Chapter Two

Reed closed the door to the hotel room and tossed his head back against it. “Damn. I’m in love with her and there’s nothing for it,” he groaned to himself. The feelings hadn’t disappeared over the last two months; they’d only grown stronger. Especially because Spencer felt the need to show him a picture of Danielle about six hours ago, which he made his screensaver.

Pushing off the wall, he walked into his bathroom to shower. He’d been working out at the gym earlier because it eased his mind. He couldn’t believe that he’d kissed her while he smelled like sweat, but he wouldn’t take it back. Her taste was still on his tongue. Sucking his lips back into his mouth, he tried to get more of her.

He knew what he was going to do next because there was no way he wanted to go out to dinner with a hard-on wrecking his common sense. Jumping in the shower, Reed took his cock in hand and started stroking it to thoughts of his lovely Dani. With every stroke, he pictured her watching what he was doing as she lay naked on the bed, thighs parted, eagerly touching herself. Her legs moved up and down the bed as she rubbed her clit, making his dick leak onto his fingers. Letting out a low growl, he envisioned himself jumping onto the bed and moving her hand out of his way as he lined up his cock for entry. The moment he entered her pussy he shot his load off, hitting the shower wall with a stream of hot cum.

Feeling relief, he finished his shower and toweled off. Looking at his strong chiseled jaw covered in a light five o’clock shadow, he debated on whether or not to shave. Somehow, he thought she’d like the stubble so he trimmed it up a little, making it look cleaner and made his way to the hallway to meet Danielle.

She was leaving the room just as he was. Running up to him, nervously, she said, “I’m sorry, but I forgot I promised my clients that I’d join them for a drink tonight. They want to meet at nine. If you’d like, we can go out tomorrow.”

“Nine o’clock,” Reed said as he looked at his watch. “That still leaves us two hours for dinner. We can eat down in the hotel restaurant, then you can still meet your clients.”

“Thanks, I’d like that. My dad wouldn’t be happy if I lost the deal.” He was glad she divulged that bit. He’d hate to have blown it by bringing up her job with her family by accident.

“You work for your dad?” Reed asked, knowing damn well that she had since he knew everything about the Kane family. But his real focus was on her outfit. She had on a sexy black skirt that only went to mid-thigh and a silky blue blouse that was loose, revealing her smooth shoulder. He was hard again like he hadn’t just jerked off.

“Yes. Does that make me less capable?” she countered with a crooked brow like she was challenging him to doubt her.

“Not at all, it’s just a question. You’ve got a chip on your shoulder, don’t you?” he asked, leading her into the elevator with a hand on her waist. Spencer had told him that she was trying to prove something.

“A bit. I’m sorry.” She ducked her head with embarrassment as the elevator descended.

Tipping her chin to look back at him, just to have any excuse to touch her, he replied, “Don’t be. There are worse things to be than a person with something to prove. So, let’s go and enjoy a dinner before you leave me for a night with the girls.”

