How to Seduce a Billionaire (11 page)

There was a pause, then Brandon said, “Take a message, would you please, Kelly? I don’t have time to talk to her right now.”

“All right.” Kelly stared at the telephone, knowing the woman wouldn’t take the news well. She composed herself, then muttered, “Ah well, here goes nothing,” and pressed another button. “I’m sorry, Ms. Stephens, but Brandon is unable to take your call right now. May I give him a message?”

“You must be kidding.”

“No, ma’am, I’m not. He’s unavailable, so I’ll have to take a message for him.”

“Fine, I have a message for him,” she said heatedly. “Tell him he needs to fire his receptionist, or whoever the hell you are, because you are simply incompetent.”

Kelly gasped. “I…I beg your pardon?”

“You didn’t hear me? So now you’re deaf, too?”

“No, I’m not deaf, but—”

“Then put me through to Brandon now.”

“I don’t think so,” Kelly said, and quickly disconnected the call. Shaking, she jumped up from her desk and paced back and forth, pressing her hands to her cheeks as she shook her head in numb disbelief. Had she actually hung up on someone her boss considered a friend? Yes, she had! On the other hand, she couldn’t believe Brandon was actually friends with such a horrible person.

Was it too soon to take another vacation? She must be under more pressure than she’d realized if she’d actually hung up on someone.

How would she explain her actions to Brandon? She had to say something. He would hear about it eventually from the rude queen bee herself. With one last shake of her head, she slid back into her chair and tried to dream up a reasonable explanation.

Brandon breathed deeply in relief as he watched the red light on the phone disappear, signaling that the call was disconnected.

Bianca had phoned last week and he’d never returned her call, and now he’d just refused to talk to her again. He’d never been someone who avoided confrontation, and, hell, Bianca had always been good for some laughs. She’d also made herself available to him countless times and was always up for a hearty round of purely casual sex whenever they were in the same part of the country. So why hadn’t he taken the call? What was his problem?

He dug his fingers through his hair, trying to figure it out. Bianca rarely made demands on his time, only calling when she was on the West Coast and wanted to get together for the aforementioned casual sex.

But unfortunately, he reasoned, right now wasn’t a good time for him to see her. No, right now, it was important that Brandon make himself available for Kelly and help her get through this difficult time with that idiot Roger. So yeah, that’s why he couldn’t see Bianca. That was his excuse. He was being Mr. Helpful. That was just the kind of guy he was.

His intercom rang and he picked up the phone. “Yes, Kelly?”

She spoke in a rush. “I wanted to let you know that I accidentally dropped Ms. Stephens’s call and she might be a bit angry with me. I know you don’t have time to speak with her right now, but would you like me to get her back on the line and explain what happened?”

“Don’t bother, she’ll get over it,” he said. “I’ll call her next week.”

“All right,” she said, sounding relieved. “Thank you.”

He hung up the phone, sat back in his chair and stared out the window. Maybe he would call Bianca next week and maybe he wouldn’t. To be honest, Bianca had never been someone he’d call “fun.” Her world revolved around herself, her job, her problems, her triumphs, her own importance. In other words, she talked about herself all the time. Yes, he’d always found her mildly amusing when she bitched about the people who ran her television network, the people she worked with, the people who came on her show. She was always complaining about something or other.

He didn’t need that kind of aggravation right now. He had to concentrate his energy on watching—and possibly “helping”—Kelly complete her warped plan to get Roger back.

And he had to focus on keeping his hands to himself. She’d made it clear two nights ago that he wasn’t allowed to break their ground rules again. He might have to revisit that decision sometime in the near future, but not while Roger was here. That didn’t mean he would leave Kelly alone, though. He wasn’t about to let her get hurt implementing her crazy plan.

Today was the day Roger the schmuck would be arriving. Brandon smacked his hands together in anticipation of finally meeting face to face the jerk who’d made Kelly’s life so miserable.

Let the games begin.

Seven

“P
erhaps you don’t understand just who you’re dealing with,” said a cool blonde woman standing at the registration desk. An elegantly dressed man stood nearby, tapping his well-shod foot impatiently.

