Page 32 of Indiscreet

CHAPTER EIGHT

Dane Westbrook: We need to talk and I need to see you again. Call me.

Another message from Dane. He had been sending me messages for several days, but I hadn’t replied to any of them. It wasn’t just his rejection and the blow to my self-esteem that came after having sex that led me to cutting contact with him; something dark lurked beneath his tailor-made appearance. There was something going on with him that he didn’t want to share, but it had him shutting down after sex.

It all came after experiencing one of my deepest, most secret desires, and then I was cast aside for the woman who may or may not have been gone from his life. The only thing I could think to explain the way he shut down after we had sex was that he must still be in love with her. Why did he have sex with me? What I should have been asking myself was why I was so willing to give over complete trust and control to a man I had just met. While I had no intentions of ever seeing him again, I didn’t understand Dane either. He’d gotten what he wanted, so why was he still calling?

Perfetto was what I needed and where I retreated. The building remained open over the holiday break, and I easily fell back into my work routine. Working had a way of lifting my spirits. Every task completed gave me a sense of accomplishment as well as a boost to my self-esteem.

By day two of my working vacation, I had charts, papers, and samples out on every surface of my desk and tables. I was so absorbed on day three that I didn’t see the security guard standing at my door, or Dane.

I was caught off guard that he’d been let upstairs without my knowing, but then came a shiver and a leap of my pulse at his persistence in seeing me again. My eyes briefly lingered on him and I sighed. Tailored and polished from his black suit down to his shoes, he looked good. I thanked the guard and Dane walked farther into my office.

“There you are,” he said as he lifted a bouquet of roses in his hand. His tone was soft, and just hearing it brought back the memory of our brief affair.

Me—naked, bound, and open.

Him—shut down.

I plastered on a smile and accepted his gift. “Thank you for the flowers, but they weren’t necessary. I left you a message about the remodel—I won’t be needing one. I’ve decided to go for a quick sale and move again. The house is more than I need right now.” I cleared a corner of my desk to set the flowers down.

“I got your message, but I don’t care about the remodel,” he replied evenly. “That’s not why I’m here—”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said quickly then gestured toward the piles of documents. “I’m right in the middle of a few projects right now. I didn’t expect you to come here so, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to it…”

“I mind very much,” he replied, and that had me stopping what I was doing to look at him. Then I couldn’t look away, and neither could he. The intense physical awareness we had for each other wouldn’t allow it.

I flushed under the strength of his gaze as he studied me. He took a step forward and I took a deep, unsteady breath as I stepped back. “I don’t want to do…whatever this is with you again.”

“I want to. I’m not done with you,” he said brazenly. “There are a lot of things going on, but what I have to say will take time. Can you come with me now?”

There was a gentle plea in his tone that softened me, making me want to acquiesce to him again. I couldn’t allow it, at least not now while I was still feeling regret about how easily I’d given myself over to him and the way he had closed off from me.

I lifted my chin. “No. I don’t have time right now.” I went around my desk and brought up my calendar on the computer. “I have the second week of…”

He came around the desk and stood a breath away from me, but he didn’t touch me. He didn’t need to—he radiated a powerful force and heat that already had my body responding.

My pulse pounded hard and my breath remained uneven.

“Another day would be too long,” Dane said deeply. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“You’re hiding something,” I said softly. “I just can’t handle being with you, even sexually, if you can’t open up to me.” His flinch was miniscule, but evident. Before he responded, his phone buzzed.

“I must answer this,” he said.

“Go on,” I said, thankful for the reprieve and the chance to collect myself after his attraction had drawn me in and made me want to give myself over to him again. Still, I watched him walk over to the window. He had a slight crease to his brow as he listened. When his call ended, he turned to me and sighed heavily. “I have an emergency and must leave right now.”

I nodded. “It’s fine. Thanks for the flowers.”

Dane came back around the desk. “We still have things to discuss. Please take my calls. I’ll be in touch real soon.” His fingers warmed my skin as he moved errant strands of hair that had fallen into my face. I had no words to give him.

He left as quickly as he came, and his presence left me useless to continue working, my mind too busy trying to think of a reason why I shouldn’t give him a second chance.

After packing up, I made a quick stop for Thai takeout before journeying back to my home. I hadn’t even gotten my coat off before my phone chimed with a text. Dane again? A flutter went through me. He was persistent. I took it out and deflated a little—the message was from Astrid. I groaned. Was she going to invite me over to help with more campaign stuff for her husband?

Astrid:We’re back in town. Have you looked at the news? Dalton Pierce has been arrested.

DP Management was the management company we’d hired to handle Perfetto, named for its head, Dalton Pierce. My eyes went to the holiday basket he’d sent to me personally as a congratulatory gift for Perfetto’s record success last quarter.

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