A Calculated Seduction

by Melissa Schroeder

  “Would you like to live somewhere else?”

  She thought about that while she ate some soup.

  “Naw. I like it here the best. I thought at one time I might

  relocate to Houston, but that all changed.” She shrugged. “Houston?” he asked, but before she could answer, the phone

  rang.

  “MacMillan.” As he dealt with yet another irate store manager

  on the phone, Dulcy continued to eat. After a few minutes of the same promises of discounts, Ethan hung up the phone. “I don’t know if we’re going to make a profit this quarter.”

  She smiled and attraction lit through him. Just her little smile and electricity jolted his nerves, his dick twitched and his heart almost stopped beating.

  Good Lord, he had to stop this. The woman was attractive but he wasn’t in love with her. He had no need for petty emotions that ended up torn to pieces when real life intruded.

  “You’ll make a profit. With Gerry endorsing us, we’ll make a ton of money. Do you want an egg roll?”

  He nodded and she handed him one. “You said you almost relocated to Houston.”

  “Yeah, well, I was thinking about transferring down there before my dad died. Afterwards, I dropped out of school, so I just stayed here.”

  She just about buried her nose in the carton of food and he wasn’t going to let this go.

  “Why were you thinking of going down there in the first place?”

  “My fiancé attended school in Houston. I’d thought to join him. ”

  “What happened to him?”

  “He left as soon as he found out my money wasn’t coming anytime soon.”

  “Oh. ”

  She still avoided meeting his eyes. “You can understand why I might be uncomfortable talking about it.”

  “No, I really can’t.”

  Her head snapped up and anger lit her eyes. “So you don’t think I should be embarrassed to be dumped by my boyfriend?”

  “But he wasn’t your boyfriend, he was your fiancé, and he’s the one who should be embarrassed.”

  “Oh, and why is that?”

  “He was only dating you for money. There has to be something wrong with him.”

  A moment of silence filled the office, then she laughed out loud. “That’s what your uncle said.”

  “Well, my uncle was right.”

  They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes. “So what are you going with all that money?”

  “I’m impressed. Not many people know about that, other than Pete.” He ground his teeth at the sound of the man’s name.

  “Uncle Bill told me.”

  “Oh. Yeah, I guess he would know. W ell, I plan on starting a fund to help with cancer research. Granted, I want some of the money myself but I really don’t need much to live on.”

  “You plan on running a charity fund with your money?”

  “In a way, I guess it is but a lot of the money will be used for research. Some of it will be used to generate more money. Oh, and later, I plan on expanding it into a camp for families of cancer victims. I’m thinking of calling it the Shelly Menendez Cancer Fund for Research.”

  For a second, it didn’t register. This woman simply could not be helping an embezzler. She was about to inherit a load of money and she planned on starting a research fund in her mother’s name. No way. Didn’t add up. Something was wrong with the picture, he thought as relief flowed through him. She had to be innocent.

  “Did your mother die of cancer?”

  A flash of sadness darkened her eyes. He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her it would be okay. He wanted to kiss away the painful memories.

  “Yes. It was horrible. She lasted for months after they said she would die. Daddy always said the woman was more stubborn than any mule he met.”

  “Well, it seems her daughter took after her.”

  A smiled curved her lips. “Are you calling me stubborn?” A hint of flirtation colored her voice and it sent his hormones into overdrive. He shifted in his chair, trying to relieve the pressure in his balls. He’d never heard her use that tone with anyone before.

  “ Yes, I think I was.”

  She laughed. “Well you and my daddy would have agreed with that one.”

  That one little laugh had his heart bumping against his chest at hyperspeed. He decided he needed distance away from this confusing woman.

  “I think you deserve a break, Dulcy. Go on home. I’ll field any problems that might come up.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yeah. And thanks.”

  “For what?”

  “Dinner and the conversation.”

  “Anytime, Mr. MacMillan.”

  Once she was gone, he wondered exactly if she knew he planned on calling her bluff on the offer.