Kelly would know that foot tapper anywhere, even with his back to her. It was Roger, of course. Watching him now, she recalled that any small inconvenience often sent him into an emotional tailspin. The first warning sign was the foot tapping.

Gathered around the lobby were the rest of Roger’s group, ten or twelve businessmen and several women, all waiting to check in.

Sharon, the front desk clerk, smiled warmly. “We’re all well aware of Mr. Hempstead, and we’re happy and honored to welcome him and his associates to the Mansion on Silverado Trail. We’re so pleased that your company has chosen our resort for your retreat. We’ve arranged for Mr. Hempstead to stay in
Sauvignon,
our most deluxe and private
maison
suite. I’m just finishing up with his paperwork and I’ll take care of the rest of your people right away.”

“I certainly hope so.”

Sharon’s smile never faded as she slid two plastic suite cards inside a sturdy cardboard case and touched the shiny brass bell on the counter. A clear chime rang out. “One of our bellmen will be here momentarily to accompany Mr. Hempstead to his suite. I can show you where it is on our map.”

“Don’t bother,” the woman said frostily. “Just book me into the room nearest Mr. Hempstead’s.”

Kelly studied the woman curiously and assumed she was Roger’s assistant or an associate of some kind. She was attractive in a cold-blooded sort of way. Her black pinstriped designer suit and gray silk shirt seemed overly businesslike and out of place in the casually elegant lobby, but Kelly had to admit that the look suited the woman. She didn’t come across as the casual type.

The thought suddenly occurred to Kelly that this woman and Roger might be sleeping together. That could pose a problem, one Kelly hadn’t even considered.

She shifted her gaze back to Roger. He was still very good-looking, naturally, but she noticed that his dark blond hair was beginning to thin on top. He looked unnaturally tan and she wondered if he’d taken to visiting a tanning salon. His brown suit was impeccable, of course, but slightly dated, at least by West Coast standards. His striped tie showed off his beloved burgundy and gold college colors. He looked exactly like what he was: the spoiled, privileged scion of a venerable East Coast family.

At that moment, Sharon glanced around with a mildly anxious expression on her face, and Kelly knew it was time to defuse the situation. But just as she started to approach Roger, Brandon entered the lobby from the opposite doorway. He walked right up to Roger as Kelly watched in fear and horror.

“Hello, Mr. Hempstead,” Brandon said spiritedly, grabbing Roger’s hand, shaking it with enthusiasm. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. We’ve been looking forward to your visit for quite some time. I’m Brandon Duke. Welcome to the Mansion on Silverado Trail.”

“Thanks,” Roger said, clearly impressed that the former NFL quarterback and billionaire hotel mogul had singled him out. “We’ve heard good buzz about the place, but there must’ve been a mix-up because our rooms…”

“Not a mix-up,” Brandon said quickly, shaking his finger for emphasis. “An upgrade.”

Kelly frowned. What in the world was he up to?

The differences between the two men were blatantly clear to Kelly now, and she couldn’t believe she’d ever told Brandon they were similar. Yes, they were both wealthy, Type A and driven to succeed. But she had also called Brandon arrogant. Yes, he was bossy and wanted to have things his way, but now, as she watched him converse with Roger, she could see that Brandon didn’t have one iota of the haughty arrogance that her former boyfriend had.

As the men continued to talk, the cool blonde turned around and eyed Brandon from head to toe as if he were a succulent steak and she a hungry lioness.

She’d seen enough. Kelly straightened her shoulders and shook her hair back, then walked briskly toward the front desk.

“Hello, Roger,” she said.

Roger looked at her with mild disinterest, then did a double take and his eyes goggled. “Kelly?”

“Yes, Roger, it’s me.” She circled around to the other side of the counter. “Now, let’s get you registered and off to your rooms, shall we?”

“You work here?” Roger said, unblinking.

“I certainly do,” she said, and accompanied the words with what she hoped was an alluring smile. “Welcome to the Mansion on Silverado Trail. Let me see what I can do to speed up the registration process.”

Just then, Michael, the other registration clerk, came rushing over. “Thanks, Kelly. I can take over now.” He leaned closer and whispered, “I had to change all their restaurant reservations. They brought two extra people with no notice.”

