Bachelor Unforgiving

Matthew stared hard at him, and continued, “Why are you so upset about it? Are you admitting you’ve only been lying to yourself these past four years and that you do still care for Kara?”

“No! I care nothing for her.” It had taken a long time for him to finally reach that point, but he had. At one time he’d thought it would be nearly impossible to ever get her out of his heart.

“Then working with her shouldn’t be a problem for you.”

“It will be a problem because I prefer not being anywhere near her.”

“Then maybe you need to ask yourself why.”

Virgil shook his head. “You don’t understand, Dad.”

“What I understand is, because of her lack of trust in you, you won’t forgive her and you’re still holding a grudge. But then so is Marv Hilton. That’s why Kara’s services are needed.”

Virgil didn’t say anything but walked back to the window to stare out. A few moments later he turned to his father. “I prefer we go with some other company, Dad.”

“Unless you can give me a good reason why Kara can’t do the job, Virgil, she’s in.”

Virgil drew in a deep breath. There was no need to tell his dad that Kara had been the only woman he had ever loved. Both his parents knew that. But they didn’t know he had planned to propose to her the same week she had hurled her accusations against him.

“Level with me, Virgil. The last thing I need to worry about is you trying to seduce Kara. She’s getting hired to do a job. So if you think you still feel anything for her then—”

“Oh, I feel something for her all right,” Virgil said in an angry tone. “I feel so much dislike for her you can whip it into butter. So I honestly don’t see how I’ll be able to work with her.”

“For Bougard Enterprises it’s business, Virgil. For you, it sounds like a personal problem you need to work through. The way I see it, you could have sent Whitney Hilton from your room that night but you didn’t. Instead you chose to let her stay. It was your decision and with that decision came consequences this company has to deal with. I would love to retire and spend more time with your mother and my future grandchild, but I’ll hang around if I have to.”

Virgil definitely didn’t want that. As much as he loved his father and appreciated his wisdom and expertise, Virgil had gotten used to making the decisions. He was ready to handle things without the old man. If his father thought he needed an image adjustment, then fine. “You win, Dad. Go ahead and hire Kara’s company.”

Matthew stood. “It’s not about winning, Virgil. It’s about making the right moves to ensure that Bougard Enterprises will be around for a long time. I’ll have my administrative assistant call Kara to come in so we can discuss our plan with her.”

Virgil drew in a deep breath. He would have to put up with Kara...or die trying.

* * *

Kara hung up the phone with a shocked look on her face. Of all things... A call from Matthew Bougard’s administrative assistant saying he wanted to meet with her tomorrow to discuss a possible job offer.

She leaned back in her chair. Just what did Bougard Enterprises need? Considering her strained relationship with Virgil, which she figured Mr. Bougard had to know about, she was surprised he’d reached out to her company, despite its excellent reputation. She’d find out soon enough what Matthew Bougard wanted.

Will Virgil be at the meeting?

Tossing a paper clip on her desk, Kara thrust the question from her mind. Sure, he’d be there. And it was no big deal, she told herself. She recalled her last meeting with Virgil six months ago when she had apologized. She would always regret believing Marti’s lie and what doing so had cost her. She had not spoken to her sister since finding out the truth. As far as Kara was concerned, they didn’t have anything to say to each other. She loved Marti but Kara could never forget the day she’d arrived back in town early from a business trip. She’d gone to her sister’s office to invite her to lunch only to overhear Marti telling someone on the phone how she had lied to Kara. Marti had claimed she had seen Virgil having a romantic dinner with a woman and had followed them all the way to a hotel and watched them go inside.

When Kara had confronted her, she had admitted lying and said she had done it for Kara’s own good, as it would have been just a matter of time before Virgil hurt her. To Kara, that excuse was unacceptable.

The buzzing on her desk brought her thoughts back to the present. “Yes, Janice?”

“Your mother is on line one.”

Kara drew in a deep breath. Her mother was the last person she wanted to talk to. To Lydia Goshay’s way of thinking it was past time Kara forgave her sister.

