Her Unexpected Baby
Her Unexpected Baby
Trish Wylie
Adam Donovan' s good looks and charm may win over every other woman in the world, but divorced mother Dana Taylor is immune. Or so she thinks, until the night Adam poses as her dateand the pretence is so real that they become close. Now she' s thrilled to discover she' s pregnant! But she' s also wary. She' s been through one difficult marriage, and has had enough emotional trauma to last a lifetime. What will it take for her to believe Adam is differentthat he can bring her the happiness she deserves?
Her Unexpected Baby
Trish Wylie
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Trish Wylie worked through a lot of careers to get to the one shed wanted in her late teens. She has flicked her blond hair over her shoulder while playing the promotions game, patted her manicured hands on the backs of musicians in the music business, smiled sweetly at awkward customers during the retail nightmare known as the run-up to Christmas, and got completely lost in her car in every single town in Ireland while working as a sales rep. It took all that character building and a healthy sense of humour to get her dream job. She spends her days in reindeer slippers, with her hair in whatever band she can find to keep it out of the waymakeup as vague and distant a memory as manicured nailswhile creating the kind of dream man shed still like to believe is out there somewhere. If it turns out he is, she promises shell let you knowafter shes been out for a new wardrobe, a manicure and a makeover
For the Newbies.
My special friends: Ally, Hannah, Nic and Ola.
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
EPILOGUE
PROLOGUE
THERE was something about a wedding that made families pick on the unattached members of their clan. When Dana Taylors brother Jack finally met his match and tied the knot, the entire Lewis family, at least the female members, seemed to descend on Dana like flies roundwell, honey.
Dana refused point-blank to liken herself to anything else that flies might hover around.
You need to get back out there.
Out there where, exactly? She kept a smile on her face, despite the fact she knew exactly what her eldest sister was referring to. Oh, yeah, she knew rightly. And so did not want to talk about it.
Tess sighed. Dating.
Oh, that out there.
The next sibling in order of birth nodded as she took a sip of champagne. Honey, its long since due. You cant just sit in that run-down house of yours and wait for the menopause to arrive.
She couldnt? Why was she paying a mortgage, then, if it wasnt so she could have her own space to do whatever the hell she liked in? Dana blinked slowly, then narrowed her eyes as she thought.
Tess nodded in agreement with Rachel. Just because things didnt work the first time it doesnt mean there isnt someone else out there whod be great for you.
You make it sound as if I live like some kind of hermit.
Dont you? Rachel raised an elegant eyebrow. Whens the last time you went out and had fun?
I took Jess to the beach last month.
Thats mother-daughter fun. I mean She leaned her head in closer and winked. Fun.
She means sex. Her sister Lauren stated the obvious with a small nod.
Dana took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. Why cant I just live alone and be happy?
Tess snorted. Because youre not happy.
Who says Im not? she demanded.
Its obvious youre not.
How the hell is it obvious?
See? If you were happy you wouldnt need to be defensive.
Dana shook her head. Sometimes I really wish you wouldnt take the mothering role so seriously with us all. Im fine.
Tess, who had taken on the job of parent when their real mother had left them early on, simply shrugged her shoulders. You can say that to yourself as many times as you like, but youre lacking something in your life and we all know it. You do too, deep down. And Im just saying that living every single day without ever taking any chances makes for a pretty empty life.
My life isnt empty. I have a daughter. She glanced around the room until her blue eyes fell on the figure of her ten-year-old, currently attired as a flower girl. Her baby. The reason she got up in the mornings and worked until night. She was a mother, and there was simply no more rewarding job on the planet. I dont need another failed marriage to my name. We do just fine on our own.
Rachel reached across to pat her hand, where it lay on the table. Hon, nobody is saying you should go looking for another husband. But maybe it wouldnt do any harm to find someone to spend some she smiled quality time with, every now and again.
Dana blinked at her words. It wasnt that she didnt still believe in love or romance or passion. She just believed in them for other people, that was all. The Dana who had wanted those things for herself had long since received too many kicks in the teeth from reality.
Are you suggesting I should just go out there and sleep with someone? She tilted her head at her sisters. Just for the sake of it?
There was a murmur of conflicting answers from around the small table. It was Tess who eventually gave the official viewpoint, just as she had in debates of old. A fling might do you good. You need to feel something again. Youve switched yourself off, and that worries us all. Its just such a waste.
Rachel nodded in agreement. It is. Dana, youre a beautiful, smart, determined, funny womanbut right now youre not letting yourself be any of those things. You shouldnt shut yourself away. Try having a little fun time for you. Have an affair, if thats all you want, but feel again. Feel what its like to be a woman.
Dana ignored the list of her attributes. After all, anything coming from a family member was bound to be biased, right? She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it for a moment to mull over the words.
She didnt think that shed shut herself off. Okay, maybe at first, after the divorce, when everything had still smarted. When shed had to sit down and admit shed got married for all the wrong reasons. Maybe then shed taken some time to re-evaluate her life and decided she was better alone for a while.
But, yes, perhaps it had been a long while.
You lot arent going to produce a queue of supposedly eligible men for me to test out, are you? The thought made her skin crawl. The words charity dates jumped unbidden into her head.
No. Lauren smiled at the thought, knowing fine well that her smile probably gave away the fact that it had been discussed at some point. We just think you should be more open to the idea of being Danayou, not just the working mumfor a night or two here and there. When theres an opportunity to get lost for a moment, and it feels right, we think you should go with the flow.
Tess interjected. Were not saying cruise the bars for men.
No, were not saying that. Rachel laughed at the very idea. As if you would. Just open yourself to the possibilities again, is all.
Let someone into your life.
Dana sighed and looked to the balloon-strewn ceiling for intervention of some kind. They meant well. But it just wasnt in her to be some lust-ruled female who could jump into a short-lived affair. Maybe once upon a time, when shed been young and wild and free. But that had got her married and pregnant and divorced.
When she looked back, the three familiar, similar faces were smiling encouragingly at her. She sighed as she shook her head. Ill try being more open to the idea of seeing someone if the opportunity presents itself, but I cant say that Im ready to jump into some torrid affairno matter how long it lasts or where it may take me.
One step at a time is fine.
We can live with that.
We just worry, you know.
She knew they did. They were all happily settled now. Even their brother Jack had managed to get past his hang-ups and had opened himself to the woman whod turned out to be his perfect mate. It made a cynic like Dana harbour the tiniest flicker of hope inside that all that happily-ever-after stuff could still exist somewhere.
And probably it did. It just really hadnt turned out to be for her. Shed had her chance and it hadnt worked. Now she had to just get on with it and live the life she had. But she was making changes in her career, and working towards a better home for her daughter and herself. She had hopes and dreams for her daughters life. She hadnt managed the wife part, but she could be the kind of mother her own hadnt managed to be.
Yes, indeed. Dana thought she was doing okay. Just okay, maybe, but that was enough for her. No matter what her sisters might think.
Mind you, that wasnt to say that it wouldnt be nice to be made to feel like a woman again for a while. That deep-down sensual woman who was hidden inside every female. Mmm.
Dana unconsciously ran her tongue across her mouth. It was just a shame that the kind of men who could bring that out in a female werent hanging around all over the place. Though maybe that was just as well for the sake of survival.
Unconsciously her eyes moved across the room to the tall man who stood beside her brother. Adam, his best man. He was exactly the type shed have looked at once upon a time. Tall, handsome, charm by the bucket. But shed married one of those, and look where that had got her.
She sighed. When it came to passionate affairs Dana was in the middle of a huge desertand it was a long, long way to the next drink of water. No matter what her most basic needs might be.
No, passionate affairs just didnt land in her lap every day. But if one did? She smiled. Maybe just once wouldnt be so awful. After all, what harm could it do to feel again?
CHAPTER ONE
Six months later
ADAM DONOVAN had the most amazing effect on women.
It was a gift, really, and probably had more to do with the way he looked than anything else. Though he could be charming when he really wanted to.
Dana watched as he managed to charm the pants off yet another customer.
It was truly disgusting.
She shook her head the tiniest amount. What on earth did all those women see in him? She decided to make an inventory of all things good about him. Though that did mean putting to the back of her mind the list shed already formed of all things bad.
Shed worked with him for months now, and that latter list was getting long
Okay, so there was his height. That was good. A woman always found it distracting if the man was so short that every conversation was directed at her breasts.
He was fairly broad too, indicatingincorrectlythat he spent a lot of time doing physical exercise to keep in shape. Dana, however, knew better. His idea of physical activity was probably limited to one particular room of the house, and that room wasnt the kitchen.
Oops. That was from the All Things Bad list, wasnt it?
He was a fairly good judge of clothes too. All the right clothes for all the right occasions. What he spent on a shirt would keep Dana and her daughter in groceries for a week. On this occasion he was wearing a rather nice green one, which managed to highlight the colour of his eyes. Clever guy.
His face was fit for the pages of a glossy magazine on any newsagents stand worldwide, complete with dimples, unbelievably white even teeth, that Dana was convinced in her own mind he had polished regularly, and a smile that could charm Eskimos into buying snow. Which, granted, was a terrific asset when it came to selling houses to people. Especially houses that didnt exist yet beyond a great big muddy hole in the ground.
Boyish dark blond hair, cut to just above his collar, with a side parting that managed to allow thick locks to fall across his forehead when he leaned forward to talk to a woman. As if by accident? Dana smiled slightly to herself. Like hell.
He really did tick a lot of boxes on the All Things Good list. He was a partner in a thriving company, came from a good family, and was generally an all-round eligible bachelor. Very eligible. Women really, really liked Adam.
Dana, meanwhile, found him a right royal pain in the ass. But then, after all, she worked with him.
He glanced up at her from beneath thick lashes. When he found her looking at him, with just a faint smile on her lips, his eyes narrowed slightly before he glanced away. Dana knew that he wasnt used to her smiling at him that often.
They were just very different people, that was all. Nobody had ever said they had to like each other. Which was just as well, really. Dana had managed to avoid him for years, but, since shed bought a half-share of the company he owned and ran with her brother Jack, she had seemed to spend every single day arguing with him about something. Or about nothing. Or about pretty much anything, for that matter. When it came to Adam Donovan, it seemed that Dana was the only woman in the country who didnt see him as Gods gift.
And she liked it that way.
Adam really wished that shed stop smiling at him. It was disconcerting. Dana didnt smile without reason. She wasnt a natural-born smiler. Well, not so hed noticed since shed started working with him.
There he was, switching on the patented Donovan charm to seal them another contract, and she was smiling at him. How was a man supposed to work under these conditions?
Even as he was smoothly convincing Mr and Mrs Lamont of the benefits of under-floor heating in their modern interior, Dana Taylor was plotting something. He could feel it.
His partners sister, now his partner herself, was a devious woman.
Adam had met devious women in his time. Dated a few, avoided a few, run away very fast from a few. But this onewell, suffice it to say she was devious on a whole new level.
Dana just had a knack of getting people to do things when they really didnt want to. Theyd walk in with an attitude of no way, uh-uh, not doing that, and leave blinking and wondering howd they managed to change their minds without knowing that they were doing it. It was a gift when it came to awkward customers or building crews, but it was annoying as all hell for someone who shared an office with her.
He glanced across at her again. Still smiling right at him. He felt his palms begin to sweat. Any minute now shed have him wearing a skirt, and he probably wouldnt notice until there was a draught.
He let the Lamonts look at the sketches of their dream home and excused himself for a moment.
In two long strides he was stood in front of her.
Okay, what? His low tone dictated a voice level for a private conversation. She just stared at him, a blank expression on her face. He hated it when she did that.
Is something wrong?
He frowned. You tell me.
The smiling continued. Nope, youve lost me, Im afraid.
Given the opportunity, he would love to. Youre smiling.
Am I? She smiled even more. Is there a law against that?
You dont smile.
I most certainly do. See? She tilted her head and smiled a big fake smile that showed her straight teeth.
You dont smile at me.
Does that upset you? She blinked innocently.
He practically growled at her, instead whispering through slightly gritted teeth, You could just come on over and do that thing you do to help sell this house.
She shrugged, smiling over his shoulder at the Lamonts. Oh, youre doing just fine, from what I can see.
He studied her through narrowed eyes for several long moments. She was just so completely and utterly irritating. Everything about her irritated him, from her beautiful, flawless, not-a-hair-out-of-place exterior to her highly organised way of doing things. She was what would have once been termed as unflappable, and that just really annoyed Adam.
Adam, who lived by the seat of his pants in a chaotic little world of his own.
It had worked for him his whole life, and he had never felt there was a single thing wrong with it. Until Little Miss Perfect came along.
Stop smiling at me, then.
She raised her elegant eyebrows a barely visible notch and looked up at him with cool blue eyes. Well, if its annoying you so much
Adam shook his head, cupped one large hand over her elbow and pulled her up from her perched position on the edge of the desk. Customers, Dana. The people who pay our wages. He leaned close to her ear. People we are not having an argument in front of. So, whatever it is youre doingquit it.
