Take Me (Power Play #1) (7 page)

When he’s done he hitches his pants back up and gives me a wolfish smile.

“I’ll wait outside,” he says, giving me a wink. “Don’t be long or someone might come looking for us, again.”

As the door closes behind him I hop off the counter and adjust myself. I can still feel his seed inside of me as I stare hard into the mirror.

What in the world am I getting myself into?

The conference room is nearly full when we finally arrive. There are no open seats at the table so instead I sit down on the far end, behind Declan. His blue eyes give me a concerned and curious look as I shuffle past everyone to get to my seat.

I wonder if he can smell the sex on me?

I’m a stupid, stupid girl. I shouldn’t be allowed out in public if I can’t even keep my panties on when a guy flirts with me.

I watch Isaac as he takes his seat opposite Declan. He’s got two other men with him that I haven’t seen before, and my body groans at the raw sex appeal that oozes off of him. He catches my eye as he sits down and his lips pull back into an obvious smile. He makes no attempt to hide who he’s smiling at, he’s looking right at me for the entire world, and for Declan, to see.

Okay, so maybe he’s not just any guy who flirted with me. But still, I should be able to find some way to stop myself from fucking him every time the opportunity presents itself.

Declan shoots me another look over his shoulder. This one is more puzzled than the ones before. It’s clear that he suspects something, though with any luck he doesn’t have any clue that I just fucked our new potential distributor in the ladies restroom just a few minutes ago. My cheeks burn with embarrassment at what he might think of me if he found out.

When everyone is settled, Declan begins the meeting.

“Now that we’re all here in the same place…” he says, casually. A ripple of nervous smiles goes around the room at the attempt at humor. “Mr. Drake, I’d like to thank you and your associates for joining us today.” Isaac’s eyes are still focused on me. He leans to the side of his chair so he can get a better look, seemingly oblivious that Declan is even talking to him. “Mr. Drake?”

“Yes, my apologies,” he says, sitting up. “Of course, it’s always nice to take a trip across the pond.”

Across the pond? So he
lives
in Europe? I know I should feel better about this news because it means he’ll hopefully be gone soon, and I won’t have to worry about running into him all around town. But there’s still a part of me that feels disheartened by the revelation.

“Great,” Declan says, a thin smile appearing on his pinched lips. “I trust you and your people have had a chance to look over the paperwork. So unless there are any questions or concerns…”

There is another pause for a response, but a response doesn’t come. Isaac’s eyes have gone back to stealing little glances at me. Heat burns on my cheeks with how blatant he is being.

“Mr. Drake?” Declan prompts, again. Isaac looks up at him, his brow raised. “Unless there are any other questions…” Declan’s voice is tight, now, clearly annoyed. He’s not used to being disregarded this way. I only hope he doesn’t blame me for it.

Isaac fixes him with a big, confident grin. My heart skips a beat. It’s like his whole face lights up when he smiles. Only this time, there’s a hint of danger that lingers in his eyes.

“Right, the papers,” Isaac says.

One of the men to his side shuffles a stack of papers over to him and he gives a quick rifle through them. This is it. This is the big moment. I can feel the energy swirling around the room. Once Isaac signs the papers the Barnes Media Group will officially have a European distributor. It will be one of Declan’s crowning achievements, and one of the lifelong goals that my father never got the opportunity to fulfill.

But Isaac doesn’t reach for the pen resting on the table next to him. He looks up again, giving Declan another calm grin.

“If I’m being honest, I didn’t have my men look it over.” The energy in the room comes to a standstill as the spirited smile on Declan’s face tightens. “You see, I had no intention of ever signing these.” He holds them up, then drops them on the table.

Declan’s brow tightens. “I don’t understand. Is there something I’m missing?”

Isaac eases back in his chair, holding his hand out casually. “You see, it just doesn’t make good business sense. With digital distribution taking over, print sales are down, inventory costs are up, blah, blah blah… I won’t bore you with the details, I’m sure you get the picture.”

