Love Found Me (A City Love Novel, Book 1)

by Amari, Nina

  Fortunately for her, his white t-shirt only slightly camouflaged his muscles that kept popping veins to the tune of her heart beating. It was crazy. It was crazy to have to suffer like this.

  But she loved every second-- her motto had been flung to the sky-high rafters-- possibly never to return?

  "What'd you mean Europe?" she countered. Stunned at his discovery, she laid a hand on his arm and was caught by his eyes again.

  He threaded his fingers through his hair before logging on to his computer, "Give me a sec."

  "Remember the license plates," he went on, "well I cross-referenced--"

  The screen burst a bright glow right before she'd leapt into the conversation.

  "Wait a minute." Danielle interrupted, jostling the peppermint to the back of her tongue. She'd left the dicey morsel to meltdown when she stuttered, "R-Roman, in non-techie terms."

  He blew a breath, drumming his fingers on the desk, "Okay, here it is. Our guy's in the vicinity of London."

  "How'd you figure?"

  "Well, I don't want to pinpoint anything until I'm absolutely certain, but I've been going over the reports... your files, particularly those of interest during and up to the time of your promotion three weeks ago." His voice hardened as he pulled up an account screen.

  In an instant, his startling announcement was already mind-blowing and soaring her brain into a frenzy of surging questions and possibilities.

  "You're in--" her eyes widened toward the haloing glow, as she reached out to touch his forearm.

  "Tell me all you know about Macgregor and a company called Bartlett, LLC," he asked.

  She could already feel the warmth in his flesh as they sat arm-to-arm at the computer. She was still dressed in her slinky robe. The glow mirrored her allure, not that he even noticed.

  Her fingers shimmied across the keyboard, and then her hands brushed over his. Slowly, she felt a familiar rush of arousal titillate her flesh.

  Planting a smile on her face, she said instead, "You mean Bartlett Sun--," as she began an on-screen tabulation.

  "Hmmm," was all she said, in her usual mental barrage of reflection. She was bound to come across an idea, but then how could she really. She'd felt his stare burn into her profile heating her well beyond sultry tropical conditions.

  Roman looked at her with more than a passing glance as she painted a kind of bookish expression that he'd begun to find overtly sexy. He had to be kindling something primal every moment her silk teased the hairs along his arms moderating smooth, delicate kisses with every inciting, caressing touch.

  Her legs crossed tapering a v-shaped part in her robe. Luckily for her, she didn't feel the slightest chill on her exposed thigh as his eyes drifted to a petal of lace hiding the silky underside.

  As she clicked her way through the data mines of months and years of the treasure trove of information, Roman shifted uneasily, and then he stopped cold. It didn't help matters that her soft and silky loose curls tickled his stubble to the point of an all out battle with his thoughts.

  "Just a sec," she said kindly.

  Slowly, she scanned the history of "Bartlett, LLC a.k.a. Bartlett Sun." Idle curiosity prompted her to probe deeper. She wondered about the sudden acquisition of another conglomerate that coincidentally was held under management by Craig Barton of Barton Industries.

  Danielle tilted back on the bench and stared. Obviously she was wrestling with the idea that maybe the firm's reputation wasn't as ironclad and credulous in its privacy and reputation as she thought. Maybe their valor had fallen short to backdoor covert operations. But whom and why, were still at question?

  "There has to be a mastermind behind all this... I just know it, I can feel it," she insisted.

  "This is what I used to--" She paused, knowing all of what her life had come to at this point-- knowing she'd had even more problems looming. "Well, never mind that... What we're working with are at least two...three, that we know are involved-- but there had to be someone at the firm, someone with direct access and familiarity... But, even so-- it's pure speculation."

  "The team had been trying to recover assets when the case was still fresh almost ten years ago, when I still held somewhat a junior rank around there. It wasn't until I became partner that I was willing to tackle the tough cases, re-igniting those that Finch was willing to push aside," she explained.

