Maid for a Magnate(12)

Will stilled. "Did he say something to you?"

Her eyes darted away. "It doesn't matter. What matters is I'm a maid.  You're a billionaire ready to take on the world. We have different  goals, Will."

Yeah, and the object of his main goal was plastered against his body.

Will gripped her face between his palms and forced her to look straight at him. "What did he say?"

"I'm just fully aware of my role in this family and it's not as your mistress."

Fury bubbled through Will. "Patrick Rowling does not dictate my sex  life and he sure as hell doesn't have a clue what's going on with us."

The sheen in her eyes only made Will that much angrier. How dare his  father say anything? He'd done that years ago when Will had let him  steamroll over his happiness before. Not again.

"There's nothing going on between us," she whispered.

Will lightened his touch, stroked her bottom lip with the pads of his thumbs. "Not yet, but there will be."

Capturing her lips beneath his, Will relaxed when Cat sighed into his  mouth. Will pulled back because if he kept kissing her, he was going to  want more and he'd be damned if he had Cat for the first time in his  father's library.

When he took Cat to bed, it would be nowhere near Patrick Rowling or his house.

"Get back to work," he muttered against her lips. "We'll talk later."

"Will-"

"Later," he promised with another kiss. "I'm not done with you, Cat. I told you once, I've barely started."

He released her and let her leave while he stayed behind.

If he walked out now, people would know he'd been hiding with Cat. The  last thing he ever intended was to get her in trouble or risk her job.  He knew she took pride in what she did and the fact she was a  perfectionist only made Will respect her more. She was so much more,  though. She was loyal and determined. Qualities he admired.

Well, he was just as determined and his father would never interfere  with his personal life again. They'd gone that round once before and  Patrick had won. This time, Will intended to come out, not only on top,  but with Rowling Energy and Cat both belonging to him.                       
       
           



       





      Seven

Will stared over the rim of his tumbler as he sipped his scotch. The  way Cat worked the room was something he'd seen in the past, but he  hadn't fully appreciated the charm she portrayed toward others during  such a difficult time.

There were moments where she'd been stealthy as she slipped in and out  of the room, removing empty glasses and keeping the hors d'oeuvre trays  filled. Will was positive others hadn't even noticed her, but he did. He  noticed every single thing about her.

The dinner was due to be served in thirty minutes and the guests had  mostly arrived. Bella stood off to the side with her brother Gabriel,  his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

"Your maid is going to get a complex if you keep drilling holes into her."

Will stiffened at James's words. His brother came to stand beside him, holding his own tumbler of scotch.

"I'm not drilling holes," Will replied, tossing back the last of his  drink. He welcomed the burn and turned to set the glass on the accent  table. "I'm making sure she's okay."

James's brief laugh had Will gritting his teeth to remain quiet and to  prevent himself from spewing more defensive reasons as to why he'd been  staring at Cat.

"She's used to working, Will. I'd say she's just fine."

Will turned to face his twin. "Did you come over here to hassle me or did you actually want to say something important?"

James's smile spread across his face. Will knew that smile, dammit.  He'd thrown it James's way when he'd been in knots over Bella.

"Shut up," Will said as he turned back to watch Cat.

If his brother already had that knowing grin, then Will's watching Cat  wouldn't matter at this point. She was working too damn hard. She'd been  here all day to make sure the house was perfect for the Montoros and  she was still busting her butt to make everyone happy. The chef was  really busting it, too, behind the scenes. Cat was definitely due for a  much needed relaxing day away from all of this.

"You appear to be plotting," James commented. "But right now I want to discuss what Dad is in such a mood about."

Will threw his brother a glance. "He's Patrick Rowling. Does he need a reason?"

"Not necessarily, but he was a bit gruffer than usual when I spoke with him earlier."

Will watched his father across the room as the man approached Bella and  Gabriel. As they all spoke, Will knew his father was diplomatic enough  to put on a front of being compassionate. He wouldn't be his stiff,  grouchy self with those two.

"I may have made some business decisions he wasn't happy with," Will stated simply.

"Business? Yeah, that will do it." James sighed and finished his  scotch. "He put you in charge, so he can't expect you to run every  decision by him."

"That's what I told him. I'm not one of his employees, I'm his son and I'm the CEO of Rowling Energy now."

"Plus you're trying to seduce his maid," James added with a chuckle. "You're going to get grounded."

Will couldn't help but smile. "You're such an ass."

"It's fun to see the tables turned and you squirming over a woman for once."

"I'm not squirming, dammit," Will muttered.

But he wouldn't deny he was using Cat as another jab at his father.  Yes, he wanted Cat and always had, but if being with her still irritated  the old man, so much the better.

Part of him felt guilty for the lack of respect for his father, but  that went both ways and the moment Patrick had issued his ultimatum  years ago, Will had vowed then and there to gain back everything he  deserved, no matter what the cost to his relationship with his father.

Bella's oldest brother, Rafe, and his very pregnant wife, Emily,  crossed the room, heading for Will and James. Since he'd abdicated, Rafe  and Emily had lived in Key West. But they'd traveled back to be with  the family during this difficult time.

"This was a really nice thing for Patrick to do," Rafe stated as he  wrapped an arm around his wife's waist. "Losing Isabella has been hard."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Will said. "She was definitely a fighter and Alma is a better place because of her."

"She was quite stubborn," Emily chimed in with a smile. "But we'll get through this because the Montoros are strong."

Will didn't think this was the appropriate time to bring up the subject  of Rafe resigning from his duties before his coronation. It was the  proverbial elephant in the room.                       
       
           



       

"I'm going to save my wife from my father," James told them. "Excuse me."

Rafe and Emily were talking about the funeral-how many people had  turned out and how supportive the country was in respecting their time  of mourning. But Will was only half listening. Cat glanced his way once  and that's all it took for his heart to kick up and his body to respond.  She didn't smile, she merely locked those dark eyes on him as if she  knew his every thought.

Tension crackled between them and everyone else in the room disappeared  from his world. Nobody existed but Cat and he knew without a doubt she  would agree to his proposal.

He wouldn't accept no for an answer.

* * *

Her feet were absolutely screaming. Her back wasn't faring much better.  The Montoros lingered longer than she'd expected and Catalina had stuck  around an hour after the guests had left.

This fourteen-hour workday would certainly yield a nice chunk of  change, but right now all Catalina could think of was her bed, which she  hoped to fall into the moment she got home. She may not even take the  time to peel out of her clothes.

Catalina nearly wept as she walked toward her car. She'd parked in the  back of the estate near the detached garage where Patrick kept his  sporty cars that he only brought out on special occasions. The motion  light popped on as she approached her vehicle.

Instantly she spotted Will sitting on a decorative bench along the garage wall. Catalina stopped and couldn't help but smile.

"Are you hiding?" she asked as she started forward again.

"Waiting." He unfolded that tall, broad frame and started coming toward  her. "I know you're exhausted, but I just wanted to ask something."

Catalina crossed her arms and stared up at him. "You could've called or texted me your question."

"I could've," he agreed with a slight nod. "But you could say no too easily. I figure if you're looking me in the eye-"

"You think I can't resist you?" she laughed.

Exhaustion might have been consuming her and clouding her judgment, but  there was still something so irresistible and charming about this  overbearing man...and something calculating as well. He'd purposely  waited for her, to catch her at a weak moment. He must really want  something major.