by Weaver, Lisa
“I see your point. Your father really is a shrewd man.”
Shrewd in more ways than one, Lauren mused, a dark cloud of doubt edging in to overshadow her enjoyment. How would Rafe react when he learned that his father’s cunning had a shady side?
“You look serious all of a sudden. Is everything okay?”
“Sure,” she quickly covered. “I’m just starving.”
“We can’t have you going hungry,” he murmured, tracing her lips with his fingertips before melding his mouth to hers, coaxing her lips to part.
It was a sensuous invasion, and Lauren lost herself in the kiss, feasting on his mouth. She broke away with a ragged groan. “I was talking about food.” Though she could easily feast on him.
“What a shame. I’ll feed you, but you have to close your eyes first. And no peeking until I tell you it’s okay to look.”
Lauren hesitated. The risk of a threat out here in the middle of this gorgeous woodland trail was minimal, but the idea of not remaining vigilant went totally against her training. Hoping her instincts were right and they were safe here, she reluctantly squeezed her eyes shut.
It seemed like an eternity before Rafe returned and took her hand. He led her several feet away before coming to a stop. “Okay, you can open your eyes now.”
“Wow,” Lauren enthused, taking in the feast of smoked salmon, salad, croissants, and cheeses he’d set out on a blanket. “This is quite a spread. I’m impressed, Mr. Dimitriou.”
“I had some help. The Fullertons’ cook conspired with me.”
As they chatted over the fabulous meal, Lauren found herself remembering all the things that had drawn her to Rafe in the first place. “I’ve had an awesome time this afternoon,” she blurted impulsively.
“It’s not over yet. How about a swim?”
The horses were grazing contentedly in the shade. The day had turned out to be as hot as the weatherman had predicted, and Lauren had to admit the idea of a swim was an enticing one. “That would be great, but I didn’t bring a suit.”
“Neither did I.”
Rising from the blanket, Rafe stripped off his shirt. Her mouth went dry at the sight of his sculpted chest highlighted by dappled sunlight. He reached for the button on his jeans and her heart kicked into overdrive. She watched, mesmerized, as he lowered the zipper.
Stepping out of the jeans, he shot her a toe-curlingly-sexy smile. “You’re not going to make me swim alone are you?”
He simply took her breath away, standing there clad in only a pair of snug black briefs. He reached down and pulled the garment off, and she was lost. Gloriously naked, he’d put any male model to shame. He was all toned, taut perfection from his broad shoulders down to his rugged thighs and beyond. He turned around to take a running dive into the pond, treating her to a view of his beautiful backside that had her breath catching in her throat.
Pushing modesty aside, Lauren swiftly followed his lead. She stripped down to her lingerie, glad she’d chosen a matching set in lacy peach. She didn’t miss the sparks of arousal that flared in Rafe’s eyes when she unfastened her bra and stepped out of the barely there thong panties.
She dove into the pond, thrilling in the sensation of the cool water against her heated skin. She swam past him, laughing when he captured her ankle to pull her gently back to him.
Rafe had suggested the swim to take the edge off the firestorm of need that had assailed him from the moment he and Lauren had set off on their ride. He’d hoped the bracing cold water would ramp down his blazing libido, but his plan backfired when their slippery, wet bodies bumped together. The fire in his blood only surged hotter. He wouldn’t be surprised to see the water sizzling off his skin.
Lauren’s eyes sparkled brightly. “This has been the perfect day. I love swimming almost as much as I adore horseback riding.”
Her smile made his heart clench in his chest as he was smacked by the same intensity of emotion he’d felt for her when he first fell for her in Greece. “I can think of something I love more than either.” Scooping her up in his arms, he carried her out of the pond and set her down on the soft cushion of its mossy bank. It took him only half a heartbeat to collect protection from his discarded jeans before he was back at her side. Their coupling was swift. Urgent.
