that.”
“Things do change, Raquel. It’s inevitable; nothing in life remains constant and our arrangement is one of those changes. It’s over between us,” he said starkly.
Raquel laughed.
“Surely you jest. I’ve only just arrived and we’ve yet to begin our fun,” she said airily. “It was a long and dreadful flight from London. Between the rain and turbulence, it was the worst flight I’ve ever been on. I can’t wait for some peace and your brand of relaxation.”
Whit looked over his shoulder to see her sensuous smile. In the past he would have been more than ready to engage in a raunchy affair with her. Raquel was quite adept in pleasing him and there was never the fear of her wanting more from him. But looking at her now he felt no desire to bed her. The British beauty had lost her appeal. In fact, all he wanted to do was distance himself from her. There sexual play had run its course and it was time to move on.
“Our time together has been quite enjoyable but alas it has come to an end. I hope we can part as friends,” he said in a measured tone.
“An end? Why ever would you say that? Father will be so disappointed that things did not quite gel between us,” she sighed.
“There was never any other expectation regarding our relationship. It was sex and nothing else,” Whit said bluntly.
“How very course of you, Whit. I should be incensed with you. But I’ll chalk it up to your ill-humor for surprises,” she said blithely, her British accent distinct. “I know how much you detest them. And I tried to call and tell you that I was coming. But I couldn’t get a good connection.”
Whit looked at her in total disbelief. Had she wanted to reach him she could have.
“This isn’t nineteen-ten. There are no operators on switchboards using wires to connect a call. You didn’t try to call. Don’t lie and say you did,” Whit snapped.
Raquel only shrugged, not bothering to refute his statement.
“How’s Beltran doing? Last I heard it was a global success. Father will be so pleased,” Raquel said craftily.
Whit seethed. There it was; the subtle threat. Do as I want or her father would call in the loan. A loan that he could ill-afford to pay at this moment. Howard Fleming had loaned him a substantial amount of money to purchase Beltran Industries; a telecommunications company that was near financial ruin. But Whit had seen the potential of the company given the right management. Howard had shared his vision and loaned him the money to purchase it. The company was making a comeback and beginning to turn a profit. But not to the extent that he could pay Howard back. He had made a few payments but still owed a sizable amount. Raquel knew this and was trying to capitalize on it. She was playing her trump card because she wanted something more than their casual alliance. She wanted marriage and she felt the heavy hand of her father could seal the deal. Well, that was never going to happen. Whit decided to force her to reveal her real objective.
“Let’s not play games, Raquel. You could care less about Beltran other than how you can use it to your advantage,” he said curtly. “What is it that you want?”
“You.”
Whit had thought that was her angle but hearing it stated in a single word from her was startling. He looked at her closely and saw not one twitch of her foot or blink of an eye. Her bearing was cool and inflexible.
“I am not available; not now or ever,” he returned.
“Nothing is ever truly final. Deals can be canceled, minds can be changed,” she smoothly.
“My mind is set and my answer irrevocable,” he said sternly.
Raquel swung her long legs from the chaise and stood up gracefully. She seemed to glide to where he stood. She slid her forefinger down the front of his shirt and then attempted to unbutton one of the buttons. Whit grasped her hand tightly to halt her. She raised her dark brown eyes to his brilliant blue ones.
“It’s over, Raquel,” Whit
“Things do change, Raquel. It’s inevitable; nothing in life remains constant and our arrangement is one of those changes. It’s over between us,” he said starkly.
Raquel laughed.
“Surely you jest. I’ve only just arrived and we’ve yet to begin our fun,” she said airily. “It was a long and dreadful flight from London. Between the rain and turbulence, it was the worst flight I’ve ever been on. I can’t wait for some peace and your brand of relaxation.”
Whit looked over his shoulder to see her sensuous smile. In the past he would have been more than ready to engage in a raunchy affair with her. Raquel was quite adept in pleasing him and there was never the fear of her wanting more from him. But looking at her now he felt no desire to bed her. The British beauty had lost her appeal. In fact, all he wanted to do was distance himself from her. There sexual play had run its course and it was time to move on.
“Our time together has been quite enjoyable but alas it has come to an end. I hope we can part as friends,” he said in a measured tone.
“An end? Why ever would you say that? Father will be so disappointed that things did not quite gel between us,” she sighed.
“There was never any other expectation regarding our relationship. It was sex and nothing else,” Whit said bluntly.
“How very course of you, Whit. I should be incensed with you. But I’ll chalk it up to your ill-humor for surprises,” she said blithely, her British accent distinct. “I know how much you detest them. And I tried to call and tell you that I was coming. But I couldn’t get a good connection.”
Whit looked at her in total disbelief. Had she wanted to reach him she could have.
“This isn’t nineteen-ten. There are no operators on switchboards using wires to connect a call. You didn’t try to call. Don’t lie and say you did,” Whit snapped.
Raquel only shrugged, not bothering to refute his statement.
“How’s Beltran doing? Last I heard it was a global success. Father will be so pleased,” Raquel said craftily.
Whit seethed. There it was; the subtle threat. Do as I want or her father would call in the loan. A loan that he could ill-afford to pay at this moment. Howard Fleming had loaned him a substantial amount of money to purchase Beltran Industries; a telecommunications company that was near financial ruin. But Whit had seen the potential of the company given the right management. Howard had shared his vision and loaned him the money to purchase it. The company was making a comeback and beginning to turn a profit. But not to the extent that he could pay Howard back. He had made a few payments but still owed a sizable amount. Raquel knew this and was trying to capitalize on it. She was playing her trump card because she wanted something more than their casual alliance. She wanted marriage and she felt the heavy hand of her father could seal the deal. Well, that was never going to happen. Whit decided to force her to reveal her real objective.
“Let’s not play games, Raquel. You could care less about Beltran other than how you can use it to your advantage,” he said curtly. “What is it that you want?”
“You.”
Whit had thought that was her angle but hearing it stated in a single word from her was startling. He looked at her closely and saw not one twitch of her foot or blink of an eye. Her bearing was cool and inflexible.
“I am not available; not now or ever,” he returned.
“Nothing is ever truly final. Deals can be canceled, minds can be changed,” she smoothly.
“My mind is set and my answer irrevocable,” he said sternly.
Raquel swung her long legs from the chaise and stood up gracefully. She seemed to glide to where he stood. She slid her forefinger down the front of his shirt and then attempted to unbutton one of the buttons. Whit grasped her hand tightly to halt her. She raised her dark brown eyes to his brilliant blue ones.
“It’s over, Raquel,” Whit
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