LITMIR.BIZ

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“It pays to be the boss. As for us kids, we sometimes got bored. But usually we kept busy. No couch potatoes in my family. My grandfather installed that ballerina bar and those mirrors for Cecilia.”

      Miranda glanced over, seeing her and Chase’s reflection. She swallowed. He looked so assured and comfortable. This was his home.

      “So what made you choose to relocate to Podunkville?” he asked.

      “I wouldn’t call Chenille that,” she protested. “Small towns are charming. I’ve found the people lots more easygoing than those in Chicago. And even friendlier to strangers.”

      “That’s only so they can gossip about you at Maxine’s, the most popular restaurant downtown.” He grinned and then became serious. “So what exactly are you doing for us? Why’d you leave Walter’s company? Were you as high up as you could go? That’s usually why we get people from Walter.”

      “It was a rather last minute decision. I had planned on staying where I was after Walter retired, but there are takeover rumors and the board is unsettled. Signs were that a move might be best.”

      “I’ll warn you, the shopping’s not very good in Chenille. We’re forty miles from the nearest mall.”

      “Malls are overrated.”

      He chuckled. “I thought all girls loved to shop. My sisters are deadly.”

      Maybe those who had money saw retail therapy as a sport, but shopping for Miranda had always meant being frugal. Her purse strings had loosened these past few years, but she couldn’t break the habit of budgeting. She had a few school loans to pay off before indulging in anything frivolous. And she had to save for retirement. “I’m not ‘all girls,’” she finally told him.

      “I’ve already figured that part out.”

      While she’d been lost in thought he’d moved dangerously close. Worse, she was backed up against a bar stool. She had no way to escape and she wasn’t sure she would if she could. Every nerve ending in her body tingled with awareness. “What are you doing?” she breathed.

      “Cashing in on what you owe me.”

      “Really?” she asked, trying to regain control. “When did I get in your debt?”

      He thought for a second. “That came out wrong. I’m claiming my reward for rescuing you.”

      “I don’t remember promising you anything,” she said, but his head lowered. She froze. He was going to kiss her.

      She should tell him no. Fight it. Get away from Chase McDaniel and back to the party as quickly as her legs could carry her. That would be the rational thing to do.

      But she couldn’t. He was like rocky road ice cream. Impossible to resist. His lips lightly touched hers and didn’t disappoint. He kissed her gently, as if testing how far she’d let him go.

      Her body quickened. She wanted him to deepen the kiss, and as if reading her mind, he began to really kiss her. She let herself taste him, let him slide his tongue inside to connect with hers.

      He was divine. Sure, she’d been kissed before, but something about kissing Chase felt different. It felt perfect. But it was also terribly wrong.

      She pulled back, trying to ignore the flood of sensations rushing through her. What he’d roused with one kiss had warning signs flashing in her head. “I think you’ve had enough of a reward,” she said. Her voice came out huskier than she would have liked.

      His gaze locked on to hers and his lips parted. For a moment she thought he’d try to change her mind. Then he stepped away and let her go. “Shall we head back to the party then?”

      The abrupt way he dismissed what had happened made her knees wobble. She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten her reserve and fallen under the spell of his playboy charms. He seemed to live for adventure. And she’d been just another challenge. Now that he’d succeeded, game over. Time to move on to the next conquest.

      She followed him from the boathouse and toward the tent. Dinner had been served and people were sitting at tables eating and laughing.

      “Shall we eat?” Chase asked.

      “Sure,” Miranda agreed.

      Places had been saved for them at the head table, and after going through the buffet line, they settled in their seats. Miranda tried to eat, but the fact that she’d kissed Chase McDaniel smarted. She wasn’t easy, yet she’d succumbed like a dog rolling over for a pat on its stomach. Disappointment at her behavior made her lose her appetite, so she picked at her food, while Leroy and Walter shared stories of becoming friends and building companies.

      “Mine was always a family business. Even now we control the stock,” Leroy boasted.

      “Yeah, but I proved to my boss you didn’t have to be family to get ahead. I’m a self-made man.”

      “And I’m not?” Leroy countered. They loved to one-up each other, a friendly game they’d played for years.

      “I’ve survived two mergers,” Walter claimed.

      “Speaking of which, what’s with this latest takeover?” his old friend asked.

      “Is something wrong with your food?” Chase leaned close and gestured to Miranda’s plate as Walter began to describe the situation in detail.

      “It’s delicious,” she replied. The food was superb, and she forced herself to eat a bite.

      The gall of the man, anyway. Why had he kissed her? Sure, it was only a kiss, but for some reason she couldn’t let it go the way Chase obviously had. He’d probably kissed plenty of women like that, which showed her inexperience. She also felt guilty. She’d enjoyed his touch too much. It had been awhile since she’d dated. Heck, she hadn’t had a real relationship in over a year, and Manuel had only been using her to close a sales deal and get a promotion at his company.

      The night slipped on, and Chase asked her to dance. Despite her resolve to keep distance between them, she went. She wanted to be in his arms, to see if her earlier reaction was a fluke. She also wanted to speak with him.

      “I need to tell you something,” she said as the slow number ended. She had to talk to him about her job. Given what had happened between them, it was the right thing to do. Otherwise, working together would be awkward. It probably would be anyway. He was like chocolate cake. She loved eating it, but afterward felt guilty for indulging.

      “What is it?” Chase asked.

      She opened her mouth.

      “Chase!”

      Miranda closed her lips and tried not to grimace as an older couple came forward.

      “You look fantastic,” the woman gushed. “I haven’t seen you in, what, ten years?”

      “This is Leroy’s second cousin Laura and her husband, Cliff.” Chase made the introductions. “They live in Paris.”

      “Yes, but we wouldn’t have missed Leroy’s eightieth for the world.”

      Miranda, seeing the conversation would be ongoing, soon slipped away.

      “Having fun?” Walter asked as she returned to her seat.

      “Loads,” she said, her gaze seeking out Chase. She knew he’d hate her once his grandfather took the stage.

      Not five minutes later that moment arrived, sealing Miranda’s fate. Her window of opportunity to tell Chase the truth and set things right had closed.

      Leroy grasped the microphone in one hand and asked for everyone’s attention. Chase finished chatting with his relatives and moved to the side of the room, joining his siblings. Miranda slipped into the chair next to Walter.

      “I saw you and Chase dance. I’m glad you’ll be able to work well together,” Walter told her.

      “Yeah.”

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