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She nodded. Staying in character until the end, she thought ironically.
“Your husband asked me to come for you. He and Mr. Drake would like for you to join them for breakfast.”
She frowned, confused. Daniel hadn't said anything about breakfast. But he had said someone would be coming for her. Maybe this was a cover story, in case anyone was watching her or something. “I, um—”
The man held the door open more widely. “They're expecting you,” he prodded.
She glanced over her shoulder, saying a brief goodbye to the overly fussy suite—and to the man with whom she had shared it. “All right. I'm ready.”
She took great pride in the fact that her voice was steady despite the flood of emotions pouring through her.
Her escort smiled as he closed the door behind them. Something about that smile sent an odd feeling shooting through her, but she told herself she was being paranoid. She trusted Daniel, she reminded herself. He wouldn't send anyone for her who posed any threat to her.
Holding her head high, she allowed the uniformed man to lead her down the hallway.
Daniel was having a great deal of trouble concentrating on what he was supposed to be doing. Though Drake was droning on about something or other that should be of interest, Daniel heard an entirely different voice instead. Entirely different words.
I just want you to know I'm in love with you.
His fists clenched beneath the table. What on earth could make her think he deserved a gift like that?
It wouldn't last, of course. It wasn't real. She'd been affected by the romance of the evening before, dazzled by their lovemaking.
Maybe it was transference or one of those other psychological phenomena that supposedly happened when someone found herself swept into a bizarre situation and had only one ally to turn to. Or maybe it was just the memory of a troubled young boy who no longer existed and a restless young girl who had felt stifled by the expectations of her huge, loving family.
She would come to her senses as soon as she was safely back in her real life. It wasn't love. But for just a little while it had felt an awful lot like it.
“You're drifting again, Daniel. Having trouble paying attention this morning?”
Drake looked sleazier than usual when Daniel glanced across the table. Maybe it was just the contrast to the purity of the images in his mind. “Go on. I'm listening.”
Drake tented his fingers and studied Daniel coolly over them. “You know, I've always paid attention to my instincts. They've kept me out of more trouble than you can imagine over the years.”
Daniel lifted an eyebrow. “I'm sure they have.” He had great respect for Drake's instincts himself, which was why he had been so careful around him.
“Yes, well, lately I've been getting a few signals from you that have bothered me. So I've taken steps to make sure that I have your full cooperation as we conclude our business.”
The small hairs on the back of Daniel's neck seemed to stand suddenly on end. “What are you talking about?”
“I've been watching you with your wife during the past few days. It's been…an enlightening experience for me.”
Every muscle in his body going tense, Daniel remained silent, staring at the other man with narrowed eyes.
Drake's smile had turned rather pitying. “You misled me about her, you know.”
Oh, hell. “In what way?”
“You implied that you married her for her money. That you've been humoring her so she wouldn't ask many questions about your dealings with her holdings.”
Daniel forced himself to shrug carelessly, relieved that Drake was still buying the marriage charade. “That's the truth, basically. I keep her happy and she asks nothing more of me.”
“But it's not entirely the truth. You didn't add that you're in love with your wife.”
Daniel snorted—and the incredulous reaction wasn't entirely feigned. “Get real, Drake.”
“Oh, I am real. I'm not the sort of man to develop special feelings for any particular woman, of course, but I like to consider myself a shrewd judge of other men's weaknesses. Brittany is your weakness. You wouldn't do anything to put her at risk.”
B.J. was safe, Daniel reminded himself. He had seen to that. Which didn't mean he had to like the way this jerk was talking about her. “I have no intention of putting my wife at risk. Now if we could get back to—”
