More than Chemistry

By Janet Whitson

A feel-good enemies to lovers sweet romance with a surprise ending

Diana Lennox, elegant CEO of Lennox Incorporated, has worked six long years to put the family company back on its feet. Now, at last, the business is healthy enough to attract buyers. The chance to follow her own dreams is within her grasp. She

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ormerod House
• Release date: Aug 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781957628011

Janet Whitson

Janet Whitson is an author, nature-junkie, and believer in Happily Ever After. She loves the classics (Tolkien, Rowling, Lucas, TCM), fishing, outdoor photography, pizza, and collecting quotations. Her goal has always been to live a life she'd enjoy reading about. In pursuit of that she's been a mom, wife, color consultant, scientific researcher, university dean, and romance author among other things. She enjoys using her imagination to create stories of love and romance about women worth knowing and men worth loving... none of whom are perfect. Her characters are fictional, but the love she writes about is real.Janet lives on a lake in the beautiful state of Texas with her wickedly funny husband and their mixed breed dog, Lady.Visit Janet's website at www.janetwhitson.com and sign up for her mailing list!

Book preview

Chapter one

Outside Diana’s hotel window, the New York skyline rose dark against a brightening sky. Rectangles of warm yellow light flowing from dozens of windows poured warmth into the early morning chill. Satisfaction filled as she leaned back on king-sized pillows and stretched.

It was a day of triumph. On the coffee table, her slim briefcase held a crucial contract from Xenoba Corporation—an order large enough to ensure solvency for her family’s company for another year.

Her father would be so proud of her, and in a few hours, she could tell him about it face-to-face.

The bedside telephone jangled. Who would call so early?

Sitting forward, she reached for the receiver.

This is Diana Lennox.

Her face paled. What? No! She fumbled at the edge of the bedside table for support, swinging her legs down to put her feet in firm contact with the floor—as if that would stop her world from spinning out of control.

When?

The hand she ran through her hair trembled. She couldn’t control it. And her voice shook. My flight takes off at eight-twenty. I don’t think I can find an earlier one. She took a steadying breath. Hold it together, Diana.

A few deep breaths and the mask she wore for business slipped into place. Her voice steadied. It’s all right, Mildred, I’ll be fine, thank you. I’ll see you soon. She set the receiver down and stared across the room, unseeing.

Dead.

Her parents were both dead. Early that morning, as they drove into town, an out-of-control eighteen-wheeler had smashed their small hybrid.

Emptiness yawned before her. Then it began to fill.

The pain of loss rushed in, jostling for place with near panic. Her training was far from finished, and the weight of responsibility for her parent’s company—the employees, the product, the legacy—had just landed on her shoulders.

It had taken every ounce of her skill and patience to convince the Xenoba executive to go with her family’s firm instead of a larger manufacturer. Now even bigger challenges faced her.

The contract she had been so proud of no longer mattered. The words of praise from her father would never come. She had, at last, met Daddy’s expectations, but the chance to win his approval was gone.

Legs trembling, she rose from the bed and began packing for her flight home. She rolled the knit dress she’d worn to last night’s dinner and placed it back into the carryon. Its restrained style had led her host to adopt an avuncular attitude, which had triggered a multitude of advice she had patiently endured.

A more fashionable costume might have had quite a different effect, but her mother had trained her well. Whether in a business meeting or at a gala celebration, Diana’s projection of classic elegance and restraint never varied.

Her parents had brought her up as heiress to the Lennox Incorporated throne. Her father had seen that she understood all aspects of carbon rod manufacture. He directed her choice of college classes and even extracurricular activities with an eye toward developing her business expertise. Her mother ensured that she understood and lived by the social mores of the East Coast community in which the family moved. That Diana sometimes tired of the mask and the role had been irrelevant.

And now, her parents would expect her to carry on with their legacy. She stopped packing and straightened her shoulders.

Don’t worry, Dad. I promise. I will not let you down.

Heat still radiated off the desert floor. Wearing a full pack and straining to see through the darkness, Logan Carmichael double-timed it up the sand dune and dove into the shallow trench at the summit. He rose and helped the soldiers straggling up the hill behind him negotiate the jump, steering them away from landing on one another. Most of them gasped for breath. He could smell mingled dirt and sweat, his own acrid scent and that of the grunts beside him. They’d almost finished the training exercise. By the time the last man jumped into the trench, Logan’s heart rate and breathing had dropped back into their normal rhythm. Listening to gasps and labored breathing surrounding him, he gave thanks that this was only a maneuver. Compared to the Army Rangers he’d served with for nine years, this reserve unit was in sad shape. One more race across the sand and they’d reach their objective. Then they could relax. The weekenders would go home to recuperate and he’d get back to studying for his Physical Chemistry test. It hadn’t been easy, fitting a degree around his service obligation, but only a few weeks remained and he’d have his Bachelor’s under his belt.

