by Opal Carew
She closed her fingers around the bra. “Thanks.”
She turned and walked back to the bathroom, trying to ignore the sight of his rippling muscles as he pulled on his shirt.
She closed the door behind her. The steamy air was filled with the scent of his soap. She hung the dress on the hook on the back of the door and slid off her suit jacket. As she began to unfasten the buttons of her blouse, she couldn’t help but think of the sight of him when he’d dropped the towel, revealing his sexy, naked body.
She slid her blouse from her shoulders and laid it neatly on the counter. She unzipped her skirt and dropped it to the floor, only then realizing that she’d worn a thong today because this skirt was a bitch when it came to showing panty lines. If she had changed in the other room, he would have gotten an eyeful of her naked ass.
She unhooked her bra and tugged it off, then put on the black bra, which was cut low and pushed her breasts high. She remembered his handsome, teasing face when he’d suggested she change in his office.
There was no doubt what that would have led to. Excitement quivered through her at the thought.
So who said you couldn’t have sex with your boss?
She sucked in a breath. Your common sense. That’s who.
She swept up the filmy plastic covering the dress and freed it from the hanger, anxious to cover herself before she lost all common sense and opened the door to give in to their attraction.
She dove into the dress and pulled up the zipper, then smoothed down the fabric.
She glanced at the silky, flowing garment. It made her feel like a princess. She turned to face the full length mirror. The dress suited her figure perfectly. The deep neckline revealed the soft swell of her breasts then cascaded in a fluid line to the floor. It made her look soft and feminine. And sexy.
A knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” she said.
The door opened and there stood Dane, devastatingly handsome in his tuxedo.
His eyes glimmered as his gaze swept down her body. “You look sensational in that.”
He walked into the room and stepped behind her. His powerful presence sent her senses off kilter. He stood so close, gazing at her in the mirror. It felt incredibly … intimate.
Her breath caught as his fingers brushed along the back of her neck, but then she realized he was just fastening the hook at the top of the zipper.
“I think your hair would look nice down.” He unfastened the barrette at the back of her head, and the mass of glossy black hair tumbled down. He gently arranged it over her shoulders.
“Beautiful.” The approving glint in his eyes pleased her.
They stood like that for a moment, their gazes locked in the reflective glass of the mirror. Her heart thumped loudly and she longed for him to touch her.
But then he stepped back. “We really need to go.”
* * *
Moments later, they hurried out the front door of the building to the waiting limousine.
Dane couldn’t take his eyes off Jessica as they sat in the large ballroom that shimmered with soft light from the candles on the table and the light reflected from the crystals on the dimmed chandeliers above. The waiter refilled their wine glasses as they enjoyed their lobster bisque.
She had done very well keeping up with him while he’d networked before dinner, as he’d struck up conversations with the development staff, the marketing people, and the other senior staff of Brenhart and Saunders. The whole time, he’d never seen her jot anything down, yet when he’d questioned her about a couple of points he wanted to ensure he remembered, she had the information right at hand. He was sure she had a notebook in that small evening bag which Roberto had sent over with the dress, but in keeping with the social feel of the evening, she was doing an excellent job of being discreet with her note-taking.
He’d gleaned a lot of useful information over cocktails, and now it was time to relax and enjoy the evening. Especially with such a lovely companion by his side. She looked absolutely stunning in that dress. The accessories Roberto had included really enhanced the elegance. From the lovely oval ruby surrounded by diamonds that hung around her neck, glittering in the candlelight, right down to the red-bottomed black stiletto heels. Even the black evening bag glittered.
But what he really loved was how the dress hugged her breasts, dipping low between them to reveal a delightful amount of rounded flesh. He sipped his wine, thinking how much he would love to sweep her away and take her back to his apartment, then slip first one thin strap, then the other, off her shoulders to reveal even more of those luscious breasts.
He remembered those soft breasts filling his hands. The feel of the hard nipples against his tongue. Heat rushed through him at the memory. He wanted to see them again now. To touch and worship them.
But that was not to be.
The waiter took their empty soup bowls and placed the main course in front of each of them. The two seats beside Dane were empty and the development people on the other side of Jessica were talking amongst themselves about some design issue.
He turned to Jessica. “Are you enjoying your dinner?”
It was a delectable cut of prime rib, with roast potatoes and asparagus.
“Delicious.”
“And are you enjoying living in Philadelphia so far?”
“Yes, I really like the city. I miss my family, of course, but I enjoy sharing an apartment with Melanie. She’s been showing me around, so it’s been a lot easier to transition than it would have been.”
“Good.”
“She’s also teaching me a lot about the company, but there’s one thing I’m curious about.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, she said the other executive office on our floor is your brother’s, but I never see him. She hasn’t said much about it, but I got the impression he’s moved somewhere. If that’s true, are you going to bring someone else in, or convert the office to another purpose?”
He grinned. “Are you looking for a promotion already?”
