“Yes.” There wasn’t any point in explaining how this decision had been brought forcibly home to her. “I need an escort, plain and simple. And I need him in time for the cancer benefit.”
“The question is ...why?” He mulled it over—not that it took him long to come up with the answer. “I assume that as a single woman you’re in the awkward position of entertaining both clients and donors on your own.”
His insight was unnerving. “It’s not often a problem,” she responded.
“Unless someone decides you’re part of the offer.”
“Yes.” So far she’d managed to avoid that particular complication. But that could change depending on the manner of man Dick Smith turned out to be.
“I gather I’m your solution?” He drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair, the first outward reaction he’d allowed himself so far. “You want me to assume spousal duties?”
His phrasing made Tess stir in discomfort. “I suppose that’s one way of putting it. It’s a temporary position,” she added swiftly. “It will only last until the promotion has been decided.”
“And what will you do if you get the promotion? It doesn’t sound like this situation will go away anytime soon.”
“That’s my problem.”
He started to say more. After a brief hesitation, he inclined his head. “Fair enough. Since you’d rather not go into specifics, perhaps we should discuss my duties. What do you want from me?”
“As I indicated, I’ll need an escort to various business functions. I also need someone who’s able to accompany me to whatever social engagements I’m required to attend.” She ticked off the possibilities. “Dinner. Parties. Everything from black tie to jeans and T-shirts, or anything in between.”
“There’s more, isn’t there?”
How did he do it? She’d known people who could read situations with amazing accuracy. But his abilities went far beyond that. She forced herself to answer with a frankness that didn’t come naturally. “I have to convince people that we’re a committed couple.”
“Lovers.”
She didn’t flinch from the word, though it took an impressive amount of control not to. Instead, she kept her gaze locked on his. “I want them to believe our relationship is serious enough that we’re contemplating marriage. That’s why I said you wouldn’t do. You’re not the type of man I’d marry.”
For the briefest of moments the mask slipped and his expression opened to her. He’d taken her words as a challenge, which she hadn’t intended at all. Great. He was that type. Tell the man he couldn’t have or do something and he was hell-bent to prove you wrong.
“Are you certain I’m not your type?” he asked.
“Positive.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Experience,” she said crisply. “You’re nothing like my late husband.”
That stopped him. But then, that had been her intention. “You had a good marriage?”
“It was wonderful.” She fought to keep her emotions in check, to keep from revealing the devastation she’d felt when she’d lost Robert. “But far too brief.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. There was no mistaking his sincerity. “That must make your current situation all the more difficult.”
If only he’d stop staring at her as though he could see straight through to her soul. His words had taken on a gentle quality—at least, as gentle as his gruff voice would allow—and it upset her for some odd reason. It was totally unlike her husband’s polished tones, and yet instinct had her reacting to the sound with a disquieting amount of trust. Tess shook her head in silent denial. She must be losing what small scrap of common sense she still retained.
He was waiting for her reply and she dismissed his concern with a quick wave of her hand. The movement came across as disjointed rather than natural and she spared him a quick look. Had he picked up on it? Probably, knowing him. “How I feel about the situation isn’t important. Besides, I don’t think the few weeks we’ll be working together will be difficult at all.”
“And why is that?”
“Because we’re going to keep everything simple. Our relationship will be business only. Nothing personal, got it?”
“I think you’re underestimating what’s involved.”
She lifted a shoulder in a negligent shrug. “How hard will it be to get through a few business dinners?”
“A few dinners? Is that all you think it’ll take?” His mouth curved into a smile rife with irony. “Do you have any idea of the level of intimacy we’ll need to fake in order to accomplish what you have in mind?”
“Intimacy won’t factor into our relationship.” She was already talking as though she’d chosen him for the job, and she hastened to correct the erroneous impression. “It won’t factor into the relationship of the person I select.”
He released his breath in a quiet laugh. It was as unsettling as everything else about him, the sound disturbingly masculine and sandpaper rough, grating in the most delicious ways. “Don’t kid yourself. Women, in particular, will sense the truth.” He fixed her with a questioning look. “Can’t you? Don’t you sense on an instinctive level when a couple is intimately involved?”
She ignored his question. “I doubt it’ll be that difficult,” she maintained stubbornly. “It’s not like we’ll be around any particular group of people for any length of time. As long as I’m able to establish a comfortable rapport with the man I hire, people will buy the relationship.”
“A comfortable rapport.” He weighed the description for a moment. “I gather you don’t consider me satisfactory in that department.”
He didn’t phrase it as a question, so she didn’t bother moderating her response. “No.”
Shayde fell silent, but she sensed an underlying amusement. His eyes gleamed behind a dark fringe of lashes and the creases on either side of his mouth deepened. “Why don’t you tell me what you want in a man.”
“And you’ll become him?”
“I’m...versatile.”
Did he have any idea how intimidating he sounded? He’d never work for what she had in mind. His gravelly voice matched his gravelly demeanor. She needed someone with a softer touch, someone who could attract women of all ages, while providing a buffer between her and certain male clients. The man she hired would need to put paid to any question about her availability on a personal level—without losing potential contributors. Unfortunately, although Shayde could intimidate the hell out of her clients, she doubted she’d retain their business after their first run-in with him.
