After a few minutes, Dani appeared in the doorway. “Ron could open his own sex shop. I’m going to need my hand sanitizer after we leave. It’s disgusting.”
“Quit touching things and you’ll be fine. We don’t want to leave fingerprints and get busted for breaking and entering.” With that thought, he abruptly raised his hands from the keyboard and rubbed the back of his stiff neck, contemplating. Maybe he shouldn’t be doing this. Was it wrong to protect his mother from a man who played dirty?
Dani moved behind him, nudged his hand aside, and rubbed at the tension in his shoulders and neck. “We aren’t doing anything wrong. Your mother asked you to help her move the money, not steal it. You’re just putting it in an account so the lawyers can divvy it up fairly. Ron was the one who did your mother wrong by hiding it.”
Trying his best to ignore her soothing touch, he turned and met her gaze. “Did touching me just now let you read my thoughts?”
“No.” She rolled her eyes. “It was written all over your face. Unfortunately, I know you too well, Michael.”
Dani whispered soft curses under her breath at him for jumping to conclusions about her as she continued kneading his sore shoulders. He nearly wept with joy when his muscles stopped burning and finally loosened. He hadn’t realized how tense he was. But he had to fight a grin as she kept up the quiet muttering. It wasn’t easy to make her that mad.
She gave his shoulders one last squeeze. “There, is that better?”
He rolled his head back and forth. His shoulders and neck were as pliant as putty. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Good.” She gave him a light smack upside the back of his head. “That was for the ‘got a hot date’ comment.” Then she began digging through desk drawers.
“Hey, I’m recovering from a serious head injury here.”
“Keep it up and I’ll give you a more serious head injury, buddy.”
He chuckled as he turned his attention to his phone and pulled up Ron’s account numbers. As he searched the computer for financial sites, he clicked on the Internet connection and then tapped the “Down” arrow on the “Search” bar. A list of sites Ron had recently visited appeared.
He blew out a low whistle. “You think HotBabes.com is where I should start looking? Or perhaps WetHotandWild.com?”
Dani shook her head as she searched through the hanging files in the credenza behind the desk. “I guess his home movies aren’t enough. Let’s just hope he hasn’t spent all of your mom’s money on porn sites.”
Michael slipped his hand inside the bag and grabbed another cinnamon roll as he scrolled through the long list of smut. Finally, he found a financial website that Julia had sent information about.
He finished off the roll and waited as a screen for an overseas banking institution loaded. Feeling full and content, he said, “Thanks for the rolls, Dani. And the shoulder thing. You could make a living as a chef or a masseuse if the Realtor thing doesn’t work out.”
“Or a gangster, right?”
He turned and stared into her eyes, hating the pain he’d put there. “I shouldn’t have said that in the hospital. I was hurt and wanted to hurt you back. I apologize for that. But I was sincerely thanking you for the rolls, Dani.”
She grunted, then slammed a file drawer shut. “You’re welcome. Are you gonna share?”
“Sure, go ahead.” He didn’t miss the soft swell of breasts rising over black lace that appeared before him when her shirt gaped as she reached across the desk for the last roll.
She was definitely trying to kick his ass. And it was working.
As badly as he wanted to reach out and touch, he wouldn’t. Instead, he turned his attention to the task at hand.
After he navigated to the home screen on the banking site, a screen appeared asking for an account number. He picked the one from Julia’s list that matched the site and typed it in. Then he tabbed down to the next box and typed in the password. A loud beep announced the password was invalid.
“Damn. He changed it.”
Dani leaned over his shoulder. “Try Studman10.”
“That’s sick.”
“Just type it in.”
He did, and the screen moved on to the next one.
Amazed, he turned and stared into her exotic eyes. “Did you do that with your power thing?”
“No.” She held up a piece of paper. “I found a file marked ‘Passwords.’”
He barked out a laugh before he snatched the paper from her hand. “You might’ve mentioned that fact earlier. Let’s get this done and get out.”
