Business Pleasures (Pleasures of the Heart) Read Free

Ever.
    He lifted her hand and brought her fingers to his lips. “You look beautiful.”
    Her cheeks heated and she averted her gaze. “Thank you.” Tugging her hand free, she stepped aside to allow him to come in. “I’m almost ready. All I need to do is put up my hair.”
    “Please don’t,” he said and gently gripped her elbow.
    She met his gaze. “What?”
    “Leave your hair down. Please.”
    She glanced to Grace, who instantly looked down at her watch. “Wow, look at the time. I have to go pick up the kids from their father’s. Remember we’re going to Disneyland for the week, so you’ll have the house to yourself.”
    Aimee wanted to kick her. “Grace,” she warned through her teeth.
    Kenton chuckled. “Have a wonderful time with the kids, Grace.”
    Grace snatched up her purse and kissed Aimee on the cheek. “Have fun.”
    After her sister left, closing Aimee inside the house with Kenton, silence filled the room. Her hands began to clam up and shake. He’s your boss, you see him every day, and you’ve worked with him for the last five years. Grow up!
    She turned to grab her hand bag, but froze in place when he gripped her elbow. Lifting her gaze to his, she swallowed, unable to tamp down the slight fear racing through her.
    “Are you sure you want to do this?”
    She blinked and realized she did have a choice. Her internal debate ended as she realized one very important fact—she chose to go to dinner with him. “Yes. I’m just nervous, is all.”
    He slid his hand down her arm to link their fingers, then picked up her purse and handed it to her. “Come on, before I lose my nerve.”
    Aimee laughed softly, feeling the tension loosen a bit. She would do this. She needed to, both for herself and because she liked Kenton. Roger couldn’t hurt her from behind bars, where he would be for the next fifteen years. It was time she stopped looking over her shoulder and started to live her life.
     

Chapter Three
     
    Kenton tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he pulled into the parking lot of Frankie’s, a small beachside club and restaurant. The modest-sized, red brick building used to be a night club until Frances Powers bought it ten years ago and turned it into an upscale restaurant and comedy club. During the drive, he’d fought the temptation to reach over and touch Aimee. If that happened, they wouldn’t make it to their destination.
    When he’d first saw her in the short black dress with the red lace wrap, he couldn’t find words. The way her long black hair hung loose around her shoulders begged him to run his fingers through the silky strands.
    Pulling into a parking space, he put his Lexus in park and turned off the engine. Damn it, he felt like he was in high school again.
    He stepped out of the car and rushed around to the passenger side to open her door before Aimee could. He held out his hand and smiled when she took it and allowed him to tug her to a stand. “There’s one thing I have to do before we go inside.”
    She tilted her head slightly and narrowed her gaze. “What’s that?”
    He lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. She stiffened for a moment, but when he brushed his tongue against the seam of her lips, she relaxed and opened for him. Their tongues tangled in an erotic dance as their mouths moved against each other. Aimee melted against him and he wanted to take her straight to his place so he could have her all to himself. The selfish side of him didn’t want to share her with his friends tonight.
    Breaking the kiss, he stared into her green gaze and smiled. “That was hotter than I expected.”
    She laughed. “You have away with words, Mr. Romantic.”
    The corner of his mouth lifted. “Sorry…”
    She pressed a finger to his lips, stopping him from swallowing his whole foot since he’d already stuck it in his mouth. “Shush. That’s what I admire must about you. You’re honest and don’t sugarcoat things. We should go inside. The Camptons