Evidence he unsettled her could be detected in the fast-beating pulse at the base of her throat, the edge of tension whenever he entered her personal space.

He had never aimed for the grab-and-conquer method with a woman. Mutual attraction and mutual need were his requisite for sex.

Natalya? Why this instinctive feeling there was a missing link? One only she could provide?

Patience. And time...the latter of which he had plenty.

Alexei indicated the structured curve of studded leather armchairs. ‘Take a seat. I’ll outline the day’s schedule.’

Extensive, Natalya breathed as she noted appointments, calls to be made, two afternoon meetings to arrange...and lunch with a business associate.

‘Book a table for one o’clock,’ Alexei instructed, naming a restaurant with inner harbour views and known for its excellent cuisine. ‘Contact Paul, my driver, and arrange to have my car waiting outside the main entrance at twelve forty-five.’ His eyes didn’t waver from her own. ‘Naturally, you’ll accompany me.’

Hadn’t she attended many business lunches with her father? So why would this be any different? Professionalism ruled as she held his gaze. ‘It would be helpful if you could reveal who’ll be joining us.’

‘Elle Johanssen and her PA.’

Natalya maintained a polite expression. Eleanor, or Elle as she insisted on being called, held a reputation for winning, by whatever means it took. Those among the business sector who’d parried with her and lost were known to refer to the woman as Hell-Jo...an unflattering but self-explanatory term.

Elle Johanssen, the noted ball-buster, locking heads with Alexei Delandros?

A woman associate with whom Roman Montgomery had refused to do business following one scalding episode that had left him red-faced and publicly humiliated.

Lunch should be interesting, to say the least.

She could do this, Natalya assured herself silently a few hours later as she rode the elevator with Alexei to the ground floor.

So why did she feel conscious of every breath she took, together with an incredibly heightened awareness that threatened to destroy her hard-won composure.

He radiated male sexuality, too much for any woman to ignore. Especially her, having known how it felt to be possessed by him. Sensual heaven...and then some.

Even now, when she had every reason to hate him, he still held the power to affect her emotions.

Five years...during which time she’d attempted to convince herself she was over him...disappeared like mist beneath rays of the sun.

Not good. Not good at all.

So much for self-survival skills.

And this was only day two in her contracted employ.

So...suck it up.

Which she did. Although there was a moment when Alexei indicated they share the rear seat of the chauffeur-driven limousine.

A deliberate ploy to unsettle her?

Who could tell?

She could analyse it to hell and back, and still not arrive at a definitive answer...so why even try?

The key being to adhere to the rules...a faultless PA during business hours, amenable and highly professional, even if it killed her, for no way would she allow him to glimpse so much as a chink in her emotional armour.

Consequently Natalya entered the restaurant at Alexei’s side, where the maître d’ offered a deferential greeting and led the way to their table.

Not the bar, which had been her father’s preferred starting point. Or, she perceived in retrospect, where Roman plied his guests with alcohol before adjourning to a table where he ordered fine wine with no regard to cost. By which time, business, as such, became a secondary consideration.

Elle Johanssen made her entrance a fashionable five minutes late, offered a faux smile, apologised briefly as she slid into the seat politely held for her to grace it, and took control by ordering wine.

A female shark baring her teeth, Natalya mused, all too aware of the woman’s reputation for shrewd deals tailored to her advantage.

In a contest of strong wills, Elle most often won out, her gritty formidability legend. So, too, was her intolerance for fools.

Natalya sat still, aware, alert...and prepared to watch the play between two business titans, each of whom were determined to win.

A little wine, which did nothing to soften Elle’s forceful tactics...and the wheeling and dealing began.

It was quite something to watch, as Alexei simply listened while Elle outlined her terms, declared them non-negotiable...only to stiffen defensively as Alexei discounted all but one of them, before stating his terms.

Stalemate.

‘You’re new in town,’ Elle dismissed haughtily, only for Alexei to qualify,

‘But not new to business dealings.’

‘My terms cannot be bettered.’

Alexei merely lifted an eyebrow. ‘I disagree.’

‘Really? By whom? A firm who’ll use a superior to broker the deal, then pass the client on to a less experienced staff member?’

‘No.’

Natalya saw Elle’s eyes narrow in speculation. The ADE Conglomerate was huge. To have Alexei as a client would be a very large feather in the woman’s cap.

It would be interesting to tell which card Elle would play.

‘Then there is nothing more to say.’

Alexei’s shoulders lifted in a negligible shrug. ‘So it would seem.’

The word-play game had just moved up a notch.

A waiter delivered their entrees, which were eaten in supposedly companionable silence.