Michael transferred more than $500,000 from the first account. After he’d emptied it, a message appeared saying that a confirmation e-mail would be sent to the designated address. That meant Ron was going to figure out what had happened quickly.
He turned to Dani. “Ron’s going to rupture an artery when he sees what we’ve done. While I finish up here, will you please call my mom and ask her to send an e-mail to Ron, explaining she hasn’t spent the money but just moved it. And tell her to pack a bag. She needs to be out of the house when Ron gets home tonight. She can stay in my girls’ room if she’d like.”
While Dani called his mom, he finished emptying the other accounts. By the time he was done, he’d moved more than $5 million.
Dani tucked her phone into her purse. “Your mom just sent the e-mail, and she’s packing as we speak. I invited her to my house for a girls’ night tonight and told her she could stay with us or at your place. She’ll let you know what her plans are when she decides.”
“Girls’ night? My mother doesn’t—” The scrape of a key in the front door shot panic through him. “Shit. He’s here.” He quickly hit the “Power” button on the computer, snagged his things, then wrapped his arm around Dani’s waist, pulling her along with him into the closet. He’d just barely pulled the door closed when Ron called out, “Make yourself at home, honey. I just need to check my e-mail. Hopefully, all’s quiet at the office, and we’ll have a little more time.”
A sultry, young woman’s voice said, “You’re checking your e-mail? Now?”
Ron sounded distracted when he said, “It’ll just take a—” He was cut off, and the desk chair groaned with what Michael could only guess was her added weight on Ron’s lap.
He whispered to Dani, “Not again. Why do we always end up listening to other people having sex?”
Dani’s warm breath tickled his ear as she moved closer. “That’s what you get for being so mean to me. Text your mom and have her call him. That ought to break things up.”
“Good idea. And I’m not being mean. We’ll discuss it later.” He grabbed his phone and furiously tapped in the message as the moans in the office got even louder. And more disgusting.
Dani hissed, “This is grossing me out.”
“Let’s just hope my mom gets the message. Soon.”
He quoted football stats in his mind to block out the noise, praying his mother would hurry. He wasn’t sure he could stand another minute without busting out of the closet and making a run for it.
When a phone rang, he and Dani glanced at each other in the dim light and grinned.
Ron said, “That’s my wife’s ringtone. I better take it.”
“What? No. Call her back later.”
Ron groaned. “I would, except she’s busted me one too many times lately. I don’t need any more complications. I’m supposed to be on the golf course, so I can’t say I was in a meeting. I’ll get rid of her.”
“Fine. But hurry.”
Ron said, “Hi, honey.” There was a long pause, then the sound of tapping computer keys. “Why can’t you just tell me what the e-mail says? Maeve—”
He let out a low curse. “She hung up on me. I’m supposed to read some e-mail.” A few more keys tapped, and then he screamed, “What the hell? Oh my God. How the hell did she do this? Get off me.” The sound of the girl’s feet hitting the floor had Dani’s hand whipping up to cover her mouth. Her shoulders shook with laughter
beside him, and it was all Michael could do to contain his own.
“Hey! What was—” the girl complained, but Ron cut her off.
“Get out. I have to go to my office to deal with something. Now!”
“You’re an asshole, Ron.” The sound of the front door slamming sounded while Ron banged drawers open and shut. Finally, after a few minutes of muttered curses and plans to call his broker and accountant, the front door slammed again.
After five minutes of silence, Michael slid the door open and stepped out. He grabbed Dani’s hand and pulled her along with him. “Let’s go.”
Dani laughed like a loon as he led her down the steps. When they were by her car, she finally managed to get herself under control. She said, “Ron’s finally going to get what he deserves.”
“Yeah.” He studied his shoes for a moment, searching for the right words. Nothing profound popped into his mind, so he met her expectant gaze again. “Thanks, Dani.”
He should do it now. Just end things so he could move on and find a sane woman. “I’ll call you later. After I’ve had time to think.”
