Seduced by the Heir. Pamela Yaye
banter was effortless, easily the highlight of her day. “Is that all you’ve got?”
He stroked his jaw as if deep in thought. “You used to love horror movies, the Backstreet Boys and chocolate fudge milkshakes from Dairy Queen.”
“I still do!” she shrieked, laughing. “How do you think I got so curvy?”
“Paris, you’re stunning and you know it.”
“And you’re too charming for your own good!”
The waiter arrived with their order and conversation was put on hold. Paris took a bite of her cake, enjoying the strong, rich flavor. As they ate, they discussed Stefano and Cassandra’s New Year’s Eve wedding, their families and their careers.
“I’m surprised that you work for your father’s construction company.”
Paris felt her eyebrows rise, and her shoulders tense. She was used to people taking cheap shots at her, knew what her colleagues said behind her back, and normally she didn’t care. But what Rafael said ticked her off. “Why are you surprised? You don’t think I’m smart enough to work in a male-dominated industry?”
“I’m not even going to dignify that question with a response.”
His voice was cold, and his gaze was deadly. He was annoyed with her, but for some odd reason that turned her on, made her wonder if he was still a passionate lover.
“Your dream was to start a beauty salon franchise, and I figured by now you’d have dozens of high-end shops around the world.”
Paris picked up her water glass. “Dreams change.”
“Do you enjoy being a senior administrator at your father’s company?”
No, she thought sadly, but I have no choice. I’m stuck. My father will never let me leave the family business, and furthermore, I’m a St. Clair. According to my dad, St. Clairs don’t give beauty treatments, they get beauty treatments.
“Yes, of course,” she lied, avoiding his probing gaze. “I’m very good at my job, and I’m proud of what Excel Construction has accomplished over the years. We’ve constructed schools, health clinics and community centers in inner city neighborhoods, and we have even more incredible projects lined up in the New Year.”
“Any chance of you opening a salon one day?”
“Been there, done that, and I’m not going there again.”
“It sounds like your past venture failed to meet your expectations.”
“That’s the understatement of the year,” she murmured.
Rafael leaned forward in his chair. “What happened?”
“Trust me, it’s a long, boring story. You wouldn’t be interested.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, he said, “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know. Go on.”
Paris parted her lips, and to her surprise the truth came tumbling out. “I opened a salon with one of my sorority sisters from Spelman after graduation, and it turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life. If not for my father stepping in, and cleaning up the mess I made, I’d still be in court duking it out with my ex-best friend.”
“Paris, you can’t let one bad experience stop you from fulfilling your dreams.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” she argued. “Everything you touch turns to gold!”
“It wasn’t always that way,” he confessed, his tone subdued. “I screwed up a lot my first few years at Morretti Incorporated, but after each failure, I picked myself up, dusted myself off and vowed to learn from my mistakes.”
Shocked, Paris closed her open mouth. “You struggled to find your footing in the business world, too?”
“Absolutely, and I’m a better man because of all the hardships I faced. It forced me to challenge myself, and to think outside of the box.”
He spoke with such fire and intensity that her thoughts took an erotic detour. Paris loved how strong he was, how intelligent, and his confidence was damn sexy.
Rafael picked up his water glass and took a drink. “The only way you lose in life is if you beat yourself, and I’m determined to be at the top of my game no matter the cost.”
Damn, Paris thought, licking her lips. I wish you were on top of me.
“You’re very passionate about what you do,” she said. “I admire that.”
“I think my ambition and my intensity has been the key to my success. Being the vice chairman of Morretti Incorporated is more than just a career. It’s my life, and I feel fortunate to be doing something I love. A lot of people aren’t that lucky.”
Tell me about it. Releasing a deep sigh, Paris toyed with her chain-link necklace. Owning a high-end salon—a trendy, glamorous place where women went to network, socialize and relax—would be a dream come true. But Paris was scared of falling flat on her face. It had already happened once, and it could again. “I love the idea of going into business for myself, but my father would never give me his support.”
“Why do you need his approval?”
Good question. Why indeed?
“You’re a smart, intelligent woman who can do anything she sets her mind to.”
I am! Paris considered what Rafael had said, and realized he was dead-on. My dad didn’t consult me when he married his trophy wife from hell, so why should I consult him about going into business for myself?
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, picking up her napkin and dabbing the corners of her mouth. “Do I have chocolate icing on my face or something?”
“No, you look perfect.” He shrugged and said, “I was just wondering what our lives would have been like if we didn’t split up.”
“Sure you were,” she quipped, her tone filled with sarcasm. “Just admit it. You haven’t thought about me since our breakup, and the only reason you recognized me last night was because you overheard someone at the party say my last name.”
Rafael didn’t miss a beat. “I knew it was you the moment I heard your laugh.”
“No way. Seriously?”
“Once you love someone, they always stay in your heart. Contrary to what you think, I never forgot about you. You were my first love, and I wanted to marry you.”
“Rafael, we were kids.”
“No, we weren’t. Quit saying that.”
His sharp tone and the strength of his gaze shocked her.
“We were nineteen, and we both knew exactly what we were doing.” Rafael cracked a smile. “And if my memory serves me correctly you kissed me first.”
I sure did, and I loved every minute of it! Paris swallowed a moan, and buried her hands in her lap. Talking about the past would inevitably lead to daydreaming about all the times they’d laughed, and kissed. If she wanted to keep her wits about her she had to guard her mind against her memories.
She picked up her handbag and checked the time on her cell phone. Enough flirting with Rafael. Lunch was over, and not a moment too soon. “Thanks for lunch. This was nice.”
“You’re most welcome. It was my pleasure.” Rafael strode around the table and pulled out her chair. “After you.”
Standing, she took the hand he offered and slipped on her sunglasses. Paris was wearing her favorite pair of high-heeled shoes, but Rafael still towered over her. He was six feet six inches of drop-dead sexy, and being in the presence of such a gorgeous, virile man was doing one hell of number on her libido. Making love to Rafael was inconceivable, but when he rested a hand on the small of her back, it was all Paris