Dana gently extricated her elbow from the warm grasp that tingled through to her skin, smoothed the front of her jacket with her hands and then side-stepped to get past Adams bulk. Her calm smile remained throughout. She had irritated him, and that was always worthwhile.
Mrs Lamont smiled as she approached. The house is beautiful, Dana. You have just done some wonderful things with the plans for the interior. Im so glad Lucy recommended you.
Dana smiled a more genuine smile. Louise Lamonts sister Lucy had been a friend from her college days, and Donovan & Lewis had designed her new home for her just a few months ago. Im really glad you like it, Louise. All we did was put what youd described into a few pictures, and its every bit as beautiful as you knew it would be.
Ah. There it was. That thing she did.
Adam smiled. Louise Lamont hadnt had any more of an idea of what she wanted in a house than she had of how to perform major brain surgery. Every design magazine shed bought had changed her mind, until the place was pretty much bound to end up looking similar to Santas grotto. Then there was Dana, and suddenly Louise had loved a mixture of modern clean lines and classic design, just as if shed wanted it all from the beginning and it had been her idea and not Danas. The woman really did believe that the house had been all her idea and that she was practically a design genius!
Devious.
Louise positively beamed. Lucy cant wait to see you at the reunion. She says shes going to tell everyone that they should see Donovan & Lewis if they want a house done.
Dana felt warmth tinge her cheeks. She avoided Louises direct gaze and glanced over her shoulder. Im not actually going to make it to the reunion, Im afraid. Were terribly busy at the moment.
Adams eyebrows raised. She was uncomfortable? That got his interest.
Oh, but you must, Dana. Everyones expecting to see you since that article you had done in Irelands Home & Hearth. She practically drooled the name of the design magazine. It had been obvious from day one that that was where Louise would have liked to see a photo spread of her new house. Nothing to do with family comfort or a personal pleasure in her surroundings
Not this time. Dana smiled sweetly. But Im sure Ill make the next one.
Now, that was a lie. Adam didnt know how he knew, but he knew. Hed just caught Dana Taylor lying about something. Oh, this was good. It had to be something big, and Adam really, really needed to know what it was. That kind of information could prove worth a fortune on the open market. How to flap the unflappable
Well, were not so busy we couldnt spare you for one evening, Dana. He stepped into the fray with a wide smile. A reunion, is it? I just love thosedont you, Louise?
Louise fluttered her eyelashes at him, blushing faintly at his use of her first name. Good God. Dana wanted badly to be sick.
She turned her head slightly towards Adam and gave him one of her best stay the hell out smiles. Hed witnessed them several times, so it shouldnt take much for him to know it was time to stop.
I love them, Adam. The woman actually giggled like a ten-year-old. Dana knew that for a fact, due to the endless giggling of her own ten-year-old. Oh, come on! She glanced at Mr Lamont to see if hed noticed. But theyd obviously hit that period in their marriage where he had developed selective deafness.
You should go, Dana. I bet it would be fun.
Under normal circumstances shed have wiped the grin off his face with a swift, cutting remark that would in turn have led to a disagreement and stony silence in the office for a few hours. Instead she took a small breath and stared him straight in the eye. You know how seriously I take my work, Adam. I really dont have time to go.
Adam had translated her smile to mean stay the hell out, and grinned even wider. This was great. Seriously. Hed pay good money for moments like this. He slung an arm around her slender shoulders, fitting her pretty much under his expensively scented armpit, and, giving her a squeeze, continued to flirt with Louise.
Shes just so dedicated, isnt she? But I think Ill manage to persuade her to go along, dont you?
Oh, Im sure if anyone can it would be you. Im sure youre very persuasive.
Ugh! The very thought. Dana managed not to shudder.
Not this year. Maybe next time. She side-stepped out of Adams grip and pointed at the plans in front of Mr Lamont. Youll see weve kept the staircase open to allow light to flood through to the dining room.
Mr Lamont nodded and studied the plans again.
Adam wasnt so easily distracted. When did you say this thing was, Louise?
Oh, its this weekend. Its not too late for Dana to go. She was so popular back in college. I think thats why Lucy said Jim took such an interest Louises eyes burned into the back of Danas head. Oh, Dana, I do hope thats not the reason why youre not going. Is Jim going to be there? Oh, my, that could be awkward, couldnt it?
Adams eyebrows shot upwards. Jim who?
Danas eyes locked with Mr Lamonts for a second before she smiled and turned back round. Jim Taylor. My ex. She aimed the words at Adam with an icy stare. And, no, thats not the reason Im not going, Louise, she lied without losing her smile. I really am busy. After all, we wouldnt want your project falling behind schedule, would we?
Louise looked terrified at the very idea. Oh goodness, no, we wouldnt! Ive planned to have photographers there for Christmashavent I, Paul?
Paul Lamont glanced in her direction. If you say so, pet, Im sure you have.
Well, then. Dana nodded coolly. Wed better get these final plans approved, hadnt we?
She shot a sidelong threatening glare at Adam as she turned. She could see plainly how he wanted to continue enjoying her discomfort, and with a spark of her eyes she warned him to drop the subject. Just try it and see what happens, bucko!
Adam took the hint and dropped it.
Until about twenty seconds after the Lamonts had left
Youre not going to this reunion because your ex-husband might be there? He nodded with a sarcastic twist of his lips. Thats mature.
Dana folded the Lamonts plans carefully and placed them back inside their manila folder. None of your business, is it?
Possibly not, but
I think youll find the conversation ended with possibly not. She turned and frowned over at him. Stay out of things that dont concern you, Adam. Youll live longer that way.
What are you so worried about? Are you afraid hell find out you still love him or something? He waded on in with his size thirteens. Is that it? Or maybe you dont want him to know that youve stayed single all this time?
On her way to the filing cabinet, Dana stopped dead and swung round with flashing eyes. I am not still in love with him! And Ive damn well had dates since I split with him. Not that thats any of your bloody business either!
Adam actually rocked back slightly. Little Miss Perfect had a temper? Since when? His mind moved more slowly than usual, distracted suddenly from simple thought by how her flashing eyes and flushed cheeks changed her usual cool exterior. She looked sexy. All she needed was to do the whole remove one pin and shake her hair loose thing
He recovered with, You dont have a date, do you?
She placed a hand on her hip, cocked her head to one side and practically spat the word at him. What?
For this reunion. You dont have a date. He folded his arms across his broad chest and took a deep breath. And you dont want to see him with some sweet young thing on his arm while youre doing the whole lonely-pint deal. Dana truly, truly hated him in that moment. If she hadnt before, she did now. There was nothing more smug than an already arrogant male being proved right.
Whatever you think. She turned and marched the last couple of steps to the filing cabinet, wrenching the drawer open with too much force when she got there. Damn him. She hated losing her temper.
There was silence for a few moments, as Adam thought and Dana started counting inwardly to calm her temper.
Adam took another breath. Im right, then.
Oh, gee. She turned and glared. Arent you always?
Adam recognised sarcasm. Even when it had all the grace of a hippo in high heels. Not that Dana was the teeniest bit over the recommended weight for her height. God forbid. That wouldnt be perfect, would it? No, the woman curved where she was supposed to curve, both in and out. Pretty much.
Dana took a deep breath and moved around the office with silent grace, collecting files and errant pens and putting them back into their allotted places. Now that youve managed to score a hit, can we drop this one?
No chance. Adam smiled inwardly. She should know him better by now.
So why cant you get a date?
You tell meyoure the one with all the answers.
Have you triedhell, I dunno he shrugged and leaned back against his desk asking someone?
She actually laughed out loud. You know, I havent. With a small turn of her patent leather heel she looked him straight in the eye, folding her arms across her chest and leaning back against her own desk in an exact mirror of his stance. Who would I ask, exactly?
Youre bound to know someone.
With my schedule?
Well, you must have friends who know someone.
She smiled mirthlessly. Not someone whod be suitable for the whole she unfolded her arms to make speech marks in the air with her fingers slap in the face, up yours, Jim effect Id want, no. She folded her arms again.
Adams eyes narrowed. You need someone to irritate him? Her personality wasnt enough? Whatsomeone to make him jealous or something?
Not in the way you think.
He continued to stare at her. In what way, then?
She took a deep breath and shook her head. You wouldnt understand, so whats the point?
Try me.
It would be a new direction if she decided to take that path. It would mean telling him something private, something vaguely embarrassingeven a little, well, girlish in places. It would also be opening a small window into her life. Into the secrets and pain she carried with her, well buried, from her past. In giving him that information she would be giving him ammunition for their next argument. And, even if he didnt ever use it, she would still know he knew. It was a big risk.
He watched the debate unfold in her eyes as she continued staring at him. They were the only part of her that she wasnt able to mask with an air of remote coolness. When she was annoyed or irritated, amused or excited by something, it all showed in her eyes. It was why she wore sunglasses so often to hide them, or dropped her chin, or turned her head slightly. Oh, yeah, he knew those little tricks of hersknew them well enough to know when hed scored a hit.
How about if I promise not to use it against you at a later date?
She was surprised by the offer. It almost seemed sincere. Adam Donovan trying to be nice? Nah. Not in her lifetime.
Why do you need to know?
He shrugged again. Maybe I might actually be able to help.
A small smile twitched at the edges of her mouth. Oh, really? How exactly would you see that working? And, more importantly, what would it cost me?
You have a very suspicious mind.
Around you? Yes, indeed I do.
I just offered you an olive branch of sorts.
Yes, you did, and thats why Im suspicious.
Would it kill you to try trusting me just once? He frowned at her. Its not like youve tried it before, is it?
He had a point. Trusting him was something shed never done or considered since shed met him. And there probably was an underlying reason for that, if she decided she wanted to look for it. But then, in fairness, shed seen him in action. Apart from his business dealings, Dana had witnessed nothing that would lead her into trusting him with personal information. If shed become anything in the last eight years it was a survivalist. But she was curious nevertheless.
Again: why do you want to know, exactly?
Good question. Blinking at her questioning eyes, he decided not to search too deeply for a reason. Hed go with a sensible answer. He worded it carefully. Maybe if you actually took the time to trust me with information occasionally, I might do the same thing.
And that would be interesting to me because?
He pressed his lips together and managed to swallow a sarcastic answer. It might improve the atmosphere in this office, for one thing. If we tried actually getting to know each other a little instead of this constant bickering.
She took his words and mulled them over in her head for a few moments. The bickering could be tiring sometimes; that much was true. Other times it could be quite stimulatingoccasionally a little fun, she admitted reluctantly.
But could she manage to give a little without ending up giving away too much? That was the question. It was a big step in their relationship. Maybe if she tried it the once, she could decide better what to do the next time
Hell. Desperate times called for desperate measures.
She surprised them both with, Okay.
His eyebrows raised slightly. That had been a tad too easy, hadnt it? He felt a need to look around for the catch. But he was a big guy. Hed play. So, what is it with you and this guy, then?
Taking a deep breath, she waded in. Im not prepared to let him get the better of me.
In what way?
She knew she had to be tired to be even having this conversation, but she was in it now. She sighed. He has a new girlfriend.
Adam waited patiently.
And from all accounts Im led to believe shes drop-dead gorgeous and highly successful at everything she does. She gritted her teeth and forced the words out. I cant let him do the whole
He unfolded his arms to mimic her earlier statement. Slap in the face, up yours, Dana thing?
Exactly.
So its tit for tat? He nodded wisely. Im still going with my Thats mature response.
Dana stood up and walked round her desk to retrieve her overcoat. I knew you wouldnt understand.
Because theres more, and I damn well know it. He blocked her way when she lifted her bag and tried to leave. So what is it?
Blue eyes glared at his chest for a moment before eventually looking up. Since he walked out on Jess and me hes become Mister SuccessfulMister Everything-He-Wasnt-When-He-Was-With-Us. And meanwhile, back at the ranch, Ive just about managed to hold my head above water.
From the emotion he saw in her eyes he knew she was being honest, and it affected him. His voice softened of its own accord. Youve done okay.
That was how much he knew. Yeah, surejust okay. Nothing special, nothing amazing, nothing at all in my personal life. And Ill be damned if Im going to turn up at that reunion and have everyone talking about how poor Dana has only just coped without good old Jim.
He mulled her words over. Somehow he knew there was more to this story. And he wanted to know what it was. Maybe there was more to Dana Taylor than the whole Little Miss Perfect thing she did so damn well.
She didnt like him much. He knew that and was quite happy with it, in fact, because the feeling was mutual. But he could be a nice guy when he tried. And maybe, just maybe, if he tried being nice the one time she might be less of a nightmare to work with. Shed owe him, in fact. Adam liked that idea.
Okay. Ill be your date.
CHAPTER TWO
ADAM offered to be your date? Really?
Dana blinked across at her sister-in-law. Theyd become close incredibly fast, considering Danas lack of trust for new people. But it hadnt taken long for her to see how much her brother Jack loved Tara, and within a short period of time it had become obvious why. She was special. If a tadwell, unusual at times.
At that precise moment they were curled up on the sofa in Jack and Taras living room. Tara, nearly five months pregnant, was wearing a huge T-shirt with an arrow that pointed down to her stomach and the words Bun in the Oven emblazoned across her chest.
