Seducing The Boss (Pulse #2) - Mari Carr Page 0,55

would have called himself the happiest man alive, and he would have believed it.

Then he’d spent one weekend with Sara, a woman he’d known his entire life, and now he wouldn’t go back to that miserable existence for all the money in the world.

He loved her. He was in love with her. And there was no way in hell he’d hurt her.

It was time to stop making excuses, time to open himself up to something good.

He just hoped to God that he hadn’t already screwed thing up beyond repair, because he wanted Sara back.

Forever.

Chapter Eleven

Kellan stood at the entry to the Garden Terrace ballroom of the Jericho Inn, taking a moment to soak in the surroundings. Sara couldn’t have found a more perfect setting for this evening. Two sides of the large room were floor to ceiling windows, while a series of French doors lined the far wall and led to the lush gardens beyond. Tall vases filled with white roses and lillies stood as centerpieces at each elegantly set table, while a large section of the glimmering hardwood floor had been left empty, inviting guests to dance.

The goal of tonight’s fundraiser was to raise money for the Fairmont Free Medical Clinic and it became instantly obvious how much time and effort Sara had put into making the event an overwhelming success. The place was packed, filled with some of the wealthiest and most influential people in Southampton.

Sara volunteered at the clinic and had served on the committee to plan this event. Keeping the clinic open and running, providing health care to those who couldn’t afford it, was a project very close to her heart. The woman was tireless when it came to giving to those less fortunate. And he loved her for it.

Loved her.

Once he’d let those words begin to sink in, they’d grown stronger. More powerful.

His stomach was twisted in knots, but he was determined to make things right tonight. He wasn’t going to spend one more night without her in his bed, his home, and his life.

Stepping into the room, he spotted Sara on the dance floor with Gabriel. She was smiling at the man, but something about her expression didn’t seem genuine. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but Kellan could swear she didn’t look happy.

He surveyed the room. It was crowded. Josh and his latest girlfriend Raquel were there. Josh caught his eye and waved. Kellan returned the gesture, but made no move to join them. His gaze returned to Sara. The slow song had ended, and she was approaching a podium that had been set up near the French doors.

As she stepped up to the microphone, his chest tightened. She was so stunningly beautiful she took his breath away. Her hair was pinned in a fancy updo with thick tendrils hanging loose to curl along her slender neck. He imagined wrapping his fingers around the rich red mass and tightening his grip until her eyes drifted shut and she moaned hungrily.

He loved the way she responded to him in the bedroom, so openly, without pretense or restraint. They hadn’t even begun to scratch the surface of all the things he wanted to do to her. She had so much more to experience, and he wanted to be the one to teach her.

But more than that, he wanted her company, to revel in her mere presence. He wanted to stay in on the weekend, pop popcorn and watch movies with her. He wanted to sleep in on Sundays and fight over whose turn it was to make the coffee. He wanted to lie out by the pool and watch her pale, delicate skin turn pink, then kiss the soreness away on that place on the back of her neck that made her giggle then go soft in his arms.

Sara’s gown tonight was sexy in an elegant, understated way. It was made from a shimmery silver material that showcased the deep auburn tones in her hair. The deep V of the neckline dipped just low enough to give every man in the room a glimpse of her curves without being overtly revealing, and the floor-length skirt hugged her hips before flaring out slightly. The dress was made for her, accentuating every gorgeous inch of her body.

Kellan was suddenly sorry he’d thought about all the other male eyes on her right now. The wave of jealousy that coursed through him ran hot, and it took considerable restraint not to storm over to her and drag her out of