Chapter Six

At the office, Cole listened to Cynthia’s tirade over the phone. When the woman’s language got a little too vulgar, he winced, but he let her finish.

“She is a nice girl, Cole Parker, and you’re going to treat her like another rich socialite decorating your arm. She’s not used to the press. Your friends and business associates are going to eat her alive, not to mention what all your jealous ex-whatever-you-call them are going to do to her. Have you lost your damn mind?”

When she took a deep and shuddering breath, Cole cleared his throat. “Are you finished ranting?”

“Only because I’m too old to be getting my blood pressure up,” she snapped. “Now answer my question.”

“I’m paying Ms. Coulson rather handsomely for her time. She needed money, and I’m offering her a chance to get out from under her debt. I would think that would make me a white knight.”

“She lost her job because you were too busy to take the time and figure out the truth,” she grumbled. “You haven’t changed one bit. You’re so busy trying to keep up with Blake that you just charge ahead without looking around at who or what you’re leaving behind.”

Cole scowled. The hairdresser was like an aunt to him, but that didn’t mean he was about to let her make him feel guilty. “If you’re going to pin Hawk’s ridiculous antics on me, you can forget it. He’s an adult now, Cynthia.” His younger brother had reacted to their father’s tyrannical rule very differently than he and Blake. They strived to make him proud, and Hawk decided to hell with it all. He was constantly in the media for his partying and destructive ways.

“We both know that you and Blake could have handled things differently when it came to Hawk, and you’re just going to waste your breath trying to tell me differently. Still, that’s a different conversation. Can you tell me one thing that you know about Dana?”

Rolling his eyes, Cole opened his email on his computer and began skimming through it. “I know she’s bad with money,” he said flippantly.

“Bad with money? She lost everything when her ex-boyfriend stole from her because she trusted him enough to share an account with him!”

“So, you’re telling me that she’s an idiot?” He’d finally received a confirmation of two available tickets for the cruise at the end of the month. He smiled slowly. They weren’t easy to get.

“No. I’m telling you that she’s one of those rare women who are beautiful on the inside and out. By the time you’re done with her, she’s going to be a shell of the person she used to be.”

Cynthia’s cold accusation got his attention. He loved the woman dearly, even doted on her, and while she’d been tough on him, she’d never been cruel. “You spend a few hours with the woman, and you think you know everything about her? I’ve done an entire background check on her, Cynthia. She’s been arrested twice, once for drunk driving and once for trespassing. This ex that you’re talking about? They weren’t even together for six months. She isn’t naive and sweet. She’s wild and reckless. She’s the kind of woman who would accept money to decorate a man’s arm for a few weeks.”

“And you’re the kind of man who pays for it. You’ve got her all figured out because of what is written on a piece of paper? I’ll have you know that we talked about her ex-boyfriend. We also talked about those arrests. I know more about her in a few hours than you’re going to know in a few weeks because I listened to her. You’ve done some stupid things, Cole, but this time you really are breaking my heart.”

To his surprise, Cynthia hung up on him. For a moment, all Cole could do was stare at the phone. That must have been one hell of a hair appointment if Cynthia was pissed enough to hang up on him.

It no doubt meant that Dana was an excellent actress. If she was that manipulative to turn Cynthia against him, she’d do wonders with convincing the rest of the world. And when it came time for their fake breakup, Kathryn Worthington would be the first in line to help mend his broken heart.

Five hours later, he was home. To his surprise, his penthouse apartment was empty. Frowning, he pulled out his phone and called Dana. It was barely eight o’clock, but her voice was laced with sleep when she answered.

“Where are you?” he demanded.

“Home,” she yawned. “What time is it?”

“I thought I’d made it clear that you were supposed to be here when you were finished for the day.” He tried to control his anger, but the day had been long, and he was still a little pissed that Cynthia had yelled at him.

“What are you talking about?” She started to sound more alert. “Your text said that I was to go home when I finished.”

“My home, Dana. Not your home. Why in the world would I pay for you to get all dolled up just to send you back to that dump that you live in? I believe I told you to follow my instructions explicitly.” He’d taken her for a smarter woman.

There was a beat of silence. “I’m looking at the text right now, and it simply says that the driver will take me home. Why would I associate your place with home? I’ve never even been there. Not to mention you never said that I would have to move in with you.”

“Isn’t it your style to immediately move in with whomever you start sleeping with?” His accusation was harsher than he anticipated, and she inhaled sharply. “Never mind. I’ll send a driver. Collect your things and be ready in half an hour.”

