Fair Game Inc (2010) (11 page)

That question brought a flush to her face, even in the privacy of the empty office. oI wasnAEt thinking with my brain.o

Absently, she brushed her hand across her lips, remembering the warm pressure of GraysonAEs lips against hers, his strong arms pulling her further into his embrace. oSurely he didnAEt think he had to kiss me to get me to work for him. He must need help desperately.o

oNot as desperately as I do.o Her entire body ached for more of his purposeful, yet gentle caresses. Feelings, sensations too long buried, now rose to the surface and cried out to be satisfied.

The phone rang, jolting her from scarlet daydreams. Amber looked about guilty and embarrassed, as if the walls themselves could read her thoughts. Gingerly, she reached for the phone.

oBarlow & Charles.o

oItAEs me, Grayson.o

His rich, deep voice filled her senses. He sounded cheerful enough. Open and unguarded, completely different than he had the night before.

oBad day, I take it.o

oWhat?o

oYour note said youAEve been in court all day.o

oOh that, right. Bad day in court. IAEm going to be tied up most of the night, as well. But I was wondering....o

oYes?o Amber fought to keep her voice from trembling. This was potentially dangerous ground. What impression had she left him with last night? And what, exactly, had he been wondering?

oI was wondering if youAEd like to go out with me tomorrow night.o

oSaturday night?o

oSaturday night is date night.o

oYouAEre asking me out on a date?o Her voice rose an octave.

He paused, as if he fumbled for the right words to say. oSure, why not?o

oI donAEt know, I--o

oYouAEve been doing all this work for me, and IAEd like to pay you back.o His voice slid over her like silk, an unfamiliar seductive tone.

oYouAEve already taken me out for dinner twice.o

oYes, well--o

oAnd after last night I wasnAEt sure--o

oForget last night.o The same silky tone, but she couldnAEt mistake the order behind the kind words. oCome out with me tomorrow night and letAEs have some fun.o Fun just didnAEt seem like a Grayson kind of word. ****

Amber frowned at the contents of her closet. A row of power suits in subdued colors took up most of the hanging space. On a couple of hangers squashed into the back lay a pair of well-worn blue jeans, and a couple of out of date party dresses. Her hand froze upon the bulky bag though which she could see the lacy outline of a wedding dress. With a muffled cry of dismay, she stuffed it further to the back of her closet, out of sight and mind, and resolutely turned her thoughts to the problem at hand.

Nothing seemed suitable for a date with a man whoAEd sued her. Especially considering she didnAEt know where they were going, whether formal, causal or strictly business would be appropriate.

Which message did she want to send? She couldnAEt decide that, either. What went on in the convoluted mind of Grayson Charles remained a mystery. All her people reading skills were useless when it came to this particular specimen.

Amber rummaged through her closet, coming up with a simple black dress that would be appropriate for any of those roles. Stuffing her feet into a pair of black pumps, she added a single strand of pearls and surveyed her reflection. Black offset her flame red hair wonderfully and added a smoky depth to her gray eyes. oI donAEt know what game youAEre playing, Mr. Charles,o she told the mirror as she added a brush of taupe eschewed and a hint of lipstick. oBut, I intend to win.o Amber pressed her lips together, then smiled.

oCheck mate.o

Her buzzer rang.

She opened the door to find him lounging confidently against the door frame. oHi.o

oGood evening.o His eyes made an appreciative sweep over her black dress. oYou look wonderful.o

oI do?o The sudden compliment caught her off guard. oI mean, thank you.o

He looked magnificent himself, she decided. Dark gray pants offset a sweater in a lighter tone. Thrown over one arm was a sports jacket sheAEd noticed hanging in the closet at Barlow & Charles. Apparently, his casual attire didnAEt get much more wear than hers. But it was the open, casual smile that made him look different.

