He watched Lara chattering with her brothers and noticed the easy laid-back relationship they all had, despite being separated in their teens. It made him think about his own kin. If anyone watched him with his two sisters, Sky and Rowan, would it be the same? He got on with his sisters—even if they had fallen out of touch this last couple of years since he’d left Wales—and with his stepbrothers even better.
It was good to see Lara interacting with them easily, because she seemed tense around her dad. The longer Draco spent with her, the more he realized it was about impressing her dad, not beating her brothers to the prize.
When they returned to the desks, they discovered a single printed sheet of paper had arrived. It listed the requirements of the system and access codes to the old database. “Special delivery from Janice?”
“I assume so,” Lara said, picking up her tablet and unwrapping it.
Draco spent some time looking at the old database, while he also eyed the company infrastructure and subsystems with interest. A quick scan of the categories listed there made him to want to dive in, to cruise through their carefully built software and mentally list all the various kinds of havoc he could unleash on them. It was going to take some degree of restraint to keep that under wraps until later on in this so-called placement. “How long does this placement last?”
“Four weeks. But we’ve got two weeks, tops to do what we have to.” She lowered her voice. “End of the month, the pros are coming in.”
Why in hell weren’t the pros here now? What viable company wouldn’t be able to handle a breach internally? He wanted to ask her outright, and eventually have to point it out to her, but right now those questions would undermine what she saw as her mission—her chance to prove herself to her dad. He would enable her to do that, even though it wasn’t as clear cut a “project” as she assumed. The timing had to be right, that’s all.
He returned his attention to the Human Resources record system. “This database is an impeccable model of software design.”
“Really?”
“No. I was being sarcastic.”
“Oh. Seriously though, do you think there’s time to do everything we need to do, safely?”
She was staring at him innocently, querying how long it would take.
Draco nodded quickly. For a moment there he thought she could read his mind. “I’m not too impressed with the security, but I already knew it wasn’t great.” He winked at her, aiming for a joke.
Shadows of insecurity lurked at the back of her eyes.
She gave a fake smile, but he knew she was uncertain.
“Look, this database isn’t the challenge,” he offered, in an effort to reassure her, “but we need to plan our cover work carefully to make sure it pans out and fills the time appropriately.”
She nodded, brightening.
“For today and tomorrow I suggest we just familiarize ourselves with what’s there, and I’ll make a list of what we need to do.”
“Sounds good.”
“If I decide to code a new database, it could work well. When we’re inputting the individual data, it’ll also be a chance to scan each employee’s computer use for anything obviously out of the ordinary.”
She looked relieved, as if having a plan settled her doubts. “Can we send my dad updates at the end of each day, just so he knows we’ve got our heads down and doesn’t bother us?”
Draco quelled his instinctive reaction. “Sure, once we get stuck in.”
She wanted to impress her dad. No big deal, he didn’t blame her for that. But she wanted to impress him on all levels. How would Compton Senior react when he knew his daughter had gone behind his back? Lara seemed to think he’d be so dazzled by her efforts and the ability to outdo her brothers, he wouldn’t think about how she’d gone about it. If her father found out her college buddy was more than he seemed, she’d most likely be cast out for good.
The possibility shouldn’t have bothered him, but it did. She was a nice girl, he didn’t want her to end up in trouble. She’d set this up though, which meant—whatever happened—it was trouble she’d brought on herself. And it was her father who’d suffer when his software systems were hacked and viruses ran wild.
If Lara wasn’t implicated, she’d be safe from retribution.
The task was to find out what he needed to know then do it from afar, after both he and Lara had gone, and without leaving a trail. Especially not to Lara.
Draco stared at the screen in front of him trying to figure it out.
With a quick side glance, he looked at her again. She noticed, and smiled, glancing at him from under her long eyelashes. Sweet girl, hot and strangely innocent of her own appeal at the same time. The instinct for self preservation warned him to watch his own back. However, he knew if he walked away and left her in deep shit, it would haunt him forever. He’d just have to make sure it didn’t happen.
Now they were here, integrated into the Compton business, it was obvious just how complicated this project was going to be. What had appeared to be a straight forward to begin with—design a database while enabling Lara to expose the source of the in house fraud, waving goodbye while setting a little revenge loose in the system—suddenly seemed fraught with complications, traps and potholes. Why?
Because he liked her and he wanted her.
If he didn’t, there wouldn’t be an issue.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Lara sighed with relief when they left the building at the end of the first day. It’d been exhilarating to begin with, walking in with danger in tow. That’s how she secretly thought of Draco. Dangerous. And he was. Just as well she was in charge.
“Day one, done,” she commented as they stepped out onto the busy London pavement.
“We were pretty much ignored.” Draco glanced at her as they walked side by side to the tube station.
Was he bored? “No, no, we weren’t.”
“What were you expecting?”
“I’m just glad it went smoothly. Like you said, we’ll be part of the furniture by day two. They won’t notice what we’re up to.”
“You liked the idea of the risk though, didn’t you?”
