DANA SIPPED ON THE COFFEE she’d been given, although she figured she wouldn’t need caffeine for a month. She was plenty wired from the shooting. She’d already completed her report about the incident, although she wasn’t looking forward to talking about it. No one was going to want to hear that Jed Titan was her prime suspect.
As she sipped, she watched the door. She knew Garth would show up. He’d been very quiet when she’d called and told him what had happened, but she hadn’t been fooled. He was pissed that Jed had been so blatant.
But the first familiar face she saw wasn’t his. Instead Mary Jo Sheffield, his attorney, hurried in.
“Are you all right?” she asked, putting her leather briefcase on a chair.
“I’m fine. But my car was a rental and I don’t think they’re going to be happy when they see the tire.”
“What about the shooter?”
“I never saw the perp. It was a black town car. There are a thousand in the city. Limo companies use them for airport runs. No license plate.”
“Was he a bad shot or trying to scare you?”
“That’s my question. If I had to guess, I would say trying to scare me.”
Joe Campbell, a guy she’d worked with for two years, walked over. He didn’t look happy.
“You sure about your report?” he asked. “You’re saying Jed Titan is behind this?”
Mary Jo bristled. “My client,” she began.
“You hired a lawyer?” Joe looked hurt. “Dana, you work here.”
“I didn’t hire a lawyer,” Dana told him. “Mary Jo represents Garth Duncan, who’s a friend of mine. She can be a little overzealous.” She turned to Mary Jo. “Back off for a second, okay?”
Mary Jo nodded, but didn’t physically move away.
Dana turned back to Joe. “I realize that this is Titanville and Jed’s not only related to the founder, but a model citizen. But I know he’s behind this. Did you check with the Dallas PD?”
“Not yet.”
“Call them. They’ll confirm there’s an investigation.”
“I also have the names and numbers of people at the FBI and ATF,” Mary Jo said. “There are several ongoing investigations. And Jed has threatened Dana.”
Joe looked at her. “He threatened you? Did you report it?”
Dana groaned. “Not officially.” She glared at Mary Jo. “I never said he threatened me.”
“You didn’t have to. I’m a good guesser. Based on my instincts, I’m also going to say this isn’t the first time he’s come after you.”
Garth chose that moment to walk in and join the conversation. He’d come from the office, so had on his suit, but for some reason, he looked a little rumpled. And worried.
He walked directly to Dana and pulled her to him. “You okay?” he asked.
She felt awkward being hugged in public, in front of Joe, where she worked. “Um, fine.”
“Good.” He released her and greeted the others. “What did I miss?”
“Dana was just going to tell us about her previous encounters with Jed,” Mary Jo said calmly.
Garth spun toward her. “There have been others?”
“It was nothing,” Dana said, wishing Mary Jo had kept her mouth shut. “I was run off the road a couple of days ago.”
“Run off the road?” Garth and Joe said at the same time.
“That explains the rental,” Mary Jo murmured.
“You have a rental car?” Garth asked. “Since when?”
“It’s no big deal.” She dug in her purse and pulled out the paper with the license plates on it. “Here, Joe. You won’t find anything, but it’s all I have.”
“What happened?” Garth demanded. “And why the hell didn’t you tell me? We had a deal.”
She knew he was referring to the fact that she’d promised to move in with him if Jed came after her. “This happened before that,” she said.
“You kept it from me. You lied.”
Mary Jo slipped her arm through Joe’s. “Let’s go get some coffee and leave them to work this out.”
When they were gone, Garth narrowed his gaze. “Start talking.”
Her temper flared. “You’re not my boss. You don’t get to say what I do.”
“You deliberately withheld material information. Dammit, Dana. Jed is coming after you and I’m the reason. Do you think I want anything to happen to you?”
“No. You’re worried about everyone. I get that.”
He grabbed her arm, his expression intense. “I’m worried about you. I wanted you to move in before this ever happened. I let you put it off because I thought you were safe and you let me believe that.”
She glanced down then back at him. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was that big a deal.”
“He hired someone to run you off the road. Then he paid you a private visit. Now this. How big a deal does it have to get before you pay attention?”