oYouAEre in a good mood tonight.o

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. oYouAEd be surprised how much a day off can do for a manAEs attitude.o

oSo you decided to take RogerAEs advice.o

For a moment his face clouded in confusion.

oAbout not working so hard,o she supplied.

oOh right. Roger is infinitely wise.o

Amber stared up at him, trying to gauge whether he was being sarcastic.

oAmong his many faults.o Sarcasm definitely colored the tone of that statement.

oWould you like to come in?o

oMaybe later. LetAEs go dancing.o

oDancing!o The word slipped out as incredulously as if heAEd asked her to go sky diving.

oYou donAEt dance?o

oItAEs been a while. IAEm ... a little rusty.o

He grinned, showing even white teeth. But his smile didnAEt hold the warmth she remembered. oI think we can get rid of the rust, Ms. Shaw.o Gallantly, he offered her his arm. oShall we go?o

His dark green Mercedes pulled up at the curb of a dance club where even the cover price was beyond her budget. Grayson handed the keys to the valet parking attendant and escorted her past the long line of people waiting to get in. The doorman seemed to know him, that, or the bill he pressed into his hand introduced him effectively enough.

I suppose wealth has its privileges. With a dark frown, Amber followed him into the crowded interior. The music was louder than she would have liked, the other women dressed as extravagantly as rare jewels. She turned to protest that they leave and go somewhere quiet enough to hear each other talk, but before she could open her mouth, Grayson smiled devastatingly down at her and led her onto the crowded dance floor.

His body moved with fluid grace, as he led her through the steps of the first fast dance. It was easy to follow his lead, as he held her a chaste distance apart. He was impressive to watch in motion, his limbs moving in effortless harmony. Never would she have guessed Grayson Charles hid such an uninhibited side beneath the outward steel of his personality.

He was a delight to watch as he glided across the dance floor, taking her with him. Poetry in motion, yet his body seethed with unbridled sensuality, as he seduced her with languid movement. She could feel the heat radiating from his body only inches from hers, and yet somehow, the electricity that had crackled between them was missing.

She considered this a moment, losing the time of the step. Grayson Charles was like chameleon, changing color just when she thought she had a fix on him.

oSomething wrong?o

oNo,o she said quickly.

oHave I told you how beautiful I think you are with your fiery red hair and your raven black dress?o

The compliment slipped easily from his lips as if he discussed the weather instead. AmberAEs eyes narrowed.

oMy mother told me never to trust men who tell me IAEm beautiful.o

oReally?o He whirled her about and pulled her back against him, not even missing a beat at her accusation. Looking down into her eyes, he said wickedly, oThen I guess IAEd better be very nice to your mother. Do you think sheAEd like me?o

ItAEs been so long since I brought a man home, sheAEd probably be impressed with anyone who still had a pulse. Amber held her tongue firmly in check. oSheAEs a hard lady to please.o

oAnd she passed on her discerning taste to her daughter.o

Actually, she told me never to trust a man, period. After all, she knew my father all her life and see, he left her. She took a lot of joy out of my life with her constant warnings. She took great pride in saying aeI told you soAE when Eric left me. Amber couldnAEt share any of the ugly thoughts passing through her mind. How could she possibly explain her wildly conflicting desires to be loved and her deep mistrust of intimate relationships? Amber reined in her thoughts. Grayson Charles was enough to handle without trying to battle her own demons as well.

oWeAEre cautious in who we entrust our affections to,o she said for lack of a more civil comment and forced a smile. She was out on a date with a handsome, attentive man. Where had her manners fled to?

But Grayson was staring down into her eyes with that warm inviting smile. oAmber, Amber....o He twirled her around and caught her close. oYouAEve got to chill out a little. Have some fun.o

Amber looked up into dark eyes that reflected the lights from the dance floor. oYou really have taken RogerAEs advice to heart.o ****

Something was wrong. Grayson could feel it in the air as soon as he stepped out of the cab in front of RogerAEs condo. He hadnAEt given RogerAEs strange request to borrow his car and his favorite sports jacket much thought. His mind crammed with details of the Gridwell case, he hadnAEt had concentration to spare for anything else. But with the case nailed down, at least for the moment, and a long Saturday night stretching before him, a few aimless details floated around in his mind, taking shape into a disturbing picture.

