Page 55 of Blood Stone
“Doesn’t mean you’re not doing it.”
“Why does relinquishing control, even for something positive, bother you so much?”
Kate shook her head. “I’m not a control freak.”
Garrett smiled. “Ms. Director. I bet you don’t go on roller-coasters, either.”
She took a deep breath. “Bet you don’t either, Mr. President and CEO of his own financial empire.”
Garrett grinned. “I don’t, but that’s because of an inner ear thing. Not a control thing.”
“Liar. You hated the fact that I told you ‘no’, so you dealt yourself onto this movie just to spite me.”
He leaned a little closer and his voice grew softer. “I dealt myself in because it wasyourpicture. I could have spent my ten million on a Suez oil deal twenty-four hours earlier, but I didn’t. I wanted in on your deal.You. Kate Lind’stream who can’t sleep and has a mind like a razor. You’re never going to believe me on that, so let it drop.”
Kate peered at him, wishing the light were better so she could see if he were lying or not. But then Garrett had faced down hostile takeovers and pissed-off defense attorneys in courts on all the major continents. “Even if you’re lying, I’m never going to be able to tell, am I? You’re better than any actor I know, because your training has been in the theatre of the real.”
He swore, so softly she suspected she wasn’t supposed to hear it. But she had always had great hearing. Better than average.
His kiss caught her utterly by surprise. Completely flat-footed. She even gasped into his mouth.
But even as he kissed her, her brain disconnected from her body thanks to the surge of adrenaline produced by the shock and she was able to process the moment with startling clarity.
She wasn’t surprised, ashamed, or even disgusted. The whole week had been leading to this. She had been wondering what it would be like to kiss him. The entire time she had been spitting her insults and railing at Garrett for his various transgressions, the same outfield portion of her brain that was in overdrive now had been silently sizing him up, wondering what it would be like to be in the arms of the man she had admired for so many years, now he was actually here, a dogged irritant in her life.
She had watched him moving around the set, in worn denim jeans that looked surprisingly good on his long legs and a faded denim shirt, the sleeves rolled up, and the top three or four buttons open. It was an interestingly different look from the jeans and tee-shirts the rest of the crew wore.
Well, now he was kissing her and her intellectual curiosity was being answered.
But why was he kissing her? To prove he wasn’t lying? Anyone could kiss anyone. It didn’t mean anything.
His hand slipped under her hair, cupping her jaw. It was a soft, oddly endearing touch.
With his touch her mind ceased functioning, all curiosity melted away, as the power of the kiss swelled and swamped her with earthy, hot and blooming arousal. She gasped again and this time it had nothing to do with surprise.
His tongue slipped into her mouth. Touched hers.
Garrett. This is Garrett.
She moaned.
He brought her to her feet, his lips never leaving hers. As she straightened, his body pressed up against hers. The kiss changed. It grew deeper, more languid. There was real intention behind it. Offering. Need. Want. She could feel the power of it in Garrett, building and building…
Until he abruptly spun away, into the full spill of light from the window, almost staggering. He brought a hand up to his mouth and it shook as he touched his lips. He wasn’t looking at her.
Kate stayed silent, breathing hard. Watching him. She wasn’t going to encourage him. Her mind was back in control now. For all sorts of reasons – and Adrian topped that list – this must stop right here.
But there was one thing she had to say. “Okay,” she said tiredly. “I believe you.”
Garrett glanced at her. Something that looked like pain etched his forehead. He gave a dry laugh and headed for the door into the club. By the time he reached it he was striding fast. The heel of his hand hit the door with a thud that jarred the frame and made the door shudder open with a wobble.
Then he was gone.