Yes, and my face must have looked exactly like yours does now when he said it.
What did you say?
I think I stood with my mouth open long enough to catch flies.
And then you said?
I said he had to be kidding.
And he said?
That it was a genuine offer. And Wouldnt it get me out of a hole? She mimicked his voice.
Tara grinned, her grey eyes wide. So you said?
That in order for it to get me out of a hole it would have to be believable, and we werent exactly a match made in heaven.
Tara waved her finger in the air. Youve got a point there.
I thought so, Dana sighed. I mean, who on earth is going to watch the two of us together for more than sixty seconds and not recognise the fact that we cant stand each other? That man could make a nun commit murder.
Youve mentioned that. Jack finds it hilarious.
He would.
Though you have to admit Tara looked thoughtful for a moment, then spoke over the rim of her cup. Adam definitely fills the requirements for an in your face, Jim date.
Possibly. Shed already admitted that fact to herself on the drive over, although it had taken ten miles before shed allowed the thought to take root. In fact, shed done the whole pros and cons list again, as it happened. If there was nothing else about Dana she was at least logical. She thought things over. Assessed them carefully. Very carefully.
Adam as a partner was just too ridiculous.
Walking in on his arm certainly wouldnt do your reputation any harm.
Until he opened his mouth.
Tara smiled as Dana sipped at her tea. It never ceased to amaze her, the differences between Jack and his sisters. Especially this one. Whereas Jack was a spontaneous, off-the-cuff guy, who followed his heart in everything he did, Dana was at the complete opposite end of the scale. Sometimes it was as if the very thought of losing control of anything around her was just too big a step for her to take.
Then, just every so often, there would be a tiny glimpse of her that matched her brother. But those glimpses were rare. Rare and a wonder to the beholder.
Dana really had no idea of her own worth as far as Tara could see.
Aw, cmon, Danahe could charm the pants off the entire room within about twenty seconds of getting there, and you and I both know it. Hes a mans man, as well as every womans idea of a complete stud muffin.
Dana mulled the words over for a moment and then sighed. But not the type whod date a woman like me. Itd be completely and utterly unbelievable, and thats why it would never work.
Why wouldnt you be the type of woman hed date?
Danas eyebrows rose slightly at the question. Then she shrugged. Im not glamour model material. Im morehell, I dont knowthe kind of woman that a bank manager would date.
You fancy your bank manager?
That drew the required smile. Youd know the answer to that if you ever saw him. The only attractive thing about that man is the fact that he controls my overdraft.
And Adam?
Dana turned in her seat to stare at Tara. You think I find anything attractive about Adam Donovan?
Youre not blind.
He doesnt look like the back of a bus. Ill give you that.
And?
And? Danas eyes widened. She wasnt about to make any confession on the subject of whether or not she found Adam remotely attractive. Tara would just have to go fishing in another pond. There isnt an and, Tara. Other people may think hes the be-all and end-all, but I know him. I work with him every day and I think hes an arrogant
Yes, I know, I know. Tara waved her hand. There was just no arguing on the subject of Adam with Dana. And the romantic side of Tara had tried. I get that. But you have to admit that he would be one hell of a candidate for the reunion. Youd just need to try and forget all you know about him for one little evening and then you could go back to normal. Sounds fairly simple.
Dana blinked as she thought, the conflict visible in her expressive eyes.
Tara continued, By not being there, in a way youll have let Jim win, dont you think?
How will I?
Hell think you didnt go because you knew hed be there with Melanie. Hell think it matters to you that hes with someone and youre not.
Yes, he damn well would. But it was Adam Donovan they were talking about, here. Adam bloody Donovan.
Dana searched for another exit route. I wouldnt be believable as someone Adam Donovan would look twice at.
Because youre not his type?
Exactly. Like I said.
Tara shook her head. Didnt Dana ever look in the mirror? I think I need that explained better.
With a frown, Dana looked away from Taras probing gaze. He exclusively dates the glamour girl typeall makeup and shiny hair and cleavage. The vaguely vacant type is all Ive ever seen come by for lunch. Trust me. Im not like that.
Tara studied Danas controlled exterior. To all the world she was sleek, elegant, sophisticated. Nothing was ruffled or out of place, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Everything indicated that she was matter-of-fact, ultra-smart and businesslike, reliable. Nothing about her exterior indicated her creative personality or the wicked sense of humour that every member of her family possessed.
Taras eyes wandered over the dark hair swept back into a neat chignon at the neck of her jacket, the face with delicate features barely touched by make-up. Ah-ha
We could do a makeover.
A what?
A makeover. Recreate Dana Taylor for one night. Taras smile grew, her imagination kicking in. Thatd get the room talking. The brand-new, sexy Dana with the drop-dead gorgeous Adam Donovan. Hell, thats bound to make you the talk of the town for a few months. In your face material if ever I heard it.
Dana watched as the idea formed in her sister-in-laws eyes, her face now animated. This thing was getting out of control. Really. It was a runaway train.
What kind of makeover?
You just had to volunteer didnt you?
Adam looked at his own eyes in the rearview mirror.
Yeah, and you nearly, almost got away with it. But, no. You went and volunteered, and now youre going to a reunion with the woman you spend half your life trying to get away from. He raised an eyebrow. Youre a genius, arent you?
With practised ease he honed his sports car round a corner at its usual sixty miles an hour, and then swore as he had to reduce speed rapidly to make the turn into Jack and Taras lane way.
His business partner and best friend had let the bachelor team down badly when hed gone and got married. But Adam had forgiven himjust about. After all, the man was happyhell, contented, almost. He could forgive the act if it had that result on a guy he loved like a brother. But as for Jack lumbering Adam with his pain-in-the-ass sister Well, that would take longer to forgive.
He parked his favourite toy, took a deep breath, and walked up the steps and onto the porch of the huge Victorian house. The door swung open before he got to it.
Hey, pal. Jack Lewis grinned at him from the doorway. Nice tux. Dont you look sweet?
Anyone ever told you how much youd suit a black eye?
Nope, but if you reckon youre man enough to try it out
Adam grinned across at him. The two men were of equal height at the six-two mark. Nah, wouldnt dare. Your wife would kick my ass.
Indeed she would. Jack stood back to allow Adam to step into the hallway, his hand immediately reaching across to slap his back. This is a nice thing youre doing, by the way, so Ill just get this out of the way right now He waited until Adam looked him in the eye. I appreciate it.
He damn well should. Adam smiled at the younger man. No problem.
Jacks face changed slightly. If you knew what that useless ex-husband of hers
Adam had moved closer as Jack began to confide in him, but was distracted when movement caught the corner of his eye from the top of the stairs. Turning his head, he glanced upwards as Dana approached.
If his mind hadnt recognised the woman as Dana Taylor hed have fallen in love there and then. She was, quite simply, stunning.
Are you going to keep on looking at me like that all night? She didnt look across at him as he smoothly changed gears and sped along the wide road.
Adam gritted his teeth. This was going to be the longest night of his life. And how exactly am I looking at you?
She took a breath and stared at the alien that was her own reflection in the windscreen. Like youre a chocaholic and Im a bar of best Swiss.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. How in Gods name had she noticed that, when shed spent the last twenty minutes staring straight ahead? The atmosphere in his small car couldnt have been cut in half with a chainsaw.
Thats how most men with a pulse look at women who wear dresses like youre wearingdidnt you know? He smiled sarcastically. Its a chemical reaction, so dont get your G-string in a twist.
Dana sincerely hoped his remark was flippant and not because he could actually see what she was wearing beneath the dress.
Tara had been like a woman possessed from the moment the word makeover had left her lips. Dana, left to herself, would never have worn a dress like this in a billion years. After all, at her age she had things like hypothermia to consider.
Well, could you kindly stop it?
Why? Arent I supposed to be your date? Let me tell you, if this was a real date and you wore that dress we wouldnt even have left the house yetand youd have your make-up to fix in about an hour.
She squirmed slightly on her seat, his words conjuring images in her mind that her imagination had no business creating. For the entire day she had been trying to think up ways of getting out of this charade. But Tara had been having so much fun with it all, and in a small way it was flattering to have people stunned by her transformation. Even if the majority of them were family and the other was the one person on the planet who irritated her most.
Well, well never know, will we? Because this isnt a real date.
They drove on in silence for several long minutes, each of them alone with their thoughts. Adam caught her squirming again in the seat beside him and smiled with sudden realisation. Youre uncomfortable as hell with how you look tonight, arent you?
Great. Insight. When had he developed that?
Im not exactly dressed as me tonight, am I? The words spilled out. She really shouldnt have drunk all that red wine while Tara got her ready.
He shrugged. Not as the anally retentive you that I work with every day, no.
Anally retentive? She turned her head to frown at his words. You think Im anally retentive?
Adam glanced at her and grinned. Hell, yes. You think you arent?
Was she? She mulled his words over in her mind as the car sped towards their destination. The Dana of old would never have been described as anally retentive. Far from it. Shed been wild back in the daya practical joker, a live wire. But back then shed been carefree. Life had changed that. Now she was a single mother, and responsibility came with that title. Maybe she was a tad anally retentive in her working lifewhen Adam saw her. It was the only part of her life shed ever allowed him to see. Shed been careful about that. Even Jess, her daughter, had never been brought to the office. So he really had nothing else to base his assumption on, did he? She shouldnt actually have cared that he thought it. But somehow she did. It ruffled her feathers.
I like things at work to be organised. She tilted her head slightly as she said the words in a sharp tone. And you cant tell me that that office didnt need some organisation. You couldnt even find a pen when I first arrived.
It was true. But that hadnt stopped the business from being successful. Theyd always got the important things done on time. It might have meant a night or two of burning the midnight oil to get there. But theyd always managed it. Just.
He wasnt so pig-headed that he wouldnt admit that her need for neatness and systems had helped. Now the place ran like a well-oiled machine. But in a small way that had taken some of the fun out of it for Adam.
You could loosen up a bit and it wouldnt kill you.
Im loose. She blushed at her own words and he grinned across at her.
I dont need to know about your personal life, Dana.
You dont know anything about me!
Not beyond what she wanted him to see. He knew that much. Had known it for months. It wasnt as if he hadnt known Jacks sisters before, but Dana was as much a mystery to him now as shed been when hed first set eyes on her. Elusive, almost. It was another one of the many things that bugged him about her.
Youre right. I dont. He focused his gaze back on the road as they approached the turning to the hotel where the reunion was being held. Any more than you know anything about me. But that doesnt stop you from judging me, does it?
She snorted quietly. And youre going to tell me you have some hidden side to you, are you? Its well hidden, isnt it?
He screeched to a halt in front of the large building, yanking the handbrake with superfluous force before silencing the purr of the engine and turning to scowl across at her.
You dont want to get to know me, Dana. Thats your problem. Youre so bloody uptight that you prefer to just place people in safe little boxes and never look any deeper than what you see on the surface. Makes everything very safe and secure for you, doesnt it?
Her heart beat a little faster as her anger grew. And this is precisely the reason I didnt want to bring you to this damned reunion. Were not even inside the building and already were having an argument!
Adam took a deep breath and looked out of the windscreen. He watched several people in evening dress filtering in through the hotels glass doors. They were here now. And, as much as he wanted to turn the car around and take her right back to where theyd come from, he was a bigger man than that. He wouldnt let her off that easily. She was just so determined to be right all the damned time. Well, not this time. Hed make the evening convincing if it killed him.
You need to pretend you like me for this to work.
Id win an Oscar for that.
He turned to look at her again. Give it a try. Pretend Im someone else, if you like. Because thats what I intend doing with you.
Pretend I like you?
He nodded. Yes.
Forget who you are?
Yes. His jaw clenched. Just for a few hours. Try looking at me as a man, and not as something you picked up on the heel of your boot. I can do it if you can. Though it would take some effort. All we have to do is forget about real life for tonight. Make like were two people who just met and are still getting to know each other. No preconceptions, no false judgements. Live for the moment and all that.
He made it sound so simple. She blinked across at him. Was it? Was it just that simple? Forget that he was Adam for one evening and get to know him as if he was just some guy? Like a blind date of sorts? She took a breath. It would be a stretch.
The old Dana would have pulled this off with her eyes shut. The old Dana would have found it all hilarious, a great jokea challenge, even. Was there any of that girl left any more? Or had reality squashed her down too much?
Another deep breath. She would try. It was a college reunion, for crying out loud. If that couldnt remind her of the girl shed used to be then what could? She was walking into that room completely made over, ? la Cinderella. And with a ridiculously attractive Prince Charming type at her side, too. What the hell else did she need to pull it off?
Guts, possibly? Shed had those once.
Whats wrong, Dana? His voice dropped to a deep, intimate note. No guts, no glory. If youre too chicken for this, or if youre not woman enough to walk into that room in that dressyou just say the word.
Damn, damn, damn. Why did it have to be him?
It was as if the room went still when they walked in. To the outside view they made one hell of a couple.
