"You'll figure it out." Warner teased.

"Why are you afraid?"

He shrugged. "If I put myself out there, my life opens like a book."

"So?"

"People will start calling me for interviews, a.s.suming they have access."

"Your company will never grow if you don't," she affirmed.

"Truman Enterprises is the third largest resort chain in the world." What more could a guy want?

"Why not number two? Or number one?" she asked, eyebrows rising.

She made a good point. Truman Enterprises had come close to slipping to number four in the last few months. "I'll agree to speak today if you come to Asia with me." Hope filled him.

"I can't. Today is Monday. I have presentations in New York for my client Neve Adele and I'm hosting my charity ball. I have to go home and prepare."

"The reality TV star?"

She gave a nod. "We're pitching her lifestyle line. It'll take a lot of my time." Regret washed over her all-too-flawless complexion.

"I'm leaving for Asia after I wrap up here. I'll be gone for the month."

"So, let's get together in the fall?" Her eyes narrowed. "Or we could take another stab at New Year's."

No way. I'm not going to let you go. "Come with me to j.a.pan."

"Warner...I have a business too. I have over fifty employees who I'm responsible for. I love my job. My company is who I am. I can't just neglect it."

"I'm sorry I asked. It's unfair." He found a perverse pleasure in her independence. In the past, his girlfriends had jumped at the chance to drop everything and follow him around the world. Not Taddy. He'd finally met his match. "Why don't I come see you in New York on my way East after Cannes?"

"You mean it?" Her voice rose in surprise.

"After today's conference, I'll ride in the limo with you to the airport. Leave your rental here. I'll see to its return. We'll work on coordinating our schedules then." He wanted more alone time with her, no distractions or complications. They needed to talk.

"A ride with you would make me very happy." She kissed him. "You still nervous about speaking?"

"A little." He squeezed her hand. "But I'll do it because you asked me to."

"Would you care for some public speaking tips?" She reached down for his d.i.c.k.

"I've heard Brill, Inc. is the best at giving advice." Warner took her hand as she slid off his lap and knelt down beside him.

"First, visualize yourself giving the speech in your head." She opened his bathrobe and stroked him. "Similar to how you're visualizing me giving you pleasure."

"Hmmm." He grabbed his sac, striking his p.e.n.i.s with his palm. Always raring to go, his d.i.c.k saluted to attention.

"Second, Mr. Truman, you need to relax when you're up there, be comfortable." She ma.s.saged his inner thighs.

"Oui, mademoiselle." He dropped his head back in the seat, suddenly feeling more relaxed about speaking in public.

"Third, don't act contrite with the group if you start to get nervous." Playfully, she nipped at his shaft.

"Got it. Just as you should never apologize for being scared to get closer to me, or try for a relationship. Go with it, with us, and let it be." Taddy, don't push me away.

"A relationship?" She gripped his d.i.c.k harder.

"Glad you can say the R word without stuttering. We'll talk about us after the conference."

Taddy redirected her focus to the lecture. "Fourth, know your material. And you do. You've read the presentation." She traced her tongue over his bulge for a few seconds, then slipped it into her mouth.

"Similar to how you know my body by now?" He enjoyed her mouth; the suction was tight. "You know you can take it all." Warner held the back of her head as she took him. "Taddy, suck my c.o.c.k harder, baby girl."

Her head bobbed with natural ease. Wiping her mouth, she instructed, "Fifth, realize your audience is there to see you succeed, not fail." She licked his nuts as he spurted pre-c.u.m.

"Aaaah, like how I want to see us succeed as a couple." He loved having her nails rake his pubic hair. Taddy went back at his c.o.c.k again. Working him over as she went fast. The more he talked about a relationship the harder she went down on him. She was avoiding any talk about them as a couple. d.a.m.n you, woman.

She withdrew his c.o.c.k from her mouth, making a loud popping sound. "Ready for number six?" she asked.

"Yes." He sank his body farther back in the chair. His toes were starting to curl.

"Own the room. I bet you've stood in the main ballroom a million times. You understand where voices carry, where lighting is good, where the best photos should be taken." She went back to sucking and moaned in pleasure as if tasting something sweet.

"f.u.c.k, Taddy, I'm going to come." His body trembled.

"Seven-practice over and over again. Sorta like how I'm getting it on with your monster d.i.c.k." She slid her hand tight around his shaft and pumped. One. Two. Three.

"I've enjoyed our weekend." Warner looked forward to her getting real. He wanted to meet her friends and see where she lived in addition to getting to know her better. But he couldn't think about that now. Right now his thoughts were on coming.

"And number eight, the last one is for you to concentrate. Focus!"

Rockets shot high, making that impossible, all he thought about was her.

Taddy stuck her tongue out.

His pearl liquid streamed across her open mouth. "Good girl."

"Mmm-mine." Taddy laced her tongue around his p.e.n.i.s and drank him dry. "By far the best job I've given." She glanced up and smiled at him.

Warner leaned forward and nuzzled his nose to hers. "Perhaps because you made it work-related," he observed and kissed her. You're not going to hide behind your PR firm forever.

