waved an unconcerned hand and strolled from the room, leaving a faint trail of expensive perfume. It was obvious from Kane’s expression that he adored his sister, no matter how much she exasperated him, and Beth swallowed a pang of envy.
What would it be like to belong like that?
The thought wasn’t new and she impatiently shoved it away. She’d learned a long time ago that wishing for the moon was pointless.
“Would you like to eat at the Space Needle, or someplace else?” Kane asked. “McCormick and Schmick’s has great seafood.”
The question brought her back to earth in a hurry. “There isn’t any need for lunch. I’m sorry for overreacting.”
“You have to eat.”
“I’m not dressed to go out. I’ll get something later.”
“You look fine, but we can eat here in the office if you prefer. It’ll give us a chance to discuss plans for our trip to Victoria, and you did insist I talk to you directly.” Kane lifted the phone. “Please have that deli place deliver a couple sandwiches to the office…yes, the usual for me.” He covered the receiver and looked at Beth. “Any preferences?”
She tried not to roll her eyes. The man didn’t listen to anything that didn’t go the way he wanted. It was probably a good way to make money, but she wasn’t so sure about friends.
“Swiss cheese and turkey,” she said, plunking herself down on the couch.
Apparently they were going to eat lunch together whether she wanted to or not, so she might as well eat what she wanted. He hung up the phone after uttering a terse order to rush the delivery.
“You always get what you want, don’t you?” Beth asked thoughtfully.
“Not always,” Kane protested, then a sheepish smile crossed his face. “Well, most of the time.”
She couldn’t help being charmed. In a single instant he’d disarmed her, which was quite an accomplishment considering how angry she’d been over the newspaper. Her life was pretty ordinary; she wasn’t used to having her picture in print, or having people whisper and gossip about her.
What had really set her off that morning was the crowd of women visiting the Mom and Kid’s Stuff clothing store she co-owned. Her partner had laughed and said it was good for business, but the loaded questions and raised eyebrows made Beth uncomfortable. And she had to admit, she was suffering from a shred of wounded pride—everyone was surprised Kane had made such an effort to change her mind. She certainly hadn’t felt like explaining it had nothing to do with her, and everything to do with saving his brother from embarrassment.
“So, am I forgiven?” Kane asked.
Beth shrugged. She might be charmed, but she wasn’t letting him off that easy. “I’m thinking about it.”
“You’re a tough little cookie, aren’t you?”
Though he plainly didn’t mean anything by the comment, she stiffened. A kid raised in indifferent foster homes either got tough, or didn’t survive. Over the years she’d learned to stick up her chin and never count on anyone. The only time she’d let down her guard was with Curt, and when he died she’d been wounded more than she’d ever imagined possible. Curt had pulled her out of her protective shell, making her that much more vulnerable when the world fell apart.
She couldn’t let it happen again.
“Yeah, I’m tough,” she muttered. “And don’t you forget it.”
Confusion replaced the teasing look in Kane’s face. “What did I say?”
“Nothing.”
“I don’t believe that.”
Exasperated, Beth glared at him. “What’s wrong with you? In polite society when people say ‘nothing’ you’re supposed to pretend it’s really nothing and start talking about something else.”
“Is that what I’m supposed to do?”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
Kane chuckled, grateful Beth’s bleak expression had been replaced with irritation. He wondered if she realized how much her face reflected her emotions. A man might not always understand what was going on inside her head, but he’d have an interesting time guessing.
“My family calls me a human steamroller,” he said. “But they don’t understand.”
“Ever think they might be right?”
“I just like to get things done—efficiently, without wasting time. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
She rolled her golden-brown eyes in disgust. “Not unless you’re the one getting flattened with all that efficiency.”
“I don’t flat—”
A knock on the door interrupted his defense, probably saving him from annoying her all over again. Really, he didn’t understand why people like Beth and his family were so stubborn about things. He had more money than he’d ever be able to spend, why shouldn’t he take care of their problems?
Their sandwich order was brought in and Kane suggested they eat at his desk. He tried to get Beth to sit in his chair because it was more comfortable, but she gave him another one of her are-you-crazy looks and sat where she wanted.
“I can’t believe you eat regular deli food,” she commented as he handed her the container with her turkey and Swiss. “Isn’t this a little mundane for a billionaire?”
He lifted an eyebrow. The day they had met she’d implied he was stuffy, now she seemed to think he lived an extravagant lifestyle. “What? You think I eat caviar and drink champagne all day?”
Beth munched on a Greek olive and shrugged. She wore a green sleeveless blouse and skirt that emphasized her slim waist. Her small breasts didn’t make much of an impression under the blouse, but he had an overwhelming interest in finding out how they would feel in his hands…which was exactly the wrong thing he ought to be thinking.
Odd, he’d dated some of the most beautiful women in the world, but he’d never had so much trouble keeping his thoughts respectable.
“If I’m not at a business lunch or dinner, I mostly grab a sandwich and let it go at that,” he said in a gruff tone.
“You’re kidding.”
He smiled ruefully. “Nope, that’s my glamorous life.”
“Hmmm.” Beth opened her tub of coleslaw and took a bite. She didn’t want to like Kane, but she did. Of course, he was far too controlling and overbearing to be the kind of man she’d normally be friends with, but they only had to rub elbows until the weekend was over, and then she’d have the money to give the crisis center.
That is…if he wrote the check again. She’d torn the first one into pieces for effect—just another example of her going too far and too fast.
As if reading her mind, Kane dusted his fingers and pulled