It figured that Roger would do something to botch up the works, Kelly thought, but she said nothing as she rounded the counter.

Brandon stepped up beside her and smiled genially to the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, Michael and Sharon will have you settled as quickly as possible. I’d like to extend my wishes for a pleasant stay, and hope you’ll all enjoy the complimentary champagne basket our catering staff will be delivering to your rooms within the next half hour.”

There were smiles and a chorus of thanks from several in the group, but Roger ignored all of it.

“Kelly?” He took hold of her arm and pulled her aside. “I hardly recognized you. It’s been a long time. How have you been?”

“I’ve been wonderful, Roger. How about you?”

He ignored the question and continued to stare. “You look fantastic. What have you done with yourself?”

“Oh, nothing special,” she said nonchalantly as she fluffed her hair. “I cut my hair.”

“It’s more than that,” he said, frowning. “There’s something else…”

“Oh, you know, I work out, eat right, drink great wine.” She beamed a confident smile at him. “Life is good.”

“Well, whatever you’re doing, it’s working,” he said raptly, and leaned in close. “Listen, are you free tonight? We could have dinner.”

“Tonight? No, I’m afraid—”

“She’s busy,” Brandon said abruptly, looming directly behind her. “She has to work late.”

Kelly turned and stabbed him with a pointed look that clearly said
buzz off.
Then she turned back to Roger and smiled tightly. “Yes, unfortunately, I’m working tonight, but I’m free Thursday night. Are you?”

“Yes,” he said immediately. “We’ll have dinner.”

“Wait a minute,” Brandon muttered.

Kelly elbowed him in the stomach discreetly.

“Oww,” he said under his breath.

She ignored him and continued to focus her energy on her ex-boyfriend. “I’ve got to get back to my office, Roger, but I’m sure I’ll run into you around the resort between now and Thursday. I hope you all have a wonderful visit.”

Roger raised one eyebrow rakishly. “Oh, I’ll definitely see you around.”

“So that’s Roger,” Brandon said as they strolled back to the office together.

Kelly stopped and planted her hands on her hips. “And what did you think you were doing, butting in like that?”

“Hey, I did you a favor.”

“You said you wouldn’t say anything to him.”

“I was being my charming hotelier self. Extending an open hand to one of our
important
guests.”

“Open fist, you mean.”

He snorted. “Don’t tempt me. Guy’s a real snake oil salesman, isn’t he?”

She shook her head as they continued walking. “He’s not that bad.”

“Yeah, he is,” Brandon countered. “And who’s the ice queen?”

“That woman with him?” Kelly frowned. “I just assumed she was his assistant, but she was awfully pushy, wasn’t she?”

He glanced at her sideways. “Yeah, kind of like you.”

“I’m not pushy,” she said in mock outrage.

“Yeah, you are,” he said as he led her into their office suite and closed and locked the door.

“Well, I guess I can be pushy once in a while, but I’m nothing like—”

Without warning, he spun her around. She let out a tiny shriek as he urged her back against the wall.

“Just look at the way you push me around,” Brandon said. “The way you force me to do this…” He lowered his head and began to nibble her neck. Kelly felt the electric sensation all the way down to her toes.

It had only been two days. But oh, how she had missed him.

“And this…” Brandon used both hands to flip her short jacket off her shoulders, trapping her arms behind her and causing her breasts to be thrust forward.

“But…oh, yes.”

“So damn pushy.” He quickly unknotted the thin ties that held her dress together and reached for her breasts.

“Brandon,” she whispered, then moaned when he swiftly maneuvered her bra out of the way and used his fingers to tease and excite her nipples. But through the thick haze of pleasure, she remembered something important and grabbed his hand. “Brandon, wait. We weren’t going to do this anymore. We should stop. We should…”

“We’ll stop after this, I swear,” he muttered. “But I can’t stop. I’ve got to have you now.”

“Yes, please,” she said, straining to remove her jacket as he bent to lick her breasts. “Hurry.”

“Pushy,” he murmured again as he kissed and nibbled his way back and forth between her breasts.

