by Sonja Gunter
Rane appraised herself and liked what she saw. David would never have let her out of the apartment dressed like this but she could dress how she wanted now. It felt wonderful to show off her body and she wondered if the good-looking Mr. Christmenn would think she was sexy if he saw her now. Her body was still on fire from their run-in earlier at the office. She’d been so tempted to kiss him. His shocked expression when he spotted her bare feet probably meant he wasn’t a foot man. An article in one of the Cosmopolitan magazines she’d recently read said some men were turned off by looking at women’s feet.
“Oh, well, his loss,” she mumbled.
“Did you lose something?” Val asked as she entered Rane’s bedroom. “Oh my God, look at you. You look sensational. We won’t have to waste any time re-dressing you tonight.”
“Thanks. I’m trying. You look great, too.”
Val was dressed in a halter-top, one of the new spring fashion full skirts and, of course, she wore her signature high-heel shoes.
“Is that a new top?”
“Ya, do you like it? It’s a Karen Kane and I got it for seven bucks. Can you believe it?” Val moved in front of Rane to look at her own reflection.
“Do you ever pay full price for anything?” Rane asked.
“No,” Val said with a smile then turned to Rane. “Remember we can only stay till midnight. So if you have to drag me away from my date, do it. I have an eight a.m. court appointment. I know it’s Saturday but it was the only time my client could appear in between games.”
“Another football player?” Rane asked.
“You know I can’t tell you, but he does play Monday night this week.”
They laughed at her hint and left the house arm-in-arm and in good spirits.
As usual, Val was her chatty self as she drove. It was no wonder Val hardly ever lost a case, Rane thought. When Val paused for breath, she blurted out she’d run into The Wall again.
“Get out of here! You’re doing it on purpose. If you need a lawyer, I’m it for sure, you hear. I want to see this hunk.”
“A lawyer?” Rane asked, and merged into the turn lane to the casino.
“Yes, a lawyer.”
“Why would I need one?
“Well, let’s see. You’ve hit this man twice. You could’ve done some damage to, ah, to, ah-” She cleared her throat and said in her lawyer voice, “. . . to some parts of his body that would, or could, threaten his manhood.”
Rane considered Val and laughed. “I did get a very good feel of what his, you know, was like today and it was packed.”
Val erupted into laughter that was infectious and Rane couldn’t help but laugh, too. They composed themselves as they neared the parking valet. However, his interruption made them laugh harder as they both glanced at his groin at the same time. Ignoring his surprised expression, they quickly made their way inside to The Buffet Restaurant. It didn’t take long for Val to spot their dates. After some polite introductions and conversation, they entered together.
For Rane, the dinner dragged on and on. She nodded here and there and spoke whenever Val kicked her under the table. She found the men boring and her date kept whispering sexual innuendoes into her ear. They were sick and crude. She just wanted to slap the guy and walk out. But for Val’s sake, she put on a smile and let herself indulge in images of Mark to make the time go by quicker.
The two of them lip-locked in a kiss. He would put his hand in her hair and pull her closer than they already were. His other hand would find its way to her butt and he’d start inching her skirt up.
No. They wouldn’t have any clothes on. His other hand would start a slow caress down her back and down her thigh—
“Ouch,” Rane said aloud.
Her daydream had ended when Val’s foot found her leg once again. All eyes had turned to her.
“I bit my tongue. Sorry, excuse me,” Rane said and stood up.
She raised her eyebrows and shook her hair, a signal to Val that said, Follow me. Rane didn’t wait to make sure Val had gotten her message and headed straight to the bathrooms.
“What is your problem?” Val asked annoyingly. “Steve is really interested in you.”
“Let’s go home. He isn’t my type and he’s so vulgar. All he is looking for is sex. Ken doesn’t seem to be your type either, so why are we still here?”
“You’re right. Their profiles were great online, maybe too great. I guess money isn’t everything.” Val paused and added, “Ya know, they are co-owners of their own car dealerships. We might’ve been able to get an exotic car cheap.”
Rane shook her head in disbelief. “You’re sick. Let’s just say goodbye. I think I still have some Chocolate Dove Ice Cream left at home.”
“You’re on,” Val said in agreement, as they returned to the table.
The men weren’t too pleased when Val announced they were leaving but Val was able to sweet-talk them into another possible date.
Before leaving the casino, she and Val couldn’t resist stopping to play the quarter slots. Soon Val was down a hundred dollars and she was up forty. Rane didn’t need any urging to leave when Val stated she’d lost enough.
Rane handed the valet her ticket as a black limo arrived. She turned to find Val, and collided into a man coming through the door.
“Excuse me. Sorry,” Rane said.
“Ms. Schoen?”
A deep male voice made Rane’s head snap upward. She found herself staring into the pair of blue eyes that had been haunting her all evening. Mark Christmenn. Too stunned to answer, she heard him repeat her name but still she couldn’t find her voice.
Chapter 12
“Ms. Schoen? Ms. Schoen, are you okay?” Mark repeated.
