Dangerous Love: The Bold and the Beautiful

by Ros Baxter

“I’m as excited by this venture as you are,” she said.

  He indicated the couch and she sat down, neatly crossing one slender ankle over the other. Eric motioned to her portfolio. “What have you got for me tonight?”

  Donna shuffled some papers and took off her glasses. “Well,” she said, spreading the word out slowly. “It’s taken about a million phone calls and some furious negotiation, but we’ve got her.”

  Eric’s eyebrows shot skyward, almost of their own volition. “Are you serious?”

  Donna nodded, her smile as broad as his.

  “Gigi Divine?”

  “The very same.”

  Eric shook his head. “You are a marvel, Donna,” he said, feeling one of the knots of tension that had been coiled on his shoulders unwind. “How on earth did you manage that? I was sure we had lost all chance of that coming together.”

  Donna shook her head and tapped the side of her nose, a playful smile on her shiny pink lips. “I have a trick or two up my sleeve,” she said. Then, more shyly: “I thought you’d be pleased.”

  “Pleased?” Eric rose to his feet and pulled Donna up to hers before wrapping her in a bear hug. “Donna, you’re simply the best. You know how critical this shoot is. It’s been years since I’ve been involved in the business to this level of detail, but with Ridge gone and the investors nervous, I’ve . . .” He hesitated and shrugged, as though remembering himself. “Well, I’ve been worried, I guess.” He stepped away from Donna and made an expressive gesture with his hands. “But now, I feel like it’s an omen.” He laughed. “A good omen.” He smiled broadly at her. “Donna Logan, tell me. What would I do without you?”

  *

  Don’t worry, you won’t have to be without me, Eric.

  But something stopped her saying the words out loud. Their history was complicated; she didn’t want to push too far, too fast.

  She could feel the depth of Eric’s appreciation of her, and she hoped he was starting to see her in another light, different from the friend and supporter she had been to him over these last months. But it was hard to know with Eric—he was a man who kept his own counsel.

  Watching him right now with that big grin on his face, she felt an answering one spread across hers. It brought back a memory of another time when he had smiled liked that—at their wedding. He had looked so handsome as he stared into her eyes and said his vows, and she had been sure nothing could ever come between them.

  Eric was a man of his word.

  She shook her head and the smile died on her lips. She had been a fool to ever let him go. Eric was different from other men. He understood ambition, but he also believed in family and loyalty. His brain was a powerful and attractive thing and he understood what it meant to love wholly and generously. He had done things for her few other men would consider, like accepting her son, even adopting him, when all of the Forrester family tried to freeze her out.

  Yes, she thought to herself, Eric was a man who knew his own mind. A safe man, a grown-up, someone you could rely on. And after the failures of Justin and Nick, Donna was done with men who shifted like the sands. She needed stability, an anchor. Things might have gone badly with Eric before, but it had never been because he had done her wrong. She should have fought harder for him, for what they’d had, and what they could be. In the last few months, she’d decided she was going to do everything in her power to make it happen again.

  At first she had worried that what she felt was just some hangover from being rescued that night. But she had thought long and hard about it since. Yes, she had recognized that night that Eric could offer her the security and comfort that younger, shallower men never could, but this was not some post-traumatic whimsy. In many ways, this was the most sensible thing she could ever do. She loved Eric, and, more importantly, she respected him. It didn’t matter how much older he was than her; men like Eric Forrester only improved with age.

  Donna was just the woman to show him that.

  “I’m sure you’d cope just fine,” she said, punching him lightly on the arm. “You always do.”

  Eric closed his eyes briefly, and rolled his shoulders. When he opened them again, his dark brown gaze pinned her to the spot. He looked so vulnerable, so open, she was sure this was going to be the moment. They were standing so close, and after the giddy elation of the last few moments, he looked like a man keen to bare his soul. Would he open up to her now?

  “Donna, I . . .” Eric touched her arm, and she watched competing emotions cross his face. She could tell he wanted to share something with her. How could she let him know that it was okay, that she cared for him too?

