by Karen Booth
“Indeed. We carry only our store brand for menswear. It has quite a cult following.” Daniel reached for the jacket, admonishing himself. He had no business sharing this information. He really had no business hoping the garment might smell like her. “This is perfect. Thank you.”
Emma turned back to the elevator. “Okay, then. I guess I’ll see you around the building? Maybe next time you’ll remember me.”
The dogs began to bark. They must have gotten a whiff of him. Pulled between his urgent obligation to them and wanting to at least make slight amends with Emma, he grabbed her arm. “No. Please. Don’t go.” He turned toward his own apartment. “Come with me? The dogs will quiet down once I’m inside. I’d like to talk.”
A clever smile crossed her plump, raspberry-pink lips. All he could think about was convincing her to break every zipper she owned. “Sure. I love dogs.”
“Brilliant.” Daniel opened his door, doing his best to calm his canine trio and keep them from jumping on his guest. “Slow down. It’s okay. Daddy’s home.”
“That’s so cute. Daddy.” Emma snickered and closed the door.
Daniel had never once gone for cute. “I’m so sorry, but apparently the dog walker didn’t show up today. Is there any chance you’d accompany me to the park for a few minutes so we can talk?”
Emma crouched down and Jolly went straight to her. “I have a few minutes, then I need to go.”
Of course she did. She likely had a date. A woman like Emma did not sit home alone. Daniel deposited his laptop bag on the table in the foyer and grabbed the leashes from the hook. “We’d better get going then, shouldn’t we?”
The instant they were in the confines of the elevator, he remembered meeting Emma the first time. Perhaps it was a recollection of her perfume, but the memory of her, and his poor behavior, rushed into his mind. “I’m so sorry I didn’t recognize you the other night. I do remember meeting you. I held the elevator door, right?”
She pressed her lips together. “That was me.”
“I’m so sorry. If you’d been wearing an evening gown that day I might have recognized you last night.”
“You didn’t find it strange I said that thing about how we had to stop meeting like that?”
He laughed. “I thought you were being a cheeky American.”
“Just my attempt at being clever.”
He reached out and touched her arm. “It was clever. Honestly, it works in either situation, strangers or someone you know. Of course, a line like that is always better delivered by a beautiful woman.” He had no idea what had come over him. Only the old Daniel said openly flirtatious things and threw caution to the wind. He had to keep himself under control. “I’m sorry if that was forward.”
“You’ve seen my undies. I don’t think there’s such a thing as forward at this point.”
Heat bloomed in Daniel’s chest, spread down to his waist and kept going, wrapping around his hips and thighs. Why had he not kissed her last night? He’d been a fool for not taking his chance, especially at a time when he hadn’t known she was a member of the family his mother was dead set on destroying.
* * *
It was simply a beautiful night. The sidewalks were damp from the rain earlier in the day. The clip-clop of the horses drawing carriages around the park managed to rise above all other noise. She and Daniel crossed at the corner and walked one of the sweeping asphalt trails that meander through Central Park. She should have been happy to be with him, but once again, her nerves had returned. It’d been easy to convince herself earlier that she was capable of flirting with Daniel and gathering information about his business, but confronted with him in person, she knew how silly that notion was. She wasn’t capable of being ruthless or heartless about anything. She simply wanted to get to know him, but she knew that anything she asked could be misconstrued as prying.
“Lovely night,” he said, breaking the silence between them.
“It is.” She frantically searched her mind for something else to say. She wanted to ask if there were nights such as this in London, but she didn’t want him to know that she’d never been. Perhaps it was best to talk about the dogs. “What are their names?”
Daniel stopped near a bench while the dogs explored and marked some nearby shrubs. “The two Corgis are Mandy and Buckingham, Buck for short. The miniature English bulldog is Jolly.” The second her name crossed his lips, the dog waddled over to Emma.
She crouched down to pet her. “She’s adorable.”
“She used to belong to my brother.”
“How could he give up such a sweet dog?” Emma scratched Jolly behind the ears.
“It wasn’t his choice. He was killed in a car accident.”
Emma couldn’t believe she’d put her foot in her mouth so badly. She should’ve been smart enough to at least look into Daniel’s history after their phone call. She should’ve researched the Stone family and figured out who she was dealing with. This new world of hers was more conniving than she found normal. Everyday people did not need due diligence before a walk in the park. “I’m so sorry for your loss. When did it happen?”
“Not quite two years.” They resumed their walk, deeper into the park.
“Was he older or younger?”
“Older by two years. My only sibling. He was the golden boy, so it’s been an adjustment. There’s no living up to William or his memory.”
Emma could hear the pain in his voice. It went deep. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
“You haven’t met my mother.” Daniel cleared his throat. “What about you? Two sisters, right? Sophie and Mindy?”
So he had done his research. What if Mindy was right? What if Daniel did have ulterior motives? What if last night had been a trap and she’d walked right into it? “Half sisters. We have the same father. It’s a long story.” She was fairly certain that if Daniel had snooped, he would know the sordid details that were out there to be found. Everything else, the hush money paid to her mother for years, was well hidden.
