Naughty Temptations

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

DELANIE

Something’s wrong with my bed. The mattress is too…soft. And the sheets? Shifting my legs has silky material sliding over my skin. But I don’t have silk sheets.

Bolting upright, clutching a black silk sheet to my breasts, I stare around an unfamiliar bedroom. The massive bed is on a raised platform and has a tufted suede headboard. To the left and straight ahead are floor to ceiling walls of glass. Overall, the room is decorated in a minimalist fashion with a chaise lounge at the foot of the bed, an overstuffed chair next to a side table across the room, and a tall bureau against a wall with a sliding barn door.

Next to the headboard the wall opens up into what must be the living area without any door between the spaces. And my memories of the insane night with Kyler, f*****g on every hard surface we could find, filter through my brain. Holy crap, were we ever wild.

The morning needs of my body won’t be delayed any longer. Wrapped in the sheet, I race across the room and through the barn door. I move quickly past double sinks, a huge jetted tub and stone and glass shower, through another open door to a toilet room.

After relieving my bladder and washing my hands, I explore the area more fully discovering the shower has a touch pad to control the dozen shower heads and the closet space that can be entered through the bathroom is equal to it in size. There’s no denying this is Kyler’s closet as it’s filled with mostly casual clothes and only a small section of business attire.

I’ve resisted this, taking our odd relationship to a more personal level outside work. But after the shocks and drama of yesterday, I’m through fighting. Since opening my big mouth there’s no longer anything to hide. And I have bigger issues to tackle.

Taking a T-shirt from a stack of them on a built-in shelf, I pull it on and open drawers until I find boxers. Once dressed, I leave the sheet on the bed and wander out into the living space, drawn by the scent of coffee.

The open, minimalistic theme continues in the kitchen where FKA Twig’s sexy song Two Weeks flows from speakers in the ceiling, bringing a smile to my lips. Then Kyler moves into my line of sight making my mouth go dry.

Good God, he’s hotter than any mortal man has a right to be.

His shiny, thick black hair for once has a legitimate reason for its rumpled, just-f****d look. Without a shirt in the way, I take a moment to drool over his torso, which has the classic V-cut—broad shoulders narrowing down to trim hips. While Kyler is well-muscled, he doesn’t have the overly bulky build of someone who spends too much time in the gym.

Then there’s his sumptuous ass. I am definitely an ass girl. I’d love to f**k him in front of a mirror so I can watch the flex and play of that tight ass as he thrusts into me. It’s a disappointment to see he took the time to pull on boxers ’cause, naked cooking. Enough said.

Turning from the stove, he stops short when he catches sight of me, a slow grin teasing up the corners of his mouth while his gaze roams my body from head to toe and back again.

“You look good in my clothes. Edible.”

“Slow down, tiger. Coffee. Need coffee.”

Turning, he opens a cabinet, grabs a mug and fills it from a thermal carafe on the counter. Without having to ask, he heads to the fridge, grabs a container of cinnamon vanilla creamer and adds a heavy amount to the cup. Opening a drawer, he produces a spoon and stirs the concoction before finally noticing my slack-jawed stare.

“Oh come on. We’ve had coffee together in the break room often enough for me to know how you take yours.”

Yes, we’ve had coffee together often over the past three months. What surprises me is that he paid attention to how I take mine. Kyler has never seemed like the kind of guy to notice the small things. Yet in the time we’ve worked together I’ve observed things that are changing the way I see him.

For example, being here in his personal space has revealed a great deal. I’d expected modern and cold, impersonal glass and granite. Instead, I found a sparse but warm and comfortable rustic décor. Climbing onto a stool at a bar-height table set with a scarred dark wood tabletop and cushioned leather stools, I look at Kyler from fresh eyes.

He’s changed since high school. Matured and come into himself as a man. Of course he has, but in ways I didn’t expect. Instead of the devil-may-care bad boy he’s a driven, experienced businessman. While I spent eight years in school studying how to run a company, he went directly to work and learned from his father. His knowledge was earned in a practical way that I can’t match with my book smarts. I’ve gathered more useful management techniques from him in the past three months than anything I was taught in school.

The proof is in the trust Samuel Harrington has placed in his son’s management of the company. At first I was skeptical of all the wonderful praise he received from the staff but watching him work has proven he knows his stuff. I’m beyond impressed.

After setting a big bowl of fresh fruit down on the table, he refreshes my coffee and returns with two plates of eggs baked in avocadoes with whole wheat toast and a side of bacon. I know I’m wearing an open-mouthed expression of shock again but come on.

“You co-cook,” I sputter. “And it’s balanced, healthy food.”

His laugh is easy and carefree. “Yeah.” Leaning back in the chair, he studies me for a moment. “Is that so surprising?” Kyler runs a hand over his six-pack abs. “Gotta eat good to stay in shape.”

He’s quiet, introspective for a moment then flashes a knowing grin. “Not fitting in the neat little box you’ve put me in, am I?”

“No.” I shake my head as I determine how to respond without offending him. “I’m pleasantly surprised that there’s much more substance to you than I ever imagined.”

Digging in to the delicious breakfast, I can’t help thinking that discovering how much more there is to Kyler Harrington will be an amazing journey.

One I don’t want to miss a second of.

KYLER

While we eat and then clean up the kitchen, I can’t help thinking how seamlessly and naturally Delanie fits into my space. There’s no morning after awkwardness or unease over being somewhere different, and I love that. But the time has come to talk and I’m worried that what I have to say will bring her tension back, which is the last thing I want.

