“Shane—”
He presses the key into my hand. “You can still buy your own. Until then, we’ll make do with the two at our disposal. Agreed?”
A car pulls up nearby and I give a reluctant nod, slipping the key into my purse.
“Good,” he approves, and we walk toward the elevator.
“So there’s a Bentley just sitting in a garage?”
“For a year, which is insanity, but proof I wasn’t committed to staying here.”
“You have an apartment there too?”
“Yes and I’m keeping it.” He punches the button to the elevator. “In fact, why don’t we plan a trip? I have this family meeting my father wants to have Sunday, but we can go next weekend. We can have that talk I promised then as well.”
I think he’s buying time but he’s still planned a time and place to talk, and I can happily live with that. “That would be wonderful. I’m excited to see what a place you picked and decorated looks like.”
Once inside the elevator for the short hop to the lobby, he adds, “We still need to decorate this one.” His eyes meet mine, jagged emotions in their depths. “I think I need to do it now.”
Before his father dies, I supply mentally, and quickly agree. “I think that might be a good idea.”
We exit to the lobby and soon we’re on the main car, headed to Brandon Enterprises’ corporate level, and almost to our floor when I suddenly remember Randy. “Any word on the security guard?”
“He’s not on our staff,” he says, “but we think he’s connected to Derek. I’ll let you know when I have confirmation.”
That news makes my stomach somersault. “I tried to get into Derek’s office that night. He could have so easily caught me in there.”
The elevator dings. “You shouldn’t have been trying to get into his office,” he warns. “Don’t put yourself at risk.”
The doors open. “I thought I was alone and I didn’t get caught,” I say, stepping into the hallway and he quickly joins me, catching my arm and turning me to face him.
“Don’t take risks with Derek. Now it’s your turn to promise me.” I open my mouth to argue and he doesn’t give me the chance. “Promise, Emily.”
“Yes, okay. I promise.”
He studies me a moment, as if confirming my agreement, before releasing me, and we continue to the offices, where the glass walls allow confirmation that the receptionist is not yet in and has not witnessed our encounter. “I’m going to have a chat with my father before I go to my office,” he says, holding the door for me.
“I’m actually going to go thank Jessica for shopping for me.”
He gives me a quick nod and turns away, while I head down the hallway toward his office. Derek’s secretary is already at her desk, but as usual she doesn’t bother to even glance up at me, which suits me just fine. Cutting left, I bring Jessica into view and her eyes go wide. “Oh my God,” she says, standing up, her prim navy suit jacket with white trim proving the woman knows how to shop. “I knew that dress would look amazing on you.”
I stop in front of her desk. “I love it. Thank you, but I have a bone to pick with you.”
“He’s my boss. I have to do what he says.”
“You didn’t have to spend that much money.”
“He wanted me to do it and he said you wouldn’t do it for yourself.”
“I wouldn’t have. I wish he wouldn’t have.”
“He wanted to do it. Honey, he cares about you. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone.”
“You’ve known him a year.”
“But I know him better than most. Now. Forget the money. Did I do well? Do you like everything? Because we can return things.”
“What is not to love? You have exquisite taste.” Footsteps sound and I look up to find Shane approaching, the flutter in my stomach at the sight of him impossible to ignore. He’s just so perfect, at least to me.
He stops between me and his door, his hand settling at my back, warming me all over, his head tilting low. “Let me know when my father gets in, sweetheart.”
“Of course,” I say, and he disappears into his office, shutting the door.
Jessica’s eyes light. “You two are so sexy together. I’m jealous.”
I blush and a prickling sensation on my neck has my head turning to the right where I find Derek’s secretary, whose name I can’t even remember, sitting at her desk, and giving me a You tramp kind of knowing look. Embarrassed, and appalled at how unprofessional I look, I turn away, and grab Jessica’s phone, punching in Shane’s number. “Shane,” I say, over the intercom.
He picks up immediately. “Is my father here?”
“I don’t know, but—” I shut my eyes, not sure what I’m going to say. “Never mind.” I hang up.
Jessica’s brows furrow. “What was that?”
Shane’s door opens but I don’t face him. “Come here, Emily,” he commands.
Now, I turn to him. “I need to go to my desk.”
“That wasn’t a request.”
Not a request. I do not like that, but for the moment, I comply with his demand. I march to him and he backs into his office, shutting the door behind me the minute I enter, but I take control. “Don’t order me around with the pretense of work, when it’s personal.”