His to Command
“Of course I’m right. Kate, I’ve seen how you look at that man, and it’s clear as day you’re in love with him. Right?”
Kate pursed her lips and nodded. “But sometimes love’s not enough.” Tears welled in her eyes as she remembered how her mother had always said how much she loved her father, yet she’d always seemed so miserable with her life.
“You’re only saying that because of your mom and dad, but Kate, Matt isn’t the same as your dad. And you’re not the same as your mom. You know that deep inside, don’t you?”
“Maybe. But that doesn’t mean it’ll work.”
Ellen’s eyebrow arched. “Have you thought about the fact that no matter what you decide about being with Matt, you still have to see him on a regular basis because of your business arrangement?”
Had she thought about it? In fact, she’d thought of almost nothing else over the past several days. The big question in her mind was, how could she possibly continue the business arrangement with Matt now?
* * *
Matt finished the e-mail to his marketing director and hit SEND, then leaned back in his chair and rubbed the back of his neck. He hadn’t slept well over the past week, tossing and turning at night with thoughts of Kate. A part of him wanted to go after her and beg her to take him back, while another insisted he seduce her with his authoritative manner and demand she be his.
But, damn it, neither of those approaches would work.
As much as he’d known it had to end between them, that Kate would never love him after finding out what he’d done, it didn’t make it any easier.
He glared at his screen, his teeth clenching. He was a man of action. A man who fought for what he wanted.
But he couldn’t fight for Kate. He couldn’t make Kate love him.
The phone rang and his gaze darted to it. His secretary knew this was the time he blocked off every day to be undisturbed. He snatched up the handset.
“What is it?” he snapped.
“Oh, uh … Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Pearce, but … I mean, I explained that you don’t take visitors right now, but she said it’s important. I … uh … Should I send her away?”
Damn. His secretary was out sick today and now he’d intimidated the hell out of the poor temp.
Why would a woman appear at his door without an appointment? His business associates and senior staff knew he didn’t take visitors in the morning. His heart lurched, wondering if it might actually be Kate, but he knew better and tamped down that hope before it could unbalance him. Why would she come all the way here from Connecticut, especially without letting him know? He was sure she wouldn’t want to see him, and if she wanted to talk business, she’d probably have her lawyer or one of her staff contact him.
“The woman is quite insistent,” the temp said quietly into the phone.
Quite insistent? That sounded more like Ileana.
“Fine, send her in.”
He clicked on his browser and opened the calendar window. The door opened and from the corner of his eye as he reviewed his schedule, he caught a quick impression of a woman in a tailored black suit with a pencil-thin skirt, red pumps with stiletto heels, and carrying a red handbag. Definitely Ileana’s style.
He had a half hour free before his meeting with the board.
He might as well get this over with because, knowing Ileana, whatever it was she wanted, she wouldn’t let it slide. He leaned back in his chair.
“So, Ileana, what is it you want?”
But the woman standing before him was not Ileana. He sucked in a breath and stared at her, ensuring that he wasn’t seeing things.
“Kate?”
“You were expecting Ileana?” She closed the door behind her and glanced around his office.
“No, of course not. It’s just that when my secretary … the temp … said a woman was insisting to see me…” He stood up. “I don’t take visitors this time of day.”
“Yes, she made that clear. So I’m disturbing you.”
“No, Kate. Not at all. Please come in and sit down.” He gestured to the chair facing his desk.