Was this the final act in negotiations, and, if not, who would concede?

Natalya’s money was on Elle, given it was Alexei who held the power.

Conversation during the main course centred on world economics, a subject in which both Alexei and Elle were well-versed.

Dessert was declined, and Alexei chose not to linger over coffee, stating the meeting concluded.

That was it?

Unbelievable.

Alexei indicated Natalya take care of the bill with ADE’s corporate card...which she did, following him from the restaurant to witness Alexei’s limousine sliding to a smooth halt at the kerb.

It was then Elle moved a few steps to his side.

‘Have your lawyer email me a copy of your terms.’

Alexei didn’t miss a beat. ‘There’s no point.’

‘I’m prepared to consider a few adjustments.’

Really? Natalya mused as she heeded the faint pressure of Alexei’s hand at the back of her waist as Paul appeared and opened the limousine’s rear door.

Alexei refrained from making any comment as he followed Natalya into the rear seat and gave Paul instructions to leave.

‘Checkmate?’ Natalya offered with a tinge of cynicism, and incurred his measured glance.

Wednesday morning there was a courier delivery from Elle Johanssen containing an amended list of Alexei’s terms. All of which, with the exception of three relatively minor clauses, Natalya noted, had been accepted.

‘Return to sender,’ Alexei instructed within minutes of perusing the document. ‘With an attached letter rejecting the amendments, reaffirming ADE no longer require her services.’

Natalya keyed the relevant words into her iPad, glanced up and caught his slightly raised eyebrow.

‘The three clauses are quite minor.’

Alexei’s gaze was impossible to discern. ‘I was unaware I requested your opinion.’

Was it her imagination, or did the room temperature suddenly drop a few degrees?

‘You were present when Elle Johanssen requested a list of my terms,’ he reminded. ‘My parting statement to her was clear, was it not?’

‘Perfectly. But she’s...’

‘Playing me.’ His eyes seared her own. ‘Something I refuse to allow anyone to do...under any circumstance,’ he added in silky dismissal.

Okay, duly noted. Natalya collected the paperwork. ‘I’ll ensure this is returned today.’

‘Via courier.’

Natalya inclined her head. ‘Of course.’

‘No further input you’d like to add?’

She didn’t miss a beat. ‘Nothing you’d want to hear.’ Not the best exit line...yet there was a small degree of satisfaction in having had the last word.

And in doing so, she failed to see Alexei’s lips quirk with mild amusement.

Natalya Montgomery was the antithesis of the carefree young woman he’d once known. Now she rarely smiled in his presence, which shouldn’t concern him, yet it did, for he could too easily recall the way her voice would subside into a husky purr as he pleasured her. The sweet slide of her mouth when she caressed his body, teasing, tasting with such delicacy it drove him mad...until he took control, and it was she who gasped as he used his mouth to trace a tortuous path to the apex between her thighs, edging them gently apart to savour the acutely sensitive clitoris, using his tongue to drive her wild with need as she begged for his possession. And cried out as he moved over her and surged in deep as they both became swept up in the throes of a passion so intense there was only them...devoid of sense of time or place. So completely lost in an acutely sensual climax.

Alexei had contemplated for ever, his ring on her finger, a home, children...the complete package.

Only for everything to suddenly and inexplicably change.

Alexei leant back in his office chair and idly took in the cityscape, brilliantly clear on a mild summer morning. Beyond the many varied buildings the sky and sea appeared to meld as one.

The past couldn’t be changed. There was only the present, and the future. Together with a plan...one he was determined to win.

CHAPTER FIVE

IT WASN’T SURPRISING the media channelled social and business reports around Alexei’s every move...or so it appeared.

He was the new man in town. Successful mogul, ruggedly attractive with a dark earthy quality that had the social set flooding him with invitations.

Very few of which he chose to accept, preferring two prominent events, the proceeds of which aided worthy children’s charities.

Both events drew national media attention, and resulted in photographic evidence of his presence with a different glamorous socialite clinging to his side. Each almost visibly simpering at having gained his notice.

Instructions for flowers...specifically roses...to be despatched to each socialite with the following message...

My personal appreciation for an enjoyable evening.

Really?

How personal was personal?

As if Natalya cared.

Although he did, in her eyes, redeem himself slightly by gifting a sizable donation to each nominated charity.

Laudable, Natalya conceded, or calculated...and mentally derided the latter as prejudicial, in spite of the fact he ranked numero uno on her list of least favourite people.

On the other hand she had to admit he worked long hours, for it soon became apparent he was the first to arrive each morning and the last to leave. No one could achieve what he managed on a nine-to-five schedule. A factor which had obviously enabled him to reach his current level of success.

