Claire stepped inside. "Hey, Frank. What are you doing in here? Where's Nat?"
"Natalie has gone to get sandwiches and drinks for our lunch. She's letting me work on her computer. The cafe is noisy today and I'm at a particularly perplexing configuration in my program. The noise was disturbing and Natalie offered her office. I naturally accepted."
"Naturally. How's the dissertation coming along?" She walked toward the desk. Frank closed one document and opened another.
"It's laborious, to say the least." He looked at his notes and checked the data on the screen.
Natalie waltzed into the office, bearing a tray of food. "Sorry, I took so long--" She stopped when she noticed Claire.
"Huh-oh. Busted." She set the tray on her desk. "Why don't you join us, Claire? I brought enough to feed an army."
"Nat, you know customers aren't allowed back here."
"Frank isn't just a customer. He's more than that." Nat smiled. "Come on, Claire. It's Frank. What can it hurt?"
Frank stood. "I'll leave if my presence is causing a problem."
Natalie rushed to his side. "No, you don't. Sit. Work. I brought food." She handed him a plate, cup and napkin. "Claire, how about you?"
Sighing, Claire sat down. "Just don't make a habit of this, okay? We can't have customers or friends in the office area. Especially right now."
A frisson of tension curled the hairs on the back of Claire's neck. She turned toward the door. Dillon stood there glaring at Frank. "What the hell is he doing in here?" he demanded.
Before she could answer, Natalie marched over and stabbed at Dillon's chest with one of her perfectly manicured nails. "That's none of your business, now is it? Why don't you go tinker with the computers? That's all you need to worry about, big guy."
Dillon stared at Natalie. He shot a look at Claire that told her he wasn't happy with the situation, then left the office.
"Well, I swear," Natalie said. "He acts like he owns the place, doesn't he?"
"Never mind him," Claire said, refusing to let Dillon's presence ruffle her. She grabbed a sandwich from the tray and glanced at Frank. He seemed oblivious to them. The man was totally focused on his work. "I need to run something by you and this is as good a time as any."
Natalie plopped down in the other chair. "Okay, shoot."
"You know I've been wracking my brain trying to come up with an idea to make our anniversary celebration special?"
"Besides the big party?" Natalie asked.
"Yeah, besides that."
"And?"
Claire set her sandwich down. "What do you think about offering free coffee and food, plus free Internet time besides the cake and punch?
"Great idea," Natalie said. "If we advertise, it should bring in more customers. Good exposure."
"My thoughts exactly. And it would be good for business in the long run."
Natalie picked up a sandwich from the tray. "Still thinking about upgrading the computers?"
"Upgrade the computers?" Frank asked, looking up from his work. "What's wrong with what you have now?"
Claire brushed crumbs from her fingers. "I want e*Claire's to be up to date with the newest technology."
Natalie handed her a napkin. "How long will it take to do the upgrades?"
"Two days, three max," Claire said. "I'll do it myself. I'll order the software and chips early next week. I want everything ready in time for the party."
Frank stood abruptly and stuffed his papers in his brief case.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Natalie asked. "Where are you going?" "I have class in twenty minutes. I'll see you tonight." He kissed her awkwardly on the cheek and left.
Natalie rubbed her cheek. "Isn't he the sweetest thing?"
"You like him a lot, don't you?" Claire asked.
"Yes, I do. More than a lot."
"I'm glad, Nat." Claire smiled, took a bite of sandwich, then frowned. "He left in a hurry though, didn't he?"
"You know how absent-minded Frank is. It's a miracle he remembers anything other than that dissertation of his. That's all he thinks about."
"Really?" A horrible thought crossed Claire's mind. "Have you ever read anything he's working on?"
Natalie shrugged. "Not really. It's mostly a lot of programming. Something to do with calculating dates for archeological artifacts, I think."
Claire shook the thought away. Frank couldn't be the hacker. No way, no how. Frank wouldn't hurt a flea. Dillon's suspicious nature was getting to her. She hated questioning everyone's integrity.
