Katherine Garbera - For Her Son's Sake

“That’s a lot of customization,” he said, but already he saw the potential in the idea. If they distributed a learning game through a foundation they could get their software into the hands of kids as they were just starting to play. So that once they were older they’d gravitate toward the Playtone-Infinity family of console and handheld games.

“Yes, but I’ve been talking to some of the teachers at the nursery school and they said most kids fall into four or five categories for learning so we’d create different versions based on those categories and then roll it out in test groups. What do you think?”

“I like it. I like it a lot. But you’re going to need more than just one game to keep your job.”

“I realize that,” she said. “I’ve been jotting down some notes on what the charitable trust could look like and working on the job description for the chairman role.”

“Fair enough. After your initial meeting with the board in forty-eight hours, why don’t we have a meeting next week in your office. You can show me your prototype and your ideas for the structure of the foundation. If it’s viable we’ll discuss a way to make it work.”

“Really?” she asked. It was almost too good to be true.

“I just said so,” he said sarcastically.

“But I thought you were going to take out your revenge on the Chandlers by firing me,” she said.

“Well, if you keep talking about it then I will just fire you outright. But we’re family now. You and I share a nephew and an adopted niece. I’ve always been focused on revenge, but now that I have what I want, maybe I need to look at the future a little differently.”

Her youngest sister, Cari, had a child with Kell’s cousin Dec. They were engaged to be married, which meant one day soon Emma and Kell would be related. Also, her middle sister, Jessi, and Kell’s other cousin, Allan, were engaged and were guardians to their late friends’ baby, Hannah.

“I’m not sure I can trust you now,” she said.

“Given our family history I’d feel the exact same way. But I would have to be a total bastard to say yes to your idea and make you work hard to save your job, then not let you keep it.”

“It’d be the perfect revenge,” she said. “Listen, I don’t want to deny that you are entitled to your position. I will work hard, but only if you are going to give me a fair chance at actually keeping my job.”

“It’s going to be extremely difficult to change my mind about firing you, but not impossible.”

She tipped her head to the side and walked forward, putting both of her palms on his chest and leaned toward him. “That sounds like a challenge, Kell Montrose, and I am more than willing to accept it.

“We can both agree that you’ve made no promises and that I will have to work twice as hard to get your acceptance, but when I do, and I can guarantee that I will, you will have to keep me on not because I’m a Chandler but because you are a man of your word and we made a bargain.”

Dammit it to hell and back. She was right. He was a man of his word, and now he’d have to stand behind the commitment he’d just made.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked. “There’d be no shame in walking away from Playtone-Infinity Games. I’m prepared to offer you a very generous severance package that will make you a rich woman. You’d never have to work another day in your life after this.”

Her gaze met his and he saw the steely determination in her eyes. “I can’t. I have a son, and Playtone-Infinity is his heritage too. What kind of example would I be setting if I just walked away.”

Kell had to admit, he respected her for that. She was his enemy—that hadn’t changed—but there was something about her attitude that made him want her to stay.

And to be perfectly honest it would be the coup de grace in his war against her grandfather, Gregory Chandler. True the old man was dead, but Kell couldn’t help but think of how much it would piss him off to see his granddaughter bargaining with a Montrose to keep not only her job but also her pride.

The elevator jolted back into motion, tossing Emma off balance. She let her leather bag slip to the floor as she threw out her arm to try to catch herself. Kell grabbed her and steadied her.

A spark arced between them. He wanted to deny it, but there it was in spades. There was no more than a few inches of space between them. Her scent was sweet and flowery, not at all like what he’d expected.

She’s the enemy, he thought, but it was too late. He wanted to kiss her. Had wanted to since the moment he’d started staring at her lips.

Playing fast and loose with her emotions and her future didn’t seem like a very sound business idea, but it was just one kiss. Surely, he could have that. It was a prize he’d earned by defeating the Chandlers.

He lowered his head slowly toward hers, waiting to see what she’d do. She didn’t pull back; instead, she tilted her head a little bit to the side and leaned forward in anticipation. He brushed his lips slowly over hers. They were soft. Softer than he expected. He kept the embrace gentle as he searched for some answers to the attraction he felt toward his sworn enemy.

Two

Kell didn’t taste like the enemy. In fact, his kiss was exactly right, subtle and understated. He didn’t take, but instead made her feel treasured as his mouth moved over hers and his hands held her steady.

She had the feeling he was as surprised by the embrace as she was, and she stopped thinking as he opened his mouth and his hot breath entered her, followed by his tongue.

She clung to his shoulders as their kiss deepened. Assertive now, he pushed her back against the wall of the elevator. His body crowded hers and she felt trapped by his presence and her own desire. His hand came up to the side of her face, the long fingers and big palm holding her as his mouth plundered hers. She shifted around in his arms. Slid her hands into his thick hair. It was just as a soft as she’d expected it to be. Ridiculously sensuous against her touch.

He caressed his way down the sides of her torso, fingers finally coming to rest and tightening on her waist, and then he lifted his head.

She opened her eyes and for the first time saw confusion and a hint of real emotion in that pewter gray gaze of his. She grabbed his tie and pulled him back, leaning up on tiptoe and taking the kiss she wanted. One that had been overdue for a long time.

He groaned as his hand tightened on her waist and he slipped his touch lower down her hips and leaned more fully into her. She felt his erection and wanted more but then the elevator pinged and the door opened. Reluctantly, she let go of his tie.

She retrieved her bag from the floor and stepped out into the carpeted hallway before realizing they weren’t in the lobby. Damn. She couldn’t get back into the elevator with him. Not now. She felt wild and out of control. And as she glanced over her shoulder she noticed he’d followed her out of the elevator.

She groaned.

“Making a list of things to be thankful for?” he asked.

She shook her head. Words were beyond her right now. “Where are the stairs?”

She couldn’t pretend that embrace had been nothing more than curiosity. If she could...if she could, it would be perfect. But it was more than that. More than momentary lust that they’d now gotten out of their systems.

What she needed was to go back home, get back in bed and pretend this day had never happened.

“This way,” he said, leading her down the hallway to one of the emergency staircases. He held open the door for her.

“You don’t have to follow me down,” she said.

“Hell, yes, I do. We have something to discuss,” he said.