Seduction and Surrender (The Billionaire's Temptation Series) (2 page)

“It has nothing to do with your restaurant.” He shrugged as if none of it had any consequence. “I purchased the building about six months ago with a certain plan in mind, and unfortunately for you, my project requires the building in its entirety.”

“Just like that, huh? Easy peasy.” Her jaw was clenched so tight she was going to need dental work. “So, what about my restaurant? What about my employees and the people who depend on that income? You can’t just tell us to move, damn it. It cost a small fortune to design and build that space—and we had a renewal clause in our lease.”

He shrugged with a sigh. “I’m afraid the lease you signed had a renewal clause that was only valid with the original owner. Once the owner sold me the building, the renewal clause no longer applied, though it did require that I honor the lease to term. Which I’ve done. Now, if there’s nothing else, I’m afraid I have other matters requiring my attention.”

How could she have been so stupid? At the time, she hadn’t been able to afford the costly legal fees, and thought her lease was a standard agreement. Yet the contract had been so convoluted with legalese, she had no doubt they’d been able to slip in a clause that escaped her.

Emma felt as though she might be ill. Her face felt numb and her ears were ringing, as if all the blood had drained to her lower extremities. She wasn’t one for hysterics, but her entire life was on the line. And more—
so much more
.

She refused to let him dismiss her as if none of it mattered. Because it did matter, more than anything. Her eyes stung with threatening tears as her life teetered on the edge of disaster. “What the hell am I supposed to do? I can’t afford to move my restaurant. It took a fortune to make it happen the first time around—every penny I had. And we’re established in that location now. We’d lose half our clientele if we were forced to move.”

With her restaurant situated in the historic port district of Portmore, a large ocean-front town in northern Massachusetts, a good portion of her business came from the tourists who stayed in the nearby hotels, in addition to the local businesses. Even if she could scrape together the money to build at a new location, there was a good chance the whole thing would never get off the ground. And it had taken her years of working her ass off to get that money, climbing up the ladder in a field dominated by men who wouldn’t take her seriously until she forced them to see the error of their ways.

“It’s nothing personal, Ms. Sparrow. Just business.” He crossed his muscular arms in front of his chest as his gaze settled on her with a curiosity she hadn’t expected to see.

She shifted in her seat, and bit back the tirade she wanted to unleash on him. “It’s not just business, Mr. Ryker. And to me, it’s damn personal. It’s everything. My career, my savings, my life.” Crap. There was a lump forming in her throat, though she refused to show any weakness by shedding tears.

His brow furrowed and his eyes darkened as he took her in, his lips twisting and pressing together as if in contemplation. “I’m not an unreasonable man. Perhaps…we can work something out.”

Relief washed over her, and she nearly jumped out of her seat to hug him. “
Anything.
I’ll do anything to make this work.”

Amusement slipped into his openly triumphant smile. “I’m glad to hear it, Ms. Sparrow.”

Chapter Two

Quinn knew all about Emma Sparrow and her restaurant. He’d purchased the building six months ago and had every intention of overhauling it into a larger project. But what he hadn’t told her was that he’d wanted her from the moment he first laid eyes on her a few months ago when he’d walked into her restaurant to grab some dinner.

She’d been standing there in the open kitchen that allowed diners a view, rattling off orders to her staff like some five-star general in complete command of her armies. The food had been incredible—yet unpretentious. Just like her. And he’d been desperate for more—her included—from the very first bite.

He’d frequented her establishment more times than he’d liked to admit, taking clients and friends there, all as an excuse to see her once more. In a world he found increasingly boring, she’d offered him a bit of entertainment and beauty—and he could easily watch her work for hours and never tire of it.

However, today was the first time he’d ever spoken to her, touched her. And damn, but he was already in deep where Emma was concerned. He had to have her. Even if it was just for one night, to get her out of his system.

He had no time for a woman in his life, short of satisfying his healthy sex drive. Yet for Emma? He’d happily carve some time out of his busy schedule if it meant getting her naked body under his. And he was damn near willing to do anything it took to get those fuckable lips wrapped around his cock.