  Danielle explained to Roman, "I didn't think about it much at the time. There was a lot going on. But now since you'd mentioned it--"

  Roman fixed serious, furtive eyes on Danielle's face when he said, "I think you'd stirred a hornet's n—"

  "Don't say it," Danielle interjected. "I didn't think anything about it. I was just willing and able to uphold justice where I saw fit. Of course we step on plenty of toes in the process, but these guys had it coming. They're unscrupulous and willing to stop at nothing to avoid consequences."

  "All I did was my job." She sighed. "I just didn't think they'd resort to this." Danielle drew her hand to her forehead, massaging her temples.

  In a heartbeat, Roman stretched out his arm as it landed around her waist.

  "I'm freaked out about all this Roman. Thank God you're here."

  Sitting with his arm wrapped around her, the screen went black into hibernate. The shock value was agonizing. But, honestly, her gut wasn't nearly as worried with Roman on her side.

  It was something about the gleam in his eyes and that urge to cuddle with him, that desperate desire for warmth and protection that other men didn't give her. But the truth was, no other man could fulfill the laundry list of requirements that meant perfection in her eyes.

  No other man could even compare to the father that stuck by his family and raised a child even when the going got tough and rough, he didn't abandon the household as others in the town had done.

  It was the worst drought in twenty years, even last year's drought couldn't compare to the days when not even a seedling would take root. All the farmers suffered and it took a toll on relationships, on health, family and livelihood.

  Any moment she'd even think of considering a guy as steady, she didn't bank on it lasting. Somehow negative vibes impeded the relationship every single time.

  As she grabbed a folder atop a stack of reports, a flurry of papers fanned to the floor with her nervous handling. Instantly, he'd turned toward her. When she'd gestured her body to ladle the papers, his arms wrenched tight around her waist.

  She was barely aware of his attentiveness, until she turned and his eyes burned into hers a new level of intensity. He grabbed her hand and pulled it toward his chest. His broad shoulders were a welcomed comfort, as she feathered every fiber of cottony fusion magnetizing her brow to his taunt muscles.

  She leapt from his chest all of a sudden.

  "Oh, I don't want to keep you from—" She paused, her gaze swelling the desire that radiated off his glowing bronze-- that peeked behind the hairs on his chest teasing her. "If you have to be somewhere." The words flew out of her mouth before she'd realized he had willingly pulled her into his arms, slipping the silk from her shoulder.

  "I have to protect you remember?" He said with equal softness. "The only place I need to be is right here with you."

  She sighed with deep longing and dove back into his chest as he kissed the tips of her fingers syllabically pausing, "We. Need. To. Relax. You." He said in a husky voice, as he kissed each word into her fingertips.

  Despite the fact that Danielle wanted him, she wasn't the kind of woman that would settle for a one-night stand. He may have gotten lucky, but not that lucky.

  She hadn't bothered to stop herself from fantasizing about him ever since they'd met. Even ever since his Lamborghini-- number twenty-three-- proved to be just as tantalizing as its driver.

  But there was no time like the present to stop wondering what his kiss would taste like and how his stubble felt against her baby skin. Her right brain was thinking one thing, while the left thought the total opposite.

  She let herself
fall into his beautiful eyes so intense, so full of desire, arousing every limb in her body, as he kissed into the curve of her shoulder. He must have tasted rose petals laced in fern and lavender against smooth glowing bronze. It was times like this, she was glad she'd dressed for the occasion. He glanced at her, and her impish grin encouraged his lips to curl in response.

  But could she and would she be able to resist him and the tenderness of his touch. Could she resist the possibility in knowing that maybe he was the one? But she'd never find out keeping it-- strictly business.

  Should I? Before she could acknowledge the question surfacing her subconscious, she was too entranced in his spicy deliciousness teasing her in and out, as he dove deep into the hollows of her collarbone. She couldn't possibly form any well-rounded opinion or judgment upon herself, squirming and mashing the bench cushion.