She looked startled then laughed when she realized he was kidding. “No, of course not. I just thought maybe you hadn’t had time to think about it and maybe I could help with it.”
He sipped his wine. “No, we’ll be keeping that office available for my brother. It’s not generally known, but my brother is going through a rebellious phase.” He tipped his head. “Actually, he’s been in a rebellious phase since he was a child, but about a year ago—six months after our father died—he decided he needed to get away and find himself. You see, he never wanted to be part of this company, I think more because he didn’t get along with our father and didn’t want to be part of his legacy, rather than because of any real aversion to running the business. He didn’t like how Dad ran things and, I think, when I took over, he felt I was too much like our father and he decided to rebel against me. When I insisted he take a more active role in the company, he decided to walk away entirely.”
She glanced at him with a warmth and concern in her eyes. “Have you seen him or talked to him in the last year?”
He shook his head. “I have no idea where he is or what he’s doing, but he’s always wanted to travel so he’s probably doing something like hiking around Asia.”
“Are you worried about him?”
He was, but he wouldn’t admit it. “He can take care of himself. He can live quite comfortably, on what he’s earned with this company and the generous inheritance from Dad, for a long time.”
“Do you miss him?”
A typical female question.
“I don’t miss his brooding or his constant disapproval of my methods.”
She nodded. “In other words, you wouldn’t admit it if you did.” She finished her last bite of prime rib then put down her fork. “Clearly from the fact you’re keeping his office, you’re hoping he’ll come back. The question is, what will you do when he does? Will you listen to his ideas and try to incorporate them into your plans for the company?”
Irritation spiked through him. “Don’t you think you’re overstepping your bounds?” he said in a stern voice.
Her lips compressed and she looked properly contrite. “I’m sorry, sir. You’re right. It’s none of my business.”
Instantly, he missed the warmth in her eyes. The connection they’d been sharing that went beyond the boss-employee relationship. Maybe they couldn’t act on the sexual attraction between them, but he didn’t want to lose the closeness they’d established over dinner.
She had only been trying to help, but he wasn’t used to anyone poking their nose in his family business. On the other hand, he hadn’t been doing a great job keeping a good relationship with his brother and he truly wanted him back.
“I’m sorry. I’m not used to opening up about my family relationships. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
He didn’t go on to tell her that this business with Brenhart and Saunders was exactly the kind of thing Rafe would want them to pursue.
Her eyes filled with understanding and she placed her hand on his. Instantly, a spark of awareness sizzled through him. He saw it in her eyes, too, and she shifted her hand away and wrapped her fingers around the stem of her wine glass, then lifted it to her lips. He couldn’t help but watch as she sipped the burgundy liquid. Her lips glistened as she ran her tongue around them and he longed to lean forward and taste them. To slip his tongue inside her silky, warm mouth, then to kiss her while she melted into his arms.
A waiter came by and collected their dinner plates, replacing them with martini glasses filled with chocolate mousse.
“Sometimes it helps to talks about things,” she said. “Why don’t you tell me a story about you and your brother growing up? How did you get along?”
He smiled. “Well, when I turned eight years old, Rafe was six, and he decided he wanted to get me something for my birthday. Our parents always arranged a gift from brother-to-brother on these occasions, but Rafe was adamant that he would arrange his own gift. Something he got himself. So on my birthday, he handed me a small box that he’d wrapped himself. There was tape everywhere and not all of the box was covered, but he was proud of his accomplishment. When I opened it up, inside was a gold watch. Just like the one my father had, that he knew I had always been fascinated with.”
“Where did he get a gold watch?”
“That’s the thing. It was my Dad’s. At that age, Rafe didn’t really understand the idea of ownership. He just knew I loved that watch, and Dad barely wore that one since he had several, so on the morning of my birthday Rafe retrieved it from my Dad’s dressing room, wrapped it up, and presented it to me.”
She smiled, her green eyes glittering in the soft light of the candles. “That’s sweet.”
She was right. Even at eight years old, Dane had been touched by his brother’s generosity and desire to make him happy. He had hated the fact that his father had only seen a child who needed a lesson in ownership and had beaten him with a belt. Their mother had not stood up for Rafe because she would never disagree with their father.
“But enough about me. Let’s delve into your past, shall we?”
“What do you want to know?”
“Why don’t you tell me about this ex of yours. You said he’s incredibly handsome?” he said with a grin.
She laughed. “Yes, he’s confident and handsome like you. But in every other way, he’s totally different.”
“How so?”
“For one, I could never imagine him in a business suit. He rode into Bakersfield—the little town I grew up in—on a big Harley, wearing torn jeans and a leather jacket. He’s tall, broad shouldered, and totally ripped.” She grinned. “Okay in that way he’s just like you, but his muscles are covered with tattoos, at least over his arms, shoulders, and back. And he plays guitar in a rock band.”
“So that’s the kind of guy you like? A free-wheeling musician?”
“Not necessarily. He just…” She shrugged. “I don’t know…”
“Swept you off your feet?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“So why did you think he loved you?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“No, but your eyes did.”