Before she could object, he hung up on her. Making arrangements for Lee to pick her up, he also ordered some dinner from the local steak place down the street and started to pace. At first, he thought she’d deliberately ignored his order, but it made him feel no better that she simply didn’t understand him.

How was anyone going to buy them as a couple if she didn’t learn to anticipate his needs?

His dinner arrived in twenty minutes, and she arrived in forty. When he opened the door for her, he was speechless. Gone was the wild woman with the crazy hair and skintight jeans. Instead, her hair was straight and sleek as it hung down her back, and she was dressed in pair of cream-colored pants with a rather dressy blue blouse. “Satisfied?” she hissed as she stalked past him with an armful of bags.

Cole raised an eyebrow as he stepped back to let Lee come in with a suitcase. “What is that? I didn’t tell you to bring anything personal.”

“You’re kidding me, right? I have things that I need. Toiletries. Hair accessories.” She blushed. “Underwear.”

“The bathroom is stocked with anything that you could need, and lingerie should have been on your list for shopping today.”

“It was, but I’m not sleeping in that. I like comfort. Cotton.”

For an insane moment, he imagined her in an oversized shirt, his shirt, and a pair of cotton panties. As the picture flashed in his head, he grew uncomfortably hard. “You’re only to wear the things that I bought for you.”

“No one is going to see me when I’m sleeping. What does it matter what I wear?”

It mattered because Cole needed to see her for what he’d paid for. A beautiful shell. He didn’t want to get to know her. He didn’t want her quirky personality to show. “I’m not paying for you to ask questions,” he snapped. “I’m paying you to do a job.”

He thought that would be enough, but she simply narrowed her eyes. “We didn’t talk about me moving in with you. I think it’s time you told me what my real job is here, because despite what you think you might know about my past, I don’t sleep with men for money.”

“You don’t fuck for money?” His smile hardened when she flinched at the crude word. “I thought I made it clear. I don’t pay for sex, sweetheart. You’ll have your own bedroom, although when we get to the cruise, you’ll be sharing a bed with me. Don’t worry. I’m not some teenage boy who can’t sleep next to a woman without wanting her.”

“What cruise?”

“At the end of the month, you’ll attend a cruise with me. Several business acquaintances will be there, and it’s necessary for them to see me settled in my life. When the cruise is over, our contract will be over as well. You’ll be paid.”

He could see the struggle in her, but, as with everyone, money won. Still, she wasn’t finished with him just yet. “If you continue to be so cold and cruel, no one will buy you in a relationship.”

Instead of admonishing her, he simply walked toward her and wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened instantly, and he kissed the top of her head. She felt good in his arms. Warm, soft, just right. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’ve just had a bad day, and I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

“Really?”

Her hopeful words squeezed his heart, and he stepped back. “Of course not. I don’t do or say anything that doesn’t achieve a means to an end. I just wanted you to see that no one will question us in public. Your bedroom is the second door on the left. There’s leftovers in the refrigerator if you’re hungry.”

She stared at him in disbelief. “That’s it? What, are you leaving? You can’t give me a tour or something?”

“Yes, I’m leaving. I realize that it’s much bigger than you’re used to, but I highly doubt you’ll get lost. We have an event to attend tomorrow evening. Our press release manager is getting married to our public image consultant, of all people.”

Dana’s eyes lit up. “Lisa! I love her. Well, the one time I met her, I loved her. I’d love to speak to her further.”

“Their engagement party is tomorrow evening, and we’ll be in attendance, but please keep your conversations to a minimum. You’re meant to be seen and not heard. I’ve written some instructions and rules for when you meet my friends and family. They’re in your room, so please look them over carefully. You may ask any questions that you have tomorrow before the event. Good night.”

He could feel her gaze trained on him as he strode to the door. Knowing full well that he was being rude by abruptly uprooting her and then leaving her, he couldn’t get away fast enough. He found himself unable to clear his thoughts when she was around. Once he had her in his arms, he wanted to sweep her up, carry her to his bedroom, and see if that pretty mouth of hers would finally say a dirty word as he kissed her all over.

It would be a satisfying evening, but he knew women like her all too well. They couldn’t handle one night with him without entertaining thoughts that it would turn into something more, and he couldn’t allow himself to get distracted. The Wellington contract was the prize, and he wasn’t about to let anything stand in his way.