Fourteen days at Wilder Nexus and Kade had learned three things about Camille De Luca.
One.
She was never late.
Two.
She learned fast.
Three.
She was lying about who she was.
He had not decided what to do with that yet.
Now, watching her heels click against the marble as she led the way to the meeting room, he couldn't help but notice how she moved with a rhythmic, predatory grace that he remembered all too well from the ball. Back then, she had been a swirl of silk and soft laughter in his arms. Now she was wrapped in a tailored suit that tried, and failed, to hide the curves he still felt imprinted on his palms.
He straightened his jacket, trying to shake the taste of her lips from the back of his mind. Every time she turned a corner, his eyes locked onto the sway of her hips. He wasn't going to lose his composure here.
Not in front of the board, and definitely not in her presence.
The scent of expensive coffee and polished wood filled the air as he stepped into the conference room. The clients, a pair of aggressive developers from the Voronin Group, were already seated, hiding behind tablets and legal jargon.
Camille took her seat at the head of the table, right next to him. She swept the room with a gaze, cataloging names, positions, and roles. Earlier, she had felt Kade's attention on her and wondered what he was thinking, but now she caught herself studying him too. Her eyes drifted to his hands, strong and steady, and the solid line of his thighs so close to her knees. Her gaze dropped to his long, muscular legs, and she released a quiet breath.
This man was all male.
Kade's eyes flicked to her for the umpteenth time. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw a flash of desire in her eyes. He allowed himself one small indulgence, leaning slightly forward as she passed a folder for review. He caught the scent of her perfume and the softness of her wrist. A fleeting, improper thought ran through his mind, but he suppressed it immediately.
Professional, he reminded himself.
She's your secretary, for Christ's sake.
But she had him thinking in ways he hadn't allowed in years. The memory of that night at the ball, the kiss, the warmth of her pressed against him, had not faded. And now she was here. Alluring, poised, and beautiful. He allowed a fraction of a smile to curve his lips and leaned back to continue his subtle observation.
The meeting continued, project updates flowing in a steady rhythm. Camille contributed only when necessary, her tone neutral but precise. Kade watched the sensual curve of her lips as she answered questions and the way she brushed a stray hair away from her face. Every so often, her eyes flicked up toward him, meeting his for a heartbeat before returning to the materials in front of her.
He chuckled quietly.
The atmosphere shifted when the Russian developer started speaking.
"There is no record of us gaining any profit from this deal, Mr. Wilder," he sneered.
He spread his hands arrogantly. "Why would I invest in something that would bring me nothing?"
Kade fumed.
This was exactly why he hated doing business with this greedy man. The Russian bastard knew full well what he stood to gain, but he wanted more.
He picked up the file, fully ready to tear him apart, but Camille beat him to it.
"Check the arbitration clause on page twelve," she said quietly.
The room went dead silent.
"What about it?" the lead developer snapped.
Camille didn't look up from the document. "It cites the 2014 regulatory framework. That was superseded three years ago. If we sign this, Wilder Nexus takes the entire liability for the transit. It's a forty-million-dollar loophole."
She finally looked up, her gaze landing on the Russian with calm, terrifying precision. "Unless, of course, that was an oversight."
The developer's face flushed a deep, angry red. He slammed a hand onto the table, leaning forward to loom over her.
"Listen here, little girl. We do not come to this table to be lectured by someone who handles calendars. The clause is standard. You are overreaching."
Kade's chair scraped against the floor, a sharp, violent sound that cut the Russian off. He didn't rise, but the shift in his posture was enough to turn the air in the room to ice.
"She isn't overreaching," Kade said, his voice dropping to a dangerous rumble. "She's doing your job for you. Only she's doing it honestly."
The Russian opened his mouth to retort, but Kade was already standing.
"The meeting is over." He turned to address the other developers. "Fix the oversight and send a clean copy to my office by morning. If I see another loophole, don't bother calling back."
He didn't wait for a response. He placed a hand on the small of Camille's back, a possessive gesture, and steered her toward the door.
---
The tension followed them out of the building. By the time they climbed into the car, the air felt heavy and charged. He watched her profile as the car pulled into traffic. Her face was drawn and taut.
"Are you okay?"
"What?" Camille turned to look at him. "Oh, I'm fine."
He swerved the car skillfully. "You're full of surprises, Camille."
"I like to be thorough," she replied. Her voice was steady, though he noticed her fingers tighten on the handle of her briefcase. "It's not a big deal."
She reached for her seatbelt, but the retractor jammed. She gave it a sharp, frustrated tug, the first crack Kade had seen in that perfect mask.
"Let me."
"Don't bother, I can—"
The words dried up as Kade leaned over, his chest brushing against her shoulder as he reached across her lap. Her breath hitched and then quickened. His scent filled her senses, making her head feel light.
She was sure he could feel the heat radiating off her skin. He grabbed the metal tongue of the belt, but he didn't click it. He stayed there, pinned in her space, his face inches from hers.
Kade took a deep breath, filling his lungs with her. She looked almost too tempting. He could see the gold flecks in her eyes and the pulse jumping in her throat. He looked down at her parted lips, wanting nothing more than to lean in, but he forced himself to stay in control. The question of who she really was was still unanswered.
Taking his eyes away from those tempting lips was hard, but he managed.
"Liar," he breathed, the word barely a whisper. "You are nervous."
Slowly pulling the belt across her, he allowed his knuckles to graze the fabric of her skirt. He took his time, watching her shiver under the contact, then clicked the buckle home.
His eyes dropped to her lips once more, lingering before meeting her gaze again. He finally pulled back, but the air between them stayed heavy.
Kade turned to focus on driving, his jaw tight. He wanted her out of his head, and he wanted her closer than she already was.
It was a hell of a way to start a Monday.