The bright gray in his eyes suddenly has a fierce look to it. The jovial, sexy man that I met last night is gone. In his place is a ruthless businessman. The news he’s sharing is tragic. It’s a huge blow to the company. To
my
company.

Yet I’m still distracted by how sexy he is when he’s in control. What is wrong with me?

The smile on Declan’s face has disappeared into a tight-lipped stare.

“So what are we doing here? Just wasting each other’s time?”

Isaac lets the question linger, the amused smile on his face never faltering for even a second. Then he leans forward.

“Actually, I’ve had a change of heart.” He commands the attention of everyone in the room effortlessly. “I got to thinking about it, and I’d like to discuss the details further over dinner.” His eyes flit over to me. “Maybe there
is
some kind of arrangement we can work out that will be mutually beneficial.”

The tight lines in Declan’s face release. “That’s great. I’d be happy to discuss them with you, I’m sure we can come to some sort of arrangement.”

Isaac lets out a little laugh and gives a slight shake of his head. A nervous ball of ice solidifies in my gut. I know what he’s going to say before he even says anything.

“I don’t want to discuss it over dinner with you.” He leans to the side, his smoldering gray eyes connecting with mine as he points a finger my way. “I want to discuss it with her.”

Declan looks between us, shocked and confused.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. It’s her first day on the job, she’s not familiar with any of the particulars of the deal.”

Isaac doesn’t even appear to hear what he’s saying. His eyes are still locked on mine. That familiar little smirk has reappeared on his lips.

“Mr. Drake, please…” Declan’s voice shakes. His face darkens with annoyance until Isaac finally acknowledges him again. “I simply cannot allow her to speak on behalf of BMG at this point in time.”

Isaac folds his fingers together and gives a slight lift to his shoulders.

“Then I’m afraid we can’t do business together.” He stands to leave without further hesitation, both of his cronies leaping to their feet to follow him.

“No, wait,” I call out.

Every single pair of eyes in the room whips around to look at me at the same time—even Declan’s. Every single pair of eyes, save for one. Isaac freezes in place and I can almost feel the thin smile stretching itself across his chiseled jawline.

I move closer to Declan and whisper so that only he can hear.

“I can handle this,” I say. He gives me a concerned look, then shakes his head.

“Something doesn’t feel right. I don’t like it.”

My gut twists into an even tighter knot. Declan is a sharp businessman, and he’s quick to pick up on things. He may not know exactly what doesn’t feel right about the situation, but he knows that there’s something more going on than what’s on the surface.

I rest my hand on his forearm. I want to reassure him, but I instantly feel him tense beneath my touch.

“Don’t worry, I can do this.” I give him a soft smile. “It’s just dinner while I answer whatever questions he has. I spent my whole life watching Daddy handle guys like him, it’ll be a walk in the park.”

Declan studies me for a second. I can almost see the wheels turning in his head as he considers probably a million different things that I haven’t even thought of. His blue eyes are tense.

“I still don’t like it. I don’t like the thought of someone demanding dinner with you. It isn’t right. It isn’t professional.”

I try to hide my wince. Declan lives in such a black and white, compartmentalized world. If he knew the half of what Isaac and I had already done he’d probably fly off the handle. He could be like that when it came to me—overprotective and irrational.

“We need this,” I said, giving him a serious look.

The muscles in his jaw tense and flex as he grits his teeth. He considers it for another few long moments before he gives me a tight smile.

“You’re right,” he says. His features soften a little and his mouth parts into a proud smile. “You really do have your father in you, don’t you?”

My smile widens as my pulse races. His words mean more to me than he probably realizes.

“So it’s settled then?” Isaac asks from across the room. His eyes narrow, locked on my hand touching Declan.

I instantly snap it back, feeling both ashamed that he saw it and ashamed that I even feel bad about it at all. I straighten myself and lift my chin, trying to appear much larger than my tiny frame actually is.

“We can discuss the details of the deal over dinner,” I confirm.

That smooth, cocky smile returns as he shifts to face me squarely.

“Dinner at eight, then? I’ll pick you up at your place.”

I can’t help but notice Declan’s body tense next to me when Isaac mentions coming over to my place.