Afterwards, he held her in his arms. Emotions warred within him as he realized what had begun as a plan to acquire Fullerton’s magazine while enjoying a side order of revenge was morphing into something very different. The thought left him conflicted, and made him more than just a little uneasy. He would be wise to remember that the woman cradled against his chest couldn’t be trusted. She’d betrayed him once, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was harboring secrets from him now.
“I’m afraid it’s time for us to head back. The Fullertons have invited us to join them and a few other couples for a dinner cruise on their yacht tonight.”
“And would the Paynes happen to be one of the other couples?” Lauren groaned.
“I’m afraid so.”
“Have I mentioned I get seasick?”
“Sorry, but I know better. Remember?”
How could she forget? Heat suffused Lauren’s cheeks as she recalled the weekend they’d first met. She’d fallen for him completely and irrevocably, and she had been certain he felt the same. He’d taken her out on his boat with the intention of showing her the Greek Isles, but they wound up spending the entire time exploring each other instead.
She had been certain she’d found her happily ever after, but the fairy tale had imploded when they returned to Rafe’s estate and he saw her article and the accompanying photo. He jumped to all the wrong conclusions and ostracized her from his life, shattering her heart and her world.
Now, against all odds, he’d given her a chance to explain. And he’d forgiven her.
She would be elated if she weren’t caught up in a situation that forced her to do the exact thing he abhorred. This time she really was harboring secrets from him, and she hated it. She could come clean with him and tellhim she was a covert agent, but doing so would invite some serious repercussions. Rafe would certainly refuse Sentinels’ protection, which would place him in greater jeopardy.
But that wasn’t what bothered her the most. She was petrified of how he’d react when she eventually told him the truth and he learned she’d misled him. She couldn’t lose him again.
“Hey, where’d you go just now?” he asked, drawing her out of her ruminations.
“Sorry. I was daydreaming. It’s so lovely. I could stay here forever.”
“Me too. Unfortunately we have a dinner date. It’s time to saddle up and head back.”
Lauren had dreaded the thought of the evening ahead, knowing she’d be forced to spend time with Milton and Melanie. When she boarded the Fullertons’ yacht a few hours later, though, she found it impossible not to get caught up in the excitement of the dinner cruise.
Rafe was attentive and solicitous, and he looked amazing in the tux he wore. “You’re the focus of every man on this ship, you know,” he whispered in her ear. “You’re stunning.”
“Funny, I was just thinking that you look pretty incredible yourself, Mr. Dimitriou. There isn’t a woman on board who wouldn’t give every jewel she owns to trade places with me.”
“Ah, but you’re the only woman I want. And as much as I love seeing you in this gorgeous gown, I’m going to enjoy ripping it off you later even more,” he told her, the sensual promise in his eyes making her shiver in anticipation.
They mingled, chatting with the Fullertons and the other guests, and Rafe kept their contact with Milton and Melanie to a minimum. When dinner was announced, Lauren was relieved to find the seating arrangement placed them close to the head of the table near their host and hostess. The Paynes sent icy glares their way, clearly not pleased with their spot at the far end of the table.
Lauren knew Melanie wouldn’t be content simply shooting visual daggers at her, so she wasn’t surprised when the woman bloc
ked her exit out of the ladies’ room later that evening. “We have to stop meeting like this,” Lauren told her dryly.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Melanie snarled. “Dealing with you isn’t nearly as thrilling as rendezvousing with your husband. He paid me a little visit this afternoon that elevated my day from mundane to memorable. But then Rafe has a way of doing that. He’s rather addictive isn’t he?”
Lauren arched an eyebrow, shaking her head in disbelief. “What an active imagination you have, Melanie. I could almost believe your little fairy tale if it weren’t for the fact that my husband was with me all afternoon.”
“All afternoon. That’s funny, I distinctly recall him visiting my suite when Milton was out. You don’t really think Rafe was with Chuck earlier, do you? You can’t possibly be that naïve.”