She was certainly pretty, but in an effortless and unconventional way: her mahogany hair pulled back into a messy ponytail with long shaggy bangs, big hazel eyes, and her berry-red lips in a pout that made him want to make good use of that mouth of hers. As for the rest of her, she might be petite, but the girl still had curves—
real curves
, in
all
the right places. She was a natural beauty, and
all
woman.
Nothing
like the women he normally dated—which may very well be a good thing, since more and more, he found himself bored and uninterested with them.

They were gorgeous and smart but they were always too willing to please with the expectation that they’d be rewarded with extravagant gifts and luxurious trips. And that was fine—it was an unspoken agreement that gave them what they wanted, and allowed him some sexual release without having to give it much thought. Yet he found himself just going through the motions.

Emma? Well…she didn’t exactly seem the sort to happily go along with anything he wanted. That much was evident from the way she ran her kitchen and chefs. And damn, but that was a total turn-on. He liked that sort of challenge, liked the hunt—and liked the capture even more.

Though she’d likely tell him to go fuck himself under normal circumstances, he now had something she desperately wanted. He felt like a bit of an ass to use her predicament to his advantage, but he’d already given her more thought than he’d given any other woman, and he certainly wouldn’t be losing sleep over his tactics if it landed her in his bed. Anything to scratch that itch and get her out of his system, so he could get on with his life.

Because he did want her. Even more so now that he’d had the chance to meet her, to touch her, to feel her sexy body and lush curves pressed against him until his cock swelled with a need that demanded satiation. She was feisty and determined, smart and strong-willed. His perfect match.

And he would have her. Of that, he had no doubt.

He knew what it was like to start from nothing, to work his ass off for every penny. The odds had always been against him, but he’d made it work out of sheer stubbornness and determination. He saw that same fight in Emma, and it made him want her all the more.

She wasn’t one who waited around and expected someone to give her everything on a silver platter, as if she deserved it for simply being pretty. That was evident in the way she ran her restaurant. She fought for what she wanted and worked damn hard for it. He had to admire that. And maybe he’d cut her a break that would also work to his advantage.

While running his hand across his rough stubble, in no hurry to shave anytime soon, he gave it some thought. There was still time to make changes to the plans he had for the building, seeing that they weren’t set to meet with their other investors to finalize the deal for another month. The building was already his, and though the investors would eventually get a say, that wasn’t until they’d all signed on the dotted line.

It might mean shifting some things around, or even losing an investor or two, but he was more than willing to do it, if it meant he got his way with Emma. It’s not like he needed their money anyway. “I’ll tell you what…I’ll see if I can incorporate your restaurant into my current plans for the building. It wasn’t what I originally had in mind, but you’ve piqued my curiosity, Ms. Sparrow, and…I find you intriguing.”

“Do you, now?” Her gaze narrowed, as if trying to figure him out. “And why would that be?”

He shrugged, knowing he had the upper hand. “Emma Sparrow. Full academic scholarship to the Culinary Institute. Graduated with highest honors. Spent a year at Le Cordon Bleu in France, before working your way to head chef by age twenty-five, while at some of the finest restaurants across the country, and finally opening your own place at the age of twenty-seven.
Quite impressive
.”

He’d caught her off guard, her eyes going wide as she shifted in her chair. She clearly wasn’t one who was used to praise, even if her accomplishments were notable. “So, does this mean you’ll extend my lease?”

The fire in her eyes, the determination…he imagined she’d be amazing in bed, and his cock reacted predictably. “Yes—but in exchange, I want us to get to know each other better. I’ve got several functions I need to attend, and I want you…on my arm and by my side.”
And in my bed, under me, around me, any way I can have you, sweetheart.
“I’ll also need you to accompany me on my trips overseas.”

Emma’s eyes went wide as she balked. “
Me?
No offense, but did you forget what I’m like in heels? You should let me keep my restaurant just for saying no to you, since I’m sparing you from becoming the laughingstock of your colleagues. Trust me on this one. I’m not the girl you want as your date.”

