Tempting (9 page)

“What are they talking about?”

“You.”

She blinked at him. You, as in her? “What do I have to do with anything?”

His dark gaze was as impersonal as if they'd never met. As if he'd never pulled her into his arms and claimed her with a kiss that had left her breathless.

How did he do that? Should she be insulted or impressed by his ability to compartmentalize?

“When word gets out that you're the senator's daughter, we're going to have a situation to deal with.”

A situation? She was a situation? “I'm not going to tell anyone,” she said, glaring at him. “Stop assuming the worst about me.”

“No one's doing that,” Mark told her. “Information gets leaked. It's a reality of the political climate today. No one wants it to happen, but it will. We need to be prepared.”

“Who knows?” the woman asked.

Mark looked at Alex, who glanced around the room. “We do. Katherine, Dani's family.”

“No one in my family is going to say anything,” Dani said, making a mental note to tell them all not to. “We don't have a whole lot of press contact.”

“Katherine will be telling the children,” Mark told them.

“That's not a good idea,” one of the suits said. “Kids blab.”

“It's what Katherine wants,” Mark said calmly. “Family is important to her.”

And Katherine was obviously important to him. Dani liked that. She liked that Mark had made it so clear he'd fallen for her mother and that now he was standing up for his wife. That meant he was a good guy, right?

She wished they could have spent more time together, just the two of them. But with him running for president, his time was limited. So they would get to know each other slowly.

She glanced around the room. Nothing about the space spoke of a national campaign for the highest office in the country. But it was happening. Her biological father was running for president.

Just thinking the statement made her want to giggle. She was so normal she was practically boring. She didn't belong in a world like this. Yet here she was—an unexpected member of the Canfield clan.

 

T
HE LUNCH MEETING
wrapped up in less than an hour. Before Dani could circle around the table to speak to her father again, Mark was ushered out of the room by the suit guys.

She stared after him, trying not to feel snubbed.

Alex picked up the pad of paper he'd brought in with him. “He has a couple of conference calls,” he said. “It's not about you.”

She was torn, appreciating the kind words and wondering if she looked like a lost and abandoned waif. “Thanks. This is different for me. It's going to take me a while to figure everything out.”

“It'll get easier.”

He motioned for her to lead the way out of the room. As she stepped past him, he put his hand on the small of her back.

The touch was polite at best, but her body wanted to read a whole lot more into it. She could feel each individual finger pressing against her. The need to step into the touch flooded her until she had to concentrate so hard on
not
stepping closer that she was afraid she was going to trip.

“You've, ah, got a head start on me,” she said, hoping she didn't sound flustered or stupid. “And can we talk about how weird it is that we're not related but we can technically both call him Dad?”

Alex smiled at her. “I call him the senator.”

“I probably should, too, huh?”

“You're not on his staff.”

“Not unless he plans on getting into the restaurant business.” She sighed. “Is there a book or something—
Dealing with Unexpected Biological Parents for Dummies?
I could really use that.”

Alex grinned.

Her mouth smiled in return. It was an involuntary response to a sexy grin by a handsome man she liked. Their eyes locked, and suddenly she was reliving that kiss in real time.

It had been good. Better than good. It had been hot and exciting and really, really tempting.

Oh, God. Talk about a mistake. There were fifteen reasons why they could never get together. It was…

They rounded a corner and she saw Katherine walking toward them. Dani instantly stepped away from Alex, fighting a surge of guilt, which was so weird. She hadn't been doing anything wrong.

She was so caught up in acting normal and blameless that it took her a second to notice the tall, incredibly beautiful woman at Katherine's side.

The four of them came to a stop.

“Dani!” Katherine said, sounding delighted to see her. “How wonderful to run into you.” She leaned close and kissed Dani's cheek. “I want to be the first to welcome you to the family.”

Katherine's graciousness awed Dani. Was the woman real? “Thank you. You're more than kind.”

“I am many things, but they're not all good,” Katherine said with a laugh. “Dani, this is Fiona, my former daughter-in-law. Fiona, Dani Buchanan, Mark's daughter.”

“Hi,” Dani said, as she processed the information.

“Nice to meet you,” the slender redhead said absently. Her attention was totally focused on Alex.

Former daughter-in-law? Dani turned to Alex. His ex?