He stared at Rane. She felt good in his arms. He took in her sexy outfit, which was very different from the suits she wore to the office. A spontaneous smile appeared on his face.
Man, oh man alive, does she look good.
He was definitely in trouble, with a capital T.
She was wearing an extremely low-cut top that displayed the swells of her breasts, tight jeans that emphasized her narrow waist, and he knew first hand just how small it was since he still held her.
He stared at her intensely and locked his gaze on to her shocked eyes. His earlier suspicions were confirmed. Her eyes did change colors. They’d gone from blue to green and then back to blue.
He hadn’t imagined it.
After an awkward silence, a woman who’d been standing off to the side asked, “And you are who?”
“Mark Christmenn,” he stated with a smile to the woman who was clearly trying to protect Rane. “And you are . . .?”
“I’m Valerie Becker. Are you the same Mr. Christmenn who’s the president of the company Rane works for?”
“Mr. Christmenn,” Rane cut in, silencing Val’s retort, “we were just leaving. I’ll see you Monday.”
Mark smiled and watched as Rane pushed the openly gaping Val out the door to their waiting car, an eye-catching red Audi TT sports car. For a split second, he almost ordered Philip to follow her but they’d driven his lame limo, not his chick magnet Lamborghini, and he had Agent Nelson to contend with. With an inward groan, he continued toward the meeting place.
“Mr. Christmenn, it’s good to see you,” Agent Nelson said.
“Oh, yea right.”
“Mr. Christmenn, Agent Nelson we need to start moving. I have the security guards meeting us in the hallway,” Philip said in a tight, controlled tone.
“Which way?” Mark asked.
Philip grabbed his arm and started walking briskly. The crowd of about fifty or more moved aside slowly. He then saw six guards. When they reached them, they formed a circle around him. Agent Nelson took the back and Philip led the way. They went through a corridor
that was marked ‘Emergency Exit Only’.
“I told you this wasn’t a good idea,” Philip said angrily. “No more coming in the main entrance!”
Mark didn’t respond. He couldn’t, because Philip was right. They reached another set of doors and Philip escorted him through. They were now standing in front of the restaurant, Ribbons.
“I’ll take over from here. I have agents already stationed inside,” Agent Nelson stated.
Confused, Mark eyed Philip for an answer but he only gave him a shrug.
“We wanted to thank you again. The Bureau has been very successful in tracking down several dirty agents. Not to mention all the arrests of drug dealers,” Agent Nelson said once they were seated.
“I’m glad to hear everything is falling into place for you,” Mark said cautiously.
“There is one thing that I need to fill you in on.” Agent Nelson paused for a second. “Our intelligence has confirmed from a reliable informant that—”
“For god’s sakes, man, spit it out,” Mark demanded.
“We’re not sure of the specifics and we are taking this very seriously. There’s no other way to put this. There is a contract out on your life again.”
“Another one, besides the one from earlier? Fuck. Massaro is a bastard. Fuck the mob!” Mark spat out.
“No, only one. Don’t worry, we’re very close to capturing the hit man.”
“You have to do better than that!” Philip butted in. “I need more info, like where, when, and by whom.”
“We can offer extra protection,” Agent Nelson responded quickly.
The discussion became heated for a time, before finally, Agent Nelson promised to get them any new information as quickly as possible. Philip protested but Mark ignored him. He was so angry he wanted to hit something, anything. The news sickened him but his recent brush with death had him knowing there was more to life than what he currently had.
By the time their dinner had arrived, they’d come to an understanding. Agent Nelson had agreed to give him twenty-four-seven protection everywhere he went.
“Mr. Christmenn, given what happened the last time, I needed to show you how real the threat is.”
“Go on,” Mark said tersely.
“There was a reason why I asked you to come here tonight. We leaked the info and we got what we expected.”
“And that was what?” Philip demanded.
“The leak worked. Our informant was able to confirm tonight was the night. Unknowingly, you changed the drop-off place, which worked in our favor, or should I say yours. We arrested a second hit man tonight at the other entrance.”
“Agent Nelson, I don’t appreciate being your guinea pig. It’s my life you’re playing with, God damn it,” Mark said disgustedly. “And you are done fucking with it. Do you think this is a game?”
“No—”
“That’s good,” Mark said, cutting Agent Nelson off. “If and when you learn that there is to be another attempt on my life by the mob, I expect to be informed. Or I’ll have your badge! Philip, we are leaving.”
He stood quickly, almost knocking over the table. He felt Philip behind him as they exited the restaurant. He kept walking straight through the busy casino.
“Mark, stop.”
“No.”
“I said to stop,” Philip yelled and yanked on his arm.
Mark turned and gave Philip his death stare.
“Shit, Mark, I can’t protect you here.”
“Think! There are probably more undercover police officers here than guests.”
Philip, however, wouldn’t let the conversation they’d had with Agent Nelson end. He kept on and on, not backing down, and they ended up having an intense argument while they strode through the casino causing people to stare at them. He sent Philip a keep-your-mouth-shut look, then barged through the glass doors to his waiting limo.
“Philip, you are riding in the front not in the back with me. I want some peace and quiet.”
