His to Possess (15 page)

She shrugged. “Why would you? You never liked working in a big company like this.
You’ve got enough money to live your life without financial worries. Why would you
come back?”

He smiled. “Would you believe me if I said it was because I missed you?”

Her insides trembled, wishing so very much that it was true. But she knew it wasn’t.

She shook her head. “Sorry, no. I think it’s because you missed your brother, and
you want to work things out.”

She hoped that was part of it. She knew Mr. Ranier had missed his brother and she’d
love to see the two of them get past their differences. She wanted to see Rafe happy.

And she really hoped he was going to stay.

“You know, I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but he’s changed things around
here. For the better. I really think he’s missed you and he’s trying to take the company
in a direction that you would approve of.”

Rafe snorted. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

She nodded. “Okay, why
did
you come back then?”

He sighed deeply. “It has to do with a woman.”

“Oh?” Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be…?

He leaned forward and heat simmered through her. “I know you won’t believe this but…”

“What?” she asked breathlessly.

“The woman is Jessica.”

Her shoulders stiffened. “Jessica?” She shook her head in disbelief. “But … you’ve
only just met her.” But as soon as she’d said the words, she realized it wasn’t true.

“That’s just it. I met her during my travels. Pretty crazy, right? I was living in
this small town—”

“Bakersfield?”

He gazed at her in surprise. “That’s right. You know where Jessica is from?”

She nodded. “We’re roommates. We’ve gotten to know each other pretty well.”

“Well, I met her in Bakersfield and I fell in love with her.”

She sucked in a breath. “Oh, God, you’re Storm.”

Damn it, how lucky could one woman be? Jessica had had an affair with both of the
devastatingly handsome Ranier brothers.

“She told you about me. That’s a good sign.”

“She told me you broke her heart.”

“I know. And I’m going to talk to her about that. Make it right.” His long, masculine
fingers wrapped snugly around the bright orange, yellow, and white patterned mug in
front of him. “Because when I was away from her, I realized that I’d been a complete
jackass and thrown away the best thing that ever happened to me. Then I tried to get
in touch with her and she was gone. She’d moved away without a trace. When I realized
I’d lost her for good, I died inside.” His haunted gaze locked on her. “I found out
she’d moved to Philly, but I had no idea where. So I came home. Partly in hopes I’d
be able to find her, but also because I needed to be around people who know me and
care about me. Even if one of those people is a brother I don’t get along with. He’s
family and that’s what I needed.”

She wondered if he considered her one of the people who cared about him. She was only
his secretary, but over the time she’d worked for him, they had developed a closeness
of sorts.

Then a smile chased away the sadness in his eyes.

“How crazy is it that when I come home, she’s right here.” He beamed at her. “It’s
got to be fate, right?”

Melanie forced a smile, wishing with all her heart that he would feel about her how
he obviously felt about Jessica.

She kept the smile pasted on her face even though all she wanted to do was sob. She
nodded cheerfully. “You’re right. It must be fate.”

*   *   *

When Rafe stepped into Dane’s living room, he noticed Dane’s eyebrow arch when he
saw Rafe’s faded blue jeans and T-shirt. Or was it because of the tattoos flowing
down his arms? Well, hell, he wasn’t going to wear a suit all the time.

“Problem?” he asked as he walked into the lavish living room and sprawled on the couch.

“The tattoos aren’t really what one would expect of an executive of a big firm like
Ranier Industries.”

Rafe shrugged. “Maybe I don’t like being what people expect.”

Dane’s brow rose again. “Maybe?”

“Are you really going to play it like Dad would have?”

Dane placed a drink in front of Rafe, then settled into the armchair facing him.

“Of course not. You know I’m not Dad. And I never agreed with the way he treated you.”

“But you never stopped it.” As soon as the words escaped Rafe’s mouth he regretted
them. He leaned forward, his hands folded. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t up to you to fix
things. I should have stood up to the man years ago.”

“How could you? He had all the power. Even if you’d tried to walk away from the family,
he wouldn’t have allowed it.”

