The Agreement (Unrestrained 1)

"Kate, I'm so glad your father invited me. I've wanted to meet you ever since I met your father and he started talking about you, but he never brought you anywhere in public. I think I was a bit infatuated with you just from his description of you."

I frowned, not knowing what to say.

"You took photographs while you were in Africa?" he said, his voice soft, sexy. "I'd love to see them. See into that mind of yours and what makes you tick."

Everything he said took on a dual meaning. Was it me or was he really trying to be suggestive?

I took in a breath. It had been a while since I saw them myself and I didn't look forward to it. They were painful.

"I don't know what my father meant by that – what makes me tick. They're just photos." I started off down the hallway. "They're in the study."

My body was stiff, my cheeks already hot. I didn't want to have to engage him so I said nothing as I led him through the hallways to the study in the south corner of the suite. One entire wall in my father's study was devoted to my photos from Africa.

Drake closed the door behind us and took my arm, turning me around gently to face him. I stared at his hand on my arm and he finally let go.

"I'm sorry if you're unhappy that I'm here," he said and stepped closer to me. Too close. I took a step backwards, avoiding his eyes. "Your father wanted me to come early so that you and I could get to know each other. I'm glad he did."

"Why would he want us to get to know each other?"

"I guess because I said I thought you were a lovely young woman and wanted to get to know you better."

My cheeks heated at that. "I thought you weren't the kind of man someone like me should get involved with."

"You won't let me live that down, will you?"

"It's just that it would have been nice if I knew he invited you beforehand."

He stepped closer again, and this time, he pinned me against the huge mahogany desk. I half leaned half sat on the edge, keeping my glass of soda between us as if it was a shield, my eyes riveted to it.

"Would you have found some excuse not to attend?"

I said nothing, turning my face away from his too intense gaze. Of course I would have. I would have developed a nasty runny nose and cough and bowed out.

"I would have liked the choice," I said. "But of course, my father always has to have things his way."

"He's quite a dominant man himself."

I looked up at him, finally, but avoided his eyes. He smiled just a bit.

"I can't seem to escape them," I said, looking away.

"Maybe that's because you don't want to."

That made my back stiffen.

"I left home to get away from him. Listen," I said, pointing a finger at him, focusing on a button on his suit jacket instead of his eyes. "I can't have anything to do with you, do you understand? I'm writing my research paper about climate change so unless you know something about that, you and I have nothing to talk about."

He clucked his tongue. "You're trying too hard, Kate," he said, taking my finger in his hand and turning it away as if it was a weapon. Then, he took my hand and opened it, stroking my palm. "Me thinks the lady doth protest too much and that you do, in fact, want to have something to do with me."

I pulled my hand out of his and just stared at his chin so I could avoid his eyes, heat rising to my cheeks – yet again. How he made me blush! I was embarrassed by what he thought of me, knowing he was my father's friend.

"I don't like being around you," I said, my voice low.

"I think you do," he said, his voice firm, confident. "You like me. You don’t like the fact that you like me. You don't want to like me but you can't help it."

"I don’t believe you," I said, my jaw actually dropping that he had the audacity to say that. "You're," I said, fighting to control my emotions. "You're awfully certain of yourself."

I tried to sidle by him, but of course he took my arm once more.