By the time Rock opened the door to help her out Dana had made up her mind. She would be bold and assertive. She would be the old Dana that Mr. French used to laughingly call his bodyguard. She’d deferred to Rock’s powerful personality for long enough. Tonight she would go for what she wanted. As she took his hand and stood up she spoke before her courage fled. “I’d like you to have dinner with me. I…I don’t want to be alone tonight.” She bit her lip. That hadn’t come out quite like she’d planned. A Freudian slip, if there ever was one.
“It’s a date,” Rock said, and if he’d noticed her blunder he didn’t let on. He put up a hand to brush a strand of hair away from her temple. “I can think of no better way to spend the evening.”
And the way he said it, as if he truly meant it, made Dana’s heart soar. And a wicked plan began to form in her mind.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
That night at dinner with Rock, Dana did something she’d never done in her life. She had three whole glasses of wine.
She knew she’d pay later for her sin of overindulgence but right then it was what she needed. A good dose of Dutch courage. For what she was about to do, she needed a whole keg of it.
The evening passed pleasantly enough, with Rock revealing his secret comical side as he shared several of his schemes and escapades from his college days. Then she shared some of hers but, of course, they weren’t half as daring or interesting. Still, he paid attention and laughed at all her jokes, and that made her feel good.
And confident. And strong.
And so when Rock walked her to the door that night she didn’t bid him goodnight and disappear into her suite…as she should have done…if she hadn’t made up her mind to throw caution to the sea breeze and break a cardinal rule.
Tonight she was going to sleep with her boss.
Okay, it was stupid, it was dangerous, it was wanton. But tonight she wanted it more than anything. And she might never get the chance again.
And so, before Rock could even wish her goodnight, she said, “Would you like to come in?”
Rock looked at her askance. “Are you sure?”
Dana gave him a smile that she hoped was reassuring. “Of course. It’s only nine o’clock and I’m not tired.”
Rock still looked wary but she was determined to get him inside so, without waiting for his answer, she opened the door and walked in, leaving him to follow.
And he did. A bit hesitantly at first but then he walked over to the sofa he’d occupied before. As soon as he’d settled into it Dana headed for the fridge. “Apple juice, right?”
“No, give me a glass of the Dew.” Dana almost looked around. Rock sounded breathless, which was weird for him, but she resisted the urge and leaned down to get the drink he’d requested. She helped herself to a glass as well…not that she needed it, the way she was wired tonight.
This time when she handed Rock his glass she did not fly away to hide on the distant armchair. Instead, she slid onto the sofa beside him.
As he watched her move, his brows fell but he said nothing.
Time for conversation, Dana. Say something. “Uhm, it was really great, hearing all those crazy college stories of yours.” Okay, not exactly brilliant conversation, but keep going. “I still can’t believe you used to be such a fun guy.”
He raised his left eyebrow. “Used to be?”
She smiled and took a sip of her drink. “Well, you have to admit, now that you’re older you can’t do those daring things anymore.”
He looked over at her, his golden eyes intent and, never releasing her from his gaze, he put his glass to his lips and downed the liquid in one smooth swallow. Then he deposited his glass on the table and turned on the seat, shifting his body in her direction.
“Do you want me to be daring, Dana?” he asked softly, his eyes boring into her. “Why did you invite me in?”
Dana blushed and curled her fingers tighter around her glass. Now that he’d put things into words it didn’t sound like such a brilliant idea. The man was her boss. How could she forget that? “Well, I…” she began then stopped, searching desperately for the right words…if there were any, in a situation like this.
Rock reached out and, just like he’d done last time, he took her glass from her nerveless fingers. It, too, ended up on the coffee table. Then he turned his attention back to her.
“Well, I…?” He repeated her words, his mouth twisting into a smile. “Is that all you can say?”
Dana frowned. Was he mocking her? He’d better not. What she was going to say next would be such a shock it would wipe that crooked smile off his lips. “I invited you in because I wanted…to make love to you. But I changed my mind.” There, she’d said it. Out loud. And now he’d know what a wicked woman she really was, and he’d never want to speak to her again, and he’d fire her, and she would never see him again, and she still didn’t know what it was to make love to him, and…
She put her fist to her lips to suppress the sob that was threatening to spill out.
Rock reached over to touch her hand and, gently, he pulled it away from her mouth. “Did you really…change your mind?”
Dana’s lips curled down and her brows crinkled as she accepted defeat. How could she resist him? Feeling ready to cry, she shook her head.
“Dana, Dana, Dana,” he crooned, and pulled her into his arms.
This time she didn’t wait for him to kiss her. She’d blundered enough by talking. Now was the time for action.
Dana reached up to cup the back of Rock’s head in her hand and pull it down toward her. When his lips touched hers she pressed against him, reveling in the feel of his mouth on hers.
Rock’s arms tightened around her and then he was kissing her back, taking control, demanding her willing response.
It was just what she wanted. At his urging, she opened to him and as his tongue slipped between her lips she moaned. He tasted of Mountain Dew and passion. A heady combination.
When he released her lips, Dana pushed Rock back into the couch until his body was tilted back against the arms and then she was climbing onto the seat, bending over him, determined to take everything she could from this man. Tonight would be hers and nothing would make her back down.