She looked up nervously before turning to exit the elevator and told him, “The clients aren’t girls.”

~~~~

Reed didn’t say anything for a minute and it worried her. She knew by the look on his face that he wasn’t pleased, but it was almost like he was trying to hide the fact that he wanted to take someone’s head off. Danielle felt for him because if she were in his shoes, she’d be going off the handle. They may have been just going on a first dinner date, but to leave her to hang out with some chicks would turn her into a banshee.

“Come, let’s just go and have a nice dinner,” he said in a grumbled tone.

“You’re angry, aren’t you?” She had to ask because she didn’t want him to be mad at her.

“I don’t really have a right to be, do I?” His attitude was calm but clearly displeased.

“No…”

“I can’t say I think it’s a smart idea to go out with a group of men to drink and God knows what else in the city of sin, but who am I to argue?” The sting in his words was felt.

Almost asking for his forgiveness, she admitted, “I didn’t mean to make you mad.”

“Look, I like you. I did from the first moment I saw you, so I’d like to spend the rest of our night having a good time. Let’s go to dinner.”

Danielle didn’t know how to respond to his dismissal of a potential argument so she replied with an, “Okay.”

They entered the restaurant with a lot of tension, both sexual and anger. He did everything right as they sat down and Danielle mentally checked off the boxes in her head: handsome, courteous, strong, and a great kisser.

She ordered a Manhattan and Reed ordered a martini while they decided what they wanted to eat.

“Make sure you select a hearty meal if you’re going out drinking,” he warned her with a truly concerned tone. She could tell he was worried about her. That was something she appreciated.

“Oh, don’t worry, Reed. I like food. I’m a glutton when it comes to steak, especially a filet mignon wrapped in bacon,” she said as she licked her lips.

“That’s hot. You lick your lips when thinking about steak. You don’t look the kind of girl who likes steak.”

“That’s because I hit the gym every day. Weights, baby,” she remarked proudly, showing him her guns.

“Well, it works for you, Danielle,” he said with a wicked smile.

The waitress brought their drinks and took their order. Danielle watched how his throat moved as he took a sip from his glass. She squeezed her thighs together when she couldn’t stop the sudden urge to jump across the table and attack his neck. He was what a man should be. Tall, strong, and handsome as all hell. She’d never seen a man that made her want to strip buck naked and let him do whatever he pleased to her.

“So, I’m here on business. What are you here for—business or pleasure?” She hated to ask and hoped he was going to say business.

“Business, baby doll, but now that we’ve met, I think it’s a bit of both.” Throwing on the charm worked for the man. She was so turned on she wasn’t even hungry for food.

“You think you’re going to get lucky? Well, you’re not. I’m not that kind of woman.” She said the words, and although they were normally true, she wasn’t so sure he wasn’t going to get lucky with her.

“That’s good to know, but I was just talking about spending time with you. It’s pure pleasure. Being here with you takes away a lot of my family problems I’m dealing with right now.”

She put Vegas and hot man together and jumped to the conclusion that he was playing hooky from his family. “Oh, God, don’t tell me you’re married!”

He chuckled and grabbed her hand and held it in his. She shouldn’t allow his touch, but she couldn’t resist. “No, I meant my father and uncle. I just learned of a nearly twenty-year-old secret. I hoped to work until I forgot about the problem.”

“Do you want to tell me about it? Or is it too private.” She wanted to know more about it. He was interesting. His face had so many expressions and his eyes told her that he was nice—dirty but nice.

“It’s very private, but I’ll tell you. My father and uncle had issues and ended up cheating with each other’s wives. I accidentally found out that my cousin is actually my sister.” His face looked crestfallen. She needed to make him smile again, but she didn’t know how, so she just squeezed his hand.

“Oh, my God. That’s awful. I’m sorry.” She wouldn’t want it to be kept from her if she was in this girl’s place. “Does she know?”

“No, she doesn’t know yet.” He tucked his head down, then looked up at her with shame and pain in his eyes. “My uncle is blackmailing my father about it. It’s a twisted way to make my father pay.”

“That’s terrible.” She felt for him and his family. She never condoned cheating, but she had a feeling there was more to the story.

“Tell me about it. I want to let her know, but I can’t yet. Soon, I will be able to do it.” His resignation hurt her heart, but she wanted to change the subject.

They spent the rest of their time talking and laughing. Danielle was quickly falling for this stranger. She was ready to drop her panties for this man, but then she realized she didn’t even know his last name. Feeling like a fool but needing to know who he was, she sheepishly asked, “Um…this is a ridiculous thing to ask since we’ve shared an amazing dinner, had drinks…but…”

“Don’t forget we shared a hot as hell kiss,” Reed boasted with a grin.

“Yes, that too. Which makes this awkward, so I’ll just ask. What’s your last name?”

~~~~

She had to ask me that, didn’t she? He thought. Reed looked at her and hoped their insane connection would overrule her anger over the Landry name.

“Landry. My last name is Landry,” he admitted.

“Reed Landry?” she said with a question. “Wait... as in Reed Landry, my brother Spencer’s friend and the reason my family is sinking financially?” Her outrage was clear as day, and he understood that this may be the last time he saw her.

