by Opal Carew
Now there was only Emily. Only her.
But deep in his heart, deep in his soul, there was sadness, a darkness tainting the moment. He knew this night was going to be a one-time event. It had to be. At the end she would walk away with one of them and leave the other wanting. From here they would walk their separate lives, this one night of passion tying them together in an erotic knot that they’d never be able to untangle fully.
He knew this, and yet he couldn’t help himself from wanting more—even at the risk of losing part of himself.
He caught Dane’s eye and knew he was thinking the same thing, but they were trapped, their love for Emily pulling them together.
And throwing them apart with the power of an atomic bomb when the night was over.
Chapter Two
Present Day . . .
Dane stole a look at Emily as he drove, his concern increasing with each mile. She’d been quiet that afternoon as they’d prepared for their yearly return to the college campus—too quiet. She’d tried to hide it from him but he’d seen through her façade, seen the sadness showing in her smile, the way she walked.
Every year it got worse, and every year Dane tried to find out why. The gentle teasing had changed over time to awkward questioning and then to outright demands as to the source.
“I don’t know,” the tearful response came back to him. “I don’t know.” She wrapped her arms around herself and shook her head. “If I knew how to fix this I would. But I don’t.”
He believed her.
This year, Dane had offered to call in sick and say she was staying home to keep him company, let them avoid the gala altogether. He’d take the hit, bear the verbal blows and social media snarks for missing it.
But she would have none of it, determined to support the charity they’d helped create.
“Look, I see how it makes you unhappy. Every year, every time we go, I see how it grinds on you,” he’d protested. “Let’s skip a year. People will talk, but they’ll get over it.”
“No,” she’d insisted. “We owe it to the children and we owe it to the sponsors.” She’d looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. “I don’t want to let anyone down.”
Dane had put his arms around her from behind, kissing the back of her neck. “Maybe this year you’ll figure it out.”
“Maybe,” she admitted. “All I know is that not going isn’t going to solve anything.” She looked at their reflections. “Let’s get going. I don’t want to be late.”
So he had led her down to the garage to the car, and they headed out to the campus for their yearly pilgrimage.
He thought about turning around, about taking a turnoff and running up into the mountains where no one would think to look for them.
But she was right—they had responsibilities. Five years had turned them from wild, impulsive college students into solid, upstanding adults. Emily was a skilled criminal lawyer working with the Innocence Project to help wrongly convicted people get out of jail. Her breakthrough case not only helped free a man from jail, it’d highlighted a small town’s ineffective and corrupt police force. The resulting fame hadn’t gone to her head—she’d turned it into a powerful force directed at raising funds for her cause, as well as the other charities she focused her attention on.
Dane had taken his trust fund and purchased a faltering software company, turning it around into one of the most successful online educational websites in the world. He’d drawn the best and the brightest to his side, winning him private and public praise from all corners.
But all of this, all of it, didn’t matter if the love of his life wasn’t happy.
“Hey.” Dane reached out and took her hand. “You know you can always talk to me, right?”
Emily smiled. “I know. And I do love you.” She glanced out at the road. “I just . . .” She sighed. “I don’t know what’s wrong, so I can’t fix it. And neither can you.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
“No. Don’t apologize.” He pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “We’ll figure it out sometime. But if you want to leave at any time, you say the word and we’re out of here. Okay?”
She nodded. “I promise.” Emily drew a shallow breath and focused on the trees lining the road.
Her face brightened as they got closer, pointing out landmarks along the way. He joined in, his spirits lifting as she cheered up with every laugh and shared memory.
By the time Dane maneuvered the sports car through the university campus, they were each pointing out to the other how this building had been repainted since last year and that tree had been cut down and so on, both caught up in the nostalgia.
When they arrived at the hall where the gala was being held, they were both in a much better mood. As they slid into line behind the other arriving cars, Dane felt more composed and less stressed out than he’d been on the drive in.
“Remember when they set that fire over there to protest the new parking lot rules, and it got out of hand?” Dane paused as the valet opened the car door for him.
Emily waited until he’d gotten around to the other side before replying, her own door already open courtesy of the second valet.
“Because they decided to toss in all the bad food that had been rotting in the dorm fridge.” She gave an exaggerated shudder. “Lord, did it stink.”
“Wonder what made me think of that.” Dane took her arm and smiled as the cameras started to go off in a symphony of flashes as they headed for the front door leading into the event hall.
The press surged forward, bumping against the velvet ropes as they tried to get as many images as possible of the power couple for the social pages. Emily gave them a twirl, happy to show off the beautiful emerald green dress she’d worn for tonight’s event. She’d put up an open call on her personal website asking for submissions, drawing eager entries from young designers looking for their big chance. The winning entry was sure to make the front pages on all the hot social websites, sending plenty of business to the small company. It was her own way of continuing to give back, helping those with talent to be discovered.
The dress was beautiful, the diamond necklace around her neck sparkling in the flashing lights. Dane couldn’t help but feel proud to be at her side.
