Love Connection Read online

  • • •

  Yvette brought the crystal flute of champagne to her lips as she shifted from one foot to the other. Her stilettos were gorgeous, absolute works of art, but they were little more than exquisite torture devices for her feet. After rushing between meetings and workshops all day, the pain was almost unbearable. Still, it would be a cold day in hell when she showed up at a conference in sensible shoes.

  The elegant guests in the crowded hospitality suite laughed and chattered, as uniformed waiters served trays of elaborate appetizers and flutes of sparkling champagne. Industry events were absolutely necessary, but always such a bore. So little actually got accomplished until the conference was over and everyone was back at work, but the networking opportunities and connections one made were priceless. Yvette struggled to focus on the balding, paunchy man at her side droning on and on about how his company could help Saffron expand beyond chocolates, and why they were the perfect corporate match. She would give anything to meet someone interesting at one of these events for once, regardless of how they could help her career. Discreetly scanning the room, Yvette occasionally inserted what she hoped were appropriate sounds into the conversation and wished for a reprieve.

  Her eyes settled on a vaguely familiar figure across the room. Richard Morgan swirled amber liquid in a cut crystal tumbler, looking as bored as she felt. The pictures she’d seen didn’t do him justice. Images in print and online couldn’t capture the sense of magnetism that surrounded him. That chiseled jawline, those striking green eyes, the way he seemed to command respect while completely at ease. She laid a gentle hand on her companion’s forearm and flashed him a bright smile.

  “Will you excuse me? I have somewhere I need to be.” Without waiting for a reply, Yvette locked eyes with Richard and sashayed across the room as quickly as her delicate four-inch stiletto heels would allow. Now this could be interesting.

  “Richard Morgan? Hi, I’m Yvette Cruz.” She extended her hand to him and gave him her most professional smile. Good lord, he was handsome. She leaned in, close enough to smell his sophisticated fragrance, something lush and velvet, indefinable.

  “I know who you are.” His green eyes met hers in a steady gaze, and his expression gave nothing away. He didn’t take her hand, and she let it drop to her side.

  Yvette rearranged her features to hide her disappointment and paused for a beat, letting his icy reaction settle between them. She couldn’t let him see that he had ruffled her. Shifting her weight to one leg, she pushed her shoulders back a bit, and dropped her chin so that she looked up at him through lowered lashes. “I’m so glad to finally meet you, though after spending so much time with your father, I feel like I know you already.”

  “I don’t know what you mean, Ms. Cruz.” His voice was low and deep, carefully controlled.

  “Please, call me Yvette. No need for such formality.” She laughed to break the tension and touched his arm. He flinched, almost imperceptibly, and kept his expression neutral. He was going to make her work for every word he uttered, but Yvette was never one to shy away from a challenge. Especially one this sexy.

  He remained silent, so she continued. “I was hoping that we’d bump into one another here. I’ve been to the Morgan offices to meet with your father, but I could never quite catch up with you.” His father never said yes to her proposals, but he was always glad to see her, was always welcoming and charming. Her encounters with Michael had been so pleasant that Richard’s stonewall treatment blindsided her.

  He took a sip of his drink and let out a short, humorless laugh. “Yes, I’ve seen you slinking around my father’s office. You could have easily contacted my office to schedule a meeting with me, but I have a feeling that’s not your style.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I just get the impression that you’d rather flirt with my father to get what you want than to deal with me directly. He’s a sucker for a beautiful woman, but I am a bit more difficult to manipulate.” He leveled her with a steely gaze. His eyes were intense, gorgeous, but filled with contempt.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve never flirted with your father, and that’s not how I operate. Michael has always been charming and polite, but that’s as far as it’s ever gone. Our meetings have been strictly professional, unlike this conversation, and I resent the implication. It’s not like I’m angling to become the fourth Mrs. Michael Morgan.” She scoffed, a very unladylike sound, but his insinuation was unbelievable. Her instinct was to lash out, to defend her hard-won reputation and her professionalism, but Yvette took care to rein in her rising irritation, to keep her exterior controlled and cool. She wouldn’t let him goad her into losing her temper. “I don’t know why you’d expect me to schedule a meeting with you anyway. You’ve made it perfectly clear that you’re not interested in the proposal. If my understanding is correct, your father is still the head of Morgan Confectioners.” He took a small step back, apparently not prepared for her to call him out.

  He paused for a beat before shaking his head, as though shaking off the remark. “He won’t be in charge forever, Ms. Cruz, and unfortunately for you, he’s taking my opinion on this matter under consideration. You’re right, though. Meeting with me would be unnecessary as I have no interest in allowing Morgan Confectioners to be swallowed up by Saffron, and my answer will always be ‘no’ regardless of the offer. We’re doing just fine on our own.”

