‘So Rick told me,’ she said dryly.
‘Yes—well, he was right!’ her brother regained some of his composure. ‘But at least he’s willing to forget about it.’
‘How do you know that?’ she asked in a surprised voice.
‘Well, the two of you had lunch together, and you were together last night too.’
‘Yes, but—Yes,’ she sighed. ‘Although you shouldn’t read too much into that, Henry.’
‘Everyone else at the party was. Rick isn’t known for his consistency with women, and yet he didn’t leave your side all night.’
‘One evening doesn’t constitute a change in his character,’ she derided.
‘You’re hardly giving the man a chance, Shanna.’
She gave an impatient sigh. ‘You could be his P.R. man, Henry,’ she taunted bitterly. ‘But I have no intention of giving him or any other man “a chance”. Perry’s only been dead six months, I thought you had more loyalty to him than that.’
‘I have,’ he sighed. ‘I liked Perry, you know that, we all did. It’s just—things were far from smooth between you before he died. You’re still young, Shanna, you deserve to still have a life of your own.’
‘I have a life. I work. I go out—’
‘Always alone,’ he pointed out.
‘I prefer to be alone.’
‘That’s my whole point—’
‘And you’ve completely missed mine,’ she snapped. ‘I lost my husband only six months ago. I loved Perry very much, Henry.’
‘I know,’ he acknowledged quietly. ‘But the way he treated you before he died…!’
‘He loved me,’ she insisted.
‘I know that too. But there are different ways of loving. Perry loved you while the marriage and his career were going well. But after the first accident, when he couldn’t race any more, he treated you abominably.’
‘He was lost without his racing—’
‘He had you!’
‘And it wasn’t enough!’ she said heatedly. ‘It wouldn’t be for a lot of men. I understood what he went through, you didn’t, so don’t presume to judge him on what you do know. Perry loved me, he never stopped loving me. And I loved him. I don’t want to talk about it any more,’ she added abruptly. ‘And I don’t want to discuss Rick Dalmont any more either. He wants a quick affair and I don’t, that’s the end of it.’
‘Shanna—’
‘I mean it, Henry,’ she told him in a softly controlled voice. ‘One more criticism against Perry and you’re going to find this office empty when you arrive with Rick at ten o’clock,’ she warned.
‘I’m not criticising him,’ her brother defended. ‘I’m trying to understand.’
And he never would, no one would, because no one knew the whole truth about Perry’s first accident, or their six months of marriage after that. And no one ever would!
‘I’ll see you and Rick at ten o’clock, Henry,’ she said curtly.
‘Shanna—’
‘Ten o’clock.’ She rang off abruptly, lacing her fingers together to stop her hands from shaking.
For six months she had lived without curiosity or probing from her older brother, knowing that he respected the privacy of the problems in her marriage before Perry died. In just two weeks Rick Dalmont had shaken her whole life upside down, was forcing her out from behind the wall she had built over her emotions. Until she met him two weeks ago she hadn’t felt love and she hadn’t felt hate, she had lived her life day after day, often wishing that Perry hadn’t died alone in that second accident, that she didn’t have to spend the rest of her life without him.
But Rick Dalmont wasn’t going to let her stay behind that wall; he had even involved Henry on his side of the argument. Some of the foundations might be a bit shaky, but she would soon build the wall back up again—she had to!
No one could have faulted her manner or appearance as she welcomed her brother and Rick into her office at exactly ten o’clock. Her manner was coolly polite, her dress a deep shade of burgundy, giving an ebony sheen to her hair.
But Rick wasn’t at all deterred by her coolness, grinning at her unabashedly as he mocked, ‘And are you feeling fresh and alert this morning, Shanna?’
She looked at him with unflinching green eyes, subconsciously wondering how he managed to look so much more impressive in his navy suit than Henry did in his. The two men were of a similar build, both tall and powerfully built, but there the similarity ended; Rick Dalmont possessed an elegance and style Henry could never hope to achieve.
‘Yes, thank you, Mr Dalmont,’ she replied distantly.
