“It occurred to me that we haven’t moved in together.”
Dane’s voice made her bolt upright as she pressed her cell phone against her ear. “What?” She hadn’t meant to shriek so loudly, but WTF! This man was full of surprises.
“Why don’t you get ready and we can discuss it on the way over to the interview,” he said.
In her shock, she managed to find the words to form a coherent sentence. “Um, okay. Don’t you want to go over some last-minute details first?”
“That would be fine, Allyson. Let’s do that now. We’ll talk about moving in together on the ride over.”
He’d called bright and early, so her brain was still fuzzy from sleep. As they went over details, her heart squeezed at the sound of his deep voice. Her stomach fluttered at the thought of moving in with him. Somehow she was going to have to stay as calm as possible this morning so she wouldn’t blow the interview.
After she hung up, Allyson agonized over the right outfit to wear. She’d picked out about five last night, and now none of them seemed right. Frustrated, she grabbed the furthest one from her, dropped it, and settled on a light pink skirt suit. It was romantic, flirty, but also professional. And it was the most expensive thing she owned. She might not be a wealthy heiress, but with perfectly applied makeup and some jewelry she had to admit she looked like a million dollars. She stared at herself in the bedroom mirror; she had somehow managed to hide the dark circles she’d gotten from crying herself to sleep the night before.
She met Dane downstairs. When she saw him leaning against the luxury car, waiting for her, she nearly dropped her handbag. He looked sinfully gorgeous, dressed in an expensive navy-blue suit with no tie. The top buttons of his shirt were opened, revealing the tanned skin beneath. His blond hair was deliciously tousled, and he wore aviator sunglasses. Dane looked like a movie star, and the sight of him took her breath away.
“Good morning, wife.” He held the car door open for her, and flashed her a killer smile.
If she was going to prove she could navigate the shark-infested waters of high society, she had to remember that the first person she had to watch out for was Dane himself. He was disarming enough to steer her from her goal of proving him wrong. “Good morning,” she said breezily, and settled into the back seat.
He got in beside her, slipped his shades off, and pocketed them. “So, have you given any thought to moving in with me?”
Luckily, the partition between the back seat and the front was up so the driver couldn’t hear. As the car drove off down the street she sighed, marveling at how one little white lie had upended her entire life. In the chaos of the last few days, she hadn’t even thought about moving in with him to keep up the charade. Probably because they had spent most of their time together at work, at the Lodge, and at his seaside home on Prescott Hill. “I haven’t.”
“Well, we’re husband and wife for now. So, you can stay at my place until we spin our breakup story to the press. Besides, I can better protect you from the press if you’re at my place.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. Spending so much time with him for days on end sounded dangerous. Dangerous and heavenly and far too tempting. Sitting so close to him in close quarters was already making her dizzy. Spending the next several days at his place was going to set her on edge. “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.”
“That’s surprising,” he said, his face unreadable. “Considering how committed you are to all of this.”
She wasn’t going to back down from that challenge now. “I haven’t unpacked yet, so I could come back later to pick up my things.”
He waved his hand. “We’ll have someone deal with that and pick your things up for you.”
“Usually I’m the one who handles things like that,” she said. “Or have you forgotten?”
“Remind me to get you an assistant after all this blows over.”
She laughed despite herself. “You’re throwing your money around again,” she pointed out.
“Good. Someone has to spend it.”
They arrived at the City Enquirer offices and headed inside to meet the reporter for the interview. Despite Allyson’s nerves, the interview went smoothly. Nothing inappropriate was asked, nothing seemed impossible. Even she was willing to admit it had gone fine. It probably came down to their preparation the night before, and the fact that Dane literally held her hand through the entire thing. After it was over, they headed to Dane’s swanky condo in Manhattan.
She’d been inside his apartment several times, but she always seemed to forget just how luxurious the place was. The living room was surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased a glorious view of the city. The décor was sleek, ultramodern, and very masculine. Everything set in chrome, dark blue, black, or shades of grey.
“I know you wanted us to head straight to work, but I have a surprise for you,” he said.
“Oh?”
“It’s from my mother.”
She made a face. “Oh.”
He laughed. “Don’t be like that. You’ll like it, I promise.” He motioned to a set of white boxes on his king-sized bed. They looked like the boxes from those upscale boutiques. “Go ahead, open them.”