He beamed and applauded her display, stroking the back of her neck and kissing the sensitive spot there. He felt her shiver and sway, letting him know that she was as affected by him as he was by her. She kissed his cheek, ramping up the questions shouted over the barriers as he led her down the aisle.
“When are you going to get married?”
“How do you feel about the Johnson case going to appeal?”
“Have you talked to Blake Wittsworth about merging your companies?”
This last one got Dane’s attention.
He released Emily’s arm and advanced on the reporter. “What?”
The middle-aged man beamed and shoved his phone into Dane’s face, happy to have gotten his attention. “Word is with Wittsworth’s triumphant start-up earlier this year, there’s talk about you approaching him and asking for a business merger. He’s sold millions of copies of his newest virtual reality game, making him one of the country’s newest billionaires.” The man paused. “The rumor is that you’ll work with him to build some sort of educational three-dimensional programs.”
“That’s not happening.” Dane replied. “That would never happen.” He sliced the air with one hand. “Our goals are totally different. I want to educate people and he wants to race virtual motorcycles. There’s nothing we have in common.”
“Surely you understand people are going to talk, and where there’s smoke . . .”
Dane glared at the man, silencing him.
He spoke slowly, making sure he kept eye contact with the now-flustered reporter. “There is nothing here to discuss or report. Blake Wittsworth is a good man, a smart man, and excellent in his business dealings, but I am his equal, if not his better.” It was hard to keep his voice below a y
ell. “There’s nothing going on between us. No merger, no buy-out, nothing at all.”
A hand fell on his arm, the well-manicured nails digging into the expensive black fabric.
Emily’s.
She beamed at the shaken man, turning her charm up to eleven on a scale of ten. “What Dane is saying is we both wish Blake Wittsworth the best. We’re here tonight to promote literacy, a worthy cause we can all get behind. I’m sure you understand how important this is for us and for the public.”
The reporter nodded, now focused on her. “True. True.”
Emily continued as she nudged Dane back toward the building. “You know I didn’t come from money. My mother worked hard and long to pay for my education, taking on extra jobs to help me out, which is why I jumped at the chance to become one of the members of the board when this foundation was formed.”
“Which includes both Mr. Gordon and Mr. Wittsworth,” the man added.
“Among others, but yes.” Emily smiled and Dane couldn’t help but be impressed by the way she was playing the reporter. “As old college friends, we know the value of helping those less fortunate than ourselves. And that should be the focus of your article—how we’re coming together, and our similarities rather than our differences.” She cocked her head to one side, terminating the discussion. “Please feel free to call my office if you want any further clarification or a more in-depth interview regarding the foundation.”
Before the reporter could reply she spun and caught Dane’s arm, propelling him along the red carpet past the other shouting reporters.
“That was magnificent,” he whispered, heat sizzling through his veins. “God, you’re so damned sexy right now.”
“Yes. Yes, I am.” Emily grinned. “Now, let’s do what we came here for.” They made their way inside the building. “Let’s score some major cash for people who need it.”
Dane took her hand as she headed for the first small group, noting their wide grins at their approach.
This was what Emily did best—making small talk with many of the guests who had come tonight, not only to bid on the charity auction but also to be around the famous and the powerful.
Dane smiled as she spoke, pulling up names from her memory bank as she chatted up a storm. The guests, thrilled to be recognized and remembered, fell under her spell almost immediately.
Dane excused himself after a bit and moved off to one side to take a breather. It wasn’t so much to rest as to watch her at work, seeing the smiles in her wake.
Emily moved through the crowd, gliding like a figure skater on ice performing a perfect dance. With every bob of her head, every gentle smile, every time she took someone’s hand, Dane felt his heart leap for joy.
“Beautiful, isn’t she?”
Dane began to turn, mentally bracing himself for another meet and greet with a rich donor.
Instead he caught the whiff of old pipe tobacco and aftershave, a familiar scent sending him back almost a decade.
“Professor Hattenburg.” He embraced the elderly man.
Anthony Hattenburg smiled. “Good to see you as well, Mr. Gordon.”
Dane shook his head at the honorific. “Am I ever going to get you to call me Dane?”
Anthony frowned. “No. Why would I?”
Emily came over and beamed as she hugged Anthony, ignoring the curious glances from guests.
He returned it in kind, his weathered face breaking into a wide smile. “Miss Pierson. So glad to see you.”
“So lovely to see you here tonight,” Emily replied.
“I’m so glad to see you’re doing so well.” He looked over Emily’s shoulder at Dane. “Both of you. And the foundation, of course.”
“It’s doing magnificently,” Dane added, unable to keep a note of pride out of his voice.
The white-haired man gave a dismissive wave. “I told you to follow your dreams, and you did. So what’s missing from your lives now, hmm?” He gave Dane a sideways glance. “I can see it in your eyes.” He shook his head. “You came here a confused, cynical young man with a trust fund to burn. Now you’re a billionaire businessman who can buy and sell this university many times over with a beautiful woman who loves and adores you. So tell an old man, what else could you want?”
