That Kind of Special Read Free Page B

Think corporate, political, and foreign affairs.”
    “And it’s all yours?” Her arm came down, and she balanced her empty glass on her leg.
    “Yes. Along with owning a few buildings along Sixth Street.” He leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees. “Will you come to my house and share my wine?”
    “Why?”
    He smiled. “You’re tough.”
    “I don’t make a habit of agreeing with a man because he’s bossy.” She raised her glass to take a sip, realized it was empty, and blushed.
    He stood and retrieved the bottle from the kitchen and returned to the living room to fill her goblet. The doorbell rang.
    “Sit. Enjoy your drink, and I’ll see who that is.” He walked across the room, peeked through the eyehole, which needed cleaning on the outside, and opened the door.
    The next five minutes, he spent watching Jared, one of his maintenance men from his company, set up drilling a hole above the doorknob. He gazed at Katina on the other side of the room. She bit her fingernail, caught herself, and shoved her hand under her thigh.
    She paid no attention to what was happening in her apartment, but seemed lost in thought. He walked over and squatted beside her chair. Two lines formed between her eyebrows, and he knew none of tonight had been easy for her to accept.
    “Installation shouldn’t take more than a few more minutes.” He lowered his head, caught her gaze, and gave her a smile. “I know you’re confused and upset that I pushed my way in, but I’m used to getting my way. It would eat away at me if I left you in an unsecured apartment.”
    Her mouth softened.
    “Why don’t you let me worry about what is happening between us, and you can look forward to having a night with me, good wine, and even better conversation. We’ll start over.”
    “What is happening between us?” she whispered, casting a glance at the door. “I get that you’re stubborn and used to getting your own way…you run your own company. I just don’t know your motive.”
    He inhaled deeply. “The truth?”
    She nodded.
    “I find you absolutely captivating, and I want to get to know you better.” He lowered his voice. “I’m warning you, though. I’m a man who knows what I want, and I don’t let anything get in my way. Going from what I saw of your ex-boyfriend, I know you’re not used to dealing with someone like me, but you should know that all you have to do is say no, and I’ll walk out the door and leave you alone.”
    She lifted her hand to her mouth. He snagged her fingers before she could bite her nail. “But you’re not going to tell me no. You’ll come to my house Saturday, and we’ll have a wonderful time.”
    Katina sat silently. The door shut and reopened. He stood, lifted his jacket from the couch, and walked across the room. After testing the lock, he shook his employee’s hand and waited for Jared to take his tools and leave.
    He remained standing in the open room, until they were once again alone. “Katina, come and lock the dead bolt behind me.”
    She jumped from the chair and hurried over. He warmed at her reaction. A couple glasses of wine, time to come to her own conclusions, and she obeyed him. He was right. She was something special.
    “I’ll have my driver pick you up.” He stepped into the hallway, and because she was adorable when she grew frustrated, he couldn’t help pushing a little more before he walked away. “And, Katina, when you do come to my house, your panties can be any color you want to wear.”

Chapter Three
    “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to go on a date with you.” Doreen, Katina’s best friend and assistant, bent her knees and leaned forward, opening the fridge in the limo. “A man who sends a driver with a car this fancy does not expect your errand girl to tag along.”
    “You are not my errand girl. You’re an assistant to a demanding interior designer.” Katina pushed the control and rolled up the window dividing the backseat from the front.