Justifiable pride swelled his chest. The University of Pennsylvania Chemical Engineering Department had accepted him into their doctoral program. A Ph.D. was the next step toward his dreams, but not the last.

Two years ago, bored, he’d been researching the manufacture of body armor when a sudden idea flashed across his brain. A better way to produce the materials required. Excited, he’d dug into materials science and the more he learned, the more certain he was that he held the key to a completely new manufacturing approach. His goal was to use his radical new processing method to earn acceptance in a new world. A world where his Ph.D. and the company he would own brought him respect and admiration.

For a boy raised in a dilapidated trailer park and subject to the put-downs and contempt that accompanied poverty, it was a heady dream. A dream that had kept him focused and positive during his roughest deployments. At last, he was on track for the payoff.

Thank you, Uncle Sam. But dreams were for the future.

The soldiers in the trench with him had begun to whisper among themselves. He’d given them enough rest. All right. Let’s finish this, he ordered, and led the way up the next hill of sand.

Chapter two

Six years later…

Diana’s head jerked up as the brass knob of her office door slammed into the wall. Her heart kicked into high gear. In the doorway stood six foot four inches of angry, heavily muscled male.

What do you think you’re doing? the man demanded, and strode toward her polished mahogany desk.

Logan Carmichael.

For a fleeting second, she wondered what had upset the driven engineer. Then her spine stiffened. Lifting her chin, she looked beyond him to the frowning, gray-haired secretary fidgeting in the doorway. It’s all right, Mildred. I’ll speak with Dr. Carmichael. She flicked a glance toward the man leaning towards her, his broad hands planted on her desktop. And if the wall is damaged, he’ll pay for the repairs.

With a nod, Mildred pulled the door shut.

Diana Lennox, sole owner and CEO of Lennox Incorporated, tilted her head against the back of her chair and focused a narrow gaze on the man before her. Now, Dr. Carmichael, would you like to rephrase that question?

He glared at her. I just heard you’re considering selling out to Carbon Unlimited. Is it true? Heat radiated from his large body, and he loomed above her, waiting for a response.

Muscles low in her belly tightened, but she ignored them. He still scowled. Did he expect that to intimidate her? Not happening, Dr. Carmichael.

She rose without giving way to him. It brought them face-to-face and less than eighteen inches apart. Looking him straight in the eye, she used the tension in her muscles to lend strength to the cold authority in her voice. Sit down, please… Now.

For a long moment she waited, unmoving, as fire leapt in his eyes.

Her own didn’t waver.

Still glaring, he stepped back to one of the brown leather chairs accessorizing the third floor office suite. And Logan Carmichael sat.

Diana maintained her rigid posture for a moment, but with her authority successfully asserted, the tension in her diaphragm eased. She allowed herself to study the ex-Army engineer. With his rugged face and military posture, she fancied he looked like an ancient warrior—a Goliath—powerful and larger than life.

She felt the small beginnings of a purely female response to his imposing size and physique but repressed it. This was business. Waiting for a change in his expression signalling a return to civility, she saw his eyes relax.

Good.

Now to find out what he wanted. Her shoulders softened. She spoke in a cool, soft voice. All right, Dr. Carmichael… She resumed her seat. Tell me what made you toss professionalism aside and come barging in here like that.

He had stopped glaring, but still looked far from happy. I told you. I’ve heard that you’re thinking of selling out to the Wilson conglomerate.

The rumor mill was efficient. Diana leaned back. And if I am?

His face flushed with the intensity of his emotion. And if you do, you’re turning your back on the five hundred-some people who work here.

As if she’d ever do that. But Carmichael hadn’t been with the company long. He didn’t know her. Diana glanced at the papers on her desk, and permitted a small, slightly superior smile. She may as well add some accurate information to the rumors. "As it happens, you couldn’t be more wrong. I have Carbon Unlimited’s offer right here, and I find it to be more than fair.

They guarantee the jobs of all employees for eight months—until our current manufacturing contracts expire. The smile vanished as she leaned forward. When I inherited this company, we were in the red and spiraling toward bankruptcy. It’s taken me six years of hard work, networking, and negotiation to put Lennox back in the black and attract such a favorable offer.

It had taken more than that. It had taken six years of wearing a mask of invulnerability, six years of setting aside her own hopes and dreams, and six years of loneliness.

The sitting giant shoved a thick-fingered hand through his hair and leaned forward himself. His right hand was fisted, cradled in the left, and a wilted business shirt strained across his shoulders.

