THE MITUS TOUCH: Book One of The Touch Series Read online

  Pushing off the bar, she centered her weight like a matador sizing up the bull. “I agreed to a one-time consult. You agreed to leave my office.”

  “I did leave.” His expression turned playful. Charming even.

  As she raised a brow, she crossed her arms. “What are you doing here?”

  As if time had stopped, his gaze traveled over her face, pausing briefly on her mouth. “Nailing down the important part. How long do you need?”

  Delicious streams of energy shot through her. One night. I need one night. “I’m not working for you, Colton.”

  A scorching intensity deepened his gaze. “Yes, you are, Brigit.”

  “You don’t give up, do you?”

  He leaned closer. “Never.”

  “Well, neither do I.”

  “Present your proposal, then make your decision.”

  She pulled out her phone. “I’ll let Seth know.”

  His firm grip on her shoulder sent adrenaline spiking through her. Heat seeped through her clothing, lighting her insides on fire. Desire and need rocketed through her. Trapped by him. And she liked it.

  Colton leaned closer. “I want the best and you’re it.” Riveted by his intensity, she trembled. His warm breath puffed against her bone-dry mouth and she slowly moistened her lower lip. “Now, why don’t you answer my question? How long will you need to prepare your presentation, Brigit?”

  It wasn’t his striking presence, or his controlling nature, or even his lava-flowing sex appeal. It was the stunning realization that what she’d needed from him all those years ago was available now.

  Five and a half years ago, she’d asked for a meeting. He denied her. Robert Sethfield believed in her and placed her in the path of this man. Ahead of schedule and for a different reason, but the opportunity was still there. And all she had to say was yes.

  She relaxed her stance. By giving Colton Mitus what he needed, she could get what she wanted. “You offered me two weeks. I’ll be ready in one.”

  His beautiful smile could have lit up the night sky. “There now, that wasn’t so difficult, was it?” He removed his hand from her shoulder and dropped the other from the bar. A sense of loss, not relief, chilled her bones. His arm separating her from Matthew made her feel safe and his hand gripping her body made her feel alive. Damn this man.

  Colton pivoted his massive frame toward Matthew. “She’s all yours, buddy, but neither she nor Kathryn have any interest in you.” A sardonic grin spread over his face. Without waiting for a response, he walked away.

  Feeling lightheaded, Brigit took a long pull of wine. She needed a moment, so she grabbed their bottle, situated Kat at the team table so Matthew couldn’t corner her, and bolted for the restroom.

  Once there, she tried calming breaths to quiet her palpitating heart. In a twenty-four-hour period Colton Mitus had become her shadow. He needed her.

  Her expertise. Her guidance. Her counsel. How many times had she wished for this? She let out a nervous chortle and glanced in the mirror, expecting to see frazzled, but a determined woman stared back. Just because he asked you to present a proposal doesn’t mean jack. Put your big-girl panties on. This is Colton Mitus we’re talking about.

  Something was brewing at Francesco and this was her golden opportunity to find out what. She smoothed pink gloss across her lips, finger-combed her hair and dreamed of finishing her drink in peace.

  Squeezing through the happy hour crowd, she spotted Colton nestled at a table with Dez, a woman with long, raven hair, and a Mr. Muscles type. Colton’s eyes were pinned on hers. His intensity seared her from across the room.

  Look away. It’s like staring into the sun.

  Hypnotized by his piercing gaze, she couldn’t. His eyes turned stormy, drawing her in with tornado-like force. Everything around her faded away, leaving only her nemesis. A tiny moan erupted from her throat.

  Keep walking! But her feet wouldn’t budge.

  With unwavering attention, he placed the glass to his lower lip, tipping the dark lager into his mouth, his movements so sublime it was like watching a living work of art. The tingling between her legs begged for his caress and she cursed herself for needing him in that way.

  He put down the glass, then tossed her a subtle nod which hit her like a bolt of lightning. She imagined his lips molded against hers, his arms enveloping her, his weight on her, his hardness buried deep inside her. She couldn’t stop the feelings rushing toward her, over her, through her. As her breasts rose and fell against the satin bra, her nipples pebbled. Her skin flushed from the wildfire burning through her sexually amped body.

