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“No. I came to New York because I earned the internship with Hamerstein. It just happened to conveniently be far away from Dallas.” I stared at the floor as bitterness crept up on me.
“Why didn’t your betrothed come with you?” he gritted out, and I jerked my head toward him in surprise.
“I never let it get that far. Even if I hadn’t gotten the internship, I wouldn’t have.”
He relaxed a fraction at that. “Not the marrying kind?”
“I wanted to be an accountant. You’d think that my parents would have figured out by now that when I want something, I don’t stop until I get it.” When had they ever really taken the time to get to know me anyway? “Instead of being proud of me for the internship, my dad was pissed off.”
“Because you didn’t conform to the plan?”
“Yeah, I guess.” I threw up my hands. “Who knows? I was fool enough to date the guy they wanted me to marry.” I scrubbed my hand across my forehead. “I thought they wanted me with him because he’d be good to me. Because they wanted me to find happiness. What if I hadn’t figured out what a jackass he was?”
“Did he hurt you?” Daniel growled.
I shook my head. “No. No. Nothing like that.” I took in a deep breath and angled my body toward his. “Have you ever felt like a pawn in a game you didn’t know you were playing?”
His eyes softened. “All too well.”
“When I graduated from SMU a few months ago, I thought I was on my way. But being near the top of my class wasn’t enough for them.” I grabbed a pillow and shoved it between my legs and my chest. “Dad didn’t care if I got a degree. He just wanted me to marry Johnny Caldwell so he could get all of his daddy’s business.”
“And your mother didn’t try to stop it?”
I lifted my eyes toward the ceiling. “The only thing my mother worries about is how much gin is left in the bottle. And meddling in my father’s affairs.” I sighed and picked at a string on the corner of the pillow. “That’s not really fair. She cares about me the best she knows how.”
Daniel’s fist balled on his leg. “Where does this alliance stand?”
“It doesn’t. DeGraw Electrical Supply and Caldwell Construction will have to continue as before. I’m not marrying Johnny. I’m not going back to Dallas to be a puppet, despite that my daddy thinks I’ll crawl back on my knees,” I finished with a scowl.
“If he tries to force you—”
“He won’t even speak to me.” I set the pillow aside. “I don’t get it. He already does a ton of business with the Caldwells. Why does it matter if I marry into their family?”
“It cements the relationship.”
“I think Mr. Caldwell must have offered him a piece of the company or something. Which would be huge considering they’re one of the biggest contractors in the state.” It was the only thing that made sense, but I’d kept a distance from my father’s business.
Daniel’s jaw worked, pure venom in his voice when he spoke. “You’re worth more than that.”
We went backto the game and eventually saved the princess—well,hedid, so I guess technically he won. But he didn’t gloat, declaring we were a pretty good team. After we high-fived, he slung his arm on the back of the couch, an invitation to come to him. I snuggled into his side, and he caressed my shoulder.
Sparks traveled through me, desire chasing after them. I looked up at him. His lids were heavy, eyes as dark as I’d ever seen them.
“I can’t stop thinking about that kiss,” he said, his voice deeper.
“You mean peck?” I sassed back, even as I scooted closer.
He traced back and forth along my lower lip. “It was more than that, and you know it.”
I shivered, sliding my hand up under his shirt and across his stomach. His muscles flexed, and my mouth turned up in triumph. I wasn’t the only one affected, no matter how minimal the contact.
“I do know,” I admitted, inching my face towards his.
“Let me see.”
I frowned. “See what?”
“How wet you are for me.”
