Just One Kiss Read online

  From burnished hair to black silk stockings, she was an absolute stunner. He pulled his eyes away. He hadn’t gaped so openly at a woman since he was fifteen.

  It was that damned kiss! It changed everything, and he blamed himself. One look from under those long sexy lashes and his resolve had melted like late spring snow. And as for his hands-off-the-employee rule, he’d been tested and failed. Miserably.

  He’d speak to her privately during the meeting break, set things straight. Then he’d get his damn libido under control. If he didn’t, his time in the Vancouver office during the next month would be uncomfortable for both of them. He had a business to run, and from what Jayne Kingway said, this woman could play a large part in it, free him to pursue his own interests. It was imperative that his judgment be clear and unbiased.

  From the corner of her eye, Nikki watched Michael take the seat of honor near the speaker podium. She studied him intently. He looked older today, more imposing and definitely more intimidating. She put that down to knowing who he was. He certainly hadn’t intimidated her last night. She started to redden again. That damned kiss!

  To divert her thoughts, she reached for her briefcase and took out her presentation notes, determined to concentrate. She couldn’t. Obviously, she was a lot more interested in the hunk of man than the sheaf of papers.

  Her gaze kept sliding back to Michael Dorado.

  His dress was casual, a dark sports jacket and slacks worn with a brilliantly white shirt sans tie. He looked tired, paler than she remembered. He was restless, too, as if he would rather be anywhere other than this meeting room. Still, there was no mistaking his polish and control, his cool sophistication. It was in the cut of the man, she decided, not the cut of the clothes.

  Nikki was sure every female eye in the room fixed on him. Well, they could have him. She squared her shoulders, rustled her notes. Despite his blatant appeal, she wasn’t in the market for an affair with her boss. Of course it would help if he didn’t look so damn good.

  She watched him get to his feet, extend his hand to the man at his right, who had just arrived, his movement fluid and agile. He exuded the confidence of a man accustomed to power and deference. And the seductive magnetism of a cat, a big black green-eyed cat. Unexpectedly, he turned those eyes to her. Ragged, shivery little tremors rippled from her heart to her stomach. She turned away and did not look back.

  Nikki looked through the crowd for the faces of her coworkers. Both Christy and Amy were staring at Michael, each woman lost in her own fantasy, Nikki was certain. Michael Dorado was perfect fantasy material.

  John caught her eye and gave her a friendly nod. Dimly, she became aware that Darlene was standing to introduce David Wright and explain the agenda change. When Wright rose and started to speak, Nikki tried to give him her full attention.

  When the drone that was his speech ended, there was some polite applause, and Darlene called a fifteen-minute break. Nikki bolted from her seat and merged with the men and women on the floor. She had no desire to exchange more words with either Darlene or the dashing Michael Dorado.

  She caught up with Amy at the coffee-and-juice table.

  “Want some?” Amy lifted a silvered coffee urn in Nikki’s direction.

  “No, thanks. Right now a caffeine rush is the last thing I need. I’ve had all the jolts I can stand for one day.”

  “What’s the matter? Why is your face that color?”

  “What color?” Nikki’s hand flew to her cheek.

  “Ruddy is good, but beet juice is better, I think. You look as if you just ran a marathon.” She poured herself some coffee.

  “I wish that was it. I’m afraid this ruddiness is a symptom of what could be a case of terminal embarrassment.”

  “Embarrassment?” Amy gave Nikki her full attention. “How come?”

  “You see our new president up there?” Nikki nodded in the direction of the head table.

  “I sure do.” Amy said, turning to look at Michael. “Unbelievable, isn’t he? Like he just stepped off the cover of G.Q. There’s not a man in the room who even comes close.”

  Nikki couldn’t decide if the dreamy look in her friend’s eyes was real or feigned. She looked back at Michael and sighed. It was real, all right. Why should Amy be immune?

  “Would you believe that’s the Mike I met last night.” Nikki’s tone was urgent.

  Amy’s questioning look changed to confusion. She looked at Nikki as though she’d lost her marbles.

