Revealing her words had infuriated him, he tightened his hands on her with just enough pressure to cause her mild pain but not enough to make her cry out. “Yes, we have a deal,” he gritted in a low tone. “I only hope you remember that tomorrow night, darling. Because nothing will keep me from claiming my rights.”
His rights? The icy coldness of his tone sent a chill down Sophie’s spine. She suspected being his wife wasn’t going to be the thing fairy tales were made of. Then his hands were gone and she watched him stride away, releasing a sigh of relief and not giving a damn who heard it.
All of a sudden she knew she couldn’t take anymore, not tonight; she had to get out of there before she screamed or shouted out the truth to everyone! The walls were closing in on her and tomorrow they’d be exchanged for prison bars. She whipped around to flee, slamming bodily into the tall stranger who’d been watching her. How could she have forgotten him? Without warning his hands were on her, steadying her, yet not setting her away from him.
Her heart jumped in her breast when she glanced up to meet the deep greenish-gold of his magnetic eyes. So much assailed Sophie’s senses all at once. The strength in his warm, slightly callused hands; the hardness of a body probably honed by healthy eating and exercise, and a face tanned deeply by the sun, handsome in spite of the tiny scar above his left eyebrow.
Her nostrils flared, gently taking in his masculine scent, something spicy and hot and not overpowering. Teasingly light.
Unexpectedly arousing.
Time seemed to stand still. His charisma was so powerful she feared her reaction was obvious to those in their vicinity. At the very least, obvious to the people who knew her like her father and Jonathan. However, her father wasn’t there; she searched the crowd nervously for Jonathan.
Years of schooling and practice had trained Sophie on how to camouflage her feelings in public, only allowing people to see what she wanted them to see. However, she knew her instant response to this man had caught her off-guard, slipping beyond the formal and appropriate decorum she struggled to maintain. She knew the heat filling her cheeks was as visible to him as to anyone else looking on. She sank her teeth into her bottom lip, wondering how many seconds had passed, how many minutes. Surely too many to go unnoticed.
“Excuse me,” he murmured in a deep baritone, catching Sophie unaware. His gaze skimmed over her face before falling to her breasts. She reluctantly glanced down, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her. Her breasts were barely concealed, spilling over the top of her gown. Her gaze flew back to his. The interest in his eyes danced with as much sexual awareness as displeasure, causing a fire storm to sweep through her.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes!” Her husky tone revealed the man had reached her on a purely sensual level. She made a slight effort to pull away, but his hands only tightened around her upper arms. She narrowed her eyes on his. After a few tense moments of silence she ordered, “Please take your hands off me.”
His eyebrows shot upward in obvious surprise before his face turned dark, like a volcano getting ready to erupt. The look he cast upon her caused a sliver of alarm down her spine. Sophie hadn’t meant her tone to come out sounding so snooty. His reaction over it made her thankful she was in a crowded room.
Slowly, his hands uncurled, a muscle twitching in his strong jaw. Sophie got the distinct impression he wanted to say something, and was just barely holding onto his control. The last thing she wanted was a confrontation that might draw attention to them, or even worse, end up in the paper the next day. Right next to her and Jonathan’s wedding picture.
He surprised her by standing back, gallantly making room for her to leave in an exaggerated gesture that caused her cheeks to fill with heat. She glared at him for a moment, fighting the unaccustomed impulse to slap his handsome face. Something warned her that was the response he was hoping for. Well, she wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. She twirled around and without as much as a backward glance, exited through the doors into the breezy tropical night.
By the time Sophie neared the end of the steps leading down to the street, a stretch limousine pulled up in front of her. The driver jumped from behind the wheel, and opened the door for her. She gratefully slipped in, laying her head back and relaxing against the buttery soft cushions, resisting the urge to order him to drive her all the way to Canada.
How I hate Jonathan! And how she blamed her mother, whom she hadn’t seen since she was a young child, for putting her into this intolerable situation. If she didn’t love her father so much she would have told Jonathan to go straight to hell when he informed her she was going to marry him, and why he had the power to make her do so. At first she’d balked, until realizing there was no way she could knowingly cause her father’s demise by remaining indifferent to Jonathan’s threats. Threats, Sophie knew, he wouldn’t hesitate to carry out.
Within minutes, the driver pulled the luxury car into the parking garage beneath her expensive Ft. Lauderdale apartment building. As expected, she waited until he opened the door before slipping from the leather interior with a brief acknowledgment. She turned toward the elevator with one thought on her mind: wondering how she could commit murder and get away with it. Because there was no way she would get married the next morning, much less let Jonathan put his hands on her. Only, who was she fooling? Sophie knew she really had no choice in the matter. Unless her fairy godmother appeared waving her magic wand, she was going to walk down that aisle in the morning and see the whole charade through. She’d worry about tomorrow night when it arrived.
She shivered repulsively, watching the numbers light up as the elevator took her to the seventh floor. Thoughts of her and Jonathan were quickly replaced with the intriguing man at the museum, their brief encounter flashing through her mind. She couldn’t help recalling the little thrill that had surged through her blood when she’d bumped into him. Little thrill? More like a colossal mind-blowing, dizzying rush! She could still feel the warmth of his strong hands on her arms, causing a delicious tingle she hadn’t taken the time to fully appreciate. The fact his height complimented hers was an added bonus. She couldn’t help wondering what dancing with him would be like.
