by Linda Wisdom
Dan swore softly under his breath. "There's no way that I would want you to be Morgan. I could easily tell the two of you apart in the dark. You're the warm and soft one." His lips traveled upward to recapture hers, first teasing them with a feathery touch, then his tongue outlined her mouth. Moaning softly, Lisa tugged at his hair, bringing his lips fully down on her parted ones, wanting all that he could give her. The buttons of his shirt parted as her hands slipped inside, wrapping themselves around his waist, moving over his bare back. When Dan's lips finally left hers, Lisa's head was spinning, as if she had had too much to drink. She rested her cheek against his bare chest, aware of the heavy thud of his heartbeat.
"If you don't like Morgan very much, why do you always date her? And why did you take her to the picnic?" Lisa asked in a small voice.
"Because I knew you'd be there with over-the-hill Connors. Hey!" he yelled as she playfully punched him. "I wanted to see if I could get a rise out of you." Dan grinned wickedly. "And I did."
"That still doesn't tell me why you date her."
Dan took a deep breath. "You might say she's a shield for me."
"I can't see you hiding behind any woman," she teased lightly.
Dan gently pushed Lisa away and stood up. He raked agitated fingers through his hair, keeping his back to her.
"Morgan's in love with you, Dan," Lisa continued softly. "And she intends to be Mrs. Dan Nolan."
"Morgan knew the score from the beginning," he said grimly. "So did every other woman I dated. They knew not to expect any long-term commitment. I don't ever plan to go through the same agony my father did."
Lisa's blood ran cold at the bitterness in Dan's voice. "You've never said very much about your family."
"What is there to say?" His mouth twisted cruelly, as he turned back to face her. "My mother decided that she couldn't be happy with just one man, but she enjoyed the security of marriage too much to give it up. As my father had to travel a great deal, she could play around all she wanted to and still act the part of the happy housewife when he was home. I found out about her extracurricular activities when I was ten. People didn't seem to care that you might overhear them, even when they were talking about your own family. We lived in a small town and my mother was the greatest subject of gossip that the old biddies had. From that experience, I determined that a woman would never hurt me like she had done to my father. He must have known what was going on, but he never said a word. He loved her no matter how much she dragged his name through the mud."
"Not all women are like that, Dan." Lisa felt sorry for the small boy who had hardened his heart so early in life. "You can't blame all women because of one. Many women are happy to share their lives with just one man. Unfortunately, your mother felt she needed to find her happiness outside of the home. You shouldn't hate her. If anything, you should pity her."
"You're too emotional for your own good, Lee," Dan said harshly. "That's why you're hurt so easily. I hated thinking that you had fallen in love with Connors, only to get hurt. And I didn't want to hurt you, either."
"Why, Dan?" she asked.
"I don't know," he said slowly. "Maybe because you seemed too good to be true. You didn't seem real."
Lisa ran over to him, slipped her arms around his waist and pressed herself against him. She knew that, whether he cared to say it or not, Dan was beginning to feel the emotions he had been burying for so long. It would take a long time to peel away those layers of armor, but she didn't care. "I'm very real," she said huskily. She knew she had to go carefully to preserve the fragile threads of their relationship. "Mark was my defense against you. I thought you wanted Morgan, and I was so afraid you'd see how much I enjoyed being with you. And I didn't want to let you hurt me."
Dan's arms went around her, tightening with the intensity of his feelings. "You seed someone more lasting than me, Lee." He buried his face against her hair, inhaling the soft scent of her fragrant hair. "Someone who can give you a feeling of permanence."
She closed her eyes, wildly wishing she could tell him how much she loved him. But that was the last thing Dan would want to hear. He didn't want any woman to love him, just as he didn't want to fall in love. She could only take it slowly, a step at a time.
"If you could learn to have more trust in me—" she took great care in choosing her words—"then you would soon see that all women aren't as bad as you think they are. I could be sort of a guinea pig for you."
"You're not at all like the guinea pigs I had as a boy." His smile softened his harsh features. "You're definitely more desirable."