She pulled free of his grip. “I’m sorry. Okay? I should have said something.”
“Damn straight.”
“I don’t want to be anyone’s responsibility.”
“It’s too late. Jed knows we’re together. You’re just as vulnerable as Lexi or Izzy or Skye. You’re part of this.”
She knew what he meant, but even though he was trying to scare her, she couldn’t help feeling a warm little jolt inside her belly. Being part of something was important to her. She hadn’t allowed it to happen many times in her life. Just as intriguing was Garth’s statement that they were together. Was that how he saw things?
“Dana?”
“I’m listening,” she said quickly. “I’m sorry. I should have said something before. I thought he was trying to scare me. I didn’t think he would take it any further.”
“And now?”
“I’m not so sure.”
He seemed to brace himself. “I want you to move in with me. We talked about it before. I know it’s not what you want, but things are getting dangerous.”
“I know,” she said.
“He’ll keep coming after you. I swear, Dana, I’ll…What?”
“I know,” she repeated. “I’ll move in with you.”
“Just like that?”
“There’s nothing like getting shot at to change someone’s perspective. He wants to distract us from what’s important. I’m not saying living with you will be much protection, but I’ll do it. On one condition.”
He drew in a slow breath. “Typical,” he muttered.
“I don’t want Lexi, Skye or Izzy to know about the shooting or him running me off the road. It’ll scare them. They’re already being protected, so that’s not going to change. But if they know, they’ll be upset and they’ll feel guilty. That won’t help.”
Garth considered her words. “Fine,” he said, after a second. “But I’m telling the guys.”
She didn’t like that. She didn’t want to keep information from her friends, but she hated the thought of them taking the blame. None of this was about them. Jed was the one who’d gone over to the dark side.
She was most worried about Lexi and her baby. If anything happened to either of them, she would never be able to forgive herself. But to let the guys know?
“I hate that,” she told him. “Just for the record. And when they do find out and they’re pissed, I’m so going to blame you.”
“Ask me if I care. Do we have a deal?”
She nodded.
“Do you mean it this time?” he asked.
“Ouch. I meant the last one.”
“You withheld information.”
“That doesn’t mean I didn’t mean it.” She sighed. “I’m moving in with you. Isn’t that enough?”
“For now.”
DANA FOUND THAT PACKING up everything she owned and leaving her apartment, even temporarily, was harder than she’d expected. She wasn’t comfortable with the idea of living with Garth. Despite his statements, she still considered their relationship undefined. What exactly would he expect from her? What were the house rules? While asking would be the most mature way to handle the situation, she wasn’t feeling especially grown-up at the moment.
She loaded everything in her nearly restored truck, doing it herself. A concession that Garth had fought. He’d wanted to come with her, as if expecting Jed to be lurking outside her apartment. Or inside-which he’d already done once.
She double-checked her drawers and the closet, trying to make sure she didn’t leave anything important behind. Not that she would be very far away. If she needed something, she could stop by and get it.
Still, even with just her clothes and personal things missing, her apartment seemed sad and abandoned. This had been her home for nearly four years. She liked the small, quiet space. She’d bought the prints above the sofa at a garage sale and the coasters, pictures of hunky naked guys under glass, had been a gift from Izzy. There were memories here.
“Get over it,” she said aloud. She was moving in with Garth for a few weeks at most. She would be back. Life as she knew it hadn’t ended.
But she was feeling uncomfortably emotional as she got into her truck and drove toward his high-rise condo.
When she pulled in front of the building, Garth was waiting.
“I got you a parking spot,” he said. “Number one-eighty-two.” He handed her a card that would let her into the underground garage. “Use this to get in. I’ll meet you by the elevator and help you carry up your suitcases.”
She stared at the small, white plastic card. “They have spare parking?”
“I get two spaces with my condo. This is the second one. It’s next to my car.”
She wasn’t sure if she believed him. Did he really have an extra spot or had he rented or bought one for her? Not that she would ask. She didn’t trust him to tell the truth. Besides, what difference did it make? He could afford it.
Except telling herself that didn’t make her feel any better. She didn’t want him buying her things or taking care of her. That implied an obligation she didn’t want to have. It made her nervous.