  “I know,” she said, matter-of-factly.

  “What do you mean, you know?” Nikki was stunned.

  “I talked to him on the phone, didn’t I? Besides, Michael and I go back a while.” Amy hesitated as if not wanting to go on.

  “’Go back a while?’” It was Nikki’s turn to be confused. “You mean you know him? From where, when?”

  “From my trip to Europe two years ago. I met him in Ireland.” A pink flush heightened Amy’s complexion.

  “Why didn’t you ever say anything? I mean, the name Michael Dorado has been bandied around the office for weeks. Ever since Prisma bought us. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I didn’t know him as Michael Dorado. I knew him as Michael O’Shea. And I sure didn’t know he was president of Prisma. Not until yesterday. I found out when we met at the lift base, and we talked a little more when he phoned to tell me he would be bringing you home. That’s the first I knew of it.” Amy looked uncomfortable.

  Nikki stared at Amy as if she were a stranger. And she’d thought she knew everything there was to know about her friend. Wrong! So Michael was the stranger she’d seen saw kissing Amy. She didn’t want to think about how she felt about that. “Where exactly did you meet him?”

  “In a pub in Glengariff. That’s in the south of Ireland,” she explained. “They call it the Irish Mediterranean because of its special climate.”

  Nikki ignored the travelogue. “Why did he use another name?”

  “I’m not sure exactly. He was introduced to me as Michael O’Shea. When I asked him about it last night, he just laughed. Said when he’s in Ireland, he’s always Megan O’Shea’s boy. Apparently everyone calls him that, and he’d long ago quit trying to change them.”

  “A bit strange, don’t you think?”

  Amy was oddly defensive. “Strange? I don’t think so. Maybe he enjoyed the anonymity. When you have a name as famous as Dorado is in Europe, it doesn’t seem so strange.”

  “I wish you’d told me this morning that you knew him. Why didn’t you?”

  “I didn’t get the chance. Besides, it’s no big deal. So I know him. It’s not as if I know him really well or anything. We met. That’s about it.”

  Amy’s studied nonchalance was a new posture for her. Nikki knew there was more to the story than she’d told. Then it hit her. Michael Dorado must have known who Nikki was when he kissed her.

  “Amy, when he called last night, did you explain to him who I was ... that I worked for him?”

  “Sure. Didn’t he tell you?”

  “No. You might say we didn’t, uh, get around to making the proper introductions,” Nikki stammered.

  “Oh?” Amy looked puzzled. “He was kind of shocked when I told him you were with Kingway. He said when you gave him my name to call, he thought you were some teenage relative of mine. Isn’t that a hoot? When I told him you were Kingway’s sales manager and that you were presenting today, I think he thought I was putting him on. He said—and I quote—‘You’re kidding. That I have to see, to believe.’ I think he found it kind of funny, though not in a mean way.” Again Amy spoke in his defense.

  “Funny? What’s funny about it?” Nicole tried to keep her voice calm in the rising tide of indignation clogging up her chest.

  “I don’t know, and maybe I read it wrong. What are you so jumpy about anyway? What’s going on?”

  “Nothing’s going on and I’m not jumpy,” Nikki said, taking a step back. “I’ll see you later. I’m going to the little girl’s roo
m.” Where she hoped to find her lost composure.

  On her way to the restroom, Nikki mumbled the words “I’ll show him” over and over as though they were a mantra. She slapped open the door to the ladies’ room so hard, her hand stung from the impact.

  Here she was, faced with the most important presentation of her career, completely unfocused and mad enough to spit. If the man had a shred of decency, he’d have told her who he was last night. The entire incident could have been avoided. Instead, he’d let her make an ass of herself. What can you expect from a man who operates under an assumed name? Michael O’Shea, if you please.

  The whole embarrassing business confirmed her first impression of him as arrogant, pigheaded, conceited, and self-important. Of course, now she had to add dishonest, slippery, and manipulative. If he weren’t her new boss, she would—Oh, she didn’t know what she’d do, but it would probably carry a life sentence!

