Treasure My Heart. AlTonya Washington
with candles that highlighted the rose-blush color scheme.
The floor tiles were sparsely covered with plush area rugs of the same color. Minka decided the color had to be one of Vectra Bauer’s favorites. The rugs beckoned visitors to cast off socks and sink their toes into their warmth.
Despite the room’s warm spacious quality, the most show-stopping element had to be the tub. A work of art, the square rose-blush marble tub sat atop a platform made of the same oak as the cabinets.
Of course it was irresistible, so much so that Minka decided a long, bubbly soak would be first on her to-do list. She started to undress in the middle of the gorgeous bathroom, only pausing to select a bath gel from Vectra’s unbelievable stock of aromatherapy products located in a cabinet beneath the tub’s platform.
Ten minutes later, she was submerged in white foam and hot water. Laughter began to tickle her tummy as she relaxed for the first time in weeks.
She thought about her career so far. Going against the norm worked for her, and it had been a large factor in her decision to work outside her family’s company. The life of a working girl had suited her just fine. Now, her grandmother needed her to assume her rightful place at the head of BGI.
It went without saying that she was up for the challenge. She was perceptive enough to know that Qasim hadn’t given freedom or authority at Wilder because he was such a firm believer in delegating authority. But he knew her pedigree—knew she’d been business educated since she could talk. Now, she was about to see if all the preparation had paid off. As Qasim had said, it was another thing entirely to be the one sitting in the chair.
For the time being, however, she was content with lounging in a fabulously decadent tub. She fell into hypnotic bliss and lost track of time. The tub’s Jacuzzi setting massaged her tired body, and Minka could’ve pampered herself there for several more hours.
She decided against that. One couldn’t while away the hours when there was work to be done. Laughing softly over the idea, Minka made a lazy effort to leave the tub. The bubbles hadn’t completely dissolved, and they clung to her body even as the water sluiced down her belly and thighs. Stepping out of the tub, she discovered that the rugs delivered on their promise of plush comfort and warmth.
Relaxed and refreshed, Minka took a moment to admire herself in the big mirror.
“Guess I should’ve called first,” said a husky voice behind her.
She turned on a dime, forgetting that she was only covered by quickly dissipating bubbles. Her total focus was now on Oliver Bauer leaning against the door frame.
“Vectra, she—she gave me a key.”
“That’s obvious.” Oliver’s smirk seemed to elevate the usual roguish light in his eyes as he listened to Minka stammer her explanation.
“I was just taking a bath...”
“I can tell.” The hungry intensity of his expression fused with something softer, more amused. He knew she was beyond nervous, and it was beyond endearing.
Minka responded with an absent nod. She was still too stunned by the fact that Oliver Bauer was actually there in the doorway to remember that she was still naked. The bubbles and water had long since evaporated.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
His mouth twitched on the cusp of a grin, which he shielded by holding a hand to his jaw in the pretense of rubbing it. Once the need to smile had been somewhat stifled, he made an effort to reply. “I’ll explain if you don’t mind us continuing this downstairs? It’s getting pretty hard for me to think the way I should.”
When she continued to stare as if bewildered, Oliver took another pointed appraisal of her body. He began at the red-wine polish adorning her toes. The shade accentuated the dark chocolate flawlessness of her skin. What she lacked in height, she made up for in curves. His gaze settled to her chest—again. The firm, flawlessly dark globes heaved with an unknowing sensuality as she watched him with utter obliviousness.
Minka blinked slowly once, twice, as though she were rising out of a dreamy fog. At last her attention shifted, following the trail of Oliver’s stare, and taking in her state of undress.
“Right.” She sighed, then muttered an inaudible curse. She moved to the cabinets where she’d seen a collection of towels folded during her earlier inspection of the bath.
Clearing her head with a shake, she grabbed a towel. It wasn’t a bath sheet, but it would do. Quickly she wrapped herself in it and turned.
Oliver Bauer was gone.
* * *
The aroma of brewing coffee stimulated Minka’s nostrils as she crossed into the connecting bedroom suite. She’d left a robe on the bed, not bothering to carry it with her into the bath. Of course, then she hadn’t been expecting that she’d be visited by her hostess’s unfairly sexy older brother.
Those words, and all that they implied, echoed in her mind for a time. Minka gave another quick shake of her head in the hopes of warding off scorching images of what might have played out during their encounter.
The idea almost made her laugh. Anything between her and Oliver would definitely have to be tabled, no matter how much she’d love to explore it. The old saying about never mixing business with pleasure was popular for a reason. Such a rule had served her well, and she wasn’t about to abandon it now. No matter how tempting it was to do so.
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