Dayton hadn't seemed repelled at all.
I must have tried on twenty dresses before I decided on a little black vintage number. The dress had a demure neckline, but it clung to my curves and made me feel as subtly outrageous as I had felt asking Dayton out on a date in the first place.
I was nervous, but then dinner was amazing.
The first I heard of Dayton's past incarceration had plummeted my heart. Would other people know? Was I tainting my family name just by being seen with him?
Then I met Horatio and realized that everyone could make mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance. Plus the men had such a warm and jesting relationship that I couldn't help but relax and enjoy it. It was a relief to be around.
Plus Horatio's food was sublime. And the wine had been free-flowing.
I would have liked to blame the wine for my inappropriate acceptance of Dayton's invitation. Going home with a man on the first date was simply not something a lady like me was supposed to do.
But that kiss had felt so damn good.
My nerves jumped again in the truck, but I decided that the new, free Jessa Lauren was going to be brave. I had slept with boyfriends before; I didn't have any fears about sex, it just wasn't something I so blatantly admitted I wanted.
I wanted Dayton.
So, I forced myself to be my new free self and experimented by laying a hand on his thigh while he drove his big truck. Feeling his muscles jump and his temperature rise was more than enough to make me melt. I had the same effect on him that he had on me, and that thought kept my heart pumping through the drive over the Golden Gate Bridge to his friend's mansion.
"Sorry if I don't give you the grand tour. I'm not all that familiar with his place," Dayton said.
His housekeeper had rushed off ahead of us to start a fire in the upstairs lounge. My cheeks reddened just imagining what that woman must think of me. Thank god Dayton wasn't accustomed to formal introductions; at least she didn't know who I was outside of the mansion.
Inside the mansion, I wasn't even sure who I was. I was the woman who walked with her fingers intertwined between Dayton's. We strolled slowly through the first floor, peeking in elegant doorways until it didn't seem like we were rushing upstairs to be alone.
By the time we got to the upstairs lounge, the fire was blazing, and the housekeeper had laid out a bucket of ice with champagne chilling inside. Dayton picked up a crystal champagne flute and poured me a glass.
"So, tell me about where you actually live?" I asked wanting to know more.
Dayton clinked his own glass against mine and joined me on the sofa in front of the fire. "I'd rather hear more of your ideas for possible careers."
I felt the champagne bubbles, and Dayton's intent gaze go right to my head. "Did you always know you wanted to work in construction?"
Dayton chuckled. "I kind of came at it in a roundabout way. But I did always know I wanted to do something hands-on."
I nodded. Dayton was a man that liked to get things done, real concrete and lasting things. No shuffling numbers from one column to another; no sell a product that no one could see or touch.
"Me too. I like the idea of surveying a finished project," I said.
"You should continue with building restoration," Dayton said. "You have a real eye for details."
It was my turn to laugh. Dayton was so decisive, so ready to move forward. It was one of the things I admired most about him. It just wasn't me. I had barely admitted to myself that I wanted to work, much less thought about what that would entail.
Still, his idea was intriguing. "So, you'd hire me again?" I asked.
Dayton brushed his fingers against my cheek. "I'd love to, but I bet I won't be able to afford you as soon as other people know you're available. Demonstrable class and elegance, plus a wealth of contacts. You'll do just fine without me."
The light caress sent sparks low into my belly and the juncture between my legs. I took a shaky breath and distracted myself by studying the luxurious surroundings.
"Speaking of class and elegance, this is a beautiful room."
"Is it?" Dayton inched closer to me on the sofa. "I hadn't noticed. You, on the other hand. I love you with your hair down."
My breath escaped on a soft sigh as Dayton brushed my loose hair from off my shoulder. Then he traced small, light circles on the bare skin by my dress strap.
I had the sudden urge to let his touch swirl all over my body. My cheeks blazed, remembering that’s exactly why I had come back with him.
"I hope your friend doesn't mind we're drinking his champagne?" I asked, playing with my glass.
