A Taste of Sin

‘Don’t be sorry. Just let me have a few minutes with you to talk things over.’

‘To what end?’

‘Why don’t we sit down and I’ll tell you?’

Rose arched an eyebrow. ‘Like I said, I gave you my decision and I see no reason in discussing it any further.’ When Gene scowled she got the distinct impression that he was having considerable trouble remaining calm. His next words confirmed it.

‘You really have no idea about business, do you, Rose? I’d like to know why your boss, Philip Houghton, has such faith in you... Perhaps you’d enlighten me?’

Now Rose had trouble holding on to her own temper, and she had no hesitation in replying passionately, ‘Because I care about him—that’s why! I have no ulterior motive other than that I want what’s best for him. And what’s best for him is to sell the antiques business as a going concern, to someone who will love it as much as he does.’

‘That’s a nice thought...but hardly a realistic one.’

‘Did you come here just to tell me how inept you think I am, Mr Bonnaire?’ Incensed, she folded her arms. ‘Because if it makes you feel any better, then you should know that I’ve had sleepless nights about the whole thing. It would be very easy to take your offer to my boss and tell him that he’d be lucky to get another one half as good—remind him that the antiques trade isn’t what it used to be and he should just take what he can while the going’s good. But I couldn’t be so cruel. Not when I know how much the business means to him. If he was just interested in selling a beautiful period building in a very desirable area then he would have done so. But he wants the business to continue... What do you think he’d say if I accepted your offer and then told him you weren’t remotely interested in antiques?’

Gene looked thoughtful. Then he smiled. ‘I think he’d probably feel that he can’t be sentimental about it. At the end of the day, if he believes that his poor health will prohibit his return to work, no doubt he will need the money to help pay for his care. Surely that’s the priority here?’

What he said made perfect sense and, suddenly unsure, Rose felt tears of frustration surge into her eyes.

Gene all but covered the distance between them in less than a couple of strides, and as before the air stirred hypnotically with the exotic scent of his expensive cologne.

‘You’re upset. Is there anything I can do? Why don’t we go into the office and I’ll get you a cup of tea?’

‘I don’t want tea. All I want is... All I want is for you to go away!’ Her outburst sounded embarrassingly childish even to her own ears... So much for keeping her composure. Rose wanted the ground to open up and swallow her.

But the man in front of her didn’t go away. He didn’t even look remotely put out. The dazzling blue eyes that she knew could turn forbiddingly cold when he was angry were now inexplicably warm...tender, even. He lifted his hand to touch her arm gently. Her heart thudded quietly as she felt his smooth skin brush against her own.

‘Your boss gave you a tough job when he asked you to sell the business for him, Rose—perhaps too tough. I don’t mean this as a criticism, but I can see that it’s not where your skills lie... I’ve already learned that it’s the job you love—being with the artefacts and learning about their history. More than that, you like discovering the personal stories behind them. You’re a people person, Rose...not a businesswoman.’

She realised the man had an almost uncanny knack of knowing what a person was about. But she didn’t want to let him see even for a second that his astute insight perturbed her. Surely Gene Bonnaire had enough advantages without her giving him any more...namely the fact that she could so easily warm to him, when everything in her told her it would be a mistake that would undoubtedly cost her dear...

‘That might be the case, and I know my forte isn’t in the world of business—I told you that before. But my love of antiques and understanding what they mean to people also makes me understand why my boss, Philip, wants to sell the business as a going concern. I think it means even more to him since he’s become ill. He’s taught me so much about the trade, and that’s why I want to get the best deal for him.’

‘That’s also why you should give me a little bit more of your time and listen to what I have to say, Rose.’

‘Why? Are you going to tell me that you’ve decided to take on the business after all?’

Gene was already shaking his head. ‘No. I’m sorry I have to disappoint you, but I won’t be getting involved in that side of things. I haven’t changed my mind about that.’

‘Then how can I possibly be interested in listening any more to what you have to say, Mr Bonnaire?’

‘If you’d do me the courtesy of having dinner with me tonight, I’ll explain.’

Even as she guessed that most women would be surprised and pleased by such an invitation—not to mention immensely flattered—Rose defiantly lifted her chin to indicate that she wasn’t one of them. ‘Thank you, but I’m going to have to decline.’

‘You have a previous engagement?’

