“Is there something else?”
She nodded. “While at lunch with my sister, I had an unexpected visitor.”
“Who?”
“Soton!”
“Soton?”
“How much do you trust him?”
A short time ago, he would have said completely, but he’d begun to have doubts. “He manages the business well. He does what I can’t.”
“He asked to speak to me privately, implying it was about the company. Since Kismet was right there, and the business is a secret, I went with him into the hall. Then he blatantly, aggressively…made a pass at me.”
“He did what?”I knew there was something going on with him!Soton was a notorious lothario, and Falkor had sensed an inappropriate interest in Karma, but he’d never expected Soton to act on it. He’d even said he’d tone down his “charm.”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. It shook me up a little. It’s not my place to tell you how to run the business or who to employ, but I don’t trust him, and I don’t think you should either.”
He wrapped an arm around her. “What he did is unacceptable. I’m sorry. He won’t bother you again, I promise.” The next time he saw him, he’d lay it out—if he bothered his wife again, Soton would be history. “I can’t imagine you’ll run into him again, but if you do, and he harasses you again, let me know. I’ll fire him.”
She bit her lip. “It won’t be easy to replace him, will it?”
Difficult, but not impossible. He had to find someone competentandtrustworthy. “Let me worry about that. He’s not indispensable, although he thinks he is.” Soton occasionally let things fall through the cracks, delayed following up on problems, but he excelled at gladhanding and networking.
“Will Soton keep the secret if you let him go?”
“Depends how betrayed and angry he feels. He could hurt me, and he knows it. He signed a nondisclosure agreement—but penalties for violating it would be decided by the king’s court.” The damage he could do could be far greater than any penalties levied.
“Maybe it’s not worth the risk. I would hate for your business to break up because of me.”
“I don’t want him making you uncomfortable. It’s unacceptable. I’m going to talk to him. If he’s harassing you, he might be bothering other women, too.” He’d assumed Soton conducted himself professionally when representing the company, but maybe he didn’t. Perhaps female customers and vendors were put off by the misbehavior. His resolve to look into the matter strengthened.
Karma, not the company, was the most important thing in his life. “I intend to tell him in no uncertain terms coming on to you will get him fired. You come first, always. You’re my wife—and I love you.”
“You do?” A huge smile spread across her face. “I hoped…I love you, too. Marrying you is the best thing I ever did.”
“For me, too.” His heart overflowed with emotion. He couldn’t wait to reveal his big surprise. The day after tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
He slipped his hand under her hair and drew her close for a kiss. Her lips parted, and sweet heat ignited as the intimacy deepened. He’d been waiting for her his entire life. She made him feel like he was number one, first place, the grand prize.
“I promise I’ll never let you down,” he murmured against her lips.
“That means everything to me.” Her bracelets jingled as she wound her arms around his neck. That jingle would alwaysremind him of her—a signature sound, like her rapturous sighs and gasps. Music to his ears.
He shifted her onto his lap, the better to roam his hands over her shoulders, back, and leg, slipping a hand under her skirt.
She traced the outline of his ear, from lobe to pointy tip. “You have the cutest ears.”
“I don’t know about cute, but they are ticklish.” He grabbed her hand and kissed her teasing fingers.
Her eyes lit up with devilry. “Oh, really…” She pressed her lips to his ear and flicked her tongue along his lobe.
“Ah…” he gasped, desire overriding ticklishness. He turned his head and met her lips. Steamy breath mingled, and gazes locked “Should we move to the other room?” he murmured.
“Work on our special project?” She wiggled, rubbing her bottom against his hard-on.
