Designed for Love (4 page)

     
Vincent’s
gaze never lowered past Janice’s face as he told her no.

     
Chelsi
bit the inside of her lip to keep down the growl pushing up from her chest to
her throat. “That will be all, Janice. Please ask
Madison
to come in. Thank you.” Chelsi didn’t
waste a moment to analyze the bite in her words as she dismissed the woman.

     
The
first trimester woman cut her eyes towards her, but Chelsi could see the quick
mental reminder Janice must have given to herself, recalling the reason she was
in Vincent’s handsome presence. With a tight smile, Janice inclined her head to
Chelsi then exited out of the room. The flirty woman wasn’t far enough along to
have her fingers swelling, and it didn’t escape Chelsi’s notice that Janice
wore no wedding ring. The hot woman probably saw Vincent as a rich meal ticket
to be her child’s stepfather.
Not
.

     
Shooting
her gaze at Vincent, Chelsi saw him now leaning his elbows against the table
with his hands linked, hiding his mouth. By the light playing in his blue eyes,
she was sure he was laughing at her.

     
Madison
and Tisha came through and modeled their dresses in a professional manner with
no issues.

     
As
Tisha made her final pass around the room, Chelsi began, “Stephanie is our last
model, and she will be showing you one of the designs from our Passionate and
Plump lingerie line.”

     
Stephanie
walked in the door and moved deeper into the room, her bright red hair hanging
loose down her back.

     
“She’s
only wearing a thick, flannel house robe. There’s nothing sexy about that.”
Kendall
, the marketing head for the new store, called
out.

     
Not
answering him, Chelsi instead nodded to Stephanie. Smiling, the model untied
her outer garment and allowed it to slide down her arms. Chelsi wanted to cheer
at Stephanie’s dramatic effect.

     
Three
gasps came from the women in the room, and the gaping stares of the men told
Chelsi exactly what she wanted to know. The lingerie was a hit. The smoke gray
apparel was a sheer charmeuse with a stretch lace bodice that cupped and
caressed the woman’s full breasts. Below, Stephanie wore matching lace
maternity high-cut thongs.

     
A
few men cleared their throats as Stephanie, a swimsuit model by trade,
progressed in a leisurely walk around the room. As a long-time model, Stephanie
wasn’t shy about exhibiting her body, even when blossomed with pregnancy.

     
The
lingerie was one of Chelsi’s favorite designs. It was sexy and beautiful. She
couldn’t help but imagine herself in the outfit. However, Vincent was the only
person she imagined in the room watching her.

     
Sneaking
a peak at him, she was surprised to be caught in his intense gaze. His eyes
were so dark they appear black and lost among his thick ebony lashes. To rapid
for her to stop it, her mind conjured up the thought that he was seeing her
wearing it, too.

     
Taking
a deep breath, she reclaimed control of her thoughts and thanked Stephanie as
the model pulled her robe back on and tied it again before going out. After a
few follow-up words, Chelsi was happy to turn the remainder of the presentation
back over to Peter.

     
Slipping
back into her seat, she sent up a million prayers that the meeting would end
soon so that she could flee Vincent’s presence. Being around him was making her
feel things she hadn’t experienced in years and hope for things she had no
right to anymore.

Chapter Three

     
“When
do you foresee making your decision in regards to the designer you will be
selecting, Vin?” Peter snapped his briefcase shut then gripped the handle as he
migrated towards the door.

     
“I’ll
meet with Rudolph and the rest of the management personnel for this project and
finalize some things. You should be hearing from Rudolph in the next few days.”
Shoving his hands deep in his pocket, Vin followed them to the door as he eyed
Chelsi who was quickly pulling her stuff together as if she were trying to
become invisible. If she only knew that would never be possible for her, not in
his presence. She had been a beautiful teenager and had grown to become an even
more striking woman.

     
“Perfect.”
Peter said as Chelsi aligned herself beside him to head out. “Densa Fashions
appreciates the opportunity to present our offer and look forward to hearing
from Rudolph.”

     
Acknowledging
the man’s words with a nod, Vin watched Chelsi hurry towards the door.

     
“Chelsi,
may I please have a moment of your time?”

     
Two
steps away from Chelsi beside Peter, Vin watched Chelsi’s spine stiffen at his
words.

     
Now,
that he had throttled her escape, he could almost sense the internal war inside
of her. Just like at the grocery store, he could clearly see she didn’t want to
spend a lot of time around him. Why that was plagued him to no end.

     
He
wondered if she knew this was his company before she showed for the meeting. It
wasn’t a secret. If she did know, why did she come when it was evident she no
longer wanted a relationship of any kind with him, not even friendship?

