Dare took the chair across from him. “Durango told me and Chase what’s going on with Aunt Sarah. You know the family is here if you need us for anything, but I know things are going to be fine.”
Jared nodded as he rubbed a hand down his face. “God, I hope so. I don’t even know how Mom’s appointment went today. I stopped by earlier but it was like getting blood out of a turnip. The only thing she wanted to talk about was my engagement.”
Dare chuckled. “Well, you have to admit that has given the family something to talk about. Who would have thought that you of all people would decide to finally tie the knot?”
Jared frowned. “It’s just an engagement, Dare.”
Dare nodded. “Yes, but unless you know something that I don’t, most engagements are the prelude to a wedding. You’ll be marrying Dana eventually.”
Jared took another sip of his drink as he met Dare’s gaze over the rim of his glass. One thing he’d learned as a successful attorney was knowing whom he could trust to keep their mouths closed and whom he couldn’t.
“The engagement isn’t real.”
Dare straightened in his chair. “Excuse me?”
Jared spent the next ten minutes telling Dare the entire story, including how he and Dana had originally met.
“Damn, a pretended engagement. You know what happened when Shelly and I tried pretending a courtship. It became the real thing,” Dare said, remembering that time.
Jared stared at Dare. “That won’t happen to me. You know how I feel about marriage.”
Dare chuckled. “Yeah, and you know how I felt about it, too. But I can’t imagine not having Shelly in my life now.”
“The two of you had a history. And then there was AJ.”
Dare nodded when he thought of the son he hadn’t known about until Shelly had returned to town after having been gone ten years. “But even with all that, Shelly and I had to get reacquainted, find our selves all over again. It was only then that we discovered that we still loved each other.”
Jared snorted. “At work I see marriage at its ugliest—when two people who’d vowed to love each other till death do them part, face each other in a judge’s chamber with hatred in their eyes, wanting to strip the other bare of anything and everything.”
He chuckled before continuing. “The man I’m representing in court tomorrow is fighting his soon-to-be ex-wife for custody of the dog.”
Dare shook his head sadly. “Don’t let what you see in your profession discolor your opinion of marriage, Jared.”
Jared sighed deeply. “It al read y has, Dare. This thing with Dana is for Mom’s sake and there’s no way I’m going to for get it.”
Four
Dana glanced up from her desk and smiled when Cybil walked in. “Good morning.”
“Umm, I don’t know how good it is when you find out your best friend has been keeping secrets.”
Dana raised an arched brow. “Excuse me?”
Cybil frowned as she crossed the room to stand in front of Dana’s desk. “I don’t know whether you’re excused or not. News of your engagement made the society column today,” she said, waving a section of the Atlanta Constitution in front of Dana’s eyes.
“What!” Dana snatched the paper from Cybil to read the article. “I didn’t know.”
Cybil lifted a con fused brow as she crossed her arms over her chest. “What didn’t you know? That you’re engaged to one of Atlanta’s most eligible bachelors or that news of it would appear in today’s paper?”
Hearing the hurt in her best friend’s voice, Dana lifted her gaze from the article to meet Cybil’s gaze. “I can explain.”
“Do tell.”
Sighing deeply, Dana stood and crossed the room to close her door. She turned to Cybil. “You better sit for this.”
It took a full twenty minutes to explain everything. It would have taken less time had her best friend not interrupted every five minutes to ask so many questions.
“Boy, this is unreal. The entire office is buzzing. I hope Jared gets you a different engagement ring. People will have a lot to say if they see you wearing the same ring Luther gave you.”
Dana blinked. Jeez. She hadn’t thought of that since she hadn’t expected news of their engagement going public.
“Who do you think tipped off the papers?” Cybil asked.
“I’m not sure but it really doesn’t matter at this point.” Dana knew it had to have been some one in Jared’s family, probably his mother. The article had been nicely writ ten, letting all Atlanta know that one of the city’s most sought-after bachelors had gotten engaged to Dana Rollins over the Easter weekend. “I wonder if Jared has seen it.”