“Seven,” I counter, quickly. “And we will meet at Cafe Soleil. No need for you to go out of your way.”

It’s the first restaurant I can think of, I only hope it’s still open and that I haven’t just made a fool of myself. I want it to be clear that we’re not going on a date or anything that can be confused for one.

Isaac’s grin widens as he studies me for a moment. Then he nods.

“Seven it is. It’s a date.”

“It’s dinner!” I snap.

“Of course. That’s what I said isn’t it?”

He gives me one more secretive smirk before he turns and leaves, both of his cronies following closely behind him.

How is it possible for one man to be so damned infuriating?

“So you’re going on a date with the guy?”

Tawny fixes me with a confused look as she hefts her backpack over her shoulder. Her curly, blonde hair is cut short and pulled back into a ponytail, and her thin blue eyes give me a curious look.

“It’s
not
a date!” I insist. “It’s a business dinner. A totally professional business dinner.”

She frowns at me.

“A totally professional business dinner with the guy you brought home from the bar and had sex with last night?”

My face scrunches up as I let out a groan. “And once again this morning.” Her eyes widen and I feel like she’s looking straight through me. “And maybe once again in the bathroom at the office.”

Her jaw drops open, mimicking her bulging eyes. She stares at me for a long moment before she recovers herself enough to say something intelligible.

“Sounds like a date to me.” I let out another groan, and she giggles. “Don’t worry, though. This time I’m prepared with my headphones, just in case you and the Sexy Brit end up back here again.”

“I’m so sorry about that. It was so unexpected.”

She waves a hand. “Don’t sweat it. At least one of us is getting laid. I’m just happy I can live vicariously through you.”

Tawny gives me a cheery smile that manages to ease some of the tension building in my chest. We were never best friends in high school, but we’ve maintained a connection ever since then. A few weeks ago we were talking about my impending move back to the city when she mentioned she was looking for a roommate. I didn’t hesitate to tell her to move into my new place—it was going to be too big for just little old me, anyway.

It’s nice having a friend around, even if we hardly ever see each other because we work opposing schedules.

“You’re a beautiful girl,” I say, honestly. “I’m sure you have no problem getting laid anytime you want.”

She sneers at me. “Sure, if you count the creeps that always seem to show up at the hospital in the dead of night.” She lets out a groan. “These night shifts are going to be the death of me.” She considers it for another second, then adds, “But maybe I’ll meet a sexy vampire who’s super turned on by pale, nerdy chicks.”

We share a laugh, then I rub her arm and give her a light squeeze on the shoulder.

“When’s your next night off? Let’s go hit up some clubs and get piss drunk and flirt with the hottest guys we can find. My treat.”

Her eyes widen with excitement as she gives me a big, cheery smile.

“I have this weekend off,” she says. She curses as she glances at her watch. “Shit, I’m late.” She runs to the door, only stopping to give me one final look. “Have fun on your date,” she says, winking at me.

I groan.

“It’s not a date!” I yell, but she’s already slammed the door behind her.

It’s really not a date.

Right?

Isaac’s smoldering eyes haven’t broken away from me since the moment I sat down at the table. The corner of his lip is turned up in that secretive smile of his that somehow manages to send butterflies flittering through my insides.

“You’re beautiful,” he says. It’s not the first time he’s said it since I sat down. I intentionally didn’t change out of the dress I’d worn to work so he wouldn’t think I’d gotten all dressed up for him.

I try to scowl at him, but only manage another smile.

“We can’t do this,” I say. “We’re here to talk business, not to flirt.”

“Who said anything about flirting?” He gives me an innocent look that sends illicit thoughts pouring through my head.

“We’re not here to do any of
that
, either!”

He reaches his hand across the table and places it on mine. I try to move my hand away but it doesn’t seem to want to move. His fingers gently caress their way around my own fingertips, sending a chill running up my arm.

“You’re so tense. I would have thought after the last day you’ve had that you would be a little more relaxed.”

“You mean after you practically announced to an entire office full of my coworkers that you want to fuck me? I have no idea how that could make anyone tense.”