So, he’d do it later. Or, even better, he’d do it on the phone, when he wasn’t staring into those bewitching eyes. Her spell had already started casting wishes and wants into his mind again. But he wasn’t going to cave.
Before he could step back, she stood on her tiptoes and laid her mouth on his.
The power and need in their kiss pulled him under fast and swift. His heart ached for her, and he had no choice but to drown in the sweet pain. If only for a few more moments.
How could he live the rest of his life knowing what this was like? To be pulled to someone like the tide to a rocky shore? Because rocky was what life with Dani would always be. It’d never be smooth sailing.
Did he want smooth sailing? Or did he want to feel the way that only Dani had ever made him feel? Content and . . . no, he needed to end the kiss.
He didn’t have to, though, because Dani slowly lifted her lips from his. She stepped back and cocked a brow. “Think about that, Michael.” Then she turned and pressed her car’s remote.
She’d almost made him cave with that move, but he needed to be stronger than that. “Dani?”
“What?” Her eyes shone bright with unshed tears when she met his gaze.
“Come here.” Dani wasn’t the type to use her impressive cleavage to influence men and would never walk into her office looking like that on purpose. She’d made an exception for him.
Dani walked back to him, her chin tilted high as she met his steady stare.
He lifted his hands, letting just the back of his fingers gently brush against the deep V of her breasts before he slowly fastened two of the open buttons on her soft blouse. “This shirt was a nice move to show me what I’m missing, but it’s not professional for the office. Have a pleasant day at work.”
Her mouth gaped before a low growl emitted from deep within her. Defiantly, she yanked opened the top button, as he knew she would—that’s why he’d buttoned two—and then she marched to her car. “Really? Professional advice after you just kissed me like that? Why I love you is beyond me, Michael Reilly. You’re such a—” Her curse was cut off by the slamming of her car door.
He sent her a wave as she backed out of her parking space, nearly taking his toes with her. She started toward the exit but suddenly slammed on her brakes and rolled her window down.
When she met his gaze with narrowed eyes, his stomach clenched with anticipation of her next move. It’d no doubt be a scathing tongue-lashing. He probably deserved it for kissing her back like that, encouraging her. But it couldn’t be helped whenever he kissed Dani.
Instead, she shot him the finger and then tore out of the parking lot.
She’d gotten in the last word after all.
He smiled.
Did he want the drama that came along with Dani? The fun, the excitement, the way he felt whole when he was with her? Even though she came with a price, he’d felt alive again after many years of just going through the paces of life, because of her.
God, what was he going to do about Dani?
“He buttoned up your blouse?” Zoe rolled on the floor with laughter, nearly knocking over her drink. “Did he at least cop a feel while he was at it?”
Girls’ night was in full bloom in Dani’s living room, and they’d all had enough to drink to float a boat. “It’s not funny. And of course he copped a feel. He’s a guy.” Dani turned to her mother for support. “He was being such a jerk.”
Her mom shook her head. “I saw what you were wearing when you came home from work today. You weren’t playing fair yourself, honey.”
Dani shrugged a shoulder draped in a football jersey that just happened to be a replica of the one Michael had worn when he was on the Cowboys. “That’s beside the point.”
Sara rolled over and laid her head on Dani’s shoulder. “I’m on your side, Dan. Even if they aren’t.”
“Thanks, kiddo.” When Sara yawned and closed her eyes, Dani feared her sister was out for the night. She’d probably just have to leave her on the floor where she lay.
Then her grandmother said, “The cinnamon rolls were a nice touch. But where you really screwed up was when you were alone with him in that closet.”
“Mother.” Annalisa let out a small warning growl.
Grandma ignored her. “Seriously, you should have jumped his bones and shown him what’s what.”
Zoe snorted out a laugh and crawled next to Dani and Sara on the floor. “It really would have been perfect. You guys did it the first time in a laundry room, then a shower. Why not the closet?”
Dani sent Zoe the evil eye. “Remind me not to tell you this stuff anymore. You have a big mouth.”
