Dare nodded slowly but his mind was miles away. He was thinking about the one man he’d thought he could trust with his life. He’d known Bart Reynolds since college when they’d been roommates and they’d both pursued degrees in engineering. Even while still studying they’d dreamed big dreams and immediately upon graduation they had executed all they’d discussed throughout their junior and senior years. Together they’d found phenomenal success and made a place for themselves among the wealthiest people in the world.
Bart had been there with him every step of the way. So what the hell happened?
Dare raised his head and looked Roger in the eyes. "I’m going to get to the bottom of this and when I do somebody is going to pay.”
***
Dare didn’t get home till about ten o’clock that night. Even though she was dying to slide into her bed Erin stayed up until she heard the low purr of his car coming up the driveway.
As she heard the front door open she got up from the sofa and pulled the robe tightly around her then tied the sash. She was not cold. She’d deliberately dressed in long pajamas so she was covered from neck to ankles. Feet, if you counted the fuzzy slippers she was wearing. She was making it absolutely clear that she was making no advances.
The door slammed and she heard Dare’s footsteps as he began to walk across the foyer and toward his suite. She hurried to catch him before he disappeared.
“Dare,” she said, her voice echoing in the dimly lit hallway. He froze then slowly turned to look at her. He’d slipped his jacket off his shoulders and was holding it loosely in one hand. He was in white shirt-sleeves rolled back from his wrists and his tie hung loose around his neck. His face was hidden in shadows so there was no way to determine his expression.
Still, she assumed he was tired so she spoke in a gentle, unassuming voice. “May I talk to you for a minute?”
She was totally unprepared for his response.
“What now?” He snarled then stepped into the light.
And that was when she saw his face - dark and frowning and strained. He’d obviously had a rough day.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “It looks like this is a bad time.”
He looked annoyed. “You already stopped me so go ahead.”
“No, it’s fine,” she insisted. “It can wait until tomorrow.”
“Spill it, Erin. I don’t have time for games. You wanted to talk, so talk.”
She took a small step back, shocked at his vehemence. What had she done to deserve his anger? And what right did he have to speak to her like that?
“No,” she said, her tone firm. “I will not have any discussion with you if that’s the attitude you’re going to take. We will have this talk tomorrow.” Did he feel he was the only one who could have an attitude? He would learn soon enough that she could be just as stubborn as he.
Dare sucked in his breath then let it out in a sigh that told of a world of troubles. “Listen, I’m sorry I barked at you. It’s been a long day.” He threw his jacket onto a nearby table. “Let’s go to the kitchen. I need a drink.”
He led the way, his long strides eating up the yards to the kitchen. She padded along behind, discreetly admiring the curve of his muscled shoulders, his narrow waist and a butt that looked delicious in his tailored trousers.
The look of him brought back memories of that night so many months ago, that precious night when she had felt like liquid velvet in his arms. She’d had no power to resist him. And - most horrifying of all - she’d fancied herself to be falling in love with him. She shook her head, clearing that idea fast. If she knew what was good for her she’d get her mind back to earth. The man did not want her. That was clear.
In the kitchen Dare poured himself a drink while Erin pulled out a chair and sat down. He put the glass to his lips and drained it in one gulp then he took a deep breath and walked over to drop his long frame in the chair across from Erin. He cocked an eyebrow. “So what’s the problem?”
“I didn’t say there was a problem,” Erin said and gave him a smile to soften her words. She could see the exhaustion on his face and despite her resolve to feel nothing her heart went out to him. Billionaires could have problems, too. She didn’t want to add to those worries so she decided to just state her situation in a matter-of-fact way and let Dare know he would not need to be involved in any way.
“My friend, Robyn, called today and she’d love to come to visit me. We haven’t seen each other in a while. We’ll be busy catching up on old times so we won’t get in your way.” Erin threw it all out there, watching him intently the whole time, trying to gauge his reaction.
Dare shrugged then stifled a yawn. “It doesn’t matter to me just as long as you don’t expect me to be here to do entertaining. Now isn’t the time.”
“Not at all,” Erin said, relieved he had no objections. One less thing to worry about. “You won’t even know we’re here.”
“I doubt that,” he said with a crooked smile. Then his eyes settled on her and for the first time that night she felt that he was really seeing her. All week he’d been distant, almost like a visitor in his own home, leaving early and coming in hours after the sun had set. Now, though, he was here in the flesh and all of his attention was on her.
“How are you feeling, Erin?”
“I’m fine,” she said, feeling her face redden. It was a reasonable question so why did it make her nervous?
He was silent for a moment, his eyes never leaving hers. Then he reached across the table and took her hand in his.
She jumped. His touch was so unexpected. Surreptitiously, she sucked in some air in an effort to slow her racing pulse. She was dying to pull her hands back but she didn’t.
“Are you?” he asked, and the words were more seduction than question. Even as his fingers formed a band of steel around her wrist his thumb was doing a slow, sensual caress in the middle of her palm.
Erin dropped her gaze, trying to hide the effect he was having on her. She struggled to breathe normally but when his thumb left her palm to stroke the throbbing pulse point at her wrist her breath caught in her throat. And she grew moist. Her body was ready and willing even if she wasn’t.