His prominence in the business sector seemed to grow with each passing day, as did the respect of his peers.

Everything her father could...and should have had if he’d paid more attention to business instead of frittering company funds with magnanimous abandon.

Three weeks in, Natalya had managed to assume an admirable professionalism—no matter what Alexei threw at her.

And he did. Frequently, without warning.

If he was bent on testing her, she managed to rise to the occasion, and derived a certain satisfaction in holding her own...professionally.

Personally? Not so much.

As hard as she tried, she couldn’t fault him. And she wanted to, badly.

Staff admired his business nous...especially the men. While the female staff sprang to sparkling attention every time Alexei appeared within sight.

Something Natalya chose to ignore, without much success. A fact which irked her unbearably.

She was over him. Had been for years.

So why did he enter her dreams and force a vivid reminder of what they’d once shared?

It was crazy.

This Alexei bore little resemblance to the man to whom she’d gifted her body...dammit, her soul.

Then he’d surrounded her with his warmth, his affection. Love, she amended, prepared to stake her life on it.

A time when she’d thought to hold the world in her arms, when nothing and no one could take it away.

Yet he had. And she hadn’t been able to pick up the shattered pieces of her life.

The many nights she’d lain awake in tears searching helplessly for a reason why. Hoping, praying for a phone call, text, email...any form of contact that would provide an explanation.

Yet none had appeared, and slowly she’d managed to rebuild her life. Vowing she’d never let another man get close enough to melt her frozen heart.

There were friends, the trusted, tried and true kind, of whom Aaron was one. Ivana, her mother, another she’d trust with her life. Leisl, her BFF, who had married and now lived with her husband in Austria, with whom she kept in regular contact via social media, Anja, registered nurse and cosmetician to a leading Sydney dermatologist.

Acquaintances, of whom there were many, but not one of with whom she would lay bare her innermost thoughts.

The insistent ring of her smartphone dismissed any further reflection as she checked caller ID, picked up and briskly intoned, ‘Natalya.’

‘I’ll require your presence this evening.’

Alexei issuing a statement, not a request. And there was no reason whatsoever for the faint shivery sensation feathering down her spine at the sound of his voice.

‘I may have made other arrangements.’ May ensured it wasn’t exactly a fabrication. She even managed to sound suitably regretful.

‘Cancel them.’

Just like that? ‘If you’d given me more notice,’ she began, only to have him cut her words short.

‘Have you neglected to recall the terms of your salary package?’

Really? As if she could forget. ‘Is it too much to expect a degree of courtesy?’ Sweet she could do, albeit with a touch of saccharine.

For an instant she braced herself for his comment, only to feel slightly disappointed when he didn’t rise to the bait.

‘My car will be waiting outside your home at seven.’

Her chin tilted a little, a response ready...only to have him intercede before she managed so much as a word.

‘Business, Natalya,’ he relayed with an edge of mockery, and named a restaurant. ‘Arrange a table for six between seven-thirty and eight.’ Business...naturally. What else would it be? ‘Of course.’

Selecting what to wear wouldn’t be a problem, given her wardrobe included clothes suitable for every occasion.

Nevertheless she changed her mind a few times before settling for elegant evening trousers and camisole in deep jade, and teamed the outfit with black killer heels.

Understated make-up, emphasis on the eyes, a light gloss covering her lips, her hair loose framing her face, and she was done.

Her iPad was a given, satchel, smartphone, keys, a fine cashmere black wrap folded over one arm, and she was good to go with five minutes to spare.

Limousine and driver were waiting out front when Natalya checked, and she smiled as Paul crossed to open the rear passenger door.

‘Thanks.’

She moved close, saw Alexei already seated, and bade a polite good evening as she slid in beside him.

The night was warm, the air-conditioning within the car set at a comfortable level, and she forced herself to relax as the limousine purred through suburban streets towards the city.

There was a moment caught up at a controlled traffic intersection when Natalya caught a glimpse of Alexei’s profile outlined in sharp relief.

An attempt to be analytical failed miserably as she skimmed those strong features. The firm jaw, broad cheekbones, eyes as dark as slate, his mouth...

Don’t go there.

Except it was impossible to still the sudden flare of emotion in vivid recall of the way his mouth had wrought havoc on every intimate inch of her body. In the name of heaven...get a grip!

She did, in spite of the effort it cost her, and she offered him a cool glance.

‘Do you have anything to add relevant to this evening’s meeting?’

All she had was a business dinner for six, time and venue.

‘No.’

Great. There was nothing like being unprepared...