Strictly business, p.12
Strictly Business, page 12
He glanced around inside and saw the trash overflowing, the toilet water threatening to back up and the sink dirty. He looked in the mirror and nodded to himself. He'd show Kia he meant business about making changes. And he'd start tomorrow at the board meeting setting down a mapped plan on where he wanted to start. He'd hire Pedro's mother to come and clean the place too. She needed some extra income Pedro had informed him. At the time Joe didn't want to employee anyone until he knew what he was going to do. But now that Kia had come along and things were looking up, he would do it.
It's a wonder the board of health hadn't shut him down, but since they only came out about once a year and they never stayed long enough to condemn the place, he'd been safe.
Tired and weary he trudged back to the small office once he'd secured the doors and checked the machinery to see that everything was shut down properly.
He was about to collapse on the couch when he saw Kia was laying there, still in her clothes and snuggling against his old work shirt as though it were a teddy bear. He raked a hand tenderly over her hair. The gloss of her hair shone like fine silk. He groaned. As tired as he was, as dirty as he was, in the place he was, he still—wanted her. It was strictly sex, he reminded himself.
He sat on the couch massaging her arm absently, looking down into her face which was half hidden by her dark hair. He moved it back behind her ear and she threw an arm over his leg.
He tensed. Then let out a tired sigh he laid down beside her. He was too tired to think of the implication. And she felt warm and inviting.
He fell instantly asleep, until an hour or so later when she began snuggling into him. That brought his attention front and center, in more ways than one.
"Joe, Joe," she murmured and pulled him closer. There was no time to think, only react to her soft cooing voice as she gathered him to her and put her lips solidly agains his. He was lost.
Kia was everything warm and soft and he wanted her like he'd never wanted another woman. Her leg instantly curled around his and her breasts molded against him as their arms entwined and he rolled her under him.
He slowly inched the sweatshirt upward. She had discarded her bra. Probably for comfort, he decided. His eyes filled with her. All his resistance melted into one hard knot in his gut as he ignored the warnings in his head. He couldn't stop himself from touching his lips to the dark areola of her breast. Such a beautiful rose that begged first his touch then his taste. His tongue licked at them slowly, waiting to hear her protest. But there was only a contented loud sigh from her. He sank his teeth around one hardened nub and nuzzled it with his nose, watching it grow. It fascinated him how the female body automatically knew how to entice the male.
He took each one into his mouth, caressing them gently, first one then the other. Her taste was sweet and soft and gloriously woman. She moaned, as though this were taking place in some kind of dream. He ignored the fact that her eyes still weren't open, and continued to taste her. As his tongue sought the erect tips, her body began to move more urgently against his.
His hands moved slowly, deliberately down to her jeans and he opened the snap. Then with a sigh loud and clear of a man who'd found heaven, he moved down further to explore. She was warm, inviting, and urging him in his quest to take her.
Her eyes opened and what he saw was the most beautiful expression he'd ever encountered from a woman. From her eyes alone he knew she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. He knew instinctively it was okay to touch, tease, taste and become one with this beautiful woman. His wife.
Within minutes he stripped her of her clothes and began again to explore. Kia was not bashful and relieved him of his clothes too, till there was a pile of them on the floor. She wrapped herself about him, and without words met him at every pass.
Time seemed to stand still as they equally gave of themselves. He'd never seen a more provocative woman, nor gloried in such a union as theirs. From the moment he entered her warm moist heat she was like some wild goddess giving and taking without thought of consequence. Uninhibited, free spirited. Kia loved as hard as she fought.
Never had Joe experienced such a glorious coming together. She made him wild with needs and she gave in to every one of them. She allowed him every pleasure and took everything he gave with such passion he nearly shouted when they both reached the ecstasy of the moment. It was beautiful, glorious and complete in every way. Each time he took her was better and he didn't understand it. No woman had ever affected him this way.
Spent, they both fell asleep without words between them. They slept wrapped contentedly in each other's arms till sometime during the night when they'd both put their clothes on. And when the first rousting of the sun crept through the dingy window of the office. They stirred, sat up and cuddled.
The morning brought the morning shift manager into the office waking them. Joe shielded Kia from their intruder.
Kia stirred slowly, opened her eyes as she readjusted her clothes. Joe jumped at the sound of someone else's voice in the room.
It was business as usual, only both of them seemed quite content not to talk about their night together. Still there was a bond there now that hadn't been there before and they both seemed to recognize it as they accepted the intrusion of the rest of the world.
CHAPTER NINE
Kia adjusted her red silk suit and checked her hair and makeup in the mirror. Joe was waiting for her in the hallway of the administration building. He nodded his approval as they opened the door.
The board meeting was about to begin and she forced all her jitters away as she took Joe's arm and he guided her into the huge room where faces and expressions blended into one big conglomerate. Some were friendly, some speculative. All were curious.
"Gentleman," Joe said quite casually, "I'd like you to meet my wife, Kia."
Everyone stood up, moved about the table to shake her hand and greet her with smiles. No one looked perturbed or upset, instead there were smiles on their faces, all of them except two.