Dane drew back, surprised. Before he could respond, the professor turned to Emily. “And you. You’re a successful lawyer, talk of the town for your penchant for taking on cases others wouldn’t dare and winning them. But I can tell by the look on your face that it’s not enough. There’s something missing, something out of place in your world. You have the adoration of many and the love of a good man at your side. And yet, I can see you’re upset every year you come here. What’s wrong, Emily?”
Emily paused, frozen in place by the simple question. She was used to a light interrogation from Anthony every time they met, the elderly professor taking the place of her long-absent father and offering his thoughts. But this was something different, something . . . accusatory?
She fumbled for words, unable to find the right phrasing. There was no way to explain the feeling of emptiness in her life, the sense of having everything and yet nothing.
It’d always been there on the edges of her happiness, a dark shadow she’d put behind her, behind them. But now it’d grown and fed on her annoyance, her impatience with the way things were.
Every year they came back, and every year her heart broke just that much more.
She couldn’t find the words to explain it to Dane because she didn’t know if she could admit it to herself. Because if she did then she’d have to do something about it, and she wasn’t sure she could deal with the consequences.
There was no way she could even begin to explain it to the elderly professor. His father-like status kept him outside the intimate circle that was the source and the answer to what she was dealing with.
A circle of three.
A soft chop-chop noise started at the edge of her hearing, growing in intensity as the seconds passed. Suddenly it was overhead, the roaring of a helicopter momentarily snatching everyone’s attention away from the charity auction about to begin.
Her heart raced as she looked out the window along with everyone else.
Only one person would arrive in such a fashion.
“Of course he would fly in piloting his own helicopter,” Dane muttered. “Just has to make a grand entrance.” He shook his head. “Can’t just drive in like the rest of us mere mortals now that he’s got some spare cash sitting around.”
“You know he got his license years ago,” Emily said. “It wasn’t just for this visit.”
Dane scowled. “Still doesn’t need to show off. But I guess it’s better than driving in on that damned motorcycle spewing smoke everywhere.” He shook his head. “That was fine when he was puttering around campus playing the rebel. But now he’s an adult and he should be more responsible, more realistic in what he’s doing.”
She fell silent, unwilling to continue the argument.
The noise diminished as the helicopter landed nearby and the engine shut off, leaving only the low whine of the rotors coming to a stop.
The chatter rose again, the light chamber music from the string quartet rising in volume and retaking ground from the interruption.
“Hmm.” Hattenberg smiled. “The last of the terrible trio arrives.” He shook his head. “I never understood why you didn’t stay friends after graduation. The three of you worked so well together.”
Emily’s throat closed up, the emotions clogging her senses.
“If you’ll excuse us, we need to do some more mingling.” Dane gave the professor a nod. “We’ll catch up to you later.” He took Emily’s arm and led her toward the bar.
She waited until they were a suitable distance away before speaking. “That was rather rude.”
“He’ll get over it.” The brusque tone grated on her ears. “The man still knows how to push our buttons.”
“Anthony, or Blake?”
He scowle
d at her before ordering their drinks. “You know who I’m talking about. And don’t worry about Anthony—he’s a tough old guy.” Dane snatched up the glass of whiskey as soon as the bartender finished pouring. “He may have held our hands through university, but this is the real world.”
“Yes. Yes, it is,” she said, her attention drifting to the hall’s front doors.
Blake knew the helicopter arrival was over-the-top. He wanted it to be. This year he wasn’t returning as a secondary character in the stage play of life. He was coming back as a conquering hero, as the new king of the hill. That’s why he’d forgone the usual limousine ride and instead chosen to fly, knowing the impact it would have.
His concentration had wavered only once while flying in, his hand steady on the stick as he flew over the commons and found the spot he’d been cleared to land in. The course had taken him right over the cove.
Their cove.
He could have sworn he’d caught a whiff of the thick, luscious scent from the flowers below and it’d shaken him, forced him to grip the stick hard to maintain his focus.
It’d only been five years, but it might as well have been an eternity since he’d been there.
With her.
Blake swallowed hard, collecting his thoughts. He unlocked the door and stepped out of the helicopter, smiling for the photographers who were charging at him eager for a sound bite and ignoring the other guests milling around the landing site.
The conquering hero returns, indeed.
“Mr. Wittsworth! Mr. Wittsworth!”
“Blake! Blake!”
He tugged on his tuxedo jacket, knowing full well their eyes were being drawn to his black motorcycle boots, the unusual attire part of his personal style. A bit of his former bad boy image still showed through, keeping him honest as he built his business empire.
“Your newest virtual reality game came out only a few days ago and it’s already breaking records. Can you confirm you’re going to approach Gordon and offer him a merger, combining your high-tech gaming with his educational resources?” one eager woman shouted, pushing through the throng to almost throw herself at his feet. “The word on the street is—” She fell silent as Blake raised his hands, shushing the rabid mob.