MrTemptation (11 page)

And yet she couldn’t help herself. The doubt was always with
her.

The elevator door opened and she went inside. She pressed
the button for her floor, sighing heavily. The door closed and she leaned her
head back on the mirrored wall. He’d practically admitted he’d carried a torch
for her for ages. He wanted to see her again in the morning for breakfast.

She looked at her face. There was a dreamy quality to her
expression that amused her.

Oh, well. Tomorrow was a new day.

It’d be wrong to give in to impulse, wouldn’t it? She just
met him. She shouldn’t really get involved with someone anyway. She’d a lot on
her plate right now, what with moving out of her condo and finding a job, she
decided but without conviction.

The elevator opened with a ping and Cadence walked somberly
into the hall.

She missed him already.

She found her room card in the bottom of her purse and
opened the door. She threw her purse on the floor in her room.

She strode through the double doors to her bedroom, flopped
backward onto the bed and dramatically threw her arm over her eyes. A smile lit
her lips.

She wasn’t normally one for theatrics but the day had just
been amazing. The evening had almost fulfilled her every wish. Almost.

She fell asleep where she was.

She dreamt of Preston.

Chapter Six

Preston held his cell phone tight in his grip. What a jerk
he was. Why had he ditched Cadence to call his contacts in London? The call
could easily have waited until morning. She’d been so hot in the Caddy…the way
her eyes had darkened and she’d sucked her lip into her mouth as she came. God,
he wanted to see that over and over again, except next time he wanted his cock
to be buried deep inside her. He’d had a chance tonight too, and he’d blown it.

Why did he put work before pleasure?

Keeping his nose to the grindstone was ingrained in him.
He’d always wanted to be a financial success and his strong work ethic had
propelled him to the top in record time.

He’d soon learned success didn’t mean squat with nobody to
share it with. He was tired of eating alone, staying alone in hotel rooms,
having no one to come home to.

He settled in the backseat of his car, miserable. Dinner
with Cadence had been wonderful. He’d broken through her shell. She revealed to
him who she really was, a desirable woman. Not the phony Norman Rockwell
daughter who could do no wrong.

They could’ve had the night—a mind-blowing, sensual
adventure—together if only he hadn’t been so damned focused on this London
deal.

“Office?” Frank asked.

He didn’t miss Frank’s scowl of disapproval. Preston shook
his head. He lived in a world of hopeless romantics. “Yeah.”

“She’s a dish,” Frank said. “If you don’t mind me calling
‘em like I see ‘em.”

“You’re such a connoisseur of women,” Preston replied
bitterly.

Frank grunted and laid on the horn. The yellow cab in front
of them swerved into the next lane just in time to avoid being rear-ended.

“Too bad your work is your mistress,” Frank said with his
usual candor.

Preston looked out the window. He had totally blown his
first date with the woman he’d loved for years, no pretending otherwise.

He opened his BlackBerry and found the phone number for the
Michelangelo. He punched in the number and listened to the ring. The hotel
operator answered.

Preston identified himself and asked her to call Cadence’s
room. The phone rang ten times. No answer.

“I’m sorry but Miss Burke isn’t available,” the operator
said. “Would you care to leave a message?”

“No thanks.” Preston terminated the call and turned off his
cell. Either she was already asleep or she was mad at him. He hoped it was the
former but he wouldn’t blame her if she was pissed.

“I can turn around and take you back to Miss Burke’s hotel,”
Frank said.

“She’s gone to bed. I don’t want to wake her.”

“Suit yourself.”

Preston sat back. He couldn’t shake the blues. He’d left her
for a business call. He wouldn’t again if she gave him a second chance.

* * * * *

Cadence woke with a start, sat straight up in bed and pushed
her hair from her face. She looked down at her wrinkled clothes and blinked.
The digital clock on the nightstand glowed 6:09 a.m.

She had slept straight through the night. What sweet dreams.
She fell back against the down pillows. The memories of yesterday came flooding
back. Preston Night. What had he done to her?

