CHASING TROUBLE

The Kay Corp party was turning out to be every bit the crush of people Nicholas had expected it might be. Most of them were introduced to him by his father and there were a lot of men who wanted to renew their acquaintance with Frank Connelly and some just wanted to start one with him. The women were making no secret of the fact that they found his dark and brooding looks attractive. Not that Nicholas had any complaints about that last part. He had enjoyed a healthy sex life during his years in the army and after, and he sincerely hoped to continue doing so now.RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

Nevertheless, even surrounded by beautiful women as he was, all seemingly vying for his attention, Nicholas still noticed the woman in the figure-hugging red gown, standing across the room…Caroline Anderson.

She stood out from the rest of the ‘beautiful people’ present in as much as she was making no effort to respond to the flattering conversation of most of the men who approached her

but instead seemed totally bored-both by them and by her surroundings.

Her hair cascaded lushly over her shoulders and halfway down her spine, and her blue eyes were surrounded by thick dark lashes. Her features were delicate and lovely, and the fullness of her lips was glossed the same tempting red as that utterly decadent gown she wore. Her only jewelry was a pair of delicate gold filigree earrings which dangled almost to the bareness of her shoulders and a thin, glittery necklace.

All of that would certainly be enough reason for any man to give her a second glance, but still it wasn’t what had caught and held Nicholas’ attention, what had caused his body to harden in instant arousal the moment he looked at her.

Every other woman in the room wore masses of expensive jewels at their ears, throat, wrists and fingers and, whether tall or short, they were all very fashionable. Caroline wore only earrings, and a smaller necklace, but her figure was…. There was a word for her type of figure. Perfect! That was it!

The dress she wore showed off her figure: curvy in the right places, lushly, sexy and perfect. Her shoulders were bare, that expanse of skin the same smooth alabaster as her face, and that wickedly enticing gown enhanced the fullness of breasts that were obviously bare beneath the silky material that swept over her waist before clinging lovingly to the sweet curve of her hips. The material finished a couple of inches above her knees to reveal long and shapely legs, with three-inch heeled red strappy sandals on her elegantly slender feet.

Nicholas had never seen her look so beautiful. His breath now caught in his throat as she looked over the top of the heads of the men surrounding her, glancing around the room in obvious uninterest-almost as if she was aware of someone watching her, but had no idea who or why. His earlier impression of her complete boredom with her admirers and her surroundings was confirmed as she repressed a yawn. At the same time as their glances met.

Met and then, as her gaze shifted slowly back to his, held.

Nicholas quirked a questioning brow-only to receive a blank stare and then an uninterested shrug in reply, before she turned away to accept a fresh glass of champagne from one of the men surrounding her, to all intents and purposes as if she had already forgotten his existence.

While it might be a refreshing change after this last couple of hours of having women throw themselves before him like sacrificial offerings, this certainly wasn’t the reaction Nicholas was used to receiving when he showed an interest in a beautiful woman.

Nicholas had never been naive enough to believe it was his looks alone which attracted women to him. Nor did he believe that every woman he met had to find his height and dark looks attractive. But still, it irked him that Caroline had dismissed him so easily and completely. Just what was it about this woman that he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her even after she’d made it clear that their relationship was going to be purely professional. He couldn’t seem to forget the way her body had felt against his when they kissed…. But that was weeks ago.

He didn’t care that she worked for his father, Nicholas thought. He wanted Caroline Anderson and he was going to get her. It was with that thought in mind that Nicholas distractedly made his excuses to the women crowded about him before crossing the room towards Caroline.

__________

Like Moses parting the Red Sea, Caroline noted ruefully as the people around her instinctively stood aside for the tall, dark and arrogantly handsome man who making his way so determinedly across the room towards her.

She had noticed him hours ago at the party even though she’d barely spoken to him. Of course she had. What woman wouldn’t notice this dark and broodingly handsome man?

He looked great tonight too. Caroline stood five eleven in her three-inch-heeled red sandals, but Nicholas was still several inches taller. Tall enough that he could look down at her with warm and broodingly sensual dark eyes. His dark hair was neatly tied at his nape as usual, and his gaze was now narrowed and assessing, set in an arrestingly handsome face that looked as if it might have been carved from mellow gold stone: high and hard cheekbones, a long blade of a nose, chiseled lips, and a square and determined chin. The perfectly tailored black evening suit did little to hide his wide and muscled shoulders and chest, flat and tapered abdomen, lean hips, and long, long legs.

No doubt about it. When it came to charisma and good-looks, Nicholas Connelly had it in spades! It was perhaps unfortunate-for both of them-that Caroline knew him to be exactly the sort of man she wanted nothing to do with. Personally or professionally. She didn’t have that choice professionally anymore, but it was okay. She and Nicholas would never be involved personally. She’d make sure of it.

“Enjoying the party, Caroline?” He quirked dark, questioning brows over enigmatic dark eyes.

Even his voice was sexy as hell, Caroline thought. Deep and husky, with an undertone of dark and sensual. The sort of voice guaranteed to send a shiver of delight down women’s spines.

Other women’s spines, Caroline corrected firmly. Fortunately she was totally immune to conceited men like Nicholas…. okay maybe not totally immune, but boy was she trying.