“Tell my mother I’m in a meeting and I’ll call her back later.”

At the moment, Kara didn’t want to talk to anyone. All she wanted to do was to relax her mind for a minute. That call from Bougard Enterprises had definitely rattled her brain. Leaning back in her chair she closed her eyes and, it seemed of its own accord, her mind began reliving memories of that night five years ago when she and Virgil had met.

* * *

“May I have this dance?”

Kara’s heart began pounding the minute she turned to stare up into what had to be the most gorgeous pair of brown eyes she’d ever seen. Bedroom eyes. They were an indulgent chocolate hue that made one think of something totally sweet and clandestinely sinful.

Although they had never been formally introduced, she knew who he was. Virgil Bougard. He had a reputation around town that would make Casanova look like a choir boy. His name was often whispered on women’s lips followed by a salacious smile. She’d first heard about him in the locker room at her gym. Women claimed he was hot, both in and out of bed. They also claimed he was a man who got any woman he wanted. And she had a feeling that tonight for some reason she had caught his eye.

She’d seen him when he’d arrived and had watched how several women had put themselves in his path. It seemed he drew them to him like a magnet. But he hadn’t danced with anyone. His attention had seemed targeted on her.

For most of the night their gazes had been meeting and holding from across the room. Each time she could feel her blood rush through her veins. She had noticed how impeccably he was dressed and how tall he stood, an imposing figure against any other man in the room. Talk about sex appeal.

She wished she could say it was all due to his ultrahandsome looks, consisting of an angular face that boasted a firm jaw, full lips and high cheekbones. And when he’d smiled her stomach did a couple of flips, and then she saw the dimples in those cheeks.

And now that same man was standing right in front of her, asking her to dance. Although she wished otherwise, she could feel heat swirling through her. She felt an intense sexual connection between them and couldn’t understand how that could be. Although she knew better and was totally aware of his scandalous reputation around town, she was shamefully attracted to him.

“Dance?” she repeated.

The way his mouth curved in a teasing smile made more curling heat settle in the pit of her stomach. “Yes, dance. I would do just about anything to hold you in my arms.”

Kara couldn’t believe this stranger would be so audacious as to say that.

“Who are you?” she asked. She knew his identity but felt he should introduce himself nonetheless.

He gave her another smile. “Virgil. Virgil Bougard. And you’re...?”

“Kara Goshay.”

“Nice meeting you, Kara.” He paused a moment and then asked, “So...are we going to dance?”

She didn’t miss the desire smoldering in the depths of those bedroom eyes. The sight of it made her heart rate accelerate in her chest. “Yes, Virgil. I will dance with you.”

* * *

Kara slowly opened her eyes and drew in a deep breath. They had danced. More than once.

Believing Marti’s lie was something she would regret for the rest of her life. Because in doing so, she had lost the one man she would ever love.

Chapter 2

Virgil entered his home and tossed his jacket across a chair. At least his father’s visit hadn’t stopped him from sticking with his plan to leave work early. He needed to rest, relax and recover from too much partying this weekend at Tyson’s wedding. Now he had another reason for needing down time. Namely to get his mind prepared for tomorrow’s meeting with Kara.

She had done something no one had thought was possible, which was to literally bring him to his knees and show him there was a difference between love and lust. His womanizing ways had begun to morph into those of a man who wanted only one woman. Her. She had singlehandedly transformed his reckless heart into a thoughtful one.

That was then. This was now.

He was no longer a fool in love. And Kara was someone he could do without. He staunchly refused to give his heart to another woman, and he enjoyed his time as a single man who wore no female’s heart on his sleeve. He was a card-carrying member of the Guarded Hearts Club.

Over the years the club had seen its membership dwindle. Uriel had dropped out when he married Ellie. A year later Xavier had married Farrah, followed by York marrying Darcy and then Winston tying the knot with Ainsley. The last one had been a shocker because no one had been a stronger advocate of bachelorhood than Winston. Hell, Winston even held the office of club president for a number of years. That left only him and Zion as lone members. As the president, he felt it was time they recruited new members.

