Dangerous Curves (7 page)

T
he well-coiffured
woman approached the table and squinted down at Dominique. She needed glasses, and had three pairs, but was too vain to wear them in public. “I knew it was you.”

Dominique reluctantly stood and kissed both cheeks of one of her mother's friends, Mariah Copeland. “What a surprise,” she said, after an introduction.

“I know,” Mariah said, drawing out the last word. “Your mother told me what happened. Your father—”

“It's okay. I'd really prefer not to talk about it.”

She patted Dominique's hand. “Of course, dear. But you had your mother worried. It's not like you to run off the way you did.”

Dominique glanced at Kevin keenly aware of how he watched them. She didn't want to be rude, but she couldn't have Mariah rattling off about her family.

“Mom knows I need space.”

Kevin stood. “Would you like to join us?” he said, grabbing another chair.

“Yes,” Mariah said.

“No,” Dominique said.

They both looked at her. “I mean…you seemed to be in a hurry and I would hate to keep you.”

“Oh yes,” Mariah said with a nod. “You're right. I do have an appointment with the contractor for our beach house. It's been a nightmare, but I won't bore you with the details. You already know. Remember that French chateau your father bought for your mother? The headaches you two had to deal with renovating it was heaven compared to what I'm going through, but I'm sure your mother will fill you in on all the details.” She glanced at Dominique's plate. “I see you're watching your weight, which is always a good thing, but as I've told you a million times, big girls don't have to hide themselves in black. Wear what suits you not what's in fashion. The classics never let you down, but current trends…” She waved her hands as if dismissing a foul smell. “I mean, and I'm not being cruel because you know I love you, but my goodness what you're wearing looks like a uniform.” She turned to Kevin. “Doesn't it?”

“Yes,” Kevin said. “Probably because it is.”

Dominique briefly closed her eyes. The end was near. He was going to tell her mother's dearest friend that she was his driver and Mariah would have a coronary.

Mariah looked confused. “It is?”

Kevin nodded. “It's my fault. She knows it turns me on.” He winked at Dominique. “I love a woman in uniform.”

Dominique looked at Mariah's shocked expression. “Ignore him.”

“Other men like nurses or maids,” Kevin continued. “But a woman who can handle a machine and make it hum and hug the road…” He let his words fall away.

Dominique shook her head. “He's just—”

Kevin pressed a finger to his lips. “But nobody's supposed to know about us yet.”

Mariah's eyes widened. “It's because of your father, isn't it?”

Dominique jumped to her feet. “We'll talk later,” she said, ushering her to the door. “You don't want to miss that appointment.”

“Does your mother know?”

“There's really nothing going on, but I'll explain it later.”

“My lips are sealed until then.” She glanced back at Kevin. “Do you really know what you're doing? He looks like a heartbreaker.”

“I'll be fine.” To her relief, Mariah agreed with her and left. Dominique returned to the table, determined to ignore Kevin's smug grin.

“That was fun. Think we'll bump into anyone else you know?”

She focused on her meal.

“At least I know I was right about you.” Kevin cut into his braised turkey breast. “I can smell money. I thought as much the first day we met. Let me guess. Daddy cut off all your accounts and credit to force you to ‘rough it' for a while. Why is he punishing you?”

Dominique had to stop a smile. Of course! This was the perfect story and Mariah had sprinkled it with enough truth so she could use his assumption to her advantage. “I won't marry the man he wants me to.”

Kevin paused. “The cheater?”

“Yes.”

He nodded in approval. “Good girl.”

“My mom's not happy about it either.”

“She'll get over it. So is that why you lied about your name? You're afraid if you told me I'd know who your father was?”

You'll definitely know who he is.
“Yes.”

“I may not know him.”

“You do.”

“I mean personally.”

You do.
“Can we change the subject?”

“Sure. Do you like chocolate?”

“
W
e probably should be getting back
,” Dominique said as they drifted in a hired boat along the Potomac. After lunch, he'd taken her to a chocolatier friend who'd shown her how to make a batch of truffles. Now, as the sun set, they sat on the deck of the small boat eating them. She didn't like to admit how much fun it was or how natural it felt to be around him.

“Why?” Kevin asked. He lay on a lounge chair with his head back and his eyes closed, looking like a man of leisure. “Do you have an appointment or something?”

“No, I just…”
I'm not used to wasting time. I'm not used to sitting around enjoying myself
she wanted to say, but knew he wouldn't understand that. She'd never done something like this before. Her time had always been spent figuring out a goal or executing a plan. “This really is too much.”

“What's too much?”

“This day. The lunch, the chocolatier, the boat.”

Kevin opened his eyes and sat up. “You don't like it?”

Dominique looked out at the water, feeling the soft touch of the sun on her face. She liked it too much. She liked him too much. That was the real trouble. He wasn't anything she'd imagined him to be. Her sister's story about him just didn't match. Or was it her? Was she not seeing the real him because she didn't want to? She'd prided herself on being able to read men, but now she wasn't so sure. “I didn't say that.” She tapped her chest. “And you shouldn't ask me questions like that, I'm your driver.”

“Why do you have to keep reminding me of your position?”

“Because…” She sighed. “It's just it's too much.”

“No, it's not. You just don't know how to enjoy yourself.”

“I shouldn't be here,” she said more to herself than to him. “I'm your driver, for goodness sake. I should be on the shore waiting for you while you host several supermodels or something.”

