Bind by Sierra Cartwright Read Free Book Online Page A

air-conditioning’s whisper and her rapid breaths. Whatever the woman had to say, it was costing her in terms of emotional energy.
    “I know this is unexpected, ridiculous, outrageous…” She closed her eyes, then opened them again and locked her unblinking her gaze on him. “We’re not even on a first-name basis.”
    “But?”
    Her words had been jammed together, rushed, unpolished. While she’d been speaking with Thompson and with him, about the coffee, her tone had been light, not forced. Now, tension wove through her voice. Connor had no idea where she was going, but he sure as hell expected it would be interesting, suspected he’d be willing to do anything she suggested, as long as she kept looking at him like that, as if he were hope, promise, threat and redemption all in one. Fucking heady stuff.
    After a short breath, she rushed on, “Will you marry me?”

Chapter Three
     
     
     
    Of all the things he’d been expecting her to say, that wasn’t it. Connor wasn’t sure he’d ever been more stunned. He took great pride in being prepared for all eventualities. He thought in terms of flow charts. Each thought led to a different result. Since he enjoyed considering various possibilities, he was rarely caught off guard, and she’d managed it twice.
    Silence hung in a whisper, an expectation.
    Possible responses crowded his mind. But only one mattered. “You have no idea what you’re asking.”
    “I’m sure you’re right. It was forward of me.” She pushed back her chair and stood. She crossed to the window and stared out with her arms wrapped around herself. “But I’m hoping you’ll be interested enough to hear me out.”
    “Go on.” He remained where he was, still leaning back in his chair, considering.
    She turned back to face him. “I don’t want you thinking I’m behaving impulsively. On the contrary. I’ve spent many months searching for answers. The idea took shape overnight, and I spent most of today thinking it through, lining out objections, and ultimately, I think it’s a solid idea. That said, if you want to schedule a different time to talk, I understand. Mr. Thompson mentioned you have other appointments.”
    “You’re here now.” He watched the battle rage across her face. A slight frown became pursed lips. No doubt it had cost her something to show up at his office uninvited. Earlier she’d mentioned a sleepless night, not that there was any trace of it on her beautiful face.
    “BHI’s communications division is in serious trouble.”
    He knew that. Before he asked for a definition, she added, “Three consecutive quarters of losses.”
    Which was worse than he’d surmised. “Mostly from the retail stores,” he guessed. “People buy their gadgets in different ways than they did years ago.”
    She didn’t deny that, but she didn’t say he was right, either.
    “Since you don’t own the land under most of the stores, you can’t win.”
    “Regardless, we own some patents. We do some things really well and there’s plenty of potential.”
    All of which was true. He waited, wondering how this had led her to the idea of marriage.
    “Options should be considered. Consolidation, mergers, a sale, acquisitions, infusion of cash, shake-up in leadership.” She paused. “That’s where you come in. I need your brain.”
    “Why mine?”
    “You approached my father. It’s clear you’ve already seen the possibilities. You’re smart and aggressive, brilliant even.”
    “That’s flattering—”
    “As my husband, you’d have a seat on the board.” She’d dug out the corporation’s bylaws and confirmed that. To be certain, she had a corporate attorney going through the document as well, looking for pitfalls. “You could exert influence. I have years of insight I can offer you. It could be a marriage in name only. I’d be willing to negotiate a prenuptial agreement with you that we’d both sign. We’d naturally include a predetermined divorce date. Of course, we