Read Online Cat Got Your Tongue? by Rae Rivers - Free Book Online Page B

guard.
    He grasped her shoulders to steady her. “Forget something?”
    “Sorry, I forgot my purse.”
    Instead of releasing her, he kept his hands on her shoulders and met her gaze, the attraction sizzling between them real and alluring.
    They fell silent and when she backed against the door, he moved closer, his gaze unfaltering.
    “Cole.”
    His hand slid to the back of her neck, drawing her in. He shifted his focus to her lips and his mouth hungered to taste her.
    “This would be really, really bad,” she whispered.
    He dipped his head toward hers until their lips were almost touching. “I know. But it would also be really, really good.”
    “Yes.”
    “I want to kiss you.”
    “I know.” Her eyes shifted to his lips and he sensed her struggle. “But we can’t.” She dragged in a deep breath and pushed at his chest. “I work for you. This would complicate things.”
    “I can do complicated.” He lingered for a moment longer, aching to touch her. “But you’re right. This would complicate things.”
    It took agonizing restraint to pull away and retrieve her purse on the table behind him.
    “You’re looking for trouble,” she warned, snatching her purse from him.
    He chuckled but didn’t reply. Judging by the hard bulge in his pants and the mad heat that swept through his body, it appeared that trouble had found him.
    ****
    Alex inhaled as they settled inside the stretch limo and tried to regain her composure. Her heart pounded frantically against her chest and her breath consisted of choppy gasps of air. As tempting as the kiss had been, common sense still reigned, and she’d somehow mustered the strength to pull back.
    God, how she’d wanted him to kiss her.
    Unable to stop herself, she stole a glance at him. He was freshly shaven and dressed in a black Armani suit with a white shirt that matched even whiter teeth. The man possessed an aura of power around him she found thrilling.
    “Did you have that gash checked out today?” he asked her, his voice casual, too casual.
    A ploy on his part to get them back on level ground, no doubt.
    “I did.” She’d selected her mother’s physician, known for his discretion. The fact that she’d always liked him was an added bonus.
    Cole handed her a drink. “What did the doctor say?”
    “I’ll live. How were your meetings?”
    “I walked out of a negotiation and told John to deal with it.”
    “Negotiating another deal for a new hotel?” Some people collected stamps for a hobby. He collected hotels.
    “Yes. I’ve had my eye on a piece of property in California. The owner needs to sell but he’s stalling.”
    “Why?”
    “We’re haggling about price. He knows I have the money to back any offer so he’s pushing hard for a better price. I, on the other hand, am not willing to pay more for the property than it’s worth so that he can spend long vacations in the Caribbean.” He sipped his drink and shot her a pensive glance over the rim of his glass. “But he’ll cave. They all do.”
    Alex smiled. “You sound very cocky. Might want to check that ego of yours.”
    “I plan to own that property,” he murmured with solid confidence and she was unable to decipher the look that crossed his face. “I’m the only one interested in it with enough money to back the deal. He’d be stupid not to sell to me. I like the property and the area and I think one of my hotels would do well there.” His eyes narrowed and his dark gaze moved over her body. “Besides, if I want to own something, I do.”
    She knew instinctively he wasn’t talking about his stalled property deal anymore, and met his eyes in an unspoken challenge. “I can’t be bought or owned, Cole.”
    A brief flash of amusement sparked in his dark blue eyes and then disappeared. “I doubt anyone would ever be able to own you,” he said and chuckled. “Besides, whoever tried would get far more than they bargained for.”
    “True.” She smirked at him, grateful that the fleeting