  As she stilled, cradled in his arms, his heart was already soaring to heights unmentionable, his eyes were steady on hers. And then the next second, Roman's lips tightened against hers, spiraling an insatiate meltdown.

  Right then and there, that mess of broken china from Sunday's chaos laid no comparable invasion to the taste he trailed from the warmth of his mouth. Any woman could've fallen apart in his arms, but all she did was sink her teeth in as long as she could before he lunged back, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--" Roman uttered as he brushed her hair away from her face.

  His eyes lifted from her curves to her soft expression, "I said I was a nice guy, and that's what I meant." Despite the fast car giving an impressionable desire for-- fast women, his expression was genuine.

  Suddenly that soft pressure around her waist was relieved a split second before she could recall the squeeze that left nothing but sensuality's pulse afloat.

  How did he manage to keep juggling her heartstrings and taking her breath away just at the point of surrender?

  It wasn't enough that his bachelor lifestyle was more like a revolving door when it came to the opposite sex, or better yet a rather blatant excuse for camaraderie of nothing serious. His whole life was just an even bigger revolving door when it came to any woman getting close to him.

  "Was that the kiss you wanted to give Mindy? Were you kissing me, but thinking about her? It was wond-"

  Her words were interrupted by his tender touch. His hands cupped hers as she swept his stubble with fern and lavender. The moment she nudged and feathered his cheek with her lips, he said, "We can't."

  His lips were a sweet indication, that there was so much more warmth behind such a grimacing expression.

  Once she'd played that kiss in her mind a hundred times, she'd know there was a man so beautiful beyond words. That was absolutely so much more than a gentleman.

  As nightfall descended the loft, she'd fought to focus on a beam of light streaming his hair a chestnut glow, haloing his presence a savior. For some reason, she couldn't get that image out of her mind. But for the moment, she was just too puzzled to do anything but stare off into the lofty space that by now veiled only a scant scent of cocoa bean.

  When suddenly she'd felt the presence of his strong warmth gone. His hands slipped from hers, as he pulled away and twisted back toward the screen all of a sudden.

  The screen snapped to a bright gleam the moment his hand swiped the keyboard. Staring so intensely at a flurry of motionless figures, the names were all a blur-- the numbers could've skyrocketed billions since obviously his mind was elsewhere.

  Surprised at his momentary silence, Danielle's eyes blazed into his profile as his focus was still woodened on the obvious-- sustaining his tenacity. He was hell bent on pacifying his heart in denial.

  She paused, waiting until he drifted his eyes to hers, as she ladled her hand to his forearm. Then suddenly, Roman wrenched out of her grip, saying, "You should rest up. We'll talk tomorrow."

  Danielle was confused, bemused... she couldn't find the words for how he'd suddenly turned on a dime. She knew the peril present at the beginning. She knew what she was getting herself into. And considering her fickle attitude from this morning, she couldn't blame him.

  The more involved she'd become with him, the more he negated her initial ‘lunatic’ suspicions and caution. Still, her mind teetered the ideal of his insidiously playing the utmost gentleman.

  Yet even still, she wondered why all the holding back, when it was clear he wanted her as much as she wanted him. That was the only relief in it all. Knowing that he was having feelings for her, although to what degree and was he willing to let it all completely-- vanish.

  Any other woman would've ignored his crap in desperation, but somehow, she knew there was more to the man than he'd led on in appearance. But just as she'd thought, she'd known better than to trust him. She still hadn't told him about her newly formed theories, including the "Confidential" letter, and god only knows what else. Or what other pieces of the puzzle were hiding? Now, who was the one keeping secrets?

  Danielle raised her eyebrows, and gave a quiet sigh. "So, listen..." she bumped his arm, "Is this all about what's her name?" This time she'd had a damn good reason to confront him... after that sultry kiss, how could she not?

  "Mindy?" he asked.

  "Yeah. Mindy. Do you ah—like Mindy? Are you in love with her or is she your little playmate when you're bored and feel like having a little fun?" Danielle asked, with an eagerness that would have been insulting under other circumstances.

