A Calculated Seduction(19)
Ms. Williams moved closer and hiked a hip up on the table, allowing Ethan a view of the top of her stocking. “What I was wondering, now that we’re alone, is if you’re going to need an escort for the Gala? I find myself free for the evening.”
“I’m sorry. Ms. Menendez and I will be attending together.” At her lifted eyebrow, he felt compelled to squash any rumors that might develop. “We have to be there early, so we decided to go together.”
She still didn’t look convinced, but didn’t argue the point. “Be sure to save a dance for me.”
He smiled the smile he knew she expected. It was the smile that could get him anything he wanted—women, information, money. Odd how it never seemed to work on Dulcy.
“I’ll definitely do that, Ms. Williams.”
She smiled and sashayed out the door.
Ethan sat in the now empty conference room, wondering about his earlier thoughts. He had to keep his mind off Dulcy and that sweet, tempting body. What he needed was an embezzler, as soon as possible. If he didn’t keep that in mind, he knew his professional reputation would be at stake.
He rubbed his hand over his chest. He didn’t want to contemplate what else he could lose in the process.
* * * *
“You’ve got it wrong, Pete. The man isn’t interested in me,”
Dulcy said, as she slipped her coins into the machine. He’d been badgering her about Ethan since they’d left the conference room and Dulcy was ready to scream.
“Dulcy, I saw the way he was looking at you. Jeez, anyone could feel the heat between you two. I’m amazed he didn’t grab you by your hair and drag you from the room. Besides, I saw your reaction and I know you. Something has gone on between you two.”
She thought of the kiss they’d shared, the way he tasted, his body against hers... Her face heated to the roots of her hair. She pretended to be highly interested in twisting the top off her soda bottle.
“Ha, I knew it.” His eyes danced with mischief. “Something did go on between the two of you.”
“Pete. Let it go.”
He studied her for a minute, then relented. “When you’re ready to tell me, I’ll be waiting for details. And from the look of MacMillan, they should be some kind of details.”
* * * *
Saturday evening, Dulcy found herself happily at home enjoying one of her favorite black and white movies. She snuggled deeper into her sofa, munched on popcorn and sighed. This was the life. No meddling friends, no stepmothers or sisters, no sexy bosses.
There she went again. She couldn’t seem to go five minutes without thinking of him. She would promise herself not to think about the way he smelled, or the way his voice sounded when he was irritated with her. Or that smile she was sure could make a woman melt at twenty paces.
Every fiber of her body called out to take the man up on his offer. But she couldn’t do that. It was just lust and she didn’t want passion without love. Passion without love ended in disaster. She had the scorch marks across her heart to prove it. And it had to be lust. Because if it was something else for her, she knew it wasn’t anything but lust for him. And that would leave her the odd person out again.
So she would keep all her bouncing hormones under control. She’d convinced herself of that lie, just about the time the doorbell rang.
She groaned. Tonight was her night for relaxing and Marge was out with Bill. No one but her irritating family would show up on a Saturday night and expect her to be home. Granted it was true, but this one time, she would pretend not to be here. She had popcorn and Cary Grant. She did not want to be interrupted.
A few seconds ticked by. Nothing. Good, she would see them tomorrow at brunch, no reason to mess with them tonight.
She sighed and leaned back against the pillows. She jumped when the banging started again, followed by the one voice she didn’t expect to hear.
“Dulcy, I saw your car downstairs. Open up,” Ethan said.
Chapter Six
For about ten seconds, she didn’t move. She was too astonished.
What the heck was Ethan MacMillan doing at her apartment at nine on a Saturday night? She looked down at the yoga pants and T-shirt she wore. Why the hell did he show up now, when she looked like a slob?
Irritation and embarrassment skated along her nerves. It was just like him to pull something like this.
He banged on the door again. “Dulcy, come on and open up.”
She jumped off the sofa, almost spilling her popcorn in the process, and hurried to the door. The banging started again the moment she reached it. Agitation crept up her spine. The man had some nerve to show up on a weekend night, bang on her door and act irritated she didn’t jump to do his bidding the moment he showed up. She twisted the locks and flung the door open.