Mastered By My Guardian(3)
She had been so sweet and lively when she was a child, following him around and always asking questions in her delightful way. Gazing at him as if he’d been the most important person in the world to her. He’d hated seeing that light in her eyes dim, then die out completely. But he didn’t know what else he could have done.
Now, however, they were both adults and he longed to have her. Not just to alleviate the almost crippling physical hunger he felt for her, but because he wanted her in his life. Every part of it.
But he knew convincing her would be a challenge beyond measure.
Especially with what was brewing with her company.
Chelsea walked to the dining room and sat down at the table. He had the dinner already set out. He filled her wine glass then sat across from her.
She ate in silence, not giving an inch, but he didn’t really blame her. He had trapped her and she didn’t respond well to that, but he had to shake her out of her stubbornness.
He filled her glass again, then offered dessert, but she declined.
“Let’s sit in the living room and talk.”
“Do I have a choice?”
He smiled. “Yes. We could talk in your room.”
She frowned and picked up her glass, then walked to the living room and sat in one of the armchairs by the fireplace. He carried the bottle of wine with them and sat on the couch.
“How’s your business doing?” he asked.
“Fine. A few financial issues, but I’m sure you know that.”
He kept tabs on her business and he knew it bothered her, but he wasn’t going to stop. She was a savvy business woman, but she was a little naïve about some things, and definitely too trusting of that partner of hers.
“Chelsea, I keep informed because I want to look out for you. I care about what happens to you.”
“And you don’t think I can manage a business all on my own.” She raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to offer to lend me money?”
“You wouldn’t take it if I did.”
“Because it’s insulting. Like you’re just waiting for me to fail.”
“You’re being too sensitive. I don’t expect you to fail.”
Her eyebrow shot up. “So you think Quiet Thunder will thrive?”
He compressed his lips. “I think you have some problems to overcome. And you know I have concerns about your business partner.
Her fingers tightened around the armrests of the chair. “Bill was the reason I could get this business started in the first place.”
“What about your angel investor?”
She picked up her wine glass and took a sip. “He’s just a distant presence, putting money into a company he doesn’t care about in the hopes it will take off and earn him a lot of money. Bill is an on-going presence. Helping make the day-to-day decisions,” She stared at him defiantly. “Bill believes in me.”
“Chels, I never said I didn’t believe in you.”
“No, but you show it in the way you try to control everything I do.”
He settled back in his chair. “For the past two years, I have left you alone and let you start this business of yours, while I run No Limits on my own.”
Her eyes flashed. “First, I don’t give a damn about No Limits. You never let me make a decision that matters anyway. And you didn’t let me start my business. I didn’t use your money.”
She had used money she’d saved from her allowance from the trust, though, but he wouldn’t mention that. And he certainly wouldn’t mention the angel investor again.
“And I don’t exactly call trapping me here for the weekend leaving me alone,” she continued.
“Since you are here, why don’t we put all this aside and just enjoy the weekend?”
Her lips formed a thin line and he knew she would stubbornly refuse to give an inch.
“You know, when you were young you used to look up to me. I remember the first time we went with our parents for their yearly business retreat, you followed me around like a puppy.”
“I was seven.” She leaned forward and picked up the wine bottle, then filled her glass.
He smiled, remembering the bright-eyed, delightful child she’d been. “Yes, but you did it every year, until I went to the UK for college.”
* * *
Chelsea frowned. She remembered. She had adored him.
He’d been a teenager, and had never seemed to mind that she tagged behind him the whole weekend. He’d almost enjoyed it, even though she realized later that he must have been instructed by his father to keep her occupied. Still, she’d always looked up to Zane and had been thrilled at his attention. He’d been this adult who had cared about her having fun. Not like her father.
She had missed Zane when he’d gone to college and so far away. When their parents died, he’d returned to Connecticut and become her guardian. Their first meeting after being apart so many years had been overshadowed by grief. After the funeral, he’d moved into her parents’ house but instead of the friendly, caring teenager she’d remembered, he’d become a cool, aloof adult.
She had been looking forward to presenting him with her ideas for the company they now shared, but to her surprise, he had ignored them, telling her she was too young and inexperienced to have any real say in the running of the company. It’s not like she didn’t realize that at sixteen, she didn’t have the experience he had, but he could have listened. He could have tried to work with her.
She’d quickly come to realize that Zane was just as controlling as her father had been.
“Well, I’m not a child now. I’m all grown up.”
“Yes, you are.”
Her gaze darted to his at the innuendo in his silky baritone voice. The heat in his cobalt blue eyes took her breath away.
“I’ve had a long day. I think it’s time I turned in,” she said.
She placed her empty wine glass on the table and stood up. But the world seemed to sway a little and when she took a step, she was unsteady. She moved around the coffee table and focused on walking straight, but bumped into the side of the one of the armchairs.
Zane was on his feet and by her side instantly.
“What’s wrong, Chels?”
Her back stiffened. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
But her hazy brain combined with his close masculine presence made her stumble slightly. His arm swept around her and drew her close to his warm body as he walked with her.
“I’m fine,” she grated.
“You took allergy medication today didn’t you? I should have realized that the wine would be a bad idea.”
God, he was right.
“You know,” he said, “there’s nothing wrong with leaning on someone when you need help.”
She gave up her resistance and melted into him. His arm held her securely to his body as they walked, but when they reached the stairs, he swept her up in his arms and carried her.
The world whizzed past her as she clung to his neck. Despite her dizziness, she was intensely aware of his muscular arms around her. Supporting her. Of the heat building inside her.
This was insane. She wasn’t going to… He wasn’t going to…
They reached the end of the hall. His bedroom in front of them, hers to the right.
Carefully, he set her on her feet, his arm around her waist to steady her.
“Thanks,” she murmured, feeling more than a little vulnerable at the weakness she’d shown.
She turned to her door and reached for the knob.
“This isn’t how I’d hoped this weekend would start,” he said.
Her cheeks heated. “Having to carry me to bed tipsy?”
He chuckled. It was a sound she hadn’t heard in a long time and she realized she’d missed it.
“I mean I didn’t want it to start with you angry. I had hoped we could have a serious talk.”
She gazed up at him. “About what?”
* * *
Zane knew this was stupid. He should not be bringing this up when they were standing outside her bedroom door, her woozy from a combination of medicine and wine.
“About a change in our relationship. I became your guardian when you were sixteen, but now we’re both adults. You have your independence. There’s no reason we couldn’t let go of those roles and…”
“And what?” she asked when words failed him.
As she stared at him with her wide brown eyes, his gut clenched. She really had no idea what he was suggesting. Fuck!
“Never mind. We can discuss it tomorrow.”
She nodded, then turned and opened her door.
“Do you need any help…?”
Her gaze darted to his and she shook her head rapidly. “No, I’ll be fine, thanks.” Then she shut the door behind her.
* * *
Chelsea leaned back against the door, her heart pounding.
Oh, God oh God oh God. He couldn’t have meant what she thought he meant. What a crazy little part of her wanted him to mean.
She walked to her suitcase and retrieved her satin pajamas. She shed her clothes and pulled on the pants, then the top and buttoned it up. She pulled back the covers and knew as soon as her head hit the pillow, that she’d fall asleep right away.
She turned off the light and lay down, but found herself staring at the dark ceiling, the memory of Zane’s arm around her, his solid body supporting her…haunted her.
Her eyelids fell closed and she let herself relax as she gave herself over to fantasies of Zane lying close to her, his lips trailing along her neck. His hand cupping her breast. Gliding down her stomach.