Cybil smiled that little knowing smile that meant her mind was churning and usually in the wrong direction. “My guess is that he has.” She chuckled. “I can as sure you that everyone in this office has.”
Dana looked at her with a concerned expression on her face. “What are they saying?” She knew if anyone knew about the office gossip it was Cybil. Not that she participated in it but everyone knew that her two staff members, Mary Bonner and Helen Fisher, were Kessler Industries’ biggest gossips.
“They’re perplexed since no one noticed a ring on your finger. But I think most of them are happy for you considering your break up with Luther. They’ve gone from pitying you to envying you, especially since you’ve snagged the hand some and wealth y Jared Westmoreland.”
Cybil’s smile suddenly faded before she continued. “But, once you and Jared break this engagement every one will go back to feeling sorry for you again and wondering how you could let two good men get away.” She met Dana’s gaze. “I have a feeling I’m not going to like the way this will turn out, Dana.”
Dana wasn’t all that crazy about how things were going to turn out, either, but it was too late now. She had given Jared her word. She opened her mouth to tell Cybil not to worry, that in the end things would work out okay when the phone on her desk rang.
Grateful for a moment’s reprieve she reached over and picked it up. “Hello?”
“Good morning, Dana.”
Dana couldn’t help the flutter that suddenly went through her midsection up on hearing the husky, sexy sound of Jared’s voice. It would not have been so bad if she didn’t also remember their kiss yesterday, not to mention the feel of his hand on her thigh. His kisses were getting bolder, hotter and more earth-shattering.
“Good morning, Jared.” She glanced over at Cybil then quickly looked away when she saw how intently her friend was watching her.
“Have you seen this morning’s paper?” he asked.
She considered his question and glanced over at Cybil again. This time she gave her a pointed look, one that re quested privacy. However, Cybil just sat there, ignoring her re quest.
Dana sighed after giving Cybil a mean look and answered Jared’s question. “Yes, I’ve seen it.”
“I apologize for not letting you know about it, but I didn’t know my self until I read it this morning. It seems my mother’s happiness is getting the best of her.”
“Yes, it appears that way, doesn’t it,” she responded, not knowing what else she could say. From his tone he didn’t seem up set. In fact there appeared to be an underlying tenderness and warmth in his voice. Or was she just imagining things?
“Will you have lunch with me?” he asked.
“Lunch?”
“Yes, at Jenzen’s.”
Dana’s eyes widened. Jenzen’s was an exclusive restaurant in North Atlanta. She’d heard that reservations had to be made well in advance, of ten times weeks. It was certainly not some place that she frequented.
“Lunch is fine. Do you want me to meet you there?” she asked. She hated admitting it but she was looking for ward to having lunch with him and a part of her chafed at the thought of that.
“No, I’ll come pick you up. Is eleven-thirty okay?”
She checked her watch. She had a meeting that would be ending a few minutes before then. “Ye
s, that will be fine. I’ll be standing in front of the building.”
“Okay. I’m looking for ward to seeing you again, Dana.”
Dana hung up the phone, closed her eyes and bowed her head wondering how Jared could set off so many emotions with in her. Emotions she’d never felt before.
“You okay?”
Dana snatched her head up. She had forgotten Cybil was still in her office. “Yes, I’m fine. That was Jared.”
Cybil smiled. “So I heard.” She then stood. “Enjoy lunch but promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“That you won’t get your self in too deep. I saw the expression on your face when you heard Jared’s voice.”
“And?”
“And I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
Dana waved her hand in the air, dismissing Cybil’s concerns. “Hey, I know the score between me and Jared. I’m merely doing him a favor.”
“Some favor. I’ve seen him before and he’s a hot tie, every woman’s fantasy. How far do you plan to take this pretended engagement? Will the two of you get intimate?”
