Burned by Passion(5)
“Always,” Blake replied very seriously. And saw, for the first time, a flicker of real humor in his father’s eyes.
“Well I hope that at least you’ll agree to be present at the welcome home party I’ve organized for you later this week,” Bretton said casually as he lifted his cup of coffee to his lips.
Meanwhile, Blake was almost choking over his. “Party? What party?”
“You didn’t really think I’d let your return go without a little fanfare, did you?” his father asked in surprise. “You’re my only son back home again – I think the whole world should celebrate that with me.”
Blake groaned inwardly. No way. He hated parties. Especially when he was the center of attention. He started to outright refuse. “Dad...”
“Please,” Bretton said stiffly. “I want you to meet my friends – and I want them to meet you.” Especially one, Bretton added silently to himself. “Surely you wouldn’t refuse me this one request?”
Blake sighed away his obvious annoyance as he looked across at his father. “No,” he said at last with resignation. “I guess I can’t.”
***
Kira knew about the forthcoming welcome party, of course. After all she’d given a hand seeing to organizing it; sending invites and making orders. The guest list consisted of her boss’s close friends and associates; a pretty close-knit affair. So when the Friday before the party came, Kira balked when Mr. Carter asked her to attend as well.
“But sir...I can’t,” she said haltingly, clutching the files she held to her chest as she straightened in the chair in front of his desk where she’d been taking notes.
“Why not?” Bretton Carter inquired. “Don’t you have anything suitable to wear? If that’s an issue then go out and get something nice and have it charged to me. I insist.”
“No. It’s not that.” Kira felt her face flush with embarrassment thinking of many reasons why she couldn’t attend. She could imagine how she’d stand out in her boss’s group of high class friends who collectively owned half the city in terms of possessions and social standing. She’d be like a fish out of water and very self-conscious.
“Then what?” He asked as if he couldn’t possibly think of anything else.
“Well, I just don’t think I...”
“Do you have a date scheduled for that evening?”
“No...”
“Any other important engagements?”
“Uh...no.”
“Then it’s settled,” Mr. Carter said briskly. “You can leave a few hours early today to handle whatever you need to get ready for the party tomorrow. And that’s that. Now take this down...”
Kira sighed in concealed frustration, knowing the matter was closed. She very well couldn’t defy her boss which meant she would be at that party whether she liked it or not. And yet she couldn’t deny it even to herself that at least, she was deeply curious to finally meet her boss’s son.
It made her breathless again just thinking about coming face to face with that gorgeously attractive man she’d seen in that photo. A man with scorching good looks that had singed her fantasies every night since she’d seen a glimpse of his image.
Strange how she was normally the last person to get fixated on sex but now each night it was all she dreamed about. Steamy, back-breaking sex; the type that made the neighbors hate you for with all the headboard banging and the moans and screams. Kira’s cheeks flushed thinking how she woke up each morning with damp inner thighs and her arms wrapped around her pillow. And her gorgeous lover always had the same face; the same name.
Blake.
It was crazy to keep dreaming about a man she didn’t know and hadn’t even met. Kira knew she was a fool for nursing any attraction for him but she couldn’t seem able to help herself.
Not only was he way out of her league, she couldn’t see herself with her boss’s son.
In many ways, it really was only a fantasy and maybe finally meeting him would break the strange spell. Yeah...that was probably it. He probably wasn’t so hot in person, Kira told herself. If she was lucky, he’d now be balding, overweight and a terrible dresser. Or something like that.
Either way, she’d soon be over her girlish infatuation for his handsome chiseled face with the smoky grey eyes and the hunky smile that seemed to promise a multitude of sexy sins.
Stamping down any underlying feelings of excitement, Kira made herself concentrate on the notes her boss dictated.
***
Later that evening, Kira had dinner with her boyfriend.
His name was Terry King and at thirty he was several years older than Kira. However the age difference was in no way obvious since Terry was the epitome of ‘hip’ and cool not only in the way he looked but in the way he acted. He always had an infectious grin as well as a cheery outlook on life. Nothing seemed to ever faze him and he was always good at brightening even the worst situations. He was a reporter for one of the major New York newspapers and had his own celebrity column that was very popular.
They’d met less than six months ago at a friend’s house and clicked instantly. They liked the same kind of music, sports and had similar tastes in movies. They started dating seriously two months ago and hadn’t made any definite plans in their relationship which suited Kira just fine. They saw each other as regularly as both their jobs allowed and generally kept things simple. Kira’s idea, not his.