Too Grand for Words (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (24 page)

“She’s not used to your kind of life, Steven. You try to drag her into your sideshow, and it is a sideshow, and she won’t like it.”

“I know it’ll take time, but she can handle it. I don’t have a single expectation. I just want her to be happy, with me.”

Dane leaned on his elbows. “You can’t do this to her. You’re going to hurt her. Hell you couldn’t keep interested in a toy for half a day when we were kids. Mom thought you had ADD until she found out you were a genius. You’ll get tired of her, and then what?” Dane looked over his shoulder and sat back in his chair.

“You don’t get it, Dane. For the last twenty years, every woman has wanted something from me. Moira doesn’t want anything. She looks at me as just a man, not a way to climb a ladder. In fact, when I told her who I was, I thought she was going to run away from me.” He sat back in his chair. “She’s not Grace. She doesn’t care about what I can do, what I have or how much money is in my bank account.”

“How do you know that in just a few days?”

“I know,” he said harshly. “When I made love to Moira. I made
love
to her, and she rocked
my
world, not the other way around. It blew my mind, and I can’t get enough of her. I want to spend every waking minute with her.” He couldn’t help the small smile that plastered itself on his lips thinking about it. “I can’t even think about work. I can’t concentrate on the business. Every second I’m away from her, she’s in my mind. That’s never happened to me before. Hell, I didn’t even think twice about following her into a burning building today.”

Dane shook his head still in disbelief. “Well, it certainly sounds like love, but it’s pretty hard to believe.”

“Believe it,” he snapped.

“Fine, but think about this. Think about who you are. You can’t change that.”

He looked at his brother questioningly.

“You own a lot, Steven. You’re a big guy, and nobody is going to tangle with you, but you’re a lone wolf. You can take care of yourself. If you bring Moira into your life, she won’t have a normal life anymore. She won’t be able to just go to the grocery store or go shopping. You’ll have to protect her from the predators out there. It won’t take long before someone will try to take her from you. It means caging her, surrounding her with bodyguards. She’ll be as popular and as much of a target as the royal family. You think she wants that?”

His insides chilled. His chin jutted out as he considered Dane’s words. The worst of it was—he was right. He’d never considered how her life could change.

Dane screwed his lips together. “Hey, if you dump her, I’ll have no problem consoling her. You’ll still be able to see her once in a while.”

“Fuck you,” Steven snarled.

“Jesus, man, calm down, I’m kidding. Well actually I’m not, but—” Dane bent forward. “Are you being possessive of a woman?” He laughed. “You’re sure you’re my brother?”

“There’s no one else around here who looks like you, is there?” With his blood pressure rising, he said, “We’ll make it work.”

“I don’t think it will.”

“Plenty of high-profile people go to the fucking grocery store, Dane.” He didn’t sound sure himself, let alone to Dane.

“There’s high profile, and then there’s you, brother. Moira will be a target as soon as the bad guys figure out she means something to you, and then her freedom is finished. She’ll go crazy. You just can’t expect her to go from normal to your kind of life in a day. It doesn’t work that way.”

“So you think I should let the only woman I’ve ever loved walk away because of who I am? That’s a great idea,” he said, his anger simmering.

“No, what I’m saying is leave her in her world. Visit her, quietly.”

“I don’t want her to be a secret. I want her beside me.”

“What do you think she’s going to do once you tell her that little tidbit you’ve been holding back?”

He swallowed hard with the thought. “I’ll figure it out.”

“Yeah, sure ya will. Just like you considered how you’re going to ruin her life if you play house. You’re better off just doing what you always do. Keep changing the women in your life like most people change their underwear.” Dane shrugged. “She’s going to dump you because she’ll think you’re using her anyway. Hell, I think you’re using her. Maybe you just don’t know it yet because of what you want.”

“I’m not using her,” he ground out. “This has nothing to do with her books.”

“If you say so.” Dane nodded. “You better be sure, Steven. She’s the real deal, and I think it’s a shame that you found her first.”

He suppressed his anger at Dane when Moira slid into her seat. The fact that he was right on many counts really pissed him off.

* * * *

Stephanie and Dane ate leg of lamb while Moira had fish, and Steven had steak.

“How’s your fish, Moira?” Dane asked.

“Pretty good,” she said. “I like getting even with these little bastards. It’s too bad I can’t eat a whale. They cause more havoc in my office than you can imagine.”

Both he and Dane chuckled.

“Jesus, she has wit, Steven,” Dane said, still chuckling. “Think I’m going to have to read those books.”

He glanced at his brother then at Moira. Something stirred inside Steven, but he didn’t recognize the feeling, so he pushed it off.

“You know I’ve been admiring your necklace all evening,” Stephanie raved. “Where did you get it? It’s so beautiful.”

Moira finished chewing her mouthful and looked over at Steven. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Steven gave that to you? Oh, my God,” she blurted. She smacked Dane on the shoulder. “He’s only known her for three days, and he’s giving her blue diamonds and emeralds. What’s wrong with you?” she said, turning to Dane.

She meant to tease him, but Dane looked a little uncomfortable. Moira quickly concentrated on her plate.