While it was true that Rafe had told her earlier he was stepping out to see Chuck, he wouldn’t have had time to rendezvous with Melanie. Would he? Ignoring the tiny prickles of doubt creeping up and down her spine, Lauren met Melanie’s cold stare with a frigid gaze of her own.
“I know better,” Lauren retorted. “But since you’re obviously enjoying your little fantasy, I won’t spoil it for you. You really should get a grip on reality, though.”
Melanie’s palms curled into fists and her voice went up a notch. “You’re the one who needs a reality check if you believe you can hold on to a man like Rafe.”
“I’m not worried,” Lauren smiled. “Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s a slice of tiramisu calling my name.”
Lauren moved to walk past Melanie, then swiveled sharply when the blonde lunged for her arm. Having anticipated the attack, Lauren blocked it with a swift countermove of her own that turned the tables on Melanie, leaving her gaping in surprise.
“Let go of me,” Melanie spat, trying to shake her arm free from Lauren’s firm grasp.
“You may want to think twice before you try something like that again,” Lauren warned, releasing the blonde’s arm. “I won’t let you off the hook so easily the next time. And just so we’re clear, Rafe may have been yours once, but he’s mine now. And I don’t share.”
Lauren brushed past a speechless Melanie and made her way back to the table. Seeing her approach, Rafe stood and pulled her chair out for her. “Is everything okay?” he whispered, noting the heightened color in her cheeks and the sparking embers of banked anger in her eyes.
She nodded and sent him a reassuring smile. “Fine,” she whispered. “Melanie followed me to the powder room to make another power play. I’ll fill you in later.”
Dessert was served, and once the last course of the meal was finished, Chuck clinked his fork against his wine glass to draw his guests’ attention.
“Grace and I would like to thank you all for joining us aboard the Merry Day, and for sharing our passion for Gracious Living. We’ve enjoyed getting to know you all a bit better this weekend. I’m looking forward to hearing more about your ideas for our publication as we continue our individual meetings tomorrow, but for the rest of the evening let’s put business aside and simply enjoy the cruise.”
His announcement was met with applause and cheers.
“If you’d like to adjourn to the upper deck,” he continued, “we’ve arranged for a small dance band to provide entertainment.”
A coffee bar had also been set out on the upper level, and Lauren and Rafe poured mugs of the aromatic beverage before taking their drinks to a quiet table to watch the dancers.
Later, when the band segued to a soft romantic ballad, Rafe held his hand out to her. “May I have this dance, Mrs. Dimitriou?”
“It would be my pleasure, Mr. Dimitriou.”
They joined the other couples on the dance floor, and Rafe pulled her close. It felt so right being in his arms, breathing in his intoxicating male scent and reveling in the play of his muscles under her fingertips.
“So what happened with Melanie earlier?” he asked.
“She cornered me with a story about your visiting her room for a quickie this afternoon,” Lauren replied. Watching his face to gauge his reaction, she breathed an inward sigh of relief. She hadn’t really believed Melanie’s spiel, but the anger that flared in Rafe’s eyes at her pronouncement was reassuring all the same.
“She’s playing a dangerous game,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “I think it’s time I reminded her of the rules. And just so you know, when I make a promise, I take it seriously. I told you there wouldn’t be anyone else for the duration of our arrangement, and there hasn’t been.”
“I believe you. And I’ve already enlightened her. I’m pretty sure she got the message.”
“I can’t believe you robbed me of the pleasure. You’ll have to think of some way to make it up to me.”
“Oh no. I believe it’s you who’ll need to find an appropriate way to reward me for my service above and beyond the call of duty.”
“I’m sure I’ll think of something,” he whispered in her ear.
A little shiver of awareness chased down her spine at the sensual promise in his words.
All and all it was a perfect night, and Lauren and Rafe expressed their appreciation to Chuck and Grace when they returned to dock.
They were making their way back to the main house when Rafe stopped along the way. “You know, the evening doesn’t have to end just yet. There’s a path that leads down to the beach if you’d like to walk a little longer.”
