“That’s just logical.”
“And I’m hyperaware of the perils of wealth.”
Her sympathy took a dip. “There are a lot of perils, are there?”
To her mind, the perils of this particular situation were what her father had endured—betrayal, defeat and a marginal income instead of significant income.
“It’s not all caviar and mansions. Just look at the Bianca situation.”
“Due respect, Shane, you’re worried Chicago’s finest bachelorettes will think you quote Byron between the silk sheets?”
He frowned. “I’m worried that clients will cancel multimillion-dollar contracts.”
“And your enormous net worth might drop a little?”
“And,” he said, tone hardening, “I worry about not knowing who’s a friend and who’ll betray me.”
For a horrible second, Darci thought she was caught.
She braced herself for his accusation.
When he stayed silent, guilt assailed her. She swallowed against a dry throat.
She reached for the wineglass, but that made her feel worse. He was sharing this amazing bottle of wine. He’d invited her into his home, had showed her compassion and understanding while she was being completely underhanded.
To top it off, now she’d ridiculed him.
“I’m really sorry,” she said in a low voice.
“You’re allowed to have an opinion.”
She shook her head. “That was thoughtless. I didn’t mean to suggest you have no problems.”
He stared at her for a very long moment. “I don’t want to fight with you, Darci.”
“I don’t want to fight with you, either.”
That was the truth. She wanted to hug him. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted to be wrapped in his strong arms all over again and never come up for air.
Oh, this was not good.
“Glad we’ve got that straight,” he said easily.
She was anxious to move on. “Tell me about your security system.”
“You want to see how my childhood fear turned into an adult phobia?” He grinned.
“I do.” What she really wanted was a safe topic of conversation.
“To keep my personal nightmares at bay, I have monitored alarm systems, both here and at the penthouse. The mansion has exterior cameras, motion detectors, gas and fire and perimeter alarms, all managed by four hidden control panels.”
“Wow.” That was state-of-the-art.
“I can turn the system on or off from the entry hall, the kitchen pantry, the basement and the master bedroom.” He cracked a mischievous smile and waggled his brows. “I’ll show you that one anytime you like.”
She struggled not to laugh. “You do know that’s not going to happen.”
“I do, indeed.”
“I mean—”
She abruptly stopped herself. What was she going to say? Not tonight but maybe another night? Not tonight and not any night. She couldn’t go anywhere near Shane’s bedroom, ever. But she couldn’t say that, even when the silence stretched.
He finally broke it. “We have a service that patrols the neighborhood here. And the dogs, though they’re more for show than anything.”
“They’d work on me,” she said, struggling for composure.
“At the penthouse,” he continued. “It’s just the electronic system, but there’s a security guard on duty in the lobby.”
“I have to say, that doesn’t really sound like a phobia.”
“Do you have an alarm system?”
“No, we don’t.”
His head came up. “We?”
“I have a roommate.”
“Platonic?”
“She likes to keep it that way. Her name’s Jennifer.”
“Okay.”
“I’m not dating anyone, Shane.” They’d gone through this last weekend.
“I guess I’m just a bit jumpy when it comes to relationships.”
“I understand.”
She didn’t know what else to say. She couldn’t swear she’d never lie to him. She’d already lied outright. And her lie of omission was a thing to behold.
“Would you come here?” he asked in a soft tone.
Her chest contracted. “There?”
He nodded. “I respect your no. I’m not trying to press. I just...”
A wave of longing washed through her. She recognized the danger, but she was so tempted.
His voice was deep, sexy, persuasive. “Nobody takes off their clothes and no hands below the waist.”
“Can you stick to those rules?”
“I can if you can.”
“I can.” She had no choice.
He smiled. “Come here.”
Heart thudding, she rose. Her brain screamed at her to stop, but she didn’t. She took the three steps that brought her in front of him.
The air went thick between them.
He reached for her hand and drew her down, crossways onto his lap. His thighs were taut, his chest firm and broad. He smelled fresh and earthy. His arm curled around her, urging her in, settling her against his chest and shoulder.
She knew she shouldn’t relax, but she couldn’t help herself. Just for a few minutes, she promised. She felt the strength and the intimacy of his body beneath hers. It was hot and sexy, and absolutely forbidden.
“This is a mistake,” she said, more to herself than to him.
“No, it’s not. It’s the smartest thing I’ve ever done.” He placed the gentlest of kisses at her hairline.
Her limbs softened. It was only a kiss. She could handle a kiss. They’d pledged not to take it further.
She lifted her chin, giving access to her lips.
He instantly took the invitation, bending forward. His mouth met hers, and sensation rocketed through her.
The kiss grew harder and deeper. She arched her back, and he wrapped his arms fully around her.