"This is a full house." Warner couldn't believe it. He was by no means a star, let alone very good at public speaking. His throat was closing up.

"Everyone came, just as I expected." Taddy smiled.

"I can't do this."

"Yes you can. Just remember what I told you." Taddy grabbed his hand giving him a loving squeeze.

"Okay."

"Let me welcome everyone. Then I'll introduce you." Taddy headed to the podium leaving Warner in the back of the room.

Taddy gave a small wave and smile to a few reporters sitting in the front row as if they were old friends. She mouthed, "Thank you for coming." It was obvious she knew these people. These were her peers. Taddy owned it.

"Good morning. I'm Taddy Brill, from Brill, Inc." She spoke with such ease and confidence.

The cameras flashed in her face but she seemed to embrace the attention.

"Thank you for joining us this morning. Obviously from the turnout, this is a significant event. This speaks to the interest you have in Hotel du France and Truman Enterprises."

He could hear people breathing. The room was dead silent. Everyone hung on her words.

"We have an exciting presentation for you today. You'll be leaving here with insights on where the luxury hotel industry is headed next and it's not Hotel du a.n.a.l, I promise you that."

The crowd laughed and clapped.

"I do ask one thing before we start."

Huh?

"Our speaker is a little shy."

The journalists giggled. Who knew Taddy was such a ham?

"Please refrain from taking any photos or asking any questions 'til he's finished with his presentation. I don't want to trip him up." Taddy smiled jokingly but the reporters knew her rules. They seemed to love her all the more. "Afterward we'll open the floor up for questions." She smiled at Warner. "I'd like to introduce the man of the hour."

G.o.d, please don't let me screw this up. Taddy's worked so hard.

"He's been a mystery for most of you for far too long." Taddy spoke freely without reading from her cards. "He started Truman Enterprises with one bed-and-breakfast over a decade ago and has since grown Truman Enterprises into the world's leading resort chain. Ladies," Taddy paused. "Gentlemen," she held her hands out. "I give you-Warner Truman."

Warner walked up to the front of the room and took the microphone. Taddy stood to his left about two feet behind him. It made him feel more confident knowing she was within reach.

"Thank you, Miss Brill." He faced the group. This wasn't so bad. "Good morning." He greeted them and started the presentation.

Reporters, bloggers and TV producers from North and South America, Africa and Europe had come to hear the Hotel du France presentation.

He elaborated on the touch-points Taddy had created. To his surprise, Warner felt at ease with the cameras when they posed after the question and answer session.

By the end of the day, Truman Enterprises on the New York Stock Exchange increased 301.7 percent. The shares rose 2.4 percent for his corporation. Impressed, Warner offered Taddy a seat on his executive board.

Taddy declined.

Chapter Seventeen.

On His Knees Warner hated seeing Taddy leave. As their time neared the end, he feared she'd put her walls up as demonstrated last night and earlier this morning. She'd agreed not to make things hard, but fear had been etched on Taddy's face. Her issues may be deeper than he guessed.

"Let's roll."

"Are you sure you can't stay in Cannes longer?" Be with me.

"I'd love to, but I must get home." She kissed him. "You promise you'll come see me in New York before you go to Asia?"

"Yes." The limo pulled into the parking lot. "My driver is here. Thank you for letting me take you to the airport."

"I'm happy to spend these moments with you." Her hands shook when she held his arm.

The chauffeur collected her leather roller bag.

"Careful with my belongings please," she ordered.

"Oui, Mademoiselle." His driver placed the bags in the trunk.

"After you." Warner took her hand and helped her into the car. She stepped into the limo. d.a.m.n he was going to miss her. It was inconceivable to have separation anxiety from someone he barely knew, but the twists in his stomach proved otherwise.

He got in with her, hoping she'd sit on his lap.

Taddy didn't. He could tell that after the conference she'd snapped back into work mode. She was Taddy Brill. He'd lost his Red. The second the press conference started, her face had changed to what he'd seen at the police station-a woman on a mission to rule the world.

While they drove, Red accepted calls, fired off emails and thumb punched text messages from across the limo. He'd not seen her so serious earlier. She was now taking calls and treating him as if he didn't matter.

He too was a busy man. He now owned eleven hotel, resort and spa brands on five continents. Truman Enterprises covered upscale, mid-market and budget...but he'd mastered the art of delegation. His a.s.sistants coordinated a.s.sistants, and those a.s.sistants also had staffed a.s.sistants. Taking time off was part of creating balance. Taddy, on the other hand, hid behind her business.

"Did you see The Observer this morning?" Taddy asked.

"No, why?" When would I have the time? Err...she's avoiding our talk.

Red handed him her tablet computer.

Adjusting the screen to eye level, he read, "Manhattan Gay Socialite Thor Edwards in Line to Inherit Great-Grandmother's $90 Million Manhattan Mansion."

"New York City has room for mansions?" Did she want him to buy her the property and kick the Thor dude out? Warner could. He would if he was given the time for their relationship to develop. Whatever she wanted.

"It's an eighteen-thousand-square-foot townhouse in Greenwich Village. You've heard about Thor. Haven't you?"

"No." He returned the mobile tablet to her.