Dana couldnt tell if the assembled company had actually done the whole silent thing, due to the band playing on stage at one end of the large area, but heads certainly turned and conversations were certainly interrupted.
Dana smiled. It was actually a nice feeling. She couldnt remember the last time people had looked at her as ifwell, like they were doing right that second. With a sense of awe, almost. With maybe a touch of wow in their expressions. It felt good.
Adam noticed her smile and smiled himself, moving his hand up to touch her back, to guide her into the room. He was reminding himself to play the game. He only remembered when his hand touched soft skin that her dress had no back.
His hand jumped away as if burned before he forced himself to set it back in place, moving his long fingers in an unconscious caress as he ushered her into the crowd. Her skin felt good, his mind recognised, silken and warm to the touchand that was only on her back. Being male, his mind wandered to other areas where a womans skin was softer still. If she was this soft where his hands were now
He cleared his throat, suddenly noting how warm the room was for so early in the evening.
Dana had jumped too when his hand touched her. Surprise, she told herself. After all, it wasnt as if Adam made a habit of touching her naked skin on a daily basis. When his hand settled the second time, and those long fingers of his began their smooth caress, she felt her pulse beat erratically. Shed always known he had quite an effect on women. And shed always wondered why. But if the simple touch of his hand had that kind of effect then she now had a pretty fair idea of the why. TMI, as her daughter would say. Too much information.
She glanced up at him with a tilt of her head, her blue eyes exploring his profile for signs that hed noticed her reaction. After a second he glanced down and their eyes locked. He moved his hand along her back again, his forefinger tracing a line along the ridges of her spine, downwards to the inward curve of the small of her back.
Her eyes grew heavy. He was good at this make-believe stuff.
Adam watched her reaction to his touch. She was quite the little actress. Pretend she was someone else. That was what hed said hed do, right? Well, hell, it wasnt going to be tough. The woman in front of him was a complete strangeras far removed from the Dana he knew asas Godzilla from Brigitte Bardot.
This woman was hot. Hot to the touch, hotter than hell to look atand, had an alarm bell not sounded at the back of his head to remind him occasionally of who she was, Adam would have wanted her. Big style.
As she flicked the edge of her tongue across her mouth he leaned towards her ear. I think we got their attention.
Waiting until he raised his head slightly, she looked into his eyes and smiled. Id say so.
His eyes wandered from hers to a lock of curled hair that brushed against her flushed cheek. He reached out to turn it between his fingers, his other hand still continuing its caress against her spine. So, do you want to mingle, get a drink, dance? Or maybe His eyes met hers again. Maybe we should just find a corner to continue convincing them in.
If he did much more convincing Dana was fairly sure shed explode. Her poor pulse would just beat its way right out of its little passageway. The nerves shed had about attending the stupid reunion and all that red wine were obviously making her react in ways she wouldnt have under normal circumstances. Yeah, that was it. It was a form of stage fright, that was all. This acting thing was a toughie. But she wasnt going into any corner to convince anyone of anything when Adam was looking at her like that.
It was as if shed stepped into a different reality. But she could deal with it. She could make it throughsomehow
I think Id like a drink.
His smile widened, awarding her a glimpse of those perfect white teeth and those dimples of his. I can arrange that. He suddenly leaned down. Dana tilted her head at that exact moment to listen to what he was saying. The two movements in the same split second caused his lips to just barely touch across the sensitive skin below her ear, and his voice tickled against the goosebumps the touch had created. Chicken.
She watched him as he walked away from her, his broad shoulders stretching the material of his jacket as he moved. About six steps away he looked over his shoulder at her and winked. Dana laughed as he turned away again. He really did have enough arrogance to fill the room. Reluctantly she had to admit inwardly that it had a certain element of charm about it. Wild horses wouldnt drag the words from her lips, though.
Even as she laughed at his departing figure she was suddenly surrounded by arms, and lips kissing her cheeks. When she was finally freed she glanced round at the four grinning faces of her friends from the old days. The ones who had known the old Dana best.
Oh, my lord, Dana, where did you get that hunk of man from?
How long have you been seeing him?
It was Lucy who eventually stepped forward to silence them all.
Now, girls, give Dana time to catch her breath. She winked sideways at her. And after seeing you in action Id say you need a moment or two to catch your breath. She flapped a hand in front of her face before smiling a warm smile. I never knew you two were an item. I thought you just worked together.
Tracey McKenna blinked at her. You know that man?
Of course I do. Lucy nodded. Hes Adam Donovanas in Donovan & Lewis, the designers. Dana and Adam work together.
You work together? How do you concentrate long enough to get anything done?
Dana smiled. Believe me, its tough. But I manage somehow.
Hes sex on a stick, isnt he?
God, you always could get them. Ella Dawson blinked at her with a twinkle in her eye. If there was a great-looking guy within fifty paces he always ended up chasing round after you.
Dana searched for a hint of sarcasm in the womans eyes and blinked in surprise when she found none. She examined the words. Really? Ella thought that? She glanced around to see if a crowd of men had formed that she hadnt noticed. Nope.
You really need to get glasses, Ella. Theres no rush of men in my general direction.
Not while you have Adam Donovan with you, theres not!
No, and pretty much never, actually. She was a single parent who was apparently anally retentive; surely that in itself was enough to keep the men from breaking down her front door?
Lucy smiled. You were always popular with the guys, Dana. And, in that dress, what warm-blooded male wouldnt be interested? You look sensational.
Doesnt she, though? I said pretty much the same thing.
The deep, familiar voice sounded beside her left ear, and Adam charmed all of the women as he rewarded them with a smile they each thought was meant only for them. He then handed Dana her glass with a sparkle in his eye, and immediately replaced his hand on her back, where the skin was still warm from the last time hed touched her.
Dana raised an eyebrow as she sipped at her wine. Hed said no such thing, actually. What hed done was gape at her from the bottom of the stairs, then steal glances at her on the trip over. And now he felt he had carte blanche to keep touching her.
We were just saying how typical it is of her to end up with the best-looking guy in the room. Tracey leaned towards Adam as she spoke. Lots of women did that, Dana knew.
Adam blinked. Really? Bit of a goer, was she?
Dana gritted her teeth beneath a smile and elbowed him hard in the ribs. Isnt he just the funniest?
Just a small part of my many charmsisnt it, babes?
And if he called her babes again she was going to elbow him lower next time. She felt him move his hand across her back to her hip, leaving his thumb to play against her skin as he pulled her closer to his side.
She was just so much fun to be around.
Adam gaped slightly at Lucy, the only one of the women hed met before. Fun? To be around? Dana Taylor?
Really?
Dana glared up at him. If he was supposed to be pretending he was in some great relationship with her surely he shouldnt look so damned surprised at the thought that she might actually be fun?
Fortunately Lucy appeared to be a couple of wine glasses past observant. Oh, yeah! I cant tell you the number of times Ive seen her dance on tables or lead us all on some madcap trip somewhere. Do you remember the Twenty-Four-Hour Club, Dana?
As his thumb continued to move along the edge of the material of her dress, over her skin and what he thought might be the minute string of her underwear, Adams mind worked overtime. He sincerely hoped that the Twenty-Four-Hour Club was no relation to the Mile-High Club, or he would never be able to share an office with Dana again.
Danas face began to flame. Not so much because of Lucys reminiscences of the past as the fact that she was now being completely distracted by Adams hand against her. The last thing she needed was for him to find his earlier assumption as to the kind of underwear a woman was forced to wear beneath this type of dress had in fact been correct. She tried to squirm subtly further away from the steel wall of his body.
But Adam was having none of it. He pressed his hand firmer against her hip and drew her closer. With a downward glance that said Oh, no you dont, he asked the obvious question. Twenty-Four-Hour Club, babes?
She swallowed. He really could be quite intense close up, couldnt he? She damped her lips. Probably not what youre thinking it was.
Then why dont you tell me?
It was basically an excuse for drunken trips away.
Dana grimaced at Lucys choice of words. They were accurate, which didnt help her cause any. She gulped down more wine.
Lucy, meanwhile, continued. The idea was to get as far away from basewhich was collegeas possible, and back again within twenty-four hours, on a pre-agreed budget.
Adam smiled at the thought. To anywhere?
Oh, yes. We got all over the placedidnt we, Dana?
Dana opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again as Lucy continued. It started with a boat trip to Scotland, then one to France, then some of us got a bit further afield until Dana the Master topped us all.
His smile upgraded to a grin as he looked down at her. Whered you end up?
New York. She finally managed to get a word in edge-wise.
On a budget of what?
Lucy laughed. That was the best bit. She dressed up as some kind of medical person, and carried a pig heart in a freezer case a medical student mate of hers had got from the hospital. She blagged her way onto the flight for virtually nothing because she was carrying a donor organ. Took some major flirting, from what Ive heard, but she was famous after that.
Adam looked at her with more respect than shed ever seen before from him. Trust him to value her more for her immoral and irresponsible ways of old than for her anally retentive organisation around the office. Typical. Im impressed.
You just would be, wouldnt you?
He tilted his head. Im seeing a whole new side to you here.
She managed a small smile at the truth in his words. I guess you are.
His thumb moved slowly backwards and forwards against her skin. Hypnotic, almost. With a lazy blink of his green eyes he lowered his voice to a deep rumble. Anything else you want to tell me about?
She hadnt wanted him knowing anything in the first place. The hypnotic movement continued against her skin. What do you want to know?
His eyes looked deep into hers. What changed you? The question formed in his brain and almost made it to his mouth. But he closed it just in time. He needed to keep reminding himself this was Dana Taylor, his very own personal nemesis, the woman who made work days seem much longer than their allocated eight to twelve hours.
A voice sounded from outside the sexually charged bubble they were creating. You know she sings?
CHAPTER THREE
IT WAS officially becoming the longest night of her life.
You know she sings? had progressed as the evening continued to You should sing with the band for old times sake. Several glasses of wine later, and the runaway train had gained speed to Boys, get Dana to sing, and eventually half the room had chanted until she set foot on the stage.
Things had just never really improved from the minute the word makeover had left Taras lips until the second Dana stepped up to the mike and looked down on the face of her ex in amongst the crowd, disapproval written all over him.
Add to all that the fact that the make-believe game she was playing with Adam was proving entirely too easy anddare she think it?enjoyable, and really things couldnt get much more complicated.
He had smiled down at her with his impossibly attractive smile as shed been pulled from his side by the people she had once called friends but probably never would again after this night. And as she had glanced back over her shoulder at him she had, for a very brief second, not wanted to leave him. Lets pretend at its most convincing!
Billy, the lead guitarist with the band shed regularly sung with at college, stepped forward to announce, This onell bring back some memories for you lot. Guys, girlsgive it up for Dana Lewis!
She blinked for a moment at the use of her maiden name, then the first soulful notes of an old blues song sounded up. Oh, great. A song with innuendo.
Of course. What else would it be in the nightmare from hell she was currently having? Okay, so it was one shed sung on many different occasions, but not to a crowd that held an ex-husband who might read a lot into the lyrics and a date who appeared to be convinced she was in love with the ex. A date who was forcing her blood to thrum in her veins in ways shed never before experienced.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes to shut out the surreal place she was currently visiting, and began to sing.
Adam shut his mouth when it occurred to him he must look like a child whod just been told Santa didnt exist. Who the hell was this multiple-personalitied woman?
The Dana he worked with every day sure as hell didnt look like the kind of woman who would stand on a stage and sing like that. Her voice was husky, sultry. In fact, in the dictionary under sexy it probably said listen to Dana Taylor sing. The sound went straight from his ears towell, much further south than his ears, and he was stunned by his own reaction.
She slipped a hand up to caress the mikestand, up and down, and his mouth went dry. Dear God.
Her hips swayed slightly as she tilted her head and stepped one foot out to the side. The long slit in the side of her dress allowed a long, glorious, illegal-in-most-countries length of leg to be exposed to the room. Adam gulped and glanced around at the number of men looking up at her. He felt a sudden need to run up and cover her with somethinganything that would shield her from their prying gazes.
She opened her eyes and looked directly at him, damped her lips with the end of her now familiar pink tongue and sang directly at him, her eyes burning him from across the room.
He stepped closer, drawn in by the small smile she gave him. Then her eyes moved and he followed her line of vision to the tall fair-haired man near the back of the crowd. So that would be him, then.
His eyes moved back to her. She threw her long, dark, curled hair back over one shoulder with a flick of her head, her eyes shining withwhat? Anger? Pain? Adam wasnt sure he wanted to know which.
There was clear innuendo in the words of the song as she sang themto him?then turned her gaze back to the remainder of the crowd, closing her eyes and raising her arms slightly with a shrug of her naked shoulders as she continued.
Had she chosen to sing that song specifically for him? The ex? The one she claimed she wasnt still in love with? And why the hell did he, Adam, care all of a sudden if she was or wasnt?
.