"Would you be willing to give it a try?" Lisa looked up, still keeping her arms around him.
"I've never told anyone about my mother before," he mused, resting his chin on the top of her head, not answering her.
"Then it's a good thing you finally opened up and confided it," Lisa told him.
Dan tipped her chin up, studying her face for long moments. "Perhaps I did it because I had a sincere listener," he said quietly. "Thank you."
"Any time," she whispered, afraid to break the fragile spell surrounding them.
"I should be going," Dan said. Keeping his arm around her, he walked toward the front door. "I'll see you in the morning." He brushed a light kiss across her lips before leaving.
Chapter Nine
As the days passed, subtle changes between Lisa and her boss were occurring in the office. Although their business-like treatment of each other was outwardly just as formal as before, there were slight differences, as in the way Dan's eyes seemed warmer than usual when they lingered on his secretary, or in the huskier tone of Lisa's voice when she spoke to him.
One morning, Lisa had been busier than usual preparing Dan's presentation for a court case he had that day. But a smile lingered on her lips as she remembered Dan's remarks when he had finished his dictation earlier.
"Miss Winters," his voice was deceptively soft, while his eyes danced with wicked lights, "if just one more button slips open, on that dress of yours before the end of the day, you better be prepared to be attacked on the spot."
"I'll keep that in mind, Mr. Nolan," Lisa said primly, although lights also danced in her eyes.
She had just finished proofreading her typing when someone approached her desk. With a sinking heart, Lisa looked up to see Morgan's cool features.
"Good morning, Miss Winters," the blonde said silkily. "I'd like to see Dan, please."
"Certainly," Lisa murmured, punching the intercom button. "Mr. Nolan, Miss Grant is here."
"Drat," he breathed softly. "Send her in."
"Go on in," Lisa said coolly.
"Darling, I was just in seeing Uncle, and I thought you could save my life by taking me to lunch," Morgan said throatily, as she closed the door behind her.
Lisa clasped her hands in front of her, wishing the angry trembling in her stomach would go away. It wasn't Dan's fault that Morgan had showed up, so why did she feel so angry toward him?
Five minutes later, the inner office door opened and Morgan walked out, with Dan following.
"I'll be back around one-thirty, Miss Winters," he told Lisa in a formal voice. She merely nodded, not trusting her own voice.
With her own appetite gone, Lisa spent her lunch hour wandering through the various stores in the area. Her overactive imagination ran rampant. What had been Morgan's real reason for suddenly showing up at the office? And who was Uncle?
Her questions were answered when she picked up the telephone messages from the receptionist on her way back to work.
"I've found out something about that sexy blonde who's always coming in to see Mr. Nolan!" Tina said in an eager whisper, as Lisa stood glancing rapidly through the messages, mentally deciding which were the most important. "I hadn't know she was Mr. Patterson's niece!"
"Niece?" Lisa looked up in surprise.
"Now I understand why she's always acted so self-important around here," Tina went on. "I bet she was even the one who persuaded Mr. Nolan to joi
n the firm."
"Possibly," Lisa murmured. Now she understood why Morgan acted so possessive toward Dan. The news did not make her feel any better.
Lisa was still pondering over this new information when Dan returned from lunch. "Did you have a nice lunch?" she asked frostily.
"It's a pity I didn't get indigestion, isn't it?" Dan grinned at her as he walked into his own office.
Refusing to rise to the bait, Lisa merely called him uncomplimentary names under her breath as she returned to her work. Her cool silence continued for the remainder of the afternoon, but it had no effect on Dan's cheerful mood. The moment the clock reached quitting time, she hastily covered her typewriter and reached for her purse.
"What now?" she muttered as the intercom line buzzed. In a formal voice, she said, "Yes, sir?"
"Would you come in here, please?" he asked crisply.
Grimacing, Lisa got up and walked into the inner office. Dan was seated at a work table he had set up on the other side of the large office.
"Close the door, please," Dan ordered, not looking up from his work. Mystified, Lisa obeyed. Dan turned in his chair to face her. The expression on his face was unreadable. "Come here," he said softly.