  Enough!

  Breaking their fiery connection, she walked back to the table in a post-Mitus stupor and sank onto the corner of Kat’s chair, oblivious to the robust chatter amongst teammates. Kat scooted over, giving Brigit more room.

  “Excuse me, Brigit.” The woman from Colton’s table knelt next to her. Bangs framed her pretty face, her long jet hair pulled into a tight ponytail. “I’m Taylor Hathaway and I work at Mitus Conglomerate.”

  “That didn’t take long.”

  “Per Colton’s instruction, let’s schedule your presentation. How’s next Friday? And he insists you stay for dinner.”

  “Friday works, but I’m declining dinner.”

  “Uh-huh. Let’s discuss clothing. Business attire, obviously, for your interview. Dinner will be formal. Colton prefers sophisticated sexy, not slutty. He’s hosting a party so the staff can get to know you and vice versa. It’s part of his thorough interviewing process. Since it’ll end in the wee hours, you’ll stay the night and be driven home Saturday, following breakfast, which is business casual. I’ll text you my number.”

  Brigit caught three little words of Taylor’s clothing rant. Stay. The. Night. Her eyebrows shot up. “Rewind. Did you invite me for a sleepover? You do know I rejected your dinner invitation.”

  “Colton expects cohesiveness since we all live together.” Taylor smiled. “Standard interview protocol. It’s no big deal.”

  No big deal? “I’ll drive myself, stay for the interview and leave immediately following.”

  “Vonn Savage from Colton’s security team will pick you up.”

  Brigit blew out a frustrated sigh. “Taylor, I will not—”

  “Awesome! See you next Friday, Brigit.”

  Taylor scampered back to her seat and whispered to Colton, who lowered his head to listen. His hair shadowed his eyes, giving him a dark, edgy look. Brigit’s fingertips tingled, hungry to brush it away. When Taylor finished, he lifted his head and stared at her, his intensity boring into her from across the room.

  Seth had thrown her into his path. And Colton wasn’t backing down. Even his minion had flawlessly executed his orders. The tiniest smile caressed her lips. She had one week to prepare for the most important presentation of her life and she couldn’t wait to get started. He wasn’t the only one determined to win.

  6

  Mysterious Past

  The waitress popped over for the umpteenth time, severing Colton’s fiery connection with Brigit. Damn.

  “Need anything else?” She batted her eyelashes and smiled.

  “Just the check.” Colton turned back to his team. “Mission accomplished. Let’s go, before Brigit changes her mind.”

  “That’s my cue.” As Chad stood he shoved against the table, sending glasses wobbling. “Cybersecurity, bodyguard, and occasional driver. I do it all.”

  Taylor grabbed an empty beer bottle before it crashed onto the floor. “And with such humility, I might add.”

  “Humility? What’s that?” Chad flashed a wide grin before plowing through the crowd, clearing a path for Taylor as they headed toward the door.

  Colton settled up with the googly-eyed waitress, whose outstanding attentiveness and scribbled phone number went ignored. When an attractive woman made herself available, he’d been known to graciously accept. But Brigit’s no-nonsense attitude and chilly demeanor had monopolized his thoughts and actio
ns for the past twenty-four hours, leaving no room for anyone else.

  “What do you think?” he asked Dez.

  “I like her. She won’t back down if she disagrees, so expect to butt heads. Why not interview several?”

  “I trust Seth and I have got to get someone on board. Francesco needs to start production. Without my loan, the project stalls.”

  “You’ll know how to proceed after her presentation.”

  As Colton stashed the receipt in his wallet, his phone buzzed with a text from Taylor. “They’re pulling out of the garage,” Colton said and stood. “I’ll say goodbye to Brigit.”

  Dez headed for the door while Colton set off toward her table. The closer he got, the more heat flamed his chest. After a whisper from Kathryn, Brigit shot him the same disdainful look she’d given him in Seth’s office. He was adept at reading women, but not this one. In as much as he didn’t want to hire her because he found her so fucking irresistible, he needed the best. Settling for second was never an option.