  “Eric.” Donna’s voice quivered a little as she said the word, the name she had said so many times in her life—at the office, in bed, and even at the altar. “Whatever it is, it’s okay. You can tell me anything.” She bit her lip, wondering how far to push. “We have a special bond. I think you know that.”

  Eric nodded, and took a deep breath. He was so tall and broad. She wanted to snuggle against him, rest in the crook of his arm like she had so many times before, feeling safe and protected. He was going to say it, she just knew it.

  A shrill bleat broke the moment and Donna felt like stamping her foot as Eric startled at the noise from his phone.

  “I’m sorry, Donna,” he said quickly, squeezing her arm before moving swiftly back to his desk. “I have to get this. I’m expecting a call from Paris.”

  “Of course,” she said. “We’ll talk another time.”

  Donna flicked a last look over her shoulder at Eric, his broad back settled into his chair. He barked his name into the phone and then something someone said at the other end made him laugh—that deep growly chuckle that warmed Donna inside. As she closed the door quietly behind her, she tried to make out what was being said. Probably some more of the machinations that had plagued the deal over this very special shoot. Eric was having to take many late calls from France at the moment.

  She sagged against the door once it was closed behind her.

  What had Eric been going to say, back there in his office when he’d looked at her with such intensity? Her knees felt weak as she realized just how much she wanted to hear the words from his mouth: hear him say that he, too, was starting to have the same old feelings for her; that he wanted her back; that nothing had felt as good, or as safe, since their marriage had ended.

  Then she pulled herself up and away from the door, straightened her dress and headed back to her office. She must be patient. The right moment would come.

  *

  From the vantage point of the small anteroom outside his father’s office, Ridge watched Donna leaning against the door. He couldn’t remember ever seeing her look so young and beautiful. A flush lit up her cheeks and the red of her dress set off her hair and face perfectly. He found his eyes straying to the curve of her hips and the length of her legs.

  He shook his head.

  The last thing he needed was to notice the appeal of another Logan sister.

  Ridge considered Donna again as she pushed away from the door and started down the hall. He narrowed his eyes as he watched her. If he knew women—and after all these years he was pretty sure he did—the look on Donna’s face as she left his father’s office told him she had her heart set on another man anyway.

  And how could his father ever resist a woman like Donna? Eric had certainly never been able to in the past. Ridge frowned, thinking about how opposed he had been to his father’s marriage to Donna, and how hard he and his siblings had tried to help his father see the error of his ways.

  Ridge turned his mind from whatever Donna was planning; for now, he had other things to worry about. Like what his father would say when he knew he was back. Would Eric be angry with Ridge for the way he had deserted? Or would he understand, having had more than one of his own problems of the heart to deal with over the years?

  Ridge knew he should have called, warned his father he was coming back. But for some reason he had wanted to surpri
se him; wanted to see the look on his father’s face. He had missed him; missed all of it. He didn’t need love, but he did need home right now. A place to come back to: a place to feel like himself again.

  Sure, he’d run away, but he’d had more reason to than most. And he’d learned some things about himself during his time away. He could be a new and different man, he knew that now. He could make different decisions, and separate himself from the old rivalries and heartbreaks. He stood up from the lounge and caught sight of his reflection in the mirror, rubbing his hand across his dark beard. He could see he looked older. Harder. He wondered what Donna would have made of him, if she had seen him waiting in there, watching her. He knew they all wondered why he had gone and if and when he would be back.

  He shrugged. Well, he was back, and he was back for a reason.

  Two reasons actually: family, and business. And Eric was the first port of call for both.

  He made for his father’s door.

  Chapter Two

  Donna leaned against the wall in the opulent ballroom and surveyed her handiwork. The grand hall looked just right: a blend of old world glamor and new world edginess. The perfect atmosphere to celebrate the launch of the new line that Eric had been so consumed by recently. She nodded to herself as she took in the European chandeliers, the artfully placed sculptures and the golden cages hanging from the ceiling, dancers made up like gorgeous birds performing inside them.

