“How would you describe yourself? You work far into the night. You’re a director. Ambitious? Driven?”
She smiled faintly. “Touché.”
“So we are both workaholics—there are rewards. Regarding the future of the company, I change only what I feel needs changing. As a director, you’ll retain a position if that relieves your mind.”
“‘A position’—but not necessarily a director? I know changes are coming. I have a feeling you’ve looked into my back ground.”
“So is your family patiently waiting at home?” he asked, having already noticed the absence of a wedding band. Her manicured nails were long. Everything about her looked precise, immaculate, professional. Keeping a barrier around herself, she was reserved with him. She made no effort to hide her resentment of his purchase of the company.
“I’m single. You make the news enough for me to know that you are, too.”
“The single life lends itself to becoming a workaholic. There are far less distractions.”
“You view a family as a distraction.” Even though she spoke in the same tone, her disapproval had obviously escalated.
“At this point in life, family is not for me, because I’m wound up in business. Evidently, not for you, either.”
She gave him a frosty smile.
They were lightly sparring, yet he experienced a scalding attraction that she seemed to also feel—an odd combination he had never encountered. Challenges were always interesting and she was definitely one.
“Do you often work this late?” he asked, enjoying talking to her. She was a beautiful woman, yet she wore the suit as if it were armor, hiding her figure. He rarely received such a cool reception from a gorgeous, single woman, much less one who was his employee. He couldn’t resist the urge to try to break through the puzzling wall she maintained. Was it all men? Or just him, because he had bought out her employer?
“Occasionally,” she replied, tilting her head. “Do you usually work this late?”
“If necessary. I haven’t seen the building and this is a good time to wander freely. It surprised me to find you working.”
“You bought this company sight unseen?”
“The building, offices and layout weren’t significant factors. It’s the people, the departments and what Morris Enterprises is involved in. I’m sure you know that.”
“Yet you’ll change the people and the departments.” Her voice held a touch of frost. Otherwise she sat still, poised, looking as if she discussed an ad campaign.
“Some things will change. I’ve just acquired three highly successful hotel chains, plus a restaurant chain and a trucking business. This will grow my business. Even as we absorb this company, I think we can enlarge Morris Enterprises. You’ve built this department significantly—Morris has grown since you came on board. You have an impressive record,” he said, recalling being briefed on Morris executives’ performance reports. He’d decided then that she held potential, but he would move her down the corporate ladder because she would be going into a larger company. In spite of the compliment, he could not get a smile from her.
“Thank you. No one seems to know when you’ll actually take over and begin changes.”
“Soon. When I do, I’ll interview the executives first,” he said, unable to resist another swift glance at her legs.
“This encounter can almost count as my interview. You’ve asked some direct questions and I’m certain you’ve formed an opinion.”
She was direct, straight-forward and not the least intimidated to be talking to the new owner of her company. She continued, coolly composed, yet along with their matter-of-fact conversation, he felt an undercurrent of awareness.
Amused again, he shook his head. “No, you’ll have your formal interview. This is just a late-night chat, nothing more.”
“Why do I think you’ve already made your decisions?” Big blue eyes stabbed into him.
“I can have an open mind. On the other hand—can you? Morris sold the company to me. I didn’t do any arm-twisting.” He couldn’t resist another brief glance at her long legs. What would she be like when she let down all the barriers?
“You came to him with an offer he couldn’t refuse and you knew he has been on the verge of retirement for the past three years.” This time she didn’t hide the frost. Her voice conveyed a cold anger.
“Can you blame me? This is a first-rate company.”
She looked away and he studied her profile, long thick eyelashes, flawless peaches-and-cream skin, a straight nose—looks that would be unforgettable. Again it crossed his mind that they had met before, yet how could he forget her? If he had met her, the recollection would come.
“If you’ll excuse me, it’s late. I think I’ll close for tonight,” she said, standing.
Amused that he was being dismissed by her, as he stood, he asked, “Can I give you a ride home?”
She shook her head. “Thanks, no. I have my car.”
“I’ll see you out. I’ve been all through the building.” He was unaccustomed to being brushed off by a woman where there was an obvious chemistry between them.
She smiled. “You don’t have to see me to my car. This wasn’t a date.”
“I know I don’t, Ms. Smith.”
“It’s Isabelle.”
“And I’m Tony to my employees,” he said. “I’ll walk out with you. Then I’ll know where to park when I come in Monday.”
“I think you can find the parking spot that will have Reserved on a placard in front of the best space in the lot,” she said.
He watched while she shut down her laptop and placed it in a bag that she shouldered. She pulled keys from the bag, switched off a desk light and turned toward the door. When he blocked her path, she looked up, wide-eyed.
“I wish now we’d met under other circumstances. You’re definitely annoyed with me,” he said.
“It won’t matter. You have many interests and a sprawling enterprise that has absorbed this one. We’ll rarely see each other. I hated to see Morris sold. You can’t blame me for that.”
“I think it’s more than the sale,” he said quietly, standing close enough to smell the perfume she wore. Her blue eyes were incredible, crystal clear, deep blue, thickly lashed. Glacial at the moment. When his gaze lowered to her mouth, he inhaled as he viewed full, heart-shaped lips, a rosy mouth that looked soft.
As he looked, her lips parted and he glanced into her eyes again. For an instant her guard had fallen and the look he caught was warm, receptive. It was gone in a flash as she gave a tiny shake while she passed him.
“It’s very late, Tony …”
Against all human resources training, he reached out and touched her arm. “I don’t have a policy against employees seeing each other off the job, dating, getting engaged or marrying.”
Again that surge of electricity sizzled to his toes as she looked up sharply with a flash of fire in her eyes. But just as suddenly, the fire died and whatever she had been about to say was gone.
“Where I’m concerned, it won’t matter.”
“No deference to your employer?” he asked quietly, fighting an urge to ask her for a drink.
“Tony, it’s getting late,” she whispered, and broke away. He had seen the pink rise in her cheeks. Why was she fighting him and so angry with him? He hadn’t moved her out of her job yet.
Puzzled