Page 39 of A Lone Star Love Affair
“You’re that close with him?” Tony ground out the words, beginning to wonder what kind of relationship she had with Dylan.
“No, we’re not that close. Dylan is that forthright about what he does,” Isabelle lashed out, making him realize that in his anger, he had jumped to baseless conclusions about how close she had been to Dylan. He surprised himself because his reaction smacked of jealousy, something he had never felt before in his life. “Has Sydney talked to Dylan about taking money from your dad?”
Tony studied her, lost in thought about what she was telling him, as well as his reaction, and barely hearing her question. “You really think that doesn’t sound like Dylan?” he asked, an idea occurring to him that he didn’t want to face.
“Yes,” she said flatly. “I’m due in an appointment.”
“Be a minute late. I need to pursue this a moment. Isabelle, I promised Sydney I wouldn’t talk to Dylan. Will you speak to him for me? If Dylan didn’t get paid by Dad to leave Sydney, my father made that up.”
“Surely not,” Isabelle said, staring at Tony as if he had grown another head. “How could he meddle in her life with a lie that she’s bound to discover some day? When she caught him, she would be furious or hate him.”
“She might discover it and she might not. Sydney and Dylan have stopped all contact. If she’s hurt and angry and Dylan has moved on, she’ll never know. If Dad—I can’t even say it—if he lied about the money, there’s a chance Dylan wouldn’t ever hear about it. My dad may have been willing to take the risk. The odds are, no one would find out.”
“No father would do that,” Isabelle whispered, still staring at Tony.
“I didn’t think mine would ever stoop that low—he never has, but he’s angry about losing control over me. He’s furious with Sydney.” Tony grasped her shoulder. “Isabelle, I promised Sydney I wouldn’t talk to Dylan. Will you ask Dylan for me? Tell him what’s happened. I can count on you for the truth.”
“You don’t even know me that well,” she said.
“Yes, I do. Will you do that for me? Hell, do it for Sydney and Dylan. If you and Sydney are right about him, he’s getting blamed for something he knows nothing about.”
“That’s appalling.”
“Stop looking at me as if I’m the one who did it. I’m not like my father.”
“You’re driven and so is he.”
“I’m driven to succeed to get him off my back. You can’t imagine how manipulative he is.” He paused as what he just said made him stop and think. “I never caught him in a lie, but he has gone to great lengths to manipulate things to get his way. I’m not like him, Isabelle, I swear. I would never do something dishonest like this. I didn’t think he would. If it weren’t for you…no one would know the truth here,” he said. “Isabelle and I wouldn’t know that Dylan didn’t accept the money.”
“Tony, I’ve got to get to my meeting,” she said, glancing at her watch. “This truly doesn’t sound like Dylan, so I’ll talk to him for you and for all three of you. If Dylan hasn’t taken money from your father, it would terrible for Sydney and Dylan if they never learned the truth.”
“Thanks, Isabelle,” Tony said, releasing the button so the doors would open. He watched her walk away, her hips swaying slightly, her skirt ending above her knees, giving him a look at her long shapely legs. She halted and glanced back. “I’ll let you know. I’ll try to talk to him as soon as possible.”
He nodded, still watching her, lost in his thoughts. Anger and shock tormented him. How could his father lie to get his way? Yet Tony could imagine, when his dad lost his power over his son and at the same time had his daughter go against his wishes, taking a last, desperate measure to remain in control. And how was Tony to know what his dad had done in the past?
All afternoon, it was an effort to keep his mind on business instead of his father, Sydney, Dylan—and Isabelle. Once in a meeting, he caught a vice president and close friend staring at him, making him wonder what he had just said in answer to a question he also didn’t recall. He tried to focus on the meeting, but in minutes his thoughts drifted back to Isabelle again.
At five he received a text from Isabelle, stating that she would like to see him. He sent a message in return to come to his office.
Within minutes, he heard a knock and looked up to see her waiting in the doorway.
“Come in,” he said, standing to walk around his desk.
“Your secretary has gone. Her computer is off,” Isabelle said, closing the door behind her.
“She leaves at five o’clock. Damn, I’m glad to see you,” he said when Isabelle crossed the room. He met her, taking her into his arms to kiss her.
“Tony—”
His kiss ended whatever she had been about to say. She resisted only seconds and then wrapped her arms around him to kiss him back, setting him ablaze. He wanted to peel off the business clothes and take down her hair, but this wasn’t the time or place. She would never let him do that in his office, anyway.
His pulse thundered, shutting out other sounds. He was aroused and tightened his arm around her, wanting to kiss her and not stop. He shifted slightly as he held her with one arm. His other hand slid lower, caressing her throat, easing down to the full curve of her soft breast.
“Tony, this is your office. I don’t want to walk out of here looking as if we’ve been making love.”
“We’re probably alone on this floor.”
“I need to talk to you,” she said, walking away and straightening her clothes, winding a few locks of her hair back in place. “I’m going to dinner tonight with Dylan. I’ll have to reschedule our dinner.”