‘No, but—’

‘You don’t want to hear what I have to say, even though it might be to your boss’s advantage?’

‘How can it possibly be to his advantage? You’ve already said that you’re not interested in the business...that you only want the building.’

Gene Bonnaire’s steely-eyed gaze didn’t waver for so much as a second as he examined her, and it was easy to guess he’d hoped to have the upper hand.

‘Like I said, Rose... Have dinner with me tonight and all will be explained.’

Prickling with unease, she sensed herself flush heatedly. ‘You’re just playing games—and I don’t trust men who play games. If you have something to say that you know for a fact my boss will be interested in, then why don’t you just come right out and say it?’

‘Very well, then, although I’m sad that you won’t agree to dinner, and just to reassure you, Rose, I’m not playing games. It’s just that it has been my experience that all the best deals are made over a cordon bleu meal and a fine bottle of wine.’

One corner of the handsome Frenchman’s mouth lifted in a smile that would make most women—young, old and in between—ache to be close to him in the most intimate way... And even though Rose was quite aware that he was using his charm to get what he wanted, she was hardly immune to the idea.

‘Is that right? Well, I’m afraid that’s not been my experience.’

‘So you won’t even take a risk and try it?’

Unable to glance away from his mesmerising gaze, she felt her breath hitch. ‘No...I won’t...’

But even as she refused a look of heated longing drifted across his irises and she sensed her resistance indisputably melting. Underneath their polite words, somehow a much more sensual conversation was taking place. Rose couldn’t deny it. That impossibly irresistible look of Gene Bonnaire’s was captivating her, stirring her own longing into life, and right then all she wanted to do was to fulfil it...

Gene moved to stand in front of her, his mesmerising blue eyes smouldering like simmering fires... In the next instant the businessman had firmly caught hold of her arm and pulled her against his chest.

Rose’s blood pumped hard. All she could do was helplessly stare back at him. It was undeniable that he excited her, but his sheer physical presence disturbed her too. It only took a glance to see how supremely fit and strong he was.

Low-voiced, he murmured, ‘God forgive me, but...’

The time that elapsed between his words and his next action was brief...too brief for her to stop him.

His urgent, initially demanding kiss stole her breath and made her sink against the hard wall of his chest. Her senses were utterly besieged by him. And as his hot silken mouth moved over hers and became more and more seductive Rose didn’t have the faintest inclination to end the passionate caress.

Then somehow it filtered through to her fogged brain just how dangerous her compliant actions were and she came hurtling back to her senses. Shocked and shaken, she freed herself from the Frenchman’s embrace and wiped her hand over her already aching lips.

Staring back at him, she declared, ‘Your arrogance, Mr Bonnaire, has to be seen to be believed! I don’t know what you thought you were doing, but I think you’d better just leave.’

Her heart pumped even harder. The heat from his body and his velvet mouth had seared her indelibly, and she already knew she wasn’t easily going to forget it.

‘I didn’t intend to kiss you, Rose, but somehow the desire overwhelmed me. I am as disturbed by it as you are. I apologise. If you really won’t come to dinner with me then I can do no more than tell you about the amended deal I have come up with.’

He paused, as if to take a moment to straighten his thoughts. There was a slight crimson tint beneath his tan that bore out his declaration that desire had overwhelmed him. Rose didn’t know what to make of it herself. She was just an ordinary girl, and he was—he was a living, breathing Adonis...

‘I already know how much getting the best deal for your boss means to you, and I have spent quite some time thinking about how I can make that a reality for you both. This is my new offer.’

His hand dived into the inside pocket of his jacket and he drew out a slim sheet of paper. Unfolding it, he handed it to Rose.

Her jaw all but hit the floor when she saw how much he was prepared to pay for the privilege of owning the building. His initial offer had practically doubled. For dizzying moments she was literally lost for words.

‘This amount of money can be a real life-changer for Philip, Rose. That being the case, why on earth would you turn down the opportunity to help make things better for him? If you were to persuade him to see the sense in selling to me, then I’m sure he would be nothing but relieved. If he accepted my offer then he would have the worry of the business off his hands and earn himself a more than healthy profit. No doubt you would be happy too, Rose, because his ill health would undoubtedly be restored and, last but not least, I don’t deny I would be pleased, because I’d get the property I’ve long desired.’