Sara’s eye’s fluttered open. “I’ve never done it in a laundry room. I’m gonna have to try that.” Then her lids slammed shut again. Just when they all thought she was asleep, she said, “How about you, Grandma? Ever done it in a laundry room?”
“They didn’t have laundry rooms when I was young enough for that nonsense. We did it in the basement. That’s where we used to do laundry.”
Zoe chuckled and took another hit from her glass. “How about you, Annalisa? Has a big, famous star like you ever done it on the washing machine during the spin cycle? That’s the best way, you know. It adds a little extra punch.”
Dani whipped her head toward Zoe, making herself dizzy. “What? You’ve never told me about that one. You’ve held out on me, and as your punishment, I’m gonna call your hubby right now and get the details.” Not that she’d actually do it; she was just teasing her.
Zoe’s husband always cringed whenever anyone talked about sex. He managed to be a macho hunk and incredibly sweet at the same time. Kind of like Michael, now that she thought of it.
To keep her threat real, she searched for her phone on the coffee table, digging around all the leftover snacks they’d grazed on. Suddenly she found herself pinned under Zoe’s long body. “Don’t you dare tell Will I told. He’ll kill me.” She grabbed Dani’s phone and put it in her back pocket before she rolled off her. “It was that last daiquiri’s fault I let that slip. So how about it, Annalisa? Ever done the washing machine boogie?”
Her mom’s lips tilted into an evil grin. “Large appliances aren’t nearly as effective as smaller ones in that department, ladies.”
Zoe and Eva laughed hysterically while Dani groaned. “God, Mom. Have another drink, why don’t you? Then you can really loosen up.”
Sara suddenly sat up and joined the living again. “Hey, speaking of Mom, could I have a Porsche like Dani’s, please?”
“No. Your sister earned hers. You haven’t.”
“Earned it? What does that mean?” Sara blinked in confusion.
Her mom leaned down and kissed Sara on the top of the head. “You need to get a job and become a responsible member of society, like your sister. Then you’ll have earned a Porsche.” Annalisa sent Dani a wink.
Her mom’s
comment, along with all the alcohol she’d consumed, made Dani feel warm and gooey inside. Maybe she’d finally earned a little of her mother’s respect.
Sara frowned. “When did this new rule happen?”
“Yesterday, when I thought I was never going to work again. I think I just grew up, too.” Her mom let out a long sigh, then drained her glass.
Before Sara could argue, a phone rang. Confusion creased Zoe’s brow for a moment before she realized she still had Dani’s phone in her back pocket. When she tugged it out and read the display, she grinned. “Well, speak of the devil. It’s Michael.”
Dani leaped for the phone, but Zoe held it high over her head. “Maybe I should tell him what I think about the way he’s treating my best buddy?” Zoe sent her a mischievous grin. “You’ll thank me for this later.” She punched a button and said, “Hey, bonehead, how’s it going?”
“Dani?” Zoe had hit the “Speaker” button so they all could hear.
She reached for the phone again, but Zoe had arms as long as a six-foot-three basketball player’s, so Dani called out, “No, it’s my inebriated ex–best friend.”
Michael didn’t miss a beat. “Oh, hey, Zoe. Is my mom there?”
Only because Zoe was so wasted and had let her guard down was Dani able to snatch the phone back. But she was too drunk to figure out how to turn the speaker off. “No, she called earlier and said she’d made other plans. Why?”
“I can’t find her. I’ve called her cell, but it goes directly to voice mail. When she hadn’t called to let me know what her plans were, I went to her house, but no one is home. I’m worried about her, Dani. What if Ron’s done something rash?”
That sobered her up a bit. “Is her car there?”
“No. Both of their cars are gone, and Ron wasn’t at the office when I drove by a while ago. Can you remember exactly what she said when she called earlier?”
Dani closed her eyes, begging her foggy, drunk mind to focus. “Um, just that she wasn’t in the mood for fun, maybe next time, and that she was going away for a few days. She didn’t tell me where.”
Seeing Double (A Heartbreaker Novel Book 1) Page 28