Dayton noted my nervousness and leaned back to retrieve the bottle and refill my flute. "He'd be delighted. The cellar has sat untouched for way too long."
We chatted a little about the elegant house, Dayton biting his lip as he tried to recall the answers to my questions. He didn't want to talk about the house, but he seemed to know it relaxed me. The familiar surroundings were impressive, and I kept realizing how much it reminded me of home.
I leaned back on the sofa and tucked my feet under me. "So is this friend another ex-con?" I asked.
Dayton gave me a pained look. "Does that bother you? I'm sorry I didn't say anything about it before."
"It seems to have made you a better man," I pointed out.
He leaned forward and studied the fire. "It did. It's part of what made me who I am. I'm not proud of it, but I certainly don't hide it."
I couldn't resist running the palm of my hand up the hard muscles of his back. "That's part of why I decided to come back here. You're honest and straight-forward, and those are qualities I haven't seen in a man for a long time."
Dayton turned and caught my hands. "Maybe we should slow down, Jessa. You don't really know me that well, and I don't want to screw things up."
I didn't know what to say. His considerate words and the worried sincerity on his face made me bold again. I leaned forward and stopped his frown with a long kiss.
Dayton pulled back, saw my smile, and returned it with a light brush of his lips. He traced his tongue gently over my bottom lip before diving back into a deep kiss. The warmth of the fire was nothing compared to those licks of desire. I felt myself being consumed and I gave into the feeling happily.
He pulled me forward onto his lap as he leaned back and for the first time I found myself wantonly straddling him. Dayton's tugged my arms around his neck and pressed me close as he continued the kiss.
The position gave me a rush of power. I could control the pressure of our kisses, the angle, and where our bodies pressed together. It was a heady dose of control that I had never felt before. I began to experiment and could tell by Dayton's light gasps and deep moans that he was enjoying my explorations.
His hands unzipped my dress and slipped inside. I tensed, waiting for him to strip off my bra, but Dayton felt my hesitation and skimmed his hands soothingly up and down my back. The caress drove me wild, and I found myself slipping out of my dress straps and letting the little satin bra catch the firelight.
Dayton couldn't keep his hands off the dark satin bra with tiny, pale lace trim but he was patient. He traced his fingers along the edge of the straps where they met my skin until I willingly pressed my breasts up and into his grasp.
"Oh, Jessa, please. We better slow down before I lose control," he whispered.
The thought made me smile. Dayton was always in charge, always ordering his crew around, but now it was my turn. His heart pounded under my hands, and I slowly unbuttoned his shirt to feel his thundering pulse. His breath caught as I skimmed his hard chest and let my hands drift down the ridges of his abs.
"I don't want to stop." My lips were wet against his as I whispered.
"Should we go upstairs? Find a nice soft bed?" Dayton asked. His breath was heavy, chest heaving underneath me.
I shook my head, my hair tickling across his bare chest. "I like the fire," I whispered.
He caught me up hard again
st him and with his free hand tossed the pillows down to the thick rug in front of the fireplace. Dayton's kiss was now ravishing, ridding my mind of any doubt that this was what I wanted. I wanted him to take me, take what he wanted.
Dayton must have sensed my thoughts as my breath panted between deep kisses. He lifted me up, both wide hands under my bottom, and lowered us both to the floor. I lay back and let him slip my dress the rest of the way off. He tossed it over the sofa, stripped off his shirt, and then slipped his body down over mine.
The heat from his bare chest against my skin made me smolder. I arched my back, unhooked the little satin bra, and tossed it over the arm of the sofa. Before I could lie back, his mouth kissed down my neck and blazed a trail across my bare chest.
When Dayton took my nipple into a soft, hot kiss, I cried out with pleasure. I arched higher, offering him more and Dayton happily took it. His hand slipped between my eagerly parting thighs and teased them open farther with swirling caresses.