She drew in a deep breath. “He always looked at me like I was something special, and even though the other girls in town fawned over him, he only seemed interested in me.”
“I can understand that.”
She gazed at him uncertainly. “Thank you. You know, that’s another way you two are alike. He was very charming, too.”
Dane wondered how this biker guitarist could just dump her like yesterday’s garbage. Some guys just didn’t understand a good thing when they had it.
“But I guess what really convinced me he was in love with me…” Her gaze flicked to his. “Because you’re right, I did think that … was when he got this tattoo.”
“Don’t tell me he got your name tattooed across his chest?”
“No, it was on his shoulder, and it wasn’t my name. In fact, it was really sweet. You see, I had a framed picture of a leopard moth in my room, which he asked me about. I told him that when I was a kid, I was always a perfectionist, and one time a teacher gave us a list of ten butterflies and moths that we had to draw as a science project. She wanted them from a specific book in the school library, but there were only five copies and everyone kept checking them out. By the time I got a copy, with only a few days left before the deadline, I realized that the picture of the leopard moth had been torn out of the book. I drew all the others, but I was in tears because I didn’t know what to do about the tenth picture.
“The next evening, my mom showed up with the picture I needed. She’d taken the afternoon off work and driven all the way to Garnersville to the big library there and found the book, then photocopied the page and brought it home to me. I got an A on the project and that picture became a symbol of how much my mom would do to support me and how she would always be there for me. When Storm chose to have a leopard moth tattoo, I foolishly thought he was telling me he would always be there for me, too.”
She gazed at her wine glass and the sadness in her eyes tore at Dane’s heart. How could the guy have been that callous?
She shrugged. “Now I realize that it was probably just a badge of sorts. Like a notch on his bed to represent another conquest.”
“You know you’re better off without him.”
Her lips curled up slightly. “So people keep telling me.”
A waiter came by and cleared away their dessert plates and coffee cups. Music began playing and a few couples wandered onto the dance floor.
“Let’s dance,” he said.
She glanced at him. “Really? But I thought we were here on business.”
“That doesn’t mean we can’t relax and enjoy ourselves.”
Looking a little skeptical, she rose with him and he led her to the floor. As soon as he swept her into his arms, he realized his mistake. He was far too aware of her soft, warm body close to his. He longed to pull her closer, and feel her breasts crushed against him, to capture her full lips and plunder her delectable mouth.
He had to concentrate so as not to allow his body to harden noticeably. He had a lot of self-control, but why was he making things so difficult for himself? As much as he wanted this woman, she’d made it clear she didn’t want to have an intimate relationship with him.
As soon as the song ended, he led her from the floor.
“I think it’s time we call it a night.”
* * *
Jessica wasn’t sure quite what had happened. First, Dane had led her to the dance floor and drew her close, sending her hormones revving, then as soon as the song ended, he’d dragged her out to get their coats, and before she knew it they were in his limo heading home.
At least, she assumed he was taking her to her apartment. Surely he hadn’t gotten the wrong idea and thought she wanted to go back to his place. They had talked about personal things and then when they were on the dance f
loor, he could probably see the desire in her eyes.
She couldn’t help it. He was a sexy, debonair man. Strong and masculine. Charming. And when he wanted to be, which was most of the time, authoritative. In a way that made her want to succumb to his power. Tonight she’d seen a softer side of him, but that sense of authority and power that she found so devastatingly sexy were ever present.
She glanced at the streets they passed and even with her sketchy knowledge of Philadelphia, she soon realized they were heading out of the city, and she knew he lived right downtown, very near where she’d first seen him on the street.
They didn’t talk much on the ride, but when they pulled up in front of her building and she turned to the car door, he rested his hand on her arm.
“Jessica, I enjoyed our evening together. It was good to talk about Rafe. It’s been a long time.”
She smiled. “I enjoyed tonight, too.”
Then her gaze caught his and she sat, mesmerized, as he leaned toward her. His lips brushed hers lightly at first then he deepened the kiss. She couldn’t help it. She melted against him. His arms came around her, holding her tighter to his body. His persuasive lips moved on hers with passion, filling her with longing.
She wanted him. She knew it. She’d always known it.
But they couldn’t.
He seemed to sense her withdrawal and he released her. She stared into his intense blue eyes, so filled with desire.
“I … uh … have a roommate,” she stammered. But, of course, he already knew that.
He smiled and stroked her cheek with one finger, sending a tremor through her.
“Jessica, if I’d wanted you in my bed this evening, you’d already be there.”
He gestured to the chauffeur and the man hopped out of the car and opened her door. Dane followed her out of the car and walked her to the entrance of her apartment. Once there, he waited while she unlocked the door and pulled it open, then he took her hand and kissed it, his lips brushing her skin lightly, sending shimmering awareness through her.
“Just remember. If you ever change your mind about pursuing something more than a boss-employee relationship, all you have to do is say the word.”