Dana swallowed. “Intimate?”
Cybil grinned. “Yeah, you know, sleep together. Share the same pillow. Bump and grind. Have orgasms.”
The scenario that suddenly played out in Dana’s mind had her heart beating so fast she thought she would pass out. “Of course not!”
“Are you sure about that?”
Before Dana could respond Cybil opened the door and walked out.
Jared gazed across his desk at Sylvester Brewster, hating to admit that he hadn’t looked for ward to their meeting.
At twenty-eight, Sylvester was a well-known re cording artist who toured the country performing songs that consistently hit the number-one spot on any billboard charts.
Unfortunately, in addition to his blockbuster hit records, Sylvester had this serious problem of wife-boredom. The man changed wives like he changed shirts, but one thing was al ways certain, when he cast one off to take on another he was extremely generous with the alimony.
Jared sighed deeply. It seemed Brewster was read y to dump the third Mrs. Brewster for wife number four. The only glitch in his plans was that his cur rent wife wanted more alimony than Sylvester was willing to give her, which had his client fuming.
“I don’t want to give her one penny more, Jared. Baby or no baby.”
Jared lifted a brow. This was the first he’d heard of a baby. “Your wife is pregnant?”
“She says she is and could well be, but it makes no difference since it’s not mine.”
Jared’s brow inched even higher. “Do you know that for certain?”
“Yes,” Sylvester said with a frustrated sigh. Then lowering his voice as if the office might possibly be bugged, he whispered. “I’m sterile, man. As sterile as a new hospital on opening day. It’s the result of a child hood illness. So if Jackie’s claiming she’s pregnant with my child then it’s not mine.”
Jared sighed deeply. “If what you’re saying is true, that won’t be hard to prove with a paternity test.”
“It is true and no body is going to try to lay a claim that I’m their baby’s daddy.”
Jared watched Sylvester pace around the room. “Should I be surprised if you re marry with in hours of your divorce being final?” he asked, knowing that was usually the norm.
Sylvester stopped his pacing and met Jared’s gaze and he actually saw deep hurt in the man’s eyes. “No. I loved Jackie and wasn’t involved with anyone else. With her there was never a dull moment, man, al ways excitement. She was something else. For the first time in my life I fell in love and look what happens. And that’s what makes it so bad. Jackie refuses to level with me even after I told her I was sterile and there was no way that baby was mine. Now she’s claiming that I’m the one who’s lying.” In anger, he hit his fist on the desk. “Women can’t be trusted, man. I’ll never marry again.”
Jared was silent for several moments before he nodded, al though not for one minute did he believe Brewster would keep that promise. Marriage was an addiction to Brewster, one Jared was glad he didn’t have.
“I’ll con tact Jackie’s attorney next week. I’m sorry things have come to this because I thought the two of you made a nice couple. But if you’re certain she’s been unfaithful then—”
“I’m certain. I don’t have the name of the man she was involved with but there was an affair. Her pregnancy is proof enough.”
Half an hour later, Jared had completed dictating information into his recorder for his sec re tar y to transcribe. Standing, he walked over to the window and looked out. This was another morning that wasn’t going well. First off the bat, while drinking his coffee and reading his newspaper, he had come across the article announcing his engagement to Dana.
Then he had arrived at Garbella Jewelers as soon as their doors had opened only to find that they had al ready sold Cord’s ring. He had ended up purchasing another ring and was racking his brain for an excuse to give his family as to why Dana would no longer be wearing the original one. In his opinion, the only saving grace was that the one he’d purchased had a diamond that was twice as large and was closer to what he imagined Dana might like.
He sighed as he checked his watch. It was time to leave if he wanted to pick Dana up for lunch on time.
Dana.
She was becoming a major problem. He didn’t consider his proposal a business arrangement. Otherwise he would have drawn up for mal documents between them. She was merely doing him a favor. They had exchanged favors before so he knew she wouldn’t go back on her word. But there were factors thrown in the equation that he hadn’t counted on.