“I’m sure you’re very versatile,” she lied smoothly. “But—”
He interrupted without hesitation. “Let’s cut through the bull, Mrs. Lonigan. You have a specific type of man in mind that you intend to hire. And you have a specific reason for choosing that type. A reason, I suspect, that you’d prefer to keep to yourself.”
The accuracy of his guesses stopped her cold. “How card you possibly know that?”
“One of the assets you may find of particular use is that I have a knack for reading people. An instinct. I see beneath the surface.” He eyed her with uncomfortable intensity. “Would you like me to tell you what I’ve figured out about you?”
“Not really.” It was probably the most honest response she’d made to date and he acknowledged it with a knowing smile. “Though I doubt my disapproval is enough to stop you.”
“You’re right. It’s not.”
She leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, striving to give the appearance of a woman at her ease. “Please.” She gestured expansively. “Tell me what you see.”
His gaze flicked across her hair and it took everything she possessed to keep from shoving the red-gold waves away from her face. Next he took in her almost nonexistent use of makeup before drifting down the length of her body visible from behind the desk. “People consider you open and friendly.”
“That’s because I am.”
> He shook his head. “Not even a little. You wear your hair loose so people won’t suspect your need for control or how rigidly you apply that control to yourself.”
“It’s called self-discipline, not control.”
“Bull. You like being in control of a situation as much as I do. You’re a beautiful woman. Really beautiful. But you’re careful not to draw too much attention to that beauty in case it intimidates your clients and coworkers, particularly the men.”
“I am not intimidating.”
“Your remoteness is intimidating. Your innate intelligence and ability is even more so. But you only hit people with those qualities when you’re desperate to hold them at a distance.”
“You’re dead wrong.”
He continued as though he hadn’t even heard her. “You dress with casual elegance.”
“I can’t wait to hear why I do that,” she muttered.
His mouth curved into a smile that held far too much appeal. “Because you are casually elegant. It’s not studied or something you’ve worked to achieve. It’s a natural part of you.”
A faint flush warmed her cheeks and she silently cursed her pale skin. “Is that it? Are you finished?”
“Not at all. So far everything I’ve mentioned is surface clutter.” He paused and her tension grew as she waited for him to continue. The darkness closed in around them, the night turning dangerous. His voice lowered. “You, Mrs. Lonigan, are a keeper of secrets.”
She started in alarm. “Secrets?” He couldn’t possibly know that. “What are you talking about?”
“Here—” he swept his hand to indicate her office “—you decorate your surroundings in cheerful, relaxing—bland—colors. But I’m willing to bet that in the privacy of your home you cut loose.”
Tess relaxed ever so slightly. “So?”
“I’m guessing that the room you retreat to, your inner sanctum, is filled with bold, striking tones.”
She shrugged, unwilling to concede even that much. “Finished?”
“Not even a little. With the exception of a few close friends, no one is allowed too close.”
He’d slipped over the line, trespassing on parts of her life he had no business touching. “That’s enough.”
Apparently he didn’t think it was anywhere near enough since he continued as though she hadn’t said a word. “You’ve also been hurt. Badly. And you don’t intend to be hurt like that ever again. That’s why you need to hire a lover. An employee can be held at a distance. An employee is safe.”
How did she make him stop? She didn’t want to hear more, but other than physically ejecting him from her office, she couldn’t think of a way to end their confrontation. Her hand clenched around her pen. “It would seem that some employees are safer than others.” She paused for a moment, then added pointedly, “Oh, that’s right. You’re not my employee, are you? At this rate, you’re not likely to be, either.”
He ignored the warning implicit in her comment. “You claim I’m wrong for the job because I’m not like Robert. But that’s a lie. You want a lover as different from him as possible.”
The pen snapped between her fingers, splattering across her blotter in rivulets as black as the night. Gasping in dismay, she jumped back to escape disaster. With a few shocking words Shayde had succeeded in making her lose her composure. That had never happened before. Avoiding his gaze, she carefully peeled off the ruined sheets of paper covering the felt blotter and dumped them in the trash. The mundane task gave her the few minutes she needed to recover her equilibrium. Somewhat more calm, she returned her attention to Shayde.
“I want you to leave now.
He didn’t even shift his position. “Despite what you said earlier, hiring someone like Robert wouldn’t work. And I’ll tell you why. You’re afraid you’ll fall in love with any man who’s too much like your late husband and you’ll get hurt all over again when he leaves.”
This time he succeeded in provoking a reaction. She planted her palms on her desktop and fought to keep her fury under control. “That’s not a problem since you’re not in the least like Robert.”
“I don’t doubt that for a minute. I should be the perfect choice since I’m so unlike your late husband. Except for one small detail…” ..
“Oh, please.” She held up her hands in surrender. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“You also can’t hire anyone who attracts you.” His gaze impaled her. “And I do attract you, don’t l?”