She slid her hands along his body, feeling the heat through his dress shirt, the hardness of his stomach, the definition of his pecs, the broad strength of his shoulders. She came to his tie and fingered the knot.
He murmured her name, his kisses moving to her neck, downward, across her shoulder, pushing aside the fabric and the strap of her bra. A shimmer started in the pit of her stomach, radiating outward, urging her on.
She kissed his neck, his earlobe, his cheek, then he met her with his mouth, sending bells clanging inside her head, colored rainbows popping up behind her eyes.
Then she realized the bells were real.
It was a phone, his phone, on the table beside them.
He swore under his breath and reached out.
It rang again.
“It’s my lawyer,” he said.
“Go ahead.”
Her breathing was labored. Her skin tingled, and her entire body throbbed with unfulfilled desire. She had not been about to stop.
He swore again. Then he put the phone to his ear.
“Hey, Justin.” Shane’s voice was remarkably even.
If she hadn’t been sitting in his lap, feeling every nuance of his body, she’d have guessed their kisses hadn’t affected him at all.
“Damn it.” His tone was sharp.
Darci knew she had to move. She should be thankful for the interruption and get the heck up. She couldn’t be trusted with Shane, and she had to leave here now.
“Paris?” He waited while Justin obviously spoke. “Yeah. Okay.”
She tried to move away, but he instantly tightened his hold.
“Hang on,” he said into the phone. Then he muffled it against his chest. “Don’t go.”
“I have to.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Shane, we can’t.”
“We won’t.”
“We were about to.”
He stared at her, jaw clenched. Then he put the phone back to his ear. “I’ll call you back.” He waited again. “Two minutes.” He sucked in what sounded like a frustrated breath. “Yes! Just wait.” He hit the end button and tossed the phone onto the table.
“I have to go,” she repeated, pushing away.
This time he released her.
She came to her feet, straightened her dress. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.”
“The wine.” She gestured to the expensive bottle, which they’d barely begun to drink. “We hardly—”
“Forget the wine.”
She wished she could explain why she couldn’t sleep with him. She wanted to sleep with him. She wanted it badly. But that was a line she couldn’t cross.
“I have to go to France,” he said.
“Right now?” She was sharply reminded of who he was and the life he led.
“In the morning. It’s that stupid Bianca book. A German company canceled an important order, and now a French company is hesitating. I’m sorry, but—”
“Don’t you be sorry. It’s your job. I get it.”
“You have to come back,” he said.
“I don’t know.” Her stomach cramped with anxiety. She had to look further for her father’s drawings, but she couldn’t risk a repeat of tonight.
“Next Saturday,” he said. “In the daylight. We’ll do something outside with the dogs.”
This was a disaster. She’d lost all perspective, and he had to think she was some lunatic, Victorian throwback.
“I wish I could explain.”
“You don’t have to explain.” He came to his feet and picked up his phone. “Just say yes.”
She had to say no. She couldn’t trust herself with him. But she had to say yes, or all of this had been a waste.
“There’s only one acceptable answer,” he told her gently.
“Okay,” she agreed. “Okay.”
She’d try this one more time. But she wasn’t going to let herself be alone with him, not even for a moment.
Five
It was close to midnight when Darci let herself into the quiet apartment. Jennifer had left a small light on above the kitchen counter, and the city glow shone in through the big windows.
Darci dropped her purse on a table and kicked off her shoes. The effects of the wine were starting to wear off, and her energy had leeched away. She felt like a fool. She felt weak and stupid and ridiculously vulnerable to her hormones.
A big glass of water, a quick shower and the comfort of her soft sheets was the smart course of action right now. But she wasn’t having a particularly smart night. And her stomach hurt. And she had to talk this out.
So instead of heading for her own bedroom, she took the narrow staircase to Jennifer’s bedroom loft.
“You awake,” she stage-whispered at the top of the stairs.
Jennifer rustled in her bed. “Huh?”
“You awake?” Darci repeated, although the answer was obvious. She moved toward Jennifer’s double bed, navigating by the glow from the windows.
“Sure. Yeah. I’m awake. How’d it go?” Jennifer wriggled into a sitting position against her headboard.
Darci sat down at the foot of the bed, curling her feet beneath her. “Not so good. Terrible, in fact. I didn’t find anything. And...well...” She plucked at the comforter.
“What?” asked Jennifer.
“I get it now.” The cramp in her stomach tightened.
“You get what?”
“I get the thing with Ashton. Knowing you can’t but wanting so desperately to figure out a way that it’s okay, and then throwing caution to the wind and ending up in a place where you...”
Jennifer sat up straight. “Darci, what did you do?”
“Not that. I didn’t do that. But I thought about doing that. I almost did that. I’m pretty sure I’d have done it if not for his lawyer.”
“I know it’s late. And I’m kinda fuzzy here. But what are you talking about?”