Curious, she slipped off one of the lids and peeked inside. She gasped at the sight of a sparkling, sequined evening gown. “It’s beautiful.”
“Stunning gown for a beautiful woman.”
She blushed at his words. “I couldn’t.”
“Couldn’t you?” he asked. “I asked my mother to have her assistant send over dresses in your size. They’re for the gala.”
“Mr. Prescott,” she said, lifting the boxes, “there’re six dresses here! I can’t wear them all to the gala.”
“One is for the gala; the rest are a gift.” He shrugged. “Least my mother can do.”
“These gifts can’t be from your mother,” she said dryly.
He winked. “Maybe I had a hand in getting a few of them.”
“These must have cost a fortune. I recognize that gown from a designer collection.” Allyson stared in awe, unable to stop herself from touching the sparkly material of the red dress. “It probably cost ten thousand dollars.”
“There should be shoes in the boxes as well.” Perfectly ignoring her point.
This was crazy. She knew her boss had a habit of spending extravagantly on his friends and family, but this was all a little too much. But she still reached for another box to slip off the lid. In spite of herself, she pulled out the gown and held it over herself. This gown was black, elegant, and flowing.
“You can try them on,” he continued, “if you want. I can help you pick which one works best for the gala.”
Reaching into another box, she pulled out a slinky dark blue, almost black dress. A groan escaped her throat. It was the most exquisite gown she had ever seen. “Damn, Mr. Prescott; it’s so beautiful.”
“Dane,” he reminded her, and tapped her nose gently. He chuckled. “It’s Dane to you, Mrs. Prescott.”
Mrs. Prescott. Heat blazed within her. Her insides turned to jelly. Why was it that every time she was around him she eventually ended up out of control? The part of her brain that reminded her to use good sense and judgment was already shutting down. Holding on to the sinful dress, she grabbed the strappy shoes at the bottom of the box and raced into the adjoining bathroom. She peeled off her pink suit and slid the dark blue dress on. It fit her like a glove, the silk gently skimming over her curves, two dangerously-high slits showing off her legs. The dark color made her legs looks silky white. And the six-inch heels were to die for.
She peeked her head out of the bathroom. “This one is sinful.” She cautiously walked back into the bedroom, her hands smoothing over the silk fabric. “What do you think?”
He didn’t respond.
She turned around and looked up from the dress to give him a questioning glance.
Dane was staring right at her, an inferno blazing in his eyes. His gaze wandered down her body, his eyes lingering on her lips, her breasts. When he settled on her thighs she felt herself sway. She had a dress on, but the way he looked at her…it was like the heat in his gaze burned her dress to cinders. Leaving her naked, exposed, burning with desire.
“Mr. Prescott?” Her voice wavered. “What do you think? It’s too much, isn’t it? I look like a slut. It’s got these massive slits…I don’t usually show off anything of my—”
“You should wear this dress to the gala,” he finally choked out.
“But you haven’t even seen me in the others.”
“I don’t need to. This is the one.” He was still looking at her with stark, possessive need.
It took all the strength she had not to tear out of the dress and wrap herself around him. Right now, she knew he wanted her as much as she wanted him. But she wasn’t going to beg him. Wasn’t going to push. She had meant what she said last night. If he wanted her, he had to do something about it.
She waited for him to speak. To fill the tense silence with some clever remark.
“If you don’t agree, you could always take it off,” he growled.
Oh damn… “Is that what you want me to do?” She forced herself to breathe.
“You already know that’s what I want.”
She trembled. “You want me to take off my dress?”
“You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”
“You made your feelings very clear yesterday,” she replied. “If you want me, all you have to do is say the word.”
Surprise flashed in his eyes. Good. He was probably used to his rich, blonde mannequins falling at his feet. Dane might spend his money on extravagant gifts, but he probably never had to work a day in his life to get a woman. “I want you,” he ground out.
Somehow, despite the fact that she was slowly melting into a puddle under the heat of his gaze, she sauntered over to him. “How long do you want me?”
“For as long as you’ll have me,” he replied.
Damn, that was a good answer. Her eyes met his and her lips slowly curved into a smile. “I’m not taking this dress off,” she said faintly.