Although the club started out exclusively for him and his godbrothers, that didn’t mean it had to stay that way. There had to be other single men who felt the same way they did. Men who enjoyed the single life and intended to never marry. Mercury and Gannon Steele headed the list. It wouldn’t be hard to convince them that bachelors needed to stick together and they needed to join the exclusive club. He’d heard the frustration in their voices this weekend at Tyson’s wedding. Mercury and Gannon figured it would only be a matter of time before their mother eyed one of them as the next possible groom.

And then there was Xavier’s friend Kurt. He would be another good candidate. And wasn’t it just last week that Quade Westmoreland, who was an in-law of those Steeles, mention something about newfound bachelor cousins living somewhere in Alaska? A semblance of a smile touched Virgil’s face. There was hope after all.

A frown replaced the smile when his thoughts shifted to Whitney Hilton. She had definitely been a mistake and one he was still paying for. It wasn’t as if Whitney had been an underage teenager. Hell, the woman had been twenty-five. An adult. A consenting adult. Hilton was disillusioned if he thought his daughter had been a virgin that night. Nevertheless, for one night of lust, he would pay by having to put up with Kara. That was something he didn’t look forward to doing.

As he headed for the kitchen to grab a cold beer out of the refrigerator, he couldn’t help allowing his mind to recall a time when Kara’s presence was the only thing he’d wanted.

And it had started with their first dance...

* * *

“So, Kara, tell me about yourself.”

Virgil couldn’t help looking into her eyes when he’d made the request. She was simply beautiful. Striking. Stunning. And the dress she was wearing showed off her body right down to every curve. He wanted to get to know her but there were other things he wanted to do to her, as well. Taste her. Touch her. But for now, dancing with her had to suffice.

He had noticed her the moment he’d entered the ballroom and had known then she was someone he had to connect with. Each time their gazes had linked, he’d felt stirring emotions he had never felt before. There was no way he could have not sought her out. They had introduced themselves and now he wanted to know everything there was to know about her. Then maybe he could figure out why she was having such an effect on him. No woman had ever rattled his senses like she was doing.

“There’s not a whole lot to tell,” she said.

“I was born in San Francisco twenty-five years ago. My parents are still there, both alive and well, and I have a sister, who is older than me by three years. I got my degree in marketing from Duke and landed a job here in Charlotte right after college. Last year I opened my own PR firm.”

She felt good in his arms and he liked the way his arms fit around her waist. “Are you dating?”

“Sometimes.”

“Seeing anyone exclusively?”

“No.”

“Good.”

She raised a brow and he could only smile. And before she could ask he said, “The reason I think it’s good is because I want you for myself.”

She tilted her head to study him and even raised her chin showing a little irritation at his audacity. His intent was unmistakable. His smile deepened, clearly unmoved that what he’d said might have possibly annoyed her. He believed in being honest with women. Game playing wasn’t his style. “And what if I’m not interested, Virgil?”

“Then it would be my job to get you interested. But I think we can toss out that possibility. You’re just as interested in me as I am in you.”

He could tell her irritation increased. “What makes you think so?”

He shrugged. “A number of things, including body language. But primarily the way we’ve been flirting with each other most of night.”

“Is that what you think? That I’ve been flirting with you from across the room?”

“Haven’t you? But then I’ll admit unashamedly that I’ve been flirting with you, as well. Now I think we should move beyond flirting.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.” He held her gaze while she stared at him. The sway of their bodies in tune with the music was a no-thought process, and it was a good thing since they were so focused on each other. He especially liked the feel of their bodies touching while they danced.

“And just where are we supposed to be moving to?” she asked. For her to have done so meant she was giving the idea some thought.

“I’m hoping I can entice you to leave here with me and...”

When he felt her tense, he said smoothly, “Go to an all-night café not far from here and share a cup of coffee with me. That way we can get to know each other even better.”