Like his strong attraction to her. And the dreams he’d been having.
Last night he had actually dreamed about her legs and thighs, in addition to other parts of her that he hadn’t seen. In his dream, he had gotten all the way under that skirt she’d been wearing yesterday, first caressing the soft skin of her inner thigh before letting his fingers slide in side her damp heat. And then there were the kisses they had shared. His mouth tingled just remembering the taste of her on his tongue. Just thinking about her body parts and their kiss made his arousal thick en against his zipper.
For the life of him he couldn’t understand this unusual brand of sexual chemistry. It wasn’t as if he didn’t come into contact with beautiful women. He’d once dated a former Miss Georgia for heaven’s sakes. So what was there about Dana Rollins that had him counting the minutes, the seconds before he would see her again?
He hated admitting it, but the women he’d dated in the past were usually self-centered, aggressive and accustomed to getting their own way. But not Dana. She was strong-willed, but al though he had witnessed her explosive tem per the first day they’d met, he knew she was a kind person. She had cared enough about his mother’s welfare to go along with his outrageous proposal of a fake engagement.
And speaking of his mother, Sarah Westmoreland definitely liked Dana. Yesterday she had gone so far as to suggest they have a short engagement and a June wedding. He had immediately burst a hole in her bubble by letting her know that was out of the question. But still, seeing the look of happiness on his mother’s face made him realize that no matter what, this pre tense of an engagement with Dana was worth it.
Jared rubbed the top of his head as he remembered his conversation with Dare last night. He’d meant what he told his cousin. Nothing, and he meant nothing, would develop between him and Dana, no matter how attracted he was to her. It wouldn’t be the first time he was attracted to a woman and it wouldn’t be the last.
His meeting with Sylvester had reaffirmed his conviction that marriage wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be and he intended to enjoy his remaining days on this earth as a single man.
Whatever pep talk he’d given himself an hour earlier stood on shaky ground when lust took control of his body. A jolt of sexual awareness raced up his spine when he pulled up and saw Dana standing in fr
ont of her office building.
She was the mod el of professionalism with her upswept hair do and two-piece navy-blue powerhouse suit. Her knee-length skirt was longer than the one she’d been wearing yesterday, thank goodness. He wasn’t sure he’d been able to resist putting his hands on her bare thighs again.
She opened the car door and slipped in side. “Hi, Jared.”
He swallowed. The air was suddenly charged with sexual energy. “Dana.”
He watched as she snapped her seat belt in place and tried not to notice how her skirt inched up a little, exposing those thighs and long, shapely legs he had dreamed about. He breathed in the scent of her, a womanly fragrance that was just another sexy de tail for his fantasies.
“Were you waiting long?” he asked, adjusting his sunglasses and trying to control the rap id beat of his pulse.
She smiled as she pressed back against the car’s leather interior, unintentionally showing more leg and thigh. His heartbeat raced right along with his pulse. “No, I walked out a few minutes ago. Your timing was excellent.”
His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he eased into traffic. There were cars everywhere, and he needed to focus on his driving and not on how firm Dana’s breasts looked against her blouse. And heaven for bid he thought about her mouth and how it had parted under his yesterday, inviting him to deep en their kiss.
“Were you able to get the ring?”
He allowed his gaze to travel over to her when he came to a traffic light. “No. They had al read y sold it so I had to buy another one.” He watched as that sexy mouth twisted into a frown.
“What will we tell your family?”
“That I liked this one better.” Jared sighed deeply. That was the truth. He still didn’t understand why it bothered him to see Cord’s ring on her finger. Probably because he knew the whole story and felt she’d deserved better.
He glanced over at her again and watched as she pursed those same sexy lips and saw the frown lines appear between her prettily arched eyebrows. “It’s going to have to sound convincing when you tell them that,” she said.
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