Knight Takes Queen by Cc Gibbs Read Free Book Online Page A

money would be over and above what you need from me for Katherine’s half of the business. The cost of hiring new personnel would be an additional amount. Just give me a total sum.’
    ‘I’d have to think about it.’
    ‘I understand.’ He sat back as their food was placed onthe table: grilled scallops with clam minestrone, filet of Scottish beef with wild mushroom and a red wine shallot sauce, cheese soufflé with double cream and a variety of colourful vegetables. ‘I didn’t know what would appeal. Please help yourself.’ Then he smiled a real smile because he knew she was going to take his offer. ‘Bon appétit.’ And he began cutting his filet.
    Quickly finishing the small piece of meat, Dominic set down his cutlery. ‘I’d appreciate your discretion in this matter. The tabloids follow me from time to time and I’d rather they not be privy to any of this. I don’t want Katherine embarrassed. So if you were to agree,’ he politely said, ‘and once you decide on a figure – and please, I begrudge you nothing – email my ADC. I’ll give you his contact details. Max will see that you get a cheque. As for what you say to Katherine about your new business plan, that’s up to you.’
    Joanna had finished her cheese soufflé while he’d been speaking.
    Dominic waited for the server to take her plate. ‘If you have any questions, please don’t be shy.’
    ‘Do I look like I’m shy?’ She reached for the beef.
    ‘If you don’t mind my saying it,’ Dominic said with a very faint smile, ‘you look as though you’d like to cut out my spleen.’
    ‘Heart,’ she corrected, looking up from slicing her filet. ‘If you had one.’
    ‘Actually, I’ve discovered I do have a heart. I was startled at first, then alarmed. Now I’m quite content, happy.’
Forthe first time in my life
. But that he
didn’t
say to a relative stranger.
    She held his gaze over a forkful of beef midway to her mouth. ‘You’d better not be lying about marrying Kate. She deserves someone’, Joanna looked him up and down with a scowl, ‘who knows her worth. Kate is a remarkable woman, brilliant in fact.’
    ‘I’m well aware of that. There were serious reasons why we were apart for the last few months.’ He fixed his gaze on her. ‘I was miserable.’
    For the shortest instant, she saw the exhaustion in his eyes, then he smiled a dazzling smile that turned female heads at the adjacent tables as well because it was impossible to ignore Dominic Knight’s spectacular beauty. His physical presence was powerfully magnetic as well, as if he were on stage, caught in a shaft of light, an astonishing primitive energy stirring beneath his sleek, well-tailored façade.
    ‘I hope we have a deal,’ he said into the thick silence.
    After that heart-grabbing smile, Joanna wondered if any woman ever said no. But feeling guilty for her shameful response to his smile, her voice was overly brisk when she spoke. ‘I have a question.’
    ‘Ask anything,’ Dominic politely said, having seen similar female responses since he was fourteen. He ignored the breath-held expectation in the room; that too was common.
    ‘Did you send us any clients?’
    ‘Not directly, no.’
    ‘Indirectly?’
    His shoulder lifted in the smallest of shrugs. ‘I know a lot of people. I personally own a great number of companies. But you and Katherine did excellent work. I’m more than happy to continue recommending your firm.’
    Thanks to his cool composure, she’d regained her equilibrium. ‘I don’t know if that’s necessary,’ she said.
    ‘It can’t hurt.’ He smiled. ‘Unless you don’t like making money?’
    She was silent for a moment. ‘Why would you do that?’
    ‘Why not? You’re first rate.’
    ‘And you know that because …?’
    He made a sound somewhere close to a sigh. ‘Because I saw that I’d been paying way the hell too many taxes on my North Sea wind farm. I’m not averse to paying my share. I make enough. But those taxes