Caught on Camera with the CEO (15 page)

‘Dani,' he groaned. ‘I care about you. I want to take care of you. That's what people who love each other do. That's love, that's family. That's going to be our family. We've both been alone too long, Dani. You said you don't believe in relationships, but why were you looking for your brother? What did you hope to find when you found him if not some kind of a relationship? If not some family to love and be loved by?'

Tears flooded her eyes again. ‘And I wanted to tell him how sorry she was. I promised her I would.'

‘Oh, Dani.' He framed her face with gentle palms. ‘Maybe she's found him now, huh? Maybe she's been able to tell him herself.'

‘I hope so.' She breathed in courage. ‘But you're right, Alex. I wanted to find him for me too. I don't know what I hoped for, really. But I was lonely. I wanted to find someone safe.'

‘I'm the safest bet there is, Dani. Don't you know? I've the best credit rating you can get.' He smiled, joking just a little. ‘Safer than any other finance company. Or any other man. Loving someone, wanting to care, isn't a weakness. Opening up takes strength. And you're the strongest person I've ever met.'

‘I'm not. You were right before. I'm a coward,' she whispered. ‘But I don't want to be anymore.' She drew in a shaky breath. ‘I went to Jack's grave.'

‘Dani.' He locked her in a bear hug. ‘Alone?'

The tears streamed down her face as he cradled her.

‘It's OK. It's OK.' She tried to say it so she'd believe it, but he shushed her. And at that she let all that was in her heart out—her sorrow, loneliness, and her love. Crying until the tears finally ran dry. And he just waited, just held her.

Neither of them alone now.

Long minutes later he brushed her silly fringe back behind her ear. ‘I can't believe you were waiting in the lift.'

‘I wanted to prove I could face my fears.'

‘Tell you what, when we get home I'll shut us both in a cupboard and show you such a good time you'll never be afraid of small spaces again, OK?'

Oh, how that smile melted her. ‘It might take more than one therapy session to cure me of the phobia.'

‘Maybe.' He nodded solemnly. ‘But we can only try, right? We face the fears together. Dani, you're determined, you're self-reliant, you're independent. I love how you fight your corner. But your corner is my corner too. From here on in we're on the same team, darling. We're building a life together.'

‘Oh.' She swept her hand down his chest, totally floored by his flattery and feeling the need for some light, sarcastic relief. ‘So it wasn't my boobs that caught your eye?'

He laughed, a wicked look lighting up his face. ‘OK, so
they were the first thing I noticed. You guessed that already. But I took in the rest of you too—you're beautiful. I love the whole package that is you.'

She really was Carlisle standard? She was crazy pleased and her confidence blossomed. ‘It's OK.' She moved sassily. ‘You can like my boobs. I like your butt.'

‘Oh, you do?'

‘And your shoulders. And you have fantastic hands.'

‘Yeah?'

‘They're big enough to hold me.' She took his hand and placed it beneath her breast. He immediately spread his fingers, pushing up a little to take her weight, his thumb seeking her taut peak. Oh, that was what she wanted. ‘There isn't a security camera in here, is there?'

‘No.' His eyes dropped to her chest.

‘The security guard isn't about to do his rounds?'

‘He should be on the desk downstairs. I'll lock the door in case.' Alex backed her up against it. ‘He knows I've been working late this week.'

She watched him watch her body respond to the simple, slow movement of his fingers. His eyes were hooded, pupils huge. His breathing more audible, but she was panting already. ‘Please,' she whispered.

His gaze flicked up to hers. ‘Please what?'

‘Love me.'

His smile made her whole body heat with desire so sweet she almost couldn't bear it. And she believed it. Finally she truly believed it. ‘Oh, Alex.' Overcome, she sobbed.

He kissed her. ‘I do love you.'

His mouth was pure heaven. Filling her with pleasure and heat and she kissed him back with all her heart. Nothing held back. She pressed against him, needing to show him, to make
him understand all that he meant to her. She threw her arms around his neck—loving him.

He was shaking, his hands moving fast. Somehow they did it, somehow not breaking that most sacred, searing kiss they moved enough to touch where they needed to touch, to become one, to feel the ecstasy that they could feel only with each other.

‘I love you,' she breathed. ‘I love this.'

Her legs wrapped around him as they had that day in the lift, her body rapturously absorbed his and the power surged between them. Like a flash of lightning it hit—so fast—her body shuddering as he cried out.

Afterwards he growled, practically flattening her against the door, his breathing rapid, his sweat dripping. ‘How does it keep getting better?'

It was her turn to smile—that loving smile of total certainty.

He pushed away from her enough to gaze at her, ran his finger down her jaw and pushed that hair behind her ear again. ‘You know, I have something for you.' A brief tease of a kiss before he pulled his trousers up and put his hand in his pocket. ‘I've been carrying it forever, waiting to be able to give it to you.'

The solitaire was tear-shaped; it gleamed rather than sparkled—as if it was full of the sweetest promise. But what she loved even more was the setting, the thin gold and the pretty engraving on the band. It was unusual. And quite, quite girly. And inside she loved girly. So pretty. Just the thing she would have chosen for herself—not that she'd ever contemplated diamond engagement rings before. He held the ring on an angle so she could see the words etched on the inside.

Alex loves Dani.

Her silly eyes were watering again. But she went bold. ‘It might get lonely being the only ring on that finger.'

‘Oh, I already have a mate for it. A very pretty band. And I have a date for when I'm going to give it to you.'

‘A date?'

‘In just a couple of weeks, actually.'

‘Alex,' she teased. ‘Have you been organising?'

‘Sure have. Everything.' He caught her hand. ‘You can't muck up my plans now. I've got it all perfectly under control.'

‘You've always got the answers, haven't you? Just the way you like it.' She watched as the ring slid down.

‘Yeah, but it's been hell waiting for you, Dani.'

‘I'm sorry.' She was. Her emotions still so raw she felt terrible for doing that.

He laughed then and pulled her close. ‘It's OK. You have the rest of your life to make it up to me.'

‘Yes.' She snuggled into his embrace and felt the magic between them healing her. ‘I do.'