One dark brow quirked mockingly. ‘I think I would still prefer you soft and kittenish,’ he taunted.
‘And I still prefer my own bed!’
‘You should have said so,’ he drawled. ‘I had no preference as to the bed we used.’
The embarrassed colour in her brother’s cheeks reached the tip of his ears, and Shanna’s coolness had turned to anger. How dared he talk to her this way in front of Henry! One look into the black eyes told her that he would dare more than that if he had to.
She stood up, unconsciously graceful in her movements. ‘If you’re ready for the tour,’ she said pointedly.
‘Any time you are,’ he mocked.
‘Now,’ she said abruptly, moving to the door. But Rick was there before her, holding it open for her, a teasing quirk to his mouth. She chose to ignore it, sweeping past him with cool disdain.
She had to admire him during the next hour, the way that he obviously had done his homework on publishing; all the questions he asked, of Henry and herself, and also of the people in the different departments who now worked for him, were very relevant and knowledgeable. Rick Dalmont was obviously a man who didn’t ask someone to do something if he wasn’t well aware beforehand that it could be done, even if it might be difficult. He was like a sponge, absorbing and filing away each piece of information he received for future reference.
‘It looks good, Henry,’ he told her brother when they returned to Shanna’s office for coffee. Gloria was so agog with curiosity about their new boss when she brought in the tray, she almost walked into the door on her way out, although Rick didn’t seem to notice her.
Henry nodded. ‘Your lawyers did a pretty thorough job of investigating before you bought Fashion Lady.’
‘They always do,’ the other man nodded, his gaze warm as Shanna handed him his cup of coffee. ‘Thanks, sweetheart.’
She stiffened at the endearment, although Henry seemed not to notice anything unusual about a boss calling an employee ‘sweetheart’. It made her realise that her brother still harboured some hope that she would come to like the other man.
‘Surely Fashion Lady is rather small for the head of Dalmont Industries to interest himself in personally?’ she prompted abruptly.
Cool black eyes were turned on her. ‘When Fashion Lady is being run as I want it to be perhaps I’ll move on, but until that time it remains my prime project.’
And you along with it! his eyes seemed to say. Shanna turned away, making a point of serving her brother his coffee.
‘Will you be making many changes?’ Henry asked interestedly.
‘Some.’ The other man didn’t elaborate.
‘Shanna has done a good job this last year.’
‘I agree,’ Rick nodded.
‘But?’ she prompted softly.
‘I don’t believe I said “but”.’ His black eyes taunted her.
‘Then you should have,’ she challenged.
He gave an inclination of his head, his smile mocking her. ‘Perhaps I should,’ he agreed, again not elaborating any further.
‘Well?’ she prompted after a lengthy silence.
‘Well,’ he nodded, obviously enjoying himself—at her expense.
Her mouth tightened. ‘Just tell me if anyone is going to lose their job in this shake-up.’
Rick met her gaze steadily. ‘I don’t have to tell you anything, Shanna. You�
�ll know any management decisions along with everyone else.’
‘Management?’ she frowned. ‘Is that just you? Or do you have an entourage you take around with you?’
His expression darkened at the scorn in her tone. ‘I have an entourage,’ he bit out.
Her eyes widened. ‘How many?’
He shrugged. ‘Half a dozen highly trained people. They’ll be here next week.’
‘Here here, or just here in London?’
Rick’s mouth quirked with amusement. ‘Here here—they’re already in London, they have been the last two weeks or so.’
‘The same amount of time as you.’
‘The same as me,’ he nodded. ‘They go everywhere that I go.’
‘Everywhere?’
‘Well, almost everywhere,’ he chuckled throatily. ‘I like my privacy at times like everyone else.’
‘I can imagine,’ she drawled. ‘And who do “they” consist of?’
‘A couple of secretaries, two personal assistants, a lawyer, and a P.R. man. Publicity is necessary some of the time,’ he grimaced, ‘but I want no part of it. Jack does a good job of keeping those sort of people off my back. I have a mobile office staff, we function from wherever we happen to be at the time, usually hotel rooms. It will make a nice change to have an office for a few weeks. I’m sure my people will appreciate it.’
