Married To The Boss (6 page)

He shook his head to clear it. “I knew you'd be reasonable about this.”

“Don't get too cocky yet until you've finished hearing me out.”

“More stipulations?” he asked, prepared to be indulgent. The color in her cheeks intensified, and he could see how difficult it was for her to maintain eye contact. Curiosity swamped him. What would she ask for? A new car? An expense account? He could easily afford either, so he waved away her concerns. “This isn't necessary, you know. I'm more than willing to give you whatever you need.”

She drew a long, shaky breath and visibly braced herself. “I'm glad to hear you say that, R.J.—because what I want is a real marriage.”

He took exception to her insinuation and with deadly calm explained, “Oh, it'll be real, all right, you don't have to worry about that. We'll be legally wed. I wouldn't ask you to do anything unethical—”

“You're not paying attention, R.J.” She drew another breath and blurted, “I want sex.”

Everything in him seemed to shudder and stall, then kicked into overdrive until his body fairly
hummed with his racing pulse. Exercising extreme politeness, he whispered, “Excuse me?”

Her face was so red it was almost comical, only he had absolutely no desire to laugh. He felt the tension in the air, and the even more palpable tension in Dana. He waited in silence while she worked out her thoughts.

“I want us to be a regular married couple,” she explained softly. “I want intimacy.”

His eyes narrowed the tiniest bit, and she continued, her tone a bit forced, but filled with resolve. “I'm talking about the same bedroom, R.J., the same bed, every night. If I'm going to be married to you for however long it takes to repair the damage to the clinic and your own reputation, then I expect to be treated like a wife during that time—with all the privileges due a wife.”

He stared at her, still trying to figure out how he was misunderstanding, because he was certain he couldn't be hearing her right.

She made a broad, nervous gesture with her hands. “Don't get me wrong, R.J. I'll do anything I can to help. Though I'm not sure marrying me will really improve your image, I'm willing to give it a try. We can have a few cocktail parties, get involved in some community activities, become the epitome of marital bliss for the media. Whatever it takes, whatever you want. I'll do anything you think will help. But in return, I want—”

“Sex,” he finished for her, the single word laced with ice. “You're standing there demanding sex.”

“With you,” she clarified shakily, on the off chance he hadn't realized that much.

With a slow, measured stride, he stalked forward to close the space between them. “What game are you playing, Dana?”

She looked as though she wanted to retreat, but instead, she dug in, facing him squarely. “No game.”

He gripped her shoulders and shook her slightly. It seemed he'd touched her more in the past week than in all the previous years combined. “Honey, I know you too well to buy this. Since when have you become so sexual? I've never even heard you say the word before now.”

She appeared to resent that. Some of her embarrassment faded, and indignation took its place. “I'm as sexual as the next woman!”

He flicked the top button of her suit coat. “Yeah, right. You dress like a nun and you never date. When was the last time you had an affair? When was the last time you even had sex?” Her face paled, but he pressed on. “When was it, Dana?”

“That's none of your business.” She trembled all over, and then abruptly turned away. “Just forget about it. If it's too much to ask, if it's a
hardship,
then there's nothing more to talk about.”

R.J. pulled back, watching her walk stiffly away. He didn't mind her anger. In fact, he'd set out to provoke it, preferring her anger over her insistence that he make love with her. But watching her retreat, he realized he'd gone too far.

It was obvious he'd hurt her feelings, and he wanted to kick his own ass. Things had seemed much more straightforward when he'd first come up with this plan. “Dana.” She didn't look up. “I never said it would be a hardship.”

The look she shot his way should have left him bleeding profusely on the floor. She threw herself into her chair and snapped open a file as if ready to forget the entire thing.

He couldn't let her do that.

Then he noticed her hands were shaking and her breath was catching in tiny pants. Good Lord, was she going to cry? Because she wanted to have sex with him and he'd pretty much refused? It boggled the mind. Of all the possible scenarios he'd figured might accompany his proposition, this particular one had never come up.

He went to her desk and sat on the edge. “Dana, you're a friend, sweetheart. That's all I meant.” She didn't look the least bit appeased, and he floundered. He'd spoken the truth when he said sleeping with her wouldn't be a problem. Just the opposite, in fact. He was afraid he'd enjoy it far too much. That one simple kiss they'd shared had plagued his mind ever since, waking him too often in the middle of the night.

If he made love to her, nothing would ever be the same again.

Yet he'd always valued her so much as a friend, as a confidante. Her intelligence and kindness and loyalty had set her apart from other women, and he
knew in his heart that once they'd given in to lust, their relationship would be irreparably altered. The qualities of their friendship that he valued most, the ones that had made the plan seem so ideal, might cease to exist. Sex had a way of muddying the waters, especially with a woman like Dana, a woman who didn't take physical relationships lightly.

He'd always gravitated to women who knew the score and expected nothing more from him than a good time in and out of bed. When he was with a woman, he treated her well, indulged her with expensive gifts and flattery. But that was as far as it went. When he tired of her company, or if she got too clingy, he moved on. He left himself free to do just that.

He didn't have to worry about forsaking his obligations, as his father had done, because he made sure there were none.

Tanya had tried to wheedle him into marriage, but he'd refused to allow her the upper hand. For some reason she'd thought she was special, though he'd been upfront with her from the start—as he always was. She hadn't agreed to go away easily. It had cost him an expensive gift to soften the blow, one she'd accepted with ill grace.

At the time, he'd considered the price little enough to pay. He'd appeased his sense of fair play, and still remained free.

Marrying for the sake of his reputation didn't put him at risk. He wasn't expected to offer love everlasting, and he wouldn't be obliged to start a family.

But if Dana expected a real marriage, that would change everything. What if it turned out he was more like his father than he thought?