I tugged at his waistband then slipped my fingers between us and fumbled with his zipper. Dayton returned to devour my lips as he helped me open his pants and push them down out of the way.
It was unbelievable, so wanton and passionate and free. Just the fact that I had been this bold turned me on so that I returned each stroke and teasing touch until Dayton’s rock hard arms trembled over me.
He finally plunged deep into my core joining us together. With each deep thrust I cried out. He was so gentle, so loving and slowly it eased us closer until we both cried out with ecstasy. I didn't think I could feel any better, then Dayton lifted my arms over my head. He caught them there, my body stretched out and his to command. I surrendered, and he took me higher and higher until I felt like the whole room was on fire.
When we were both spent, Dayton curled us together, warm in the glow of the fire.
He kissed my shoulder, my neck, my ear, and whispered in my ear. "Please say you'll stay the night. You deserve to be loved on soft silk sheets."
I shivered in delight. His voice was heavy with pleasure, and I could already feel that he wanted more. I turned to tell him yes and heard my phone ring.
It buzzed across the floor near the sofa, and I was surprised to read the caller's name.
"It's my father. I'm sorry, but I have to take this," I said in a panic. My father never called unless it was an emergency.
Dayton sat up and retrieved the phone for me. I scrambled into my dress and answered.
"What's the matter? Is everyone all right?" I asked.
"Everyone's fine except for our whole damn future. Someone's stolen our new software, the crowning achievement of Lauren Corp is now gone!" My father yelled into the phone, his voice full of rage and worry.
"What? How is that possible?" I picked up my underwear and stumbled into them.
"Corporate espionage, Jessa. We've been robbed. I need you to get to the office. The board is holding an emergency meeting." My father hung up before I could ask anything else.
"I'm so sorry, Dayton, but I have to go," I said with panick in my voice.
"Something wrong with your father's work?" he asked. Dayton yanked on his clothes and walked me downstairs. "What does that have to do with you?"
"He put me on the board of directors last year; a gesture because he doesn't have a son. I'm his only heir, so I received an honorary seat. Still, I have to be present. There's an emergency meeting."
Dayton nodded and rushed me back to the Miller Building. I wanted to cry for the way our night ended, but he stopped me with a gentle kiss.
"Don't worry. I'll see you in the morning," he assured me.
I jumped out of his white truck and didn't even care if anyone saw us from the bright-blazing windows of the penthouse office. I shut the door and leaned in to give Dayton one more kiss.
"I had a wonderful time. Maybe we could—"
Dayton stopped me. "Call me when you're out of the meeting so I can ask you out this time."
Chapter 10
Dayton
I still thought my date with Jessa was like heaven until I made it downstairs and Mrs. Upton caught me in the kitchen grabbing coffee.
"You lied to that nice young lady," my housekeeper said without preamble.
"I lied about owning this place because she's a nice young lady," I replied. "I want to get to know her and have her get to know me better before we start comparing off-shore accounts."
"The Laurens never talk about money; it's beneath them," Mrs. Upton said.
I groaned. Of course, my housekeeper would recognize anyone in the upper echelons of society.
"Then it's not about her, it's about me," I replied.
"You're afraid she won't like you when she discovers you're a billionaire and her equal?" Mrs. Upton asked raising an eyebrow.
I shot her a look that said the conversation was over. Besides confirming that Jessa had come home with me and I wasn't victim to an overactive imagination, I didn't want any more of my housekeeper's sage advice.
Mrs. Upton gave a tight sigh but said no more. "There are fresh banana muffins."
"Thank you, Mrs. Upton." I grabbed a handful of muffins and headed for the door.
I thought I was done with nosy people asking about my date when I got to the construction site, but Mike was waiting for me on the steps of our office trailer.
"So? How did it go?" he called out.
"Give me a break," I groaned. "Isn't there bigger gossip going on around here? Jessa got a panicked call from her father last night. Something about an emergency board meeting."
