Page 9 of Hate to Crave You
Roman
Her eyes were justas big and dark as he remembered.
A lot of other things had changed, but then again, it had been…what, eighteen years?
What didn’t change in eighteen years?
The shiny, dark sweep of her hair hadn’t.
Don’t think about her hair, Roman,he told himself, listening with half an ear as Edgar Templeton continued on with small details that were more for the benefit of the lawyers than for him or his father.
Michael Montrose slid him a look.
After years of working for, then with his father, Roman was an expert at reading those looks and he gave a tiny nod. He agreed. They needed to speak for a few minutes and strategize.
He was glad when Edgar called for a short break, because it kept him from having to. He kept hoping Julianna would. He’d spied the coffee cup in front of her and although he’d only had a few sips of his, she’d steadily drained hers until it was empty and that had been before the meeting had even started.
Edgar calling for the break was totally different from one of them needing the break but at least Roman didn’t lose the upper hand by requesting it himself.
As he and his father stepped out into the large hallway, they kept quiet, walking down the hallway in search of privacy. They found it in a small alcove at the end of the hall that offered a view of both Manhattan and the rest of the hall.
After both men had settled into two matching wingback chairs, Michael spoke softly. “We can’t let the Castles get a look at that information before we do. I’m sure you’re aware of this, Roman.”
“Of course.” Roman resisted the urge to snort. “If I’d known all that was required to get the early look was stating an obvious fact, we’d already have that first look secured. Or maybe I was supposed to bat my lashes at Edgar.”
“Try that next time,” Father suggested. His eyes flicked from Roman back toward the hall.
Roman followed his gaze and saw that Julianna had stepped out into the hallway with her father.
Wow. Those legs…
Roman entertained a brief fantasy of having those legs wrapped around his hips, only to have it interrupted as his father said, “We have to get the first look, Roman. I want you to do whatever it takes togetthat first look.”
He glanced at his father and saw a look of complete sincerity in his eyes. “Whatever it takes,” he echoed.
“Whatever.” Michael rose to his feet and smoothed down his tie, taking his time with it. Then he slanted a look at his son, adding, “It will be worth it, if I know anything about the Templeton family. This is our only chance, son. Don’t waste it.”
He didn’t bother pointing out to his father that he rarely wasted an opportunity and never one that was going to benefit the family or the company. He already knew that.
Together, they headed back into the boardroom and Roman paused as Julianna approached, giving her a slow smile. He already had a prime idea on just how he’d approach this, assuming she was open to it.
She hesitated a bit as she drew closer.
She didn’t stop, didn’t exactlypause—she just…slowed, her eyes resting on Roman’s, appraisingly.
Roman returned her look with a hard gaze of his own, but let her see something that he wouldn’t have normally shown.
Appreciation.
But if he was expecting her to blush or stammer, he was clearly looking at the wrong woman. Julianna Castle inclined her head and met his gaze levelly, their eyes holding for a long moment. Then, as a smile curled her lips, she let her gaze roam over him briefly.
Heat touched everywhere her eyes did.
While he was processing the magnitude of that heat, she turned on one spiked heel and strode into the boardroom. Under the slim fit of her pencil skirt, her hips swung from side to side in a seductive come-hither.
Oh, he wouldn’t mind coming hither.
Let’s get this show on the road,Roman thought, interest stirring inside him.