His big hands skimmed over her body, the heat of his touch burning through the thin fabric of her gown. “You don’t have to.”
“You’re not going to change your mind again, are you? Because if you ever doubt me again—”
“I’ll never doubt you,” he interrupted. “I was wrong. I should have trusted you, Allyson. I want you. Now. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. Next year—”
Her lips found his, her back arching to propel her forward. She clung to him, grabbing hold of his jacket to steady herself against his hard body. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and she welcomed him in, her tongue crashing into his. The kiss was bruising, punishing, the sweet ache shooting through her body, arousing her, making her wet. A moan sounded in her throat.
Allyson broke the kiss and looked down. It would take forever to take everything off the bed. As if sensing her thoughts Dane guided her into the bathroom, wrapped his hands around her waist, and lifted her up onto the stone top counter. She stared at him open-mouthed, watching him reach into a cabinet to retrieve a condom.
“Do you want to do this?”
Hell, yes. More than anything. “Yes.”
Without another word, he unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. Frantic to have him inside her, she reached up her dress to pull off her lacy panties. Dane slipped the condom on, and her body quivered in anticipation. The sight of his huge erection made her mouth water. She moaned again, her body on fire with raw, desperate need.
Quickly, dress hiked up in the most un-ladylike manner, she wrapped her legs around him. He leaned forward to take her mouth with his, his hands gripping her waist. Dane entered her tight, wet heat with one hard stroke. Waves of pleasure shot through her, leaving her shivering.
He ended the kiss to brace his other hand up on the wall to steady himself as he rocked into her. She wrapped her arms around him tightly. A cry escaped her throat. Barely a day had gone by since their breakup and they were already in a frenzied, lustful haze of passion. His thrusts were fast, powerful, and each stroke filled her with more bliss than the last. She clenched around him and he groaned loudly.
He plunged deeper and deeper into her, the punishing pace of his thrusts filling her with exquisite pleasure. Her nails dug into his back and she begged him not to stop. Neither of them was naked, but it was the most erotic experience of her life. This desperate, tangled, joining of their bodies.
His grip on her waist tightened and his breathing was ragged, desperate like hers. The pleasure mounted until she was right on the edge of ecstasy. She knew he felt the same pleasure she did, as his thrusts became more frenzied, less controlled. He groaned out her name. Pleasure spread through her and she came hard and fast with a whimper, her entire body trembling. Dane climaxed right after her, his breathing still heavy.
They held tightly to each other for several moments until they could catch their breath. Finally, he pulled away from her and she slipped out of the bathroom to give him privacy while he freshened up.
She opened the rest of the boxes and looked over all the gowns until he reappeared. He leaned against the bathroom door frame, his eyes sweeping over her appreciatively. “That dress is something else.”
With a laugh, Allyson stepped towards him. He slipped his hands around her waist and planted a kiss on her lips. She shivered; the sensation of his strong arms holding her was dizzying.
When the kiss ended, she giggled. “I hope we haven’t ruined the dress.”
“My housekeeper will take care of everything,” he said. “Remember, you’re my guest now. Oops, I mean you live here now.”
Spending the next several days living with Dane sounded like delicious trouble. Except, right now, they had to face the outside world if they hoped to accomplish anything with the Handels. “I remember,” she said softly, “but I insist we go to work.”
* * *
Work? He couldn’t concentrate on work. All through his afternoon meeting with the owners of all the local sports teams, Dane barely could focus. Not with Allyson in that pink pencil skirt, walking around, all business. As usual she had made sure the meeting started on time, reminded him of everything he needed to know, and completely charmed the owners. And she’d managed to do it through all media frenzy that had descended on them.
Now she was gathering all the leather-bound folders from the conference room table, her heels clicking on the marble floor, and looking damn good. It was probably rude to stare, but Dane couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
“Mr. Prescott, remember your phone call to the dean of NYC College is scheduled at four o’clock today,” she said. “They’re the ones who want to get better equipment for their female athletes.”
He leaned back in the chair at the head of the long table. “So, we’re still Mr. Prescott, are we?”
Her sultry green eyes narrowed. “We’re at work. When we’re at work, we act like professionals.” She headed towards the door but he reached out to stop her, his hand on her thigh.
“We could always lock the door. Finish where we left off the last time we were in here,” he said, reminding her about the day the reporters had chased them in here. Damn, had that only been two days ago?
