Free How to Seduce a Billionaire by Kate Carlisle Page B

always do so much for all of us. We feel like you’re a member of the family.”
    Sudden tears sprang to her eyes and Kelly quickly brushed them away. Her own mother had died when she was twelve and she still missed her every day. Her father was very much alive, but he lived back in Vermont near her two sisters and their families. She missed them, too, but she could always pick up the phone and say hello. She couldn’t do that with her mom.
    “As far as I know, I’m free,” she said. “And I would love to join you, Mrs. Duke. Thank you so much for asking me.” She had the sudden thought that Brandon might bring a date to the dinner, but told herself it didn’t matter. The invitation had come from his mother.
    “Wonderful,” Sally exclaimed. “Oh, by the way, how was your trip to the spa? Did they do everything they promised?”
    “It was amazing,” Kelly said. “Thank you so much for recommending it.”
    “I had a fabulous time when I was there last year,” Sally said. “So when you mentioned you wanted a bit of a makeover, I thought it would be the perfect place for you.”
    “It was.”
    “I’m so glad. I can’t wait to see all the fun changes in you.”
    They hung up from the call, and Kelly spent the rest of the morning answering emails and scheduling conference calls for future projects. She almost wished she wasn’t so organized because she could’ve used a few more hours concentrating on something other than her thoughts. Anything would be preferable to being completely distracted by memories of Brandon and everything they’d done together the night before and early this morning. It was impossible to think straight when she remembered the way he’d touched her, the way his body had quickened inside her, the way his breath had lingered hot on her skin. She thought of the words he’d used, the pleasure he’d shown her, the urgency of their needs, and almost moaned out loud.
    “Oh, God.” She gulped in air and grabbed her soda to soothe her parched throat. She needed to concentrate on her job, but it wasn’t working. She continued to daydream about the way he made her feel, the places he’d touched her, the words he’d whispered in her ear, the heights he’d driven her to.
    She stared at the red light on the phone. Thank goodness Brandon was still on the conference call because if he were to walk out and take one look at her, he would know what she’d been thinking. And if he knew she was obsessing over their lovemaking, he would probably accuse her of falling for him. But nothing could be further from the truth. There was no way she would ever fall for Brandon Duke. She’d never been that big of a fool.
    Forcing herself to concentrate on work, she got a lot done in the next hour. Still, every few minutes or so, she caught herself imagining his arms around her. The man had a gift, that was for sure.
    She spent part of her lunch hour at her desk, eating a sandwich and paying some bills. Brandon left for a meeting outside of the office, so after lunch, Kelly placed all his messages—including Bianca’s—on his desk and took the opportunity to go for a short walk along the brick path that skirted the vineyards. It was a beautiful fall day and the leaves on the vines were every shade of orange, red and burnt sienna. She waved to a few of the winery staff who stood a few rows away, testing the vines for ripeness.
    She glanced up at the six floors of terraced balcony suites that graced the hillside, with their French doors and elegant patio furniture, then looked over at the many sophisticated, private two-bedroom maisons that swept across the length of the hill. She couldn’t help but feel a glow of pride whenever she thought of the small but important role she’d played in the development of the luxurious Mansion at Silverado Trail.
    With its ivy-covered stucco walls and Mediterranean style, the resort was a first-class mix of old-world charm and modern elegance. The restaurant had