Dillon was getting to her, too. Since Sunday, he'd kept all contact to a minimum. Claire found she missed that contact. Dinner had been nice. She had enjoyed spending the evening with Dillon. The undercurrents catapulting between them had been exhilarating. She hadn't felt so alive in years.
Natalie took Frank's place behind her desk and picked up her sandwich. "About the upgrades."
"Hmm?" Claire munched on a carrot stick. Dillon had consumed her with his kisses. Made her body hungry for more.
"Why can't Mr. Macho do them? Isn't that what you hired him for? Tech support?"
"I want to do it myself. If Dillon wants to help--" Claire couldn't suppress the quiver of yearning deep down inside.
"Oh my God!" Natalie set her sandwich down and grinned.
"What?" Claire knew better than to trust that smile on her friend's face.
"I've just thought what every computer geek's love fantasy would be."
"What in the world are you talking about?"
"You and Mr. Macho. Working side by side. Upgrading the computers together. I can see it now."
"I am not a computer geek and neither is Dillon."
Natalie shook her head. "Oh, come on, Claire. You may not look like a geek, but your life revolves around computers. Mr. Macho isn't your typical geek either, but I've seen him on the computers and it's like he's one with them. A Zen kind of thing."
"You're crazy. You've definitely gone off the deep end this time." Liquid heat flashed inside Claire as the scenario played in her mind--alone in the cafe, working close with Dillon, installing the upgrades. Damn Natalie and her love fantasies.
The other night, when Dillon had kissed her and pulled away, she'd been trembling with need. Claire didn't want to need anyone. But she was fast realizing something was missing in her life, namely male companionship. She'd sworn off men after her divorce. But five years was a long time.
Claire finished her sandwich and wiped her mouth with the napkin. When she looked up, Natalie was staring at her. "What is it?"
"He likes you."
Claire sighed. "I know." But did Dillon actually like her? He wanted her, desired her. He'd made that apparent from the start. But did he like her?
"And you like him," Natalie said.
"Yes." She did like him. Desired him, too. Wanted him so much she ached with it.
"But you're afraid."
Claire nodded.
Natalie rested her chin on the palm of her hand, her elbow perched on the desktop. "You don't believe in love anymore. So if you can't fall in love, it stands to reason you can't get hurt. Why are you denying yourself?"
"What if I'm wrong, Nat? Maybe deep down, I know I'm wrong. And if I'm wrong, then there's the possibility of getting hurt. I don't want to get hurt again."
"I know, sweetie. But you're existing in a kind of limbo here. Life is passing you by. You need to get back on the horse, Claire. Let Dillon help with the upgrades."
"What are you two talking about? What upgrades?"
Claire swung around at the sound of Dillon's deep voice. Shivers of heat rushed her body. She stood quickly and faced him. "The ones we'll be installing in the next couple of weeks."
Dillon stepped into the office. "And when exactly were you going to tell me this?"
Claire met his narrowed gaze. "You were next on my list."
His jaw tightened. Dillon snagged her elbow and urged her out the door. "Excuse us," he said to Natalie over his shoulder.
Claire tried to focus on his anger instead of the scorching sensation of his touch. His other hand moved to the small of her back and her knees almost buckled.
"I need to talk to you," he growled in her ear. "In your office. Right now!"
She jerked away from him. "We don't have anything to talk about."
"You're wrong. Now, move it!"
He stood before her, anger radiating from him, emphasizing his power and masculinity. A ripple of fear curled down her spine. Not that she was afraid Dillon would hurt her physically. No, Claire feared the strength of the attraction between them. It was much better to deal with his wrath than deal with his passion. Much safer, too.
CHAPTER SIX
"I don't like the tone of your voice, Mr. Anderson." Claire marched into her office.
"Well, that's too damn bad." Dillon slammed the door and leaned against it. "You're determined to compromise this operation, aren't you?"
"What do you mean?" She stopped in front of her desk and turned. "I've cooperated in every way possible."
