A Calculated Seduction(48)

“Really?” Dulcy couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice. She thought of her father and his business suits, his constant scheduling, his lack of humor.

Clarice chuckled. “Oh, yes. Your father was a romantic. ”

“I never would have guessed.”

Clarice tsked. “You forget so easily. Remember when Jason escorted you to the prom?”

“Of course.” The memory of that night washed over her. Jason dressed in black, Dulcy wearing one of the ugliest dresses on record. Her father, too choked up to speak.

“Yes, he was stodgy,” she said with a smile. “But he knew how to treat a woman. And I don’t mean with presents, although he was very good with that. Unfortunately, sweet good men are hard to find. All my daughters seem to find it hard to find them.”

She stared at Clarice, completely dumfounded by the title of daughter bestowed upon her.

“Why are you staring at me that way?”

“You called me your daughter.” She couldn’t keep the wonder out of her voice.

“Well, of course you’re my daughter.” She slid her arm around Dulcy’s shoulders and pulled her closer. Dulcy placed her head on Clarice’s shoulder. “I know we’re really hard to take, the three of us, but it doesn’t mean we don’t love you. I think the girls are a little intimidated by you, to tell you the truth.”

“Intimidated by me?” She raised her head and looked at Clarice. “Me, frumpy Dulcy? Why would they be intimidated by me? They have looks, poise, hell they know how to match clothes.”

“But you can stand on your own two feet. Both of my girls are gorgeous, flirty, but show them a checkbook and they get confused. Don’t get me wrong. I love them, but they’re like their Mama in that respect. You pulled yourself up, got a job and survived. Plus,” she said studying her Dulcy’s hair, “this new makeover has made a huge difference. You look pretty cute. ”

“Cute? Bunnies are cute.”

Clarice laughed again. “I don’t know why I worry about you, young lady. You are just like your Daddy. Strong as an oak. ”

A lump formed in her throat and a curious warmth filled her chest. Clarice sniffled suspiciously, then cleared her throat.

“Now, what are we going to do about this Ethan person? You know that Henry DeMarco I dated last year has some connections. He would do anything for me. We could make Ethan cry.”

* * * *

Ethan stood in his empty Houston apartment and surveyed the surroundings. He’d had the apartment for over two years, but the place had never been a home.

“Don’t tell me you’re not going to miss this view,” Todd said from behind him.

Ethan chuckled and walked to the floor to ceiling windows. “No way. Besides, I’ll see if every time I visit you. When are you moving in?”

“Tomorrow. They’re packing me up right now. You want to explain why you’re moving to Dallas? And why you’re renting an office space up there?”

He turned and studied his employee. No, scratch that. His partner. He’d decided to offer Todd the opportunity to buy into MacMillan Securities and let him run it.

“No.”

“This has to do with the trust fund baby, doesn’t it?”

Ethan shook his head and returned his gaze to the window.

It’d been two weeks since he’d had his revelation of love and he was still acclimating himself to the feeling. He definitely wasn’t discussing it with Todd. Ethan turned back around to face Todd.

“Well, I guess I’ll get going if you don’t need me for anything more, boss.”

“You’re the boss now, Todd.”

His brown eyes lightened with his smile. “Hey, that’s right. See ya, partner.”

When he was finally alone, Ethan walked through the apartment, looking for anything the movers might have missed. He found nothing but an empty shell of a home. But it had always been that way. He’d always been that way.

He strode to the door. Ethan knew he was risking everything on one bet but that’s what he had to do. One last chance to win Dulcy, or live a lifetime as a cold empty shell.





Chapter Fourteen

With less than a year left before her trust fund was available to her, Dulcy decided to work through a temp service. She made plenty of money to survive Okay, it was tight, but she could deal with it for a few more months.

On her third week, she’d headed to the Dallas area for an assistant job with a new security company. They apparently needed extra help setting up.