“So I understand you’re CFO for Eden’s. That’s far more important than a number cruncher.” Every new detail he revealed made her more nervous.
“True.”
“And how is the store doing since your grandmother passed away? Victoria Eden’s memory must cast a very long shadow.”
They’d officially arrived in uncomfortable territory for Emma. She didn’t want to talk about this. She couldn’t risk giving away a single secret. “We’re doing our best. What about Stone’s? I didn’t realize you were considering a foray into the American market.”
He nodded, looking down at the ground. “It’s early days. No telling what will happen.”
His answer was all evasiveness and that put Emma even more on edge. Spending time with Daniel and getting closer to him could be playing with fire. Sophie and Mindy had warned her. Unfortunately, the part of Emma that had the nerve to wear that dress last night was still dying to get out. She was so tired of playing it safe. She wanted a little fire in her life. And if she was going to get burned, she might as well do it with a scrumptious man like Daniel. “How long are you here in New York?”
“Three months, I think. I don’t love it, but I’m learning to like it.”
With any other man, that would be a strike against him. Emma had little patience for men who didn’t stick around. Her father had certainly done that to her mom. But perhaps this was her safety net. She could have a fling and it wouldn’t matter what happened. It would eventually end. Was the new Emma capable of getting close and not getting attached? The old Emma was not.
Too many conflicted thoughts were going through her head right now. She needed time and space to think. She liked Daniel a lot. But she wasn’t sure it was a good idea to tempt herself. “I should probably head upstairs.”
“I’ll walk you. I don’t like the idea of you walking the park alo
ne at night.”
Just when she’d been seeking distance in the name of her sanity, he offered more time together. More to the point, he was doing that chivalrous thing again. She had such a weakness for it. They turned back, but out of nowhere, Jolly bolted ahead. Her leash slipped from Daniel’s hand. The bulldog scrambled off under the bushes.
Daniel took off after her, with the other dogs leading the way. “No! Jolly!”
Emma joined the pursuit.
Daniel arrived at a park bench and crouched down, peering behind it. “She loves to put me through my paces. I think she sometimes wants to remind me that I’m not her true master. Only my brother could fill that role.”
Emma couldn’t help but notice the bitter edge to Daniel’s words, but there was a larger task at hand now, namely a small bulldog needing to be coaxed from out of the bushes. Emma got on all fours and made eye contact with Jolly. “Come here, sweetie. I won’t hurt you.” She snapped her fingers. Jolly took a small step, then shrank back.
“I’m worried she doesn’t like living with me.”
Emma snapped her fingers again and made a kissing noise. The dog took two steps this time, so Emma puckered up and made the noise again. Slowly, Jolly crept out from her hiding spot. Emma didn’t move until the dog nudged her hand with her nose. “That’s a good girl.” She scooped up Jolly and tucked her under her arm. “Maybe I’ll carry her inside.”
Daniel stared at her in amazement. “How did you do that? The last time this happened, it was a half hour ordeal.”
Emma relished her minor victory, even if once again Daniel had seen her in a less than ladylike position. “I worked for a dog groomer one summer.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she worried that the answer made her seem too unrefined.
“Where did you come from, Emma?”
The question made her heart race. She wanted to tell him everything about her history, and how her father had left her and her mother dangling by a thread. Then again, she didn’t. She refused to play the role of victim. After all, she had the entire world before her right now. Anything she could ever desire was at her fingertips. Maybe even Daniel. “Does it matter where I came from? I’m here right now.”
He smiled and their gazes connected. Every bit of the electricity from last night was zipping back and forth between them again. “I...” He stepped closer. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I didn’t remember you from the elevator.”
“We hardly spoke.”
“I remember it now. You made an effort. And I didn’t. For that, I’m deeply sorry.”
She touched his arm, the fabric of his suit jacket soft and smooth under her fingers. Her eyes were drawn to his face and not just because his eyes were so entrancing. There was so much more to admire, like his full lips and the way one side of his mouth wanted to twist higher than the other when he was amused. “I don’t want you to feel bad, Daniel. Apology more than accepted.”
He grinned and reached for her hand. Emma’s pulse picked up, beating in double time. “You know, you aren’t helping me at all. I thought it might be easier to ask you on a proper date if I was some way in debt to you.”
A proper date? Emma had more than a few improper thoughts going through her head right now. “I’m the one who’s in debt to you. If you hadn’t given me your jacket, I might have left last night wrapped in a tablecloth.”
“It could have been the biggest fashion statement of the entire event.” Warmth radiated off him as they were again drawn closer. His fingers were wrapped snuggly around hers, his face close enough that she could see the darker flecks of blue in his incredible eyes.
“Maybe. Of course, I could ask you on a proper date. And then you wouldn’t need to worry about needing a reason.” So bold Emma really did exist. She just needed a bit of encouragement.
He scanned her face like he was searching for answers. Just as she’d already learned to expect, the right corner of his mouth went up. “And what about a reason for asking if I can kiss you? Do I need one of those?”