  ***

  When the break ended, Nikki strode back to her seat, ignoring her inner turmoil. She reminded herself that nothing had changed. The Kingway people still depended on her, and she owed them her best. Besides, didn’t a certain sneaky green-eyed person of the untrustworthy male persuasion say he’d have to ‘see it to believe it’ before he’d accept her as a professional? He’d see all right. She’d make damn sure he did. Mr. Michael Dorado was about to witness the presentation of his life.

  Nikki barely heard Darlene when she rose from her chair and began her introduction.

  “... so pleased that Nicole Johnson has agreed to tell us a little something about Kingway—the newest member of the Prisma corporate family. Without delay then, Nicole Johnson.” Darlene clapped her hands in Nikki’s direction and took her chair.

  Nikki stepped forward, removed the cordless microphone from its post on the dais, and walked to the front of the platform. She wanted nothing between her and the audience.

  “Ladies and gentlemen. I plan on telling you more than a little about Kingway. I’m going to tell you a lot. I’m going to tell you about the company, the people, and the products—especially the products. Not because they’re the most gentle and beneficial products ever developed for a woman’s skin. Not because they’re of the highest quality and environmentally friendly, from ingredients to packaging, but because ....”

  Nicole paused, took a step forward, and scanned the crowd from one side of the room to the other.

  “They are the most exciting products available to women today. And, ladies and gentlemen, excitement sells.” Again she paused. A teasing smile came to her mouth. She spoke again. “You are interested in products that sell, aren’t you?” To a room full of salespeople who earned by commission, it was a siren call. She had their full attention.

  Nikki held center stage until after five o’clock. She had informed and entertained for over two hours. She was physically drained but happily confident she’d made a strong impression on the vast Prisma organization. She finished speaking at four o’clock, leaving half an hour for questions. What she hadn’t foreseen was how many questions there would be. They just didn’t stop. The crowd was hers—and Kingway’s.

  Darlene ended it, finally stepping to Nikki’s side at the front of the platform. “Ladies and gentlemen ...” She raised her hand. “Enough, please. I think Nicole’s voice is going to give out, not to mention her feet. Shall we let her sit down, give her a final round of applause, and call it a day?” Darlene took the microphone and nodded Nikki toward her chair.

  The sound from the floor was clamorous. Nikki smiled her thanks. Then, finally, it was over. The crowd, still buzzing, started to move toward the massive doors at the back of the room. Nikki stood and gathered her notes, notes she hadn’t referred to once in the past two hours. She started to put them in her briefcase.

  “I didn’t realize you had such a flair for the stage.” The deep voice from behind her taunted.

  Michael Dorado. Nikki felt the adrenaline rush abate; irritation surged to replace it.

  “Not for the stage, for Kingway Skin Care. I had a job to do, and I did it.” She stuffed paper in her case.

  “And you did it extremely well. I wish all the speeches had been as good—and as interesting. I knew Kingway was a valuable acquisition for Prisma, but I didn’t realize how valuable until today.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Dorado. That’s good of you to say.” Nikki crammed in the last of her papers and started to leave. His voice stopped her.

  “Mr. Dorado? I thought we were Nikki and Mike.”

  “We were.” Nikki fixed him with as cool a stare as she could muster. “For an hour or so. Before I knew better. I hope my familiarity wasn’t too distasteful. Of course, I had no idea who you were at the time. Had I known, I would have acted accordingly.”

  “Oh? And how exactly would you have acted?”

  “Professionally,” she snapped.

  “I never intended to deceive you about who I was, Nikki,” he said, lowering his voice. “And I tried to introduce myself on the mountain. You said you weren’t interested in knowing my name or anything else about me. Those were your exact words if memory serves me.”

  Nikki flushed. He was right, but that didn’t excuse him from not telling her later.

  She continued to glare at him. As though having won a brief skirmish, he smiled. “As for your familiarity, as you call it, it wasn’t distasteful at all. Quite the opposite. It’s not often a man gets asked for a kiss, you know. And so charmingly, too. Will you think less of me if I admit to being tempted beyond my ability to refuse?”