He gave her a casual shrug, not wanting her to know the sort of effect she was having on him. “I’m sure you’ll somehow manage, and since you
are
the girl I want in my bed, I’ll happily overlook a stumble or two, especially when I’ll be the one who’ll be there to catch you.”

Her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped open. “
Wait
…you think I’m going to
sleep with you?
To keep my restaurant?
Have you lost your mind?
”

“It’s a simple matter, Ms. Sparrow. These functions usually bore me to tears, and you’ll do a fine job of keeping me entertained. As for the finer details of our arrangement, I don’t think it’ll take long for you to come around.” He’d yet to meet a woman who could resist him for long, and yet he found it curious that, with Emma, it felt like nothing more than bravado on his part—and damn if that wasn’t a rare position to find himself in.

She shook her head as a furious blush swept across her cheeks and the swell of her breasts, making his cock go even harder in response. “There’s
no way
I’m sleeping with you.”

“You say that now, sweetheart. But if it makes you feel better, then very well…we can table that for now, and revisit that clause in our agreement at a later time.” She’d come around—he’d make damn sure of it.

“What if I already have a boyfriend? Did you think of that?” She cocked her head as if she’d suddenly won the argument—which she hadn’t.

“Ms. Sparrow, I saw the way you looked at me in the elevator, and if you do have a boyfriend, he clearly doesn’t mean much to you. Since you seem the sort to be loyal to the guys you date, and knowing the type of schedule chefs normally keep, I’m going to assume that there’s no one waiting for you to get home, and no one who’ll be upset by the fact that I’m going to fuck you until you can’t walk a straight line—when you’re ready, of course.” And damn if he wasn’t looking forward to that day—a day he was determined to make sure was damn soon.

“You’re insane.” Her eyes blazed with fury, but all he could do is think of how he’d put all that heat to some damn good use. Repeatedly. And every which way he could think of.

“I know what I like—and I know what I want. You can’t fault me for it.” It was how he lived his life. Everything he had, everything he’d built, was because he decided what he wanted, and then worked his ass off to make it happen.

“No…I’m sorry, but there’s
no way
I can do this. I’ve spent a
lifetime
trying to be taken seriously in a male-dominated world. Do you know what it’s like to get male chefs to give you any professional respect as a woman in the kitchen when you want to be more than a prep cook?” Her small but capable hands clenched into fists, color flaming her cheeks. “I refuse to have you turn me into some…
object
. It’s
not
happening.”

“Well, if your pride’s more important than your restaurant, I guess this conversation is over.” He sat back in his chair and picked up some contracts he needed to review. “You can see yourself out, Ms. Sparrow.”

He wasn’t trying to be an ass, but after years of negotiations, he knew how to get what he wanted. And he wanted her.

Emma got to her feet, though he didn’t bother looking up from what he was reading, knowing that she’d yet to leave and was no doubt debating her next move and coming up empty. He finally set aside the paper with an exaggerated sigh. “Was there anything else, Ms. Sparrow?”

Her jaw was clenched tight, but she was looking less stubborn about marching out of his office and sacrificing her restaurant. That said something about her too—that she was smart enough to know what was on the line. “I want some time to think about your offer.”

“Do you, now? I didn’t realize the offer was still on the table.” He leaned back in his chair with the slightest of grins, tenting his fingers in front of him as he took her in. Before today, he’d only ever seen her from a distance, but she certainly was something to look at, especially when her temper was up. He could only imagine what she’d be like in bed, full of passion, so responsive…Quinn couldn’t wait.

“Isn’t it?” She cocked her head and pinned him with a steely glare. “Because I somehow doubt you’re done toying with me. Or are you going to tell me I’m mistaken?”

He shrugged. “I’ll tell you what…you have twenty-four hours to give me your answer. If you have any questions regarding the arrangement, you can call me directly.” Pulling out a business card, he jotted down his personal cell phone number—something he rarely gave out—and held it out to her. “Have a good day, Ms. Sparrow.”