His steamy kisses had put her in a better frame of mind,
that was for sure. How amazing they’d found each other after all these years.

She couldn’t wait to see him this morning.

She stretched her arms and sighed. He’d been so gentle when
explaining the circumstances of her mother’s trust. The secrets. The lies.
Mother must’ve been so unhappy. And her father. He’d kept his affair with
Victoria a secret to protect himself from a scandal. She hated what they’d done
to each other as much as she hated what they’d done to her.

She wished Preston didn’t work so hard. When did he sleep?
He had to keep all of his offices across the world afloat. Of course, she was
somewhat of a workaholic herself. She laughed, realizing how old habits died
hard. They would have to teach each other how to relax and enjoy the moment.

She looked at the clock again.

6:17.

She jumped up from the bed and went to the bar to grab a
Diet Coke, not having time to wait around for coffee to brew. Taking a big
gulp, she ran to her suitcase to pick out something to wear for the meeting
with Preston’s mother. She wanted to look presentable. She should’ve brought
more clothes but who could’ve predicted the chain of events that sent her life
topsy-turvy in the last couple days?

The only clean outfit she had was a jeans skirt and white
cotton blouse. Not the image of the sexy woman she wanted to project but it
would have to do.

As Cadence rushed through her morning grooming schedule, she
couldn’t help but wonder what she would say when she saw Preston. Would he
offer apologies? Regrets? She certainly hoped so. This time she wouldn’t let
him off the hook so easily.

7:11.

She blow-dried her hair, downed the rest of her Diet Coke
and then put on her jeans skirt and cotton blouse.

7:28.

She should really get back to New Haven. The Witch expected
her to vacate the condo pronto. She didn’t want anybody else touching her
stuff.

That’s what the old Cadence Burke would’ve done. The new
Cadence said—screw Victoria and her demands!

Taking a deep breath and one last look in the mirror, her
confidence zoomed. She looked decent. More than decent.

7:30.

At that moment, her room phone rang. She ran to grab it and
knocked her shin into the frame of the bed.

Damn!

Rubbing the sore spot, she answered.

“Miss Burke, there is a gentlemen here by the name of
Preston Night.”

Even the sound of his name sent her body into a frenzy of
need. “Thank you, I’ll be right down.”

She replaced the receiver, a silly grin on her face.

Are you even thinking straight?
Why hadn’t she asked
the receptionist to send him on up? Was there some kind of rule that sex could
only occur at night? Hell no.

She realized she liked being a seductress, a sex kitten, a
woman about the town. She’d waited too long to find this out.

She grabbed a silk scarf and a purse. On her way to the
elevator, she tried to talk herself out of her sexual fantasy. He was here on
business. She’d important papers to sign.

Her heart overruled her head.

Limbs shaking, complete with goose bumps, she entered the
elevator. She hadn’t been this nervous since she’d given her dissertation and
that had been a speech in front of almost five hundred students and faculty.

She did her calming breaths. Breathe in, breathe out. One,
two, three…

Ping.

The elevator doors opened. She expected him to be there
waiting for her like he had been the night before but the hallway was empty.
She swallowed her panic and turned in the direction of the lobby.

There, leaning against a pillar, dressed in black Armani
with a light-blue shirt and matching tie, was the man she had suffered over for
the last twenty-four hours. He was beyond sexy. He was light years more than
titillating. And he was staring at her.

Head up. Shoulders back.

She walked toward him with a definite bounce in her step. He
was freshly shaved. His hair was combed perfectly in place, except for one
naughty lock that fell onto his forehead. Well, she’d have to do something
about that.

His cool green eyes searched her face. Did she detect a
flicker of uneasiness? Of regret? He smiled at her through perfect teeth rimmed
by firm, sensual lips. Her imagination hadn’t exaggerated last night. He was
definitely the man in her dreams.

Preston pushed off the pillar and sauntered toward her. His
powerful, well-muscled body moved with easy grace and confidence. It was his
style, and what attracted her to him in the first place. It’s what defined him.
He didn’t hold back this morning.