  Pinning her with his gaze, he extended his hand. She rose and stared into his eyes. So pretty, even with the attitude. Instead of shaking his hand, she cocked a brow. Brigit Farnay seemed to enjoy being difficult. Women heaped positive feedback on him—grins, giggles, fluttering eyelashes, pink cheeks—but not this one. You’re one hot handful.

  Just as he started lowering his hand, she slid hers in. The zing from their connection landed smack in his balls and he squeezed her hand tighter. Though she relaxed her glare, she tugged her hand away, leaving his stone cold. Then a hint of a smile played around one side of her sexy mouth. She doesn’t detest me as much as she wants me to believe.

  Time to go. A seemingly harmless conversation could easily undo everything he’d just accomplished. After tossing her a nod, he made his way through the noisy bar. With his hand on the door, he glanced back. Had to see her one more time.

  She hadn’t moved. Even across the crowded room, he would have singled her out. With a sly smile, she raised her hand and shot him the middle finger.

  She’s toying with me. Flashing a smile, he exited Sullivan’s and laughed out loud as he slipped into the backseat of his silver Bentley.

  Chad eased the vehicle forward in the bumper-to-bumper Friday night traffic. “I could walk faster than this.”

  “I love Georgetown.” Taylor stared out the passenger window. “Wall-to-wall people.”

  Colton shifted his gaze to the packed sidewalk. Brigit had called him out at her office. Surprising since he rarely encountered pushback. When he did, he’d approach the challenge differently, even more determined to win. His need for control harked back to childhood, where he’d had none. Not only terrified of his abusive father, he was often targeted by school bullies. Whenever possible, his twin brother had protected him. After Cain’s death, a timid and desperate Colton had adopted his brother’s favorite saying. You’re not the boss of me. Over the decades, those words had shaped and guided him.

  Clenching his teeth, Colton lifted his phone from the inside breast pocket of his suit. He hated thinking about his childhood. “Chad, did you get the results of Brigit’s background check?” He loosened his tie and unfastened the top button of his dress shirt.

  “I emailed it to you. There’s nothing.” Chad turned down a side street.

  “What do you mean, nothing?”

  “She has no known relatives and, other than college transcripts, I can’t find anything prior to her five years at Porter, Gabriel and Sethfield.” Chad looped back around onto M Street, toward Key Bridge. “It’s like she didn’t exist. No family, no childhood. Nothing.”

  Taylor turned around, eyeing Colton and Dez in the backseat. “Oooh, a mystery lady.”

  Colton huffed. “Everyone has a past.”

  “Not this woman,” said Chad.

  “What did you find?” Colton asked.

  “She’s won numerous company awards and accolades. The clients I spoke with love her and she’s got a shitload of them. Free time is spent volunteering at a D.C. women’s shelter. And she’s helping fund a college savings plan for a high school senior.”

  Thumbing through email, Colton opened the attachment. “I’ve got it. The student is a Monica Hall.”

  “Shaniqua Hall is Porter, Gabriel and Sethfield’s receptionist,” said Dez. “Her daughter, perhaps.”

  He scanned the document for prior arrests, lawsuits, and education. “Brigit graduated summa cum laude from Wharton. That’s impressive.”

  “She’s well qualified,” Dez said.

  “No pets, but she feeds treats to the neighbor’s cat before work.” Chad headed over Key Bridge into Virginia. “I did my own investigating.”

  “Do I want to know how you found that out?” Colton asked.

  “Speaking as your attorney, no, you don’t,” Dez said.

  “Tell me you’re not hacking,” Colton said.

  “You know I’m thorough.” Chad shot him a grin in the rearview mirror. “I staked out her place last night.”

  “Two years ago she had a brief relationship with a married man?” asked Colton.

  “Scumbag lied,” Chad said. “She dumped him when she found out. She rarely dates, lives alone in Georgetown and works out at a gym near her office. And I told you about Friday happy hours at Sullivan’s.”

  “She has Melvin Parsons on retainer,” said Colton. “What’s his practice?”

  “Corporate acquisition,” Dez said. “And he’s damn good. One of the best.”

  Colton tapped his finger on his leg. “Hmm. That’s notable. Did you find anything?”