“R.J.? I have a question.”

Her tone sounded reasonable enough. Which he considered good cause for worry. “Go ahead.”

“How long, exactly, do you expect this marriage to last?”

“There's no way I can predict that, Dana.” And if he was truthful with himself, even trying to speculate on an answer was a lesson in keen frustration. Right now, he had all the frustration he could stand.

“But you do have a certain term in mind, don't you?” Her eyes were narrowed again, making the green brighter, more intense. Her pen tapped against the desktop. “Do you think things can be repaired in a week, a month, six months?”

He pushed away from the desk with repressed anger. “How the hell should I know? It took little enough time to destroy my reputation, but somehow I think it'll take considerably longer to mend it.”

“You're probably right.” Her gaze stayed glued to him as he strode across the room. “Which brings up another interesting thought. Do you plan to stay celibate during our marriage, or am I simply supposed to look the other way?”

He whirled to face her, thoroughly insulted at such a suggestion. “Being an adulterer would hardly improve my image.”

“Oh? Then you do intend to remain celibate, even if it takes a year.”

“I—” The protest died before it was spoken. He actually hadn't thought his plan through that far, so how could he take offense at her presumption that he wouldn't honor his wedding vows? When he'd come up with the idea to marry, it had been a near desperate decision. Though he didn't want the world to know it, it ate him up inside that the residents of Austin were beginning to see him as indulgent and reprehensible, an immoral reprobate who would blithely walk away from a woman carrying his child. The image sickened him and dredged up old feelings left over from childhood, from knowing his father hadn't cared enough, hadn't been responsible enough to fulfill even the smallest obligations to his children.

The turbulent memories were swept away as Dana once again stood, very slowly, to face him. “I've always known I was a plain woman.”

R.J. glared at her. “What are you talking about?”

“It's just occurred to me. You don't want to sleep with me for the same reason you chose me to proposition.”

He didn't like her tone or the direction of her thoughts. “Propose to.”

Her grin was tight as she mimicked him by saying, “Semantics.” She stalked out from behind her desk. “There must be any number of women who'd jump at a chance like this. Even if the marriage only lasted a few weeks, as you say, the prestige exists. And everyone knows how generous you are. But then, most of the women you associate with are beautiful and sexy, and that might only reinforce your present
image as a man who cares about superficial things and his own pleasure. If you marry me, a woman without extravagant looks or sex appeal and with an unremarkable background, they'll think it has to be for love, the kind of love that lasts.”

“The
real
kind.”

She totally missed his sarcasm. “You, on the other hand, have looks and money and breeding and background and sophistication. But my drabness will help to tone down your brilliance by comparison. That's it, isn't it?”

He stared at her, totally floored that she would come to such an asinine conclusion when those thoughts had never entered into his decision. “That analogy is a pretty good stretch, wouldn't you say?”

She shook her head, convincing herself she was on the right track. “I suppose it does make a bit of sense when you think about it. You can't exactly be seen as a playboy married to
me.
No one will wonder if you married me for connections, or money, because I have none.”

“You have something much more valuable.”

She quirked a dubious brow.

“You have a quiet dignity. And a generous soul, and an innate kindness. Those are all things that will reflect on my good judgment.” And she was the only woman he could consider letting that close.

She sighed, then rubbed her forehead. “I do understand, R.J. But it's up to you. Will I be a real wife or not?”

She had no intention of backing down, he could
see that now. She stood there in her innocence and naïveté and demanded that he have sex with her. Fighting for lost control, he nodded. “All right, Dana, you win.”

Once she had her agreement, she seemed to wither before him. Her eyes were downcast, and she nibbled on her bottom lip. “Are you sure?”

“Having second thoughts now?”

“No. I just…I don't want you to be angry.”

Hell, he was far from angry. Turned on, maybe. His body had started to thrum quietly the minute she'd made her outrageous suggestion, and with each second the feeling had only gotten worse. The miracle would be keeping himself detached when they did have sex—but he knew he had to. He would maintain the upper hand, no matter what it took. “I'm not angry.”

“Shall…shall I make the arrangements?”

One side of his mouth kicked up in humor as he registered the irony of her question. “The efficient secretary to the last, hmm? Still willing to handle all my affairs, even the more personal ones. Well, I think this time I'll arrange things myself. How does this weekend suit you?”

“So soon?” She couldn't hide her amazement—or her excitement. At least, he hoped it was excitement and not anxiety.

Very gently, he asked, “There's no reason to put it off, is there?”

“But…should I invite someone to be a witness?”

He enjoyed seeing her act like a nervous bride,
which proved just how perverse he could be. “Of course. But I'd really like to keep it low key. My mother, two witnesses, but no more than that. I don't want the press to find out until it's over with.”

She shuddered at the possibility. “They'd definitely taint the ceremony.”

“And I've seen my face enough in the papers lately.”

Her eyes widened. “I'll have to find a dress!”

Such a typically female consideration was a relief after her bout of sensual demands. “Your white suit will do just fine. After all, it'll be a civil ceremony at the justice of the peace. And we'll want to keep the frills to a minimum.”

The second he said it, he saw a small light go out in her eyes and belatedly realized that she'd wanted to make the occasion special. He had a sudden pang in his chest that he didn't understand, an ache that was unfamiliar but that he knew was centered around Dana and her happiness. He cupped her face with one hand, letting his thumb smooth over her temple. Now that he'd gotten used to touching her, he couldn't seem to stop. Her skin was so incredibly soft. “I'm sorry, sweetheart. Here I am, bulldozing right over you with no consideration for your wishes.”

She shrugged, staring at his silk tie. “It was your idea, after all. You should certainly do things however you like.”

He frowned. “There's no need for you to play the martyr.”

“I wasn't!”