Despite her cool control, Diana felt an edge of wariness. He didn’t look entirely civilized, even in business attire. Muscles bulged below the fine cotton of his shirt, and energy radiated from him with electric intensity.

You can’t do it. His voice grated across her nerves, sending a quick shiver down her spine.

I not only can, I will. She frowned at him. Why do you care? You’ve only been here a month, but your qualifications are excellent. They’d be foolish not to keep you on, and if you choose to leave, you’d have no trouble finding another position.

Thick caramel lashes flicked down and then lifted. I’ve developed a new process for carbon rod pultrusion and I don’t want Carbon Unlimited to have it.

He had great shoulders. Odd to find the brain of an engineer in a body with shoulders like that…

But something was wrong with what he’d said. How could he have a new process? You were hired as a production engineer, Dr. Carmichael, not for research and development. This new process… Did you develop it on company time with my resources?

His eyes blazed again and his head drew back. "No. I developed the details while working on my doctorate—and separate from my dissertation project. This is my process, my work and nobody else’s."

Diana let his resentment bounce off her calm facade. So why haven’t you mentioned it before now?

He shifted in his seat. I wanted to get to know the company… find out more… before I said anything.

Diana nodded, accepting the explanation. Well, if your process is any good, you should have no problem arranging funding for further development. She stroked the smooth surface of her silver pen. I understand your concern and I can assure you I don’t believe Lennox has any ethical right to interfere with your ownership of the idea. If you’re afraid I’ll change my mind, or that Carbon Unlimited will try to claim it, have your lawyer draw up an intellectual property agreement assigning the innovations solely to you. I’ll be happy to sign it.

He stared at her, disoriented. Diana savored the moment. She had cleanly undercut his indignation. Regally she rose, knowing he would follow. Now if you don’t mind, I have work to do.

He stood, but instead of leaving, stepped toward her. Her hormones went on high alert, but she gave him the enquiring glance of a queen.

Ms. Lennox. Now his deep voice seemed pitched to persuade, rather than intimidate. I apologize for crashing in here like that. Please reconsider. He stood with those massive shoulders relaxed, powerful hands at ease by muscled thighs.

Diana pulled her gaze back to his face.

I don’t want to sell this process to the highest bidder. I want to own it, and I want to own the company that uses it. He frowned. I had hoped to have a bit more time before approaching you, but the bottom line is this—I want to buy your company myself.

Diana’s eyebrows rose as her head tilted forward. You want to—? The idea was so ridiculous, she had to hold in a surprised laugh and double-check her CEO mask to be sure her amusement didn’t show. But some hint must have slipped past. His face did a slow freeze and the tone of his voice turned winter-cold.

I know you’re busy now, he continued, cutting off her question. Meet me for dinner tonight—please—and do me the courtesy of looking at my proposal. He took one long step back. I’ll be at The Yorktowne, in the Commonwealth Room at seven. Before she could frame a response, he pivoted and left the room. The heavy walnut door closed.

Diana stared a moment, mouth open.

As if he could ever afford—

If he thought she would waste her time with—

Then she shut her mouth, lips quirking. He knew he had no business asking for a meeting. But he’d taken a shot. She admired that.

To stand him up would be petty. Besides, as far as she was concerned, their business was finished. She could have a good meal, relax, and pretend she’d gone out for a normal dinner with a good-looking man. Not that anything would come of it, but she could still enjoy the view. Once again, her lips curved upwards. Over the years, Diana had learned to take small pleasures where she could.

Sitting down, she picked up the contract awaiting her signature. When she signed it, the responsibility for the employees of Lennox Incorporated, which had fallen on her shoulders when her parents died, would end.

Freedom. The thought was intoxicating. She pushed aside guilty worries about the fate of her older employees—people who had been with Lennox from the beginning. Stop it. You’ve done well for them.

It was true. She had driven a hard bargain on their behalf.

She glanced at the crowded parking lot below her window. Someone else could have the headaches—and this office, with its old-fashioned wood-sashed windows and institutional green paint. Even the ornate gilt frames hanging undusted on the wall deserved better than the mediocre artwork they presented.

She grimaced. No, missing her desk at Lennox would not be a problem. But in fairness to Carmichael, signing the papers could wait one more day. She set aside the contract, absently fingering the collar of her white silk shirt. Having a meal at the best restaurant in nearby York was not a bad way to end a long week, and even though it was technically a business dinner, sitting across from Dr. Carmichael’s warrior shoulders would be fair compensation for her time.

On the ground floor of Lennox Incorporated, Logan thrust open the main doors and stormed out of the aging brick building. Stupid woman.

He slammed the door of his battered SUV, jammed his key in the ignition, and twisted the engine into life. And stupid me for bursting into her office like that. It put him at a disadvantage… gave her a reason to enjoy refusing his offer.