"Did you need one of the files?" she asked, walking toward the table. When she was close enough, Dan reached out, pulling her toward him, keeping a firm grip on her wrists.
"In a better mood now?" he asked, pulling her even closer.
"No."
"Maybe I can improve it." Dan stood up, their bodies lightly touching. Before his hand could reach the nape of her neck, she had smoothly glided away toward the window.
"I doubt it." Lisa said, looking out the window. She was determined not to let Dan have his way. At least, not too easily.
Dan leaned against a corner of the table, watching Lisa with amusement, as if he knew her intent. "Please come here." His words were softly spoken.
Lisa took her time turning around and walking slowly toward him. His arms slid around her waist, pressing her against him.
"Dan, not here!" Lisa protested, putting her hands against his chest to prevent the embrace. "What if someone should come in?"
"Everyone knows that if my door is closed it is not advisable to enter," he murmured, jerking her off balance so that she fell against him. Dan's mouth closed over hers in that sweet searing way she knew so well.
Lisa's hands slid up over Dan's shoulders. "This is crazy," she said softly.
"That is all your fault," he said huskily, recapturing her lips.
"Dan, I—" The couple turned in surprise at the intrusion, Dan's face dark with anger and Lisa's still bemused from his kisses. Morgan Grant stood in the doorway, her icy eyes taking in the embracing couple.
Flushing hotly, Lisa tried to pull away, but Dan's arms tightened, preventing her. "My closed door means that I don't care to be disturbed, Morgan," he said coldly.
"So I see." The blonde woman's eyes were merciless as they raked over Lisa. "I noticed that your light was on. I assumed that your secretary had left for the day. I thought we could have dinner together." Her voice turned harsh when she turned to Lisa. "I see you didn't take my advice, Miss Winters."
Dan silently surveyed Morgan. "You'd better go home, Lisa," he said quietly, letting his arms drop to his sides.
"Dan, I…" She felt a growing dismay.
"Go home," he said flatly, his eyes still on Morgan.
Not wishing to show how hurt she felt in front of Morgan, Lisa quickly left the room under Morgan's triumphant gaze. Lisa held her tears back until she reached the apartment. In her bedroom, she shed her clothes quickly, uncharacteristically dropping them in an untidy heap, and she pulled on a short robe. She flopped down on her bed, dissolving into tears. She felt numb after Dan's earlier actions. She couldn't bear the thought of going in to work the next day and facing him.
She was still lying on the bed, steeped in self-pity, when the doorbell rang much later. Burying her head in her pillow, she tried to ignore the insistent ringing. Finally, realizing that it wasn't going to end, she got off her bed and walked into the living room. Opening the door, her face hardened when she saw Dan. He anticipated her move, swiftly moving to block her attempt to close the door on him.
"Don't shut me out, Lee," Dan said quietly, moving quickly past her.
"Get out," she choked, keeping the door open. "I don't want to talk to you, Dan. Go back to Morgan. You've made your choice; that was only too clear today in your office. I guess it's because her uncle is one of the senior partners, and I'm sure the match will be very beneficial to your career."
Dan let out a deep breath, swearing softly. He jerked the door out of her hand, slamming it shut. Then he gripped her wrist and pulled her over to the sofa, pushing her down on the cushions. He quickly sat down too, keeping hold of her arms to prevent her from moving away. Her green eyes shot angry sparks at him.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Her voice was a tortured whisper. "Wasn't my humiliation enough?"
"I wasn't trying to humiliate you, Lee," Dan said gently. "I just wanted you out of there before I had my talk with Morgan. I wanted to tell Morgan exactly what I thought of her, and I didn't want you to hear that kind of language," he said wryly.
Lisa looked at him with confusion. "I—I don't understand."
"I didn't appreciate her high-handed attitude, just coming into my office like that. Then, after I told you to go home, she began feeling pretty sure of herself where I was concerned," Dan said quietly. "I don't know exactly what she has said to you, .but I have an idea. Morgan knows now to stay out of my life. She even tried to make empty threats about talking to her uncle and ruining my career. But he's too smart a man for that."
