The incredulous shock on his face was almost worth the humiliation. “You did not just say that to me. Are you denying possession or use?”
“Both.” His gaze tore and pulled her apart, making her squirm with discomfort. How dare he judge her? “What’s the matter, Mr. Goody Two-Shoes Hot Lawyer of Harvard? Never got caught on the wrong side of the law?”
His disbelieving laughter surprised her. Slade shook his head. “I don’t believe I’m having this conversation. Who on earth would want to frame you with a joint?”
She shrugged. “My mother.”
Kate didn’t wait for his answer, opening the door and sliding out. She pulled her fake fur coat around her for warmth and teetered on her Jimmy Choo ankle-strap heels that had cost more than the coat and the dress together. Of course, she believed every businesswoman needed a good pair of designer shoes, especially on sale. Skipping the heating bill had been so worth it.
He spoke briefly with the parking attendant and strode over, pulling her to the side. Thank God, the cushion of fur blocked most of the electrical current. He stuck his nose close to her hair and took another whiff. “I’m taking you to one of the biggest dinners in my life and you’re high. Is this what you do with your Robert on a Saturday night?”
“I told you, I’m not high and it’s not mine.” She clamped down on the urge to stick out her tongue. “And Robert is none of your business.”
Frustration sparked from his gaze. A dangerous stillness settled over him, and her body roared to answer the call. A pure, sexual rush hit her hard. Her n**ples pushed against the lace of her bra, and her p**sy throbbed for relief. As if he sensed her reaction, he whispered his next words right by her ear. “Don’t push me, Kate. Unless you want to see what happens.”
Goose bumps broke out on her skin. Kate fought off the panic and pretended she was on the verge of a stuttering attack. She cleared her mind, reached down deep for composure, and breathed. When she steadied, she tipped her head up and met his gaze head-on. “I’m here to save your ass, counselor, so deal with it. Now, let’s go. We’re late.”
She broke his grip and walked toward the restaurant. Churrascaria Riodizio was one of the most popular Brazilian buffets in the city. “Any last-minute advice before you throw me to the wolves?” she asked.
Streaks of caramel hair blew in the frigid wind and lay against his brow. His smoke-gray cashmere coat emphasized his elegant sense of style, pinning him immediately as a Wall Street broker or lawyer. She’d dated both and swore she wouldn’t repeat the experience. “Be charming. And try to keep up.”
Then she was inside the restaurant.
The host led them to a private back room. Kate admired the high ceilings, elegant crystal chandeliers, and massive buffet where an array of seafood chilled on ice among beautifully cut sculptures. Large parties crammed into tightly seated tables, and the roar of conversation and laughter echoed in the air. She took three steps down into a plush inner chamber where corporate met and ruled.
Showtime.
The men rose quickly to greet them, clasping her hand in firm handshakes that thankfully didn’t set off any crazy electric vibes. Bob wore his distinguished gray hair cut close to the scalp, his skin well tanned. Probably from golf. He looked like a golfer. His razor-sharp gaze probed and assessed in record time, and Kate bet he’d been a literal predator in court. His commanding presence lured a jury to want to agree with the man. No wonder he was the owner.
Travis was his younger brother, and seemed a bit more relaxed, but his lazy charm gave him a different ruthlessness she appreciated. Kate assumed they did a great job of playing good cop/bad cop. She nodded her head at the third member of the party, Samuel Flag. He seemed about Slade’s age, with reddish-brown hair, thin lips, and commanding features. His robust laugh mocked the charade of seriousness at the table, but Kate knew he was more dangerous than maybe even Slade gave him credit for. His gray eyes held the flat dullness of a shark’s. What he wanted, he got. And it seemed his companion felt the same. Her red hair was lustrous and thick, and she packaged it well with a curvy body draped in lime-green silk. She was striking but didn’t overdo it, using subtle makeup, low-key jewelry, and demure shoes to balance her image. Like Samuel, her probing gaze made immediate opinions and quickly dismissed them as competition for possible partnership. Kate smothered a laugh. She guessed she didn’t own the killer instinct that would have garnered this woman’s respect. Samuel quickly introduced her as Melody, his current fiancée.
The other women seemed more welcoming. Linda and Tanya greeted her with warm handclasps, which threw Kate off for a few seconds. Odd, there wasn’t a buzz of chemistry confirming that they had married their soul mates. Not even a slight tingle. She always received a jolt of recognition when touching a married couple—or at least if it was a true soul match. They both glanced at their husbands with a deep affection and love from long-term marriage, past the point of crazed passionate encounters on the kitchen table, probably settling for the deeper emotions of the day-to-day chaos of true living. Kate bit her lip, wondering why she hadn’t sensed any connection, but introductions were over and she had no time to process this new information.
She slid onto the cushioned seat, crossed her legs, and settled in for a lengthy evening.
