His to Command #2: The Capture by Opal Carew Page A

and talk?”
    He replaced the poker on the hanging stand and turned toward her. “I could call him to come back for you now, if that’s what you want.”
    “Can’t you drive me back?”
    “I had a driver, too, Kate. I used the travel time to work.”
    “That’s fine. Then I’ll call a taxi.”
    He gazed at her with disturbing intensity. “Are you really so afraid of just sitting down and talking to me? What do you think I’m going to do?”
    That was the problem. She really didn’t know.
    She drew in a deep breath. But if he intended to overpower her, he could have done it by now, and he could certainly stop her from calling a cab if he wanted to.
    She was overreacting. After all, she’d walked away from him two years ago. Sure, he was probably angry about that, but they were no longer in a relationship, so his deep need to totally subjugate his woman didn’t really apply to her anymore.
    Unless he just wanted to see her powerless and squirming, to make her pay for escaping his control.
    He strolled toward her. “You came all the way out here. Won’t you even consider my offer to invest in your company?”
    She felt confused and vulnerable. Over the past few months, she had exhausted every other avenue she could think of to get the money to buy out her partner, and the deadline was the end of this month. When she’d gotten that call from Mr. Elliott, the president of Facts and Figures Inc., saying they wanted to invest in her company, she had been thrilled, but now…She couldn’t even imagine being in a partnership with Matt Pearce.
    Her fists clenched at her sides. Damn, this was an impossible situation.
    And getting worse the closer he got to her. Because despite everything that had happened between them, her heart still fluttered whenever she was near him.
    And he was only a few steps away, and getting closer.
    “I could use a drink,” she said to stop him from drawing any nearer.
    His eyebrows arched. “All right.”
    She suppressed a sigh of relief as he moved away, heading toward the built-in bar. He returned a moment later with a tall-stemmed glass of red wine for her and what smelled like rye whiskey for himself.
    She avoided touching him when she took the glass, knowing she couldn’t withstand physical contact and retain her composure.
    She sipped her wine, watching him over the glass. “Why do you want to invest in my company?”
    Her fingers tightened around the glass. He had wanted to control her, but he had failed. Did he now seek to reestablish that control by taking hold of her company?
    Damn, she was small time compared to the big corporation he owned. Would he build some clause in the contract that would allow him to take controlling interest? Would he find a way to steal her company from her? This could be his revenge for her denying him what he’d wanted from her.
    He swirled the amber liquor around the glass, his gaze intent on the rippling motion. “If it helps, I have no intention of getting involved in the day-to-day operation of a small consulting firm. You’ll still retain control.”
    He had to be kidding. She never retained control when Matt was involved.
    Damn it, even if he didn’t have controlling interest, all he had to do was threaten to pull out his money and she’d be stuck. And he would know everything about her business because he’d have access to all her files. He’d be her partner for heaven’s sake.
    He sipped his drink, his dark eyes watching her over the rim of his glass.
    Her breath locked in her lungs. Oh, God, she felt so trapped.
    He simply stared, his face an emotionless mask.
    But would he really steal away her company? The Matt she’d thought she’d known would never have done a thing like that. That Matt had been a kind, decent, caring man. A man who had once loved her. But then she had learned what he really was.
    A man as powerful as Matt Pearce will never let you just walk away. So I suggest you run. Far. And fast.
    That’s what his friend