  Had he moved closer with those last words, or was she imagining it? Maybe. But she sure wasn’t imagining the light in his eyes, like the flicker of gaslight before full flame. She took a step back before responding.

  “You’re nothing if not direct, are you? There are some men, more sensitive maybe, who wouldn’t have brought the subject up. Did it occur to you I would rather forget that, uh ... incident? I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.”

  This time he did move closer, his gaze intense. “You didn’t embarrass me, and it’s me who owes the apology, not you. You’re right, there are men who wouldn’t mention the events of last night, but I can’t afford to be one of them. First, because we have to work together while I’m on the West Coast, and second, because I’d feel worse than I do now if I couldn’t make you believe I enjoyed the kiss as much as I hope you did. If circumstances were different, if you didn’t work for Prisma—” His gaze swept her face like a caress and there was no mistaking they held regret.

  The charm of the apology and the sincerity in his eyes caught Nikki off guard. Her chest tightened painfully, regretfully. Telling herself to smarten up, she lowered her eyes from his. He was her boss. There would be nothing but trouble if she fell for him. And it made good business sense to accept his apology.

  “Maybe it’s best to forget the whole thing,” she said, choosing her words with care. “As you said, we do have to work together. It will be better if the relationship is strictly business. As for our circumstances, they are what they are—an employer-employee relationship.”

  “True, but Prisma’s gain of such a dedicated and talented sales professional seems to be my loss as a man.” Seeming oblivious to the few people still milling around the big room, Michael lifted a hand to Nikki’s cheek and stroked it softly with his knuckles. “I am not at all sure such a loss is desirable—or even tolerable. But if you promise not to ask for another kiss, I may, just may, be able to keep my baser instincts under control.” Michael’s slight smile turned to a wide grin as his hand left her face.

  Nikki’s skin burned at his touch. She couldn’t seem to control her body heat around this man. Her breath caught in her throat. He was teasing her, and she knew she should be angry. She wasn’t. She, too, could now see the humor in the situation. Certainly levity was better than a no-win vendetta with the new president. She did, after all, have her career to consider. He was offering a fresh start. Good sense said, take it.

  She smiled,
looked directly in his eyes, and matched her tone to his. “I’ll try, Mr. Dorado. Really try. I definitely wouldn’t like to be the tainted woman who sullies your virtue.”

  He threw his head back and laughed outright. It was a deep laugh that showed not only mirth but relief as if some important threshold was crossed. “What virtue I had is long gone, Miss Johnson.” He accented her surname heavily. “So you have no worry on that score, but please call me Michael. One of the nicer aspects of doing business in North America is the informality. Friends?” He offered his hand.

  “Friends.” Nikki forced a bright, professional smile and took his outstretched hand, feeling yet another jab of disappointment. It hadn’t been a friend she’d looked for when she’d asked for that earth-moving kiss last night, but ... it was the only relationship that made any sense. Still, when his strong hand slipped away from her softer one, she felt an eerie sense of loss.

  “Nikki, there you are. We’ve been waiting in the hall. We wanted to let you know how good your presentation was.” Amy’s voice rose from the floor just below the platform. She was with John and Christy.

  “You were great. Just great. Done us proud, girl.” John reached up for her hand, his hazel eyes brimming with admiration. She leaned forward to shake it.

  “Add my kudos to the foregoing,” Christy said. “Fabulous job, Niks. Best presentation so far.”

  “You’re probably the most biased group in the room, but thanks anyway.” Nikki said.

  “Maybe so, but you sure as hell were better than that tedious—with a capital T—policy and procedure thing this morning.” Christy was, as usual, forthright. It didn’t matter to her that the president of Prisma was within earshot of her criticism. Christy eyed Michael boldly and a bit too appraisingly for Nikki’s taste.

  She hoped Michael would take Christy’s blunt assessment of Prisma’s morning meeting in good grace. She needn’t have worried; he was grinning at Christy for all the world as if he agreed with her completely. Nikki didn’t like that, either. What was the matter with her?