by Melinda Hale
“I can take you out to work and pick you up when you need to. I have far too much time on my hands,” Dean said with a grin. Damn it, he wanted Chelsea to stay with him. She was perfect – completely unknown to the media, an everyday woman. Exactly what he needed.
She stared at him for a moment longer, torn between her decision. Then she pressed her lips together. “Why do you come out this far to do your banking?”
Dean swallowed. Answering personal questions wasn’t what he intended on doing so soon, but he needed to convince her.
“I have a…friend out this way,” he said. “I don’t mind the commute, gives me something to do.”
“Oh,” she said softly. “Do you work?”
Dean shot her a smile that seemed to make her blush. “Not exactly.”
An awkward silence fell between them before she spoke again. “I’ve taken four days off work, but I can extend my vacation.”
“So you’ll accept?”
Chelsea brushed her hair behind her ears and nodded. He flashed her a smile, but saw only wariness in her eyes. His were suddenly drawn to the bulge of her breasts against her thin blouse. Dean swallowed, and quickly looked away.
“I’m only doing this because I have to,” she admitted. “But it’s nice of you to offer.”
“I promise you, you won’t regret this,” he told her, reaching into his pants pocket to withdraw a card with his contact details. Dean leaned forward to pass it to her and her outstretched fingers brushed against his. Heat burned through him. Her skin felt soft and delicate, as the rest of her body would feel. Chelsea’s touch lingered before she took hold of the card and pulled away.
He drew in a breath, unwilling to look into her eyes. His heart was thudding against his chest, his whole body alive with the need to hold her close.
Chelsea hadn’t made a move to leave so Dean cleared his throat, his voice feeling tight with desire. He hadn’t been with a woman for weeks, and Chelsea was reviving all those feelings he’d kept aside.
“I hear you have to move out by the end of the week?”
She nodded as she pocketed the card. For a moment Dean thought he saw her hand shaking. Had she been aroused by his touch as much as he was? The look on her face seemed to show otherwise.
“Yeah, by Sunday. My boss has been understanding about the whole…separation.”
“A relationship always comes to a painful end,” he murmured. Chelsea stared at him, her lips parting as if she wanted to speak, but she said nothing.
Dean gestured towards her pocket. “Just contact me and let me know when you want to move in.”
“I will,” she said. “Thank you.”
He stood up at the same time she did. Instantly, he felt his body respond, the warmth of her body only inches away from him. Being this close to Chelsea’s face, he could see the darkening blush on her cheeks, her eyes gleaming as she looked up at him. As his gaze locked with hers, Dean felt his body betray him.
Chelsea looked so vulnerable, he wanted nothing more than to pull her body against his, crushing her breasts against his chest. He would take her lips to his, forcing any doubts, any resistance against him from her mind. Every woman had a different scent, a unique taste. How would she feel?
Dean scowled, immediately forcing that from his mind. His expression seemed to startle her. Chelsea stepped back and cleared her throat, a sound which she made incredibly delicate. Feeling grateful for having his coat free, Dean pulled it in front of him, covering the front of his pants before she noticed anything.
Dean turned away and strode out of the bank, not willing to look back. Outside, the cool breeze chilled his body and cleared his mind. He breathed in the smell of exhaust, surveying the stream of traffic, listening to the sound of the lively city. It was a stark contrast to Spring Lake, with its Victorian styled houses and quiet streets.
Chelsea was certainly not what he expected, but he had no intention of turning her away. He could handle living with her. Once the media learned that she was living with him, then his life would finally be at peace.
As Dean turned his back on her, Chelsea allowed her façade to fall. She watched him leave, walking with that confident, assured stride. Her gaze lowered to his firm behind.
Immediately, she flinched. Feeling his eyes on her had been distracting, and for one second she wanted Dean to take her. He was so powerful and intimidating. His presence reminded her that she had been neglecting herself sexually since Ryan.
She swallowed and realized that her hands were still shaking. His touch had brought her wayward desires to life. How could she possibly live with a man like this? Chelsea took a deep breath, calming her racing heart. Once she moved in with Dean, inquiring about the houses would be her first move. Then she would move out.
It was nice of Dean to offer her his house, but Chelsea still didn’t believe he was doing it out of kindness. After all, it would be irrational to believe that. Dean had another motive, something to hide, and whatever he really wanted out of this situation, she wouldn’t give it to him.
Remembering that Andrea would be taking a break at some point, Chelsea walked up to the desk, noticing that she was tapping away at the computer. Before she could speak, Andrea turned towards her and shot her an excited grin.
“I told you he was sexy!”
“He’s a lot more than that,” Chelsea remarked. Andrea’s amused smile made her hasten to add, “I mean he’s kind of…impersonal. But I won’t be staying long. And nothing’s going to happen.”
“If you say so,” she said playfully. Andrea straightened and called out to her co-worker Paula that she was taking her break. Chelsea stepped back and waited for her to maneuver around to her. Remembering that she was still wearing the revealing blouse, she quickly pulled on the sweater.
