Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
I had no underwear on and was about to meet his mother.
She examined me closely in a single look. Then her German was fast and furious, but I didn’t need to speak the language to understand. His mother had asked if I was Laurel’s sister. And when he nodded, she asked if I spoke German.
“No,” I said, somehow finding the strength to not act as naked as I felt. “I’m sorry, I don’t. I’m Kara Hayward.”
She looked at me, then her son, then back again. “Gisela Osterhägen. Forgive me, but why are you here? Is everything all right with L?”
“Yes.”
“She was here for a job interview,” Shawn said quickly. “I asked her to say hello when it was over.”
Gisela did not buy the story he attempted to sell to her. She went back to her native language, and the only word I understood was Hayward. Shawn listened, respectfully and unflinching.
There was no point standing in his office being awkward when he needed to get going.
“It was nice meeting you, Frau,” I eked out.
My path to the door took a lifetime, and I probably ran the last few steps. I darted past the assistant’s desk and through the main glass doors as fast as I’d arrived, finally breathing again when I was alone in the elevator car.
19
SHAWN
How the hell was I supposed to pay attention after that? I would have agreed to any proposal or signed anything put in front of me. I’d have sold the entire company with an idiotic smile plastered on my face.
I avoided my mother’s gaze, who thankfully was seated far down the conference table from me.
Fuck, Kara had been a fantasy in that lingerie, and the sex had been better than anything I could have imagined.
The more time I spent with her, the more it felt like I might be falling for L’s sister, an American who complained all German sounded angry to her delicate ears. Like a cruel joke.
I still had Kara’s panties in my pocket. Would she spend the rest of the day like that? I was looking forward to asking her tonight. What color of red would that draw out of her?
When the meeting ended, I fled the conference room and returned to my office completely aware my mother had followed me.
“We’re not going to discuss it,” I said before she could get anything out. She gave me the look she was world famous for, the same one Jason and I had spent our lives trying to perfect. Intimidating and ruthless. There was no arguing with her.
“I didn’t come in here for that.” She moved toward the back wall and gazed down at the production floor. “However, you brought it up, so I’d like to point out that she’s L’s sister. You shouldn’t burn bridges that don’t belong to you.”
We usually didn’t discuss personal matters at the office, so I was anxious to move past it. “Yes, Jason has explained that to me. I understand.”
“I’m told you’re not planning to attend the fundraiser next Friday.”
“That’s correct.” I sat in my chair, and it took all my strength to block out the memory of what had happened the last time I’d been seated behind my desk.
“Change your plans. You need to be there.”
“No, I really don’t.” It was good policy to host charity events. But sponsoring was one thing—actually attending was another. There were long speeches and bad food, not to mention I found them tedious.
The Forbes list had made them unbearable. It wasn’t like I was mobbed with women, but the volume had grown exponentially while the quality had declined. One had bragged she was working her way up the list, like that was supposed to impress me. I had to inform her she wasn’t going to make it very far.
Besides, what need did I have for any of that? A blonde American, one willing to challenge me in my own office, commanded my total attention.
“Please just do as I tell you.” She sounded far more like my mother than I’d heard in years.
I arched an eyebrow, displeased. “You do realize what day that is?”
“Your birthday? Yes, I was there.” She didn’t cover her frustration. “The company is expecting you. They want to help you celebrate.”
“That is not how I want to . . . celebrate.” I said it like it was a dirty word.
“You’re turning forty. I assume you’ve had to do something you didn’t want to in all your years.”
That was the end of the discussion.
The day dragged endlessly. All I could think about was Kara. What she might be doing at that moment. What I would like to do with her when I finished my work.
The last meeting ran excessively long, and I drove faster than necessary to the Palace hotel, eager to see Kara.
I flew into the hotel room, startling her off the bed where she’d been sitting. I needed her in my arms, her clothes off, her body beneath me. I didn’t notice anything else. Only her embarrassed expression when she broke off our kiss gave me a clue something was wrong.