He did a pretty good job of it. For a while. The trouble started when he drifted off and woke up to find the angel in his arms. She was lying on top of him and, dazed as he was, there was no way he could resist. Well, that was what he told himself. He'd wanted her so badly, he just didn’t want to fight it.
And so when she’d kissed him he’d kissed back and then he’d kept going, tasting her and caressing her, savoring her sweetness until he wanted nothing else but to possess her fully.
And she’d been so willing, so eager. What sane man would have said no?
They made sweet music that night and when he found out this would be her first time he’d been gentle, coaxing her and bringing her to her peak of ecstasy. She’d cried out and his heart swelled with love at the sound of his name on her lips. Strangely, though, after that she'd been very quiet but he'd put it down to the fact that this was all so new to her.
Drake’s heart pounded as he recalled what happened next. He’d gone to meet his family for an early graduation breakfast celebration then before he knew it, it was time to head off to the graduation. He’d had to rush to make it for the procession. After the ceremony his college buddies whisked him off to yet another celebration and then another, only releasing him in the wee hours just before the sun came up. Exhausted, he crashed on the bed and did not budge again until the sun was high in the sky.
Immediately, he thought of Meg and feeling lightheaded and eager, he showered and dressed and hurried to her dorm room. But when he got there she was gone.
“Where is she?” he practically shouted at her sleepy-looking roommate.
“Already left,” she said with a shrug.
“Left? For where?” he demanded, a sinking feeling creeping up inside him.
“Went home,” the roommate said with another shrug. “And if you’re the guy she went dancing with last night, she never wants to see you again.”
“What?” Drake could not believe his ears.
The roommate finally seemed to be waking up. She straightened and now she was glaring at him. “She said he took her dancing but then he showed his true colors and she didn't want to have anything to do with him again. Wouldn’t touch him with a long stick.” The girl had a smug expression on her face, almost as if she was enjoying being the bearer of bad news.
Drake stared back at her, confused. Showed his true colors? What the hell did that mean? And she never wanted to see him again? Just like that, she had thrown him out of her life.
Dazed, he turned away from the door. Was that all he’d been to her? One night of pleasure and that was it? But she’d been a virgin, for God’s sake. Virgins didn’t do one-night stands, did they?
Confused, deflated and defeated he dragged his way back to his dorm room. She wouldn’t touch him with a long stick. That was what she’d said. Well, she wouldn’t need that stick. He got the point. He would stay out of her way and out of her life.
And so he had. He’d moved on with his life, gone through relationship after relationship, but he’d never again found that magical moment he’d shared with Meg Donovan. In vain he’d kept looking, losing hope that he’d ever again find that special connection – until now.
Meg Donovan was back in his life and this time he would not let her escape.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Oh, no.” Meg put her finger to her mouth and began to nibble her nails. She was in big trouble.
There she’d gone and made that big speech about being professional and her child not getting in the way and then today, on her way to her second interview with Drake, she’d received a call from the babysitter – she was down with the flu and couldn’t help her out.
Meg almost groaned again but she glanced in the rear-view mirror and saw that Jessie was busy lecturing her dolly.
“No more cookies for you,” she said as firmly as a tiny girl’s voice could go. “They’ll give you cavities.”
Meg couldn’t help smiling but then her thoughts went back to her dilemma. What was she going to do with Jessie? She’d been on her way to the babysitter’s house when she got the call. What was she going to do now?
All the people she could think of were already at work and her parents were too far away for her to just drop by.
Meg sighed and put on her indicator then pulled over to the side of the road. There was only one thing to do – call and cancel her meeting.
She dialled the direct number Drake had given her and he picked up the phone immediately. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I won’t be able to make our appointment today.”
“What happened? Is everything all right?” To her relief he sounded more concerned than angry.
“It’s okay. Nothing happened. It’s just…” She bit her lip. Should she tell him? It took her only a second to answer her own question. She had to be honest. “Jessie's babysitter cancelled on me just as I was on my way to drop her off. I can't find anyone else, not at such short notice. She’s in the car with me right now.”
“Why don’t you take her with you? I can give her some paper and pencils. Maybe she can entertain herself for a while so we can work.”
Meg frowned. Was Drake Duncan going out of his way to be nice to her? “Are you sure? I don’t want to turn your office into a mini daycare-”
“Meg,” he said, cutting her off, “bring the child.”
At that, Meg’s brow knitted tighter. She hadn’t expected this from him but it certainly solved her immediate problem. “Well, if you think it’s okay...”
“It is,” he said without hesitation. “Now drive safely.”
When he hung up Meg rested her head on the steering wheel and gave a sigh of relief. Thank goodness he was an understanding man. He may have been a jerk but at least he had this one redeeming quality. He was sympathetic to the plight – and the scarcity of options – of a single mom.
Within fifteen minutes of their conversation Meg was holding Jessie’s hand as she rode the elevator up to the fortieth floor of the Duncan Investments building. Eyes big as baby moons, Jessie watched the numbers light up as they went higher and higher.