“Do you know how rare blue diamonds are? Man, you must just rock in bed,” Stephanie said.

Moira choked on her mouthful of food.

Steven’s jaw dropped a little as he stared at his brother. Dane lowered his head in embarrassment. Although Steff looked a lot like Moira, they were twelve years apart. Those twelve years suddenly made Steff look like a teenager and Moira an elegant woman in the prime of her life.

“It looks beautiful on you, Moira,” Dane remarked quietly.

She peeked through her bangs at him, and then at Steven. “Thank you.”

His heart twitched. He realized his brother’s compliment made him jealous. He knew Dane wasn’t just admiring the necklace, he wanted the woman as well. The thought gnawed hard in his chest.

“So, Moira, tell me more about the books. Stephanie says they’re a big hit. I would think the next thing is the leap to the big screen,” Dane said, resting back against his chair.

He tensed. He couldn’t read Dane at all. Was he doing this over brotherly protection or for another reason?

Moira gave a short laugh. “You’re talking about a movie? I don’t know. My agent deals with all of that. I just write. She mentioned something about people bidding on the stories, but I don’t have anything to do with that at this point.”

Christ, he had to do something fast.

“Well, Steven owns Palm Productions, don’t you, Steven?” Stephanie said. “I would love to see those books turned into movies. Wouldn’t you? You’ve read them, right?”

Shit, a line of sweat broke out on his brow. “Yes, I’ve read them.” Dane sat calmly watching him. He should have let him drown at the lake when they were seven instead of saving his ass.

“Isn’t that what production companies do? They find a book and then bid on it to own the film rights?” Stephanie asked brightly.

Fuck, this woman talked too much.

“Can I get you anything else?” the hostess asked, suddenly appearing from nowhere.

God love her.

* * * *

They wandered the grounds, admiring the landscape before everything became drenched in darkness.

“I don’t think I could ever get tired of this.” Moira said

“Maybe we should stay the night? They’ve got room.” Steven wrapped his arm around her shoulders and curled her toward him.

“It’s a nice idea, but I didn’t bring anything with me.”

“You don’t need anything.” He bent and whispered in her ear. “Except me making love to you, watching you go wild with my touch,” he said, tempting her. “I want to feel your beautiful hips brushing against mine, Moira. It’s all I’ve been thinking about during dinner.”

Her lids fluttered shut with the sensual sound of his voice next to her ear. “You’re such a…” Steven’s lips lightly touched hers, cutting off her thoughts. His hand slid up her waist and stopped, cupping her breast. His thumb brushed over the soft silk against her nipple, his broad form hiding them from his brother and Stephanie. “Steven…” She pulled away, giving him a cautious look. “We need to go back.” Her heart hammered in her chest when he looked at her like that.

“We don’t need anything except each other, Moira. I know that, and I think you do, too.”

“A-hem,” Dane interrupted loudly from behind them. “Is it time to head back? Steff wants to get in a few hours at a merciful slot machine.”

“There ya go,” Moira said, grinning. “Decision made.”

“Fine, let’s go.” Steven wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “But we’re coming back here, just you and me,” he said quietly. “Soon.”

Moira gave him a furtive glance. “I work for a living, Mr. Porter, and I’m going home in two days. The fairy tale ends then.” Her heart twisted as soon as she said it. She realized it sounded final and cold. Right away she knew she had hurt him.

He took her hand, but he wouldn’t look at her.

“No, Steven—wait.” She grabbed his arm to stop him. “I didn’t mean for that to sound—ungrateful. I just meant…” Twining her fingers together, she bit her lip. “I just mean.” She paused. “Oh hell, I don’t know what I mean.” She curled both her hands around one of his. He looked hurt, almost vulnerable. She didn’t think it was even possible for him to look that way.

“I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who has been as kind and generous as you. The girls remind me every day that I’m supposed to roll with this. I’m supposed to accept this as a fun, no-strings-attached vacation.” She bit her lip again. “I know you probably do this a lot with women. I’m just trying to say I’m not used to this, but I understand it’s just—living in the moment.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “Most of all, thank you.”

He pulled her close. “Everything we’ve done together is a first for me too. And when we come back here together, and we will come back here together,” he said with a determined look. “We’re hanging a Do Not Disturb sign on the door for three days straight, sweetheart. You better think about a lot of room service, because I’m not letting you out of my arms the entire time.”

“Steven—” She stopped him when he took a step to follow Dane and Stephanie. “I’ve loved every moment you’ve spent with me. I don’t understand why you have, but there won’t be any tomorrows, Steven. Seriously—I don’t belong with you, you know that. You have to know that.” She curled her arms around herself. “I have to know that.”

His expression changed quickly from concern to hurt. “Why?” he growled, looking confused.

She felt a tightness clutch her chest. “Because I don’t belong with
anyone,
Steven. I’m meant to be alone. Did you miss the fact that we almost ended up in the bottom of the Grand Canyon coming out here. I know you don’t want to believe what I’m telling you, but it’s just a fact of life for me.” She grasped his hand and squeezed it. “I’ve loved every second with you. You need to know that, too.”