Startled, she stared at him unable to think of a response.
He smiled. “Don’t fret, the level of risk is set to get even higher, soon...”
The look he gave her right then set her alight. And they’d be in close proximity, all night. Anticipation flooded her. She tried to rein it in as best she could, knowing she ought to be thinking about business. The trouble was the moment she’d met him, Draco’s appeal had outshone the business endeavor in a heartbeat.
They were just about to get on the tube train when he got a text message.
She glanced over and caught the name ‘Jackson’ on his phone screen. His forehead was heavily wrinkled his handsome mouth pursed. “What’s up?”
“Someone I was hoping never to hear from again, asking for a meeting.”
Tension immediately gripped her. His frown broke, and he tucked the phone inside his jacket pocket as he turned to her and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, it won’t intrude on our joint project.” He reached his hand over and squeezed hers. It was at tender gesture, but Lara was unnerved. Was it a girlfriend he’d heard from?
“Do I need to be concerned?”
“No. Just an old acquaintance bugging me.”
She couldn’t help herself. “A girlfriend?”
Draco chuckled, “No.” He seemed amused and she wished she hadn’t said anything. “Just some guy I know from my hacking days. We’ll have to reschedule our dinner date though,” he added.
“You’re canceling?”
He shook his head. “Hell no. It shouldn’t take more than an hour. Wait for me?” His eyelids lowered and he gave her a simmering hot look, full of promise.
“I guess I can amuse myself for an hour.”
He made a sound like a growl in his throat. “I guess you can.”
“I’ll head back to the apartmen
t.”
“I’ll be an hour behind you, tops.”
“Okay. I’ll pick Chinese take out for us and keep it in the oven.”
“In that case I’ll grab a bottle of wine and see you at home.” With that he hugged her against him, made a growling sound in her ear, and headed away into the crowd, striding in the opposite direction to their train.
Lara stood there, wavering at the edge of the platform. Where had he gone, she wondered.
What if he took off? Or maybe he’d already done that. Changed his mind. Surely not? Now they’d actually begun and he’d been seen at work, she didn’t want to let him out of her sight in case he had second thoughts, but he’d just pecked her on the cheek and left. It’d seemed like a natural response to a genuine text message. No sign of regret or backing away. Maybe that’s what way he’d do that, she didn’t know him.
When the next tube train pulled in, she got in.
As planned, she queued for take out and popped it in the oven back at the apartment. It felt weird now, being there alone. She was glad he’d called it “home” though, that tickled her.
While she waited, she set the table, turned on the TV and watched the news. After that she had a tidy out in her bag. When an hour had passed she found herself watching the clock and got up to have a look around the apartment.
Walking along the corridor to the bedrooms, she realized she didn’t know which of the two rooms Draco had chosen to sleep in. She’d left some of her stuff in the master bedroom. Grabbing the door handle she peered in for signs of occupation. She didn’t have to look far. Not surprisingly, he’d made himself at home in the master suite. She’d slept in that bed a couple of nights ago. It hadn’t occurred to her to point it out to him. Some of her stuff was lying about though, surely he’d noticed that? Apparently not. The bed was in disarray, pillows all on one side, and the fancy burgundy and gold quilt half strewn on the floor.
Grabbing her night things and the clothing she’d hung in the wardrobe, she moved them to the spare bedroom, running back and forth as quickly as she could.
Each time she went back into the master suite her attention went back to the massive bed. It seemed to pulsate with the same sexual suggestion he did, stimulating her senses, creating sexy images in her mind—images of Draco, naked and beckoning to her. After seeing him in the tailor’s changing room, those pictures presented themselves far too readily.
Why in god’s name had she decided to stay the night here? It was going to be impossible to sleep with him so close by. She should have gone to Naomi’s place again, to the safety of her friend’s sofa and just called by early tomorrow on the way to work again. Trust him, in other words. Can’t, she thought to herself. After all, she didn’t eve don’t even know where he’d shot off to.
It had to be done. She had to stay over and that meant ignoring the tide of desire hampering her logical self every time she looked at him or they got into close proximity. Quickly closing the master suite door, she turned away, even more flustered than she’d been before. She’d just closed the door on the smaller, second bedroom, when Draco’s voice behind her made her stop.
“Lara?”
Glancing over her shoulder, she saw him looming large and male in the subtle lighting in the corridor. His jacket was over his arm and his tie was adrift. Something was amiss. “I was just .. tidying. Are you okay?”
“Yes, sure. It turned out to be something and nothing.”
Thankfully he didn’t notice how flustered she was.
“I put the wine on the table,” he added.
He strolled closer and she got a better look at him. His hair was awry and he had a preoccupied look in his face. What had gone on? “You look stressed.”
“My little sister, Sky, is hanging out with someone she shouldn’t be so close with.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I’ll speak to him tomorrow. Right now I’m going to quickly grab a shower. Two minutes, tops, I promise.”
As they passed, he briefly embraced her—as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do so. It felt that way.
Smiling, she went to the kitchen and served the food.