  * * * *

  Friday night, Dulcy smiled at her nephew, Richy, as he waited in front of the microwave for the popcorn. He’d brought his latest favorite DVD and he was excited to share it with her.

  “It’ll ding when it’s ready.”

  “I know,” he said with the confidence of an eight-year-old. She shook her head, amused with him. If her sister had ever done anything right, it was giving birth to her son and fighting for custody. Golden-haired and green eyed, he was the spitting image of his mother. Although small for his age, his laid-back personality made him a popular boy.

  She retrieved a couple of glasses, filling them with iced tea. The microwave dinged and Richy opened the door and grabbed the bag.

  “Be careful. The bag’s hot,” she warned. He scoffed as he opened the bag carefully and dumped its contents into a bowl. She knew she treated him like he was a baby, but she really couldn’t believe how grown up he was. Pretty soon, he’d want nothing to do with his goofy single aunt.

  She followed him into the living room and they curled up on the couch under an afghan she’d knitted with her grandmother.

  “So Mom says you have a hot date Saturday night.” The disdain in his voice almost made her laugh, but the serious expression on his face stopped her.

  “No. I’m going with my boss to the Gala welcoming Gerry to the company.”

  “Mom thinks you have a hot date with Mr. Bill?”

  She chuckled at the horrified expression on his face. “No, sweetie, I’m accompanying my new boss, Bill’s nephew.”

  The previews flashed on the screen but Richy really didn’t seem interested in them. He munched on his popcorn and took a few sips of tea.

  “So, I guess he’s kinda young?” She nodded, wondering at the concern she saw in his eyes. “It’s just that...well except for your friend Pete, you never go out with guys. Now you’re going out with this guy, and...I don’t like it.”

  Realization hit her over the head. Every time her sister had a new man, she dropped Richy anywhere she could. His father, a workaholic, would pass him around relatives. She knew she’d been his only constant.

  “Richy, first of all, I’m not dating him. And, secondly, you never have to worry about where you stand with me. I will always be there for you.” She never looked away from his eyes. The worry vanished with her promise, a smile lightening his features.

  “Now, let’s get to watching this movie.”

  * * * *

  “Nothing else?” Ethan asked Todd late Friday night. Still angry with himself and Dulcy, he’d stayed late at the office, trying to find something to nail lover boy on. He usually didn’t take such a strong dislike to someone, but there was something about him. Probably the fact Ethan had spent the last five hours trying to figure out whether or not Pete Anderson had slept with Dulcy.

  “No. Of course, if he left his daddy’s company because of embezzling, it could be in an offshore account.”

  “Hmm.” He wandered around his office while Todd droned on about the procedure to find those bank accounts. Something had been wrong with Dulcy. She’d been mad at his accusations but...maybe she’d been trying to get him out of her hair.

  �
��And if we can get it through those...” Todd continued, but Ethan barely paid attention. He sat behind her desk and began shuffling things around. What did she do today?

  “Locked her desk!”

  “What?” Todd asked.

  “She locked her desk today. Hold on.”

  He never remembered her locking her desk before today. Setting the phone on the desk, he grabbed her letter opener and jimmied the door open. Nothing in the first drawer.

  He opened her file drawers and his heart dropped. There in the front of her files was a print out of all the current accounts and their balances.

  Chapter Nine

  Ethan stared at the green and white striped paper filled with columns of numbers. Somewhere in his brain, in his heart, he’d hoped she was innocent. With those big gray eyes, and her cute little nose, and those beautiful breasts...

  Jesus, he had to start thinking with the bigger brain.

  Todd’s voice buzzed from the phone and Ethan picked it up. “Ethan, what the hell—”

  “Quit yelling, Denison. I’ve got proof she might be involved.”

  Not might, was. Jesus, it was probably the lynchpin right there to corner her. He knew what he was looking at, but his brain just didn’t seem to want to accept it.

