Crey lifts the bottle of wine from its rack and closes the door. “Oh, baby, you feeling neglected? Because I’ll eat that sweet pussy of yours for days.”

A shiver of awareness shoots through me. “Days aren’t really necessary. I’d settle for a really vigorous hour.”

Crey’s grin should qualify him as the sexiest man alive. Those sharp cheekbones, dark eyes, and his square jaw, every feature is beautifully accentuated by his smile.

“Damn. You are one sexy son of a bitch. You know that, right?”

If possible, his grin widens. “Well, if I didn’t, I do now.”

“I’m suddenly not very hungry.”

The grin morphs into a lazy smile. “Patience, baby. Patience. Besides, a man only gets to eat like this once in a while, and I’m not missing out on my shot. But I think dessert can wait until after.”

“Deal. Let’s eat. Fast.”

There are so many things we need to talk about, but I decide they can wait until morning. Tonight, I just want to revel in the good, and pretend none of the bad exists. It’ll all be waiting for us in the morning.

But tonight . . . tonight we only get once. I’m not going to waste it.

At noon the following day, I stand on a podium, the Karas International Inc. logo emblazoned on nearly every surface in the huge auditorium. The room is filled to capacity; it’s standing room only. There’s nothing like gossip to bring every interested body out in droves.

But today, they’re not going to get gossip. Today, they’re going to get the truth.

“Welcome to Karas International’s Annual Investor Day. As chairman of the board and chief executive officer, it’s my pleasure to welcome you. I’d like to open with a statement that will address what I’m sure is a matter many of you have come seeking answers about—the purchase of Homegrown Records by an independent entity owned by me personally, which prompted a lawsuit filed by a shareholder on behalf of Karas International. The suit alleges that as a company executive and member of its board, this purchase breaches my duty of loyalty both to the company and to you, its shareholders.”

A few whispers start in the audience, and I can tell it’s because no one expected me to confront this issue head-on. Which amuses me, because I’m Creighton fucking Karas. Head-on is what I do.

“I’d like to be the first to tell you that the allegations contained in that suit are complete and utter bullshit. The purchase of Homegrown was not in any way made to usurp an opportunity that would have been appropriate to our company’s current or contemplated business portfolio, nor would it have been beneficial to Karas International. For the record, Homegrown has already cost me over thirty million dollars of capital infusion just to keep the damn thing running.”

The whispers in the audience begin to grow in volume, which annoys me. “If you’ll hold your comments until the end, I’ll take your questions until you don’t have any more. But I’d appreciate your courtesy so I can finish my statement.”

A hush instantly falls over the room, and I continue.

“However, I will agree that the proper procedure to avoid any hint of impropriety and to forestall any grounds for the allegations supporting the suit would have been to have the independent members of the board of directors vote on the transaction. I’m sure you’re wondering why I didn’t go that route, and I only have one answer for you. Have you ever been so absolutely in love that you’ve stopped thinking about practicalities entirely?”

A titter rolls through the room, and I pause for a moment to let them absorb my comment before I continue.

“I’m a man in love with an amazing woman, and while that argument will not hold weight in a court of law, in a court of public opinion, I think it makes perfect sense. The purchase of Homegrown was meant to be a surprise belated wedding present for my new wife, so I acted quickly, and perhaps without thinking things through in my normal logical fashion, because I wanted to do it before my beautiful, intelligent bride realized what I was doing.”

I’m pretty sure every female in the crowd is now sighing. Glancing up from the podium, I see Holly standing in the back corner, and she’s lifting a hand to her face and dabbing at the underside of her eye.

I don’t try to hold the smile back. “So, there you go. That’s the explanation I have for you. Now I’ll take your questions.”

The flurry starts, but a booming voice cuts through the din. “You really think that ridiculous explanation is going to matter? Not likely, Creighton. I thought you were smarter than that.”

With that, my uncle Damon turns on his heel and leaves the room.

I spend over an hour answering investor questions before my portion of the presentation is over. Holly is waiting at the back of the auditorium, and I stride to where she stands and pull her into my arms.

“You know how to give one hell of a speech, Crey,” she says, speaking in muffled words into my chest.

“I meant every word of it.”

“Is Homegrown really my wedding present?”

I loosen my grip and step back a fraction so I can look down into her eyes. “Yes. It was always for you.”

Her brow furrows, concern shading her eyes. “Does that mean you expect me to run it?”

“If you want to; you can do whatever you want. The management team I’ve got in place now is starting to turn things around, but if you want to get involved with the business side of things, you’re more than welcome.”

I pause to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “I think that’d be sexy as fuck, if you want to know the truth . . . my wife, the CEO, running her own empire.”

I groan as my dick jerks against my zipper. Not the time or the place, buddy. A small smile spreads over Holly’s face, which doesn’t help matters.

“Crey.”

The sound of Cannon’s voice, however, deflates my hard-on. Holly called it when she referred to him as a cock-blocker. Releasing Holly with one arm, I turn.

“What do you need?”

“What are you going to do about Damon?”

“Besides take a hit out on him?”

Cannon’s eyes widen only slightly. “I know a guy.”

“Jesus. Fuck, Cannon. I’m joking.”

He shrugs. “Desperate times.”

“And that’s called conspiracy, and I don’t care to find out the New York prison system’s policy on conjugal visits.”