heart sank further. Was this the “you’re too valuable an employee for me to fool around with” speech?
“I know you’re a lady and would be offended if I asked you in on our first date.” He moved his hands until they were over hers. “And I’m still enough of a gentleman to resist the temptation.”
His fingers wove into hers and the full force of that temptation rushed through her. He was taking it slow because he respected her. Somehow that truly touched her.
He leaned in until she could inhale his enticing male scent. “But I’m not letting you go without one last kiss.”
Relief swept through her as their lips pressed together. He wasn’t rejecting her. She held him tight and kissed him back with passion.
“And I’m already anticipating the pleasure of an entire weekend with you, so asking for tonight as well would be greedy.”
Misgivings still crept in her veins. An entire weekend was a long time. If things got out of hand there would be no turning back. Though likely it was already too late to return to their normal workaday existence. “What should I bring?” Would she need waders, or an evening gown? Or both?
“Just yourself. The house is fully stocked for entertaining guests so there’s loads of extra gear there.”
“Will anyone else be there?” What if other Kincaid siblings were around to witness her liaison with RJ? She cringed at the thought of them laughing behind her back, or exchanging shocked whispers.
“I certainly hope not.” RJ pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Since the house is mine now and I haven’t invited anyone but you we should have the whole two hundred acres to ourselves.”
Two hundred acres. It must be in the middle of nowhere. Of course that was probably the point with hunting cabins. Less chance of shooting one of the neighbors. She and RJ would have more than enough privacy to do anything they liked.
Which reminded her she was arm in arm with him in a popular spot in downtown Charleston. Did she really want coworkers or his family to see them kissing? They might think she was trying to sleep her way to a promotion. Or even take advantage of him when he was under stress. “I think it’s time for me to go home. I have to work tomorrow—and so do you in case you’ve forgotten.” It was nearly eleven last time she’d checked.
“I don’t have to worry. My capable assistant handles everything for me while I take long lunches.”
Brooke made a mock gasp. “I’ll have to schedule some of those investor conferences you so look forward to. Perhaps some early breakfast meetings.”
“Now you’re scaring me. I’ll do my best to roll in after a late breakfast.”
His cocky attitude didn’t annoy her. In fact she was proud he could count on her to keep his work life on track. He looked so relaxed and happy right now you’d never guess his family was in turmoil. Maybe she could take some credit for that, as well.
A warm sense of satisfaction bloomed inside her, along with the delicious arousal RJ had stirred. If things went well this weekend, who knew what the future might hold?
Three
“You’re going to spend the weekend in the woods with your boss?” Her friend Evie had been speechless for a few seconds. Now apparently she’d recovered.
Brooke moved the phone back closer to her ear again. “He’s quite different than I thought. Much more sensitive.”
“I don’t care how sensitive he is. What will happen when he gets bored with you?”
“Ouch.” Brooke walked across her apartment. “Am I that dull? You’ve been friends with me for nearly eight years.”
“You know what I mean. Most men, especially in his position, just want to fool around and have fun, and after a few dates they’re ready for someone new. Didn’t you tell me yourself that he’s a bit of a Casanova?”
“Sure, he used to date a lot, but this big family scandal has made him more serious.” He hadn’t been going out much lately. At least not that she knew of.
“So he’s turned into the white picket fence type and is looking for a nice, quiet girl to settle down with.”
“Maybe he is.”
“You could be right, but what if he isn’t? You’ve put five years into the company. Didn’t you say something about a management position?”
“I applied to be the events coordinator but I didn’t get it.” Yes, it smarted a little, especially since the woman they’d hired from outside was more than a bit flaky. “I just have to keep trying.”
“And you think an affair with your boss will help?”
“It’s not an affair yet. All we’ve done is kiss.”
“After a weekend in the woods it will be an affair. Do you genuinely believe he’ll decide you’re the girl of his dreams and ask you to marry him?”
Brooke took in a breath. “Is it a crime to dream? You’re married.”
“To the guy in the next cubicle, not the one at the head of the boardroom table. I care about you, Brooke, and I know how much your job at Kincaid means to you. It really is a place where you could take your career to the next level and I don’t want to see you throw that away for a quick sympathy fling.”
“I can always find a job somewhere else.”
“In this economy? I’m being very careful with the job I have as there’s not a lot out there.”
“You’re so supportive.” Her joy had deflated. One minute she’d been swanning around the air castles of her mind as Mrs. RJ Kincaid. Then the castle went poof and she was now single again and jobless, too. “Maybe I want to have some fun.”
Evie sighed. “I miss our nights out together. I know being married is no reason to stay in every night, but we have our hands full with this renovation project right now and—”
Brooke laughed. “I wasn’t trying to guilt trip you into a night on the town with me. I know it sounds crazy but the roller coaster has already left the station. I can’t go back to before the kiss, so I might as well enjoy the ride and hope for the best.”
“My knuckles are turning white just thinking about it. And I want to hear all the details on Monday.”
RJ left his keys and wallet on the tray and walked through the security machines at the detention center. His entire body reacted to the oppressive atmosphere of the building. A place where hardened criminals were locked up awaiting trial, and where his kind and gentle mother was forced to suffer their company.
A silent guard led him to a private interview room. His lawyer had apparently gone to great trouble to arrange a face-to-face meeting with his mom, otherwise he could only speak to her from the lobby over a video link. The guard opened the door to a small room with a metal desk and two chairs.
She looked tiny, sitting alone at the desk, dressed in the regulation jumpsuit. He walked toward her, unable to govern his features into any kind of polite greeting. “Mom.” He took her in his arms and held her tight. She seemed so frail and helpless, not at all the steel magnolia he’d always proudly bragged about.
“No contact.” He’d forgotten the no touching rule, and the gruff voice behind him reminded him. With great reluctance he pulled back his arms.
“I won’t do it again.” He turned to the guard. “Can we be alone for a few minutes?”
“I’ll be standing right here, watching.” The tall, older man gestured to a square of window in the door, then slipped outside.
His mom’s face was pale and drawn, with tiny blue shadows under her expressive eyes. Her trademark auburn hair was slicked back