“A person can always ask.” Emma bit down on her lip in eager anticipation. Was she going to get the kiss she should have had the sense to claim last night? “No guarantees on the answer. Although I’m definitely leaning toward yes.”
His lips spread into a full smile, his breathtaking eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. “Yes?”
“I’ll take it one further. Yes, please.” Emma couldn’t wait. Jolly tucked under her arm, Emma rose up onto her toes, leaning into Daniel. Her mouth met his and her body sprang to life. Her face tingled, her chest flushed with heat, her lips were nothing but hungry. When his lips parted and his tongue urged hers to do the same, she tilted her head even farther to the side, wanting everything she could get from him. The buzz of the city and the fresh smell of rain faded into invisible recesses as their kiss became the most powerful, living, breathing thing around them. His hand slid to the small of her back and Emma arched into him. She could already imagine how they would fit together in bed, and even though the idea intimidated her, just like she’d recently made so many other leaps, she wanted to jump ahead to that right now.
From under her arm, Jolly yipped. Emma was brought back to earth, reluctantly pulling her lips from Daniel’s. “I don’t think she likes us kissing.”
His chest was rising and falling with each breath. She loved seeing that she’d gotten his pulse racing. She wasn’t sure she’d ever had that effect on a man. “This would definitely be easier if I didn’t have the dogs with me. I could take them back upstairs. Or you could come with me.”
As tempting as his offer was, this was all moving too fast. She wanted Daniel. But they’d known each other for a scant twenty-four hours, and their true identities for an even shorter amount of time. Plus there was the larger looming question of intentions. What were his? She wasn’t sure she knew her own.
“I have a big day at work tomorrow. I should go.” Everything Mindy and Sophie had said was ringing in her ears. Could she trust Daniel? Should she even be speaking to him? Her body and her mind warred while she struggled with the question. There was a chance she couldn’t trust her sisters, either. They had their own agenda, and although it was undoubtedly intertwined with Emma’s share of Eden’s, they could throw her under the bus at any moment.
Daniel pressed his lips together and nodded. “I understand. I have quite a lot to accomplish tomorrow, as well. I’d still like to take you out if you’re open to the idea.”
Emma’s heartbeat was beating so fast she wasn’t sure how she was still standing. He wanted to see her again. “That would be lovely. What were you thinking?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard, but the English National Opera is performing La Bohème on Broadway over the next six weeks. It’s opening Thursday night and I’m certain I can get us tickets. I’ve known the director for quite some time.”
Emma pulse picked up again, sheerly out of nervousness. No, she hadn’t heard. All these years living in close proximity to the city and she’d never seen a Broadway production, let alone the opera. Of course, she wasn’t about to admit that. She couldn’t imagine Daniel would be drawn to a woman whose world was as small as hers. Once again, she was going to have to fake it until she could make it. “That sounds lovely. I’d love to go.”
A confident smile crossed his face and Emma had to wonder what it was like to walk around the world so self-assured. “Excellent. I’ll secure the tickets.”
What was the saying about playing with fire? That was how it felt to be with Daniel. He was unafraid to make an overture and kiss her in the middle of the park. He wasn’t shy about asking her to the theater, all while there was a very good chance he intended to destroy her family’s business. Despite his seeming sense of obligation to her, in the real world, Daniel owed her nothing. In some ways, that should scare her more than anything, but it also made the notion of Thursday night that much more thrilling.
Six
Daniel was not going to be late to pick up Emma for the opera. He gave himself plenty of time to jog down the two flights of stairs to her floor. Thinking about tonight, he was filled with the most puzzling mix of wariness and elation. Surely those two feelings were never meant to comingle in a sensible person’s mind at one time, and he’d been feeling that way for two days. He’d tried to distract himself from thoughts of Emma by focusing on work, which was the perfect illustration of the push and pull in his life. He was drawn to Emma, but everything about her, her family and her career stood in direct opposition to his life.
Still, he was moving forward. Somehow. He’d found a space he quite liked for the New York location of Stone’s this week. His real estate agent, Charlotte Locke, was negotiating terms. If all went well, that would be sewn up soon. And he was moving forward with the date he’d asked Emma out on, even when he knew it wasn’t a smart idea. Sometimes things don’t make sense until later, he’d told himself. He had to listen to his gut, and it was telling him he’d miss out if he didn’t at least test the waters with Emma.
He knocked and folded his hands before him, his heart beating fiercely in anticipation.
“Hey.” Emma opened the door only a moment later, seeming flustered, almost panicked. “You’re a little early.” Her hair and makeup were perfect, but she was not dressed for a night out. She was wearing a short satin kimono-style robe, tied at the waist.
Daniel was mesmerized. “I’m sorry. Am I?” He fished his phone from his pocket and glanced at the home screen. Indeed, he was five minutes early.
Emma waved him in. “It’s okay. I just need to finish getting dressed.”
He trailed her into her apartment, enjoying the view of her bare legs and feet. “I’ll just sit on the sofa and wait. Please don’t rush on my account.”