Impatient with herself for fantasizing about a stranger she’d probably never see again, she shook her head to clear it. She had to figure a way out of her current dilemma. She stepped off the elevator, noticing two things at once. Several light bulbs had burned out leaving the corridor dim, and there was a stack of boxes against the wall by the apartment door nearest hers, a clear indication someone had finally moved in. She vaguely wondered if it was the couple from England she’d met viewing it the month before. It would be nice having neighbors again. An electrical fire had swept through the seventh and eighth floors a few months before, forcing most of the tenants out during renovations, and Sophie had been the first one to move back in. Once the penthouse apartment was completed, Jonathan had plans to move them up there.
It took several tries of fumbling with the key in her lock before she was able to insert it and open the door. She immediately dropped her evening handbag on the table in the foyer, following it with the diamond engagement ring. Reaching up, she all but yanked the emerald choker from around her throat, tossing that there as well.
She closed and locked the door behind her before reaching for the light switch to turn on the floor lamp in the corner, but nothing happened, which didn’t make any sense because the dimming lights above the mirror in the foyer were on. She supposed it was possible the light bulb had burned out, but that didn’t explain why the lights in the corridor were out. Frowning, she began to wonder if the building was experiencing another electrical problem.
She wasn’t about to wait for the fire alarm and reached for the phone to call maintenance when the doorbell rang, halting her. “Yes?” she called out, peering into the peephole. She could just make out a uniform of some kind but the hat the man was wearing kept his features in the shadows as he read over something on th
e clipboard in his hand. Someone had apparently already phoned in the problem.
“Electrician, ma’am. A couple of the tenants have called about a problem with the power. Are you experiencing any trouble?”
Sophie smiled upon opening her door. “As a matter of fact, I…” Her gaze dropped to the gun he pulled out from beneath the clipboard, the rest of what she’d been about to say stuck in her throat. Taking an instinctive step back, her startled gaze darted up to his.
“I’m not going to hurt you, ma’am.” He was shorter than Sophie but by no more than an inch or two, pushing his way into her apartment as he spoke to her in a tone that almost bordered on apologetic.
“Who are you? What do you want?” she demanded in a voice hardly recognizable as her own. Several wild thoughts flashed instantly through her mind. “Take my jewelry and go.” She indicated the marble table.
“Jewelry?” He actually looked dumbfounded, glancing at the jewelry before returning his gaze to her. “I’m not here for your jewelry,” he explained quickly, as if to reassure her.
Sophie became frightened then, wondering what that meant. She stared at the gun in his hand, which was shaking slightly, but that didn’t stop her heart from racing with fear. “Then why do you have a gun?” It wasn’t very big but that didn’t make it any less deadly.
“A necessity,” he said quietly, somewhat distracted.
As he walked further into the room, her mind registered the fact he’d left the door wide open behind him; a careless move for a criminal. If he isn’t here to rob me, then what does he want? She immediately halted the direction of her thoughts. Now was definitely not the time to let her thoughts run wild and besides, he didn’t strike her as a rapist or a killer. The profiles she’d seen on TV about serial killers quickly evaporated from her thoughts. If she was going to stand a chance against escaping him, she had to keep a clear head.
She knew she had to escape him somehow but doubted she’d get very far in three-inch heels, and she certainly couldn’t outrun a bullet. Strangely enough the man seemed intent on something and at the moment, it wasn’t her. He appeared to be looking for something, or rather someone. As he continued to search the darkness beyond her, Sophie gave him a shove, turned and ran.
“Hey!” he shouted after her, just as she reached the elevator.
She jabbed her finger on several buttons, cursing when the doors didn’t open right away. As she swung around wildly, her gaze fell on the door directly across from the elevator that led to the stairwell.
“Wait!” he called out as if fully expecting her to do his bidding, sounding more anxious than angry.
Sophie ignored him, realizing she’d be a fool for letting the opportunity to escape slip by. Swallowing the fear lodged in her throat, she pulled her gown up and opened the stairwell door, dashing down the stairs as fast as she could run.
Chapter 3
The elevator door opened and Brent stepped into the hallway just in time to see Sophie disappearing behind the stairwell door. Shooting Tom a look of disgust, he took off after her. If you want something done right, do it yourself. All Tom had to do was escort her to the apartment across the hallway and hold her there until he arrived. It was his fault for not taking into account that Tom’s adventures were strictly limited to office work and not kidnapping.
Brent knew he had to stop Sophie before she reached the garage, and security. Senator Adams had spent nearly a week just convincing him to help and now the whole plan was about to go up in smoke. There was no way he was about to face his old friend this early in the game with news of failure. He hit the door running, the force sending it against the wall as he sprinted after her taking the stairs two at a time. Her speed and determination surprised him; she was already a floor away. Funny, she hadn’t struck him as a survivalist but more like a woman who’d be helpless against someone kidnapping her. He’d taken her softness and pampered upbringing for granted and should have remembered that looks could be deceiving.
