Free Destiny Unleashed by Sherryl Woods Page B

smooth for that.”
    Destiny couldn’t deny that William was a slick operator. She’d alluded to that very thing when she’d spoken to him earlier. “But perhaps his inside source will not be quite so clever,” she explained.
    “I’ll keep an eye on him. I’ll keep a close watch to see who he spends time with,” he said more eagerly. “But from a discreet distance.”
    Destiny beamed at him. “I knew you would understand.”
    He gave her an apologetic look. “Perhaps I misjudged you,” he said.
    “It happens,” she said blithely. “Usually never more than once.”
    For the first time since they’d met, Chester actually laughed. “Something tells me that working with you is going to be a revelation.”
    She patted his hand. “For both of us, Chester. It can be a good partnership, you know. You have much-valued expertise in business and in the European market. I am rather clever with people. Together, I think we’ll be quite formidable, if you’ll give it a proper chance.”
    “I most certainly will,” he said at once.
    “And no more calls to my nephew. Understood?”
    He blanched at that. “Richard told you?”
    She laughed. “After promising he wouldn’t? Never. He didn’t have to. As I said, I understand people.”
    “It won’t happen again, I assure you.”
    Destiny nodded. “Then go and mingle. This is as good a time as any to prove to everyone that you and I intend to run this company as a team, rather than being at odds.”
    When the obviously relieved Chester had gone off to talk with her other guests, Destiny turned her attention back to William. He was alone now, standing off to one side, almost in the shadows, his hooded gaze watching her. It reminded her all too vividly ofthe night they’d met, when he’d sought a hiding place where he could observe rather than participate in the gathering.
    She made her way across the room in his direction. It took some time, because with the champagne flowing, her guests were suddenly eager for a moment of her time, anxious to share ideas in a way they hadn’t been during the first tense meetings in her office.
    When she eventually reached William, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the kitchen, which was a beehive of activity as the caterer and his staff readied more hors d’oeuvres to keep the tables overflowing with food. William clearly saw his mistake at once and grimaced.
    “There doesn’t seem to be anyplace where I can have a moment alone with you,” he grumbled.
    Destiny laughed. “The bedroom’s probably free, but I imagine that would be a serious mistake. It might be misconstrued by my other guests.” Worse, she could just imagine how Richard would interpret it, if he heard about it, and there was little question that he would, despite Chester’s reassurances.
    William’s gaze clashed with hers. “Would it really? It seems forever since I’ve held you in my arms.”
    “Then you should be over the desire,” she said tartly, refusing to be swayed by the hunger in his eyes. “I am.”
    “Are you really, Destiny?”
    “I was over it in months,” she lied. “After more than twenty years, those days we shared in Provence are merely a small blip in my memory. A regret.”
    His eyes turned dark and dangerous. “You can’t mean that.”
    “I can and do,” she insisted.
    “Perhaps I can remind you,” he said, touching a finger to her cheek, tracing the delicate line of her jaw.
    Her pulse jumped and skittered wildly, but she kept her gaze steady and, hopefully, disinterested. She thought she was making a success of it, until he lowered his head, his intention to kiss her clear. She couldn’t mask her reaction to that and she knew it. She made a timely move, jerking her attention away from William and toward the caterer, who looked at her with surprise when she nearly bolted in his direction.
    “Is there a problem?” Harold inquired, his eyes filled with alarm.
    “No, actually everything is perfect,” Destiny