Fatal Attraction (Dark Desires 4)

“She reviewed the contract in good faith, and you responded in kind.”

“Yes, Reed, I know.”

He kept pressing the point, thinking it would make me feel better about what I’d done. He said, “If she had raised the topic of the patents you would have spelled it out for her. Right?”

“Yes. Right.”

“It’s not like you were hiding anything to screw anyone over.”

“For fuck’s sake, Reed, I know all that.” I held up my hands to shut him up. “Enough already. It’s just business. Period. End of story.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “And yet, you still feel a little shitty.”

“A little.”

“Well, you did nothing wrong as far as I’m concerned,” he said. He took another sip of coffee and grinned at me. “The fact that you banged her all weekend had nothing to do with the deal.”

“She probably will not see it that way,” I said, frowning into my cup. “In fact, I’m pretty sure that she will see it as a betrayal. She’ll accuse me of using her and probably never want to see me again.”

“Oh well, that’s her loss then, isn’t it? It’s not like you don’t have women lined up around the block, Conner. And Cassandra Leone on speed dial. Christ, if I had that woman I’d never want another.”

I gave him a little nod, even though I was starting to feel more like a heel by the minute. I knew that the moment Katie heard that Allen Benson was being booted off the board and the manufacturing operation being sold; our little romance would probably be over.

I had four days to enjoy her company.

After that, all bets were off.

Oh well. That was how things worked in my world.

It was just business.

Keep telling yourself that, a little voice in my head whispered. You fucking asshole.

I ignored what my heart was saying.

It had never made me a dime.

Chapter 25: Katie

Conner was busy Monday night with some business dinner he had already committed to, but we spent Tuesday night together at his penthouse in Manhattan. The sex was even better and hotter than the weekend before, if you can believe that. We were getting to know one another’s personalities and quirks. We were figuring out each other’s bodies. What we liked. What curled out toes. What buttons to push. What sent us over the moon.

We spent Wednesday night together at my place. It was nothing like Conner’s penthouse. His master bedroom was larger than my entire apartment. But he said he loved the “coziness” of my little place and loved snuggling in my bed, which was half the size of his.

Thursday night we went back to his penthouse after dinner and spent the evening making love. I drifted off to sleep around midnight lying in his strong arms. I was happier than I had ever been in my life. I knew that it was silly of me to be thinking such things so quickly, but I was starting to imagine my life being Mrs. Conner McGee.

Before Conner left for the office on Friday morning, he seemed a bit on edge. Ordinarily, he was laughing and joking and doing his best to get me out of whatever clothes I had managed to put on. Friday morning was different. He didn’t say much when we woke up. Or while we showered together. Of course, neither did I. It was hard to talk when you had your mouth full.

He got out of the shower first because he said he had to get to the office, so I finished up while he toweled off and got dressed. I was standing in front of the wide bathroom mirror doing my makeup when he can in to say goodbye.

“Are you okay, Con?” I asked as I stared at him in the mirror with the makeup brush paused at my cheek. “You seem a little edgy this morning.”

He adjusted his silk tie and smiled at my reflection. “A little edgy?”

I turned and put my arms around his neck, careful not to dust him with makeup from the brush. He was already dressed in a blue Armani suit, white shirt, and matching tie, so I didn’t hug him too tightly. His dark hair was swept back, and he had just a hint of stubble on his chin. He looked like he had just stepped out of a magazine ad.

“Are you nervous about today?” I asked.

We had not talked about the impending purchase of my uncle’s company. We had been so busy getting to know one another and having a good time in bed that business never came up. Besides, that was none of my business. I