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Trish Wylie
Adam Donovan' s good looks and charm may win over every other woman in the world, but divorced mother Dana Taylor is immune. Or so she thinks, until the night Adam poses as her dateand the pretence is so real that they become close. Now she' s thrilled to discover she' s pregnant! But she' s also wary. She' s been through one difficult marriage, and has had enough emotional trauma to last a lifetime. What will it take for her to believe Adam is differentthat he can bring her the happiness she deserves?
Her Unexpected Baby
Trish Wylie
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Trish Wylie worked through a lot of careers to get to the one shed wanted in her late teens. She has flicked her blond hair over her shoulder while playing the promotions game, patted her manicured hands on the backs of musicians in the music business, smiled sweetly at awkward customers during the retail nightmare known as the run-up to Christmas, and got completely lost in her car in every single town in Ireland while working as a sales rep. It took all that character building and a healthy sense of humour to get her dream job. She spends her days in reindeer slippers, with her hair in whatever band she can find to keep it out of the waymakeup as vague and distant a memory as manicured nailswhile creating the kind of dream man shed still like to believe is out there somewhere. If it turns out he is, she promises shell let you knowafter shes been out for a new wardrobe, a manicure and a makeover
For the Newbies.
My special friends: Ally, Hannah, Nic and Ola.
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
EPILOGUE
PROLOGUE
THERE was something about a wedding that made families pick on the unattached members of their clan. When Dana Taylors brother Jack finally met his match and tied the knot, the entire Lewis family, at least the female members, seemed to descend on Dana like flies roundwell, honey.
Dana refused point-blank to liken herself to anything else that flies might hover around.
You need to get back out there.
Out there where, exactly? She kept a smile on her face, despite the fact she knew exactly what her eldest sister was referring to. Oh, yeah, she knew rightly. And so did not want to talk about it.
Tess sighed. Dating.
Oh, that out there.
The next sibling in order of birth nodded as she took a sip of champagne. Honey, its long since due. You cant just sit in that run-down house of yours and wait for the menopause to arrive.
She couldnt? Why was she paying a mortgage, then, if it wasnt so she could have her own space to do whatever the hell she liked in? Dana blinked slowly, then narrowed her eyes as she thought.
Tess nodded in agreement with Rachel. Just because things didnt work the first time it doesnt mean there isnt someone else out there whod be great for you.
You make it sound as if I live like some kind of hermit.
Dont you? Rachel raised an elegant eyebrow. Whens the last time you went out and had fun?
I took Jess to the beach last month.
Thats mother-daughter fun. I mean She leaned her head in closer and winked. Fun.
She means sex. Her sister Lauren stated the obvious with a small nod.
Dana took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. Why cant I just live alone and be happy?
Tess snorted. Because youre not happy.
Who says Im not? she demanded.
Its obvious youre not.
How the hell is it obvious?
See? If you were happy you wouldnt need to be defensive.
Dana shook her head. Sometimes I really wish you wouldnt take the mothering role so seriously with us all. Im fine.
Tess, who had taken on the job of parent when their real mother had left them early on, simply shrugged her shoulders. You can say that to yourself as many times as you like, but youre lacking something in your life and we all know it. You do too, deep down. And Im just saying that living every single day without ever taking any chances makes for a pretty empty life.
My life isnt empty. I have a daughter. She glanced around the room until her blue eyes fell on the figure of her ten-year-old, currently attired as a flower girl. Her baby. The reason she got up in the mornings and worked until night. She was a mother, and there was simply no more rewarding job on the planet. I dont need another failed marriage to my name. We do just fine on our own.
Rachel reached across to pat her hand, where it lay on the table. Hon, nobody is saying you should go looking for another husband. But maybe it wouldnt do any harm to find someone to spend some she smiled quality time with, every now and again.
Dana blinked at her words. It wasnt that she didnt still believe in love or romance or passion. She just believed in them for other people, that was all. The Dana who had wanted those things for herself had long since received too many kicks in the teeth from reality.
Are you suggesting I should just go out there and sleep with someone? She tilted her head at her sisters. Just for the sake of it?
There was a murmur of conflicting answers from around the small table. It was Tess who eventually gave the official viewpoint, just as she had in debates of old. A fling might do you good. You need to feel something again. Youve switched yourself off, and that worries us all. Its just such a waste.
Rachel nodded in agreement. It is. Dana, youre a beautiful, smart, determined, funny womanbut right now youre not letting yourself be any of those things. You shouldnt shut yourself away. Try having a little fun time for you. Have an affair, if thats all you want, but feel again. Feel what its like to be a woman.
Dana ignored the list of her attributes. After all, anything coming from a family member was bound to be biased, right? She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it for a moment to mull over the words.
She didnt think that shed shut herself off. Okay, maybe at first, after the divorce, when everything had still smarted. When shed had to sit down and admit shed got married for all the wrong reasons. Maybe then shed taken some time to re-evaluate her life and decided she was better alone for a while.
But, yes, perhaps it had been a long while.
You lot arent going to produce a queue of supposedly eligible men for me to test out, are you? The thought made her skin crawl. The words charity dates jumped unbidden into her head.
No. Lauren smiled at the thought, knowing fine well that her smile probably gave away the fact that it had been discussed at some point. We just think you should be more open to the idea of being Danayou, not just the working mumfor a night or two here and there. When theres an opportunity to get lost for a moment, and it feels right, we think you should go with the flow.
Tess interjected. Were not saying cruise the bars for men.
No, were not saying that. Rachel laughed at the very idea. As if you would. Just open yourself to the possibilities again, is all.
Let someone into your life.
Dana sighed and looked to the balloon-strewn ceiling for intervention of some kind. They meant well. But it just wasnt in her to be some lust-ruled female who could jump into a short-lived affair. Maybe once upon a time, when shed been young and wild and free. But that had got her married and pregnant and divorced.
When she looked back, the three familiar, similar faces were smiling encouragingly at her. She sighed as she shook her head. Ill try being more open to the idea of seeing someone if the opportunity presents itself, but I cant say that Im ready to jump into some torrid affairno matter how long it lasts or where it may take me.
One step at a time is fine.
We can live with that.
We just worry, you know.
She knew they did. They were all happily settled now. Even their brother Jack had managed to get past his hang-ups and had opened himself to the woman whod turned out to be his perfect mate. It made a cynic like Dana harbour the tiniest flicker of hope inside that all that happily-ever-after stuff could still exist somewhere.
And probably it did. It just really hadnt turned out to be for her. Shed had her chance and it hadnt worked. Now she had to just get on with it and live the life she had. But she was making changes in her career, and working towards a better home for her daughter and herself. She had hopes and dreams for her daughters life. She hadnt managed the wife part, but she could be the kind of mother her own hadnt managed to be.
Yes, indeed. Dana thought she was doing okay. Just okay, maybe, but that was enough for her. No matter what her sisters might think.
Mind you, that wasnt to say that it wouldnt be nice to be made to feel like a woman again for a while. That deep-down sensual woman who was hidden inside every female. Mmm.
Dana unconsciously ran her tongue across her mouth. It was just a shame that the kind of men who could bring that out in a female werent hanging around all over the place. Though maybe that was just as well for the sake of survival.
Unconsciously her eyes moved across the room to the tall man who stood beside her brother. Adam, his best man. He was exactly the type shed have looked at once upon a time. Tall, handsome, charm by the bucket. But shed married one of those, and look where that had got her.
She sighed. When it came to passionate affairs Dana was in the middle of a huge desertand it was a long, long way to the next drink of water. No matter what her most basic needs might be.
No, passionate affairs just didnt land in her lap every day. But if one did? She smiled. Maybe just once wouldnt be so awful. After all, what harm could it do to feel again?
CHAPTER ONE
Six months later
ADAM DONOVAN had the most amazing effect on women.
It was a gift, really, and probably had more to do with the way he looked than anything else. Though he could be charming when he really wanted to.
Dana watched as he managed to charm the pants off yet another customer.
It was truly disgusting.
She shook her head the tiniest amount. What on earth did all those women see in him? She decided to make an inventory of all things good about him. Though that did mean putting to the back of her mind the list shed already formed of all things bad.
Shed worked with him for months now, and that latter list was getting long
Okay, so there was his height. That was good. A woman always found it distracting if the man was so short that every conversation was directed at her breasts.
He was fairly broad too, indicatingincorrectlythat he spent a lot of time doing physical exercise to keep in shape. Dana, however, knew better. His idea of physical activity was probably limited to one particular room of the house, and that room wasnt the kitchen.
Oops. That was from the All Things Bad list, wasnt it?
He was a fairly good judge of clothes too. All the right clothes for all the right occasions. What he spent on a shirt would keep Dana and her daughter in groceries for a week. On this occasion he was wearing a rather nice green one, which managed to highlight the colour of his eyes. Clever guy.
His face was fit for the pages of a glossy magazine on any newsagents stand worldwide, complete with dimples, unbelievably white even teeth, that Dana was convinced in her own mind he had polished regularly, and a smile that could charm Eskimos into buying snow. Which, granted, was a terrific asset when it came to selling houses to people. Especially houses that didnt exist yet beyond a great big muddy hole in the ground.
Boyish dark blond hair, cut to just above his collar, with a side parting that managed to allow thick locks to fall across his forehead when he leaned forward to talk to a woman. As if by accident? Dana smiled slightly to herself. Like hell.
He really did tick a lot of boxes on the All Things Good list. He was a partner in a thriving company, came from a good family, and was generally an all-round eligible bachelor. Very eligible. Women really, really liked Adam.
Dana, meanwhile, found him a right royal pain in the ass. But then, after all, she worked with him.
He glanced up at her from beneath thick lashes. When he found her looking at him, with just a faint smile on her lips, his eyes narrowed slightly before he glanced away. Dana knew that he wasnt used to her smiling at him that often.
They were just very different people, that was all. Nobody had ever said they had to like each other. Which was just as well, really. Dana had managed to avoid him for years, but, since shed bought a half-share of the company he owned and ran with her brother Jack, she had seemed to spend every single day arguing with him about something. Or about nothing. Or about pretty much anything, for that matter. When it came to Adam Donovan, it seemed that Dana was the only woman in the country who didnt see him as Gods gift.
And she liked it that way.
Adam really wished that shed stop smiling at him. It was disconcerting. Dana didnt smile without reason. She wasnt a natural-born smiler. Well, not so hed noticed since shed started working with him.
There he was, switching on the patented Donovan charm to seal them another contract, and she was smiling at him. How was a man supposed to work under these conditions?
Even as he was smoothly convincing Mr and Mrs Lamont of the benefits of under-floor heating in their modern interior, Dana Taylor was plotting something. He could feel it.
His partners sister, now his partner herself, was a devious woman.
Adam had met devious women in his time. Dated a few, avoided a few, run away very fast from a few. But this onewell, suffice it to say she was devious on a whole new level.
Dana just had a knack of getting people to do things when they really didnt want to. Theyd walk in with an attitude of no way, uh-uh, not doing that, and leave blinking and wondering howd they managed to change their minds without knowing that they were doing it. It was a gift when it came to awkward customers or building crews, but it was annoying as all hell for someone who shared an office with her.
He glanced across at her again. Still smiling right at him. He felt his palms begin to sweat. Any minute now shed have him wearing a skirt, and he probably wouldnt notice until there was a draught.
He let the Lamonts look at the sketches of their dream home and excused himself for a moment.
In two long strides he was stood in front of her.
Okay, what? His low tone dictated a voice level for a private conversation. She just stared at him, a blank expression on her face. He hated it when she did that.
Is something wrong?
He frowned. You tell me.
The smiling continued. Nope, youve lost me, Im afraid.
Given the opportunity, he would love to. Youre smiling.
Am I? She smiled even more. Is there a law against that?
You dont smile.
I most certainly do. See? She tilted her head and smiled a big fake smile that showed her straight teeth.
You dont smile at me.
Does that upset you? She blinked innocently.
He practically growled at her, instead whispering through slightly gritted teeth, You could just come on over and do that thing you do to help sell this house.
She shrugged, smiling over his shoulder at the Lamonts. Oh, youre doing just fine, from what I can see.
He studied her through narrowed eyes for several long moments. She was just so completely and utterly irritating. Everything about her irritated him, from her beautiful, flawless, not-a-hair-out-of-place exterior to her highly organised way of doing things. She was what would have once been termed as unflappable, and that just really annoyed Adam.
Adam, who lived by the seat of his pants in a chaotic little world of his own.
It had worked for him his whole life, and he had never felt there was a single thing wrong with it. Until Little Miss Perfect came along.
Stop smiling at me, then.
She raised her elegant eyebrows a barely visible notch and looked up at him with cool blue eyes. Well, if its annoying you so much
Adam shook his head, cupped one large hand over her elbow and pulled her up from her perched position on the edge of the desk. Customers, Dana. The people who pay our wages. He leaned close to her ear. People we are not having an argument in front of. So, whatever it is youre doingquit it.
Dana gently extricated her elbow from the warm grasp that tingled through to her skin, smoothed the front of her jacket with her hands and then side-stepped to get past Adams bulk. Her calm smile remained throughout. She had irritated him, and that was always worthwhile.