One was Joe's stepmother, Eileen and the other was Gene Walsh.
"Is there a purpose for her being here?" Eileen asked with a tight frown.
Joe came around the table and stood before Eileen. "There most certainly is, Eileen. Kia has been instrumental in my plans for Cunningham Hats. As my wife, she is also part owner of the factory now. Should I suddenly die, she would be my representative at these meetings."
Eileen visibly cringed, but nodded and took a seat. Gene Walsh came around the table at Kia, "Nice to see you again, and Mrs. Cunningham."
It was a long meeting and Kia was quiet during most of the full board meeting until Joe introduced his plans for the factory. Then Kia helped him make the presentation by presenting the new plans and new building.
How they'd managed to work together on that presentation without getting carried away again Joe wasn't certain, but Kia had put as much effort into it as he. Damn if he wasn't proud of her.
"You propose a new building?" Eileen tensed, "On the property your father left you?"
"That's right," Joe answered. He knew the argument coming too.
"But he intended a golf course be built there. I know I heard him say it a million times. Relief needs a golf course of good size." Eileen frowned effectively enough to get a few nods from the older gentlemen on her right.
"We have a beautiful golf course here, we need a new factory. Cunningham hats has become an eye sore in this town. However, it does support three quarters of the town and therefore I deem it important that my plans over-ride my fathers."
Gene Walsh stood up. "That's all well and good, but who is going to finance this venture."
Joe's lips curled, and Kia knew he was in his element here. He controlled his audience.
She had to admit she admired the way he handled every question with such flair and no temper.
"I will," Joe stated. "Once my grandfather's trust is delivered into my hands."
"And I will," Kia stood beside her husband.
"You?" Gene Walsh choked with laughter.
Joe came to stand beside Kia again, his arm going protectively around her. His grin widened as he glanced into her eyes.
"As my spouse, she owns half of everything I own, so yes, she will. Kia's interest in Cunningham Hats is equal to my own. Always has been. Until now, I've not had the opportunity to speak up and do anything."
"Yes, because of this farce of a marriage. Everyone knows that this is a ploy to get control of your grandfather's money," Gene Walsh expounded angrily.
"My marriage is fact, Gene. We had a Catholic wedding in fact. Check it out. And there are no other stipulations, except for the length of the marriage."
Kia stood up, a slight smile to her lips and leaned over the table to look into each member of the board's face. "My husband and I stand together on this and our marriage."
Eileen huffed and puffed and finally opened her mouth. "Your marriage is a farce and you know it. It'll never last a year and you know that too. Gene's right. Gentlemen you've been taken in by this little tramp."
Joe moved closer to Eileen, the venom in his face spoke volumes as his fists actually clenched and unclenched. "You will not address my wife in those terms ever again, Eileen. Is that perfectly clear?"
"Are you threatening me?" Eileen gasped.
"Call it how you see it."
Kia smiled coyly at Eileen. "Gentleman, ladies, our marriage has been consummated if there are any doubts, and I have every intention of making it every bit as successful as Cunningham Hats. I love my husband very much and stand behind his plans 100%. So much so, we're even planning a family of our own."
"A family!" Eileen screeched.
Kia saw the instant smiles on the faces of 98% of the board and they all seemed quite convinced of her statement now. She was afraid to look at her husband at this moment for this wasn't planned and her outburst caught even her off-guard.
"That's good enough for me," Bill Sayers, president of Mercantile National Bank said as he stood up and extended his hand to Joe. "She's quite a little woman there, Joe. And I confess I have been hoping this might happen, for the benefit of Relief. This town is sustained on Cunningham Hats."
"The safety board has already been notified and will shut you down before you get started, you've already had one injury and one of the main machines is down." Walsh broadcast eagerly.
"We'll pass the examination." Joe replied with steel indifference. "Maybe by the skin of our teeth, but we'll pass. And we'll build that new plant."
"You'll never succeed. That plant is ready to fall down around you. And what will the inhabitants of Relief do when they are laid off for six months?" Eileen hissed.
"Shall we vote on this, ladies and gents?" Bill Sayers smiled and passed out the voting tablets.
Eileen and Gene Walsh put their heads together and murmured back and forth.
Joe stood firm, taking Kia's hand in his and squeezing lightly, he smiled at her.
Kia suddenly felt her knees buckle. She had blatantly announced to the board her love for her husband, and she believed they could pull this off, but Joe hadn't said a word after that. What was he thinking? Had she over-stepped herself? This wasn't in the plans.
She couldn't dare afford to let any of the board members see her turmoil.
How could she have said that in front of these people? But then something in the back of her mind told her it wasn't a lie. She was falling in love with her husband, despite their marriage being such a sham.
The vote was nearly unanimous and the factory site was approved. They spent an hour or so talking to different members about their plans. Kia gathered up the project board and was about to leave with Joe when Eileen came up to her.
"You may love him, but he doesn't love you, dear. He'll never love another like that stupid little Georgina. I should know if anyone. Oh don't look so surprised. We all know what this is about, you aren't fooling anyone."
"Love's a funny thing, Eileen, it can grow between two people with mutual interests." Kia answered, again not daring a look at her husband. "And I'll admit it started out as a marriage of convenience for both of us."