“This is why I keep relationships simple,” she muttered as she drove into the parking garage and found the spot in question.
A few minutes later, both Garth and George, the doorman, had joined her at the truck. With all three of them carrying things, they had her truck unloaded in one trip. Once everything was in his condo and George had left, Garth handed her a key on a ring.
“You know the main layout,” he said, pointing to the kitchen. “Help yourself to whatever you want. I don’t keep a lot of food around, but if you need girl food, that’s fine.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Girl food?”
He grinned. “Yogurt. Stuff with soy.”
“Because you see me as the soy type?”
“All women keep secrets.”
“Maybe, but none of mine involve soy.”
She followed him down the hallway. She’d been in his bedroom before and expected him to head in there, but instead he kept walking and pushed open the door at the end.
The room was much smaller than the master, but had a big window and a killer view. There was a queen-size bed, a dresser, a desk and a flat-screen TV on the wall.
He turned to face her. “I thought you’d be more comfortable here. I didn’t want to assume…”
It was the first time she’d seen him unsure of himself. He didn’t look directly at her as he spoke and after gesturing to the bed, he shoved his hands into his slacks pockets.
A guest room. Who would have thought?
She thought of the big bed in the room down the hall, of sleeping next to him every night, of having him touch her and take her until she was weak with wanting to give all she had. And if she did that, what would be left of her?
“This would be great,” she said.
Something flashed through his eyes. Something that if she’d been brave like Izzy or beautiful like Lexi or emotionally strong like Skye she might have thought was disappointment, but being just her, she ignored it.
He jerked his head to the right. “Bathroom through that door. The closet is big, but if you need more room, I have it in mine.” He pulled one hand out of his pocket and looked at his watch. “I have a meeting. Are you going to be okay by yourself?”
“I’m hardly by myself. Our command center, as your sisters call it, is rarely quiet. One of them is forever dropping in. Then there’s delivery people, our resident computer geek and the sandwich delivery guy.”
“I’ll be back around seven. Want me to bring Chinese?”
She nodded.
“If you need anything,” he began.
“I’ll call,” she told him. “I’m good. I’ll get settled and be here when you get home.”
“Right.”
They looked at each other.
Part of her wanted him to kiss her. The girly side she didn’t let out much thought a hug would be good. Some kind of physical contact. But she didn’t ask and he didn’t offer and then he was gone.
Dana heard the front door close, then went to make sure it was locked. She walked through the large living room, crossed to the floor-to-ceiling windows and stared out at the skyline of Dallas.
This wasn’t her world. In her tiny apartment, she looked out onto a poorly maintained courtyard. She couldn’t see clear to the horizon. An issue she would deal with later. First she had to unpack. But instead of returning to the guest room, she walked into Garth’s room.
The bed was made, the dresser tidy. One drawer was partially open. She went to close it, only to realize it was empty. As was the drawer below it and the one below that. She crossed to the bathroom and the big closet beyond.
Garth’s clothes still hung in place, but they’d been shifted closer together. While the last time she’d been here, she’d noticed he wasn’t using all that much space, the new configuration left more than half the closet empty. As if he had planned to share it.
Is that what he’d been expecting? That she would join him in here? Is that what he’d been hoping? Or were the questions just wishful thinking on her part?
GARTH LEFT THE FINANCE meeting feeling better than when he’d entered. Not only were profits up eighteen percent in the past quarter, the entire company had exceeded benchmarks for the year to date. The news was nearly enough to burn away his disappointment.
He knew he was being a total guy. He’d told Dana he wanted her to move in so she was safe from Jed. At least when she wasn’t out on her own. It was the only reason-he’d even discussed it with her best friends. Or so he’d thought right until she’d taken the offered guest room over sharing a bed with him and he’d been…
What? Hurt? Was he turning into a woman? He wasn’t hurt. Of course it was more practical for her to have her own space. Hell, they barely knew each other. They’d slept together exactly one time. Neither of them trusted easily. It wasn’t as if she was living with him because they had a relationship.
But he’d wanted her with him and he hadn’t known he did until she’d refused.