‘But there isn’t room for another seven people here,’ Shanna protested. ‘We barely have room for the staff we already have. Of course, there’s the executive office Henry uses when he’s here…’
‘And this one,’ Rick put in softly.
Her eyes widened as his words sank in. ‘This one…?’
‘Mm,’ he smiled. ‘You won’t mind sharing with me, will you, Shanna? It seems a pity to throw someone else out of their office for the short time we’ll be here. My two assistants, Jack and Peter, can take Henry’s old office, Petra and Kate can move in next door with Gloria. Did you do anything about getting someone in to change this room?’ he demanded abruptly.
Shanna was too stunned by his reorganising of his private staff into her offices to do more than nod. ‘I have a man coming in this afternoon to discuss it.’
‘Good girl,’ he said appreciatively. ‘Make sure you tone it down in here. Hell, I don’t have to tell you, you’ve lived with this the last year,’ he derided.
Henry looked puzzled. ‘You’re having this office redecorated?’
‘Yes,’ Rick drawled. ‘Blue and white are my least favourite colours.’
‘Oh, I see,’ the other man nodded. ‘I’ve always liked this office myself, but if you don’t like it…’
‘I thought maybe a restful green or brown,’ Rick answered Henry, but he was looking at Shanna.
It was an instruction, she knew that. She also knew it was going to be nearly impossible to share an office with Rick for the next three months while she worked her notice.
‘Make sure it’s ready for Monday,’ he added curtly.
‘That’s too soon—’
‘I don’t care what it takes,’ he told her grimly. ‘Triple time over the weekend, a bonus, whatever. But I want it changed before I come in here Monday.’
‘I’ll do my best,’ she said tightly.
‘That’s good enough for me,’ he nodded, his mouth twisted derisively. ‘Well, I think that’s all for now, don’t you, Henry? We’ve taken up enough of Shanna’s time for one morning, we mustn’t keep her from her work any longer,’ he taunted.
‘The magazine has never run itself,’ she told him tightly.
The two men stood up. ‘Come to dinner tonight, Shanna,’ Henry invited softly, taking one of her hands in his in silent apology for their argument on the telephone earlier this morning. ‘I’d like to talk to you.’
She squeezed his hand. ‘Not tonight,’ she refused softly.
He glanced over at Rick and then back to Shanna again. ‘You have a prior engagement,’ he realised.
‘No,’ she answered tautly. ‘I just don’t feel—sociable today. I’d like to be alone tonight.’ The last was said for Rick’s sake as much as Henry’s.
‘Everyone needs to be alone sometimes, Henry,’ Rick drawled, taking the hint.
Her brother nodded. ‘I’ll call you tomorrow, Shanna. Maybe we can see you some time over the weekend?’
‘Maybe.’ She was noncommittal, as she walked to the door with them.
‘I’ll see you on Monday morning, Shanna,’ Rick told her with satisfaction. ‘Bright and early.’
‘The office opens at nine o’clock,’ she said stiffly.
He nodded. ‘I’ll be here at eight. Have a good weekend, honey. I’ll be away until late Sunday evening, so I won’t see you until Monday morning,’ he explained.
That suited her perfectly! A weekend free of him after two weeks of having him dog her every footstep would be a welcome relief. ‘Eight o’clock,’ she conceded agreeably.
He gave a grin, touching her cheek with gentle fingertips. ‘I can hardly wait!’
She suffered his touch for several seconds before moving back, her smile tight. ‘Neither can I.’
‘I bet,’ he mocked.
It took her several minutes to regain her composure after Henry and Rick had left. But at least she wasn’t to have Rick’s tormenting presence for the next five days; it had been worth putting up with his arrogant assumption that he could touch her just for that!
But her temples ached from just that one encounter. Three months, three long months—
Her eyes widened as her office door softly opened, tensing as Rick closed the door behind him. She stood up warily. ‘Did you forget something?’