A call to RogerAEs only got him an answering machine message. His twin didnAEt answer his intercom, either. Grayson left the lobby and strolled down the sloping driveway to the garage entrance. He waited only a few seconds before the door opened and a car came whizzing through. Grayson slipped inside.

So RogerAEs car was in the shop, was it? He walked along the white lined parking places until he came to RogerAEs parking space. And stopped cold.

Parked neatly in its customary spot was RogerAEs obscenely-red Porsche. GraysonAEs heart froze in his chest. oLittle brother, what have you done?o ****

Tethered by GraysonAEs arm, Amber spun in a kaleidoscope of color. She blinked, seeing for a moment double Graysons. One whirled with her through the closely packed bodies on the dance floor. Another strode up behind, his face a mask of fury.

She faltered in her step, skidding to a stop in her high heels.

oWhat--o Grayson reached to catch her. Simultaneously, he found himself seized by the shoulder and whirled around.

In that moment it all clicked. The easy smile, the meaningless endearments. It was the Mercedes, the short hair and the sports jacket that put her off the trail. Pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

oRoger!o Her voice rose above the music. She heard Grayson echo her exclamation in a lower, menacing tone.

Roger started at the sound of his name. He looked quickly from Amber to his brother, paling at the fury in GraysonAEs voice. GraysonAEs eyes raked over his body, taking in the haircut that was a mirror image of his own, the sports jacket and the woman he still held by shoulder and waist. Anger flared in GraysonAEs eyes. He looked even more furious than the night she dumped the ice in his lap, more menacing than sheAEd seen him in court.

oI can explain,o Roger blurted.

oDonAEt bother.o She looked from one to the other, desperately choking back the sudden tears that sprang to her eyes. It was all just a great joke to them. And sheAEd played right along.

Amber tore her hand from RogerAEs grip. Balling her fingers into a tight fist, she resisted the urge to slap him open-handedly across the face. She suspected she wouldnAEt be the first woman to do so, but still she abhorred violence. Best to get out of this humiliating situation with a shred of her dignity intact.

Whirling on her heel, she made her way through the press of bodies to the table where sheAEd left her purse and the twenty dollar bill that would see her safely home in a cab. Never trust a man, her motherAEs words echoed in her ears. To think just a moment ago, sheAEd been ready to let that warning go forever.

oAmber, wait! IAEll drive you home.o Grayson reached for her, catching her by the arm. He looked back at Roger. oSince my car is in the parking lot.o His gaze darkened, Roger went a shade paler. oYou!o he said stabbing a finger into his brotherAEs chest, oCan take a cab home.o

oDonAEt bother.o Amber shook him off roughly.

Another couple had taken advantage of the empty seats at the table. A tall pitcher of Sangria sat between them, but their attention was consumed with each other. They looked up, eyes widening at her expression. oExcuse me,o she said tartly.

oPlease, Amber, listen to me.o

She felt Grayson behind her before he spoke, but she had no interest in any of his excuses. With a toss of her fiery curls, she turned her back to him, ready to stride off toward the door and hail a cab.

oPlease sit down,o he said.

She offered him an icy glare in reply.

oJust for a moment.o

oNot even for a second,o she growled. oYouAEve wasted enough of my time, Counselor.o She bent, snatching up her purse.

oAmber!o

As if in slow motion, she saw Grayson reach for her, saw the tip of his elbow hit the pitcher of Sangria, saw it topple precariously, then spill in a waterfall of frigid sticky juice straight into her lap.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the couple spring away from the table in shock, saw GraysonAEs eyes widen in horror.