He pulled out his PDA and checked his schedule. His five o’clock said nothing more than “ST.” Who or what was ST? There was only one way to find out.
He took the stairs to the executive floor and rounded the corner, only to see Skye waiting outside his office.
“You’re my five o’clock?”
“I made an appointment and everything. You should be so proud.”
“That depends on why you’re here,” he said cautiously. Izzy, he understood. She was straightforward and open. But Lexi and Skye were still a mystery to him.
He motioned for her to enter his office and followed her inside.
“By the way,” she said as she took a seat in front of his desk and set her briefcase on the second chair. “Don’t worry about dinner. Dana’s going out with Izzy.”
“You know she moved in.”
Skye’s green eyes crinkled as she smiled. “Yes, and I’m not going to ask you how you did it. I’m just happy to know she’s protected. My father can be a dangerous man.”
More than Skye knew, he thought, remembering his promise not to tell any of the Titan sisters what had happened.
He hovered by his desk. “You wouldn’t be more comfortable on the sofa?”
“No. This is a business meeting. Go ahead and sit behind your desk. It will make you feel like you’re in charge.”
“What makes you think I’m not?”
She gave him an enigmatic smile. “Oh, please.”
Wishing he knew why she was here, he did as she requested.
She opened her briefcase and pulled out a folder. “We did a detailed analysis. I have more paperwork to explain the numbers, if you need it.”
She passed him the folder. He opened it to find a bill for three million dollars from her foundation. Behind that was another sheet listing various expenses.
“Your pranks, for lack of a better word, cost me money,” she said calmly. “Legal fees to fight the rumors, lost donations. I had staff members resign and they had to be replaced. According to my chief financial officer, this should cover all of that, plus give us a little bonus, by way of an apology.”
“Because I’m feeling remorse?” he asked, admiring her willingness to simply ask for what she wanted.
“Of course. We’re family now.”
“So says Izzy.” He glanced at the paperwork. “Three million dollars seems high.”
“Do you know the number of children right here in this country who go to bed hungry every night? My foundation works every day to feed them. You took money away from that, Garth. Do you really want to complain about an amount you can easily afford and write off as a tax donation?”
She looked determined. Her green eyes snapped with temper. He would bet Mitch did his best to make sure he never pissed her off.
“Three million seems fair,” he said quickly. “Will a personal check be acceptable?”
She relaxed in her seat and smiled. “As long as it doesn’t bounce.”
He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out his checkbook. “Having sisters is a bigger pain in the ass than I thought it would be.”
“Part of our charm.”
He glanced up and their eyes met. For a second, he felt a connection with her. A sense of shared respect and a certain humor. Then he blinked and it was gone.
He wrote out the check and handed it to her. She reached across the desk and took it.
“Is Lexi going to come after me for money, too?” he asked. “Or Izzy?”
“Only if they think about it.”
“Great. Something to look forward to.”
She tilted her head. “I’m sorry for what happened all those years ago. With Kathy.”
He shrugged. “It had nothing to do with you.”
She leaned toward him. “I wish you’d come to us. We could have helped.”
“Skye, I was fourteen. You were maybe seven or eight. What would you have done?”
“Oh. Right. I keep thinking it’s current because all this is happening now, but your mom got sick a long time ago. I wish…” She drew in a breath. “There’s nothing that can be done for her?”
“Nothing. She’s been to a dozen experts. The damage is irreversible. It’s not like a broken bone.”
Her mouth twisted. “I’m sorry my father is such a bastard.”
“He’s my father, too.”
“If only he’d acted like it.”
Garth didn’t want to think about that. He knew the pain of wishing things could be different. There was no win in that and only a whole road of hurt.
“He’ll get his,” he said.
Skye didn’t look reassured. “Vengeance isn’t known for its healing properties. Would Kathy have wanted that?”
“She would have wanted a chance to get better. Jed took that from her. Now he’s going to pay for it.”
“THIS IS A BAD IDEA,” Dana said as she sat in the middle of the dining room while Lexi pulled on her hair. “Do you want to know if that hurts?” she asked as her former friend wielded a very large curling iron.