The angry warmth heating her cheeks faded, leaving behind a cold paleness that not only iced her skin, but seeped deep into bones. She pressed her spine tight against the back of her chair. How could he know so much about her? “Who are you?” she demanded. “What do you want from me?”
“I’m the man you’re going to hire.”
“Not a chance.”
“Why? Because I see too much?”
She didn’t dare admit any such thing. If she did he’d know how accurate his assessment had been. For a brief instant she considered ripping him to shreds with every harsh word she could summon. She was dying to make it crystal clear how mistaken he was in his assessment of her. She didn’t find him the least attractive, nor did she have set qualifications for the man she chose other than he be right for the job. Robert had nothing to do with whom she’d choose.
But she didn’t dare say any of those things for fear of his seeing through her lies.
She fought for some element of truth with which to argue. “I told you why I won’t hire you for the job. You’re too rough. Too hard. I need a man who can charm clients, not scare them off.” She utilized a hint of the intimidating attitude he’d described earlier. “Let me ask you a question, Shayde. What makes you think you’re right for this position?”
“People will believe we’re a couple, even though you have doubts,” he answered readily enough. “They’ll accept it without a single question or any hesitation whatsoever.”
“Because you think I’m attracted to you?” “Because I know you are.” He waited for that to sink in before leaning closer. “Now I have a question for you.”
“It’s not your place to ask questions,” she retorted, “only answer them.”
He ignored her. “What are you afraid of?”
Her breath quickened and she gazed at him, stunned. Thrusting back her chair, she escaped from the power of those odd eyes. She didn’t bother offering a denial. “Thank you, Mr….” She shrugged irritably. “Shayde. Your services won’t be required, after all.”
“Do you need protection?” he asked softly.
“Didn’t you hear me? You can leave now.”
“Is there something else you haven’t told me? Someone else that has you running scared? Or is it just me?”
She wasn’t running scared. She was simply at the end of her rope and a wee bit desperate, not that she intended to explain that to him. “I’m not afraid of anything, certainly not of you or any foolish attraction you might think I feel for you. Now, I’ve asked you to leave politely. Do I have to call security to get rid of you?”
Still he didn’t move. “I have the impression you need a strong man and I’m the strongest you’re going to find. I suggest you give me a chance.” Then he said the unforgivable. “Listen to me, Tess. As long as I’m with you, no one will dare lay a hand on you. You’ll be safe, I promise.”
He’d slipped beneath her guard again, catching her at her most vulnerable. She fought to hide her distress as she silently shook her head. She wanted to say something…anything. But the words wouldn’t come.
“I can protect you.”
She almost came undone at the whispered words. No one had ever offered to protect her before. Not her father. Not even Robert. She didn’t know how she managed to reply, not that she had any choice if she wanted to get rid of him. “Send me a copy of your resume,” she said in a strangled voice, “and I’ll be in touch if I’m interested in your services.”
The offer o
f compromise seemed to work. “Very well. Jeanne has my number if you decide to call.” Finally, finally, he stood and moved to the door of her office. Once there he turned. “You have one short week to find a man who can play the part of your lover—a lover people will accept without question. And you do need people to believe without question, don’t you?”
Damn him! If only he’d stop staring at her with those peculiar silvery eyes, staring as though he knew her every thought before she did. “Yes,” she confessed. “I need people to believe without question.”
“In that case, you’re only going to have one shot at choosing this man. One shot at selling him to your clients and co-workers.” Compassion vied with an implacable determination. “Choose wrong and you’ll lose everything.”
He left the room, closing the door quietly behind him and Tess sank into her chair, thoroughly shaken. It took her a long time before she could bring herself to face the unpalatable truth. She did only have one shot at this. And if she chose wrong, she did stand to lose everything. But the most distressing part of all this was... How did Shayde know that?
CHAPTER TWO
SHAYDE flipped open his cell phone and stabbed in a series of numbers. “Shadoe? It’s me.”
“Status?” his brother responded.
“Mrs. Lonigan didn’t like me,” he admitted. “Go figure.”
“Were you hired for the job?”
There were times when his older brother could be a major pain. It looked like this would be one of them. “I said she didn’t like me.” He heard Shadoe’s muffled laughter in the background and gritted his teeth. “That generally means, no, I didn’t get the job.”
“You better fix it. The boss lady won’t be happy.”
Boss lady? More like dragon lady. Without a doubt, his brother’s employer had to be the most exasperating woman Shayde had ever dealt with. Although they’d never met in person because of her almost fanatical determination to protect her identity, he’d discovered during their infrequent phone conversations that she couldn’t be charmed and didn’t respond to either anger or humor. Once she became fixated on an idea or issue, there she stayed until everyone had given up arguing and fallen in line with her plans, usually out of sheer exhaustion. Only rarely had he been successful winning her over using his own preferred ploy—obstinate, point-by-infuriating-point, just-the-facts-ma’am logic. For a take-charge type of man accustomed to getting his own way, it didn’t make for the easiest of relationships.
Day Leclaire - The Provocative Proposal Page 2