  Yvette’s lips formed a conciliatory smile. Morgan Confectioners was a sinking ship, and Saffron was itching to throw it a life vest. Richard was determined to deny that the other divisions were keeping it on life support, for whatever reason. She had to maintain control, show him that he couldn’t rattle her with hostility. Time to kill him with kindness and professionalism, as she had a deal to broker. “Everyone would agree that Morgan Enterprises is doing fine, but your confections division is another story. You’ve got something we want, and I think we’d make a good team. What we’re proposing would be good for everyone.”

  “You could dip that offer in your company’s finest chocolate, and I still wouldn’t bite.”

  He practically snarled, but she laughed. She had to admire his determination, as foolish as it seemed. “I assure you this is a sweet deal, even unembellished. We do pride ourselves on having the country’s finest chocolate, though, and I’d be happy to send you some.”

  “Ms. Cruz,” he said, adding emphasis on each syllable “I will never, under any circumstances, surrender on this issue.”

  “I can’t decide if you sound more like a soap opera villain or a petulant child. Why can’t we discuss this like adults, like professionals?”

  “Because there’s nothing to discuss.”

  “Have you even read our proposal? I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts, and I’d be happy to address any concerns you might have. At this stage, nothing is set in stone, and if there’s something specific that you take issue with, I’d love to discuss it.”

  “No, I haven’t read your proposal, and I’m not going to. I don’t need to read it to know that I don’t want Saffron’s slick, generic mark on the products I love.”

  Now he went too far. Brand popularity didn’t equal inferior product, and she wouldn’t let Richard Morgan throw her off her game. “Saffron is known all over the country for our chocolate, and unlike Morgan, we’re flourishing in a down economy.” She flashed him a cool smile. “People love what we offer, and there’s no reason to think we can’t expect the same success with rebranded Morgan products.”

  “I’d rather be smaller but offer superior quality, rather than carelessly mass-producing and underpricing my competitors.”

  “And that’s why your other divisions are outperforming confections by millions of dollars each year.” She asserted sharply.

  His eyebrow raised, and he sized her up with a narrowed gaze. Yvette shifted her weight, staring back and refusing to stand down as the tension strummed between them. “Touché, Ms. Cruz,” he finally
replied. Did the corner of his lips actually rise in a semblance of a smile or was that a trick of the low ballroom lighting?

  “Listen, having wider distribution and a bigger marketing campaign doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality. People in this country are still interested in originality and innovation. They just like buying from a brand they know, and they want it at a good price.”

  He frowned, considering. “You have a point, of course, but Morgan Confectioners is more to me than a revenue stream. It’s a family business, something I care for very deeply.”

  She smiled. “I certainly understand the importance of family. I love mine, and owe everything I am to them. But didn’t your father ever teach you that business and emotions don’t mix?” Yvette took a chance and sidled closer, laying a hand on his arm and squeezing gently. “We love what you’ve developed so much that we want it for ourselves. You should be flattered,” she added, her voice light and teasing. Any other man would be flattered. Why Richard Morgan was immune to her attention was a mystery.

  He closed the distance between them and leaned down so that his lips almost touched her ear. His breath was hot against her skin and sent goose bumps erupting down her arms. He was close enough to kiss, and her breath caught in her throat as she waited to see what he would do.

  “No. Deal.” His firm words shouldn’t have been arousing, but it was all she could do to resist the urge to find out what his mouth would feel like crushed against hers.

  “Richard, this is the best offer you’re likely to get. You should really give it some thought before you dismiss it.” The sad truth was that if Saffron didn’t buy them out, the confections division would continue to suck money from the rest of Morgan Enterprises until they found a way to turn it around.

  “I’ve heard enough.”

  Yvette felt oddly disappointed by the finality of his words. Her lips wanted to find their way to his, to change his mind about her, if not the deal itself, but he turned and walked away.

  Watching his broad back as he disappeared into the crowd, Yvette enjoyed the view despite herself. He would come around; they always did. Yvette Cruz didn’t back down from a fight.

  She’d come from nothing and had worked her whole life to get to where she was at Saffron Sweets. Everything she had, she had earned, and none of it had come easy what with her past. Nobody had given her a thing in life, ever, except for her parents, who had worked too hard for her to let a little setback like Richard Morgan stop her. Not after what she’d been through in her lifetime. Her hand fluttered subconsciously to her chest, her fingers tracing the ridged skin concealed by the high neckline of her dress.

  To have her work belittled so casually, so flippantly, was infuriating. Almost as infuriating as her burning attraction to this man. She refused to accept that this would be their only encounter, and in truth, she couldn’t wait to see what the next meeting would hold. After all, she always enjoyed a challenge.

  Across the room, Richard approached a pretty brunette and stopped to chat. The other woman looked up at him with wide, adoring eyes, and as he smiled, laughed, and touched her arm, Yvette finally turned away. She finished her champagne with three long sips, set the empty glass on the nearest table, and strode toward the exit with her shoulders back and her head held high. As she passed Richard, she threw him a mental salute: Till we meet again.