She rolled her eyes. “That won’t be happening again.”
Allyson seemed to have absolutely no idea that her ultra-professionalism was a turn on for him. He might be her boss, but the truth was she had all the power over him. Nothing could get done without her. With a sigh, he reached for the baseball in front of him, the one with the cherry red Prescott logo on it. He started tossing and catching it, memories of their evening at the baseball diamond last week flooding back. It was like she was a part of him. Everything reminded him of her. She was essential to his life in a way nothing else was. And it wasn’t just because she was his assistant. “That’s a shame,” he said, tossing the ball. “I thought you liked me.”
She laughed. That made him smile. She was happy. He liked when she was happy. “You know I like you plenty, but no funny business at work,” She shook a finger at him before tossing the ball back his way.
He caught it and then set it back down on the table. “Are you right about everything?”
She winked. “You know I am. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go sign my renewal contract.” As she swept out of the conference room he caught the scent of her sweet, feminine, perfume.
He stared after her, still in a daze. What was wrong with him? He had always fantasized about her, but his desire for her was almost impossible to suppress. He blamed that sexy silky dress. It seemed black but when she moved in it, there were flashing of a sapphire blue that ran over the curves of her body. Damn, she had amazing curves.
That dress was all his fault. Yesterday, after going over interview details, he’d called his mother to remind her to send some dresses for Allyson. Women dressed to the nines at those ritzy fundraisers. It wasn’t fair to let Allyson show up underdressed if she couldn’t afford expensive clothes. Nor was it fair to expect her to buy an expensive outfit she would only wear once, just to help his mother keep up a charade. Everything had been put on his tab, but he needed a woman’s eye, so naturally the task fell to his mother and her assistant.
The dress was perfect. The shimmering silk had clung so tightly to her body it looked painted on. And the dark blue had contrasted perfectly with her fair skin and gorgeous black hair.
Originally, he’d broken things off because he wanted to protect her. But he hadn’t slept at all last night after leaving her apartment. Last night she’d challenged him. Called him out. Told him in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t going to wait for him while he revisited his decision. That had blindsided him. Usually, when he broke up with women they pleaded with him. Chased after him. Begged him to take them back. Allyson hadn’t done any of that.
He didn’t doubt that she wanted him. After their passionate escapade in the bathroom, it was obvious she desired him. She just wasn’t one for games. Allyson wasn’t using him as a stepping stone. He wasn’t a business transaction to her. That intrigued him. Enticed him.
He’d woken up this morning, contemplating how he would fix the mess he had created. Wondering if he could get her to take him back. He had thought he might give her some space and that a plan to win her back could wait until after the gala, but that sexy, slit dress had sent him over the edge.
Not to mention she had done well at the interview earlier this morning. She proved that maybe his original assessment had been wrong. Or, at the very least, incomplete. Perhaps his world wouldn’t destroy her and ruin her life. The way she had handled the interview today was impressive. Prescott was in good hands with her, and maybe this crazy scheme would pay off and land them a merger. He had doubted her once before when he believed she was conning his mother. That had been a mistake. So was breaking up with her.
This wasn’t going to be easy. They were treading in shark-infested waters here. Between the lies and game they were playing, and their own personal lives and hearts, it was dangerous. The media would make it a circus. His mother would do anything to make it work for her precious company; he didn’t want to think what Allyson’s family would do. In fact, he was ignoring all the consequences of their actions and only focusing on the moment. It was a dangerous game.
Glancing at his watch, he saw that his scheduled phone call was in an hour. Which meant he could take a break and have a late lunch beforehand. Reaching for the remote on the conference table, he turned on the conference room’s flat screen TV. He flicked through the channels until he settled on one of the business news networks he often watched.
His eyebrows shot up at the headline. Prescott Global shares were soaring through the roof. At first he assumed it might be due to news of the upcoming merger deal with Handel and Company, but as he increased the TV’s volume he realized the news anchor was talking about Allyson.
The clean-cut anchorman smiled broadly as he read off the news. “From the way Prescott Global stocks are moving today, we can only assume rumors of a Prescott heir are causing stocks to jump. Reports have been swirling this afternoon that Dane Prescott’s new wife might already be pregnant.”