He shook his head. “I only do that on the ocean in perfect yachting weather.”

She folded her arms. “You think I'm being funny.”

“I think you don't know how to have fun and I'm trying to help you.” He picked up a truffle and held it out to her. “Try to relax.”

She reached for the truffle, but he moved it out of reach. “Just open your mouth,” he said.

“You want to feed me like a child?”

“No, I just want to put something in your mouth.” He suddenly frowned. “And that just sounded wrong. I'm usually smoother than that.”

Dominique laughed. “It's good to see you off your game.”

“And it's good to hear you laugh.” He waved the truffle. “Come on, it's melting.”

She shook her head. “It's embarrassing. I've never…”

His eyes widened with delight. “You've never had a man feed you before? I get to be the first?”

“No.”

“No, I don't get to be the first or no you have been fed by a man before?”

She snatched the truffle out of his hand and popped it in her mouth. “Question answered.”

Kevin sighed disappointed, then leaned back and closed his eyes.

Dominique looked at her watch. How long did he plan to stay here?

“I know what it's like to break away,” he said. “To face a parent's disappointment. It's not easy. My Dad was a good man and I watched him work. That's all he ever did was work. I never once saw him smile. He worked day and night. I only remember him sitting behind his desk. Once I saw him standing and mistook him for the staff because I didn't recognize him. Work was his life and it sent him into an early grave. That won't be me.”

“I like working. It's just…” She stopped, realizing she'd revealed too much. He was too easy to talk to.

“What?”

She stared at his profile. He still had his eyes closed and seemed nonchalant. They were talking to kill time and what he'd revealed about his father surprised her. Although his words sounded carefree, she sensed a hidden defiance and pain. She found she wanted to share with him, she felt he would understand. Besides, he probably wouldn't remember any of their conversation later. “My father doesn't care,” she said, surprised how much that revelation hurt. “It's never enough. I'm never good enough.”

“Did he say that?”

“He doesn't have to. Everything he does tells me so and then D—” She shook her head. “It's a boring story.”

Kevin turned to her, his eyes dark and compelling. “I told you I like stories.”

Dominique reached for another truffle and popped it in her mouth. She couldn't look at him. He had an uncanny ability to make her feel as if she were the only woman in the world, as if she mattered to him. That had to be his trick, the power of his dangerous charm. “I'll tell you another time.”

“I've been waiting for you to make your next move,” he said in a velvet tone.

Dominique felt goose bumps raise on her arms. “Move?”

“Didn't you want to sleep with me to annoy your father? Isn't that the real reason you came to me?”

“I'm sorry I said anything.”

“Don't be. You're more honest than most and at least I know what you want. Nobody is nice to me for no reason.”

That thought bothered her, but she pushed the idea away. “You made it very clear you weren't interested.” She looked at him with chagrin. “I know when I'm beaten.”

“I'd expected you to try harder.”

“There's no point when I'm not your type.”

His eyes held hers. “You're exactly my type.”

Dominique felt a shiver race through her. She steeled herself against the feeling. She wouldn't allow herself to be affected; he was toying with her. None of what she was experiencing was real.

“You don't believe me,” he said softly, his eyes darkening with an emotion she couldn't read.

“I didn't say that.”
I can't believe you because I don't know what's going on. I hate myself for deceiving you when I know I shouldn't. I shouldn't be falling for your charm.
I wish I'd never met you.
She didn't want him to care. She didn't want him to matter to her. She folded her arms, determined to build a wall between them. To keep her safe. “I'm not one of your damsels.”

He frowned. “Damsels?”

“Yes, I don't think you even realize how many distressed females you have in your life.”

He shrugged. “Not as many as you think. Besides, I like helping people.”

“I don't need your help.” She took a deep breath. She might as well get it over with. She'd stayed too long and she wasn't helping her sister or anyone. “The truth is--”

Kevin held up his hand. “I don't want to know.”

Dominique blinked surprised. “What?”

“I just realized I don't want to know.”

“But—”

“I don't care who your father is. I don't care about your past. I like having you around.” His mouth curved into a smile. “Okay?”

She stared at him, stupefied. Was this a new game he was playing? What strategy was this? Why did his words make her heart pound with longing? “No, it's not okay. You have to know--”

He waved her away. “I don't care.”

“But you should care. I—”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He kissed away her questions, giving her answers she didn't know she sought. He kissed away her fears and her doubts and replaced them with a hunger that scared her. She'd fallen for Berton's deception. Hadn't he made her feel this way?

No, her body whispered. Berton had never held her this way. He'd never caressed her lips and cradled her body. He'd never made her feel as if her world was ending and beginning anew. In Kevin's arms she felt no shame. She didn't feel the need to suck in her stomach or worry that she wasn't slender, that she had rolls as well as curves. She didn't want to kiss him back, she didn't want to surrender to his chocolate gaze and sexy mouth, but like someone had bewitched her, her body responded to him. And her lips indulged in the warm, wet, sensual assault.

Kevin drew away and the abrupt distance stung like a Band-Aid being ripped from her skin. Dominique took a step back and opened her mouth to say something, even though she didn't know what to say.

He pressed a finger against her mouth. She expected his teasing grin to appear, but his expression remained serious, his eyes piercing. “Now listen to me closely,” he said in a low voice. “I like you. More than I should and more than I want to, and I don't want you going anywhere. Okay? Don't open your mouth just nod your head. That's it. Thank you.” He bit his lip.