  “She’s got a printout of all the accounts that have been tampered with. Any luck on finding where the money is going?”

  “No, but I’m still working on it. It’s transferred out using the passwords with no indication to where or by whom.”

  “Keep at it and give me a call when you find out. I’m not letting this go.”

  “Sure thing, boss. You still going on your date with her tomorrow night?”

  “Yeah.” And he was going to make sure Miss Dulcinea Menendez learned a few lessons by the end of the night.

  * * * *

  After sending Richy off with his momma, Dulcy began the task of getting ready. Just after five that afternoon, the doorbell rang just as she’d stepped out of the shower. She grabbed a robe and headed to the door.

  Maude stood on her doorstep, another bag of torture in her hand.

  “Time to get beautiful,” she said as she bustled past Dulcy. “Good thing you already had your shower.”

  “Don’t you have a date to get ready for?” Dulcy asked.

  Maude dumped the bag on the kitchen table and turned to face her. She patted her short curls. “I don’t have much to do to get ready. My makeup’s done. Besides, it’s not really a date. We’re only companions.” Dulcy snorted, but didn’t say a word. “And you have a date with Ethan and you need to look great.”

  Her enthusiastic mood made Dulcy suspicious. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  Maude folded her arms in a defensive gesture but said nothing. Immediately, her suspicions escalated.

  “You are hiding something! What?”

  Maude sighed. “Richy told me...he told me Barbie’s going to be there tonight. ”

  “Is that all? Jeez, you’d think it was the end of the world,” she said with false bravado.

  “Dulcy, I know how you feel about your stepsisters.”

  She shrugged, trying to quell the envy she felt for her sisters. Guilt followed swiftly. They were not to blame for her being ordinary. She was born with run of the mill features, a product of genes. It didn’t make it any easier to bring home a date in high school and have them drool over her gorgeous stepsisters. The only one who hadn’t was Jason. Sweet, caring Jason, who’d faded as soon as the terms of her father’s will became public.

  “Honey, you don’t need to worry about Ethan.”

  She shook free of her thoughts and smiled at the older woman. “Maude, I’m not worried at all about Ethan. He’s not my type and I’m not his. We are going as working partners. Just like I did with Bill a million times before.”

  “I think you’ve shut yourself off because of that ex-fiancé of yours. ”

  “I have not shut myself off, Maude. Good night! I’m only twenty-four years old. Besides, I have a rule about dating anyone associated with work. You know that. Now, what did you bring?”

  Maude sighed but said nothing else about the subject. “Well, I brought some things to do your hair, but I don’t want to scare you. Why don’t you head on in and get your face done and I’ll get my stuff ready for you?”

  * * * *

  As the company limo turned into the apartment complex parking lot, Ethan tried to calm his racing heart. Never in his life had he been so nervous when picking up a date. Even when he took Ellen Caldwell to the senior prom his palms didn’t sweat. Here he was, at the age of thirty-two, about to charm secrets out of Dulcy Menendez and he didn’t know if he’d make a fool of himself or not.

  “We’re here, Mr. MacMillan,” the driver said.

  “Thanks, Ted.”

  He didn’t move, but looked up at the door. His stomach tried to revolt, but he knew it had nothing to do with his earlier anger. After thinking about it, he realized Dulcy probably thought she’d been helping a friend. Anderson had used her tender heart. She just didn’t know any better. But it didn’t make deceiving her any easier on Ethan.

  “She lives in two oh five, Mr. MacMillan.”

  “I know, ” he snapped. Inwardly he sighed. Now he was being an ass to everyone because he was mad at Dulcy. And frustrated. Damn he had never been so frustrated in his life. “I’m sorry, Ted. I’ll only be a moment. ”

  Ethan stepped out of the limo and took another deep breath. He could do this. He was Ethan MacMillan, security expert. A man ruthless enough to use an innocent woman to further his investigation.

  He knocked on her door.