Waking up with her in my bed, wrapped in my arms. f**k, words fail me. There’s no description for how perfect and right it felt. I’d wanted to wake her and make love to her again, as I had twice during the night, but I held back. Now I’m wishing we were back to being naked in bed instead of having to face what went down yesterday.

Sitting on the sectional couch, I grab Delanie’s hand and angle my body to face her. “So,” I start slow and tentatively. “Your mom and my dad.” She cringes. “Didn’t see that coming?”

“Right!” She sighs heavily. “Sure, I knew they did business together but damn. I had no idea there was anything intimate between them.”

Relaxing, I go for it and bring up the point that has me the most worried. This could f**k up everything between us and I don’t want to lose her. “The marriage announcement was a definite shocker. Christ, they’ve gone and made us stepsiblings.”

Delanie waves a hand dismissively as if to say the new familial bond doesn’t matter in the least. “I will never look at you as a brother. It’s too weird. Real life certainly is stranger than fiction because I couldn’t make up a situation like this.”

I release the pent-up breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. It’s an incredible relief to know she’s not bothered by this new development.

“The business merger is what’s on my mind. I still can’t believe Mom merged the companies without talking to me. Boyd Logistics is mine. She was supposed to be managing it until I’m ready to take over, not giving it away to her new husband in a surprise merger. It’s not hers to give away.”

This might piss her off but I have to share what I’ve discovered. “I called a buddy of mine. He’s an attorney.” Delanie sits up straighter and I have her undivided attention. “According to North Carolina law, as Michael Boyd’s widow and in the absence of a will…”

Fuck, I don’t want to say it.

“Yes,” Delanie encourages me to continue. “What did your friend say?”

“Without a will, by default, all the husband’s assets go to his widow. Since she has legal authority to run the company, she can do whatever she wants, including sell it off.”

“But Daddy—”

I hold up a hand to stop her. “Hang on. Let me finish. He said that if it was common knowledge your father intended the company be passed down to you, and if there are witnesses who will confirm that intention, you can take this to court.”

An evil grin that reminds me of the Grinch spreads across her sweet face turning Delanie into someone I don’t know. Frankly, that grin scares me a little.

“The problem with taking that route is you have no solid written proof the company was promised to you. There are no documents stating that your mother was simply running things until you could take over. So while you can tie things up in court for many years, stalling the merger or any other major changes to the structure of the company, your chances of actually winning the suit are slim. And it will be expensive.”

Her evil grin falters and fades, which is a relief. I did not like that expression.

“There are two possible reactions your mother may have to a court battle. She could get tired of an extended legal fight and offer a possible settlement of anything from partial ownership to handing the reins over to you.” The corner of her lips twitch until I continue. “Or she could dig her heels in and wage an epic war.”

Delanie drops her face into her palms and shakes her head. “God, this is such a mess. I should have seen this coming. Mom never wanted to run the company. I should have taken it over soon as I graduated but I wanted to intern and get some real life experience first. Make sure I’m ready so I don’t screw up when it really counts.”

Pulling her in to my side, I rub soothing circles on her back and hold her close.

“I think the next step is to give everyone time to cool down and see if anything has changed since the announcement blew up in their faces.”

Her hopeful honey brown eyes rise to meet my green ones.

“It’s a long holiday weekend. The offices are closed Monday for Memorial Day. I suggest we relax and enjoy some downtime then go back on Tuesday and see where things stand. Once we know their stance we can form a plan.”

Lifting a hand she runs her fingers softly down the side of my face.

“Why would you help me? The merger would benefit Harrington International, make the company stronger. The company you run. It would make sense for you to try to enforce the merger. Why would you try to help me hang onto Boyd Logistics?”

She’s right. I should be all about the merger. And initially I thrilled over the announcement. In my head, I’d already been working out the benefits and potential pitfalls, along with making plans for what I wanted to see happen. Right up until I heard Delanie’s side of things. Then I had to put myself in her place, reverse the roles. Consider how I’d be melting down if the merger had worked out so that Boyd Logistics would now have control over Harrington International, a company I’ve invested everything in, built my entire world around.

I nod, conceding the point. “At first I was excited, thought it was fantastic. Couldn’t wait to get to work integrating the companies.” Cupping her cheek in my palm, I brush my thumb over the corner of her lip. “That was before I knew the full situation and considered you. If the merger dynamics had been reversed, I’d have fought fiercer than a cornered grizzly to keep the company I’ve poured my blood, sweat and tears into.”

There’s something sparkling in her eyes, an emotion I can’t decipher so I push it to the back of my mind and continue. “I can’t just sit by and let your mother rob you of the company your father wanted you to have. Watch our parents, who may have lost their minds, take that from you, no matter how it would benefit me. In the end, I know the guilt of benefiting from our parents screwing you over would eat me alive.”

Delanie tucks her knees under her and rises up, leans in and presses a sweet kiss to my lips. “You, Kyler Harrington, are the most incredible man I’ve ever known other than my Dad.”

I shrug it off but she persists.

“No. Don’t act like supporting me is no big deal.” She punctuates each statement with a kiss to first one eyelid and then the other.” Because anyone else would have grabbed Boyd Logistics and run with it.” Next she kisses the tip of my nose. “I have to say, I’m kind of in love with you right now.”

“Oh yeah.” Pulling her forward so she’s straddling my pelvis, I demand, “Show me.”