She relaxed and he was grateful for that. The last thing he wanted to do was give her the impression all he wanted was to take her to the nearest hotel or back to her place or his. Doing any of the three would definitely work for him since he wanted her just that much. However, he had a feeling she was not a one-night-stand kind of woman, even though he had no problem being a one-night-stand kind of man when it suited him. He had a feeling he would have to work his way into her bed. He didn’t mind that and figured she would be worth it in the end.

“I’ll think about it...the part about the all-night café. But you haven’t told me anything about yourself.”

A smile touched his lips. He had no problem doing that. “I’m thirty and the oldest of two. I have a sister who is four years younger. She’s single but dates her high school sweetheart. I figure they’ll get married one of these days. I work at Bougard Enterprises, a financial corporation founded by my father years ago. He’s brilliant when it comes to finance and I’m learning all that I can from him. He’s been hinting at retiring in a few years.”

“And when he does, that means more work for you, right?”

“Yes, but I love what I do. I guess it’s in my blood.”

Much too soon the music came to an end. Without questioning why such a thing mattered to him, he kept a firm grip on her arm. Instead of leading her back to where she’d been standing before the dance, he led her toward the patio. “It’s a beautiful night. Let’s appreciate it, all right?”

“Okay.”

He couldn’t help but smile as he led her through the huge French doors and outside. For some reason he felt tonight would be his lucky night.

* * *

Virgil took a huge swig of his beer, bringing his thoughts back to the present. Had it been his lucky night? It depended on how he looked at it. Yes, they’d left the party early to share cups of coffee at that café, and, yes, from that night and for a full year after that, they’d dated exclusively. He chuckled, thinking she hadn’t been as easy as he thought to get into bed. She had made him earn that right and he’d felt it had been worth it. She had been worth it. And he had fallen hopelessly in love. Their time together had been happy times...till they were tinged with heartache when she’d accused him of being involved with another woman.

When he saw her tomorrow he would be as professional as he could, no matter how much he would hate every minute of doing so. He didn’t want to give anyone, especially his father, the impression that he felt anything for her anymore.

He finished off the rest of his beer and was about to change into more comfortable clothing when his mobile phone went off. He recognized the ringtone. Each of his godbrothers had their own specific ring. “What’s up, W? Calling all the way from Australia is probably costing you a pretty penny, isn’t it?”

Over the years he and his godbrothers had shortened their names for each other to just the first letter. Winston, a marine biologist, and his wife, Ainsley, were currently living in Australia near the Great Barrier Reef on some project dealing with sea turtles.

“Just giving all of you a heads-up that I’ll be home next month.”

Virgil chuckled. “You were home six months ago. Getting homesick?”

Winston returned his chuckle. “No. Ainsley and I love it here. Six months ago we were home for her parents’ wedding anniversary. This time it’s for Uriel. Have you forgotten his birthday is next month? I talked to Ellie and she’s throwing a party at the lake and would like all of us there.” He paused a moment and then asked, “How are things going with you, V?”

He knew why Winston was asking. When he was home back in February, Virgil and his godbrothers had been together at the charity ball when Virgil had seen Kara. They knew what Kara had once meant to him and were glad she’d finally found out the truth about her sister. They’d also thought it had taken a lot of guts for her to apologize, considering how he’d been staring her down all night. And last but not least, they all thought he should have accepted the apology she offered. They felt he should be able to forgive Kara even if he didn’t want to have anything to do with her ever again.

Virgil didn’t see it that way. He saw no reason to release her from the guilt of accusing him of something he hadn’t done. “Things are okay,” he finally said. “Tyson’s wedding went off without a hitch. In fact, he had that same lovesick look that you did at your wedding.”

“It’s the ‘I’m in love’ look, Virgil. I recall you once wore it yourself.”

“That was when I didn’t know any better. It was before I talked you guys into forming the club. The one you, York, Xavier and Uriel defected from.”

“Only to pursue happier days.”

“If you say so,” Virgil said, shaking his head.

“Have you seen Kara since that night, V?”

Virgil frowned. “Why would I see her after that night?”

