as she waved toward the bank of windows overlooking the famed Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.
“Leslie, what is it?”
“Davia, it’s Kale Asante.”
Davia allowed uncharacteristic surprise to illuminate her face as she stepped forward to greet the man who, until that time, she’d only seen via camera stills and promotional photos. She was offering her hand to accept his shake when he began to speak.
“Ms. Sands, it’s a pleasure.”
“Same,” Davia sighed, a little pleased she’d been able to respond. He had, without argument, taken her completely off guard.
“I know we don’t have an appointment,” Kale was saying, “but I’d appreciate you making time to see me.”
Davia managed a nod, still somewhat off-kilter by the man’s unexpected arrival. Absently, she tugged off her headpiece and caused her boyishly cropped locks to fall in disarray around her dark, fine-boned face.
Kale reciprocated the nod while taking inventory of the woman. Deftly, he assessed the features he hadn’t been able to fully appreciate during his study of the file his lawyer had provided him the night before.
His warm, appealing stare was fixed on every move she made from dragging her short hair back from her face to fingering the thick black plastic band of the headset she held. He didn’t know how long she’d been calling to him before he realized he’d been all but drinking her in with his gaze.
“Sorry about that.” Quietly, Kale cleared his throat and gave a quick shake of his head before meeting her eyes once more. “Would you mind repeating that?”
“Would you like to go to my office?” Davia asked obligingly, her tone just as quiet.
Kale hesitated before answering. Of course, going to her office was the logical move. They needed to talk, but to hell with him believing he’d be able to focus on a damn thing alone in a room with her. A silent, stony voice interrupted his thoughts to remind him that she hated his guts.
Kale nodded, the gesture accompanied by a fluid smile. “That sounds good.”
“Davia? Your assistant’s not at her desk,” Leslie pointed out, her blue eyes bright with interest. “Is there anything I could get for Mr. Asante?” A few beats passed and then she shook her head. “And for you, too, Davia.”
“I’m fine.” Davia arched a brow in Kale’s direction. “Mr. Asante?”
Kale sent an adoring smile toward the receptionist. “I’m good, Leslie, but thank you.”
“Yeah, thank you, Leslie.” Davia spared the woman a knowing look and wondered if Kale Asante could sense how very much her receptionist wanted to see to his needs.
“If you change your mind, I’ve got a bar in my office,” Davia said as she led the way.
“Uh, thank you.” Kale blinked away from where his gaze had drifted. He was pleased he’d managed the response before Davia Sands grew suspicious of his silence and turned to find that he was more focused on the way she moved beneath her clothes than on her offer for a drink.
Davia didn’t seem any the wiser and was showing Kale into her office suite a few moments later. The room had the remarkable ability to pull his eyes away from his hostess’s beckoning figure. He summoned a whistle while surveying the vast space of the corner digs and all it held. All the comforts of home.
“Tell me you don’t sleep here.” His rich voice held the distinct chord of wonder.
“All right.” Davia allowed her quiet to do the talking. When Kale laughed, she joined in.
“I put in a lot of long hours.” Her slight shrug sent a ripple through the fabric of the olive-green shirt dress that drew the eye to the stunning length of her legs. “After a while, it gets hard to focus, so it helps having my favorite things around to help me unwind.”
“Favorite things, huh?” Kale smiled over the phrase while running the back of his hand along one lever of the elliptical machine he stood closest to.
Davia proffered a knowing smile. “Necessary.”
Kale had to bite his tongue before he found himself telling her she must spend a great deal of time on that which she found “necessary.” Her body, though willowy, appeared toned with subtle yet tempting curves. His palms heated with the desire to see if his eyes were in any way deceiving him. Upon first glance, he wagered she’d break if he held her firmly enough.
Aside from the exercise equipment, the office boasted a cozy entertainment area. The spot was complete with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled to capacity with books and an array of DVDs and CDs. The overstuffed recliner in the far corner held a pillow and a fleece blanket and looked to be the perfect nook for a lengthy snooze.
Davia Sands’s work digs were almost an exact replica of his own. Somehow, though, he didn’t think she would appreciate knowing they had anything more in common.
“So...Mullins, Iowa,” he said.
“Mullins, Iowa,” Davia repeated. “Have you ever been there?” she asked.
“Not yet. I decided to drop in and meet you first.”
“Why’s that?” Davia asked while heading to her desk where she set down the headset she’d used.
“A few reasons.” Kale followed her across the room.
Davia took a seat along the front edge of her white oak desk. Raising her hands, she silently encouraged him to continue.
“I’ve been told that Mullins isn’t the sort of place that’d be suitable for one of my properties.” Kale eased a hand beneath his suit coat to slide it into a trouser pocket.
Davia gave a cool smile. “Lavish, expansive, expensive,” she said.
“My reputation precedes me, I see.” Kale steeled himself from grimacing. He’d immediately regretted his choice of words. He had hoped to save the discussion of his reputation—or rather, her perception of his reputation—for later.
Davia didn’t appear on edge. Moreover, she seemed amused, as though enjoying a joke she wasn’t quite ready to share the punch line for.
“Yes, Mr. Asante, your reputation has definitely preceded you.”
Kale acknowledged her thinly veiled insinuation with a faint nod. “I came to see you, hoping we could’ve discussed plans for you to buy me out.”
“Could have?”
Kale nodded once more. That time he shared with Davia an approving smile. “You’re a thoughtful listener,” he commended.
Davia tilted her head to acknowledge his accuracy. “It pays to hear what the other person is really trying to say. If people did more of that, maybe a lot of misunderstandings could be avoided.”
“I’ll have to remember that.” Kale watched Davia as if he’d discovered some additional facet to her appearance that had him newly intrigued.