“No,” Lexi said cheerfully. “But yell if your scalp starts to burn. We’re talking painful burn here, not mild discomfort.”
Izzy strolled back in from her tour of the place. “Very nice,” she said. “Love the view. You really do have your own bedroom.”
“How do you know that?”
“I opened a few drawers.” Dana’s expression might have made her nervous because she immediately held up both hands. “I didn’t touch anything. Don’t wig out on me.”
“Wigging out isn’t what I had in mind.”
Although a good hour of kickboxing sounded really good right about now. Who knew that getting ready for a stupid party could be so time-consuming?
Lexi had shown up nearly two hours ago to work her magic on Dana. Because spending the morning at Lexi’s spa hadn’t been enough. There Dana had been massaged and endured a pedicure. A cheerful yet vicious woman had practically ripped off seven layers of skin to get, as she had put it, “The perfect eyebrow arch.” Individual fake eyelashes had been glued on before Dana had endured the humiliation of standing naked except for a thong in a tanning booth while a complete stranger had sprayed her with fake tan. She’d smelled funny all day.
Now she had on enough makeup to be an extra in Madam Butterfly and Lexi was determined to curl every hair on her head.
“You should think about growing your hair out a little,” Lexi said, moving to another part of her head. “I’m not talking superlong, but maybe to your shoulders. You have a bit of a natural wave.”
“Lucky me,” Dana muttered.
“Trust me,” Izzy said, puffing her own wildly curly hair. “Guys so go for the big hair. It’s sexy.”
As was Izzy. She wore a halter top and loose black pants, which sounded normal enough. Until Izzy moved. Then the slits that went from the band on her ankles all the way up to mid-thigh were visible. It was the kind of outfit that made a little black dress seem almost plain by comparison.
“Done!” Lexi announced, then sank into a chair. “Just in time, too. My back is killing me.”
Dana turned to her. “You should have said something. We didn’t have to do this.”
Lexi looked at Izzy, who grinned. “Oh, honey, we so had to do this. Go put on your dress.”
Dana touched Lexi’s arm. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Cruz will be here in twenty minutes to pick me up. Due to my advancing pregnancy, I get to spend the evening at home watching reality TV.” She gave Dana a little push. “Go get ready. You still have to squeeze into your shapeware.”
“Right. The tube of death.”
Dana scrambled to her feet then hurried back to the bedroom she used. She stripped off her jeans and shirt, then spent five minutes wiggling into something obviously designed by a misogynist. The dress was next. Thanks to the shapeware, it fit her perfectly. She pulled up the zipper, then reached for the diamond dangle earrings Lexi had loaned her. The hideously high shoes were last.
Izzy burst into the room. “He’s back. Don’t you hate a guy who’s prompt. You’d better-”
She skidded to a stop and stared. “Wow! You look fabulous, and I don’t say that lightly.”
Dana smoothed the front of the dress. “Is it okay? It’s not nearly as sexy as what you’re wearing. And you have on pants. Maybe this is…”
Izzy grabbed her hand and pulled her into the bathroom. There was a full-length mirror by the tub.
Dana stared at herself, not recognizing the woman staring back. Her dark, short hair had perfect waves with lots of layers that looked amazing. The makeup made her eyes huge, and the long lashes didn’t hurt, either. The dress hugged curves she hadn’t realized she had. And the tan made her legs look slim and long. She had to admit that while she hated the heels, they looked great with the dress. She was elegant and sophisticated and longed to look this good every day.
“Oh,” she whispered. “Okay.”
“Yeah,” Izzy said, hugging her. “Okay for sure. Let’s go dazzle Garth.”
“You think he’ll like it?”
“He won’t be able to talk.”
Dana wasn’t so sure. She followed Izzy down the hall, into the living room where Garth stood talking to Lexi. He looked like a male model in a perfectly fitted tux and white shirt. Her heart gave a funny little lurch, which she ignored.
“Are you ready?” he asked as he turned toward her.
And then the most amazing thing happened. He stopped talking. His mouth hung open but he didn’t say a word. He closed his mouth, then opened it again. But there still wasn’t any sound.
Next to him, Lexi sighed. “I love it when a plan comes together.”