“Yes and no.” He had nothing to do with their situation other than being related to the crook.

“I’ve heard enough. I can’t believe how naïve and stupid I could be.” She jumped up from her seat, tossing her napkin on the table and storming out before Reed could go after her. He told the nearest waiter to bill his room and ran after Danielle. She was fast as hell and almost at the lobby entrance.

“Danielle! Wait! Please, stop!” It barely worked, but she halted in her tracks. He turned her around and when he looked at her face, she was on the verge of tears. It broke his heart instantly. After what felt like a lifetime of loving this woman, hurting her was the furthest thing from his mind.

“Damn it, Danielle. It’s not what you think. I’m not my uncle, and I had no part in anything he did with your family. Hell, I told them to stay away from business dealings with him, but they didn’t listen.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me your name before?” Because he was afraid of this very same thing. For her to walk away from him was like a punch in the gut.

“I wanted you to get to know me before you learned who I was because you would’ve done the same damn thing you did right now and without the benefit of spending time and getting to know each other. Doesn’t what we share hold any value to you?” He was letting his emotions get away with him.

“I don’t really know you. All I know is you’re a liar.”

Pulling her into his arms with little resistance, he whispered, “That’s not fair, Danielle.”

Her body and mind weren’t working as a team because the words coming out of her mouth didn’t match the way she leaned into him. “Listen, I can’t do this right now. I have to meet my clients for drinks, so excuse me.”

“Will you at least talk to me tomorrow?” He knew she had to go spend time with them, but he didn’t want her to leave without thinking about him.

“I’ll consider it.”

“Fine, but be careful. You’re a beautiful woman. They’re probably going to want more than just to talk shop,” Reed warned as he caressed her cheek. The look in his eyes was sincere but stern.

Danielle didn’t want to hear anything he had to say so she bit back. “I don’t need you to tell me what to do.”

She pushed away from a very hurt Reed, who let her stomp away while he walked back up to Karen at the desk in a rush.

“I need you to see which cab she goes in,” he said in a low demand.

“Okay. By the way, she just turned back around, giving the back of your head a deadly glare.” Karen was an astute and attractive woman and in another time or life he may have been interested in her.

He played off the concern that she wouldn’t want to ever see him again by minimizing the issue. “She’s mad at me.”

“She looked more than mad; she looked jealous.” Karen smiled with a shrug.

“Good, but that’s because she doesn’t know your boyfriend is the doorman.” He loved that she seemed jealous. It meant she wasn’t unaffected.

“Let me tell him.” She called on her headset to him and he chimed back that he overheard what club she was going to.

“She’s going to a nightclub?” His anger soared and so did his panic. There were too many possibilities and too many men.

“Yes, she is.” She looked at Reed and smiled. “I guess you’re hitting up a nightclub.”

“Damn straight I am.” He gave her a look that made her laugh, but he didn’t care because he needed to get his woman before something bad happened.

