Page 44 of Captivated By You
“You say that now. But things change.”
She bit her lip and diverted her attention to the window.
My muscles tensed as I observed her. A simple sentence, but one steeped in a personal experience.
Things change.
Had she found herself in a situation similar to this one, and it had ended badly for her?
It had to be something of that nature.
If she were my assistant, or a board member, or someone I worked with every day, I wouldn’t pursue her. But she worked in one of my hotels, albeit the one in the city I lived in. It wasn’t as if I visited it all that often. I’d been there more of late because of the bullshit with Forster, but under normal circumstances, I might call in four, five times in a year.
My instincts fired up.
Her reluctance to enter into a relationship with me had nothing to do with me and everything to do with something that had occurred in her past.
I opened my mouth to ask her about it but changed my mind.
Now wasn’t the time.
She’d stiffened up, and if I asked, I expected she’d shut me down, which would make bringing up the subject again difficult. Timing was key, and I’d only ever get a first chance once.
“We’re at cruising height now. Feel free to move about the cabin if you want to stretch your legs.”
She let out a huge breath, and her posture slumped, almost as if she was relieved I hadn’t drilled her for information. It backed up my decision to bide my time before risking digging deeper into what I figured was a painful past.
“Tell me about your company.”
When I showed surprise, she smiled.
“I’m genuinely interested. I hope to have a long career with Kingcaid hotels, and while I did my research before applying, I want to hear it from you. How it started, where it’s going, what your plans and hopes are for the future. We have two hours to fill, after all.”
As I opened my mouth, her hand shot up.
“Don’t you dare.”
I grinned. “It’s both delightful and worrying that you read me so well.”
“It isn’t difficult.”
“To most people, I have a poker face worthy of a champion.”
She shrugged. “Maybe stay away from Vegas.”
I laughed, hard. “You are pretty damn special, Kiana Doherty.”
“Compliments, however well intended, will not make me change my mind.”
“No matter. I have many tools in my arsenal.”
She squinted, but her eyes held a twinkle of mischief. “I knew you were trouble from that very first meeting.”
“It’s true. I am. You should run fast and far. Just know that Iwillchase you.”
She shook her head again—she seemed to do that a lot in my company—but her lips lifted on one side.
“I think it’s the chase that’s fun for you, Mr. Kingcaid. Once you catch your prey, you get bored.”