“The car’s yours,” he said roughly, not moving from the elevator. His eyes held hers for another instant, tiny flames firing in them, then anger flared and he reached out and shoved the car keys in her hand. “Take them.” He turned and stabbed the elevator button.
The door closed shut between them and she took a steadying breath. Flynn Donovan stirred a need within her that was more than physical. Something deeper. More intimate. Oh, God. Hadn’t she had enough heartache where men were concerned?
It was all his PA’s fault that he had to return Danielle’s purse after work, Flynn decided. If it were left to him, he would have sent it back by courier. As it was, if he didn’t do it, she would. She’d said so when he’d returned from seeing Danielle off at the elevator and Connie had stood there with the purse in hand and a worried look in her eyes. He hadn’t been about to let that happen. If Danielle got her clutches into Connie, then she would have won.
Of course, his PA was more than happy for him to return the purse. Delighted in fact. He was still in her good books after yesterday when he’d walked into the office and ordered her to go buy a new car.
“For you?” Connie had said with a frown.
“For Danielle Ford,” he’d snapped.
Her eyes had widened. “What about the loan?”
“She refused to tear it up.”
Connie had nodded, as if agreeing. “She has integrity, that one.”
He’d shaken his head, still amazed his usually perceptive assistant couldn’t see the truth. “She’s just trying to pull the wool over your eyes.”
“I don’t know why.”
He did, but he’d refused to mention his theory that Danielle was after a rich man to marry her. How else could she keep herself and her baby in the manner to which she was accustomed?
“No matter. Right now a car is her immediate concern. That’s if it meets with your approval,” he’d derided.
Her eyes had softened with understanding. “That isn’t why you did it, but thank you, Flynn.”
“Connie, don’t turn me into a saint.”
“Heaven forbid,” she’d joked. Then her forehead had creased. “Hmm. Perhaps I should go and see—”
“No,” he’d growled.
“But someone should keep an eye on her.”
“Don’t get involved, Connie.”
“But—”
“Say one more thing about Danielle Ford and I’ll fire you myself.” And he’d meant it.
She’d given him a look that said it wasn’t over, but she’d done what he’d ordered and bought a car.
So now he would return the purse, then go home and dress for his date and he’d make damn sure he enjoyed himself tonight, he decided, as he strode down the hallway toward Danielle’s penthouse door. He had a date with an ex-lover and he fully intended to make the most of his night and the last thing he needed was a glimpse of Danielle Ford to remind him what he couldn’t have with her.
His eyes narrowed when he saw her door standing open. Bloody hell, was she expecting him? Had she deliberately left the purse on his desk? Of course she must have.
Anger filled him as he strode forward, the sound of the television meeting his ears as he got closer to the open doorway. “Danielle?” he called out in a sharp tone.
No answer.
He stepped into the living room and called louder, “Danielle?”
Still no answer.
He looked around the room and over to the kitchen. Why didn’t she answer?
A muffled sound came from the other direction and a frisson of fear rolled down his spine. Despite it, he strode forward, a knot growing in his gut with each step he took. If she’d hurt herself…
He pushed the door open. And there she was, wrapping her hair up in a towel, having just stepped out of the shower. She looked up at the doorway and screamed.
Then she let out a shaky breath. “Oh, Flynn. It’s only you.”
Only him.
His eyes dropped from her face to her br**sts, over her still-flat stomach to the blond triangle of hair at the junction of her thighs. His body hardened in the hot, steamy room. This woman would turn up any man’s blood pressure. She was a seductress. A sexy witch. And he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted a woman before.
“Flynn?”
The soft sound of his name on her lips made him want to take her in his arms. To press her br**sts against his chest. To ease the ache between her thighs, their thighs, with the sweetest possession of all.
His gaze roved back up to her face, and her eyes told him what he already knew. Danielle Ford wanted him as much as he wanted her.
“You’re beautiful,” he rasped and saw her eyes deepen to a smoky blue.
“I’m—” Apprehension flicked across her face. Suddenly she made a grab for the short robe resting on the towel rack. “Pregnant,” she said unsteadily, sliding her arms into the material and pulling it close. “I think you’ve forgotten that.”
“You’re still sexy, Danielle. Incredibly so.”
“Don’t,” she whispered.
“Don’t what?”
“Come in here and seduce me.”
He noted the way the soft, sky-blue material of her robe clung to her damp br**sts. “That’s funny. I thought you were the one doing the seducing.”
Color flooded her face. “How? By stepping out of my own shower?”
He straightened. “Your door was open,” he reminded her, then held up the purse. “And you left this in my office today.”
Recognition flickered in her eyes. “Oh. Yes, I know. I was going to come by and get it tomorrow.”
He sent her a mocking look.
Her eyes widened. “You think I left it there deliberately?”
“You mean you didn’t?”
She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, her forehead crinkling. “Wait a minute. What do you mean my door was open? It was closed. I’m sure it was. I always close it.”
“Perhaps the lock’s faulty?” he said, sneering, knowing she’d set him up well and truly.
She stiffened. “Perhaps it is. The Realtor said they’d changed the locks.” She jerkily pulled the towel from her head and combed her fingers through her hair, then stopped to look at him. “Anyway, I’d appreciate it if you’d leave.”