The CEO Buys In
Page 108
“That’s a heck of a lot,” Chloe said, her heart squeezing with overwhelming joy as she threw herself against him so he closed his open arms around her. She stood on tiptoe to kiss him again.
“I need to explain the bet,” he said, his voice serious.
A tremor of apprehension shook her. “Do I want to hear this?”
“I’m not sure, but you deserve to know.” He led her to the couch and sat her down beside him in an echo of their scene in the hospital lounge. Not the image she wanted right now.
He swiveled to look at her. “Remember Teresa?”
Chloe nodded. “She had great shoes.”
Nathan smiled briefly. “The night before you came to work for me, I found out she lied to me about our first meeting. I’d thought she might be different from the other women who just wanted something from me, but—” He shrugged. “I met Gavin and Luke that night. We got drunk together and made the wager you heard us talking about.”
Nathan took both her hands in his warm, strong grip before he continued. “We each had one year to find a woman who chose us for ourselves and not our money or power or fame. If we failed, we had to forfeit something very important to us. But if we won, we won a lot more than just the bet.”
“So you think you’ve won?” Happiness raced through Chloe.
“Darling, I’m sure of it. But I don’t care about the wager. Knowing you love me is all I need to be a rich man.”
EPILOGUE
A few months later
Even though the interior of the Rolls was toasty, Chloe snuggled up to Nathan, stroking her hand down the satin of his tuxedo lapel. “I still can’t believe I get to walk into these fancy parties holding hands with the best-looking man there,” she said.
Nathan threaded his arm around her waist under the velvet cape she wore. The warmth of his palm on her hip seeped through the thin blue silk of her evening gown. “I used to hate those parties. Now I spend them thinking about how I’m going to make love to you once we leave. It’s a significant improvement.” His hand slid lower.
Chloe trapped his wandering fingers under hers. “You said we have one stop to make before we go home, so no wrinkling the dress.” She tilted her head up to give him a hot look. “Yet.”
He gave her thigh a quick squeeze before moving his hand to a less dangerous spot. “Do you think Grandmillie will have fired her new companion by the time we arrive?”
Chloe chuckled. “No, she likes Taleesha. She says she’s a woman of good sense. I’m so relieved.”
“Hank at Jersey Caregivers must be even more relieved.”
“Grandmillie is particular about who she spends her time with.” Chloe sighed. “I knew she would be.”
“She’s allowed.” Nathan shifted on the seat so Chloe found herself plastered against him. “Phil gave me an earful today about how selfish I was to force you to leave Trainor Electronics. He had lunch with your boss and heard all about the great work you’re doing for Allitel.”
“At least I’m not working for a competitor,” Chloe said as gratification made her grin. Judith had found her the job three weeks after she’d resigned from Trainor Electronics. Chloe had made Nathan swear not to intervene in any way, so she knew she’d gotten the position on her own merits. “It’s almost as good a company to work for as Trainor.”
“And the location is convenient.” Nathan bent to kiss the side of her neck.
Delicious shivers danced down over Chloe’s breasts at his touch . . . and at the thought of her occasional lunchtime visits to Nathan’s office. They would barely manage to wolf down one of the sandwiches Janice ordered for them before Nathan would have her stretched out on top of his desk or bent over one of the armchairs.
“Dad says you need to come down to visit Allitel’s regional office in Raleigh. He wants to take you out to dinner at a great restaurant he knows there.” Nathan picked up her free hand and toyed with her fingers. “I might join you there.”
Nathan and his father were finding their way to a new relationship, but he still liked to have Chloe around when he was with the general. The Marine had taken a liking to her, and it softened some of the edges of his forceful personality, making it easier for Nathan to connect with him. Angel’s presence also helped, and Nathan was coming to terms with the prospect of having a very young half sibling. In fact, Angel had asked him to be the child’s godfather, much to Nathan’s initial consternation but ultimate pleasure.
“I’m sure I can come up with an excuse for a road trip,” Chloe said, “as long as you’re coming too.” Especially now that Grandmillie had Taleesha.
Nathan’s hold on her tightened. “You didn’t really think I’d let you go without me.”
“Well, you went to Japan for four days alone.”
“Only because you wouldn’t quit your job and come with me.”
Chloe laughed. He had suggested she do that, which had made her heart flutter with delight because he wanted her company that much.
The Rolls glided to a stop, and Chloe peered out the window. They were parked in front of a brownstone adorned with fantastic gargoyles and ornate curlicues, all thrown into high relief by dramatic up-lighting. A small black shield was attached to the wall beside the door with the gold initials B. C. intertwined.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“The Bellwether Club.”
