Page 10 of Kyle
"Who?" She asked dully.
When his eyes tracked over to the woman seated with the man across the room, her eyes widened. She certainly was not Kyle's type. He liked them thin. This woman was black. Granted she had an enviable complexion and was sort of attractive. From where she was sitting, Carly could objectively admire the clingy wool draped over the voluptuous curves. And she could also see a dimple.
Suddenly the woman turned, and their eyes met and held. Carly saw the smile vanish as she switched her gaze to Kyle before turning back to her companion.
"Her? Are you kidding me?"
"Her name is Ingrid Ryder."
Understanding dawned slowly. "The other half of the corporation. A merger. A business arrangement." Bitterness laced her sultry voice. "You couldn't say no?"
He shook his head, eyes darkened. "I tried. Grandfather holds the purse strings. He controls everything and they both decided, her grandfather and mine, that they need to keep the company together."
"Darling." She gripped his hands earnestly. "I have money."
"No." He shook his head. "This is something I have to do."
"And she agreed to it?"
"Looks like it."
"They seem cozy." She jerked a sullen shoulder to the couple and had his gaze drifting over.
She had seen him and aside from giving him a cursory look, she had dismissed him and turned back to her companion.
"It doesn't matter. This is just business." The bitterness was heavy in his tone and gave her hope. Twining her fingers through his, she brought his gaze back to hers. "I'm not giving up."
Across the crowded restaurant, Ingrid was trying to pretend she was not aware of the man and woman seated in the plush booth, holding hands. She recognized her of course. Who didn't? Carly Jennings, the violet eyed beauty to dazzle the screen and Kyle McCreary's current lover. She wondered caustically how he was telling her what was going on.
"Isn't that Kyle McCreary and Carly Jennings?"
"My soon to be husband." Picking up her wine glass, she took a sip and then another. "Small world. Of all the restaurants..."
Derek's hazel eyes studied her face. "You don't seem very nettled about this unusual arrangement."
Her response was a shrug. "It's done. I want to keep my position and that's the only way I will be able to."
"You sound almost resigned."
She laughed softly. "You do know my grandfather, don't you? Nothing and no one changes his mind. I figured after the meltdown I had at my brother's place, I will be going into this thing with my eyes wide open." She shrugged. "The relationship quota in my family is woefully depressing. At least, we have mutual dislike for each other."
He glanced over at the couple and shook his head. "He's gorgeous."
One tapered brow lifted. "Are you implying that I will not be able to restrain myself?"
He grinned. Taking her left hand, he kissed her knuckles lavishly. He was a very good friend who had been a lover at one point a very long time ago. He had fallen in love with another lawyer and had got his heart broken in the process. Now he was concentrating on his career. He was her plus one, whenever she needed a date or just someone to talk to.
"Two people living in the same house?"
"Separate suites. That's a given."
He studied her thoughtfully and wondered fleetingly why they never did it for each other. She was smart and intimidating,which put most men off and she was all about the job. Nothing meant more to her than that. Except her brother and the pitiful excuse for a daddy.
He glanced over at the couple again, expression thoughtful. It looked like McCreary was saying goodbye to the actress. The woman looked close to tears. A smile touched his lips as he wondered how they were going to navigate this very strange arrangement.
"Let's see how long that lasts, shall we?" He grinned at the dirty look she threw at him and decided to keep tabs.
*****