  Danielle murmured... of which I can imagine, kinky is only the half of it.

  Roman looked at her quizzically, while she started to second-guess her earlier suspicions, assuming Mindy had something to do with his fickle behavior.

  "Is she why you're acting so freaking strange?" Danielle looked at him strangely. "Is she the reason you're trying to get rid of me at freaking nine 'o clock."

  "What are you saying?" He stared at her, mouth open, eyes wide, "That's ridiculous."

  "Or is it someone else?" She slightly bit the corner of her lip, while she watched him click the desk lamp on. She didn’t ease up, as she rambled on, curling her lip into her mouth. Roman's expression didn't change as he looked at her puzzled.

  He tried to convince himself that he was a one-woman man ready for love, but there was something still heavy on his heart he had yet to confront.

  Roman whisked back toward the computer and silenced his decision to answer.

  At that moment, Danielle recalled how his hand slipped from hers. Moonlight climbed the horizon as she realized their relationship was strictly professional-- and nothing more.

  Tuesday night

  I'm starting to wonder if it really is hopeless. But then again, I try to tell myself it's not. Time will tell. I don't know what else to say about it. Except maybe someday, I'll find Mr. Right or better yet-- he'll find me.

  Chapter Eleven

  Wednesday morning

  I couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about him all night, especially after the kiss. I'm glad I met him... we've become closer, more like a team-- but I'm not interested in another business relationship. Although I just don't get him sometimes. I don't want to fight. I just want him to love me. I just want him to be honest about his feelings.

  How do I get this guy to well, stop being such a gentleman--

  “Danielle, I got us tickets to London. Can you be ready in a couple hours?" She felt the shock of his words radiating her already tense muscles. She could hardly believe that she and Roman would finally have a chance to get closer. And yet, while she recognized that opportunity, her heart was already pounding and she didn’t know what in the world to expect.

  "I know we have to get to work, but it's so beautiful here Roman." She flung her arms around his shoulders and nestled her head in his chest. Danielle whispered, "Let's just hang out a little while."

  He slipped his arm around her waist in gesture. "We really should get going… head to the hotel…" Roman insisted, as a cabbie stalled at the curb waiting.

  Roman let go of her just long enough to grab her valise,
when he flung it onto his shoulder.

  "The perpetrators will still be here," she said. Danielle looked straight into his eyes, "Don't worry. Isn't that what you'd been telling me?"

  Roman creased a smile and ladled his overnight tote off the luggage cart and wrenched it in his hand. His muscles bulged as he tightened the grip on the shoulder strap already groping his arm.

  Danielle cupped Roman's hand and pulled him toward the stalled cab.

  Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Kensington, whizzed by in an imperial crowning flurry. Rolling hills of lush green valley along the Thames scintillated the way to a sweet interval where they could share a peaceful moment.

  As she shadowed her glittery stilettos behind him, every mired step was still slightly wet from early morning's drizzle, while a nearby fountain spurted another veil of mist onto the precision-cut lawn soaking up the sun by the minute.

  The airiness felt like they were in a world all their own. Blissful. Quiet. Breathtaking. It was the perfect place for Danielle to speak the words of her heart.

  As they trekked along the edge of the valley, her heels pierced his heavy trail that stamped huge footprints in every gushing step. But once they'd stopped, suddenly the view took their breath away. It was the most beautiful garden. Not the snowy, grimy, foggy London.

  "It sure feels good to get away from the chill back home," she said.

  "Despite the reason we're here?" he asked softly.

  "Yeah. We should enjoy this amazing weather. Let's just soak up the sun... Hang out here a bit." She took one deep breath and then another as she whisked her arms around herself.

  Danielle glanced around, and then she glanced back at Roman. His eyes flittered between sincere and suspicious. Who was this man, and how was it he could have her heart flip-flopping and falling hard for him so quickly? She absolutely couldn't believe it.