Chapter Eleven
Dane looked out his office window. On this day, three years ago, Shirley had died.
Probably nobody else remembered. Nobody had been upset about her death but him anyway. But the circus of grief was astounding, he thought sourly. If it had been a movie, everyone would’ve gotten Oscars.
Suddenly images of Sophia at her father’s funeral flashed through Dane’s mind. Her tears and open expression of loss. She’d dashed off all of a sudden, right in the middle of the ceremony, and Dane had hidden himself among the trees. Desperation and something else had driven her that day, but he still didn’t know what it was.
And he had no idea why he’d felt the almost overwhelming urge to show himself and embrace her, tell her everything was going to be all right.
A part of him wanted to check up on her, see how she was doing. He wouldn’t have to do it himself. The family’s PI on retainer, Benjamin Clark, would be more than happy to put a man on her.
Except that would be so damn stalkerish.
Dane grimaced.
Besides, what was there to check? Given how well off Rick Reed had been, she was going to be fine. She’d find some nice schmuck to marry and live happily ever after with two point three children…
He shook his head as bitterness churned in his gut. It wasn’t like him to feel like this about a woman. Any woman, really, much less one he’d slept with only once.
If she’d been just slightly less perceptive…seen him as a guy who drank because he liked to drink and fucked her because he was doing what men naturally liked to do, then he might not have ended it in Mexico the way he had. On the other hand, she might not have lingered in his mind either.
There was a knock at the door, and he said, “Come in.”
He tapped his fingers as the HR director sat across from him and crossed her legs. In her mid-forties, Patty Peterson projected a polished professional image in her pale beige blouse and skinny skirt. She was great at her job, completely no-nonsense, although she knew how to lay it on thick with the workforce when necessary. Amazing that his workers couldn’t see what was in her steel-gray eyes.
“It’s already seven. You going to spend the night here again?” she said.
“Maybe not, if you get to the point fast.”
She shook her head, the tip of her brown bob swishing around her neck. She was one of a few people who didn’t seem bothered by his directness, and he respected that about her. “Normally I wouldn’t bother you with something like this, but we just heard from JJ’s lawyer.” She leaned closer, her expression turning even more serious than usual. “She wants to sue for wrongful termination, sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Oh and she’s mad that you deducted the cost of a new desk and couch from her last paycheck.”
He smiled. “Tell her I don’t keep office furniture that people have fucked on. Also tell her I look forward to being served because I’d love an excuse to release the tape.”
Patty raised one sculptured eyebrow slightly. “What tape?”
“The sex tape. JJ screwing her boyfriend right here in my office. It’s very explicit.”
“She’s claiming you tried to have sex with her.”
“In her dreams. But if she’s honestly going to try that tack I can bring the pictures of the women I’ve dated in the last twelve months. JJ doesn’t measure up to any of them, in any way, and nobody’s going to believe I’d want to force myself on an average-looking brunette when I’ve had all these stunning blondes in my bed. By the time I’m through with her, she’ll never get another job in this state.”
Patty looked at him with a glint of respect in her eyes. “Remind me never to cross you.”
“I believe I just did. Also, Patty?”
“Yes?”
“I needed a new assistant yesterday. See that I have one tomorrow.”
She nodded crisply. “Got it.”
His mobile phone rang. The screen flashed VANESSA. Normally he’d let it go to voice mail, but she was hugely pregnant. Possibly it was some kind of emergency.
He dismissed Patty with a finger-wave and swiped the phone screen. “I’m busy, make it quick.” He needed to change and make an appearance at Elizabeth’s charity function. Another hundred thousand bucks or so in tax deductions would be helpful this year.
“Do you know what Dad’s doing right now?”
Dane started removing his tie. “No.”
“He’s at Éternité, with some young thing that looks like she’s barely out of high school.”
“And?”
“‘And?’ He’s been flaunting her, claiming he’s only doing what you advised him to! Do you have any idea what it was like running into him and her?”