Rafe laughed without humor. “True. He may not have wanted me for a son, but he wouldn’t
allow the world to see his failure.”

Dane swirled his glass, the ice cubes tinkling against the side. He was clearly unable
to refute his brother’s words.

“Well, he’s gone now and I want you here.” He locked gazes with Rafe. “Not because
I want to force you into a life you don’t want, but because you’re my brother and
you’re important to me.”

Rafe just nodded, but his heart swelled at his brother’s admission. Dane had always
been the tough older brother, but Rafe had always sought Dane’s approval. And friendship.
But Dane had always sought Dad’s approval and had tried to get Rafe to fall in line.
Rafe knew now it was because Dane was just trying to make things easier on all of
them, but when Rafe was younger, he had felt it was a betrayal.

After almost a year away, he now had more perspective, and he realized his brother
had always been looking out for him, in his own way.

“Well, I’m here now and I’d like to jump back into things, if that’s okay with you.”

Dane smiled broadly. “That’s better than okay. I’m off on a trip to Chicago for the
rest of the week, but we can meet when I get back to see what you want to take on.
This week, Melanie can ensure you get up to speed on what’s been going on.”

He watched as Dane swirled his glass again.

“I know that look,” Rafe said. “What’s on your mind?”

“This thing with you and Jessica. I’m just wondering what your intent is.”

“My intent? You sound like her father.”

“Did he ask you that, too?”

Rafe chuckled. “Not in so many words, but the way he’d look at me … I doubt he wanted
his daughter falling for a tattooed musician.”

That’s why it had surprised him so much when her dad had spilled the beans about where
she’d gone.

Dane chuckled, too. “I wonder what his attitude would be if he found out you were
a billionaire entrepreneur.”

Rafe shrugged. “It probably wouldn’t have changed. He clearly loves his daughter and
wants her to be happy. That’s why he didn’t toss me out on my duff when we were together.
Because she was happy.”

Rafe wished he had experienced that kind of love from his own father. He set his glass
on the table. “And I intend to ensure she’s happy again.”

*   *   *

Jessica glanced up as soon as she felt his presence. Not Dane. Storm. Or rather, Rafe.
Damn, she’d never get used to thinking of him as Rafe Ranier.

She remembered her brother telling her that Storm had gotten that name because when
he played guitar, he took the audience by storm. The moniker suited him so well, she
couldn’t imagine him by any other name.

As she stared at him standing in her doorway, dressed in an expensive suit, looking
way more like Dane than she ever would have imagined, her heart stammered.

He was Storm, with his gentle eyes and the slight curl to his lips as he watched her,
yet he was a stranger.

“What is it?” she finally asked, since he seemed determined to just stand there.

“I’d like to talk to you.”

She pushed her keyboard tray under the desk and sat back in her chair. “Okay, go ahead.”

He crossed his arms. “Not here. My office would be more private.”

She frowned. “What if I don’t want to be somewhere private with you?”

He compressed his lips. “You do realize I’m your boss, right?”

She frowned. “Actually, Dane’s my boss.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Dane? You call him by his first name?”

Damn, she hadn’t meant to do that.

“No, I call him Mr. Ranier, but his first name is Dane and that’s the only way to
differentiate the two of you.”

He gazed at her speculatively, then continued. “Dane and I both own the company, so
I qualify as your boss, too, even if you don’t report directly to me.”

She stared at him defiantly.

“Miss Long, I want you in my office now.”

His words sent a quiver through her … of anxiety, but also of excitement. He was more
like Dane than she’d thought, especially when he pulled that commanding boss thing
on her.

She pushed herself to her feet, then followed him to his office. When he closed the
door behind them, she felt another shiver. Other than their short interaction in Dane’s
office yesterday, she hadn’t been alone with him since the time he’d walked out on
her. But she’d dreamed of him. Longed to be with him.

But he’d broken her heart and she didn’t want that kind of pain again. Not only that,
he’d lied about who he was.

