When Kaya had enquired about the hunk in her sister’s family pictures, Libby—Steven’s fiancée, and a close friend of the family—had given her a short version of his accomplishments.
Bryce Fontaine had started out in real estate—buying up a substantial amount of land in Granite Falls and the neighboring towns, then quickly expanded to the rest of the business world. He devoured companies from glass blowing to computer software programing, and as he’d just claimed, he also owned the estate on which her sister lived.
Seemed like the man owned the entire town, she thought, recalling driving by the Youth Performing Arts Center, Granite Falls Towers, and Country Club, to name a few buildings and skyscrapers that bore his name. His signature was everywhere in Granite Falls. He’d even built an airport with a runway long enough to accommodate his private jets and those of his friends, Libby had told her.
As if sensing her scrutiny, he turned his head and pinned her with a calculating stare. Breathless seconds ticked by before he stepped around Steven and headed in her direction. A compelling energy seemed to coil within him at each step he took.
Forcing her legs to support her, Kaya pushed off the desk as he came to a stop and towered over her. His gaze was bold and penetrating. His eyes, enigmatic and unfathomable were like midnight’s deepest black. As she gazed up at him, Kaya had the dizzying sensation of falling into blackness. She’d never felt so susceptible to a man in all her life. He could reach out and take a hold of her, do anything he wanted to her this very moment, and there was not a damn thing she’d be able to do about it. Vitality zinged through her bloodstream even as her body began to shiver from an unfamiliar awareness. How could she feel this vivacious and weak at the same time? Kaya wondered, as she once again leaned on the desk for support.
If he could cause her to lose control of her motor skills by just looking at her, then God help her.
“Bryce,” Steven said, coming to stand next to the titan, “this is Lauren’s sister, Kaya Brehna. Kaya, Bryce Fontaine.”
Bryce shook the hand the petite woman with a thick curtain of dark-brown curls tumbling off her small shoulders offered him. Such soft honey-hue skin, he thought as he gazed into her beautiful brown eyes—eyes like little Alyssa’s. Where Alyssa’s were innocent and mischievous, Kaya’s were mesmerizing, large and exotic, with tones of soft amber that seemed to speak to him from within. He could easily lose his way in those spellbinding eyes, he thought.
“It’s a pleasure, Miss Brehna,” he said, releasing her and ordering his brain to buffer the bolt of electricity charging through him. It had been ages since the touch of a woman caused his heart to pound out an erratic rhythm. He didn’t know what to make of it.
“It’s nice meeting you, too, Mr. Fontaine,” she said in a soft unsteady voice.
Bryce smiled as her dark, long lashes came down to shield her eyes from his.
Steven cleared his throat, reminding Bryce that there was someone else in the room.
“I’ll leave you two alone to get acquainted while I make a phone call,” Steven said, walking into an adjoining room and closing the door.
“Take your time,” Bryce said, his gaze following Kaya’s movements as she laced and unlaced her fingers in front of her. He wondered if she was this nervous in the company of all men, or was it just him. He let his ego believe it was just him. He was so used to assertive women who let him know up front exactly what they wanted from him. It was a welcome change to encounter one who was still shy, demure, who made a man feel like a man. Protective. Male—pumped full of adrenaline in anticipation of the chase, he thought as his eyes took in the radiance of her heart-shaped face and her full, pouty, sexy lips. How he would so love to test their subtlety, feel them quiver, then open to accept him.