  “No,” said Chad. “She’s clean.”

  “There’s a reason she’s retained an attorney,” Colton said. “Keep digging.”

  “Oh, sure, now you want me to.” Chad picked up speed on the G.W. Parkway.

  “How old is she?” Taylor asked.

  Colton scanned the report. “Twenty-eight.”

  “Maybe she married, divorced and changed her name back,” Taylor said.

  “That would appear on the report,” Chad said. “There’s literally nothing.”

  Taylor glanced at Colton over her shoulder. “Past or no past, I like her.”

  Colton scrolled to his calendar. “Taylor, don’t we have some kink lined up for next Friday night?”

  “Yes.”

  “Push it back a week,” Colton said.

  “Let’s cancel it,” Taylor said.

  In all the years Taylor had worked for him, she’d never once voiced her opinion or disagreed. Her usual fawnlike nervousness endeared her to him. “Not a fan?”

  “Nope.”

  “What would you recommend, then?” Colton closed the attachment.

  Taylor spun around. “Host a normal party, Colton. Movie night, casino night.”

  “What’s the fun in that?” Colton smiled. “Please move the event to the following Friday.”

  “Why the kink?” Taylor asked.

  “Because it wouldn’t be Colton if he wasn’t on all thrusters every moment of every day,” Dez said.

  Chad laughed. “Good one!”

  “Time to spice up Ms. Farnay’s quiet, predictable life, Mitus style,” said Colton. “Taylor, I’m impressed you spoke your mind. A first.” His phone rang. “Mitus.”

  “Sethfield, here. Brigit texted me. I understand she’s interviewing next Friday. I’ll email you her earnings details. Suggest a trial period. It’s less intimidating and gives her a little wiggle room.”

  He imagined himself balls deep in her while she writhed naked beneath him. “Will do.”

  “I did my part,” Seth said. “From here on out, she’s all yours. But you’ve been warned. She’s as strong-willed as she is smart. Handle at your own risk.”

  Chuckling, Colton hung up. His phone rang again. “Mitus.”

  “Colton, Wilson Montgomery, MobiCom’s V.P. of Mergers and Acquisitions. I hope it’s not too late.”

  Hair on the back of his neck prickled. Why would someone from F
rancesco’s biggest rival contact me? “I’m always working.”

  “MobiCom execs are ready to discuss a merger.”

  Colton strummed his fingers on his leg. “Mitus Conglomerate isn’t a telecom company. I’m a corporate investor.”

  “Let me clarify. MobiCom is interested in merging with the Francesco Company.”

  “Why propose this to me?” And why the fuck now?

  “You hold a seat on Francesco’s board and leadership doesn’t take a crap without consulting you first.”

  Colton’s stomach roiled. “I’m not—”

  “Let’s face it,” Montgomery interrupted. “That stock has been in a steady decline. Merging would reenergize the organization. I’ll email over the proposal.”

  Assuming prick. “Francesco board members and shareholders aren’t interested in your so-called merger.”

  “They might be when they learn MobiCom is offering eight percent over market for their shares.”

  Dammit. “Save your proposal. My wealth manager doesn’t have time to review it. We’re done.” Colton hung up and clenched his fist. Maybe Marjorie was right. He whipped his gaze to Dez. “The vultures are circling. MobiCom wants Francesco.”

  “You’d never support a merger and don’t have a wealth manager,” Dez replied.

  “Wilson Montgomery is wasting his damn time pandering to me.” Colton’s eyes narrowed in the darkened car. “And I sure as hell do have a wealth manager. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

  7

  Colton’s Late Night Request

  Brigit placed the candlelit cupcake bouquet on her dining room table in front of Monica Hall, Shaniqua’s daughter. Though Monica’s eyes were closed, she had the sweetest smile plastered across her face. This month’s Saturday night dinner party was a celebration of Monica’s eighteenth birthday.

  After moving to D.C., Brigit had started volunteering at a women’s homeless shelter. Her parents had taught her the value of charity and she hoped doing something familiar would ease her grief and heartache. Over time, she became friends with Shaniqua Hall and her then twelve-year-old daughter, Monica. Now they were family.