The Beast Loves Curves (2 page)

It had been like he was trying to attain and experience everything that he had never had. The parties, fast cars, expensive clothes. It was funny how it had meant nothing when he was fighting for his life in a hospital. He had been just another person who would either live or die. He wasn't invincible. None of his superficial friends had been there and not one woman that he had dated had shown her face. They didn't want a broken, scarred man whose future had been questionable.

The life he had been living was a facade. He wasn't sure how he had tolerated the lonely, shallow life, but he couldn't pretend it didn't matter anymore. He wanted a woman he could talk to and that cared about him for something other than how he looked or the money he had. He wasn't exactly the playboy that he was rumored to be, but he had used plenty of those women for sex, just as they had used him because of his money and power.

The sound of the chiming doorbell pulled Ian out of his contemplative mood. He sat up in the chair, ready to meet the woman that would get the ball rolling on his site. He took a deep breath and exhaled hard. Finally, he could do something useful.

*****

Abbie fidgeted as she waited for someone to open the door. It was nine o'clock on the dot, so the ogre couldn't complain about her being late.

She smoothed down her black skirt and her fluffy red angora sweater thinking it had probably been a bad choice. She loved the sweater but it shed and the little, red fur balls were really noticeable on the black skirt. Oh well. How the hell would she know how to dress for an on site job? She had never worked outside of the office except on projects at home. Somehow she didn't think her pajamas and bunny slippers that she wore at home were really appropriate for this job.

The door was opened by a older woman with gray hair and a smile. "Ms. Wright?"

"Yes. I'm Abbie Wright. Please call me Abbie. I'm here to see Mr. Campbell. I think he's expecting me." She smiled at the woman. At least there was one friendly face here.

"He is. Please come in. I'm Nancy. I do the cooking and housekeeping."

The smiling, matronly woman held the door wide. As Abbie entered she had no doubt as to why he needed a housekeeper. She swore if she yelled...the huge, cavernous house would echo back at her. The foyer had marbled floors and screamed "money." It was a beautiful house. She surveyed the expensive furnishings in the living room as she followed Nancy through the ground floor. Everything was immaculate, but somehow not very...warm.

Abbie was so caught up into looking at the monstrous house that she nearly slammed into the back of Nancy when she stopped. She squeaked as she halted in the nick of time.

"This is the study." Nancy rapped twice on the door.

An immediate response came in a low baritone. "Come in."

Nancy opened the ornate door to let Abbie through. She sighed with relief as she entered the study. It was large, but it was a room that was lived in. The mahogany and leather furnishings were tasteful, but the room was warm with life. Papers scattered a huge desk in the corner and she felt the vibrations of energy here. There was a leather jacket carelessly discarded on a chair and a large pair of used running shoes beside the desk. Several books were scattered on the couch.

"Abbie? May I call you Abbie?" The baritone voice that had bid them to enter inquired.

Abbie's eyes focused on Ian Campbell as he stood to greet her. His gait was slow but steady. He was favoring his right leg but it was a barely noticeable limp.

He was a beast. A damn handsome beast. Abbie tried not to stare as she surveyed him...but it was difficult not to. He had to be well over six feet. He towered above her five foot six height and his body was massive. Dressed in jeans and a form fitting t-shirt, Abbie could see the well defined muscles ripple in his chest and abdomen. What a body for a man who had been seriously ill for several months! Abbie's eyes traveled to his face. His smiling face. He was looking at her expectantly.

"Yes. Yes, of course. I prefer to be called Abbie by all of my clients." She could barely speak.

He wasn't at all what she had pictured. His face was handsome. There were scars that kept it from perfection, probably from his accident, but rather than detract from his looks it actually made him rather attractive. Rugged and masculine. His deep blue eyes were smiling and his well trimmed blonde hair looked mussed, like he had been running his hand through it.

"Please call me Ian." He was still grinning as he held out his hand.

His hand was warm and firm. It was large like the rest of him and Abbie's hand was engulfed by his as she reached out to him. She shivered from the heat that raced through her body from the casual gesture.

"I'll bring you a breakfast tray." Abbie heard Nancy say quietly as she retreated and the door clicked shut.

He held her hand a little longer than necessary. Abbie had to pull away. She couldn't contain the tremor in her limbs that his vibrant touch seemed to set ignite inside of her. Where was the beast? And why did Ian Campbell have to be so damned compelling?

Of course he's charming.
Try to remember that he goes through women like you've been going through tissues. Use and discard. Use and discard. Focus, Abbie, focus.

She used her best professional voice as she queried, "Would you like to go over what you expect."

He waved her toward a chair in front of his desk before he seated himself behind it. "Right down to business, huh?"

"I thought that's what you wanted. You did hire my company for a purpose." God...she sounded uptight. She sat in the comfy leather chair and tried not to squirm, wishing he could direct his intense blue-eyed stare at something other than her. She felt like she was being dissected, his attention focused entirely on her.

