“You don’t own her. Why don’t we let her be the judge of who she wants in her life? I’m sure she’ll come to her senses soon enough. After all, she’s had the best. You’re just sloppy seconds.” With that, Steve spun on his heel and stalked away.
“Are you okay?” She murmured, reaching out and smoothing his curled fingers till he relaxed.
“Yeah. What about you?”
“Hey, I’m not the one about to swing punches.”
He had the grace to look sheepish. “Sorry about that. I saw red when he said that stuff about you. My fist almost took on a life of its own.” He sank to his haunches and dropped his head in his hands. “Dammit, I’m becoming more like my father every day. Act first, think later.”
Kara thought she must’ve heard wrong. Jeff Byrne was a lovely man, hard but fair. Surely he wasn’t into physical violence?
“What did you say?” she asked, almost afraid of the answer.
He stood and brushed his suit off. “Nothing. How involved were you and Rockwell?”
She shrugged. “We dated on and off for a while.”
“How long?” he persisted.
“Two years.” It sounded impossibly long even to her own ears.
“Two years? You’re kidding. That’s not dating, that’s a marriage.”
“It was a few years ago. I was young.”
“So does that mean you’re old and wise now?”
“Old, yes. Wise, no. I’m posing as your girlfriend for thirty thousand dollars, you keep kissing me and I’ve just condoned your caveman-like behaviour. Does that sound wise to you?”
She couldn’t fathom the expression in his eyes. “Only the kissing part.” He took hold of her hand. “Let’s forget this mess for tonight? I need you by my side, nothing more, nothing less. Are you happy with that?”
She shook her head, wondering what on earth had possessed her to sign that contract. “No, I’m not happy. This whole situation is ludicrous. You, me, the contract, the money. However, a deal’s a deal and if you need my help, I’m here for you.”
“Would you be willing to help me if the cash wasn’t an issue?”
She hesitated, wishing she could tell him the truth. “No, I probably wouldn’t.” How could she tell him the money was a cold, hard fact she was using to keep this deal emotion-free yet she had no intention of accepting it when she walked away?
The bleakness in his eyes cut to her core. It was gone in a second, replaced by a heart-wrenching hardness. It was so quick she doubted if it had been there at all.
“Fine. At least we’re both being honest here. Shall we go inside? Time to start earning your fee.”
She bit her top lip, fighting back tears. Tonight was only the beginning. He was right; he’d purchased her company and it was time to start paying up.
* * *
The evening had been an unmitigated disaster. From the minute Matt had laid eyes on Kara he’d been a mess, saying the wrong things, doing the wrong things. He couldn’t believe he’d almost punched Rockwell. Not that he hadn’t wanted to do it for years. The guy had been a burr in his side longer than he cared to remember. However, he hated violence and despite having numerous opportunities in the past, he’d managed to control his temper.
When Steve had belittled Kara, he’d wanted to strangle him. Instead, he’d almost acted before he thought, which was totally out of character. He prided himself on his self-control, his cool exterior. That’s why he was such a successful lawyer, dammit.
Of all the guys in the world, why did that moron have to be Kara’s ex? Their rivalry had been established way back in law school, when high and mighty Steve Rockwell had stolen his first girlfriend, then baited him in front of his peers at every opportunity. Unfortunately, their fathers had been one-time golfing buddies, so he’d crossed paths socially with Steve for years.
He wondered how his dad would react if he told him he suspected Steve was encroaching on his territory, poaching the firm’s best staff? Probably how he always reacted whenever his only son approached him: cool, condescending, dubious. He’d yearned for his father’s approval his whole life, one of the driving forces behind his career choice. Instead, his dad had reserved all his caring for the women in his life. Except his mum. And he’d never forgive him for that.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Her question wrenched him back to the present as he pulled up outside her house.
“They’re not worth that much.”
“I thought tonight was a success.”
“Depends on your definition of success.”
Success was the furthest thing from his mind when she stared at him like that, all wide-eyed innocence. He wanted to finish what they’d started earlier. That kiss had been the prelude to a tantalising overture and boy, did he want the rousing finale.
“Your colleagues seemed to accept me and you gained the information you were after.” Her voice was soft, tentative. Combined with her bewitching eyes, it tugged at his heart till he couldn’t think straight. All he could do was feel, which is exactly what he didn’t want. Or need. This was business, pure and simple. He had to focus on the partnership, that’s it.
“Would you like to come sailing with me tomorrow?”
Yeah, that should keep things cool. Just hi and the hottest woman on the planet wearing bathing suits on a secluded yacht? Real cool.
His heart lurched as her face lit up.