  • • •

  Richard took a slow swallow of his single malt scotch, winced as it burned a trail down his throat, and watched Yvette glide out of the hospitality suite. What an aggravating temptation she was. Her cool, unflappable calm in the face of his disdain had just inflamed his desire more. Nobody stood up to him like that, ever, and part of him was eager to see what giving in to her would feel like—much to his dismay. The young food sciences chemist at his side was chattering excitedly about those effervescent lollipops she had developed for the company, and he knew he should give her his full attention, but his mind was on Yvette. Her obvious agenda irritated him, but her lush curves and impressively quick wit lingered in his mind, making it hard for him to remember why he’d wanted her gone. Beautiful women were easy to come by, but one with brains to match was a rare find, and one of his few weaknesses.

  Richard was glad she’d left when she did though, as he’d been dangerously close to finding out if her lips were as soft and lush as they looked. He imagined they would be warm, and sweet with the champagne she’d been drinking. The thought gave rise to an unwelcome stirring deep within his body. What was wrong with him? The woman was after his company, and he had to remember that if he had any hope of protecting it. Focusing on the young brunette standing before him, he forced his mind off Yvette and her delicious curves. Or tried to.

  “ … I mean, I was nervous at first, but the session went really well. I think everyone enjoyed it. I mean, they paid attention and asked a lot of questions when I finished.” The young woman paused, apparently waiting for his response, and he snapped back to attention. She was filling him in on the discussion panel she had run that afternoon as a representative of their company, and she was obviously looking for praise.

  He smiled down at her, turning on his signature charm. “I’m sure they did. Everybody wants something like your lollipops for their company. It’s nice that you could provide some insight and maybe inspiration, but I’m certainly glad that Morgan Confectioners is the one that has you.”

  “You’re so sweet to say so, Mr. Morgan. I’m glad to be a part of the company, and I hope to stay on after the buyout. I know that a lot of things change in these situations, but we’re all praying that the department gets by relatively unscathed.” She took a sip of her drink and watched him expectantly.

  “Buyout? Rebecca,” he watched her face to see if he got her name right, “there will be no buyout. Morgan has always been family owned, and we have no intention of changing that.”

  Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes darted around the room. “Oh, Mr. Morgan, I apologize. I suppose we’ve all heard the Saffron rumors and have obviously made more of it than was necessary. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  Richard relaxed his grip when he realized he was squeezing his glass almost hard enough to crack it. He hadn’t expected news of his father’s talks with Saffron to get out so quickly when so few people knew about them. Still, it was important for him to know what misinformation was circling, and he couldn’t let his irritation show. “Saffron is looking to expand their product line beyond chocolate, and they’ve expressed interest in buying our confections division. But I’ve let them know in no uncertain terms that we’re not interested. Anything you’ve heard is nothing more than conjecture. You’ve nothing to worry about.”

  Rebecca looked like she wanted to say more, but she sipped her champagne and remained silent. She shifted from one foot to the other, looking increasingly agitated, and Richard excused himself. He had obviously made her uncomfortable, and he was too distracted to make polite conversation with an employee. The scientist’s relief was noticeable as he told her to enjoy the evening and wished her goodnight.

  Richard finished his scotch in one burning swallow and set the empty tumbler on a table as he strode towards the door, anxious to get out of the room. He didn’t know where he was headed, but it would be easier to think if he escaped the claustrophobic atmosphere of the crowded party. Yvette had invaded his business life and now had somehow managed to wind her way into his personal life, driving him to maddening distraction. She was beautiful—exquisite even—but he wasn’t exactly inexperienced when it came to exceptional women. He never let personal matters interfere with his professional obligations. What was so different about her and how could he get her out of his system?

  When she was just a name and face he’d glimpsed only briefly, he’d had a semblance of control. Now she was a three-dimensional threat to his sanity, and Richard needed to do something—anything—to push her off his radar. That would be nearly impossible when all he could think about was how soft her skin must be, how s
weet her lips would taste beneath his.

  He stormed out of the hospitality suite and punched the elevator button with much more force than necessary. Cursing both the wait and his uncharacteristic impatience, he pressed the button again.

  “Will that make the elevator arrive faster?” The sultry voice matched the intoxicating fragrance invading his space and wound its way through his body.

  So much for control.

  Chapter Two

  “Ms. Cruz. What a surprise.” He tried to sound casual, unaffected, but her voice alone made his body respond, harden. Richard’s unwelcome physical reaction to the sight of her, to her sweet but sensual fragrance, to the silky sound of her voice, frustrated him to no end. She was the enemy, but all he could think about was what the skin where her neck met her delicate ivory shoulders would taste like. Her brown eyes sparkled with amusement, and he hated that looking into them reminded him of melted pools of sweet, dark chocolate.

  “It’s nice to see you too. Going down?” She was bold, unruffled, even after he had stonewalled her.

  The elevator doors opened, and they stepped in. The throaty laugh that escaped her glossy ruby lips pushed him over the edge.

  “What’s so funny, Ms. Cruz?”

  “If you’re so determined to shut me down, if you want so badly to be rid of me, then why not wait for the next elevator?”