Dean’s gaze dropped to her chest more than once during their conversation, and it made her blush fiercely. How embarrassing to think she looked easy for him. Chelsea hated how the look in his eyes betrayed the arousal he obviously felt for her, and knowing that she felt the same. But it was only four days of living together, and then it would all be over. Four days is long enough.
Andrea sauntered up to her, giving her a weary smile.
“At least he turned up,” she said. “I guess he was serious about it after all.”
Chelsea nodded and fell into step with her as they walked out of the bank. The cool air hit her and she shivered, noticing that Andrea’s skin was pink from the cold.
“I don’t really know why he’s doing it,” Chelsea admitted. “He said it wasn’t a publicity stunt.”
“Maybe he’s being nice because he wants to help you,” Andrea suggested. “Or maybe he’s looking for a wife.”
“Still a lot of maybes,” Chelsea pointed out. “He said it was for company, but he’s a millionaire. He could invite anyone over and they’d agree to it.” She paused. “How’d you end up talking about me?”
“It was a casual comment,” Andrea explained. “He seemed interested in you, and I figured, what’s the harm in meeting him? I guess he’s single. Last I heard, he was.”
They stopped at the traffic light, waiting for it to turn green.
“I almost said no,” Chelsea added. “I was so close. I had good reasons not to accept. What if I’ve made the wrong decision?”
“Girl, how could living with him be a bad decision?” Andrea pointed out. “You’ll be living the dream, Chel. Spring Lake is beautiful. The beach is two miles long! I envy you.”
It did sound nice. Maybe she was looking at it the wrong way – if she treated it as a vacation, it wouldn’t feel awkward.
“Just hope I find a house before the end of my vacation,” Chelsea said. “I can only take a week off.”
Maybe it was time to swallow her pride and go for an apartment lifestyle. All her life, she’d lived in a house with a yard and trees. An apartment seemed too confining and restrictive.
“If it comes down to it, you can get a transfer. There’s a Walmart not
far out of Spring Lake. I used to go out that way on vacation with my ex.”
Chelsea hoped it wouldn’t come to that. They crossed the road and stepped inside Starbucks, the strong aroma of coffee instantly improving her mood. “You’re right. It’s just a huge change, that’s all.”
Andrea patted her arm comfortingly. “It’ll work out. Dean may be a millionaire, but he’s not rude with a big ego. Trust me, I’ve known him for a while.”
She moved up to the counter and ordered two white chocolate mochas with whipped cream – their usual. As Chelsea reached for her credit card, she noticed Andrea glance back at her.
“I’ll cover the cost, don’t worry.”
“Thanks!” Chelsea smiled, and stepped back to allow other customers to move in behind her. She walked over to a table closest to the window and sat down. Meeting Dean was far from her mind now. Maybe the sexual attraction was a one-time feeling. Next time they meet, it won’t be there. Why am I thinking about him anyway?
Andrea strolled over with the two mochas in her grasp, sliding Chelsea’s over to her. She took hold of the paper cup and breathed in the smell.
“Ah, I love the smell of coffee in the morning.”
“It’s like a drug, huh?” Andrea said with a laugh. She shot a glance at her watch. “I’ve only got ten minutes.”
Chelsea’s eyes widened. “What’s the time? I paid for an hour.”
“Ten to twelve.”
“Shit, I better get back to my car!” Chelsea explained, standing up and looking at her regretfully. “Sorry.”
Andrea nodded understandably. “We didn’t have much time anyway. Text me later!”
Chelsea turned and left almost as quickly as Dean had walked away from her. She stepped out onto the sidewalk, turning back to give her friend a wave. As she lost herself amongst the flow of people, she sipped at her mocha, marveling at the sensation of the creamy liquid.
But it wasn’t enough to distract her from him. She’d been so aroused by Dean’s presence, even when he sat opposite her. How would it feel living in the same house as him? We’ll hardly see each other, she reminded herself. But that seemed like a small comfort.
She got to her car with only minutes to spare. As she pulled the keys from her pocket she felt someone walk into her, almost pushing her over. Chelsea cursed, and warily glanced up. It almost felt like hands had reached down, intent on taking a wallet.
Shaken, she glanced around but whoever it was had merged into the crowd.
She noticed the faces of the few people who saw what had taken place, and noticed the helpless, guilty looks. Damn it, it’s a good thing I left my wallet in the car or it would be gone right now.
Chelsea got into her car, slamming the door. Her hands were shaking. She quickly checked her pockets, which still held her credit card and Dean’s contact details. Then she finished off her mocha, placing the empty cup on the seat next to her. No point thinking about it now.
Chelsea shrugged the incident aside and started the engine, merging out into the traffic. It looked like a long drive home, especially during peak traffic time. She felt her knees twinge uncomfortably, but ignored it. She didn’t want to think about that pain, as if any thoughts would make her knees flare up again. It happened seven months ago but she had been in fear of it returning ever since.
Chelsea unlocked the front door and as it swung open, she almost expected Mittens to come running to greet her, her stripy tail pointing into the air. She closed the door behind her, the sound echoing throughout the house.
She felt trapped. Sometimes the walls seemed like they were pushing in against her. She’d almost forgotten how small the house was, any smaller and it would be close to an apartment. When she thought of Dean’s place, a smile crossed her face. It didn’t seem like a bad decision after all.