“I need to explain the bet,” he said, his voice serious.
A tremor of apprehension shook her. “Do I want to hear this?”
“I’m not sure, but you deserve to know.” He led her to the couch and sat her down beside him in an echo of their scene in the hospital lounge. Not the image she wanted right now.
He swiveled to look at her. “Remember Teresa?”
Chloe nodded. “She had great shoes.”
Nathan smiled briefly. “The night before you came to work for me, I found out she lied to me about our first meeting. I’d thought she might be different from the other women who just wanted something from me, but—” He shrugged. “I met Gavin and Luke that night. We got drunk together and made the wager you heard us talking about.”
Nathan took both her hands in his warm, strong grip before he continued. “We each had one year to find a woman who chose us for ourselves and not our money or power or fame. If we failed, we had to forfeit something very important to us. But if we won, we won a lot more than just the bet.”
“So you think you’ve won?” Happiness raced through Chloe.
“Darling, I’m sure of it. But I don’t care about the wager. Knowing you love me is all I need to be a rich man.”
EPILOGUE
A few months later
Even though the interior of the Rolls was toasty, Chloe snuggled up to Nathan, stroking her hand down the satin of his tuxedo lapel. “I still can’t believe I get to walk into these fancy parties holding hands with the best-looking man there,” she said.
Nathan threaded his arm around her waist under the velvet cape she wore. The warmth of his palm on her hip seeped through the thin blue silk of her evening gown. “I used to hate those parties. Now I spend them thinking about how I’m going to make love to you once we leave. It’s a significant improvement.” His hand slid lower.
Chloe trapped his wandering fingers under hers. “You said we have one stop to make before we go home, so no wrinkling the dress.” She tilted her head up to give him a hot look. “Yet.”
He gave her thigh a quick squeeze before moving his hand to a less dangerous spot. “Do you think Grandmillie will have fired her new companion by the time we arrive?”
Chloe chuckled. “No, she likes Taleesha. She says she’s a woman of good sense. I’m so relieved.”
“Hank at Jersey Caregivers must be even more relieved.”
“Grandmillie is particular about who she spends her time with.” Chloe sighed. “I knew she would be.”
“She’s allowed.” Nathan shifted on the seat so Chloe found herself plastered against him. “Phil gave me an earful today about how selfish I was to force you to leave Trainor Electronics. He had lunch with your boss and heard all about the great work you’re doing for Allitel.”
“At least I’m not working for a competitor,” Chloe said as gratification made her grin. Judith had found her the job three weeks after she’d resigned from Trainor Electronics. Chloe had made Nathan swear not to intervene in any way, so she knew she’d gotten the position on her own merits. “It’s almost as good a company to work for as Trainor.”
“And the location is convenient.” Nathan bent to kiss the side of her neck.
Delicious shivers danced down over Chloe’s breasts at his touch . . . and at the thought of her occasional lunchtime visits to Nathan’s office. They would barely manage to wolf down one of the sandwiches Janice ordered for them before Nathan would have her stretched out on top of his desk or bent over one of the armchairs.
“Dad says you need to come down to visit Allitel’s regional office in Raleigh. He wants to take you out to dinner at a great restaurant he knows there.” Nathan picked up her free hand and toyed with her fingers. “I might join you there.”
Nathan and his father were finding their way to a new relationship, but he still liked to have Chloe around when he was with the general. The Marine had taken a liking to her, and it softened some of the edges of his forceful personality, making it easier for Nathan to connect with him. Angel’s presence also helped, and Nathan was coming to terms with the prospect of having a very young half sibling. In fact, Angel had asked him to be the child’s godfather, much to Nathan’s initial consternation but ultimate pleasure.
“I’m sure I can come up with an excuse for a road trip,” Chloe said, “as long as you’re coming too.” Especially now that Grandmillie had Taleesha.
Nathan’s hold on her tightened. “You didn’t really think I’d let you go without me.”
“Well, you went to Japan for four days alone.”
“Only because you wouldn’t quit your job and come with me.”
Chloe laughed. He had suggested she do that, which had made her heart flutter with delight because he wanted her company that much.
The Rolls glided to a stop, and Chloe peered out the window. They were parked in front of a brownstone adorned with fantastic gargoyles and ornate curlicues, all thrown into high relief by dramatic up-lighting. A small black shield was attached to the wall beside the door with the gold initials B. C. intertwined.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“The Bellwether Club.”