The women already knew each other well, so Kate figured she had a long way to travel before being able to join in the group’s conversation. Thankfully, this was not the life she’d have forced on her. Socializing for Kinnections was a very different thing, and she’d always hated the almost political, ruthless cliques in business, turning adults into scrambling teens looking to belong to the popular group. She forced a welcoming smile and focused her attention on the women.
The three of them smiled back, taking in her appearance and cataloguing it for future reference. Kate wondered about their reaction if she confessed the truth about being a matchmaker. Slade seemed to catch her thought and tossed her a warning look before the waiter came to take their drink orders.
Linda spoke up. “They have these wonderful signature drinks here I adore. Crushed basil with a bit of mint, it’s almost like a mojito but better.”
“Hmm, that sounds wonderful,” she said.
“Kate doesn’t drink.”
The words were flung out at the table in a commanding voice that had everyone nodding as if they understood. “Too many calories, right?” Melody said.
Kate stared at his implacable face. Ah, her punishment for his belief she was higher than a kite. A giggle threatened, but she managed to smother it just in time. Did he really think he was dealing with an amateur?
“I’ll have a gin and tonic. The lady will have sparkling water,” Slade instructed.
She lifted her face up at the waiter and smiled sweetly. “It’s a special occasion, right? I’ll have one of those signature drinks, please. I’m off my diet for tonight.”
Slade opened his mouth to contradict her, then quickly closed it. Round one to her. God knows, she’d need some alcohol to get her through. He jerked his head but managed to play off his irritation. Maybe this would be more fun than she thought.
“So, Kate, we hear you’re an accountant. You’re in tax season, now—it must be brutal,” Linda said.
“Yes, I’m practically chained to my desk. Slade and I have been looking forward to this evening; we rarely get out this time of year.”
Bob gave Slade a proud look. “A real power couple, huh? Ah, to be that young again with the future ahead. I remember when I started Myers, Inc., we had two offices, my brother and I, and a few clients. But we were hungry, and eventually we made a name for ourselves as the prestige firm in New York.”
Linda placed a hand on her husband’s shoulder and shook her head. “He always had great ambition to be the best. Fortunately, so did I.”
“What do you do, Linda?” Kate asked.
“I’m a lawyer, too.” Her eyes sparkled. “In fact, I’m Bob’s biggest competition.”
Kate grinned. “That must have been interesting after hours.”
“Oh, yes, but we made it work. We both respected each other’s ambition. I think couples who own their own businesses have bigger challenges, but they understand one another. They are sometimes a better fit.”
Interesting. Kate wondered if that was another reason Slade was so keen on only being involved with a career woman who owned her business. She sipped her drink, enjoying the sweetness of basil, the chill of the ice, and the sting of alcohol blending together.
“What’s your accounting firm called, Kate?” Travis asked.
“Kinnections.”
She froze, the name slipping out too fast for her to backtrack. Travis cocked his head. “Odd name for an accounting company, isn’t it?”
Slade tightened his fingers around his glass. He opened his mouth to rescue her, but she’d always hated the formulaic princes on horseback. She preferred the princesses who slayed the damn dragons themselves. “Kind of like connect the dots to your refund. A play on words.”
Everyone laughed. She took another sip. God, the drink was good. She ignored her companion’s warning glance and ordered another. One more wouldn’t hurt, especially with the amount of meat she was about to feast on. “Clever,” Melody drawled. “And how did you two meet?”
“I needed an accountant, of course,” Slade said. “Thank goodness it only took me two visits to get her to accept my dinner invitation. She’s quite expensive.”
“I bet she is,” Samuel murmured.
Her gaze narrowed. He was sizing the two of them up, as if he sensed there was something underneath the surface of a newly dating couple. Kate sucked in a breath and vowed—no matter how much Slade pissed her off—to help him gain entrance into the inner circle for partnership. “It’s like we’re meant to be, isn’t it, darling?” she cooed, staring up at him from under her lashes.
He quickly covered his surprise. “Yes.”
“How long has it been?” Samuel asked.
“A month,” Slade answered.
His brow shot up. “Thinking of going permanent so soon, Slade?” His voice rippled like an oily snake. “You always seemed to equate marriage with funerals. Or so you’ve said in the conference rooms.”
Slade lifted a shoulder. “I never met Kate,” he said simply. “One of the benefits of being older is when you finally meet the right woman, you don’t need the same amount of time to figure it out. You just know.”
A shudder racked her body. His words cut deep, with a need for them to be real that scared her on a gut level. What was happening to her? She acted so strangely in his presence, as if the false words that fell from his lips were real. As if they were meant for her. Kate forced a smile as the older couples nodded, as if reliving their own memories. She also noticed Samuel’s features tighten. Take that.
Bob lifted his hand. “I’m happy for you, Slade. You know I believe my partners should have a solid family life, or the hours in the office chew you up and spit you out. And I may have good news for you, Kate. I’ve been looking for a new accountant. With retirement looming, I’ve gotten contradictory statements on IRAs versus mutual funds versus bonds. Some of my investors are telling me to buy gold instead of trusting the economy. What are you advising for your clients now?”