Millionaires' Destinies(59)
“Give me a minute. I need to think about it.”
Melanie wasn’t about to give him a minute. She wanted a solution and she wanted it now. “This plan is backfiring on us, isn’t it?”
“Could be.”
“Then fix it, dammit.”
He gave her an enigmatic look. “Any suggestions?”
“Tell her the truth,” Melanie said impatiently. “How’s that for a novel idea?”
“I’m not even sure I know what the truth is anymore,” he admitted, his expression oddly wistful.
“I’ll tell you what the truth is. We are not engaged!” she said, her voice rising.
“You’re wearing my ring,” he reminded her mildly.
“It’s fake.”
“I can assure you it’s not.”
She scowled at him. “I mean it doesn’t mean anything. The engagement is a fraud, a hoax, a stupid game.”
“It definitely started that way,” Richard agreed.
Something in his tone stopped her from continuing her own ranting. “Richard?”
He lifted his gaze to hers, his eyes troubled. Then, before she could guess his intention, he leaned across and touched his lips to hers, softly, tenderly. Heat flared as if he’d touched a match to kindling.
They sat by the side of the road, the motor idling, oblivious to the passing traffic, caught up in a kiss that shook Melanie to her very core. She wanted to cling to him, to keep his mouth against hers forever, to taste him, to let that heat build and build until there wasn’t a thought left in her head, until she was only feeling these intense, wicked sensations that he stirred in her.
She hadn’t bargained for this, had told herself a million times not to get involved, not to let down her guard for even an instant. All good resolutions. All wasted. She was involved. She was in love.
She was doomed.
Even knowing that—heaven help her—she couldn’t seem to stop kissing him. Richard was the one who finally backed away, looking as shattered as she felt. A small, annoying smile tugged at his lips.
“What?” she grumbled.
“That kiss felt damn real to me,” he said.
“It can’t be,” she protested, still trying to cling to some tiny shred of sanity.
“Who says?”
“I do. We agreed—”
He shrugged, still looking vaguely amused. “Things change.”
“But they haven’t changed,” she insisted vehemently. “I won’t let them change. I can’t.”
He blinked at her fierce tone. “Why?”
“I work for you, dammit. I told you I will not be put in that position again.”
He nodded slowly, his expression suddenly shuttered. “So you did.”
His easy acceptance of that should have filled her with relief. It didn’t.
“Please take me home,” she requested quietly.
“No problem.”
Trying to put some professional distance between them, she asked, “Are we going to meet with the finalists for your campaign manager’s job this week?”
He shook his head. “I’m having Winifred postpone that.”
She gave him a sharp look. “Why?” “Let’s just say I’m reexamining my priorities.” She stared at him blankly. “What does that mean?”
“I’ll let you know when I figure it out.”
Melanie was still pondering Richard’s enigmatic remark when Destiny called first thing in the morning a few days after Christmas.
“Richard tells me he’s given you the day off,” she said cheerily.
“I have other clients,” Melanie reminded her.
“No one works during the holidays.”
Melanie couldn’t deny that. Her phone had been silent for several days now. Even Becky was off at the holiday sales, a ritual she engaged in with the fervor of a true shopaholic.
“I was hoping to catch up on a few things while the office is quiet,” Melanie claimed. What she did not want to do was spend time trying to come up with more believable fibs to feed to Destiny. She felt crummy enough about the growing pile of lies as it was.
“Whatever you’re doing can wait,” Destiny said. “I have other plans.” Her tone suggested Melanie was expected to fall in with them without question.
“What?” Melanie asked suspiciously, visions of all those lists still haunting her.
“Just a little preliminary scouting expedition,” Destiny said cheerfully. “It’ll be fun.”
“You want to go shopping today? I’d rather eat dirt.”
“We’ll start with lunch and champagne. That should get you into the proper spirit,” Destiny said, undaunted by Melanie’s lack of enthusiasm. “I’ll pick you up in an hour. Wear comfortable shoes.”