Terms 0f Surrender (Dynasties: The Danforths Book 11)

by Shirley Rogers

“Have you been thoroughly examined since you arrived here?”

  “They did a lot of tests on me when they found me, but I’ve had no reason for any further testing.”

  “Then I’d like to take you to Atlanta.”

  “Atlanta?” Her brows wrinkled. “Why? Certainly there are doctors in Cotton Creek that I can go to.”

  “I’m sure there are, but it might be hard to get an appointment right away. I just got off the phone with Justin. Something’s come up and I need to make a quick trip to the office for a meeting. You can go with me. I have a friend who’s a neurologist. I want you to see him.”

  Her eyes filled with confusion. “Do I need to see a specialist?”

  David stood and came around the desk, then tugged her into his arms. He kissed her and looked into her eyes. “You need to be examined by an expert on brain injuries. Considering what’s been happening to you, I want you to see someone right away. You might need to have some tests. We can get all that done in a day or two in Atlanta. It could take weeks here.”

  His argument made sense. Besides, she was curious about his life in Atlanta. Going there with him would give her an opportunity to see where he lived, maybe see his office and meet some of his friends. Still, she hesitated. She’d been looking forward to spending Thanksgiving here with him. Then there was the town’s celebration. She didn’t want to miss it. “When would we have to leave?”

  David rubbed her back with his hands, bringing her closer to him. “In the morning.”

  She groaned. “I’ve just finished unpacking.” She gave in when she saw the determination in his eyes. “All right, but you have to promise that we’ll be back by Thanksgiving. I want to go to the celebration.”

  “I promise,” he whispered, then moved against her, his intent obvious.

  Tanya’s eyes grew into big circles. “David!” She glanced at the open door. “Someone could see us,” she exclaimed, her cheeks turning red.

  “We’ll shut the door,” he whispered as he began kissing her neck.

  Tanya thought that was an excellent idea. Relieved his desire for her hadn’t diminished, she went to the door and locked it. Eager for each other, they stripped out of their clothing, then came together in a heated rush, his mouth crashing down on hers, drugging her with his kisses. David maneuvered them to the sofa and eased her onto it on her back. A frenzy of lovemaking ensued as their bodies met and moved together, until David was nudging her legs apart. He entered her with one hard thrust, then pushed deeper and deeper as his hips drove against hers.

  Tanya locked her legs around his waist and hung on, straining against him to reach that elusive peak, then suddenly her body quivered with surrender. David’s release came only moments later. Afterward, as they lay together, Tanya knew there would never be another man for her.

  The Atlanta skyline lay before them as Taylor Corp.’s jet eased down to the runway and landed on the tarmac. Tanya began to feel more and more uncomfortable about being in Atlanta, but if someone had asked, she wouldn’t have been able to say why. A sensation of foreboding had settled inside her, and she just couldn’t shake it.

  David took her hand in his as the wheels of the plane squealed to a stop. She smiled at him, hoping her nervousness didn’t show.

  A few minutes later, her eyes widened as she stepped out of the plane and went down the steps. A sleek black luxury car was pulled up nearby. The driver, a handsome, well-dressed man, got out and circled the front of the vehicle. He looked to be about David’s age, maybe a little older, but he was taller with a lean frame. His dark suit fit his broad shoulders, then narrowed at his trim waistline. A broad smile spread on his lips as they reached him.

  “Welcome to Atlanta,” he said to Tanya, taking her hand in his.

  Tanya knew from the moment he’d spoken that she’d like him. There was no other word for him except gorgeous—the kind of man that might have caught her eye if her heart hadn’t already been taken by David.

  David’s glance flitted from Justin to Tanya, and his gut tightened. Having been friends a long time, he knew the number of women who passed through Justin’s life. While his friend wasn’t flirting with Tanya, he was damned close. Taking her arm possessively, David introduced them. “This is Tanya Winters, Justin. Tanya, Justin West, my friend, and vice president of Taylor Corp.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Justin said, then gave his friend a long look before shifting his gaze back to Tanya. “David said you were beautiful,” he told her, his tone sincere, “but I don’t think the word does you justice.”

