Touch of Heaven Read Free Page A

his voice. “We need Raina St. James to sell in order to build on that site. And it has to happen soon if we want to adhere to our projected construction schedule. Not to mention the preliminary groundwork that still has to be done, between meeting with the planning commission and—”
    â€œI know all that,” Warrick said brusquely. “Believe me, I already got an earful from the project manager during our meeting yesterday. I know the kind of timeline we’re up against. I don’t need another lecture.”
    A lesser man would have heeded the growled warning and backed down. But Stephon—who had known Warrick since college—forged ahead, undaunted. “You have to find a way to convince Raina to sell her property to you. Maybe you need to try a different approach.”
    â€œReally?” Warrick drawled sarcastically. “And what makes you think there’s anything wrong with the approach I used?”
    Stephon barked out a short, grim laugh. “Because I know you, Mayne, and I’ve seen you in action. I’ve watched you lay on the charm and work a room better than a seasoned politician, but I’ve also watched you reduce grown men to stammering idiots if they so much as cleared their throat the wrong way. Considering the bad blood between you and Raina, I’d be amazed if you managed to be civil to her, let alone charming.”
    Warrick didn’t bother refuting his friend’s assessment. Stephon was right.
    Warrick had always prided himself on being a shrewd businessman. Whether he was dealing with demanding clients, obstinate board members or cutthroat competitors, he knew how to put aside personal differences in order to achieve a mutually beneficial goal. He’d always understood that he could catch more bees with honey than vinegar, a principle he should have been able to apply to the current situation with Raina St. James.
    But he couldn’t.
    Once he had recovered from the shock of seeing her again—all grown up and sexy as hell—the old anger and bitterness had taken over. He’d wanted nothing more than to lash out at her, to punish her for the abominable way she had betrayed his sister. He’d wanted to make her suffer, to make her feel the pain he and his family had endured every day that his sister had remained incarcerated for the past twelve years.
    As Raina sat behind her desk looking down her prim nose at him, as beautiful and untouchable as Queen Nefertiti, Warrick was struck by the total lack of remorse she demonstrated. It didn’t matter to her that her best friend had been convicted of a crime she had not committed. It didn’t matter to Raina that Yolanda Mayne had been deprived of the same opportunities she had enjoyed—attending an expensive college, earning a master’s degree, traveling overseas, landing a good job on Wall Street, successfully launching her own business before the age of thirty. It was painfully obvious to Warrick that Raina St. James had not lost any sleep over what she had done to his sister. She was as unrepentant as ever.
    Any inclination he may have had to make nice with her had flown out the window when she had calmly and arrogantly torn apart his business card. He’d decided right then and there that he would show her no mercy. One way or another, she would sell her property to him.
    Interrupting his thoughts a second time, Stephon said quietly, “Raina St. James has something you want, Mayne. And I know this may be hard for you to hear, but the reality is that you need her more than she needs you.” He paused. “Maybe it’s time to bury the hatchet once and for all. Maybe you should tell her you forgive her—”
    â€œNo.” Warrick’s tone was low and forbidding.
    Stephon faltered a moment. “You don’t have to mean it.”
    â€œThen why the hell would I say it?”
    â€œTo soften her up! To play on her emotions. To make her