The Agreement by S. E. Lund

a squeeze of lime in it. Finally, I turned
to him, avoiding his eyes, which I knew would be filled with amusement at my
predicament.
    "How come you're here? You weren't on my
father's guest list."
    "I'm one of your fathers biggest supporters.
We met in the health club the other day and I offered my support for his
candidacy for the House. He said he wanted to repay me after I looked after
your injuries at the fundraiser. When I heard you were going to be in
attendance tonight, I was only too happy to accept."
    "If you think this changes things, you're
wrong."
    "Changes what, Ms. Bennet?"
    I glanced at him. Of course, he was smirking.
    "The whole business with the research
agreement."
    "That's entirely up to you. I'm still all
yours, if you want me."
    A thrill ran through me at that. What a master
manipulator. He had to know how that affected me – offering himself to me
as if he were mine to just take. I said nothing for a moment and we each took a
big sip of our drinks.
    "Kate, I'm so glad your father invited me.
I've wanted to meet you ever since I met your father and he started talking
about you, but he never brought you anywhere in public. I think I was a bit
infatuated with you just from his description of you."
    I frowned, not knowing what to say.
    "You took photographs while you were in
Africa?" he said, his voice soft, sexy. "I'd love to see them.
See into that mind of yours and what makes you tick ."
    Everything he said took on a dual meaning. Was
it me or was he really trying to be suggestive?
    I took in a breath. It had been a while since I
saw them myself and I didn't look forward to it. They were painful.
    "I don't know what my father meant by that
– what makes me tick. They're just photos." I started off down the
hallway. "They're in the study."
    My body was stiff, my cheeks already hot. I
didn't want to have to engage him so I said nothing as I led him through the
hallways to the study in the south corner of the suite. One entire wall in my
father's study was devoted to my photos from Africa.
    Drake closed the door behind us and took my arm,
turning me around gently to face him. I stared at his hand on my arm and he
finally let go.
    "I'm sorry if you're unhappy that I'm
here," he said and stepped closer to me. Too close. I took a step
backwards, avoiding his eyes. "Your father wanted me to come early so that
you and I could get to know each other. I'm glad he did."
    "Why would he want us to get to know each
other?"
    "I guess because I said I thought you were
a lovely young woman and wanted to get to know you better."
    My cheeks heated at that. "I thought you
weren't the kind of man someone like me should get involved with."
    "You won't let me live that down, will
you?"
    "It's just that it would have been nice if
I knew he invited you beforehand."
    He stepped closer again, and this time, he
pinned me against the huge mahogany desk. I half leaned half sat on the edge,
keeping my glass of soda between us as if it was a shield, my eyes riveted to
it.
    "Would you have found some excuse not to
attend?"
    I said nothing, turning my face away from his
too intense gaze. Of course I would have. I would have developed a nasty runny
nose and cough and bowed out.
    "I would have liked the choice," I
said. "But of course, my father always has to have things his way."
    "He's quite a dominant man himself."
    I looked up at him, finally, but avoided his
eyes. He smiled just a bit.
    "I can't seem to escape them," I said,
looking away.
    "Maybe that's because you don't want to."
    That made my back stiffen.
    "I left home to get away from him.
Listen," I said, pointing a finger at him, focusing on a button on his
suit jacket instead of his eyes. "I can't have anything to do with
you, do you understand? I'm writing my research paper about climate change so
unless you know something about that, you and I have nothing to talk
about."
    He clucked his tongue. "You're trying too
hard, Kate," he said, taking my finger in his hand and