"Last night?" Mike waggled his eyebrows. "How late last night? Hope he didn't interrupt anything."
I shoved Mike out of the way, not an easy feat as he was as solid as a Mack truck. "You're not getting any details so you might as well shut up now before I shut you up."
Mike chuckled, unintimidated. "It went that well, huh? You don't have to say a thing. I can see it did by the healthy glow you have on that ugly mug of yours."
I got a temporary reprieve from Mike's merciless teasing when a convoy of town cars pulled up to the curb. A dozen tired and worried looking board members got out and marched up the steps for another meeting.
Mike nodded towards the stern parade. "Guess there was a big-time theft last night. Some kind of software that Lauren Corp created. Cutting edge stuff. Their going to lose millions."
"Don't they have patents to protect them? How can something like that be sold off?" I asked.
"Doesn't have to be sold," Mike said. "The thieves will most likely get someone to reverse engineer it and then, with a few minor changes, they'll sell it as their own product."
"Wow. That's terrible. Let's have the guys hold off on work today. Keep things quiet while the board figures out what to do next."
Mike pointed out a clump of our workers being questioned by two men in suits. "They already decided their next move. Corporate espionage calls for a spy hunt. Everyone's getting questioned."
My stomach clenched as I thought of my alibi. I couldn't very well tell Mr. Lauren that I was making love to his daughter in front of a fireplace at the time of the theft.
"Why do they think we have anything to do with it?" I grumbled.
"Anyone with access to the building is being questioned," Mike said.
It made sense, but it was a major thorn in my side. Not only was it going to throw the whole renovation off schedule, but I had no idea when Jessa would be free again.
Then things got a whole lot worse.
A slamming door made both Mike and I turn in time to see Robert striding across the sidewalk. He ripped off his suit coat and rolled up his shirt sleeves, coming straight for me.
"Mr. Duncan, they call you in for questioning too?" I asked.
He took a feeble swing at me that set Mike laughing. "You're nothing but a dirty little blue collar chump. Jessa's not really interested in you. She's just trying to make me jealous."
I dodged another punch easily. "What are you talking
about?"
Robert scowled and stopped swinging to pin me with a disgusted look. "I know you went out with her last night."
"What are you spying on her? Does Jessa know?" I asked.
"Of course not! And I'm not spying. I saw her picture at that restaurant with that ex-con who calls himself a chef. So I went to the restaurant and asked. It turns out a man matching your description was there with her last night." Robert was panting with indignation.
I smiled. "How sweet; and here I didn't even think you noticed me."
"She doesn't care for you. Jessa's just trying to make me jealous," Robert repeated himself, too flustered to care.
"Well, seems like it worked." Mike came up to stand beside me. "And it seems like something you should take up with her because you have nothing more to say to my friend here."
Robert's eyes blazed with a crazy light. "Oh, you think you're so tough. Well, even tough guys can get hurt."
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" Mike wondered as Robert stormed away.
I shrugged. "Who cares. As long as he stays far away from Jessa."
His words kept coming back to me as I waited around the construction site. We'd hired a handful of day laborers to help with clean up since we couldn't work and they seemed more haphazard than usual.
A bit of scaffolding broke as I inspected the north side of the building. There was barely enough room for me and the next building, and I had to move fast to avoid two metal buckets and a pile of falling bricks.
Mike found me bruised but unhurt. "What the hell happened here?" he asked.
I looked up and inspected the faulty scaffolding. I wouldn't have thought more about it if I hadn't happened to step on the screws. They were unbroken and just laying on the ground.
"You don't think that chicken shit rich kid hired someone to mess you up, do you?" Mike asked.
I shook my head. "That's ridiculous. Who would do something like that?"
"Well, if I was going to guess anyone, I would say Robert Duncan."
Mike had a point, but I decided to give Robert the benefit of the doubt. Maybe I was feeling generous because little sexy flashes of my previous night kept boosting me throughout the day.
Billionaire's Match Page 6