“Sex.”
“I know you’re talking about sex. But what’s the context? How did you almost have it? And with Shane Colborn?”
“He’s pretty hot,” said Darci, her memory going back. “Maybe it was the wine.”
“Are you drunk?”
“Not really. We only had one bottle. Well, he opened another. And I’m afraid it was really expensive. But then he kissed me, and I ended up in his lap. And, oh man, Jen, it was...oh man.”
It took Jennifer a moment to speak. “You can’t fall for Shane Colborn.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“Maybe Ashton can’t be trusted. But Shane is your enemy.”
“He’s not—” Darci winced. “Yes. You’re right. He’s the enemy.”
“And you’re spying on him.”
“I am. I’m not doing that great a job of it. But I am trying.”
“So far, I’m impressed. You got into his mansion twice. Did you get down to the basement? Did you find out anything new?”
“I found his dogs.”
“Dogs?”
“Big dogs. Big loud dogs.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Yeah.” Darci couldn’t help remembering how great Shane had been about that part, too. “There wasn’t nearly enough time to look around. I know some of the places where the records aren’t, but there are so many other rooms down there.”
“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”
“I’m going back next weekend.”
“Going back won’t solve the problem. He’s not going to let you loose in his basement for hours by yourself.”
Darci had to admit Jennifer was right. Even if she did find the records, she’d never have time to look through them. And she could hardly leave the mansion with an armful of file folders.
But then what? Did she simply give up? Did she let someone else claim her father’s legacy forever?
Jennifer’s fan oscillated in the corner while traffic hummed past on the streets below. A jet plane rumbled in the distance on its way into O’Hare.
“Could you get in while he wasn’t there?” asked Jennifer.
“I don’t see how. He’s got this elaborate alarm system. And security. And the dogs.” Darci gave a weak laugh. “I’m not a cat burglar. I’m not breaking into Shane’s home, no matter how noble my cause.”
“I suppose that is over-the-top,” said Jennifer. “Then again, so is sleeping with him to get him to trust you.”
“That wasn’t why I was going to sleep with him.”
“Why exactly were you going to sleep with him? We both know that with you it takes more than a buff, good-looking guy.”
It was a very good question. What was it about Shane?
“Darci?” Jennifer prompted.
“I’m thinking. I don’t really know. He’s...nice. He’s funny and smart and considerate. And he smells, well, it’s hard to describe, but it’s good. He picks up on everything I say. He gets it. He laughs in all the right places. And he’s got this twinkle in his blue eyes, like he can see right through you, knows what’s going on inside your head.”
“He doesn’t know you’re spying on him.”
“He doesn’t. But every once in a while.” Darci tried to put it into words. “If I slip up in even the slightest way, he gets suspicious. It’s like he knows there’s something more going on, but he can’t quantify it, and for some reason, he doesn’t want to ask.”
“Maybe because he wants to get you into bed?”
“He’s made no secret of that. But he’s respectful
of me saying no.”
“Or he pretends to be respectful. It was the lawyer that shut it down, not Shane, right?”
That was true. Darci nodded. “He has to go to France.”
“The lawyer?”
“Shane. First thing tomorrow. It sounded like he’d be gone a few days.”
“Perfect time for a burglary.”
“If I was willing to do that.”
Jennifer slid forward and wrapped her arms around her knees, a sly expression coming over her face. “What if you didn’t break in?”
Darci twisted to face her. “I’m not going to break in.”
“What if they invited you in?”
“He will. He has.”
Jennifer gave her head a shake. “When he’s not there. What if the staff would let you in when he’s not there?”
“Why would they do that? And, anyway, they’d tell him I’d been there.”
“So you’d need a good excuse.”
“Like what?” It was too bad Darci wasn’t a dog person. She might have used them as a reason to go back.
“You lost something,” said Jennifer. “You lost something, and you need to look for it. It has huge sentimental value, and you’ll be upset until you find it.”
She reached out and grasped Darci’s chin, turning her head from side to side. “Those are opals.”
“My earrings?”
“Yes. You can say you inherited them from your mother. No, your grandmother. Your beloved grandmother, who wore them on her wedding day. You lost one in...” Jennifer tipped back her head and laughed.
“I never met my grandmother, either of them.”
“In the wine cellar,” Jennifer chortled. “You lost an heirloom opal earring in the wine cellar, and you have to look for it. You won’t sleep until it’s safe in your hands.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s brilliant.”
“It’s a big, fat lie. And what if Shane remembers I was wearing both my earrings when I left his house.”
“He’s a regular guy. He doesn’t remember.”
“He could.”
“He won’t. And if he does, then you say you lost it in the apartment and only thought you lost it in the wine cellar.”
“That’s a pretty complicated lie.”
Sex, Lies and the CEO Page 7