  She smiled at him. “Thank you.” She gave David a sidelong glance. So he’d talked about her with Justin. She wondered in what context.

  Justin turned to David, then gestured toward the car. Once they were seated, David and Justin jumped right into business. “Delgado is one tough customer. You have a meeting set up with him in one hour at the office,” Justin informed David.

  “This merger will give him a greater customer base with the added luxury of decreased overhead. That alone will generate millions for him.”

  “We’ve talked in depth about that, but his feathers have been ruffled. He thinks he’s not important because you haven’t been here,” Justin told him as the car headed toward downtown Atlanta.

  Tanya listened as the men talked, and it became apparent to her that although David had been running his business from Cottonwood, it hadn’t been easy. Obviously he was used to being in the thick of things. As he talked with Justin, his whole demeanor changed. He shifted into a different mode of performance. Watching the changes in him, she wondered how much he missed the world he’d created for himself.

  He was living at the plantation out of necessity, not out of choice. After they’d made love, she’d let herself hope that he could be happy at the farm. But would that really be an option for him? Though he’d seemed interested in the workings of the plantation, his interest probably stemmed from the need to know more about his newly inherited business and not from his personal interest. Discouraged by her thoughts, she stared out the window at the passing scenery. She was fooling herself if she thought that he would one day want to live on the plantation.

  The car slowed and parked in an underground garage on Peachtree Street. Tanya followed the men inside a tall, impressive glass-windowed building.

  “I also called Lucas,” Justin said, then looked at Tanya and explained, “Lucas Avery is a friend of ours. He practices here in the city.”

  “What did he say?” David asked. He pushed the button for the elevator. A moment later, the doors opened and they stepped inside.

  “He made some time for Tanya at two o’clock today. If that’s okay with you,” he commented to Tanya. “While David is meeting with Delgado, I’ll take you to Lucas’s office.” He paused, then added, “I hope you don’t mind that David mentioned your amnesia to me.”

  Tanya shook her head. “No, that’s fine. I appreciate your calling someone for me.” She did. She thought it was nice of him to offer to take her. But she would have preferred David accompany her.

  The elevator doors opened with a swish, and they stepped into an impressive foyer. She walked across the beige marble floor, following the men through a door, then down a hall. David spoke to several people, then stopped in front of the desk of a dark-haired woman who appeared to be in her late twenties. She had a generous mane of black hair and eyes the color of a blue, summer sky. Striking was the word that came to mind as David introduced them.

  “Jessica, this is Tanya Winters. Could you show her to my personal quarters?” He turned to Tanya and said, “There’s a room off of my office where you’ll be more comfortable while you wait. I have a few things to go over with Justin before my meeting begins. Jess will take care of you. Let her know if you need anything.”

  “I’ll be fine.” She watched the two men walk away, then looked back at Jessica. David had shortened her name to Jess, and Tanya wondered whether his familiarity came from working with her or from a pers
onal relationship.

  With what appeared to be a frozen smile, the woman withdrew a key from her desk. “Please come this way,” she said, her tone professional as she came around the desk and led Tanya down a hall. Stopping in front of a closed door, she opened it with the key. “After you,” she said, then followed Tanya inside the room.

  Tanya’s gaze swept the small room. It had a large gray sofa that practically took up one whole wall, a coffee table, a recliner and little else.

  Jessica pointed toward a door. “There’s a bathroom in there if you need one. And over there,” she said, then pointed toward another door, “that door leads to David’s office. Please don’t interrupt him.”

  She smiled politely as she talked, but there was no mistaking her impersonal manner. Her unspoken warning wasn’t lost on Tanya. The woman didn’t like her, and she had to wonder why. Could she and David have had a relationship in the past? “There’s reading material on the table,” she informed her. “If you’d like a cup of coffee or a drink, please help yourself.”