When he strolled back in he looked at the food on the table hungrily. He was wearing jeans and t shirt. His hair was dripping wet and the shirt clung to the heat of his body. Butterflies in the pit of her belly fluttered into life.
“Tuck in while it’s hot,” she said and shot off to fetch glasses.
Over the meal he talked about the database issues. It was a blessing he was interested in it. She’d worried he might find it boring, but he seemed genuinely enthused. “I’d rather start from scratch with a newly scripted system and bring the data across. It’ll take a bit of time but the new system won’t have any bugs or errors in it.”
“Whatever you think is best. It would be great to complete the cover job, as well as the secret project.” She set the take out dishes on the glass topped table and brought plates and cutlery.
Draco opened wine and poured it.
He hadn’t asked her if she was staying over. She’d mentioned it the day before but now she worried it was unwise. What if he really disappeared though? He could do that anytime, get up from his desk and walk out never to be seen again. She had a story ready for that. They’d had a row, split up. What a tragedy.
Over the meal he acted natural, and she was grateful for it. She hadn’t decided for sure about staying. There was the spare bedroom. It was difficult to put it entirely out of mind, giving the he was, the way he looked and how hot it made her.
They chatted about the office, the flaky human resources staff.
“Do you think they judge you because of your family connection?”
“Definitely. It’s human nature. They’re definitely a bit off about us, you know, like we’re interlopers.”
“Interlopers,” he repeated with a laugh. “More like they’re worried we’ll expose they’re crap.”
“We don’t have to do that do we,” she asked quickly. “Can’t we just present a better records system and walk away at the end of the placement? It’s not the main goal, after all.”
He studied her a moment before replying. “You’re the boss, we can handle it whatever way you want.”
“Well, I don’t want anyone to lose their jobs or anything.”
“What about your brothers, if they don’t figure it out and you show them up?”
“They won’t lose their jobs.”
He gave a dry laugh. “Those two could probably sell the family silver and get away with it.”
She was about to respond then thought better of it. He was right, they were privileged. Even me, she silently agreed. She smiled and brushed it off as quickly as she could, unable to trust herself to do or say the right thing any more.
Thankfully he looked as if he regretted his comment and changed the subject.
“That was a great meal,” he said, pushing his plate away deliberately.
“Next time I’ll cook for you.”
“Sounds good.” He was eyeing her up, not thinking about food, that was obvious.
She shot him an accusing glance.
He tipped his glass at her.
Long after the meal was done they sat there, sipping wine and talking about everything from their favorite foods to favorite books, the mutual arousal building to fever pitch as they eyed each other across the table. Lara did nothing to break it, she didn’t want to. She wanted to feel his lips on her again those strong hands holding her against him.
“Would you rather be elsewhere, hacking into new ground, other mega corps, maybe?” She asked the question knowing he’d say no, knowing they were both cherishing the slow burn between them.
“Absolutely not.”
“I’m glad. I thought maybe you’d get bored, helping me out with my project.”
“I’ll get bored with the project, but you’re making that so much easier for me to endure.” The look he gave her was both suggestive, and s
eductive.
She almost suggested they move to the seating area, but it immediately made her think of the night before, the kiss, and how he’d made her feel. Was this wise?
“I’ve been thinking. Working on the database is basically a cover, but it’s going to be safest if I hack into the real stuff at night, remotely, from here. I can plan it during the day, learn my way around the intranet, as necessary.”
“Okay…but when will you sleep?”
His yes twinkled mischievously. “Luckily I don’t need a lot of sleep. I manage a couple of hours, most nights.”
Pictures of him strolling around the place at night, half naked, invaded her mind. The thought of him being here, working, while she tossed and turned in the guest room trying unsuccessfully to sleep was too worrying. “Really? You’re not just saying that?”
“No. It’s one of a couple of gifts I have.”
She took the bait. “And the others..? Presumably hacking is one.”
“Nope. Not a gift. I had to work hard at that to begin with.”
“So you’re going to keep me guessing?”
“I should shouldn’t I?” Every comment was flirtations. “I have a photographic memory.”
“Intriguing. Anything else I should be aware of?”
“I’ll let you discover any other hidden talents for yourself.”
“Now there’s an offer.”
He flickered his eyebrows.
Smiling, she ran her finger around the top of her glass. It felt as if they were negotiating a deal, facing each other with the solid breadth of the table in between.
He put his wine aside and studied her. “When do you let your hair down?”
Startled by the question, she didn’t reply.
“You remind me of one of those women in the movies. You know you’re looking at a beautiful actress even when she’s hiding it, before she lets her hair down and takes off her glasses.” His intense green eyes were locked on and lethal.
Was that a compliment? Lara wasn’t sure. She felt stripped bare. Draco already figured her out, he knew she acted a certain way to appear as normal a girl as possible. Not a nut job with a wild scheme to get into her father’s good books. It struck her how funny it must be to someone like him. “Are you laughing at me?”
Draco (Coded for Love Book 2) Page 6