Thief of Mine (19 page)

An hour later, Stella sat by her email, awaiting her thief.
Another thirty minutes without response and she was getting a little pissed.
Ten minutes later Stella stood up.

“Fine…whatever… If he doesn’t care then neither do I.”

But across town, Kit Kincaid cared greatly. He had been
surprised and delighted by the email. Stella loved him. He sat and read it over
and over. His first instinct had been to rush over and pull Stella into his
arms and never let her go. But that was too obvious. He wanted something
different. He wanted time to make the woman realize he was the only man for
her.

Chapter Fourteen

Stella knew she looked as good and as businesslike as she
possibly could. Her hair was swept up in a professional looking french plait,
her skirt was conservative black, skimming her knees and she had even pulled on
sheer pull up stockings to complete her ensemble. She looked like someone she
would employ. She gave one last pat to flatten the collar of her white silk
blouse. The mirror in the lift told her she looked professional so why didn’t
she feel it?

“Bloody Kit Kincaid…” Stella muttered to herself.

“Ma’am?” The uniformed lift attendant looked at her
politely.

“Nothing, just chatting to myself,” Stella responded to the
man whose job it was to escort guests to the penthouse. She looked up at the
numbers above the door as the lift sped to the penthouse. Who the hell called a
job interview in the penthouse of such an exclusive and expensive hotel? The
lift itself was grandeur personified, with its wood paneling, plush carpet and
a cut crystal chandelier. No wonder they had to have a lift attendant. Who but
the very rich would put a chandelier in a lift? They probably had to stop
people from nicking the elegant crystals that suspended from it. What was the
expression? “The rich are different”? They sure were. The lift was more
luxurious than her own home. Though Stella was not ashamed of her humble abode,
she had to admit there was something to be said about splendor and luxury. A
girl could get used to it quite easily.

Stella breathed slowly in and out to calm her nerves. She
wasn’t worried about the interview. The only thing Stella could think about was
Kit and why he had not responded to her email, even if only to tell her to piss
off. That she could have accepted. Well, sort of. At least it would have been a
response. It was the silence that killed her. Two days had passed without a
word from Kit. He was obviously out thieving somewhere and too busy to contact
the woman he supposedly loved. The one overwhelming emotion that Stella felt
was foolishness. Simone was right. You made a fool of yourself over love. She
had told Kit she loved him and he had not responded. Not the most flattering
thing to have happen. And yes, email was probably not the best way to confess
her love, but she was new to all this. Though, because he did not respond, at
least she didn’t have the pain of looking in his eyes and realizing he didn’t
love her.

“Oh yeah, that makes it all so much better, Stella.” She
looked at the attendant who looked politely back at her. “I talk to myself all
the time. I’m harmless.” The lift attendant just smiled politely and was too
well mannered to call her crazy. She had to focus on the job interview and not on
Kit.

The woman who had called her sounded professional and
courteous. She had asked Stella to come and discuss a possible position that
had just come up in their company. Well of course she could, Stella had told
the woman, wondering what the job was. She had erratically applied for so many
on an local online employment website that she no longer had any recollection
of what any of the company names were or what the jobs were about. Anyway, what
did it matter? They were just jobs, a means to make money and pay bills.

When the lift stopped Stella stepped out into a plush foyer.

“Wow.” The lift had been an eye opener but the foyer was
something else. No generic landscapes or walls scraped by the previous guest’s
luggage here. Gold patterned walls, more crystal and a carpet you could sleep
on. She had stayed in motels before but this place was beyond your simple bed
and breakfast. Stella suddenly felt in adequate in her Target-bought clothes.
But she was not one to turn tail and run. She knew she was the equal to anyone
on the planet, Target clothes or not, so she followed the attendant up to the
door of the penthouse suite. It was time to gird her loins and get that job.