     
That
knowledge caused an ache in his chest. He hadn’t realized how much he missed
Chelsi until he’d seen her at the store, and since that moment, she had stayed
in the forefront of his mind. Making him desire and want things long past.

     
When
he walked into the board room and saw her sitting at the table in her burnt
orange skirt suit that hugged all of her curves and a chocolate silk blouse
that conformed to her breasts, he just wanted to order everyone out and take
her on the table. By her disdainful looks she’d given him from the start of the
meeting, he didn’t believe that was going to be possible.
Pity
.

     
“The
models have already headed back to the studio, I can wait in the lobb—” Peter
began.

     
“No,
Peter, I’m sure Mr. Poindexter wants to speak with both—” Chelsi had grabbed a
hold of her boss’s arm, and the pleading tone in her voice was another
indicator she didn’t want to be around him.

     
“Peter,
my discussion with Chelsi is of a personal nature.” Vin announced, cutting them
both off. “You don’t need to wait.”

“We
rode together,” she declared.

     
“I
promise to get her back to work safely. I’ll arrange transportation or bring
her myself.”

     
Chelsi
gaze snapped toward him, shooting daggers. Most likely she didn’t appreciate
his high-handed manner.
Tough
. He
allowed her to get away from him once; he wasn’t about to let it happen again.

     
“Oh…”
Peter allowed that single word to trail on.

     
“I
really have work to do, Mr. Poindexter.” Chelsi spoke through gritted teeth.

     
He
didn’t like the sound of his last name coming from Chelsi. If she called him
anything he wanted to hear Vincent rolling off her tongue. In the throes of
passion would have been better.

     
Waving
her comment away, Peter chimed in, “We’ll be fine until you get back.”

     
Vin
watched the visual exchange of communication between Chelsi and Peter. Even
without words, she was pinning her boss with a disgruntled stare while Peter
smiled at her in return, wiggling his eyebrows.

     
Two
things were evident to him—Chelsi was angry her boss had removed her option of
escape, and Peter was up to a little matchmaking. Maybe Peter thought Chelsi
being around him would impact their contract bid in a good way. But the
contract was the last thing on Vincent’s mind. That decision was already
settled.

     
Right
now, the only person he was thinking about was Chelsi.

     
As
the door closed quietly behind Peter, Chelsi shot her furious gaze at him. Her
heels ate up the carpet between them as she crossed the floor to him, saying,
“What game are you playing, Mr. Poin—”

     
“Vincent,”
he declared stepping towards her. All he wanted was a moment of her time. Maybe
a chance to discover why she was running away from him as if she’d heard he had
the plague virus in his pocket.

     
Her
face turned up as her gaze locked with his. “I’m not one of your hundreds of
employees. You can’t just order me around, Mr. P—”

     
Reaching
out, he took hold of her arms and pulled her to him. The quick motion he used to
drag her body against his made her place a hand against the center of his chest
to balance herself against him. He wondered if she could feel the hard beat of
his heart against her palm. “My name is Vincent, or don’t you remember how to
say it?”

     
“There’s
nothing wrong with my memory.” Her hand pressed as she tried to move away from
him, creating the gap between them again.

     
He
wasn’t having it as he continued to hold her firmly in place. “Say it.”

     
Why
was she making this so difficult? He’d thought that they’d been friends as well
as lovers. Was there something he was missing?

     
Frowning,
she stared at him and licked her lips. “S…ay what?”

     
His
gaze followed the stroke of her tongue along her bottom lip. The delicate pink
tip and her plump lip made the heat level in his blood increase. “My name. Say
my name, Chelsi.” His words came out gruffer and lower than he would have
liked. However, in that moment, he felt like he was back in the computer lab at
Tyler
T.
High School
,
staring at the prettiest girl in school. Back then he had wanted her; now he desired
her. It was a ridiculous emotion, but he couldn’t stop it. He became in tuned
to everything about her.

     
Chelsi’s
gaze softened. The tension around her mouth released, and the tempo of her
chest rising and falling increased. Her lips parted then she said, “Vincent.”

     
Hearing
his name on her lips caused the leash he had on himself to break. Lowering his
head, he claimed her mouth. Moving his lips along hers, he teased her. Licking
the seam, he flirted with her, taunting her to open up and let him in. It had
been twelve years since the last time he’d tasted the sweet nectar of her
kisses, and he refused to be denied another second.

     
Slanting
his mouth, he increased the pressure, wanting her to be aware she wasn’t
dealing with a nervous teenage boy but a determined man. He heard the whimper
before lips parted and allowed him entrance. Seizing his chance, he drove his
tongue inside and knew he’d touched paradise. A haven that he’d allowed to be
held away from him for too long.