Mrs Lamont smiled as she approached. The house is beautiful, Dana. You have just done some wonderful things with the plans for the interior. Im so glad Lucy recommended you.
Dana smiled a more genuine smile. Louise Lamonts sister Lucy had been a friend from her college days, and Donovan & Lewis had designed her new home for her just a few months ago. Im really glad you like it, Louise. All we did was put what youd described into a few pictures, and its every bit as beautiful as you knew it would be.
Ah. There it was. That thing she did.
Adam smiled. Louise Lamont hadnt had any more of an idea of what she wanted in a house than she had of how to perform major brain surgery. Every design magazine shed bought had changed her mind, until the place was pretty much bound to end up looking similar to Santas grotto. Then there was Dana, and suddenly Louise had loved a mixture of modern clean lines and classic design, just as if shed wanted it all from the beginning and it had been her idea and not Danas. The woman really did believe that the house had been all her idea and that she was practically a design genius!
Devious.
Louise positively beamed. Lucy cant wait to see you at the reunion. She says shes going to tell everyone that they should see Donovan & Lewis if they want a house done.
Dana felt warmth tinge her cheeks. She avoided Louises direct gaze and glanced over her shoulder. Im not actually going to make it to the reunion, Im afraid. Were terribly busy at the moment.
Adams eyebrows raised. She was uncomfortable? That got his interest.
Oh, but you must, Dana. Everyones expecting to see you since that article you had done in Irelands Home & Hearth. She practically drooled the name of the design magazine. It had been obvious from day one that that was where Louise would have liked to see a photo spread of her new house. Nothing to do with family comfort or a personal pleasure in her surroundings
Not this time. Dana smiled sweetly. But Im sure Ill make the next one.
Now, that was a lie. Adam didnt know how he knew, but he knew. Hed just caught Dana Taylor lying about something. Oh, this was good. It had to be something big, and Adam really, really needed to know what it was. That kind of information could prove worth a fortune on the open market. How to flap the unflappable
Well, were not so busy we couldnt spare you for one evening, Dana. He stepped into the fray with a wide smile. A reunion, is it? I just love thosedont you, Louise?
Louise fluttered her eyelashes at him, blushing faintly at his use of her first name. Good God. Dana wanted badly to be sick.
She turned her head slightly towards Adam and gave him one of her best stay the hell out smiles. Hed witnessed them several times, so it shouldnt take much for him to know it was time to stop.
I love them, Adam. The woman actually giggled like a ten-year-old. Dana knew that for a fact, due to the endless giggling of her own ten-year-old. Oh, come on! She glanced at Mr Lamont to see if hed noticed. But theyd obviously hit that period in their marriage where he had developed selective deafness.
You should go, Dana. I bet it would be fun.
Under normal circumstances shed have wiped the grin off his face with a swift, cutting remark that would in turn have led to a disagreement and stony silence in the office for a few hours. Instead she took a small breath and stared him straight in the eye. You know how seriously I take my work, Adam. I really dont have time to go.
Adam had translated her smile to mean stay the hell out, and grinned even wider. This was great. Seriously. Hed pay good money for moments like this. He slung an arm around her slender shoulders, fitting her pretty much under his expensively scented armpit, and, giving her a squeeze, continued to flirt with Louise.
Shes just so dedicated, isnt she? But I think Ill manage to persuade her to go along, dont you?
Oh, Im sure if anyone can it would be you. Im sure youre very persuasive.
Ugh! The very thought. Dana managed not to shudder.
Not this year. Maybe next time. She side-stepped out of Adams grip and pointed at the plans in front of Mr Lamont. Youll see weve kept the staircase open to allow light to flood through to the dining room.
Mr Lamont nodded and studied the plans again.
Adam wasnt so easily distracted. When did you say this thing was, Louise?
Oh, its this weekend. Its not too late for Dana to go. She was so popular back in college. I think thats why Lucy said Jim took such an interest Louises eyes burned into the back of Danas head. Oh, Dana, I do hope thats not the reason why youre not going. Is Jim going to be there? Oh, my, that could be awkward, couldnt it?
Adams eyebrows shot upwards. Jim who?
Danas eyes locked with Mr Lamonts for a second before she smiled and turned back round. Jim Taylor. My ex. She aimed the words at Adam with an icy stare. And, no, thats not the reason Im not going, Louise, she lied without losing her smile. I really am busy. After all, we wouldnt want your project falling behind schedule, would we?
Louise looked terrified at the very idea. Oh goodness, no, we wouldnt! Ive planned to have photographers there for Christmashavent I, Paul?
Paul Lamont glanced in her direction. If you say so, pet, Im sure you have.
Well, then. Dana nodded coolly. Wed better get these final plans approved, hadnt we?
She shot a sidelong threatening glare at Adam as she turned. She could see plainly how he wanted to continue enjoying her discomfort, and with a spark of her eyes she warned him to drop the subject. Just try it and see what happens, bucko!
Adam took the hint and dropped it.
Until about twenty seconds after the Lamonts had left
Youre not going to this reunion because your ex-husband might be there? He nodded with a sarcastic twist of his lips. Thats mature.
Dana folded the Lamonts plans carefully and placed them back inside their manila folder. None of your business, is it?
Possibly not, but
I think youll find the conversation ended with possibly not. She turned and frowned over at him. Stay out of things that dont concern you, Adam. Youll live longer that way.
What are you so worried about? Are you afraid hell find out you still love him or something? He waded on in with his size thirteens. Is that it? Or maybe you dont want him to know that youve stayed single all this time?
On her way to the filing cabinet, Dana stopped dead and swung round with flashing eyes. I am not still in love with him! And Ive damn well had dates since I split with him. Not that thats any of your bloody business either!
Adam actually rocked back slightly. Little Miss Perfect had a temper? Since when? His mind moved more slowly than usual, distracted suddenly from simple thought by how her flashing eyes and flushed cheeks changed her usual cool exterior. She looked sexy. All she needed was to do the whole remove one pin and shake her hair loose thing
He recovered with, You dont have a date, do you?
She placed a hand on her hip, cocked her head to one side and practically spat the word at him. What?
For this reunion. You dont have a date. He folded his arms across his broad chest and took a deep breath. And you dont want to see him with some sweet young thing on his arm while youre doing the whole lonely-pint deal. Dana truly, truly hated him in that moment. If she hadnt before, she did now. There was nothing more smug than an already arrogant male being proved right.
Whatever you think. She turned and marched the last couple of steps to the filing cabinet, wrenching the drawer open with too much force when she got there. Damn him. She hated losing her temper.
There was silence for a few moments, as Adam thought and Dana started counting inwardly to calm her temper.
Adam took another breath. Im right, then.
Oh, gee. She turned and glared. Arent you always?
Adam recognised sarcasm. Even when it had all the grace of a hippo in high heels. Not that Dana was the teeniest bit over the recommended weight for her height. God forbid. That wouldnt be perfect, would it? No, the woman curved where she was supposed to curve, both in and out. Pretty much.
Dana took a deep breath and moved around the office with silent grace, collecting files and errant pens and putting them back into their allotted places. Now that youve managed to score a hit, can we drop this one?
No chance. Adam smiled inwardly. She should know him better by now.
So why cant you get a date?
You tell meyoure the one with all the answers.
Have you triedhell, I dunno he shrugged and leaned back against his desk asking someone?
She actually laughed out loud. You know, I havent. With a small turn of her patent leather heel she looked him straight in the eye, folding her arms across her chest and leaning back against her own desk in an exact mirror of his stance. Who would I ask, exactly?
Youre bound to know someone.
With my schedule?
Well, you must have friends who know someone.
She smiled mirthlessly. Not someone whod be suitable for the whole she unfolded her arms to make speech marks in the air with her fingers slap in the face, up yours, Jim effect Id want, no. She folded her arms again.
Adams eyes narrowed. You need someone to irritate him? Her personality wasnt enough? Whatsomeone to make him jealous or something?
Not in the way you think.
He continued to stare at her. In what way, then?
She took a deep breath and shook her head. You wouldnt understand, so whats the point?
Try me.
It would be a new direction if she decided to take that path. It would mean telling him something private, something vaguely embarrassingeven a little, well, girlish in places. It would also be opening a small window into her life. Into the secrets and pain she carried with her, well buried, from her past. In giving him that information she would be giving him ammunition for their next argument. And, even if he didnt ever use it, she would still know he knew. It was a big risk.
He watched the debate unfold in her eyes as she continued staring at him. They were the only part of her that she wasnt able to mask with an air of remote coolness. When she was annoyed or irritated, amused or excited by something, it all showed in her eyes. It was why she wore sunglasses so often to hide them, or dropped her chin, or turned her head slightly. Oh, yeah, he knew those little tricks of hersknew them well enough to know when hed scored a hit.
How about if I promise not to use it against you at a later date?
She was surprised by the offer. It almost seemed sincere. Adam Donovan trying to be nice? Nah. Not in her lifetime.
Why do you need to know?
He shrugged again. Maybe I might actually be able to help.
A small smile twitched at the edges of her mouth. Oh, really? How exactly would you see that working? And, more importantly, what would it cost me?
You have a very suspicious mind.
Around you? Yes, indeed I do.
I just offered you an olive branch of sorts.
Yes, you did, and thats why Im suspicious.
Would it kill you to try trusting me just once? He frowned at her. Its not like youve tried it before, is it?
He had a point. Trusting him was something shed never done or considered since shed met him. And there probably was an underlying reason for that, if she decided she wanted to look for it. But then, in fairness, shed seen him in action. Apart from his business dealings, Dana had witnessed nothing that would lead her into trusting him with personal information. If shed become anything in the last eight years it was a survivalist. But she was curious nevertheless.
Again: why do you want to know, exactly?
Good question. Blinking at her questioning eyes, he decided not to search too deeply for a reason. Hed go with a sensible answer. He worded it carefully. Maybe if you actually took the time to trust me with information occasionally, I might do the same thing.
And that would be interesting to me because?
He pressed his lips together and managed to swallow a sarcastic answer. It might improve the atmosphere in this office, for one thing. If we tried actually getting to know each other a little instead of this constant bickering.
She took his words and mulled them over in her head for a few moments. The bickering could be tiring sometimes; that much was true. Other times it could be quite stimulatingoccasionally a little fun, she admitted reluctantly.
But could she manage to give a little without ending up giving away too much? That was the question. It was a big step in their relationship. Maybe if she tried it the once, she could decide better what to do the next time
Hell. Desperate times called for desperate measures.
She surprised them both with, Okay.
His eyebrows raised slightly. That had been a tad too easy, hadnt it? He felt a need to look around for the catch. But he was a big guy. Hed play. So, what is it with you and this guy, then?
Taking a deep breath, she waded in. Im not prepared to let him get the better of me.
In what way?
She knew she had to be tired to be even having this conversation, but she was in it now. She sighed. He has a new girlfriend.
Adam waited patiently.
And from all accounts Im led to believe shes drop-dead gorgeous and highly successful at everything she does. She gritted her teeth and forced the words out. I cant let him do the whole
He unfolded his arms to mimic her earlier statement. Slap in the face, up yours, Dana thing?
Exactly.
So its tit for tat? He nodded wisely. Im still going with my Thats mature response.
Dana stood up and walked round her desk to retrieve her overcoat. I knew you wouldnt understand.
Because theres more, and I damn well know it. He blocked her way when she lifted her bag and tried to leave. So what is it?
Blue eyes glared at his chest for a moment before eventually looking up. Since he walked out on Jess and me hes become Mister SuccessfulMister Everything-He-Wasnt-When-He-Was-With-Us. And meanwhile, back at the ranch, Ive just about managed to hold my head above water.
From the emotion he saw in her eyes he knew she was being honest, and it affected him. His voice softened of its own accord. Youve done okay.
That was how much he knew. Yeah, surejust okay. Nothing special, nothing amazing, nothing at all in my personal life. And Ill be damned if Im going to turn up at that reunion and have everyone talking about how poor Dana has only just coped without good old Jim.
He mulled her words over. Somehow he knew there was more to this story. And he wanted to know what it was. Maybe there was more to Dana Taylor than the whole Little Miss Perfect thing she did so damn well.
She didnt like him much. He knew that and was quite happy with it, in fact, because the feeling was mutual. But he could be a nice guy when he tried. And maybe, just maybe, if he tried being nice the one time she might be less of a nightmare to work with. Shed owe him, in fact. Adam liked that idea.
Okay. Ill be your date.
CHAPTER TWO
ADAM offered to be your date? Really?
Dana blinked across at her sister-in-law. Theyd become close incredibly fast, considering Danas lack of trust for new people. But it hadnt taken long for her to see how much her brother Jack loved Tara, and within a short period of time it had become obvious why. She was special. If a tadwell, unusual at times.
At that precise moment they were curled up on the sofa in Jack and Taras living room. Tara, nearly five months pregnant, was wearing a huge T-shirt with an arrow that pointed down to her stomach and the words Bun in the Oven emblazoned across her chest.
Yes, and my face must have looked exactly like yours does now when he said it.
What did you say?
I think I stood with my mouth open long enough to catch flies.
And then you said?