The most impossibly beautiful woman opened the door of the
penthouse suite. She was elegant and stylish with her sleek black hair, finely
chiseled cheekbones and pouty, model mouth. You just knew she had never seen
the inside of a chain store. Stella’s heart sank. Oh yeah, she knew she was the
equal to most but this woman was beyond comparison. Stella almost tuned tail
and went back to the lift. But she accepted the outstretched hand and clasped
it in her own, noting the woman didn’t have a single scar or imperfection on
her.

“Please come in Stella,” the woman invited her.

Whoa! So this was what a penthouse looked like. Stella knew
she was probably staring like some yokel but this would probably be the only
time she would ever be in one.

“Nice place,” Stella murmured casually as she took in lush,
elegant surroundings.

The woman smiled in amusement. She liked Stella Rowallan on
sight. She would do nicely.

“I’ll just get Kit.”

“Kit!” Stella spat out in amazement. “Kit Kincaid?”

“That’s right.” She swept off to get the man in question.

Oh frigging hell. Now she got it. Kit was married. And this
gorgeous creature was his wife. Had she read Stella’s email instead? How
embarrassing. Instead of a good old-fashioned eye-scratching-out catfight, as
Stella would have done, was this woman now letting her know that there was no
way she could be a part of Kit’s life as there was no way she could compete
with her? If so, Stella would have preferred a politely worded email asking
Stella to back off from this woman’s husband rather than this. This was
humiliating. Stella turned on her heel and headed for the door.

“Princess…”

Oh damn, that voice. Stella would know it anywhere. It was
time to be cool and calm and professional and then she would run like hell.
There was no way she was going to let on how much his being married affected
her.

“Kit, how are you?” Stella was impressed by the tone of her
voice as she turned around and looked at him. Black trousers, white shirt and a
loosened necktie adorned a lean body she knew and craved. The man was
professional, sexy and not hers.

Kit was amused at her cool tone. He could see in her eyes
that she was upset. He wondered why. Sure, he had not answered her email so she
was entitled to be annoyed but something more was upsetting her.

“I’m fine and you?” Kit adopted the same polite tone.

“Fine, thanks,” Stella looked around the room and tried to
act casually despite the rage that was burning inside her. “You could have told
me you were married.” She did not add, “Then I wouldn’t have sent that damned
email and made a fool of myself.”

It was then Kit understood the emotional turmoil in her
eyes.

“Would it have made a difference?” He approached her slowly,
not surprised that she was holding her ground in a pretence of not caring.

Stella didn’t want this man anywhere near her. She had done too
many dumb things already with him. She did not want to add to the list.

“Ah, yeah. I don’t take other women’s men.” That was just trashy.
And she certainly wouldn’t ever allow herself to be second best to anyone. She
was surprised that Kit would think and act otherwise.

“That’s good to know, princess.” Kit started removing his
tie.

Stella watched as he carelessly flung the tie to the ground.

“So what is this all about? Is this some lesson you wanted
me to learn?” Whatever it was, Stella didn’t want to be a part of. She did not
believe in open marriages.

“No,” Kit responded as he started unbuttoning his shirt. He
saw Stella gulp nervously in response.

“What it is then?” And why was he taking off his clothes?
And why wasn’t she storming out all angry and affronted as any sane woman
would? Maybe because she was nowhere near sane and she was riveted to the spot
by his sexy, slow striptease.

“I want to offer you a job.” Kit shrugged out of his shirt.
He could see the desire in her eyes.

Stella was angry as hell. How dare he put her in this
position! He was offering her a job out of pity and torturing her at the same
time. Kit knew she wanted him but there was no way she could have him if he was
married. She watched as his hands went down to his belt buckle. Stella felt the
rush of moisture between her legs as she remembered just what those trousers
covered up.

“Why are you taking your trousers off? Do you do this was
all potential employees?”

“No, only you have that effect on me, princess.” Kit dropped
his trousers to the ground and kicked them free. He wore no underwear to
restrain the eager cock that now faced her. “So you need a job?”

Stella stared at his cock, then backed up at him. Just
remembering how it felt inside her made her whole body tighten with anticipation.
How was she supposed to conduct herself professionally when she had a gorgeous,
naked man primed for action before her?

