Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(14)

We kiss for several minutes, with just our lips. I finally pull back and smile at her. “You’re amazing, Darcy.”

“On occasion.”

“I have a feeling it’s more often than that.”

“You’ll just have to find out for yourself, I guess.”

“Will you let me?” I ask as I continue leading her down the hall.

“I’ll give you my answer after I see what you got me.”

“I thought you love everything you get.”

“I do, but there’s varying degrees of love. You know, I may hug you, or I may be inclined to kiss you.”

“Is there a third option?”

“Like what?” she asks, trying to look innocent, but failing.

“Oh, I don’t know. Something involving other body parts,” I tell her with a wink, stopping at the door I can’t wait for her to enter.

“Is this it? Can I go in?” she asks, ignoring my third option explanation.

“Yes,” I tell her, laughing as she claps her hands.

She opens the door, and I hold my breath, waiting for her reaction. It doesn’t take long.

“Oh my God. You-you did this for me?” she asks, looking from the room I had transformed into the ultimate gamer’s paradise, and then back to me.

“Well, I don’t know anyone else who would use it.”

“It’s perfect. But why?”

“You’re tolerating all the clothes and public appearances. I wanted you to have some place that you can come to and just be ‘Darcy.’ I didn’t know which gaming system was your favorite, so I just got them all.”

She turns and grabs me, pulling me into the room, and then pushing me against the nearest wall as she kisses me like her life depends on it. Option number two is definitely working for me, and I think we may be well on our way to number three as she pushes my suit jacket off of my shoulders. I start to unzip her dress, but she pulls away.

“Not that. At least not yet.”

“You just let me know when you’re ready, Cat. I’ll be waiting,” I tell her as I rub my thumbs over her hips. I don’t want to stop touching her yet, especially since she’s still got her hands on my shoulders.

“Will you play with me after dinner?”

“I’ll play with you whenever you want.”

She playfully swats my arm. “I meant play some games with me.”

“Isn’t that what I just said?”

She reaches out to hit me again, but I dodge her. “A video game, Crown.”

“I suck at video games, but I’ll play with you.”

“I can help you get better. As long as you wear something comfortable.”

“I can’t play in a suit?”

“You can, but I really do want to see you in something casual.”

“For you, I will happily throw on some basketball shorts and a t-shirt.”

“I can’t wait. Now can I see my room, so I can unpack before dinner?”

“Right through that door, and we have maids who will unpack for you.”

“Why would I have someone else do something I can do myself?”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Exactly.”

“I’m going to leave before you keep saying things that make me not want to stop kissing you.”

She leans up and kisses me softly. “Thanks again. I mean it. I appreciate this room so much.”

“I’m glad. See you at dinner.”

We kiss one more time, and then I leave her to unpack. Things are going better than I planned. At least in regards to starting something with Darcy—which I know isn’t the smartest idea. I don’t want to use what’s happening between us to get information from her, but I can’t pass up the chance to have her in my bed. Even if it means she’s going to hate me later. It’s not like we’re really getting married. I still feel a little sick to my stomach, though. Having a conscience can really be a bitch.





Chapter 6


Brayden

I thought my mother was going to have a coronary when I showed up at dinner in my casual clothes. She held her tongue though, because she agreed to Darcy’s condition that we be less formal when not in public. For mother, less formal means no diamonds—she’s still in heels, and a designer dress. That’s comfort for her. Even in this private room in her quarters.

There are a few extra women at the table, and I know they’re Darcy’s co-workers. Not just because I’ve never seen them before, but also because they’re glaring at me hard enough to fell a lesser man. I get it—I don’t like what I did to Darcy, either. At the time, it felt like the right thing to do, but now I know better. I’m not trying to catch any bees, but I do need to catch a thief, and I’m not just pretending to be sweet. I truly like Darcy, which means I need to convince her to willingly help me.

“Darcy,” the sexy nerd sitting across from me exclaims as the object of my thoughts enters the room.

“Ainsley, it’s so good to see you. Faith? Ellie? Audrey? I didn’t know all of you would be here.” She had to know, but it’s cute that she’s pretending not to.

“Your safety is important to all of us. Everyone else wanted to come, too,” the sexy woman on my right says. She’s a little older than I normally go for, but I’d make an exception for her. Well, I would if I wasn’t into Darcy.