  Yes, she’d done well.

  The launch had been a hit, and now the after party was abuzz with speculation about Forrester Creations’ next move.

  A silver tray appeared under her nose and she smiled at the young waitress holding it. “Oh, thank you, I don’t think I’ve eaten since breakfast.” She quickly scooped a crostini off the platter and popped it in her mouth, ducking behind a large planter and slipping her shoes off just for a moment, stretching her arches and allowing her soles to touch the cool surface of the marble floor. Her feet were screaming at her after spending the day running around in heels organizing last-minute details—they deserved a moment of peace.

  As she relaxed, she caught a glimpse of herself in one of the long mirrors that dotted the room. The elegant black dress was from the new line, and she hadn’t been able to resist it. It reached all the way to the floor, and ended in romantic ruffles and swirls that kicked around her legs as she walked. The bodice was close-fitted and strapless, cut low enough to reveal the swell of her breasts. A long split revealed one long tan leg when she moved the right way. The whole effect spoke of old Hollywood. She cocked her head to the side as she tried to unravel the magic of the design. It was the simplicity, she decided. The classic lines.

  It was sexy, classy. And perfect.

  Eric was sure to notice her in this. He had been preoccupied the last two weeks, but she was looking forward to seeing him tonight. She knew he’d be thrilled with how the night had transpired. She reached up on her tippy-toes to look over the crowd and could see him huddled with some Japanese buyers, standing head and shoulders above them and cutting a dashing figure in perfectly fitted black tie. Donna closed her eyes and tried not to think about whether he was feeling the way she was—wanting something more, looking for an opportunity to connect. Or did he only see her as a friend now, a supporter?

  “Catching a nap?” The raspy, dark voice could only have belonged to one person, and Donna’s pulse jumped as her eyes flicked open.

  Ridge.

  Tonight he looked like the devil himself. He was dressed in a sleek black suit and looked as though he had long ago discarded his tie. His black shirt was open at the neck, revealing a tan V of skin. A simple leather pendant hanging in the shallow indentation between his collarbones only served to underline his raw masculinity. Ever since he had returned, there was something harder and colder about Ridge. Donna knew how badly he had been hurt by Brooke’s betrayal, and wondered if this last pain would be the final straw between the two of them. One thing was for certain, this new Ridge was a man on a mission: focused. And dangerous.

  Donna forced a smile onto her face. It was difficult. Ever since his return, Ridge had disconcerted her. She had caught him watching her, often, with an assessing look on his face. She wondered if he knew how she was feeling about Eric. And more importantly, if he did have suspicions, whether he planned to tell his father.

  “Long day,” she said simply, sliding her tortured feet back into the slender black stilettos. Then she straightened. “How are you enjoying the party?”

  Ridge leaned casually against the wall, so close she could hear each of his breaths, and surveyed the scene. “I’m enjoying it just fine,” he drawled, a wry smile twisting the edges of his mouth. He raised his Champagne flute at her in mock salute. “The bubbles are flowing, the beautiful people are dancing, and the buyers are happy. What’s not to enjoy?”

  Donna studied him. He was looking out over the crowd, but his gaze was much, much further away. She resisted the urge to wave a hand in front of his face. “But . . .?”

  Ridge seemed to snap back to the present. “No buts,” he said. “You’ve done a great job, Donna. No wonder my father’s been singing your praises to anyone who will listen since I got back.”

  It was clear the thought didn’t please Ridge, because his face darkened into a scowl, but it warmed Donna to hear that Eric had been talking about her.

  “Oh,” she said lightly, trying to sound causal, “that’s nice of him.”

  Ridge raised an eyebrow at her and she could see another sentence forming in his mind when they were interrupted.

  “Just who I’ve been looking for!”

  Eric surged forward, looking pleased and proud, one of the Japanese buyers by his side. Eric acknowledged Ridge briefly with a warm smile, then wrapped Donna in an even warmer hug.