"Right. You just called me Mr. Anderson. Someone could have heard. You're constantly forgetting my alias." He jammed his fists into his pockets and made himself stay where he was.
"Only when you're badgering me," she said.
"I don't badger you. You need to be more careful."
"I'll try. I told you before; I'm not accustomed to any of this. I'm trying to cooperate."
"Oh, really? All these plans for this anniversary shindig. Is that cooperating? And what's this about upgrading? Now's not a good time for an upgrade."
"I have a business to run. You expect me to put everything on hold?" She raised her chin. Again.
"Yes, I do." Dillon was hard pressed not to answer the unspoken challenge of that uplifted chin. He wanted to kiss her into submission. He wanted her soft and willing in his arms. In his bed. "I can't have you messing up all the work we've carefully pieced together."
"How will upgrading the computers do that?"
"The hacker feels comfortable in the cafe. Everything needs to proceed normally. We don't want to spook him."
"I didn't plan on doing the upgrades during business hours. I don't want to disrupt any of my customers."
"Can't you put it off?"
"Why should I? I want to keep improving e*Claire's. I want my customers to have the best of everything."
"Speaking of customers, what was Winslowe doing in Natalie's office?"
"Working on his dissertation. Why?" She hugged her arms across her chest, pushing her breasts against the fabric of her sweater.
Dillon allowed himself one look, then glanced away. His palms itched to feel her, touch her, caress her until she moaned with pleasure. "I thought no one was allowed back here except employees. Especially now."
"You're right," Claire said.
"You bet I am. Don't let it happen again."
"I won't. Not because you don't like it, but because I don't like it. I'm in charge of this cafe, not you."
Dillon ran his fingers through his hair and paced the length of the small room, keeping his distance from the beautiful woman standing by the desk. "All I care about is this investigation. I can't have anything or anyone interfering with it, you understand?" Claire was definitely interfering with the investigation, because he was thinking about her way too much.
"I understand perfectly." She picked up a paper clip and toyed with it. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do." But she didn't move. Just stared at the paper clip, turning it over and over between her fingers.
Dillon wondered if she really understood. Understood that she was driving him bonkers? He stopped pacing, but kept a safe distance from her.
She shifted her attention from the paper clip to him. "Are you any closer to finding the hacker?" she said in that soft voice of hers.
Dillon wanted to smooth the frown from between those dark brows. He wanted to smooth his hands down the entire length of her body. He gripped the back of a chair, anchoring himself. This need, this hunger for Claire was spiraling out of control. "I have a few suspects," he said.
"Besides Richard?"
"Yes, damn it. But I'm still watching him." Like he was watching Claire, but for entirely different reasons.
"You've been here almost a month," she said. "Don't you have any clues?"
"The hacker is devious," Dillon said. "It took a good part of a year to track him to your cafe."
"I thought you said he wasn't dangerous."
"Devious doesn't mean dangerous."
"But he could be dangerous?" The furrows of the frown deepened. Claire tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. Dillon felt an answering tug of desire straight to the groin.
"I seriously doubt it," he said. "We're closing in. A few more weeks and we'll have him."
"I hate this," Claire said. "I hate feeling like everything has to be put on hold. I hate that one of my customers is committing a crime."
The anguish in her voice caught Dillon in the gut. "I know, babe. We'll get him." Something about Claire called to him on different levels. He didn't want to analyze it. He just wanted to keep it simple. Sex didn't have to be complicated. Shouldn't be complicated. Had never been complicated before.
He advanced toward her.
Her brown eyes widened. "What are you doing?"
"What do you think?" Another step closer.
"I think you should get back to work and find that hacker."
"All in good time." Two more steps and he was standing close enough to get a whiff of her perfume. He inhaled deeply. Oh yeah, nothing complicated about it at all. He wanted Claire. Pure and simple.
"You're crowding my space, Mr. Andrews."
"You weren't complaining the other night." He looked at her lips, then directly into her eyes.
"You don't play fair, do you?" she said.