“Oh, shut up and kiss me,” she grumbled as she reached up and whipped his jacket off.

His laugh was deep and full. “I do love a pushy woman.”

Then his lips covered hers in an openmouthed kiss and his tongue swept inside to tangle with hers. Through the mindless haze of passion, Kelly’s hands fumbled with his belt, finally undoing it and pulling it loose. She unbuttoned his pants, then started on his zipper, easing it down over his burgeoning erection.

In the back of her brain, she registered the words he’d said,
I do love a pushy woman,
but knew he didn’t mean anything by it. It was just something he’d said in the heat of the moment. She wouldn’t make more of him using the word “love” than that. Otherwise, she’d go crazy overthinking every word he’d ever said.

Seconds later, Brandon made her forget to think at all as he took first one nipple, then the other, into his mouth, sucking and licking until she thought she would die of sheer pleasure.

He yanked her dress off her shoulders and watched it fall to the floor, revealing the black thong she wore.

“Whoa.”

She boldly kicked the dress away, then leaned back against the wall. “Do you like it?”

He simply stared at her for several long moments, taking in every inch of her, from her hair down to her feet. “I recall telling you it was my personal choice.”

“I do recall you mentioning it.”

His smile was slow and wicked. “The heels are a nice touch, too.”

“Why, thank you.”

“Damn, you’re incredible,” he whispered, skimming his hands down the outside of her thighs as he knelt in front of her.

“Brandon, what…”

“Shh, let me have you,” he said, gently moving her legs apart to allow him to kiss the inside skin of her thighs, starting above her knee and moving up, up, until he reached her heated core.

“So beautiful,” he murmured.

She was incapable of speech as he cupped his hands around her bottom, angled her toward him and feasted. He took his time, lavishing kisses and strokes of his clever tongue everywhere, touching her, urging her up, closer and closer to the peak of oblivion, only to ease back, teasing her, playing her until she was ready to scream.

“Brandon, please,” she cried.

“Soon, love,” he promised.

“Now.” It had to be now or she would die from need.

He moved then, his mouth trailing kisses across her stomach, then up and over her breasts as he stood once again.

She opened her eyes and looked into his, saw the tender passion reflected there and knew in that moment that he felt the same way she did. It was more than simple need or wanting. She couldn’t name it, could only feel it, deep in her bones. It flowed through her bloodstream, filling her with an age-old understanding, warming her down into her soul. He felt it, too. She knew it, saw it in his eyes. That stunning awareness filled her with joy as he kissed her lips and met her need with his own.

With no effort at all, he lifted her up and turned so that he now leaned against the wall with her in his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist and moaned as he eased her onto his firm erection, filling her completely.

“Yes,” he uttered, kissing her, his mouth taking hold of hers in an explosion of heat and pleasure. Together they pushed each other to the limit, then slowed, unwilling to bring an end to the ecstasy. They moved together in a deliberate, unhurried rhythm, until the passion built again and he pumped into her until she couldn’t catch her breath. But she didn’t care, it didn’t matter. He was all she wanted, all she’d been waiting for. He moved with an urgency that matched her own, bringing them back to that edge where they teetered for an instant, then drove themselves over in a climax so all-consuming, so shattering, she wondered if they would survive the fall.

“What just happened here?” Kelly asked, her voice betraying her dazed and confused state.

Brandon nudged her with his foot. “You forced me to have my way with you, remember?”

She tried to work up the energy to smack his leg, but there was no power behind it and she ended up merely grazing his skin with her fingertips.

“So much for ground rules,” she said under her breath as she took in the unbelievable scene. Somehow, they’d staggered over to the office couch where they were now sprawled at either end in various stages of undress. Clothing was scattered across the floor. Kelly had grabbed the colorful shawl that was draped over the back of the couch to cover herself, but it didn’t do much good. Brandon was gloriously naked. The sight reminded her of some decadent tableau painting.

“Come here,” Brandon said, grabbing her ankle and tugging her closer, then pulling her up to sit on his lap.

Kelly wrapped her arms around his middle and allowed herself a moment to cuddle with him and feel cherished.