The silence during the ride home was a godsend. Tonight had proven one thing. He had to change his life. When was the last time he actually had fun or laughed?
As he entered his house, Mark felt immediately lonely. No one came to say hello. The atmosphere was all fake, specifically arranged by his house staff to his orders. All the lights had been turned on and one of his jazz CD’s was playing. A failed attempt at making a house seem like a home. Instead of enjoying the priceless artwork that hung on the walls as he passed by them or the ten thousand dollar per foot marble brick flooring he walked on, he frowned and went directly to his study.
Someone was trying to kill him again! What the hell?
All because he’d done the right thing by calling the police when they’d found narcotics in some of his shipments.
It wasn’t his fault Massaro happened to be the grandson of some Mafia family. But here he was paying the consequences. He couldn’t ask Rane or any woman to be part of his life right now. It wouldn’t be fair.
At least that’s what he told himself. Was it fate that had him run into the woman who he couldn’t stop thinking about having sex with till either of them were too tired to keep going?
He groaned as his arousal for her came hard and fast. He wanted her right now in his arms. Wanted to bury his face in her hair and make love to her. Rane had surprised him again at the casino.
He poured himself a glass of brandy and enjoyed the burn of the golden liquid. He stared at his collections of dragons that decorated his study. Usually they were able to calm him. However, tonight his pensive mood made them seem like they were all staring at him, telling him to go for it.
He allowed more visions of a naked Ms. Schoen to creep into his wandering mind as he sat down. The image of her breasts filling out the low-cut top she’d had on had him shaking his head. He gulped down a second swallow of brandy. The burn of alcohol didn’t help. It only intensified his urge to run his mouth across the smooth skin of her neck and then lower to capture the sweet rewards she’d been showing off.
He downed the last of his drink and he knew he needed to find out more about her. This insanity had to stop.
He slammed down his empty glass and took the half-filled decanter, strode to his private section of the house, and punched in his security code. After the death threat, he doubted he’d be able to sleep but he had the brandy and thoughts of Rane to help.
Chapter 13
As Rane drove away from the casino entrance, she glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Mark talking to another man but his gaze was directed at her.
This was insane.
Rane half-listened to Val who was demanding they go back. Mr. Christmenn was definitely going to think there was something mentally wrong with her.
Just up and leave without a goodbye or anything. Damn it, the gods were playing with her destiny. How many times was she going to run into the man?
“No smart ass comments?” Rane asked, and nudged Val, who hadn’t given up trying to persuade her to turn around.
“You need to find a way to date that man. He has a hold on you like you were his. I think he’d be wonderful in bed.”
“Val! Stop it. It was your rule, not mine, and now you’re telling me to break it and date my boss!” Rane exclaimed.
“Rules were meant to be revised. It’s not like they’re laws, just guidelines. However, if you’re not interested, I sure am. I think I’m going to stop by your office more often at lunchtime cause I think I’m going to ask him out. Do you have his e-mail?”
Rane slammed on the brakes, yanked the steering wheel to the right, and moved the car to the side of the road. “No. No. No. He’s off limits to you. If either of us is going to date him, it’s gonna be me.”
Val laughed, and Rane realized she’d been played.
“That was mean.”
“What? I didn’t do anything,” Val said innocently.
With her blinker on, Rane maneuvered the car back onto the road, not sure why she’d gotten so mad at the thought of Val pursuing Mr. Christmenn. Val’s snickers lasted until she reached her driveway. Val opted out of the ice cream deciding to call it a night.
After she’d gone home, Rane brought some of the decadent ice cream to her bedroom. She snuggled up with Thor, who’d curled up beside her, then proceeded to devour what was left of the pint.
OMG, she’d agreed to date Mr. Christmenn. And why had she’d gotten so mad at the thought of Val going after her boss? If Val had started dating him and they got tired of each other, it would’ve been awkward. She never dated anyone Val had dated. It was another of their rules, uh, guidelines.
She’d done it now. She couldn’t back down and let Val get her greedy manicured hands on the best-looking man she’d seen in years. He was going to be hers first.
Damn Val! She didn’t even know if he was available. He could be married or have a bride-to-be in the background. He was also very wealthy and way out of her league.
“Oh my God, what am I going to do?” she exclaimed, causing Thor to perk his ears up at her.
Mr. Christmenn.
Mark.
She sighed and set the empty ice-cream pint on the floor for Thor, who loved to lick the carton clean.
“OK, boy, it’s your turn.”
He jumped down and began licking the container. Her bed was empty again, like it had been of late.
Would Mr. Christmenn, no, would Mark be occupying it soon? He’d done a number on her already.
The spark of desire he’d created earlier at the office had exploded into a full force want when he’d held her at the casino. Val had been right. When he’d stared into her eyes, she’d been lost. She’d felt his heartbeat when she’d placed her hand on his chest. Then the fuel that had ignited the flame into the burning need she was feeling had been the smell of Drakkar. It had her squirming as a very vivid image of Mark and her in bed, kissing, and having lazy sex, caused her to groan.