"You're nervous. Why would a woman as talented as you be nervous?," he asked in a curious voice.

"Because I've heard that you're extremely difficult to work with," she blurted out the truth before she could censor herself. She hadn't meant to, but maybe it was better that way. She was tense and she needed to be at ease to do her best, creative work.

She started as his huge, booming laughter filled the room. She knew she was gaping at him, her mouth opening and closing like a landed fish...but she couldn't help herself.

*****

Ian tried to stop himself, but he couldn't hold back the laughter that welled up inside of him at her unexpected comment. People didn't usually give him honesty. They told him what he wanted to hear.

As he got himself under control he choked out, "The beast?"

"That's what they say?" She looked uncomfortable now.

He was still smiling as he answered, "You shouldn't listen to everything you hear, Abbie. That was a rumor that was circulated deliberately by some employees that were fired for good reason." He propped an arm under his chin as he stared into her jade green eyes. "However...I'm definitely no angel. I learned to grow up after my accident. It changed my priorities. But I was a complete asshole. I'm pretty sure I probably still am at times."

Ian almost groaned in disappointment as she crossed her arms over her chest. He had been so enjoying the view of those plump, ripe beauties. The woman was completely stunning. Her rounded cheeks were glowing and her startling green eyes were pinning him with a direct, challenging look that few dared to send his way. He wanted to reach out and touch that perfect skin to find out if it was as silky as it appeared. His cock was hard just from watching her. Those delicious lips were made to be kissed and that curvy body would be perfection against him. He definitely had to stop thinking about those beautiful black curls spread over his pillow.

"If you say you're an asshole, you're probably not." She had a sassy look on her face now and her eyes flashed.

He felt like a beast. Right now he'd like to play the big, bad wolf to her little red riding hood and gobble her up. "That's interesting deductive logic."

She shrugged. "Common sense. Most men who are assholes wouldn't admit it." She sighed as she appeared to visibly relax. "Tell me about your project, Ian."

And so he did.

*****

Ian Campbell was dangerous to a woman's mind and body.

It hadn't taken Abbie more than a day in his company to decide that Ian was nothing like the beast she had imagined. He was an even bigger threat. He was an alpha male sometimes, but completely likable and sexier than any man ought to be.

She pounded the computer keys and tried to concentrate on changing something on the site. She had been working closely with Ian for a week and every day she found him even more fascinating. Every day she had a more difficult time resisting his easy charm, quick wit and ultra masculine appeal.

Abbie stretched her legs out on the leather couch and turned her laptop computer to a better position. She had started wearing jeans and a sweater. Ian had insisted she be comfortable and make herself at home while she worked. This had turned into a dream job, and working with Ian was a joy she had never imagined when she had taken on the project.

Surprisingly, they shared many common interests. They laughed a lot, sharing their history, likes, dislikes and anything else that popped into their minds.

She had never shared the humiliation of her break up with Tim, but Ian had asked about boyfriends. Abbie had simply told him that she had broken up with someone a short time ago. When he asked why...she clammed up. She couldn't share that with him. No matter how easy he was to talk to, it was still a raw wound and demeaning as hell.

He was open with her, telling her about life before his accident and about the changes he wanted to make in his life. She cringed at what he had suffered in the hospital. She wished she would have known him then. At least she could have been around for him as a friend.

She didn't think he had been the beast that everyone thought he had been before his accident and she wasn't sure if she would have liked him or not...but she certainly liked him now.

Everything...absolutely everything about him was sexy. Sometimes he stood a little too close. All he had to do was bump against her and her panties were wet. Truthfully, all she had to do was hear his voice and she was moist. The man was a walking fantasy. She fantasized about him during the day and had wet dreams about him at night. She knew she was in a bad way. Ian Campbell wasn't someone who would be interested in her. He flirted...but that was just his charm.

She was touched by the reason he was opening the foundation. Leo was a friend that Ian had met in the hospital that would never walk again after a horrible accident. When Ian had talked about Leo's undaunted courage and his love for his adoring wife and children--she had cried like a baby. She had told Ian that she would have done the website for free if Bill had contacted her directly. Ian had blown it off, saying he would rather pay her because it meant keeping her close and having her company.

God...she hated it when he said things like that. Her face flushed, her breath grew hot and shallow. Abbie knew she absolutely could not take him seriously.

She need to finished the site. She couldn't spend much more time with the man before she jumped him. Her brain might be saying "no" but her body was saying "take me."

Abbie nibbled her lip as she concentrated her effort on correcting a problem on the website. She had enjoyed having total creative freedom on this project. She was a programmer, but building websites was really her favorite thing to do. She loved the process and the challenge of making a site that would touch people enough to donate funds for a worthy cause. Ian had given her the information and she had done everything. She had even written the contents.

"Did you know that you get a little crinkle between your eyes when you're concentrating?" Ian walked into the room with that oh-so-sexy smile that turned her blood hot. He was dressed in his usual jeans and body hugging t-shirt.