrived at the cocktail party early to make sure ev
erything was in order.  The bar
tenders were already at their stations and the caterer approached Kate, asking when she wanted to start the hors d’ouvres.  Kate discussed the other technicalities of the party but everything seemed under control.   David arrived ten minutes after Kate and she could tell by the look in his eyes that he liked her outfit. 
It was conservative enough for his tastes. 

The guests arrived almost immediately after David did and Kate was busy matching groups of people up with others to ensure that conversations were lively and interesting.  She chided herself each time she surveyed the room looking for one man in particular.  She was not watching for Carlo, she told herself.  She was only making sure everyone had arrived so she could slow down a bit. 

Three hours later, the party was in full swing.  Everyone was having a great time and Kate decided to find a quiet corner on the balcony. 

She was looking out at the lights of the city, admiring the way the fall skyline twinkled with the stars now that the humidity had died down slightly
with the beginning of fall just around the corner
.

“What the hell are you wearing?” a deep voice said from behind her.

Kate swung around and smiled as Carlo walked towards her.  She wished her heart didn’t skip a beat but it did.  She forced her face into a more professional mask as he stopped a foot away from her.

“Well?” he asked.

“Well, what?”
she asked, smothering an automatic smile at his approach. 

“What are you wearing?  Why are you wearing something that looks like my grandmother would own?”

She couldn’t help it. 
Kate laughed at the insult.  “It’s just a cocktail dress,” she said, not really defending
her
outfit since she hated it.  It also made her feel wonderful that he hated it as well.

He looked her up and down, his eyes not missing a single detail of the simple dress and conservative shoes. 
“I guess I’m just used to you showing up in something every other woman wishes she could pull off instead of what every other woman is wearing.”

Kate could no longer maintain her passivity.  His compliment sent her stomach into flip flops.  “Thank you.”

“So why
the hell
are you wearing it?”
he demanded again.

“I thought something more conservative would get David off my back for a while,” she explained, scanning the crowd and finding her boss as he slapped another vice president on the back.

Carlo followed her gaze, his eyes not showing any emotion, as usual. 
“Has he been bothering you lately?”

“No, not really,” she said, letting out a little breath.  “He’s just his normal, ornery self.”

Carlo turned back to her and she thought she saw a slight bit of disgust in his eyes but she wasn’t sure. 
“How would you run the company differently?”
he asked, taking a drink from a passing waiter. 

Kate was shocked.  No one had ever asked her something like that. 
“Wow!  That’s a big question.”

“Haven’t you ever thought about how things could be different?”

“Sure I have.  Who hasn’t?  I’ve just never been asked.”

“Well, here you go.  What would you do differently?”

Kate looked over to where David was still standing, “Well, for one thing, I’d create a more team environment,” she whispered.

Carlo laughed.  “It isn’t treasonous to think differently than someone, Kate.  It’s okay to talk out loud.”

Kate smiled slightly.  “You don’t know David very well, do you?”

“Not really.  He doesn’t strike me as the most creative of leaders.  Am I very far off the mark?”

“No, he’s an old school, textbook style manager.”

“Wouldn’t you say that most companies nee
d a director rather than a mang
er a
t
the helm?”
he asked. 

Kate considered that for a moment.  “I guess so
.  It would depend on what you consider a director versus a manager.”

“I’d categorize your leadership in your department as more of a directorship than a manager.
  From what I’ve seen so far, you seem to have an idea
and ask the whole team to manage towards that goal.  A manager only takes direction from a supervisor, ensuring that the tasks are accomplished
but
with no vision behind the orders.”

Kate thought about what he said and felt as if he’d just given her one of the biggest compliments.  Apparently, he liked the way she managed her team and her department.  She considered that high praise, coming from someone like him. 
“Thanks
,” was all she could say, too flattered and embarrassed by his compliment. 

“I just call them as I see them,” he said, taking another step towards her.  “Want to get out of here?  This seems like a pretty boring party.”

“The party is supposed to be for your team to get to know the Jamison executives,” she explained. 
Kate glanced at the rest of the guests, noting that it was mainly Jamison executives still hanging out.  Even their wives had left.  “I’m supposed to be acting as David’s hostess.”