  Walking across the room, she pushed a button that was practically invisible on the wall casing. Two doors Tanya hadn’t noticed earlier opened, disappearing into the walls, revealing a well-stocked bar. Tanya couldn’t help but wonder at Jessica’s casual manner as she moved through the room. Did she know it so well because she and David had shared stolen moments here together?

  The thought of David with this woman made her stomach churn. Not wanting to clue Jessica in to what she was thinking, she carefully kept her emotions under control. “I’m fine,” Tanya replied, ready to be left alone.

  Jessica walked to the desk. “If you need anything, just press the intercom,” she instructed, pointing to the phone on the table.

  Tanya watched her leave. She strolled through the room with curiosity, seeking any opportunity, however slight, to catch a glimpse into David’s life in Atlanta.

  There was little there to analyze. The perfectly kept bathroom held no clues at all. She heard his muffled voice in the next room, his words indistinguishable as he spoke with Justin.

  She’d been surprised, again, by the size of his company. There had to have been at least thirty employees working for him in his office. The sense of anxiety that she’d felt upon arriving in Atlanta became stronger. David belonged here in Atlanta, not at Cottonwood. Although they’d begun a relationship, she figured it was futile for her to believe that anything permanent could come of it.

  David was sticking out his time at the plantation because he had to. Their intimacy hadn’t changed anything, and sadly, it never would. Discouraged, she took a seat on the sofa, picked up a magazine and began to thumb through it.

  After about thirty minutes of waiting, she heard the door that led to David’s office open, and Justin came into the room.

  “Hello. I guess you’re about bored out of your mind by now, right?”

  She smiled at him. “I didn’t mind waiting.”

  “Well, David is with Delgado now, and I’m in charge of you. If you’re ready, I’ll take you to your appointment.”

  Tanya picked up her purse and followed him. Together they walked to his car, Justin making an effort to put her at ease. “David should be free by dinnertime. He’s going to be tied up longer that we’d planned.”

  “That’s all right. I know your time is important. I could have caught a cab or something.” From what Tanya had observed, besides being friends, the two men shared a mutual respect for each other.

  He shot her a skeptical look as he parked at the doctor’s office. “You’re kidding, right? I’ve got orders not to let you out of my sight.”

  Surprised, her eyes met his. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

  “I’m sure you are. But I’m only following David’s orders.”

  Before she could stop herself, she asked, “Do you normally entertain women for him?”

  “Hardly,” he countered, flashing an engaging grin. “The man works all the time. He doesn’t have a life. I can’t count the number of times I’ve tried to set him up with someone, but he always finds an excuse not to accept.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’m not saying he’s been a monk,” he clarified. “But I’ve never seen him get involved with a woman, not like he is with you.”

  Tanya flushed to her roots. “We’re not involved,” she quickly clarified.

  “If you say so,” Justin answered, but it was clear he was skeptical.

  She felt compelled to make him believe her. “We’re not.”

  “Okay.” Justin took her arm.

  She didn’t miss the way his eyes twinkled. “You don’t believe me.” Not wanting to admit to an intimate relationship, there was little she could say. But with Justin’s words, her worst fears had been confirmed.

  David didn’t get involved with women.

  Not emotionally.

  Not even with her.

  Nine

  “Here she is. Delivered back in perfect condition, just like I promised,” Justin announced. They’d just arrived back at David’s office, having been gone nearly the entire day.

  Tanya glared playfully at Justin. “Thank you, I think.” She touched his arm fondly. During the time she’d spent with him this afternoon, she’d gotten to know David’s friend better. He was as nice as he was handsome.

  “It was my pleasure, ma’am,” he replied with a wink.

  David listened to the banter between Tanya and Justin without amusement, his attention centered on Tanya’s hand lying on Justin’s arm. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked his friend to take care of her. It appeared as if they were getting along just a little too well. He pulled at the collar of his dress shirt. What had he been thinking, pairing those two up? Justin had no trouble when it came to attracting women.