“Um, maybe you’ve had a change of heart. Called her. Asked her out for old times’ sake.”

“Don’t hold your breath. But I will be seeing her tomorrow. Not my choice, believe me.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

He then told Winston about his father’s plan to improve his image.

“Well, I hope you don’t plan to be an obnoxious ass when you see her. She did apologize. And can you imagine having a sister like Marti?”

Most of his godbrothers knew Marti because she’d dated Xavier. According to Xavier, three weeks was all he could take of Marti Goshay, who thought a lot of herself. Even Virgil would admit it was hard to believe Marti and Kara were siblings. They were as different as night and day.

“Can you imagine how Kara must feel knowing her sister lied? If you can’t trust your sibling, then who can you trust?”

Virgil decided not to answer that. In fact he really didn’t want to discuss the Goshay sisters any longer. He deliberately got Winston to talk about something else—namely his work. Winston loved what he did for a living and went on to tell Virgil how his research on the turtles was coming.

When Winston began getting too scientific, Virgil decided it was time to end their conversation. “We’ll get together when you arrive in town, W.”

“You bet. Take care.”

“You, too.”

“And remember to be nice tomorrow, V.”

“I’ll try. Can’t make any promises.”

Virgil clicked off the phone. Dread filled him as he thought about tomorrow. Just like he told Winston, as far as being nice to Kara went, all he could do was try.

Chapter 3

Kara paused to draw in a deep breath, needing to calm her frayed nerves. She was ten minutes early so why were the Bougards already in the conference room waiting on her? And the thought that one them had seen her naked probably just as many times as he’d seen her wearing clothes was enough to rattle her.

Shaking off the memories of all those times, she thought about one of her favorite quotes. You are more stronger than you think. She certainly hoped so because at the moment she felt a little weak in the knees. And what were those sensuous shivers racing through her? Now was not the time to remember any of that. Straightening her spine, raising her chin and pasting a professional smile on her lips, she turned the knob and entered the conference room.

Both men stood and, although she hadn’t wanted it to, her gaze immediately went to Virgil before shifting to the older Bougard. She liked Virgil’s father and could easily recall when Virgil had taken her home to meet his parents. She’d been nervous then, as well.

Like Virgil, Matthew Bougard was handsome. He was also tall, standing way over six feet, and had a muscular build. She knew he liked playing golf and he’d been on the Olympic swim team while in college at Morehouse.

“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting,” she said, and with all the professionalism she could muster, she crossed the room and extended her hand first to Matthew. Instead of taking it, he pulled her to him in a hug. “No, you’re early, in fact. We just didn’t want to keep you waiting on us. It’s good seeing you again, Kara.”

When he released her, she smiled up at him. “Good seeing you again, too, Matthew. How’s Rhona?”

“She’s fine and sends her love.”

Kara then shifted her gaze to Virgil. He was standing beside his father, impeccably dressed in a dark business suit. She wished she wasn’t so intensely aware of him and wished more than anything that seeing him didn’t remind her of how long she’d been without a man. After him and the pain she’d felt at the time, she had sworn off men.

His expression was unreadable when he said, “Kara, glad you could meet with us today.” He extended his hand to her, letting her know that if she assumed he would pull her into his arms for a hug like his father had, then she was wrong.

Kara took the hand Virgil offered and tried not to show any sort of reaction when a frisson of heat raced up her spine. “Glad I’m meeting with the two of you, as well.”

Although he didn’t say anything, something in his eyes told her that her presence here today hadn’t been his idea. She pulled her hand from Virgil’s and then said to both men, “I’m eager to find out why you feel that you need my services.”

“And we’re eager to tell you so you can get started on our problem right away,” Matthew said, smiling. “Please have a seat.”

“Thanks.” She sat down in the chair Matthew had pulled out for her, the one right across from Virgil.

She tried to ignore his intense stare or at least try to. “So what’s the problem?” she asked, darting her gaze between the two men.

It was Virgil who spoke. “It seems my image needs improving.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Your image?”