Tears began streaming down Lisa's cheeks. "When you told me to leave tonight, I just wanted to die."
Groaning, Dan gathered her into his arms, pressing her face against his shirt front. "I hated myself for putting that hurt look on your face. But I knew I had to have you out of there before I lit into Morgan. I didn't want you involved in any more ugliness." He stroked her hair in a comforting gesture.
Relieved that she hadn't lost Dan after all, Lisa began crying again. All her pent-up tension escaped as Dan kept his arms around her, soothing her as he rubbed his cheek against her hair. When her sobs finally began to subside, she took several deep breaths, searching for control.
,"I look horrible," Lisa said finally, adding, "And I got your shirt soaking wet!"
"It won't hurt it," he said quietly, his hand against her cheek, his thumbs sensually massaging the soft skin behind her ears. His slow smile was enough to melt her. "I don't give a hang about my shirt." He said each word slowly, to allow it to sink in. "All I want is for you to stop crying so I can kiss you." Smiling back, she happily complied.
Lisa's days soon settled into a comfortable pattern. She and Dan would either dine out one or two times a week, or Lisa would fix them a meal at her apartment.
One Friday evening, they attended a play, but Lisa found it difficult to pay attention while Dan, lifting her palm to his lips, let his tongue run over her hand. Each time she tried to retrieve her hand he would tighten his grip, making it difficult for her to struggle.
"You did that deliberately," she accused him as they walked outside to his car after the play.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"You know very well what." Lisa could feel a flush rise in her cheeks.
"I didn't like that play much," Dan commented, as he unlocked the passenger door for Lisa.
"Who could concentrate when…" Lisa stopped, seeing the wicked grin on Dan's face as he slid behind the wheel. "Oh, Dan." She laughed huskily, shaking her head in amusement. "You're terrible."
Dan's hand hesitated on the ignition key. He half turned to face her. One hand lifted, the knuckles lightly brushing her cheek. "Lee, come home with me," he murmured, looking deep into her eyes.
Lisa's breath caught in her throat. Dan's meaning was all too clear. And all to
o tempting. She was well aware of the effect Dan's touch had on her—and the effect hers had on him. Dan would be an excellent lover, she had no doubt of that. But she wanted more than physical love from him, and she didn't know if she would ever be able to get it.
Seeing her hesitation, he leaned over, teasing a corner of her lips. "You wouldn't need to be afraid with me." His warm breath fanned her cheek.
"Dan, I…" Her voice drifted off. Her body was ready to say yes, while her mind screamed no. "I… I can't."
"Can't?" he murmured sensuously against her skin. "I'll even serve you breakfast in bed."
Lisa's hands moved upward, and she let her fingers comb through his thick hair. She gave herself up to his kiss, and she was trembling when he finally released her.
"Changed your mind?" Dan asked huskily against her lips.
"I have always subscribed to an unwritten rule that I will never sleep with my boss," she whispered.
"She's not only beautiful but she also has ethics." He smiled as he turned to switch on the car, not seeming surprised by her answer.
Lisa leaned back, feeling irritated that Dan could be so calm while her own emotions were in such turmoil!
Dan pulled into the apartment parking lot and switched off the engine. Then he got out of the car and helped Lisa out. At her door, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. Her mouth parted under his, letting his kiss deepen. Lisa's blood raced under his sensual touch. When he finally let her go, his breathing was uneven. "Good night, Lisa."
Wide-eyed, she watched him turn to leave. "Dan, I—" Lisa's hand lifted. She suddenly didn't want him to leave without her.
He turned and smiled. "Go to bed, Lisa," Dan said softly. "Alone—before we both change our minds again."
Lisa walked into the darkened apartment, feeling bereft. Later, crawling into bed, she lay back, recalling those moments in Dan's arms. If she hadn't been so cowardly she would still be in his arms right now. A feeling of longing spread through her body. It was past dawn before she finally fell asleep.
