His lips were fascinatingly sensual, and Lucy dazedly watched them move as he spoke. “Hmm, you’re too good to resist,” she whispered, kissing him again, now doing the exploring herself. His mouth was impossibly warm, and though she was fully aware of its power, it was slick and soft as it moved along with hers.
His hand ran aimlessly up her back, sending little shivers down her spine. When she pulled away, she sighed and pressed her face to his chest.
“The paperwork’s begun…the company’s already being transferred to your name. It’s yours, beautiful. Whether you want it or not.” He kissed the top of her head for emphasis, as if that were the end of the conversation—and of course he had the last say.
She looked up at him with a mixture of awe and indignation. “Has there ever been a time when you didn’t get your way, Holden?”
He frowned thoughtfully. “No,” he said at last. Then he smiled his trademark full-of-it smile—the one that caused the most havoc in her insides. “And is my sexy, beautiful, intelligent new head of mergers ready to go to work on Monday?”
“No,” she said impishly. “I’m ready to go to work tomorrow.”
His eyebrows lifted at that. “Now that might be a problem, because I’ve got plans for tomorrow. Plans that involve you, I’m afraid.”
“Oh?”
He nodded seriously. “Big plans. Saturday plans. Plans involving some of this…” He kissed her forehead, a loud dry kiss. “And this…” With equal flair, he kissed her nose. “And this.” He smacked his lips to hers noisily.
“I have to say I like your plans,” she admitted, her lips curving into a s
eductive smile. “You think just like I do, Patrick Holden.”
“Hmmm,” he said, brushing his lips to hers. “What am I thinking now?”
“You’re thinking…you want to kiss me?”
“No.”
“No?” She sat up on the bed and scowled down at him. “Why not?”
His grin was all arrogant satisfaction. “Try again.”
“You can’t be ready to do that again so soon?”
“Well, I admit I think about doing that with you all the time, but this other thing I’m thinking about is much more important.”
“Well, it beats me!”
He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. She fell on top of his chest, the full length of her body sprawled over his bigger one, her face a hairbreadth from his. As he placed his hands possessively over her rump, his smile faded and his gaze sizzled with intensity. “I’m crazy about you. When you got so pissed yesterday and left—you scared the shit out of me. Don’t ever do that again, Divine.”
She smiled, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes. “I hardly ever get pissed, and I really doubt anyone could scare you. And I can’t imagine why anyone would ever want to leave a big bully like you.”
His eyes searched her face, and he looked a bit worried. “Is that what you think of me?”
Wouldn’t you know it, his mother was right after all—he was insecure. And Lucy found it impossibly endearing. Her smile faded and as she looked into his beautiful black eyes, her heart swelled. “I love, admire and respect everything about you, Patrick,” she whispered softly. “And try as I might, I can’t even remember when I’ve ever been so lucky.”
His hands caressed up and down her back and a cocky smile returned to his lips. “Ask the nut at the costume shop.”
She laughed at his words then quickly sobered. Head of mergers and acquisitions at Holden and Investors…and owner—dear Lord, could this be happening?—of Finrod Tech.
Wow.
When she’d imagined herself standing at the top of that tall corporate ladder, never, in her wildest imaginings, did she picture Patrick Holden hauling her up, then holding her hand and standing tall and proud right beside her—which frankly, was billions multiplied by trillions to the millionth power better.
Nine of Pentacles.
Hmm.
Seems the old woman was right. Lucy would have never believed it. Who would’ve thought being Holden’s assistant would turn out to be so incredibly, positively, absolutely…divine?