I said he had to be kidding.
And he said?
That it was a genuine offer. And Wouldnt it get me out of a hole? She mimicked his voice.
Tara grinned, her grey eyes wide. So you said?
That in order for it to get me out of a hole it would have to be believable, and we werent exactly a match made in heaven.
Tara waved her finger in the air. Youve got a point there.
I thought so, Dana sighed. I mean, who on earth is going to watch the two of us together for more than sixty seconds and not recognise the fact that we cant stand each other? That man could make a nun commit murder.
Youve mentioned that. Jack finds it hilarious.
He would.
Though you have to admit Tara looked thoughtful for a moment, then spoke over the rim of her cup. Adam definitely fills the requirements for an in your face, Jim date.
Possibly. Shed already admitted that fact to herself on the drive over, although it had taken ten miles before shed allowed the thought to take root. In fact, shed done the whole pros and cons list again, as it happened. If there was nothing else about Dana she was at least logical. She thought things over. Assessed them carefully. Very carefully.
Adam as a partner was just too ridiculous.
Walking in on his arm certainly wouldnt do your reputation any harm.
Until he opened his mouth.
Tara smiled as Dana sipped at her tea. It never ceased to amaze her, the differences between Jack and his sisters. Especially this one. Whereas Jack was a spontaneous, off-the-cuff guy, who followed his heart in everything he did, Dana was at the complete opposite end of the scale. Sometimes it was as if the very thought of losing control of anything around her was just too big a step for her to take.
Then, just every so often, there would be a tiny glimpse of her that matched her brother. But those glimpses were rare. Rare and a wonder to the beholder.
Dana really had no idea of her own worth as far as Tara could see.
Aw, cmon, Danahe could charm the pants off the entire room within about twenty seconds of getting there, and you and I both know it. Hes a mans man, as well as every womans idea of a complete stud muffin.
Dana mulled the words over for a moment and then sighed. But not the type whod date a woman like me. Itd be completely and utterly unbelievable, and thats why it would never work.
Why wouldnt you be the type of woman hed date?
Danas eyebrows rose slightly at the question. Then she shrugged. Im not glamour model material. Im morehell, I dont knowthe kind of woman that a bank manager would date.
You fancy your bank manager?
That drew the required smile. Youd know the answer to that if you ever saw him. The only attractive thing about that man is the fact that he controls my overdraft.
And Adam?
Dana turned in her seat to stare at Tara. You think I find anything attractive about Adam Donovan?
Youre not blind.
He doesnt look like the back of a bus. Ill give you that.
And?
And? Danas eyes widened. She wasnt about to make any confession on the subject of whether or not she found Adam remotely attractive. Tara would just have to go fishing in another pond. There isnt an and, Tara. Other people may think hes the be-all and end-all, but I know him. I work with him every day and I think hes an arrogant
Yes, I know, I know. Tara waved her hand. There was just no arguing on the subject of Adam with Dana. And the romantic side of Tara had tried. I get that. But you have to admit that he would be one hell of a candidate for the reunion. Youd just need to try and forget all you know about him for one little evening and then you could go back to normal. Sounds fairly simple.
Dana blinked as she thought, the conflict visible in her expressive eyes.
Tara continued, By not being there, in a way youll have let Jim win, dont you think?
How will I?
Hell think you didnt go because you knew hed be there with Melanie. Hell think it matters to you that hes with someone and youre not.
Yes, he damn well would. But it was Adam Donovan they were talking about, here. Adam bloody Donovan.
Dana searched for another exit route. I wouldnt be believable as someone Adam Donovan would look twice at.
Because youre not his type?
Exactly. Like I said.
Tara shook her head. Didnt Dana ever look in the mirror? I think I need that explained better.
With a frown, Dana looked away from Taras probing gaze. He exclusively dates the glamour girl typeall makeup and shiny hair and cleavage. The vaguely vacant type is all Ive ever seen come by for lunch. Trust me. Im not like that.
Tara studied Danas controlled exterior. To all the world she was sleek, elegant, sophisticated. Nothing was ruffled or out of place, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Everything indicated that she was matter-of-fact, ultra-smart and businesslike, reliable. Nothing about her exterior indicated her creative personality or the wicked sense of humour that every member of her family possessed.
Taras eyes wandered over the dark hair swept back into a neat chignon at the neck of her jacket, the face with delicate features barely touched by make-up. Ah-ha
We could do a makeover.
A what?
A makeover. Recreate Dana Taylor for one night. Taras smile grew, her imagination kicking in. Thatd get the room talking. The brand-new, sexy Dana with the drop-dead gorgeous Adam Donovan. Hell, thats bound to make you the talk of the town for a few months. In your face material if ever I heard it.
Dana watched as the idea formed in her sister-in-laws eyes, her face now animated. This thing was getting out of control. Really. It was a runaway train.
What kind of makeover?
You just had to volunteer didnt you?
Adam looked at his own eyes in the rearview mirror.
Yeah, and you nearly, almost got away with it. But, no. You went and volunteered, and now youre going to a reunion with the woman you spend half your life trying to get away from. He raised an eyebrow. Youre a genius, arent you?
With practised ease he honed his sports car round a corner at its usual sixty miles an hour, and then swore as he had to reduce speed rapidly to make the turn into Jack and Taras lane way.
His business partner and best friend had let the bachelor team down badly when hed gone and got married. But Adam had forgiven himjust about. After all, the man was happyhell, contented, almost. He could forgive the act if it had that result on a guy he loved like a brother. But as for Jack lumbering Adam with his pain-in-the-ass sister Well, that would take longer to forgive.
He parked his favourite toy, took a deep breath, and walked up the steps and onto the porch of the huge Victorian house. The door swung open before he got to it.
Hey, pal. Jack Lewis grinned at him from the doorway. Nice tux. Dont you look sweet?
Anyone ever told you how much youd suit a black eye?
Nope, but if you reckon youre man enough to try it out
Adam grinned across at him. The two men were of equal height at the six-two mark. Nah, wouldnt dare. Your wife would kick my ass.
Indeed she would. Jack stood back to allow Adam to step into the hallway, his hand immediately reaching across to slap his back. This is a nice thing youre doing, by the way, so Ill just get this out of the way right now He waited until Adam looked him in the eye. I appreciate it.
He damn well should. Adam smiled at the younger man. No problem.
Jacks face changed slightly. If you knew what that useless ex-husband of hers
Adam had moved closer as Jack began to confide in him, but was distracted when movement caught the corner of his eye from the top of the stairs. Turning his head, he glanced upwards as Dana approached.
If his mind hadnt recognised the woman as Dana Taylor hed have fallen in love there and then. She was, quite simply, stunning.
Are you going to keep on looking at me like that all night? She didnt look across at him as he smoothly changed gears and sped along the wide road.
Adam gritted his teeth. This was going to be the longest night of his life. And how exactly am I looking at you?
She took a breath and stared at the alien that was her own reflection in the windscreen. Like youre a chocaholic and Im a bar of best Swiss.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. How in Gods name had she noticed that, when shed spent the last twenty minutes staring straight ahead? The atmosphere in his small car couldnt have been cut in half with a chainsaw.
Thats how most men with a pulse look at women who wear dresses like youre wearingdidnt you know? He smiled sarcastically. Its a chemical reaction, so dont get your G-string in a twist.
Dana sincerely hoped his remark was flippant and not because he could actually see what she was wearing beneath the dress.
Tara had been like a woman possessed from the moment the word makeover had left her lips. Dana, left to herself, would never have worn a dress like this in a billion years. After all, at her age she had things like hypothermia to consider.
Well, could you kindly stop it?
Why? Arent I supposed to be your date? Let me tell you, if this was a real date and you wore that dress we wouldnt even have left the house yetand youd have your make-up to fix in about an hour.
She squirmed slightly on her seat, his words conjuring images in her mind that her imagination had no business creating. For the entire day she had been trying to think up ways of getting out of this charade. But Tara had been having so much fun with it all, and in a small way it was flattering to have people stunned by her transformation. Even if the majority of them were family and the other was the one person on the planet who irritated her most.
Well, well never know, will we? Because this isnt a real date.
They drove on in silence for several long minutes, each of them alone with their thoughts. Adam caught her squirming again in the seat beside him and smiled with sudden realisation. Youre uncomfortable as hell with how you look tonight, arent you?
Great. Insight. When had he developed that?
Im not exactly dressed as me tonight, am I? The words spilled out. She really shouldnt have drunk all that red wine while Tara got her ready.
He shrugged. Not as the anally retentive you that I work with every day, no.
Anally retentive? She turned her head to frown at his words. You think Im anally retentive?
Adam glanced at her and grinned. Hell, yes. You think you arent?
Was she? She mulled his words over in her mind as the car sped towards their destination. The Dana of old would never have been described as anally retentive. Far from it. Shed been wild back in the daya practical joker, a live wire. But back then shed been carefree. Life had changed that. Now she was a single mother, and responsibility came with that title. Maybe she was a tad anally retentive in her working lifewhen Adam saw her. It was the only part of her life shed ever allowed him to see. Shed been careful about that. Even Jess, her daughter, had never been brought to the office. So he really had nothing else to base his assumption on, did he? She shouldnt actually have cared that he thought it. But somehow she did. It ruffled her feathers.
I like things at work to be organised. She tilted her head slightly as she said the words in a sharp tone. And you cant tell me that that office didnt need some organisation. You couldnt even find a pen when I first arrived.
It was true. But that hadnt stopped the business from being successful. Theyd always got the important things done on time. It might have meant a night or two of burning the midnight oil to get there. But theyd always managed it. Just.
He wasnt so pig-headed that he wouldnt admit that her need for neatness and systems had helped. Now the place ran like a well-oiled machine. But in a small way that had taken some of the fun out of it for Adam.
You could loosen up a bit and it wouldnt kill you.
Im loose. She blushed at her own words and he grinned across at her.
I dont need to know about your personal life, Dana.
You dont know anything about me!
Not beyond what she wanted him to see. He knew that much. Had known it for months. It wasnt as if he hadnt known Jacks sisters before, but Dana was as much a mystery to him now as shed been when hed first set eyes on her. Elusive, almost. It was another one of the many things that bugged him about her.
Youre right. I dont. He focused his gaze back on the road as they approached the turning to the hotel where the reunion was being held. Any more than you know anything about me. But that doesnt stop you from judging me, does it?
She snorted quietly. And youre going to tell me you have some hidden side to you, are you? Its well hidden, isnt it?
He screeched to a halt in front of the large building, yanking the handbrake with superfluous force before silencing the purr of the engine and turning to scowl across at her.
You dont want to get to know me, Dana. Thats your problem. Youre so bloody uptight that you prefer to just place people in safe little boxes and never look any deeper than what you see on the surface. Makes everything very safe and secure for you, doesnt it?
Her heart beat a little faster as her anger grew. And this is precisely the reason I didnt want to bring you to this damned reunion. Were not even inside the building and already were having an argument!
Adam took a deep breath and looked out of the windscreen. He watched several people in evening dress filtering in through the hotels glass doors. They were here now. And, as much as he wanted to turn the car around and take her right back to where theyd come from, he was a bigger man than that. He wouldnt let her off that easily. She was just so determined to be right all the damned time. Well, not this time. Hed make the evening convincing if it killed him.
You need to pretend you like me for this to work.
Id win an Oscar for that.
He turned to look at her again. Give it a try. Pretend Im someone else, if you like. Because thats what I intend doing with you.
Pretend I like you?
He nodded. Yes.
Forget who you are?
Yes. His jaw clenched. Just for a few hours. Try looking at me as a man, and not as something you picked up on the heel of your boot. I can do it if you can. Though it would take some effort. All we have to do is forget about real life for tonight. Make like were two people who just met and are still getting to know each other. No preconceptions, no false judgements. Live for the moment and all that.
He made it sound so simple. She blinked across at him. Was it? Was it just that simple? Forget that he was Adam for one evening and get to know him as if he was just some guy? Like a blind date of sorts? She took a breath. It would be a stretch.
The old Dana would have pulled this off with her eyes shut. The old Dana would have found it all hilarious, a great jokea challenge, even. Was there any of that girl left any more? Or had reality squashed her down too much?
Another deep breath. She would try. It was a college reunion, for crying out loud. If that couldnt remind her of the girl shed used to be then what could? She was walking into that room completely made over, ? la Cinderella. And with a ridiculously attractive Prince Charming type at her side, too. What the hell else did she need to pull it off?
Guts, possibly? Shed had those once.
Whats wrong, Dana? His voice dropped to a deep, intimate note. No guts, no glory. If youre too chicken for this, or if youre not woman enough to walk into that room in that dressyou just say the word.
Damn, damn, damn. Why did it have to be him?
It was as if the room went still when they walked in. To the outside view they made one hell of a couple.
Dana couldnt tell if the assembled company had actually done the whole silent thing, due to the band playing on stage at one end of the large area, but heads certainly turned and conversations were certainly interrupted.