She slid her hands into her pocket and withdrew the card he gave her. There were no other details apart from his name, address, and number, printed in plain sans serif font.
Chelsea reached for her cell phone on her desk and added his number. A message suddenly flashed up on the screen and she hesitated. It was from Ryan. A sharp pain shot through her. She couldn’t talk to him, not now. Things were getting better, she was moving forward with her life.
“He said to contact him when I’m ready,” she mused. “Like hell I am.”
Chelsea turned the phone off without viewing the message. If it was important, he’d email or call. Wearily, she sat at her computer and turned it on, looking at the address Dean gave her. She typed it into Google and clicked on the photo.
Wow. Was that even the right word to describe it? She stared in shock at the simple, white Victorian style house with a patio and spacious lawn. The top story had three wide windows with green shutters, and below was a single window and a plain white door that opened out onto the large patio encased by white fencing. A small set of steps surrounded by lush greenery led down to a medium sized pool at the side of the house.
She clicked through more pictures and came across a sleep out, only a few feet away from the house beside the garage. Chelsea clicked on the aerial view, noticing how the house was only a few blocks from the Atlantic Ocean with views out towards the water.
Chelsea leaned back against the chair and smiled. “Can’t believe I’m going to be living there,” she murmured.
The only problem was, she wouldn’t be alone.
Three
The next day, Chelsea knew she had to talk to Dean. Whether it was from excitement or being impatient, she didn’t care. It felt surreal knowing that tomorrow she would be living with a millionaire. She messaged Andrea about the moving day, and without looking at his message, told Ryan she would be moving out and the place would be ready for him by the afternoon.
Now she just needed to contact Dean. Chelsea paused, hesitant to hear his deep, rich voice again. Fantasizing about him was not what she intended to do, it was a professional arrangement, just as he stated. He didn’t want her for any other reason.
To her regret, it hurt. Of course she wasn’t as desirable as the celebrities he spent time with, but during their brief meeting she had been confused by the way Dean looked at her with his sensual green eyes, his handsome face creasing into a deep frown. He doesn’t want me, she confirmed. I have to stop thinking about him that way.
Chelsea reached for the phone and dialed the number, feeling her hand shake slightly. She gritted her teeth, angry at herself for getting nervous. Dean answered almost immediately.
“Nice to hear from you, Chelsea.”
She swallowed, stunned by the sound of his voice. It brought her back to the moment they met at the bank, and the intense attraction she knew she felt, and still had. She hastily pushed it aside. He’s a powerful millionaire, how could I not be attracted to him?
“Have you chosen a moving date?” he asked.
“Will tomorrow suit you? I don’t have much to move, just a few clothes and personal items. The moving van will arrive by midday.”
“Perfect. I’ll be happy to help with whatever you need.”
There was a brief silence as Chelsea wondered what else to say to him. Would it be wise to ask Dean if he was comfortable having her there? It won’t be smart to mention our attraction.
“I have some help already,” she said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, and thanks again.”
“Bye, Chelsea.”
The way he spoke her name sent a shudder of desire through her. Chelsea hung up before he could say anything more, taking a deep breath. Get a hold of yourself! Then she felt a smile curve her lips. Being intensely attracted to Dean was definitely helping her move on, there was no harm in that.
Chelsea pursed her lips and stood up, turning away from the computer. She took one look around her partly furnished house, knowing that tomorrow everything would change. This life was over, and she had a new one before her.
But there was someone she needed to talk to. Raising the phone in her hand, Chelsea dialed the number and waited.
> “Hello?”
“Hi, Mom. I’ve found a place, I’ll be moving out tomorrow.”
She heard deep laughter in the background. Chelsea frowned in disapproval. That had to be Ben, the man having an affair with her. She never met him, and didn’t intend to. Talking to her mom gave her some semblance of having a normal family, and she needed her mom’s support ever since her father died.
“Oh, I see,” she responded. “Will you be moving to New York?”
Chelsea held back a bitter retort. Her mom insisted that New York was the place to live, and she got the impression her mother would never accept her until she lived there.
“No. Spring Lake.”
There was a long pause. “How can you afford to live there?”
“Through a mutual friend.”
“Indeed,” her mom murmured, disinterest showing in her tone. “I suppose I should leave you to start packing.”
Chelsea hesitated, wondering if she should elaborate. If she mentioned a millionaire, her mom would finally show an interest in her life. Then there was a click and the phone beeped. Chelsea lowered the phone, realizing she had hung up on her. The silence hung in the air, lingering, a painful reminder that her mom would never be there for her.
The moment Dean closed the front door, he wondered how much his life will change with Chelsea living with him. He never gave it much thought, but it would be nice to have a houseguest. A woman I have to restrain myself from kissing.
Dean was used to having any woman he desired thanks to his looks and wealth. But in retrospect, the women who offered themselves to him knew who he was when they went after him. He didn’t need to try. Chelsea however, he had no idea how to seduce her.
“Not that I will,” he told himself aloud.
His assistant Rachel had been none too pleased by his idea. As Dean entered the living room, he glanced towards the clock above the fireplace. She would be arriving at any minute.