He stepped behind her and as soon as she felt his hand on her shoulder, she shot forward
a step, her heart racing. She reached for the stone in her pocket and stroked it.

He walked toward his desk, then turned to face her.

“Jess, we have a lot to talk about. I know you probably don’t want to do it here in
the office, so I want you to come to my place for dinner this evening. We can discuss
what happened and I’ll answer all your questions.”

“I can’t. You had your opportunity and you broke my heart. You can’t just waltz back
here and expect to pick up where we left off.”

“Jess, come on. Give me a chance.” He reached for her and stroked her hair behind
her ear. The gentle touch sent tingles through her, and a dangerous desire to lean
into his hand. To nuzzle his palm, then press her lips to his skin. “I made the biggest
mistake of my life. Now let me spend the rest of it making up for it. I’m ready to
be the man you deserve.”

As if sensing her capitulation, he stepped closer and leaned toward her. He was going
to kiss her. And she wanted him to. To feel his lips against hers again. His solid
body pressed tight to hers.

The door opened.

“Jessica, we have to go. We have a plane to catch.”

She jerked back from Storm, her gaze darting to Dane’s. “Yes, Mr. Ranier.”

She felt guilty having been caught almost kissing Storm. Even though Dane knew about
their past, and her relationship with Dane was only physical. Still, she was with
him, no matter how casual the relationship and she felt as if she’d almost cheated
on him.

Storm’s highly observant gaze locked on her and her heated cheeks. Then he glanced
at Dane. “Is there something going on between the two of you?”

“Right now what’s going on is that I need my assistant to accompany me to the airport.
I’m going to Chicago to close a deal—something you’d know if you’d been here where
you should be.”

“Is she accompanying you just to the airport, or to Chicago?”

“To Chicago, of course.”

“And do you have separate rooms?” Storm’s eyes flared with anger.

“That’s none of your damn business,” Dane retorted.

“Yes, they’re separate rooms,” Jessica snapped, then turned and left the office.

*   *   *

Jessica sat beside Dane on his private jet as it sped along the runway, then lifted
off. The off-white leather seats were very comfortable and she settled back as they
accelerated into the air.

“So, do you want to talk about you and Rafe?” Dane asked.

She pursed her lips and shrugged. “I don’t know what to say. It was a shock to find
out he wasn’t who I thought he was, and the fact he’s your brother is…”—she glanced
at him—“really awkward.”

“That’s an understatement.” He glanced out the window and asked casually, “Do you
think you want to take up where you left off with him?”

“Where we left off was him walking out on me.”

“But he’s back now. When I met you, it was clear you were still in love with him.”

She shook her head. “I was in love with Storm. I don’t know who Rafe is. And Storm
broke my heart.”

Dane nodded, his expression giving away nothing.

Once the plane was in level flight, the steward brought them lunch and offered them
a selection of drinks. When they arrived in Chicago, they would go straight to their
first client meeting. Dane had told her it would probably take a couple of days to
hammer out all the details of the contract before they could close the deal.

It wasn’t a very long flight, so she ate quickly, but ever aware of Dane’s powerful
presence beside her. The steward cleared away their dishes and poured them coffee.
Dane filled the time between them with conversation about their upcoming meeting.

Once the steward disappeared, she glanced at Dane’s profile as he stared at his tablet,
going over some of her notes for the meeting. If Storm hadn’t walked back into her
life, she and Dane would probably not just be sitting here. They were high above the
air in a luxurious private jet. It would be exhilarating to take advantage of this
exciting situation.

She gazed at his handsome profile and imagined unfastening her seat belt and lowering
to the floor, then stroking his crotch. She could imagine him quickly rising to attention.
Would he then decide to punish her, or order her to unzip him then bring him to climax?

He glanced toward her, catching her staring at him.

She smiled. “Is there anything you’d like me to do for you, Mr. Ranier?”

“No. Just relax until we get there,” he said with a deadpan expression. “It will be
a busy afternoon.”

Was he just focused on the important meetings to come, or did he have an issue with
the fact she used to be his brother’s lover?