Dana smiled. It was actually a nice feeling. She couldnt remember the last time people had looked at her as ifwell, like they were doing right that second. With a sense of awe, almost. With maybe a touch of wow in their expressions. It felt good.
Adam noticed her smile and smiled himself, moving his hand up to touch her back, to guide her into the room. He was reminding himself to play the game. He only remembered when his hand touched soft skin that her dress had no back.
His hand jumped away as if burned before he forced himself to set it back in place, moving his long fingers in an unconscious caress as he ushered her into the crowd. Her skin felt good, his mind recognised, silken and warm to the touchand that was only on her back. Being male, his mind wandered to other areas where a womans skin was softer still. If she was this soft where his hands were now
He cleared his throat, suddenly noting how warm the room was for so early in the evening.
Dana had jumped too when his hand touched her. Surprise, she told herself. After all, it wasnt as if Adam made a habit of touching her naked skin on a daily basis. When his hand settled the second time, and those long fingers of his began their smooth caress, she felt her pulse beat erratically. Shed always known he had quite an effect on women. And shed always wondered why. But if the simple touch of his hand had that kind of effect then she now had a pretty fair idea of the why. TMI, as her daughter would say. Too much information.
She glanced up at him with a tilt of her head, her blue eyes exploring his profile for signs that hed noticed her reaction. After a second he glanced down and their eyes locked. He moved his hand along her back again, his forefinger tracing a line along the ridges of her spine, downwards to the inward curve of the small of her back.
Her eyes grew heavy. He was good at this make-believe stuff.
Adam watched her reaction to his touch. She was quite the little actress. Pretend she was someone else. That was what hed said hed do, right? Well, hell, it wasnt going to be tough. The woman in front of him was a complete strangeras far removed from the Dana he knew asas Godzilla from Brigitte Bardot.
This woman was hot. Hot to the touch, hotter than hell to look atand, had an alarm bell not sounded at the back of his head to remind him occasionally of who she was, Adam would have wanted her. Big style.
As she flicked the edge of her tongue across her mouth he leaned towards her ear. I think we got their attention.
Waiting until he raised his head slightly, she looked into his eyes and smiled. Id say so.
His eyes wandered from hers to a lock of curled hair that brushed against her flushed cheek. He reached out to turn it between his fingers, his other hand still continuing its caress against her spine. So, do you want to mingle, get a drink, dance? Or maybe His eyes met hers again. Maybe we should just find a corner to continue convincing them in.
If he did much more convincing Dana was fairly sure shed explode. Her poor pulse would just beat its way right out of its little passageway. The nerves shed had about attending the stupid reunion and all that red wine were obviously making her react in ways she wouldnt have under normal circumstances. Yeah, that was it. It was a form of stage fright, that was all. This acting thing was a toughie. But she wasnt going into any corner to convince anyone of anything when Adam was looking at her like that.
It was as if shed stepped into a different reality. But she could deal with it. She could make it throughsomehow
I think Id like a drink.
His smile widened, awarding her a glimpse of those perfect white teeth and those dimples of his. I can arrange that. He suddenly leaned down. Dana tilted her head at that exact moment to listen to what he was saying. The two movements in the same split second caused his lips to just barely touch across the sensitive skin below her ear, and his voice tickled against the goosebumps the touch had created. Chicken.
She watched him as he walked away from her, his broad shoulders stretching the material of his jacket as he moved. About six steps away he looked over his shoulder at her and winked. Dana laughed as he turned away again. He really did have enough arrogance to fill the room. Reluctantly she had to admit inwardly that it had a certain element of charm about it. Wild horses wouldnt drag the words from her lips, though.
Even as she laughed at his departing figure she was suddenly surrounded by arms, and lips kissing her cheeks. When she was finally freed she glanced round at the four grinning faces of her friends from the old days. The ones who had known the old Dana best.
Oh, my lord, Dana, where did you get that hunk of man from?
How long have you been seeing him?
It was Lucy who eventually stepped forward to silence them all.
Now, girls, give Dana time to catch her breath. She winked sideways at her. And after seeing you in action Id say you need a moment or two to catch your breath. She flapped a hand in front of her face before smiling a warm smile. I never knew you two were an item. I thought you just worked together.
Tracey McKenna blinked at her. You know that man?
Of course I do. Lucy nodded. Hes Adam Donovanas in Donovan & Lewis, the designers. Dana and Adam work together.
You work together? How do you concentrate long enough to get anything done?
Dana smiled. Believe me, its tough. But I manage somehow.
Hes sex on a stick, isnt he?
God, you always could get them. Ella Dawson blinked at her with a twinkle in her eye. If there was a great-looking guy within fifty paces he always ended up chasing round after you.
Dana searched for a hint of sarcasm in the womans eyes and blinked in surprise when she found none. She examined the words. Really? Ella thought that? She glanced around to see if a crowd of men had formed that she hadnt noticed. Nope.
You really need to get glasses, Ella. Theres no rush of men in my general direction.
Not while you have Adam Donovan with you, theres not!
No, and pretty much never, actually. She was a single parent who was apparently anally retentive; surely that in itself was enough to keep the men from breaking down her front door?
Lucy smiled. You were always popular with the guys, Dana. And, in that dress, what warm-blooded male wouldnt be interested? You look sensational.
Doesnt she, though? I said pretty much the same thing.
The deep, familiar voice sounded beside her left ear, and Adam charmed all of the women as he rewarded them with a smile they each thought was meant only for them. He then handed Dana her glass with a sparkle in his eye, and immediately replaced his hand on her back, where the skin was still warm from the last time hed touched her.
Dana raised an eyebrow as she sipped at her wine. Hed said no such thing, actually. What hed done was gape at her from the bottom of the stairs, then steal glances at her on the trip over. And now he felt he had carte blanche to keep touching her.
We were just saying how typical it is of her to end up with the best-looking guy in the room. Tracey leaned towards Adam as she spoke. Lots of women did that, Dana knew.
Adam blinked. Really? Bit of a goer, was she?
Dana gritted her teeth beneath a smile and elbowed him hard in the ribs. Isnt he just the funniest?
Just a small part of my many charmsisnt it, babes?
And if he called her babes again she was going to elbow him lower next time. She felt him move his hand across her back to her hip, leaving his thumb to play against her skin as he pulled her closer to his side.
She was just so much fun to be around.
Adam gaped slightly at Lucy, the only one of the women hed met before. Fun? To be around? Dana Taylor?
Really?
Dana glared up at him. If he was supposed to be pretending he was in some great relationship with her surely he shouldnt look so damned surprised at the thought that she might actually be fun?
Fortunately Lucy appeared to be a couple of wine glasses past observant. Oh, yeah! I cant tell you the number of times Ive seen her dance on tables or lead us all on some madcap trip somewhere. Do you remember the Twenty-Four-Hour Club, Dana?
As his thumb continued to move along the edge of the material of her dress, over her skin and what he thought might be the minute string of her underwear, Adams mind worked overtime. He sincerely hoped that the Twenty-Four-Hour Club was no relation to the Mile-High Club, or he would never be able to share an office with Dana again.
Danas face began to flame. Not so much because of Lucys reminiscences of the past as the fact that she was now being completely distracted by Adams hand against her. The last thing she needed was for him to find his earlier assumption as to the kind of underwear a woman was forced to wear beneath this type of dress had in fact been correct. She tried to squirm subtly further away from the steel wall of his body.
But Adam was having none of it. He pressed his hand firmer against her hip and drew her closer. With a downward glance that said Oh, no you dont, he asked the obvious question. Twenty-Four-Hour Club, babes?
She swallowed. He really could be quite intense close up, couldnt he? She damped her lips. Probably not what youre thinking it was.
Then why dont you tell me?
It was basically an excuse for drunken trips away.
Dana grimaced at Lucys choice of words. They were accurate, which didnt help her cause any. She gulped down more wine.
Lucy, meanwhile, continued. The idea was to get as far away from basewhich was collegeas possible, and back again within twenty-four hours, on a pre-agreed budget.
Adam smiled at the thought. To anywhere?
Oh, yes. We got all over the placedidnt we, Dana?
Dana opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again as Lucy continued. It started with a boat trip to Scotland, then one to France, then some of us got a bit further afield until Dana the Master topped us all.
His smile upgraded to a grin as he looked down at her. Whered you end up?
New York. She finally managed to get a word in edge-wise.
On a budget of what?
Lucy laughed. That was the best bit. She dressed up as some kind of medical person, and carried a pig heart in a freezer case a medical student mate of hers had got from the hospital. She blagged her way onto the flight for virtually nothing because she was carrying a donor organ. Took some major flirting, from what Ive heard, but she was famous after that.
Adam looked at her with more respect than shed ever seen before from him. Trust him to value her more for her immoral and irresponsible ways of old than for her anally retentive organisation around the office. Typical. Im impressed.
You just would be, wouldnt you?
He tilted his head. Im seeing a whole new side to you here.
She managed a small smile at the truth in his words. I guess you are.
His thumb moved slowly backwards and forwards against her skin. Hypnotic, almost. With a lazy blink of his green eyes he lowered his voice to a deep rumble. Anything else you want to tell me about?
She hadnt wanted him knowing anything in the first place. The hypnotic movement continued against her skin. What do you want to know?
His eyes looked deep into hers. What changed you? The question formed in his brain and almost made it to his mouth. But he closed it just in time. He needed to keep reminding himself this was Dana Taylor, his very own personal nemesis, the woman who made work days seem much longer than their allocated eight to twelve hours.
A voice sounded from outside the sexually charged bubble they were creating. You know she sings?
CHAPTER THREE
IT WAS officially becoming the longest night of her life.
You know she sings? had progressed as the evening continued to You should sing with the band for old times sake. Several glasses of wine later, and the runaway train had gained speed to Boys, get Dana to sing, and eventually half the room had chanted until she set foot on the stage.
Things had just never really improved from the minute the word makeover had left Taras lips until the second Dana stepped up to the mike and looked down on the face of her ex in amongst the crowd, disapproval written all over him.
Add to all that the fact that the make-believe game she was playing with Adam was proving entirely too easy anddare she think it?enjoyable, and really things couldnt get much more complicated.
He had smiled down at her with his impossibly attractive smile as shed been pulled from his side by the people she had once called friends but probably never would again after this night. And as she had glanced back over her shoulder at him she had, for a very brief second, not wanted to leave him. Lets pretend at its most convincing!
Billy, the lead guitarist with the band shed regularly sung with at college, stepped forward to announce, This onell bring back some memories for you lot. Guys, girlsgive it up for Dana Lewis!
She blinked for a moment at the use of her maiden name, then the first soulful notes of an old blues song sounded up. Oh, great. A song with innuendo.
Of course. What else would it be in the nightmare from hell she was currently having? Okay, so it was one shed sung on many different occasions, but not to a crowd that held an ex-husband who might read a lot into the lyrics and a date who appeared to be convinced she was in love with the ex. A date who was forcing her blood to thrum in her veins in ways shed never before experienced.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes to shut out the surreal place she was currently visiting, and began to sing.
Adam shut his mouth when it occurred to him he must look like a child whod just been told Santa didnt exist. Who the hell was this multiple-personalitied woman?
The Dana he worked with every day sure as hell didnt look like the kind of woman who would stand on a stage and sing like that. Her voice was husky, sultry. In fact, in the dictionary under sexy it probably said listen to Dana Taylor sing. The sound went straight from his ears towell, much further south than his ears, and he was stunned by his own reaction.
She slipped a hand up to caress the mikestand, up and down, and his mouth went dry. Dear God.
Her hips swayed slightly as she tilted her head and stepped one foot out to the side. The long slit in the side of her dress allowed a long, glorious, illegal-in-most-countries length of leg to be exposed to the room. Adam gulped and glanced around at the number of men looking up at her. He felt a sudden need to run up and cover her with somethinganything that would shield her from their prying gazes.
She opened her eyes and looked directly at him, damped her lips with the end of her now familiar pink tongue and sang directly at him, her eyes burning him from across the room.
He stepped closer, drawn in by the small smile she gave him. Then her eyes moved and he followed her line of vision to the tall fair-haired man near the back of the crowd. So that would be him, then.
His eyes moved back to her. She threw her long, dark, curled hair back over one shoulder with a flick of her head, her eyes shining withwhat? Anger? Pain? Adam wasnt sure he wanted to know which.
There was clear innuendo in the words of the song as she sang themto him?then turned her gaze back to the remainder of the crowd, closing her eyes and raising her arms slightly with a shrug of her naked shoulders as she continued.
Had she chosen to sing that song specifically for him? The ex? The one she claimed she wasnt still in love with? And why the hell did he, Adam, care all of a sudden if she was or wasnt?
.
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Trish Wylie
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: Adam Donovan′ s good looks and charm may win over every other woman in the world, but divorced mother Dana Taylor is immune. Or so she thinks, until the night Adam poses as her date…and the pretence is so real that they become close. Now she′ s thrilled to discover she′ s pregnant! But she′ s also wary. She′ s been through one difficult marriage, and has had enough emotional trauma to last a lifetime. What will it take for her to believe Adam is different–that he can bring her the happiness she deserves?