She sucked in her breath, unable to take her eyes from his
body. Whatever apprehension she’d carried with her was gone. As he approached
her, his mouth curved into a playful smile and grabbed her with its
heart-pounding magnetism.

Taking her by surprise, he grabbed both of her hands in his
strong, warm ones and pulled her close, kissing her lightly on the cheek. Her
breath slipped out of her at the touch of his warm, silky lips on her skin, and
waves of excitement crashed through her.

“You look fabulous.” He kept hold of her hands but stepped
back to take a long, admiring look.

“Same outfit I had on yesterday.”

He nodded. “Still looks great.”

“Thanks.”

“Sorry about last night.”

“No problem. Actually, I crashed as soon as I reached the
bed.”

She was sure it was relief that smoothed out the lines in
his forehead and brought a smile to his lips.

“I know you had a long day,” he said. “I shouldn’t have kept
you up so late.”

“Don’t apologize. I’m a big girl.”

Looking into his eyes, she hoped to convey what he meant to
her without having to say the words.

“So we’re cool?” he asked.

“You had me at the elevator doors opening.”

His smile turned into a grin. “Did you sleep well?” he asked
tenderly as his thumbs rubbed lazy circles on her wrists.

She shivered at his touch and sighed deeply. “Like the
dead.”

“Good. Today’s going to require a lot more from you than
yesterday.”

What a strange thing to say
, she mused. Just having
him next to her stoked her confidence. She could take on the day like a champ
and face any other surprises that might come her way with courage she didn’t
normally have.

“Well, let’s get some coffee and some food. I don’t know
about you but I’m hungry.”

She nodded, letting him take charge. Hand in hand, they
walked out of the building to the waiting SUV.

“Your chariot, my lady.” Preston bowed slightly.

“I could get used to riding in style,” she said.

“I thought mayors’ daughters always took limos.”

She snorted. “Hardly.”

His comment struck her as off, coming from a man who
obviously required the finer things in life. Or was he just kidding around?

“Good morning, Frank,” she said.

“Miss Burke.” He opened the car door.

She climbed inside and settled into the cool leather seat.
Memories from the night before pressed in on her, sending her senses swirling.
Preston’s masculine scent was embedded in the leather. She breathed it in as
she recalled his hands on her body, his mouth on her flesh. Her nipples
hardened, her sex clenched. She wished they’d hailed a cab.

Preston got in on the other side and sat next to her, his
heat pressing in on her. He’d a way of moving that reminded her of a cat—smooth
and effortless. He was comfortable in his body and knew how to use his
masculinity to full effect. She supposed he must in his line of work.

She lifted her gaze. Concern etched his face.

“Thinking about your London deal?” she asked. She was
half-teasing, half-serious. Hoped he was thinking the same thing she was.

“Not a chance.”

He
was
thinking about what happened the night before…

“How long will my business take?” She pretended to be
blasé
about business before pleasure.

“All morning, I’m afraid. We’re picking up my mother and
driving out to Long Island so you can see Sparkle Industries.”

“I already told you…”

“Mom insists.” He sat back, watched the early morning crowd
hurrying along the sidewalk. “I want you to know, if at any time today you need
a break or you want to stop, we will. Just say the word. We can always finish
up tomorrow or the next day. I know this will be a lot for you, even painful at
times, and I don’t want to push you too hard.”

“Thank you, Preston,” she said and looked down at her hands.
His concern for her well-being touched her deeply. There was more to the family
saga he hadn’t told her, information that would likely be devastating to hear.

How lucky she would have him by her side this morning as
they sorted out the Burke legacy.

Cadence reached over and covered his hand with hers. His
skin was warm, rough. He smiled at her but his heart wasn’t in it. She could
tell. She’d done enough fake smiles in her lifetime. What made him change?

She withdrew and kept her hands to herself. Whatever the
morning would bring, it wouldn’t change how she felt about him.

“Phooey,” she said. It wasn’t the word she would’ve liked to
have used.

“Is something wrong?” Preston asked.