Page 7 of The Bear's Chosen Mate
There were secrets, and there weresecrets.
Her forever-crush on James was a private matter, but there’d been whispers on the air lately.Rumours trickling into Kaylee’s ears that involved the Borealis family and a potential hostile takeover attempt of Borealis Gems.
Anything that might affect her family of choice wasn’t going to remain hidden in the shadows.Not if she could help it.
Kaylee stepped toward the desk and lowered her voice.“I’ve been in contact with that certain person you thought would be good to talk to.”
Her friend’s eyes widened.“That certain person of the female persuasion who works foryou know who?”
“At theyou know what?”Kaylee dipped her chin.“She said she wants to meet with us.”
Amber tilted her head to one side, looking every inch like innocence personified.“Of course she does.Who wouldn’t want to meet with two unintimidating, perfectly wonderful women such as ourselves?”
Kaylee’s lips twitched into a smile no matter how hard she tried to stop them.“To say nothing about the fact you’re hip-deep in contact with one of the most important people at Borealis Gems.”
“You’rehip deep,” Amber corrected.A furl formed between her brows.“You and James have been friends forever.You know as well as I do that if you told him you had important news, he’d be willing to listen.I’m fairly new on the scene, and I just work for the company.They might not believe me.”
Kaylee didn’t know about that.Amber was the type most people trusted from the very first moment.Her, on the other hand, people were more likely to take one look and forget she even existed.Most of the time that was just fine.
Except…damn if she didn’t wish itwasn’ttrue because then, maybe then, she’d have been worthy of being more than a friend to James.More hands-on, specifically.
Or body on body.Oh yeah…
The door off the hallway opened, and they both snapped upright—in Kaylee’s case, because of her guilty conscience from daydreaming dirty thoughts about her best friend while in the main office of the family company.
Relief hit as she recognized the man marching through the door.His bright eyes snapped with intelligence, the silver grey in his hair only enhancing his good looks.Giles Borealis, Sr.strutted forward as if he owned the place—he literally did—one hand resting on a cane Kaylee was convinced was more for show than anything else.
A debonair man of his age looked good with a cane by his side, but she wasn’t about to proclaim that the patriarch of Borealis Gems was playacting.
Although he totally was, and she knew it.
“Well, now, if it isn’t two of the most beautiful women in the world.Breaks my heart, just the sight of you.Speeds up my pulse and makes a man wish he were twenty-five years younger.”
Amber slid behind her desk as if putting a barrier between her and the older gentleman.She fussed with her notepad and phone, her eyes not meeting his, only Kaylee caught her friend’s smile.The one she was trying to keep hidden from the family patriarch.“Wouldn’t your wife have something to say about that?”
Giles Borealis made a pooh-poohing sound.“Oh, you can be sure that I would still fall in love with my Laureen, but I’d be most happy to have introduced you to some of my younger self’sfriends.Wonderful gentlemen who would treat you ladies to a good time instead of leaving you stuck in this office all the time.”He shook a finger at Amber, who had settled in her chair and was now smiling at him sweetly.“I know you’ve got an important job, with a lot on your plate, but that’s no excuse for you to stay home every night.”
One of Amber’s brows arched skyward.“How would you know where I spend my nights?”
A snort of laughter escaped Kaylee before she could stop it.
Bad move.Mr.Borealis turned his formidable attention on her.“And you,” he said, ignoring Amber’s question.“Why don’t I see you settling down with some fine young man?It’s time you made a move, young lady.You’re beautiful and you’re talented.”He pointed to the family portrait that hung on the wall behind him, the one Kaylee had taken during a family picnic two years ago.He tapped his nail on the glass.“You give me the go-ahead, and I’ll bankroll the loan to set you up with your own photo studio.”
“Mr.Borealis, you can’t just—”
He shook that finger in front of her face, gaze locked on hers, although he didn’t say a word.
This one is entertaining,her cat muttered softly.More feline than any bear should be.
Kaylee couldn’t argue.There was something very cat-like about the man’s curiosity—and he was stubborn.
He’d corrected her on this far too many times in the past.“GrandpaGiles.You can’t just up and offer that kind of business arrangement.”
“As if I can’t,” he harrumphed.“I know a good investment when I see one.Your work is going to take you places, and anyone who blames a man for getting in on the ground floor doesn’t have any business sense at all.”He folded his arms over his chest and dipped his head as if that were the end of the conversation.His gaze slid back to Amber.“I came in to pick up the signed paperwork from the boys.”
Amber’s lashes fluttered for a moment.“Oh, dear.It’s not ready.I mean, Cooper and Alex both signed, but James isn’t home yet from—”
Drat.