‘Yes.’ He advanced further into the room.
She frowned, looking about the tidy office. Nothing looked out of place. ‘You forgot to tell me something?’
‘Yes.’ He stood in front of her now.
She stood her ground, her mouth suddenly dry as his dark gaze roamed slowly over her face, lingering on the parted softness of her lips. ‘Yes?’ she prompted nervously, feeling trapped, with her desk behind her and Rick in front of her. And he knew it, that knowledge was in the confidence of his black eyes.
‘Yes,’ he said again softly.
He was doing this deliberately! She should have known she couldn’t escape for five days that easily. ‘What is it?’ she asked irritably.
‘This,’ he groaned, his head bending before his mouth captured hers, pulling her against the hardness of his body.
But that was the only similarity to the way he had kissed her the night before; his lips were pleading for her response this time, tasting, cajoling, tempting…
‘Put your arms around me,’ he murmured against her lips, his hands linked at the base of her spine for closer contact with her, the hardness of his thighs telling her what the black glow of his eyes had already conveyed. ‘I’m going to be away almost a week, honey,’ he said softly. ‘Surely one little kiss isn’t going to hurt you?’
‘I don’t want to kiss you.’ She strained away from him.
‘I know that,’ he said unconcernedly. ‘But I’d hate to change my mind about going away. Now kiss me!’ he instructed fiercely.
Shanna recognised a strength and determination more formidable than her own, giving a small sigh of capitulation as she put her arms about his neck and raised her face to his.
‘You kiss me,’ he reminded her throatily.
‘I—’
‘Kiss me, Shanna!’ he ground out. ‘And make sure I enjoy it!’
Her eyes were stormy as she raised her mouth to his, instantly knowing by his lack of co-operation that he wasn’t going to make this easy for her. Damn him, he wanted a kiss—he was going to get one!
She arched her body against his, her breasts pressed against his chest as her hips moved slowly against him, her parted mouth moving erotically over his. With a deep groan his arms came about her like a vice, drawing her into him, every hard line of his body outlined against her, hiding none
of his passionate response to her.
She pulled away, her gaze cold as she calmly registered the high flush to his cheeks, his eyes darkened even more with sexual excitement. ‘You enjoyed it,’ she told him icily, moving away as his arms dropped from about her.
His face tightened, his eyes narrowing as he breathed angrily. ‘And all you enjoyed was knowing how you arouse me!’ he rasped.
She sat down behind her desk. ‘You didn’t ask that I enjoy anything else. But then your sort never do.’ She was deliberately insulting, hating the physical strength he had exerted over her to get his own way. ‘Your own pleasure is all you’re interested in.’
‘I’ve never had any complaints,’ he bit out.
‘I’m sure you haven’t,’ she derided. ‘But there’s more to any relationship than being able to perform in bed. I’m sure no woman ever leaves your bed dissatisfied, Mr Dalmont, but it’s still only a way of giving you pleasure. It would damage your ego, your self-esteem, if you couldn’t tell yourself the woman had enjoyed it too. It’s just another form of taking,’ she dismissed scornfully.
‘Was your husband a taker too?’ he rasped. ‘Is that why you’re so familiar with the “type"?’
‘Perry?’ she gave him a startled look. ‘No, Perry was not a taker,’ she told him stiffly.
‘Then why did your marriage fail?’
‘It didn’t fail!’ Her eyes blazed.
‘So your idea of a successful marriage is affairs on the side?’ Rick taunted harshly, a white ring of tension about his mouth.
She swallowed hard, hating him more than ever in that moment. ‘I’ve never had an affair,’ she told him dully, knowing that hadn’t been what he meant at all, but still too raw to accept the truth.
‘No, but your husband had plenty.’ Rick felt no such reluctance. ‘Maybe you aren’t a giver either.’
She looked at him with dull green eyes, the fire having left her face and body. ‘Maybe I’m not,’ she agreed evenly.
‘Shanna—’
‘I apologise if I was rude to you just now,’ she told him coolly. ‘I had no right to say the things I did.’
Undying Love Page 6