     
It
didn’t take but a few passes of his tongue along hers before Chelsi was chasing
him. They circled each other as they moved from her mouth to his. Her tongue
entered, and he closed his lips around it and gently bit the tip. She gasped,
and he slipped inside her again.

     
When
she began to suckle him, he growled. Lowering his hands to her waist, he held
her body against his as he pushed in and out of her mouth. Images of them
mimicking their mouths in a different way flashed in his mind. He’d never been
so turned on by a simple kiss in all of his adult life.

     
The
desire to feel her arms and legs wrapped around him while he thrust between her
thighs like he was doing to her mouth grew stronger. Urgent steps carried them
across the carpet until they bumped against something.

     
The
jolt startled Chelsi, causing her to pull away. “Oh, my God, what are we
doing?” she babbled. “What am
I
doing?”

     
The
sensual haze cleared from Vincent’s mind. He glanced down at the anxious woman
in his arms. They stood beside the conference table. Correction, he had Chelsi
pinned between him and the table. If she hadn’t stopped them, there was no
doubt in his mind he would have had her laid across it as he drove them both to
completion between her legs. Unlike Chelsi, he had been completely aware of
what he’d been prepared to do.

     
Shit, we’re in the board room.
His actions,
even though they were prompted by lust, were stupid. There were no locks to the
doors in this room, and anyone could have walked in on them. He didn’t have
concern for himself. He knew he’d built a solid reputation with his employees;
however, they didn’t know Chelsi, and he wouldn’t allow her to be disrespected
in such a way.

     
When
he glanced down, her eyes were closed. She looked as if she were praying. One
of her hands was crushed between them as she still held onto her folder and
swatches. Her other hand clutched the lapel of his jacket. She had been just as
carried away, but when she opened her eyes, he was taken aback by the apprehension
in her gaze.

     
Taking
a step back from her, he ran his hand through his hair. “Look, Chelsi, this is not
why I asked you to stay.”

     
Her
hand dropped from his lapel, and she licked her kiss swollen lips. “Are you
sure,
Vincent
?”

     
Quickly,
he moved away a little further. Focusing on that mouth of hers had gotten him
in the sticky situation he was in now. “No.” Inhaling deep, he said, “I just
wanted to talk to you. Catch up on how you’ve been doing all these years. Take
you to dinner maybe.”

     
Shaking
her head, she glanced at the door then back at him. “We don’t need dinner for
that. I’ve been fine.” An unconvincing chuckle came out of her mouth, dry and
humorless. “As you can see, I became a designer just as I planned.”

“Go
out with me tonight.”

     
“I
don’t think that’s a good idea.” She walked towards the door.

     
“Chelsi,
you can see that we have unfinished business between us.” He traced her steps
to the door.

     
Grabbing
the handle, Chelsi shook her head and looked over her shoulder at him. “Any
business between us was finished twelve years ago.” She yanked the door open
and left the room with quick steps.

     
Rushing
behind her, he watched her hustle down the hall. He could have caught up with
her easily, but he didn’t want to draw any more attention to her. As it was,
the people mingling in the hall had spotted them coming from the conference
room. His employees tried to pretend they hadn’t noticed her quick step to the
bank of elevators.

     
Frustrated,
he wanted to yell. Instead, he pulled his cell out of his pocket and placed a
call. While he watched Chelsi blend with the crowd getting on the elevator, he
was sure of one thing; Chelsi Halifax was running away from him.

     
And
he wanted to know why. One way or another he would find his answer. He hadn’t
risen to his current level in the business industry by not going after what he
wanted.

     
And
he wanted Chelsi.

* * * *

     
“Excuse,
me, Ms. Halifax.”

     
Chelsi
was two steps off the elevator on the lobby floor when she heard her name. A
man dressed in an all black suit was coming towards her as he slipped a cell
phone into his inside pocket.

“Yes.”
She paused.

“I’m
Thomas, Mr. Poindexter’s driver.”

     
Vaguely
she recalled this man being at the grocery store trying to get Vincent to the
airport. “It’s nice to meet you.” She gave him a quick smile then started
across the lobby.

     
Thomas
kept pace with her. “Mr. Poindexter instructed me to drive you back to your
office or anywhere you may want to go.”

     
Shoot.
Vincent’s kiss had her brain so muddled that she’d forgotten she’d ridden with
Peter. Well, there went her prideful exit. Looking at Thomas, an older man
possibly in his early forties with thinning brown hair, she considered telling
him to let Mr. Poindexter know that she decided she’d rather take the
light-rail or bus. However, she rationalized with herself that she was being
petty and ridiculous. She had a lot of work to do and a boss to set straight. Taking
public transportation would take her longer.