The comments continued around the room. Her eyes watched her coworkers but her body was focused on only one person. The man she couldn’t keep her head or hands off—the man she didn’t want to keep her hands off any longer... Damn the consequences.
The executive team filed out of the conference room, Royce in the lead. He paused to open the door for Taylor, who put extra wiggle in her walk for his benefit. His eyes were glued to her ass, tucked neatly into a navy blue dress. Her tall red high heels were distracting to the nth degree.
Royce waited at the door watching everyone leave. Brannon hung back, as did Jack.
Gia turned to Royce, her attitude set to stun. “Are you guys over your snit?”
Thinking she was referring to him and Taylor, he wisely didn’t speak.
“Subtle, Gia,” Brannon said. “What’d you expect me to do? Overturn the conference table?”
Ah. She was referring to the heated discussion between Jack, Bran and Royce earlier this week in Royce’s office.
“We have a company to run, boys,” she said to her brothers. To Dad, she said, “Except for you. Aren’t you retired?”
“Yes, and none of this is my problem.” He gestured to his sons before leaving the room. “These two need to box it out.”
Royce grunted. He and Brannon had argued over the years but it’d never resulted in a physical altercation.
“If you’ll excuse me. Presidential duties await.” Bran shouldered past them and stalked toward his office, his walk tall and his shoulders back.
They’d be okay. Probably.
The complaint wasn’t that Royce had inherited CEO but that he’d kept learning of it a secret. Instead of blaming Dad for the subterfuge, his siblings were content to pin it on Royce. Blame must’ve come with the new title.
“And you.” Gia stabbed Royce with one finger. “Taylor? Were you going to tell me?”
He made sure no one was eavesdropping before responding, his voice low. “No. I don’t normally consult you about the women in my bed.”
Taylor had told Gia after all. But they were close. It was bound to come out.
“Plus it was only the one time.” Though today had been an invitation for more.
His sister offered a saccharine smile. “If you two didn’t think we picked up on your stripping each other with your eyes in that meeting, you really don’t have a clue.”
“It’s unwise. We’re CEO and COO. The board—”
“The board can kiss my ass,” she said. “This is our company. The Knoxes. The Thompsons. If you’re happy—and you can make her happy—who the hell cares what anyone thinks?”
It was as good as having her blessing. He’d had good reasons to be careful, but Gia was right. Who the hell cared what anyone thought?
“You’re thinking about it, and I don’t want to be around while that happens. Later, bro.” Gia headed to the elevator, waving without turning around.
When Royce entered his office, Taylor Thompson was sitting primly on the edge of his desk, her long legs crossed, one red stiletto wiggling in the air. Her devil-may-care smile paired with red lipstick was enough to send him falling at her feet and selling his very soul for one more kiss. One more touch. One more chance to blow her mind.
He wasn’t typically led around by his pecker, but here they were. He’d known what he was doing in that meeting. Despite the excuses he gave Gia, the decision to seduce Taylor was cemented in his mind.
“What have we here?” He closed the door behind him, noticing the shades had been pulled. He pushed the lock on the doorknob. It engaged with an audible click.
“Your power’s gone to my head.” She was still wiggling that foot. He caught her calf in one palm and smoothed his hand over the muscle and down, down, until he pulled her shoe off and dropped it on the floor.
“Same.” Repeating the action with her other foot, he said, “You told Gia.”
“I...did,” she admitted.
“I’m beginning to wonder if I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
“You cared enough to lock that door.” Her cocked eyebrow was a challenge. He ended the stance with his lips on hers, drinking her in. His thirst had been unquenchable this week. When he’d seen her in the hallways talking with Bran or Addison, he’d felt a pinch in his chest he’d been sure was a warning to stay away. But when the lights went down in the meeting he recognized it for what it was.