them up together.”
He frowned. “Why not? I thought it would do Serena good to be asked out by someone like Brant. He didn’t mind.”
Oh, that poor girl. Why were men so insensitive at times?
“That’s exactly why he’s wrong for her.”
His brows drew closer together. “What do you mean?”
“She’ll know people will be wondering what Brant sees in her and that’ll make her feel even worse.”
“I was only trying to help,” he said a touch defensively.
Kia’s heart softened. “I know you were. It’s just that.” How to explain the mind of a shy, insecure woman? It wasn’t easy delving into her own past and reliving her inadequacies.
“Merry Christmas, Kia.”
Without warning, Brant was beside her, his lips brushing against her cheek in a gesture that meant nothing yet everything. Kia’s pulse almost fell over itself as his warm hand touched her bare shoulder and she caught a whiff of his masculine scent. Her throat went dry.
Then he moved away and held the chair out for his date. “Serena, this is Kia, Phillip’s personal assistant.”
“We’ve spoken on the telephone,” Kia said with a smile as the woman sat down opposite her.
“Oh, yes.” The other woman gave a wavering smile in return, and empathy stirred within Kia, helping her recover from the shock of Brant’s greeting.
“Serena’s a lovely name,” Kia said, wanting to put her at ease.
Serena smiled tentatively. “You think so?”
“It suits you,” Brant said before Kia could respond.
Serena blushed, looking quite pretty. “Thank you.”
He sat down and handed her a glass of champagne. “Not too many women are as restful as you to be around, Serena.”
Kia saw his eyes flick toward her. Was he saying she wasn’t restful to be around? What a cheek. It wasn’t her fault he wanted her but couldn’t.
“Some men aren’t restful to be around either,” Kia pointed out, not willing to let him get the upper hand.
He eased back in his chair, confident but with a dark look in his deep blue eyes that sent shivers down her spine. “Are you saying that some men disturb you, Kia?”
Was he asking if he disturbed her?
“People only disturb you if you let them. I don’t ever intend to let any man disturb me.”
“Really?” His eyes slid across to Phillip at her side, then back to her again. They hardened, reminding her that from the day he’d met up with her outside the hospital room after he’d returned from his trip, this man had grown more and more hostile toward her. He hid it well, but she knew it was there. She could only assume that because Phillip had been going home after a date with her, Brant blamed her for the accident.
And that was totally unfair, but she wasn’t about to challenge him over it or he might start delving into her and Phillip’s relationship and discover the truth. How it had all started when Phillip had begged her to be his partner at a business dinner with people who knew his ex, Lynette. Things had snowballed after that and now they were out of control. Totally out of control.
Glancing at Brant, she saw a muscle pulsating in his lean cheek. Then, as if he’d had enough of her, he turned away to talk to one of the others.
She felt a spurt of anger at his dismissal. Was this the way he treated women when he had enough of them? Did he use them to amuse himself, then get rid of them once they’d passed their use-by dates? Of course he did. So why did she feel surprised? Did she think she was any different just because she shared in this intense physical attraction?
Schooling her features, Kia sipped at her champagne and watched the couples dancing out on the floor. She could hear Phillip talking about going home to Queensland to be with his family for Christmas. It reminded her of her own plans to fly south to Adelaide to spend Christmas with her mother and stepfather. She was looking forward to having some downtime with her family. She badly needed time away from the office—and the men who ran it.
All at once, Phillip leaned forward and said loudly across the table, “Hey, Brant. How would you like to dance with Kia for me?”
“Wh-what?” Kia said before she could stop herself. She didn’t want to be in Brant’s arms. Close to him. Touching him.
Brant’s eyes narrowed slightly, but was she the only one to see the flash of hunger in them? “Maybe Kia doesn’t want to dance,” he said, giving her an out, telling her that as much as he wanted her in his arms, another part of him didn’t.
She managed a short laugh. “Phillip, don’t be silly. I don’t need to dance.”
“I saw your foot tapping to the music,” he said, surprising her because she hadn’t been aware she’d been doing that.
She opened her mouth to say she really didn’t feel like dancing but then noticed all eyes upon her. Making a fuss would only make them wonder why she objected to dancing with Brant. And if that happened …
“Okay, Phillip. Anything for you,” she emphasized, making sure Brant knew it wasn’t for him.
And then, like a gentleman, Brant stood beside her, helping her out of her chair. She tried to smile, but already his closeness affected her. Every nerve in her body suddenly started to tingle as he led her out onto the dance floor and straight into his arms. Knowing she was in danger of melting against him, she stiffened and pulled back.
“We’re only dancing,” he mocked, knowing full well the effect he had on her.
On any woman.
On women in general.
“Mr. Matthews—”
His mouth thinned. “I’ve told you before. Call me Brant.”
“You’re my employer. I prefer to keep it formal.”
“Why?”
“I was brought up to respect my elders.”
His laughter was low and throaty, his lips showing the tip of perfect white teeth. All the better to eat you with, my dear, she thought.
He moved his hand more comfortably against the small of her back. “Thanks for putting me in my place.”
“I try.” She moved to dislodge his fingers. They were an inch too low for her liking.
“I know you do.” He tilted his head. “It makes me wonder why.”
She looked somewhere past his shoulder. “Because you’re the boss.”
His hand moved imperceptibly lower, snatching
