Dark Ties (Made Men 9)

His eyes pinned her in place at the movement, his face becoming even more charming. Haley still wasn’t buying it, not for a second. She was a cheapskate where fear was concerned. When a wolf showed its teeth, you did not smile back. You ran. It was a lesson she had learned for herself and was smart enough not to repeat, especially to a wolf who seemed bigger and fiercer than the one who had taught her the pain-filled lesson.

“Lucas tells me you were unaware of my policy about cell phones.” Leaning forward, Mr. Beck laid her cell phone down on the stats she had laid out.

Forcing herself not to make any sudden moves, she didn’t reach for it immediately.

“The receptionist won’t get in trouble downstairs?”

“Of course not. I’m not Scrooge.”

“Mr. Beck, Nadia handles this side of the charity …” Haley kept her voice low and steady, not wanting to alert him to the fact that she was ready to ditch the meeting.

She looked longingly at the door, willing Nadia to walk through as a sense fatalism washed over her. Nadia wasn’t going to come in time to save the day.

“Unfortunately, her schedule prevented her from being here,” Haley went on as she slowly crept her hand toward her phone. “If you have any other appointments you need to keep, perhaps we could switch out—”

“Please, call me Desmond. Unfortunately,” he drawled out in amusement, “you’re my last appointment before I fly out.”

“In that case”—shoving her phone in her suit jacket with her inhaler, Haley pushed the information across the table toward Mr. Beck while raising halfway out of her chair while one-handedly closing her briefcase—“all the information you need about Moonbeam is here for you to read. Nadia wanted me to impart the urgency needed for the charity to continue providing the services that so many of our youthful clients depend on. You can get in contact with Ms. Brooks when you come to a decision.” Standing, Haley grabbed the handle of her briefcase as she sidled around the table to make her escape.

“You’re leaving?” Desmond Beck raised an inquiring brow, using the rollers on his chair to turn toward her, looking neither surprised nor perturbed at her imminent departure.

Nodding, Haley kept her eyes glued to the door. “I don’t want to take more of your valuable time. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Nadia. She’ll be more than happy to delve into the details if you need anything else explained,” she hastened to justify without breaking her stride toward the door.

“You haven’t explained anything.”

Haley didn’t stop her momentum to the door.

“Haley!”

She froze at his silken voice. Do. Not. Move, she warned herself. The worst thing she could do was run.

Slowly, she turned to face Desmond Beck. The polite façade he had pasted on his face was gone, and in its place was the imposing image of a man who was used to getting what he wanted. This formidable man was what her self-protective instincts had screamed at her to what was hidden underneath. The wolf was coming out of hiding.

Seeing that he had captured her attention, he gave her reassuring smile.

Hell nah. She was out of here.

“I really need to leave … Ms. Brooks should be here shortly.”

At this point, Haley didn’t care if Nadia was coming or not; she just wanted to get out of the office.

Reaching into her pocket, she grabbed her inhaler, the shot of albuterol easing her overworked breathing.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s a little stuffy in here.” Little? More like a freaking inferno. She could barely stop herself from fanning her face.

Unfazed at her using the inhaler, Desmond Beck merely regarded her intensely, as if studying a bug under a microscope. “I’ll turn the air conditioner up. Please, sit back down. I have no interest in talking with Ms. Brooks. The only one I’m interested in speaking with is you … Haley. You’re the only reason I’m here in Kansas City.”

Two

“Me?” Her jaw dropped at the revelation.

“This week was meant mainly as a much-needed break, visiting a friend of mine.” He slowly rose from the chair. At his movement, Haley took a step toward the door. Beck’s imperturbable, unexpected admission only added to her wariness.

“I’m a busy man. I was going to forgo my week of poker and catching up with my friend until your associate, Ms. Brooks, found out I was going to be in Kanas City and asked for a meeting. She’s very diligent. That she was able to find out my schedule is a true testament to her dedication to Moonbeam. As I had already informed my assistant, I wouldn’t be coming to Kanas City, except Lucas refused her request. That’s when Ms. Brooks decided to mention her connection to you.”

The revelation had Nadia planning on a long talk when she left here, right after she satisfied her curiosity as to why Desmond Beck made a special trip to Kansas City to talk with her. She might be a scaredy cat, but she was also just as curious as one.