Just as she reached the third floor, he heard her gasp; watching as she stumbled before releasing a cry he suspected was from sheer frustration more than pain. Gaining on her, he reached out, his fingertips just grazing the delicate bones of her shoulder. A scream of pure fright echoed through the hollow stairwell, almost breaking his eardrums. She might as well have pulled the fire alarm. He swore. If the security guards didn’t hear that and come running, it would be a miracle.
His hand closed firmly over her shoulder and he pushed her into a dark corner, entrapping her there with his body. Sensing she was about to let out another scream, he quickly slapped his hand over her mouth, effectively cutting it off.
“I’m not going to hurt you…damn it!” he swore when she bit down on his hand. “Unless you do that again!” he threatened, grating the words out as he shook his hand.
Brent knew it was too dark for Sophie to see him, but she had to know he wasn’t the same man who’d entered her apartment. He and Tom were nowhere near the same height, or build. His hand returned to her mouth as he pinned her against the wall. He realized his mistake immediately. Everything about her assailed his senses, blinding him to what his objectives were. The last thing he expected was his body’s betrayal by responding to her nearness. The first thing he had to do was distance himself.
“I’ll remove my hand, if you promise…”
Brent shouldn’t have reminded her about his hand. The next thing he knew she was biting down on it a second time. Adding insult to injury, she shoved him in the chest as hard as she could at the same time, catching him unaware. Before he had a chance to recover she took advantage of the moment by pushing herself away from the wall and taking flight.
“Damn it!” Brent grunted in anger. She managed to descend one step before he tangled a hand in her hair and hauled her back into his arms. A cry escaped her but Brent ignored it. He yanked her roughly against him. “Bite me again and you’ll find out what it feels like,” he muttered between his teeth.
“Who are you?” she asked softly. Brent felt her slight tremble and steeled himself for what he had to do. “What do you want?”
“One question at a time, princess.” Brent realized he had to assert his dominance early on if he wanted to remain in control of the situation. Not giving much thought to the consequences, he pushed Sophie up against the concrete wall and leaned in close, threatening her with his superior strength and size.
His actions had repercussions he wasn’t anticipating though. Like the rush of heat surging through his blood, turning the victim in his arms into a desirable woman. Wrestling with her provided conditions he hadn’t counted on. Appealing circumstances which could easily upset the scheme of things if he let it.
Too much body contact for one.
“I demand you keep your hands to yourself!” she whispered sharply.
“Do you now?” he said softly, amused at her haughty tone. “You’re not in any position to demand anything.”
With every breath Brent took, he could smell her. Beyond the light scent of soap and perfume, to the sensuous woman beneath. A sexy combination of innocence and know-how. It was playing havoc with his senses, preventing him from keeping a clear head. He swore beneath his breath. Nothing good was going to come of this.
She was tall like he liked his women but he wasn’t into rich, spoiled, society types who held themselves above others, thinking they were better than everyone else. He’d watched Sophie long enough to know she was used to the best in life and probably demanded it. A woman who let society rule her emotions, not her heart. He recalled her quiet, almost suffering acceptance of Lord touching and kissing her, putting up with it because it was expected of her and not because she’d liked it. That action alone told him a lot about her.
She was probably as cold as a block of ice in bed.
“I demand you tell me who you are and what this is all about,” she said in a frigid tone, confirming his thoughts.
Her snooty tone grated on his nerves. “Demand all you want
, princess, it won’t get you anywhere.” He was glad she’d broken his train of thought. He could care less what she was like in bed and would do well to remember that. What’s more, he doubted her father would appreciate his wayward notions. Brent respected and liked Senator Adams. It was because of that reason that alone he was doing this in the first place.
This, meaning kidnapping. So far Sophie was more trouble than he’d anticipated which could cause serious problems down the road. He’d have to watch her like a hawk. It hadn’t taken her long to get the drop on Tom. Well, she’d learn soon enough that he wasn’t a pushover. “Come on.” He yanked her away from the wall.
“Let me go!” She tried to pull free. “Ouch! You’re hurting me! I’m not going anywhere with you!”
Brent swung around and pulled her up against him. “You have a choice, lady; you can come with me the easy way, or like a sack of potatoes over my shoulder. In case it hasn’t hit you yet, I’m stronger than you.” She stiffened even more, apparently not liking his condescending tone.
Suddenly a door on the floor above them opened and someone entered the stairwell. The lights flickered back on at the same time.
Talk about rotten luck! And timing! Brent’s gaze pinned Sophie. He watched her black-fringed eyes widen in shock as they moved over him. He’d removed his tie and jacket but was still wearing the same black slacks. His forearms were bare where he’d rolled his white shirtsleeves up to his elbows. There was no doubt in her pretty eyes that she recognized him. Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.
“You!” she gasped, her accusing tone slicing through him like a sharp knife.
As her thorny exclamation echoed through the stairwell, Brent swore, tilting his head to see who’d entered the landing above them. He relaxed when he recognized Tom’s silhouette in the threshold.
Nothing but Trouble Page 2