Reed marched his ass out the hotel and into the nearest cab, but only after receiving a “Good luck” from Karen’s boyfriend, Emmitt. He needed it.

~~~~

Reed entered the darkened club, eyes wide open, searching for her with no luck. He walked up to the bar hoping to get a glimpse of her. He stepped up on the footrest of the stool to find her.

“Can I get a Heineken?” he asked the red-headed, busty bartender.

“Sure thing, handsome,” she replied with a big grin. Reed was a hot, muscular man in a suit. Women came at him all day long, but no one could compare to his Danielle.

After getting his beer, he looked around the room in search of his woman. That’s when he knew he was fucked because there was his slutty cheer squad from the hotel.

“Oh, my God! I can’t believe you’re here, too,” the drunken maid-of-honor called out to the bride-to-be who was completely wasted. “Look who’s here! It’s the hottie from the hotel!”

The bride-to-be stumbled up to Reed and tripped into his arms; her face landing on his crotch. He caught her just at the moment Danielle was passing by with her clients, catching a gasp and a glare of outrage from her. He knew she was misinterpreting the scene. He pushed the broad off of him just in time to see her and the three men enter a private room.

Fury consumed him and he pushed the drunken woman onto the chair next to him before he walked to the closed door. Unfortunately, two bouncers weren't having it as they blocked the door. “If something happens to her I’m going to have your jobs, fuckheads.”

“Chill out, mister. She’s fine. Our wait staff checks in with them every fifteen minutes.” Reed only agreed because they were the same size as him and there were two of them. He didn’t want to get into a fight he might lose and end up in jail. Needing to be able to see her, he’d wait.

“Alright,” Reed grumbled angrily.

“Just have a drink and don’t start some shit,” the behemoth ordered.

He walked away but only as far as the bar because he was going to watch that door. By the time the waitress came out of the party room for the third time, Reed had downed four too many drinks on top of the two he had at dinner. He was feeling buzzed and extremely enraged. Just as he marched back to the door that kept him from his woman, both bouncers entered the room. As he gripped the handle, the guys opened the door with Danielle in tow.

“What the fuck are you doing with her? Let her go!” he thundered, reaching for Danielle in the process.

“Reed, I hate you. You make me sick,” she snapped as she was being escorted out of the VIP area. He looked her up and down to make sure something didn’t happen to her inside there. Her clothes were in perfect condition and she didn’t have any marks on her.

“She was being belligerent inside the room and was asked to leave,” the bouncer said as he was about to toss her out.

“I’ll take her from here.” Reed grabbed her around the waist and led her to the front exit. Despite her anger, he loved the chance to touch her. “Come on, babe. You’ve had a long, trying night.”

“Don’t call me babe! That whore was practically sucking your dick.” Her fury burned in her eyes.

“She stumbled into me, woman. I assure you getting head-butted in the nuts doesn’t feel good.” He walked her out of the club, letting the night air hit them, making them feel drunker than they thought they were. They left the club together, jumping into a waiting cab.

“Why were you getting crazy in there?” Reed asked because she was dealing with clients. A tirade would be bad for business unless something happened to cause her to snap.

“None of your damn business, Landry.” She stuck her finger into his chest.

“Woman, I was ready to bust through that door. Everything you do matters to me. I make it my business.” Reed snarled as he looked into her eyes. “Baby doll, how much did you have to drink?” Maybe she was belligerent when she drank, he thought.

“Only the one at dinner and the one in the room,” she said with a hiss.

“So, tell me why the fuck you would get out of control,” he demanded. Something wasn’t right.

“What is wrong with you? Can’t you just let me be?” Danielle almost whimpered in frustration.

“No, I can’t,” he growled out before his mouth came back down on hers, kissing her like he’d done earlier. “I’m in love with you, Danielle. I have been for over two months now. Since I watched you smile at that restaurant.”

She just stared at him; her pulse racing in her neck. Reed slid his hands into her hair and kissed her sweet lips. Moaning, she crawled on top of him and began to grind on his lap.

“Hey, am I taking you two to some drive-thru chapel?” The taxi cab driver teased as he turned back to get their destination.

Danielle pulled away and smiled prettily with wide eyes before she turned to the driver. “Yes! Please.”

“Don’t tease me like that, baby doll. If you do this, we go all the way. No getting there and changing your mind.” Reed was dead serious. He didn’t know what brought this on, but he was going to run with it.

“I want to marry you,” she purred as she started licking his neck.

“You’re going to marry me?” He could barely get it out because her mouth was on his again.

“Yes. Don’t you want to marry me?” Danielle asked while she pressed her large breasts into his chest.

Gripping her hips, he thrust up, pushing his clothed cock against her wet heat. “Hell yeah, baby doll.”

The taxi cab driver took them to a chapel. Reed kept waiting for her to change her mind, so he rushed the whole process but still ordered the full works. They filled out the papers and ten minutes later Danielle was his. She was Mrs. Reed Landry.

He gave her the ring he carried with him for the past two months. It was a three-karat solitaire in a princess cut. Reed had purchased it the day after he ended things with Eve in hopes that one day Danielle would be his. It’s not how he planned on getting engaged and married, but that’s life. He looked down at his ring and grinned like a silly, damn fool.