  “Just a minute.” At the sound of her voice, every nerve he’d settled leapt to life. Immediately, his cock hardened. Anticipation skated over his flesh. He was pathetic. All because she had told him to wait for her.

  Isn’t that just like a woman? Never ready on time, never a thought he’d be so nervous, he was biting his thumbnail. He stuck his hands in his pockets and turned his back to the door. What was taking the woman so long? It’s not like she had much to do to make herself presentable.

  The door opened quietly behind him and he spun around. Any logical thought flew from his mind and all the blood drained from his brain.

  She was breathtaking.

  The black velvet dress she wore hugged her breasts and hips. It was long sleeved, but bared her smooth shoulders, dipping down between her breasts. The straight skirt was slit and revealed a black stocking-clad thigh. At least, he hoped it was stockings. She cleared her throat and he realized he hadn’t said a word. He looked up at her face, her topaz eyes wary. Then he realized she wasn’t wearing her glasses.

  “Where are your glasses?” Smooth, MacMillan. Not, you take my breath away. Can I jump your bones right now? No, you ask about her eyewear.

  She chuckled. “Maude confiscated them.”

  “Oh.” Yeah, that will sweep her off her feet. Her hair was a riot of curls around her face, her makeup perfect, her full lips painted red. “Are you ready?”

  Yeah. There was no blood left in his brain.

  “Well, I’m standing outside with my door locked behind me. I’d say that’s a yes.”

  He was nonplussed for a second and then laughed. Women usually didn’t get sarcastic with him, but Dulcy did it on a regular basis. He held out his arm and she graciously accepted it. As she walked beside him, her scent, peaches and cream, surrounded him.

  He stepped aside when they reached the stairs and allowed her to walk down in front of him. This was an assignment and he had to remember that. The woman was dangerous to his libido. How could he complete his work if his brain had no blood in it?

  Ted was standing by the car door, a smile on his face and an appreciative gleam in his eyes.

  “Good evening, Miss Menendez,” he said, his eyes dipping down to her cleavage. Ethan fisted his hands, but kept them at his side.

  “Hello, Ted. I didn’t know you would be driving us this
evening.”

  “It’s always a pleasure. And might I say, you look beautiful tonight. ”

  “Thank you, Ted.”

  She sat in the car and Ethan glared at Ted, who had finally torn his attention away from Dulcy’s breasts. His lecherous expression changed to worry, then fear, as Ethan stared him down and then got into the limo.

  “What was all that about?”

  He looked at Dulcy, who sat across from him. Because of the position of the seat, the slit in her dress had fallen open and he could see most of her leg. She shifted and he moved his attention back to her face.

  “What was...oh, Ted was, well he was staring at your...” and he gestured to her breasts.

  She flushed from her chest to her forehead. “Mr. MacMillan.”

  The tone she used made him feel like a little schoolboy. And, even that turned him on.

  “He didn’t.” He decided not to argue with her because he really couldn’t think. That crooked little smile she gave him warmed his blood.

  “You just don’t pay attention to men, Dulcy.” Her eyes widened and her full lips parted.

  “I do, too.”

  “No, you don’t. Men are always looking at you. They check you out.”

  She snorted and he laughed.

  “Yeah, what men?” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts, plumping them further. Sweat gathered on his back and he drew in a deep breath, trying to calm the impulse to reach out and run his fingers over her creamy honeyed skin.

  “Well, how about Anderson?”

  “Pete?” He shook his head. “Believe me, he’s not interested in me and he doesn’t count.”

  “Okay, how about that copier guy that came in yesterday? He kept trying to get you to talk to him.”

  “Hmm. Of course, you did notice the ring.” No he hadn’t. “Yeah, he was married.”

  “Didn’t mean he wasn’t interested.” She rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Why do I get the impression you haven’t dated much since you broke it off with your fiancé?”

  “I date,” she said defensively. “I’m just selective.”

  “Ah, so you think someone like Anderson is good for you.”

  “I’ve told you before, we’re just friends.”