"You do have balls," Gene Walsh admitted reluctantly.
"Yes, I do." Kia smiled.
Joe put his arm around her waist and they walked down the hall together, talking to first one then another, but not to each other.
In the car moments later Joe was fairly silent. His expression seemed tense, but not angry. Kia tried to gauge his reactions and how to handle things with him. The need to deny her statement was obvious, but it bothered her to do so.
"I hope you don't mind my blurting that out at the meeting. I thought it might take some convincing."
"And it worked. You did fine." Joe answered, his movements still tense, his jaw still set.
"I did?" She was relieved that he wasn't angry, and yet the tension between them seemed to build with every passing moment.
Kia tried to settle back into the cushioned leather seat and relax, but the strain between them kept her nerves a complete jangle.
"Where are we going now?" She asked when the silence got to be too much.
"Back to the factory. If they've alerted the safety board we'll have to be on our toes about the plant. We've got to keep the factory open till the new one is built or the town is gonna be without work."
Kia nodded. "What can I do?"
Joe glanced at her, very impersonally, "You can talk to Jimmy. Make sure he has everything he needs. We'll pay his hospital bill. But they'll be out there too, asking him questions. A lot rides on how Jimmy reports this."
"I understand, and I think Jimmy does too. If not, I'll try to make him see the importance of it all." Kia smiled and laid her hand on his arm.
The tension in that arm told Kia that he didn't want her touch so she jerked her hand away. Tears stung her eyes, but she was determined not to cry. Joe didn't want her, and this plastic dream she had invented to save the factory was quickly bursting before her eyes.
Silly girl, she scolded herself silently. He's not in love with you!
She wasn't in love with him either, was she? No, she quickly squashed that little fairy tale. She couldn't be in love with a man in so short a time. Why, she'd dated Norman for a couple of years and still wasn't sure how she felt about him. Certainly she couldn't fall in love with Joe Cunningham that easily. Only weeks ago he had been her prime enemy at Cunningham Hats.
That seemed years ago, now.
She would not let the hot-blooded Italian in her out. She would not fall in love with her husband.
She refused to dwell on her personal life right now. There were bigger problems and the smaller ones would solve their selves in time. They had to.
"I thought we were going to the hospital." Kia remarked when he pulled into the factory parking lot.
"No sorry. You'll have to go alone. I've got work to do. We've got to get this place in some sort of working order. You can go to the hospital, but I'm staying here. I won't be home for a while, maybe a week."
"Then I'll come back here. But how are you going to accomplish this Joe?"
He turned and looked at her, his face a mass of worry. For a split second she wanted to reach out and tell him it would be alright, but sanity kept her still.
"If these people want jobs, then they have them, but it means they'll have to work for them. We've got to get this plant in shape fast. I'll rally the workers, make out a list of supplies, if you're coming back here then you can order them for us."
"Alright, I'll be back soon."
Joe nodded as he got out of the car. He turned and smiled at her for one fleeting moment,
"That's the first time I've driven since the accident."
Kia glanced up at him and smiled back. "Maybe you're healing."
"I think you're a pretty good nurse." He winked.
Their eyes met for a second and he made a movement toward her, but thinking better of it, moved away. "Tell Jimmy hello for me."
"I will," she replied, trying to keep the choked feeling away.
She watched Joe walk toward the factory door and knew he felt the load of their decisions to make this work. She wished she could lighten that load. It was too much for one man to carry.
Still, he obviously had no real feelings for her and she had to remember not to get too involved with her husband again. He really had one thing on his mind, saving Cunningham Hats. And for now that had to be top priority.
So they had sex, she grimly admitted to herself on the drive to the hospital. So what. She was Italian. It was bound to happen. It didn't mean there was commitment. From now on though, she was determined to keep their relationship under control. One more slip and she might lose her heart for good.
She liked Joe. She liked the man she knew him to be. But it would be suicide to fall in love with him.
She supposed he'd never gotten over Georgina.
"Lady, you left your lights on," the security guard said as she entered the hospital a few minutes later.
"Oh, thank you." She smiled at the guard and ran back to shut the lights off.
Minutes later she was pulling a chair up to Jimmy's bed. "How long are they keeping you here Jimmy?"
"I'm supposed to get out this weekend," Jimmy said trying to adjust the tension on the brace for his leg.
Kia glanced around the room and noted the flowers decorating the place. "My, you have a bunch of friends don't you?"
"Aw, most of them are from you and your husband." Jimmy smirked. "But I guess you already know that."
Kia's head jerked up, had Joe sent these? She'd never seen or heard but as she glanced at the cards, they were hand signed by someone with Joe's and her name on it.
Dammit! She wasn't going to fall in love with Joe Cunningham, but this sure did get to her. The man was full of surprises.
"How's everybody at work?" Jimmy asked. "I sure do miss it."
"Everyone is fine. Just worried about you." Kia replied. "How'd your mama take it?"
"You'd have thought I killed myself the way she acted." Jimmy chuckled. "She cried for two days. Then insisted the job was just too dangerous."