The moon illuminated the grounds, and the sky brimmed with stars. Lauren placed her hand in his. “That sounds lovely. How do you think things are going with Chuck and the bidding?”
“I think he’s pleased with what I’ve put on the table. A big part of his motivation for organizing this getaway was so he could get to know the people bidding for his magazine. Although I’d gladly pay top dollar for the magazine, Chuck isn’t interested in netting the highest price. He’s already made his fortune a hundred times over. His concern is ensuring that he leaves his legacy in the most capable hands possible. The new owner has to retain the values Gracious Living has come to stand for. I think Chuck is confident I can , and I have you to thank for that.”
“Me?”
“Yes. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. You said yourself you were a terrific actress. Chuck is impressed with your enthusiasm and resourcefulness, and he sees us as a committed couple who embody the spirit and values of Gracious Living. He thinks we’re perfectly suited to each other. Two halves that make a whole.”
“He said that?”
Rafe nodded.
A pang of wistfulness shot through Lauren. If only it were true. “What is Chuck Fullerton going to think when he hears we’ve divorced after this year is up? Don’t you feel bad deceiving him in this way?”
Chapter Eleven
Rafe wasn’t prepared for the way his gut twisted when Lauren mentioned divorce. A ridiculous reaction, when dissolving their marriage had been his plan from the start.
“Of course I hate deceiving him,” he barked, immediately regretting the harshness with which the reply left his lips. “I never wanted to stoop to such unsavory tactics. If there was another way, I’d opt for it in a second. Chuck will be disappointed to learn we’ve separated, I’m sure, but he’ll be even more disappointed if Payne gets a hold of his baby. Milton would destroy Gracious Living.”
“Milton is so different from you. Ever since I met him, I couldn’t help but wonder what drew you to him in the first place.”
“He wasn’t always the man he is today. There was a time when we were as close as brothers. When my father and I decided to add a US publishing division to Dimitriou Enterprises, I invited Milton to join me in the venture. I offered him a full partnership. I thought he was the perfect choice.”
“But he wasn’t.”
“No. Before long I began to see a subtle shift in his attitude. He’d show up hours late and leave early. Many days he wouldn’t show up at all. He was aggressive and rude with our staff, and when I’d take him to task for it
, he’d just brush it off.
“I began hearing rumors he’d sexually harassed some of our female managers. The women were afraid they’d lose their jobs if they came forward, but eventually his behavior got so bad some of them decided to speak up. When I confronted him, he admitted what he’d done. He wasn’t remorseful.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. He’s a hard man.”
“And a thief. Not long after the harassment issue, my head accountant came to me and indicated he suspected Milton was embezzling. I didn’t want to believe it, although I knew, deep down, it was true. I fired Milton, but I didn’t prosecute. I regret that, now. I think I let him off the hook because I’d put him up on a pedestal and I was afraid that if he could fall, so could I.”
“That’s not true. You’re not like him at all.”
Rafe shook his head. “I’m not so sure.”
“Well I am. You’re caring, committed, honest, and trustworthy. All the things Milton isn’t.”
“I don’t know how you can say that after I forced you into this arrangement.”
“You didn’t force me. I chose to accept your business proposal.”
“I’m very glad you did.” He reached out to her, brushing his fingers down her face in a tender caress, his hungry gaze setting on her mouth. “I don’t think I’ve properly expressed my gratitude.”
The beach was deserted, the dunes shadowed in darkness. “No, you haven’t,” she murmured against his mouth. Skimming her fingers down the front of his dress shirt, she made short work of undoing the buttons and removing his tie. Her body shuddered as passion ignited. “Why don’t you show me how appreciative you are?”
Making his hands useful too, Rafe impatiently bunched up the hem of her dress, baring her thighs.
She wore only a garter belt and stockings under the figure-hugging gown. A bolt of lust shot through him at the sight. “We never would have made it onto the yacht tonight if I’d know this is what you were wearing under this dress,” he told her, his voice thick with desire. “You’re full of surprises.”