Page 34 of Stained
A certain edge stung her voice. “The other day when you… asked me to come over. I saw him on the way out. I didn’t know who he was, so your driver told me.”
Danica glanced at the front seat. “Did my father say anything to you?”
“The truth?”
“I would only ask for the truth, Ms. Colbert.”
Alicia sucked in her breath, hands kneading her lap. “He told me not to come back.”
“I see.” That was all Danica said on the matter. Must have been about what she expected.
The limo took a wide turn, slowly, but enough to make Alicia slide toward Danica. Her hand grazed Alicia’s outer thigh. Alicia’s instincts told her to retreat to her seat, but what was the point? They had already fooled around twice. What was stopping them from…
She realized the issue.We’ve never done anything romantic. Was this romantic? She thought the dinner had the potential, but that went south. Plus, this moment wasn’t super romantic, either. Danica didn’t pull her hand away, but she didn’t offer any romance, either. All she did was sigh to have her hand against Alicia’s skirt.
“I want to formally apologize once again for any discomfort you have felt because of me,” she said. “I understand that I am not the most conventional woman. Mind you, I’ve had to have other people tell me that. This includes my peers.” She must have meant those other billionaires, who, for as high in the clouds as they were, still had a semblance of humor and, oh, humanity to them. If even those types of people had to tell Danica she was a standoffish bitch, then it probably said something about her more than anything else. “I am busy. I know you’ve had to live on my schedule, and I’m sorry. I don’tknow what else to tell you, though. To be around me means that’s the way it is.”
Alicia shrugged. “You think I don’t know that? You’re an important woman doing important things. What am I compared to that? Although…” She chuckled. “You should probably pull back on the whole bothering me at work thing. It’s gonna cause some problems.”
“My apologies. I simply had to see you, though.”
“So you keep saying.” Alicia leaned more into the leather seat, not one to brush her hand against Danica’s leg, but certainly thinking about it.It’s this damn perfume! Pulling me in. Again.“I don’t know why you’re so into me, Danica, but I’m going to guess this is a phase for you. I understand. I don’t expect anything more than what we’ve already done.”
Danica tilted her head, ever so slightly. “I assure you, I do not take such things as dating lightly. I class random encounters and dating quite differently. I’ve considered you someone that I am dating from the moment I asked you out to dinner.”
“So I graduated from on-call honeypot to your date? Nice.”
“I’m assuming that’s sarcasm.”
“Your assumptions would be correct.”
Danica sighed. The limo slowed down. “I don’t want you to feel tense around me, Ms. Col… Alicia.” Such a striking difference between how Danica said Alicia’s last name and her first name. From harsh, demanding, sensual to soft and slightly flirtatious. “If you have a grievance, please air it. I get tired of the mind games and passive aggression in my everyday life. It would be nice to be around someone I could trust to speak their mind.”
Alicia still couldn’t look her in the eye.Not until we’re totally alone. I’m not succumbing to sex in the back of a limo with a mindful bodyguard up front!“Is that another perk to being someone you’re dating?”
“For you, it would be.” The limo came to a complete stop, although Danica did not hurry to get out or otherwise insinuate they had to vacate the back of the car. “I want to get to know you better. I’m hoping that this won’t be our last date.”
“So you’ve said. Something about marrying me.”
“Forget I said anything about that.”
“Oh, no, you can’t take that back.” Was Alicia more comfortable already? Helped that this woman now had more layers to her than a single-ply paper towel. “A girl is never going to forget someone saying that, let alone on what is their first date. You’re following your instincts.” The driver came around and opened Danica’s door. “So happens that they’re leading you to me.”
Danica waved away the driver and bodyguard. “Indeed, they are. Shall we? At least let me treat you to a nightcap. I think you’ll like where we’ve ended up.”
She came to Alicia’s door before she had the chance to step out.Whoa. This was a woman who always had assistants moving about… for herself! The driver also raised his eyebrows, confirming that Danica helping a woman out of her limo was a strange sight.
Alicia couldn’t be concerned with that, however. From the moment she stood up outside, she was hit with fresh, cool air. Where the hell were they? By the river?
Close. They had pulled up to the private end of the city marina, where everyone who gave a shit owned a yacht or other recreational vessel. Danica took Alicia by the hand and, upon seeing her shiver in the cool breeze, removed her sapphire suit jacket and wrapped it around Alicia’s shoulders. The driver and bodyguard exchanged perplexed looks.This isn’t helping.
The jacket was so soft and silky that Alicia couldn’t believe it was anything but clouds touching her bare arms. And the scent! If she ever thought it was overpowering before, she could havesworn that Danica laundered all her clothes in perfume. Shit, maybe she did!
“Do you like the water, Ms. Colbert?”
“I…” They took tentative steps toward the wooden walk leading to the nearest private dock. “I don’t feel one way or the other about it.”
“Better than not liking it.” Danica motioned for the bodyguard to keep a respectful distance.Is that guy following us to wherever we’re going?“I don’t plan on pulling up anchor, but I would like to show you my yacht.” Danica stopped after they stepped onto the walk. “To be sure, my downtown home would be more comfortable… but my father is staying there.”