  “You’ve done an incredible job, Donna,” he said. She could feel his breath against her ear, and the sentence seemed somehow more intimate than the words alone suggested. Stepping back, he beamed into her face. “I was just telling Mr. Nakamuri that I needed to introduce him to the genius behind this event.” He held out his hands expansively, encompassing Donna and Ridge. “Mr. Nakamuri, I believe you know my son, Ridge. And this is Donna Logan, the organizational powerhouse behind the launch of our new line.”

  The man smiled and bowed slightly, taking Donna’s hand and kissing it gently. He was slight with beautifully expressive brown eyes and a generous mouth. She liked him instantly. His suit was impeccably cut, and he sported a particular limited edition watch that Donna knew few men on the planet could easily afford.

  “It’s a great pleasure to meet you, Nakamuri-san,” Donna said politely. “And of course, I am aware of the work you have done in the Asia-Pacific. Your new store in Kyoto is quite remarkable. I stopped there on a recent trip.” She smiled conspiratorially. “It’s possible I may have been responsible for a good proportion of your last quarter’s profits.”

  Mr. Nakamuri’s careful smile broadened in delight. He turned to Eric. “You have told me much of Ms. Logan’s efficiency and talent,” he said slowly and precisely. “But I must confess to being a little confused.”

  Eric raised his eyebrows at the younger man. “Confused?”

  “Yes, Mr. Forrester.” He smiled even more broadly at Donna. “Confused about why you neglected to mention Ms. Logan’s beauty and charm.”

  Eric laughed, and wrapped an arm around the man’s shoulders, his bonhomie radiating like the warmth of the sun. “Well, perhaps there are some secrets I don’t like my business partners to know.”

  Mr. Nakamuri nodded. “It is a very great pleasure to meet you, also, Ms. Logan.” His gaze swept the grand ballroom in obvious appreciation. “And if you ever tire of working for Mr. Forrester—” he gestured toward Eric, “—Senzo Retail would be very interested to have a chat with you.”

  Donna laughed, feeling herself blush under the force of all the flattery. Then she caught sight of Ridge. He didn’t seem so impressed: his face was a tight
mask, and he was considering both the Japanese buyer and his father carefully. Donna wondered what she had done to make him feel so irritated with her all the time.

  “It’s good to see you again, Nakamuri-san,” Ridge said, reaching out to shake the buyer’s hand. “And I’m surprised you haven’t met Donna before. After all, you know, of course, that she used to be married to my father.”

  Donna’s stomach churned at Ridge’s words, and she felt a blush creep up her cheeks.

  The Japanese man’s eyes widened, but his manners were too good to betray what he might be thinking. He tapped the side of his nose, and smiled politely at Eric. “And you let her go?” he chided gently. Then he turned to smile again at Donna. “This just goes to prove the truth of an old saying of my grandfather’s: ‘Even the most brilliant businessman can sometimes make silly mistakes.’” Then he bowed carefully and respectfully to Eric once more before making his excuses and moving off.

  Eric turned to Ridge, his face thunderous. “What the hell was that about?”

  Ridge shrugged. “Nothing,” he said, his expression giving nothing away. “I was just surprised they hadn’t met before.”

  Donna looked for a way to make a careful escape. She had felt the tension building between Ridge and his father over the past few weeks, and she knew they were about to have some kind of confrontation that it was not her place to witness. Before she moved away, she considered the two men. Eric had always been her rock, when they were married and since. He was reliable and strong—a powerhouse in both mind and magnetism. Ridge, on the other hand . . .

  She watched him facing up to his father, his jaw set and his eyes blazing. How did anyone explain Ridge?

  Donna understood the magnetism of Eric’s son. She had felt the pull of it herself, long ago, before she realized the special bond he and Brooke would always have. And from that moment on, the moment she had truly got what Ridge and Brooke had together, Ridge had been off limits to her. No matter how beautiful he was. No matter how charismatic. And then there was their history: all the things Ridge and his siblings had done to try to break up her relationship with Eric. Ridge thought she was a marriage wrecker, not genuine in her feelings for Eric.