He put a hand on the small of her back and guided her towards the door.  “Let David take a little responsibility for himself.  You come out with me.  I’ll be you haven’t eaten anything tonight have you?”

Kate shook her head.  “No, but I should really tell David that I’m leaving.”

He guided her towards the elevators quickly. 
“He knows,” Carlo said and lifted his hand to
wave
to the man.  David raised his drink in response, then turned back towards the other men surrounding him.

“Do you have a preference for dinner?” he asked as they entered the elevator.

The small space closed in around them as Carlo moved closer to her. 
He turned towards her, cornering her in the elevator as he looked down at her, his dark eyes watching her face. 

“No,” she whispered. 

“It’s past
ten o’clock
.  If I promise to be a gentleman, would you come to my place?”

“I thought you didn’t cook.”

“I have a maid that stores something in the refrigerator
so all I need to do is re-heat
.”

Kate shook her head. 
“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“I think
it would be a very good idea,
”
he contradicted.

“No.  How about something…”

“Safer?”

“Yes.  Safer,” she agreed. 

“Coward.”

“Terrified,” she agreed, nodding her head. 

Carlo took a step closer to her, blocking the light from the elevator ceiling. 
“Why don’t you just come to my place, we can make love and get over your concerns now?”

“No, Carlo.  We can’t do that,” she said and stepped back.  She didn’t dare touch him, knowing how that had affected her the last time. 

He wouldn’t let her retreat.  He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer.  “Why not?”

“I can’t do
it
,” she said, but her voice was breathless.  The lower half of her body was pressed intimately against his and she could feel his muscles, his legs and she liked the feeling.

“Why not?”

Kate couldn’t explain.  “It’s difficult.”

The elevator doors opened and she
pushed past him and
stepped out into the air quickly, needing to put some space between them so she could think. 

He wouldn’t let her go.  He grabbed her hand to stop her from running away from him. 
“Come out to dinner with me.  I promise to be a gentleman.”

She tried to pull her hand free but he held it gently captive in his own hand. 
“Carlo, I think it would be better if we stay friends.”
 

She stopped at her car and he put a hand on either side of her, boxing her in.  “Who says we can’t be lovers as well as friends?”

“It doesn’t happen that way.”

“
Kate, I’ve already told you, w
e’re going to be lovers.  It’s inevitable.  There’s too much attraction between us for anything else.”

Kate shook her head, but he was right.  Unfortunately, her mind wouldn’t let her accept them. 
“We can fight it.  Ignore it. 
W
e can’t give in to it.”

“I want you,” he said and leaned closer.

“No.  You don’t
.  You can’t
,” she whispered, but her eyes were watching his mouth descend closer to hers. 

His lips touched hers a moment later and she couldn’t argue anymore.  She didn’t want to.  She opened her mouth on her own this time, not waiting for him to ask.  His tongue instantly invaded her mouth and his hands pulled her closer.  She wasn’t leaning against her car anymore.  She was leaning against him and she could feel his body react.  Her own was melting against the heat his inspired within her.  She felt like she was on fire.  Kate wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer, wanting to feel all of him, wanting something she knew deep down she couldn’t have.  But she could have this kiss, this moment and she didn
’t
want to deny herself that. 

“Kate, come home with me,” he said, his hand moving from her waist to rest just under the curve of her breast, his mouth moving across her mouth to her neck, her ear, nibbling on her lobe. 

“Just kiss me, Carlo, please don’t ask for anything more than that,” she begged.

And he proceeded to do just that.  His mouth moved back to hers, his tongue mating with hers, his hands moving up and down her sides.  Kate groaned as his knee slipped between hers, spreading her legs so she was
practically
riding him. 
The feeling was so erotic she almost lost control. 

They heard laughter as the doors to the building opened and other guests left.  Kate jumped back, feeling like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her head. 

“I have to go,” she said and opened her car door. 

Carlo let her get into her car, but bent down before she could close the door.  “You know what’s going to happen, Kate.  Stop fighting
it
.  We’re both in pain now but we could be spending
the night
together instead
, satisfying our need for each other
.”