“This is not going to work, Kit.” If Stella could control
herself, then so could he.

Kit stood barely inches from her. He could almost feel the
contained rage inside her.

“Why not?”

“I don’t want a pity job or a pity fuck.”

Kit threw his head back and laughed out loud. Trust Stella
to get it all so wrong. She complicated the easiest things by jumping to
conclusions.

“I’m so glad you think this is funny.” Stella had had
enough. She had her pride. She could only take so much. “I’m leaving.” She
headed for the door.

“That’s a shame, as I was planning on making love to you
until you couldn’t stand.” Kit watched as Stella stiffened and turned to face
him.

Stella marched up to the naked Kit and poked her finger into
his chest in anger.

“What about your wife? You know the beautiful creature I
just met? Do you give a stuff about her?”

“What about Gabrielle?” Kit caught her hand against his
chest as she poked him again

“You’re married.” Stella slapped him with her free hand. “Having
sex with other people thing is wrong.”

“I’m glad you believe that.” Kit pulled her close to his
body.

Stella felt his erection hard and insistent against the fabric
of her skirt.

“Don’t do this to me.”

The pleading look in her eyes was proof positive that the
woman he had fallen for loved him back. He slid his hands down her back and
cupped her butt, pulling her to her.

“Why?” Stella’s squirming was testing Kit’s self control. He
wanted her but only when she was good and ready and begging him to take her.

“Because I’m not sleeping with a married man.”

“Why do you think I’m married?” Kit’s lips slid down to the
soft skin near her ear and nuzzled her gently.

Oh God, she couldn’t concentrate when he did that. She found
it hard not to wrap her arms around him and give in to sensation.

“Well, she’s stunning and she was with you.” And Stella was as
jealous as hell but not about to admit it.

“And you were jealous and jumped to conclusions.” Kit looked
into her eyes. “She is married but not to me. And you are way more beautiful
than her.”

Stella looked at Kit in amazement.

“What…I am? But…”

“Don’t complicate things princess. It’s simple. Gabrielle is
leaving my employ and I need a personal assistant.”

“You want me as a PA?” Disappointment flooded her. Was that
all she was to Kit? An available, responsive body?

“You can have any job you want or no job at all, princess,
as long as you are a permanent fixture in my life.” Kit watched her eyes widen
with realization and hope. I love you, Stella Rowallan, and I plan on marrying
you as soon as possible.”

“Marriage?” Stella hadn’t thought about that. She felt a
strange surge of warmth suffuse her. Kit wanted to marry her. She looked at him
suspiciously. There had to be more to it that this. “Why didn’t you respond to
the email?”

“Because I wanted you to think about me and sweat on my
response.” Kit slapped her ass lightly. “I also wanted to have time to devote
all my attention to you. We have all the time in the word and I need you naked.”
Kit pulled up her skirt and pushed down her panties, searching for the slick
wetness he knew he would find between her legs.

Stella opened her legs wider as Kit’s fingers found her clit
and started to gently stroke it. She looked into his eyes.

“I’m scared.”

‘I know,” Kit responded softly.

Stella took at deep breath.

“I love you.”

“Is this because I have my hand in your panties and you don’t
want me to stop touching you?” Kit grinned at her.

If he stopped she would kill him.

“It’s that and that fact that I know I want you for always
and that there can never be anyone else for me but you.”

“I knew that,” Kit murmured in satisfaction as he removed
his hand and started pulling Stella’s clothes off. It seemed like ages since he
felt her skin against his.

Stella allowed Kit free access to her body as he started
quickly stripping her.

“What if…”

“What if the sky falls, the oceans rise and the cost of
bananas sky rockets again?” Kit had stripped everything from Stella but her
thigh-high pull-up stockings. They were too sexy to remove. “Whatever happens,
princess, we’ll cope,”

“Do you ever worry about anything?”

Kit picked Stella up in his arms and carried her to the
bedroom.

“Only getting you naked and being inside you.” He kissed her
hard.