Chapter Seventeen
Bracing herself, Lily swiveled toward her newest challenge—and realized she’d never be prepared enough. Up close, dressed in a dark blue suit that highlighted his mesmerizing eyes and accented every glorious inch of him, Alexi Kazankov was even more beautiful, more overwhelming, more irresistible than she remembered.
And she remembered everything.
Heart beating fast, it took her a moment to find her voice. “Just another work day,” she managed at last, her voice far too husky. “No different than any other.”
“If Paul is giving you trouble—”
“We’re fine. I’m fine. Back to business as usual.”
His gaze darkened and, for the first time, she noticed the glint of anger in his gaze. “Just like that?”
She stifled a guilty flinch. “Just like that.”
She’d cut out last night while he’d gone into Pierson’s bathroom to clean up and bring back something for her to do the same. Maybe she shouldn’t have left abruptly, but she could tell he’d been gearing up for round two. Walking away was already going to be hard enough. It had just seemed easier to make a clean break—before she couldn’t.
“We need to talk.” His jaw was clamped tight.
“No.”
The V between his gorgeous eyes deepened further. “Yes. We are going to talk and—”
“Kazankov. Ms. Bennett. Hello.” Board member Steven Klein hurried over, his hand outstretched. He’d been at her presentation and hadn’t smiled then, but he was smiling now. “Nice to find you two together. Shows good sportsmanship. I like that.”
“Oh,” interjected her rival, “Ms. Bennett and I are definitely on the same page when it comes to our preferred sports.”
Her cheeks went hot.
Fortunately, the arrival of more conference attendees saved her. Drawn by Kazankov and the shock of Don Pierson’s announcement, they came in droves. Before long she—who was usually treated as the one who was supposed to grin and bring the coffee—was in the thick of a slew of suits, discussing the health of the company and the state of the marketplace.
It was strange to be on the inside after having been so long on the outs. Strange, but wonderful.
And the reminder of how badly she craved that legitimacy helped muffle the raw, reckless impulse that throbbed in her veins at the knowledge that Alexi Kazankov’s shoulder was inches from hers.
The heat of him radiating against her skin. Their dark secret only making her blood run hotter. The primal pull between them ghosting over her skin as she remembered the way he touched. Fucked. His hips pounding hard. Stretching her wide.
“It is a worry, though, isn’t it? Ms. Bennett?”
Her name jerked her back to the present.
Sugar biscuits. She had no idea what still-smiling board member Steven Klein was asking.
“Those kinds of questions are better for the office.” Kazankov’s voice was sharp.
“No, no.” She waved away his interference. Now, more than ever, she needed to reestablish boundaries. “I am more than happy to answer any and all questions. That is why I’m here.”
“Well,” Klein seemed less enthusiastic now, his smile disappearing as if he feared disapproval from a certain Russian, “I was just saying I’m concerned your plan for turning the company around by renovating the Ridgeway property is too ambitious. It includes a larger pool, two new restaurants. I know you’re new and interested in making a splash, but I’m worried you don’t have the room—or the experience—to understand how this might be an overreach.”
Ugh. Too impatient to prove herself, she’d walked right into that one.
Skin flushing hot, she kept her smile fixed in place. “As the current hotel property boundaries are drawn, I can understand your concern.” A little snap of pride crept into her voice. She couldn’t help it. Everything else might be going to shit, but she was excited about these plans. “But what I lack in CEO experience, I believe I can make up for in innovative, fresh thinking. I’ve been in talks with the owner of the land next door, a man by the name of Fernton, and he’s agreed to sell the land to us at a reasonable price. A new solution to an old problem.”
A few mumbles of surprise, but that was to be expected when the new, totally together CEO dropped an amazing bombshell. She hid a smile. “With that extra land, we’ll have more than enough room for the expansion.”
“But that’s not…” A big-time real estate developer who’d joined them shifted toward Kazankov, genuine confusion in his voice. “I don’t think that’s possible now. Right?”
Her rival’s arctic blue eyes locked on her, something that almost looked like guilt flaring in his gaze before they blanked.
She swallowed hard. “Why isn’t that possible now?”
“The owner of the property next door is no longer selling.” Kazankov’s tone gave nothing away.
She forced a laugh. “That’s inaccurate. I spoke with Fernton two days ago, and he signaled a definite interest in selling.”
“Things change.”
That was for damn sure. Last night, this man had looked at her as if she was everything. Today his stare cut through her as if she was nothing at all. “What does that mean?”
“It’s not common knowledge yet, but as of this morning Fernton is not the owner of the adjacent lot. My company is.”
Her stomach clenched.
Kazankov had pulled the rug out from under her plan.
Had this been what Paul was referencing?
“Well, congratulations on your new acquisition.” The fake civility tasted bitter on her tongue, the mix of smirks and sympathetic stares around her burning into her skin like acid.
“It’s a deal my company has been working on for a little while now.”
“I see.” And she did. Translation: I started screwing you over before I screwed you. “Kudos to you for keeping it under wraps.”
She was smiling hard enough to break her jaw. “I only hope Fernton told you about the problem he’s having with his outdated sewer and water system.”
The flare of surprise in Kazankov’s gaze staunched a little of the bleeding.
“No?” She offered a false cluck of sympathy. “That sometimes happens when you rush. He tried to keep that from me as well, but I stumbled upon it when I was down there a few months ago doing some exacting research. It’s a real problem since the only solution is to tie in his pipes with ours, but, of course, that requires permission…from me.” Unable to help herself, she bared her teeth at him. “But I’m sure you’ll figure out some use for that property.”
He had the audacity to laugh. And look impressed. “You never cease to surprise me.”
“I wish I could say the same about you.” She nodded toward a crowd that no longer appeared welcoming. “Excuse me, gentlemen.”
The stupidest part? The small, shriveled pit in her stomach wasn’t because he’d bested her. This was business and she should have expected as much. She should have anticipated his move and countered. She was still a novice compared to shark-like Kazankov and getting cocky would only mean more mistakes.
Nope, the pit was there because he’d bested her right after fucking her and that made her feel like dirt.
Which was insane and unfair, especially since he was not only doing exactly what he’d promised, but what she’d demanded.
But logic wasn’t helping her a darn bit right now.
Truly, she wasn’t sure who she was angrier with, him or herself. Yes, he’d stuck up for her with Paul and Pierson. Yes, he’d promised to keep her secret and shared one of his own. Yes, he’d rocked her world like no one else ever had.
But that didn’t mean they owed each other a damn thing more—and the fact that she wished that wasn’t the case enraged her further.
Hadn’t she just finished saying she was betting on herself this time around?
By the time she hit the door to the women’s bathroom in the middle of nowhere land, she was moving fast. The flat of her palm slamming hard against the wood, the sting radiating up her arm no more than she deserved.
Two seconds later, the door crashed open again. “Lily. Wait.”
She didn’t stop, her feet heading toward the nearest stall as fast as she could. Even when the pounding behind grew louder.
A warm hand closed around her elbow right as she reached the stall door, jerking her to a halt. “Damn it. I said wait.”
She whirled around. “And what? You think you get everything you want? I don’t think so.”
“What did you expect? This is business as usual.”
“I know that.” She wrenched her arm away. “I just didn’t expect you to go for the jugular with quite such ferocity.”
Silence descended, his clenched jaw shifting from side to side.
The tension between them stretched.
Her heart beat fast.
Then, without another word, he turned, heading toward the exit.
She opened her mouth to…what? Call him back? Embarrass herself more?
She clamped her lips shut.
It was better this way anyway.
The click of the lock echoed through the bathroom.