"I'm not playing." He hooked a hand behind her neck and rubbed his thumb over the silky skin. "I told you I take my work seriously."
"Your work." She almost sounded disappointed.
"I take you seriously, too," he said. "Very seriously."
"You do?"
"Oh, yeah. Have you thought about what I said in the truck on Sunday?"
Claire glanced at his mouth, then away. She licked her bottom lip. "Yes." It came out in a whisper.
Dillon tightened his grip. "When you look at me like that, I want to make love to you. Right here, right now."
Her breath hitched and she leaned toward him. Anticipation roared in his blood. Dillon dragged her close and her head fell back. Her tongue shot out to moisten her lip again. He moistened it for her, skimming over it with his own tongue before delving inside.
Claire moaned deep in her throat, opening wide to receive his kiss. He obliged and plunged in deeper. Never had a woman felt so good and tasted so sweet and hot.
He tangled his fingers in her hair, clasping her head, holding her close. Her hands crept up his shoulders; her fingers bit into his flesh.
Dillon pulled back. "You and me. We're going to get naked."
Claire's eyes glazed over with passion. "Yes."
Dillon teased the corners of her mouth. "But not here and not now."
"No." She rose on tiptoe and captured his lips. Dillon's body hardened to bursting point. It was the first time Claire had instigated a kiss between them and he intended to enjoy every delicious minute. Sliding his hand downward, he cupped her breast. Even through the thick layers of clothing, he felt her nipple bead. He swallowed another of her sexy moans, pulling her body flush against him, wanting desperately to be inside her.
Yeah, Claire was driving him bonkers. He wanted to see her without all the clothes. Feel her against him, bare skin to bare skin. Soon. He promised himself it would be soon.
****
Claire froze at the sound of a brisk rap on her office door. Dillon broke contact, cutting off the kiss and dropped his hands from her body. She smoothed her hair back in place. They stared at each other. His eyes smoldered with p
assion. Blood hammered inside her head. The sound of Dillon's ragged breath, as well as her own, filled the room.
Claire desperately wanted to tell the person knocking on the door to go away. Even though she knew she was playing with fire, she craved more of Dillon's kisses. They were wonderful. Addictive. Dangerous.
She walked unsteadily around to the other side of the desk and cleared her throat. "Come in."
Natalie breezed in, a wicked glint in her eyes. "Hey, Claire. Have you arranged everything for next Tuesday night?" She looked at Dillon standing in the middle of the room, then eyed Claire's position behind the desk.
"Tuesday night?" Claire asked. Natalie was up to something. Dread crowded out the lingering heat of desire.
Natalie rolled her eyes. "You know. The Chamber of Commerce Banquet?"
Claire straightened a stack of papers on her desk. Something, anything to still the trembling in her hands. "I don't think this is the time or place to talk about--"
"Sure it is. Have you found a date yet?"
"No, I haven't. Natalie--"
"A date?" Dillon looked at Claire.
Natalie turned wide innocent eyes on him. "Hey, big guy. What are you doing next Tuesday night?" She smiled the smile Claire knew only too well.
Dillon snared Claire with another intense look. "Working, but I can probably get out of it."
"I'm sure you can," Natalie said with a wink.
Claire hurried to the front of her desk and grabbed her friend's arm. "Nat, can I speak with you outside? Now?"
"Just a minute, Claire. I'm trying to help out here."
"I don't need this kind of help," she hissed. Ever since she'd moved to Austin, Natalie had been trying to fix her up with someone.
"What time does this banquet take place?" Dillon asked.
Claire frowned at him. "It doesn't matter. You don't have to--"
"Oh, but I think I do." The intensity of his gaze deepened, making his hazel eyes flash fire. Claire felt her knees weaken. She clutched the edge of the desk for support.
Natalie beamed. "Great. Everything's settled then. It's semi-formal, big guy. Try to find something besides jeans and a t-shirt to wear, will you? And you can pick her up at seven."
Texan Undercover (Romantic Suspense) Page 7
