Dangerous (The Complete Erotic Romance Novel) (48 page)

Kendra headed to the office, hoping she could change his mind. She heard Ethan whistling on the loading dock behind her and knew Reid couldn’t intervene too soon.

* * *

Reid was livid.

What he’d just interrupted should have been all the proof he needed that he should terminate the agreement with Miss Jones, and do so immediately.

His fury was a clue he was already too engaged emotionally. If it was a problem for him to step away after just two weeks, that would only become worse.

And then he wouldn’t be the one in control: it would be Miss Jones.

Reid refused to be driven by desire again, much less blind to realities. He’d learned quickly enough after his marriage that he and Alana were a poor match, but by then, he’d given his vow.

He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

Miss Jones didn’t play the courtship game with the same skill as Alana. She wasn’t elusive, teasing him with the possibilities but never giving more than a taste. She wasn’t compliant and agreeable to anything.

But in a way, her enthusiasm was honest. It was easy to believe that the truth shone in Miss Jones’ eyes, that she’d never be able to deceive him, that he could trust her completely. That was seductive and effective. Even letting him do what he wanted to her only increased Reid’s fascination with her.

What did Miss Jones want?

Who was she really?

What kind of fool was Reid to play these games without knowing more about her? He’d assumed she couldn’t do anything to hurt him, but it was too easy to see now that she could ruin him.

He would do whatever was necessary to prevent that.

* * *

“It’s his
wife
!” Ginger whispered when Kendra walked back into the front office. The other woman’s eyes were alight, but Kendra was confused.

“Who?” She looked at Marianne, who didn’t seem to know either. “What are you talking about?”

Ginger pointed to the computer screen. “They broke the story early.” She dropped her voice to a hiss. “That dead woman they found was Mr. Stirling’s missing wife!”

“Poor man,” Marianne said, the color draining from her face. “He must be so upset.”

“He probably did it,” Ginger whispered with glee.

“Hasn’t she been missing for a while?” Marianne asked.

Kendra shrugged, just as Reid strode out of his office. He looked resolute and a little more grim than usual. Because of her? Or because Alana’s body had been found?

What was he thinking? What was he feeling?

Was this why he had cancelled the night before?

He ignored her and spoke to Marianne. “The police are having a press conference at three, Marianne, and they will be announcing that the woman discovered last week is my missing wife.”

“I’m sorry, sir.” Marianne’s glance flicked to Kendra in confusion. She wasn’t the only one thinking that Reid should be talking to Kendra.

“As am I, Marianne,” he continued smoothly. “There are security guards arriving right now to help you all leave tonight without being bothered by reporters. Under the circumstances, please tell the staff that they’re free to leave early.”

“Yes, sir.”

“They will be paid as if they remained the entire day.”

“Of course, sir.”

“And you can tell them that there is good news. Thanks to the efforts of Miss Jones, Esperanza has a pair of new licensing agreements. We begin manufacturing next week for both contracts.”

“That’s wonderful news, sir.”

“It certainly is.” Reid didn’t look happy, though. He returned to his office and shut the door firmly behind himself, Kendra looked at it, wanting to talk to him but knowing he must be upset.

Did she dare to interrupt him?

Marianne and Ginger began to pack up for the day, moving quickly in their desire to get out of the office. Kendra dawdled. She turned off her computer after making a show of saving files. She got her purse out of her desk drawer and fixed her hair, drawing out everything until the other two women left.

Reid’s door stayed shut.

She was reaching for her coat when he opened the door of his office again.

He barely glanced at Kendra when he spoke to her. “Miss Jones, I would appreciate a word with you before you leave.”

“Yes, sir.”

Kendra was on Reid’s heels when he headed back to his office, more than ready for either reward or punishment. She put her coat down on one of the chairs beside the conference table and set her purse on the table before turning to face Reid. Was he mourning? Or was he prepared to put the past behind himself?

She could help with that.

And she owed him a big thank-you.

Kendra tried to look calm and composed, but she was pretty sure her excitement was obvious.

Especially to Reid, who never missed a thing. He studied her for a long moment and she was sure he could hear her heart thumping. He fingered a contract on his desk, probably the one Alicia had signed.

“Shut the door, Miss Jones.”

Kendra did as instructed, then returned to face him.

She’d done what he’d commanded her to do. She’d succeeded. Other than the complication with Ethan, everything was going perfectly.

“I didn’t invite it,” she began, but Reid held up a finger to silence her.

“You will make half a dozen copies of each of these contracts for me,” he said, his words terse. “Including the sketches and cost estimates from the casual discussions beforehand.”

Kendra walked past him, deliberately brushing the sleeve of his jacket with hers, and pulled the cord to shut the first section of window blinds. She moved slowly and deliberately, pointing her toe when she paused so that he could admire her legs.

Reid faltered, but continued. “There are some preliminary order quantities here, and I’ll need you to order supplies as soon as possible, to ensure that everything arrives early in the week.”

Kendra moved to the second section of blinds and shut those, then the third. She could feel Reid watching her and her own excitement built with the knowledge of his awareness.

“We have several tight deadlines to make at the beginning of the deal with the Plume, in order to facilitate the changeover, and I’m sure you can appreciate that we need to prove ourselves...”

Proving herself was exactly what Kendra had to do.

“Yes,” she murmured, turning to face him. The office was darkened with all the blinds shut, but the shadows were sexy.