  In the privacy of his office, David rounded on them. “Where in hell have you been?” He checked his watch. “It’s been six hours since you left!”

  Justin’s eyebrows rose at David’s curt tone. “Well, hell, we went for a few drinks, then decided to have some fun and spent the whole afternoon dancing,” Justin answered, his expression bland.

  “Cute.” But David didn’t find his friend’s comment at all humorous. Though he’d known where they were, he’d had a hard time keeping his mind on his work. Okay, he’d missed Tanya. Dammit, he hadn’t expected to feel this way about her—like being without her was eating him up inside.

  “Where do you think we’ve been? Lucas saw Tanya right away, but then he sent her for tests, which took all afternoon.”

  Looking apologetic, Tanya said to Justin, “I’m really sorry it took so long and tied up your day.”

  He took her hand. “Not a problem.” His gaze went to David. “She’s been a champ putting up with all of it.” Nodding toward David’s desk, with stacks of papers spread on it, he added, “I’m surprised you noticed. Looks like you’ve been busy.”

  “What did Lucas say?” David asked, scowling at Justin’s casualness with Tanya. He got up and walked around the desk, stopping before them. It took every ounce of his control not to warn Justin to back off.

  Reeling from David’s reaction to her and Justin being out together, Tanya fielded his question. “He said it was possible that my memory was returning, but right now there’s just no way to be sure.” Her examination had taken longer than Tanya had anticipated, but she’d appreciated Dr. Avery’s thoroughness.

  “Lucas pulled some strings and sent her to a diagnostic center for some tests. I don’t know how he managed it, but he had the results by the time we returned to his office.” Justin took a seat on the sofa, then sat back and stretched out his legs.

  “What did the tests indicate?” David asked, eager to know what she’d found out. Disappointed, Tanya sighed. She’d been hoping to learn something that would medically confirm that she was regaining her memory. “Very little, I’m afraid. Dr. Avery didn’t have the results of the tests I’d had years ago to compare them with. The good news is that he didn
’t see anything to indicate any problems.”

  “Is he sending for the results of your earlier tests?”

  She nodded. “It’ll be a few days before he gets them, after the holiday. He said he’d call me.”

  “And in the meantime?” David had suspected that Lucas wouldn’t be able to tell them anything definite, but he’d played it safe by insisting that Tanya be examined. He’d wanted to be sure that there wasn’t some delayed trauma from her head injury. He breathed a sigh of relief. His biggest fear was that she had some kind of tumor, causing the strange and unexplainable dreams that plagued her.

  “He told me not to force myself to remember. To do so could be dangerous. If my memory is returning, I should let it come naturally.” Despite the doctor’s advice, how could she relax? She was convinced she was remembering her past. As excited as she was about it, she was frightened, as well.

  Would she like the person she used to be? Or would she be ashamed of who she had been?

  “Sounds like reasonable advice,” David commented.

  “If it was happening to you, you wouldn’t think that. I’m going crazy wondering what’s happening. I want answers. If my memory is returning—”

  David took her hand, his expression filled with compassion. “You’ve got a point. But please try to do as he says. It may make your memory return faster if you try not to push yourself, if you just let it come back at its own pace.” He glanced at his watch. “Are you ready for dinner? I’m finished for the day.” His gaze went to Justin. “Delgado is on board. He’ll be in touch with you in the morning.”

  Tanya gasped. They hadn’t had time to stop for lunch. “Oh my, I didn’t even think about lunch,” she apologized to Justin. “You must be starving.”

  Justin stood. “As a matter of fact, I am. Where are we going?”

  “Tanya and I are going to dinner at Nikolai’s Roof,” he said, naming one of the most upscale restaurants in Atlanta that specialized in Russian cuisine. “I don’t know where you’re going.”