AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I can think of more important things for you to do than chasing weasels. Like coming back here so I can make sureyou're real." I rake him with my gaze, taking in every tantalizing detail.
Dane saunters over to me. His hands slide around my waist. "I'm real."
"But are you sure? It would be painfully cruel if you were some illusion instead." I reach out and pinch Dane's arm.
"Ow!" he says as he jumps. "What was that for?"
"I had to make sure I wasn't dreaming."
Dane doubles over with laughter, tears filling his eyes. "You're supposed to pinch yourself, not the other person, to check if you're dreaming."
"But if I pinch you and you say 'ow' and jump, doesn't that also tell me it's real? Technically, somebody felt it. Right?"
"I suppose so," Dane chuckles.
"Besides, that was also payback for not calling me. You left me hanging for eleven days."
"I thought you hated me."
"I missed you too much to stay pissed."
"Thank God for being missed. I thought you were ready to dump me in the Danube before you left."
"Mmm, not quite. But if you don't kiss me, Dane Evans, I might dump you in the East River."
"In that case, come here." Dane pulls me into his arms, his lips soft and sensual as he tenderly kisses me. He slowly releases me and steps back. "I'd do much more than kiss you if we weren't in a huge venue surrounded by strangers."
"I suppose that is a drawback. We should go downstairs so you're not so tempted. Besides, I need to introduce you to my boss and coworkers."
"I already met them."
"What? How?" I stare at Dane, shocked by his comment. No one at work mentioned they had met him or that he was in town.
"I went to your office late this morning to see you and found out you'd gone home. I met Romeo, Katherine, and Natalia, and after several interesting conversations, they gave me Natalia's ticket to tonight's venue so I could surprise you."
I lean back, scrunching an eye as I tilt my head. "Okay, all this didn't actually happen, did it?" In my mind, there's no way this whole story could be true. Natalia was so livid when she found out how I'd botched my assignment I thought she'd skewer Dane on the spot if he were there.
"Oh, it happened all right. I'm seated at your table."
"Wow, I wouldn't have figured Natalia to be nice."
"She was snarky at first. But I might have saved your story with a little revamping, which seemed to make her happy."
"What kind of revamping?"
"It's nothing bad. Since your original storyline got discarded because of our relationship, I thought you might salvage it by tweaking it into a love story."
"You mean you and me?"
"Minus the X-rated stuff before the cruise. Why don't we discuss the changes downstairs? The quicker we join the group, the sooner we might be able to get out of here. And I have a list of things I want to do to you."
"I can't wait to hear your list." My pulse jumps into high gear, and I can feel a tightness in my lower body as I envision Dane working his way through his list.
"And I can't wait to show you." Dane gives me one of his trademark devilish grins, making me practically drool with anticipation. Taking me by the arm, he leads us down the stairs.
We reach the main floor, and Dane leaves me to get us a glass of wine. I'm standing there waiting while I listen to one of the speakers on the stage when I notice a woman coming toward me. I growl under my breath.
The woman is Lacey.
