Free Gentle Persuasion by Cerella Sechrist Page A

concerning my remarks that you seem so intent on labeling as ‘flattery,’ might I remind you that for all your so-called brilliance in the corporate world, your latest venture is on the verge of bankruptcy. If you find my conversation to be obsequious, I can assure you that I am not attempting to ingratiate myself with you. In fact, if your coffee plantation fails, I may be the last recruiter you ever see. So enjoy skewing my words while you can. You may never get another chance to do so.”
    With that, she stood to her feet, noticed that every one of Sam and Leilani’s friends had fallen silent and felt a rush of embarrassment. Turning on her heel, she stomped off down the beach, cursing her inappropriate clothes and wondering how she was going to explain her failure to her mother.
    The farther she walked, the more distressed she became. She rarely lost her temper in such a manner—she had long ago taught herself to remain composed in every situation. Lillian demanded it. And now, on only her second day, she had allowed Dane Montgomery’s ego to get the better of her. Stupid! She could just imagine her mother’s cold disapproval when she returned to New York several days early and without Dane. Paris would remain a distant dream on the horizon. Cole would be sickeningly sympathetic. She might even face demotion.
    She was just considering whether her mother would actually fire her over this failure when she heard footsteps pounding on the sand behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she realized that in her distress, she had walked quite a distance down the beach. But the figure coming up on her was the last she had expected to see—Dane Montgomery slowed to a walk as she stopped in her tracks.
    “You didn’t need to run off,” he said.
    Somehow, this statement ruffled her feathers all over again. “You can’t tell me what to do—I’m not one of your inn’s staff.” It sounded ridiculously petulant, even to her own ears.
    But to her surprise, Dane chuckled. “Thank God for that. I have no idea what I’d do with you if you were.”
    She blinked. “Are you insulting me? Because I really don’t think—”
    “Not at all,” Dane hastened to say. “On the contrary...I may have had that speech coming.” He considered. “Well, maybe not all of it. After all, you’re the one who came here trying to drag me back to a life I left behind. And you have to admit that you really aren’t taking my ‘no’ very well. Besides, throwing money at the situation is pretty insulting in itself, wouldn’t you agree?”
    Ophelia narrowed her eyes. “If this is an apology, I’ve heard better.”
    He sighed elaborately and ran a hand through his hair. The moonlight cast his face in softly sad lines, the sharp cut of his frown standing out in stark contrast. Ophelia felt a sudden and unexpected tug of sympathy for him. How many times must he tell the world to leave him alone before they listened? No wonder his reception of her had been cool. She should feel fortunate he hadn’t been outright hostile, given the constant intrusions to his private life, especially considering all he faced with his current financial situation.
    “We’ve gotten off to an abominable start, haven’t we?” she remarked.
    He looked startled as he shifted his eyes her way. “To put it mildly,” he replied with the faintest twitch of his lips.
    She drew a breath. “I know it must be difficult for you,” she conceded, “with strangers prying into your life every couple of months and attempting to pull you in a different direction.”
    He said nothing, but she noticed he had gone very still, his eyes intent on her.
    “I’m not your enemy, Dane. What you do with your life is your own choice. But please try to accept that I’m in a difficult position, as well. Perhaps we could just call a truce and try to see the next few days out in peace?”
    He remained wary, still eyeing her carefully. “And at the end of it? What will you do if I still