It reminded her of their first encounter.

“I’m sorry about your wife,” she whispered.

“Thank you, Miss Jones.”

“I owe you a thank you.”

“How so?”

“For compelling me to try something new.” Kendra unfastened her jacket, ready to begin her strip-tease. “I would never have had that kind of a lunch break otherwise.”

To her surprise, Reid’s lips tightened and he turned away from the show she was offering.

Kendra didn’t stop. She shed her jacket and tossed it on a chair, then unzipped her skirt. She turned her back on Reid to remove it, bending over from the waist to put it on the chair. When she turned around she saw Reid swallow and was encouraged by the bright blue of his eyes.

She had his attention.

“Well, congratulations are in order, Miss Jones,” he said, his voice husky. “I’m impressed that you secured this licensing contract with Alicia.”

His voice was unexpectedly cool. Almost indifferent. Hadn’t she done exactly as he’d instructed?

“Thank you, sir. But you told me to do whatever it took.”

“Yes. I gather you did.”

“Yes, sir.” Kendra removed her blouse, glad Alicia had tightened her corset so much. It was worth it to be so constrained when Reid caught his breath. His eyes glittered and she knew she was making progress. She lowered her voice. “Only because you commanded as much, sir.”

He looked as if he might say something to argue that, but Kendra reached into her purse and got the black rope, setting it deliberately on the conference table.

Reid stared at it for a long moment before he continued. “Thanks to your efforts, both with Alicia and with Rex, Esperanza is on more solid footing than it was a week ago. I think you should be proud of your accomplishment. You had a plan and, given the chance, you put it in motion.”

“You gave me that chance, sir.”

“Yes, but that’s not what everyone will remember.”

Kendra shook out the rope and put it around her neck, placing the midpoint at her nape. She wrapped it behind her back and crossed it there, bringing the ends forward over her hips. Reid was watching her intently, seemingly against his will, and she was glad to see his eyes turning a more vivid shade of blue. She passed the rope between her legs, smiling at how wet she was already. Binding herself for him—like a gift—was incredibly exciting.

Maybe it was naughty to be so bold.

Maybe he had the riding crop with him.

She wrapped the rope over her hips, twining it around her wrists and turned to face him. “Could you help me with the knot, sir?”

His eyes glittered as he crossed the room. He moved decisively and without hesitation, once again reminding her of a predator on the hunt. He stopped right in front of her and Kendra tipped back her head, running the very tip of her tongue across her bottom lip. She saw his throat work. She saw the erection straining his trousers. She knew she had his undivided attention.

But to her shock, when he reached for her, he touched the clasp of the chain he’d wrapped around her. He snapped it from the clasp, breaking it on each side of the medallion. Then he stepped back, his expression cool. Kendra looked down in astonishment as the chain fell away from her body and spilled onto the floor.

Then she looked at Reid, not wanting to believe he meant it that way.

“You broke the rules all along,” he said with quiet heat. “Maybe you never really wanted our game.” He turned back to his desk and began to pack his briefcase.

“What are you talking about?”

“You had sex with a young man, immediately after I first marked you as mine.”

“How do you know that?” Had he had her followed?

“If you didn’t want me to know, Miss Jones, you shouldn’t have flaunted your decision.” He returned his attention to his packing, his expression grim. He spoke quickly. “I will not be in the office next week, nor likely the week afterward. My other business interests call for my attention.” He tossed the contract on the desk. “I’m leaving Esperanza in your very capable care, Miss Jones.”

Kendra couldn’t make sense of what was going on. How did he know about that? How had she flaunted anything? Why was he punishing her? “You’re leaving? For now or for good?”

“I’m not sure.” Only then did he look directly at her.

Kendra was surprised by how pale a blue his eyes had become. They could have been ice.

She didn’t understand. “But I did everything,” she protested, unable to believe that she was watching him pack his briefcase.

“That’s one way of putting it.”

“I did what you told me to do!”

His eyes flashed. “Is that how you explain that kiss?”

“If this is about Ethan, I could use your help with that...”

“It didn’t look like you needed any help to me.”

Jealous? Was he jealous? Kendra would have loved such a sign that he cared about her, but she didn’t want to fight. Still, he sounded jealous.

Possessive.

Reid apparently didn’t share her view. He shrugged into his overcoat and picked up his gloves.

Leather gloves. She swallowed, knowing it couldn’t be the same pair but remembering his discipline all the same.

“Why can’t you just punish me for it? You know we’ll both enjoy that.”

He picked up his briefcase and headed for the door, not answering her.

Kendra seized his sleeve. “Look, you can’t do this. You can’t just walk out of here as if nothing ever happened, as if…” She gestured to the conference table where he had first tied her up. “…as if
this
never happened.”

“I assure you that I can.”

To Kendra’s dismay, that’s exactly what he did. She stood there for a long moment in his office, the rope slipping from her hands and tried to make sense of his choice.

Was he running from her?

Why was he pushing her away?

Was it because of his wife?

She tugged on her clothes again quickly, betting that if she called Reid, he wouldn’t answer—just as he hadn’t answered the night before.

That was when she realized what must have happened. He’d learned about Alana the night before. He needed some time to come to terms with the news.

But he’d come back to her.

After all, he hadn’t torn up their contract.

That realization made Kendra smile. He’d be back, they’d pick up where they’d left off and in the meantime, she’d prove that she deserved his trust.

* * *