Fiona pushed past her and slipped her arm through Alex's. “I need to talk to you, darling. Do you have a minute?”

She pulled him away before he could answer.

Katherine stared after them. “We were all so sorry things didn't work out between them. But maybe with time…”

Dani glanced between Katherine and the retreating couple. Alex had been married to the redheaded goddess? Of course. He couldn't have been with someone average. Who was next on his to-date list? Halle Berry? Scarlett Johansson?

Katherine returned her attention to Dani. “How was your lunch with Mark?”

“Interesting. Political. They're worried word will get out about me. I'm not going to tell anyone, of course.”

Katherine patted her arm. “Leaks are a way of life. You'll get used to it. Let them worry about strategy. Did Mark mention I've told the children?”

She had? “He said you were going to.”

“They're very excited to have another sister. Whatever you do, don't give out your cell number or they'll start hitting you up for rides.” Katherine laughed. “I want to have you over for dinner again very soon. We can all get to know each other. You're one of us now, Dani. That's both a good and a bad thing, so brace yourself. Now that we've found you, we're not going to let you get away.”

“I'm okay with that,” she said, overwhelmed by all that was happening.

“I need to run. I'll be calling you soon.”

 

“A
ND THEN SHE LEFT
,” Dani said as she sat on a chair in Penny's office at The Waterfront. It was still several hours before the restaurant opened for dinner and the building was quiet.

Her sister-in-law frowned. “Katherine sounds great. What's the problem?”

“It's not her. You're right. She's wonderful. It's just there's so much going on. A month ago I barely knew Mark Canfield existed. Now I'm his daughter and part of a huge family. It's weird. Everything's happening too fast. I don't know what to think.”

Penny smiled. “But this is what you wanted. To find out where you belong. Although I have to tell you, you're still a Buchanan. Don't think we're letting you get away, either.”

“Everybody wants a piece of me,” Dani joked. “I'm going to have an entourage.”

“There are worse problems.”

“I know.” She grabbed the mug of coffee on the desk and took a sip. “Fiona was stunning. She's one of those really beautiful women. The kind that makes every other woman in the room feel like a two-dimensional, badly done drawing.”

“So you hate her,” Penny said cheerfully.

“Only in theory. She may be nice.” Although she hadn't looked nice. She'd looked…predatory. “I can't believe Alex used to be married to her. He never said anything about it. I went online and looked—they're divorced. It's final and everything. That is one advantage to a family like the Canfields. A lot of stuff gets reported in the press.”

She glanced up and saw Penny staring at her. “What?” Dani asked.

“You checked to see if his divorce was final? Why would you do that?”

Dani stared into her coffee. “I was, ah, just curious.”

“Oh my God! You're attracted to him? Seriously?”

“No. Of course not. He's just a guy.”

“You're lying! I can tell because you're blushing.”

Dani touched her cheek and felt the heat. Damn. “Look, it's not what you think. Alex is…interesting.”

“You're related.”

“Not by blood. Don't be gross. He was adopted. I think he's nice and okay, maybe good-looking and there's some mild interest on my part, but it doesn't mean anything.”

Penny didn't look convinced. “It complicates things.”

“There's nothing to complicate. I'm not getting involved with him.” She couldn't—no matter how great he kissed.

“No relationships,” she told both Penny and herself firmly. “Do I need to remind you about my past?”

“No,” Penny told her. “But maybe your luck has changed.”

“Not likely.”

 

A
LEX CHECKED HIS WATCH
, then excused himself from the meeting. He'd promised to take Bailey to dinner and he didn't want to be late. The various interactions of what might or might not happen if the press ever discovered Mark Canfield had a grown daughter could be handled by professionals who made their living working those kind of problems. Give him a good corporate lawsuit any day. Compared to politics, that was easy.

Dani wasn't prepared for the circus that was a national campaign, he thought as he walked toward the front of the building. Someone should talk to her about what to expect. Maybe later he could—

He pushed through the swinging door that led to the reception area. Fourteen-year-old Bailey was there, but so was a man Alex had never seen before. It only took him a second to figure out something was wrong.

Bailey sat on the floor, a yellow Lab puppy sprawled across her lap. The guy crouched next to her.

“Tell me more about your new sister,” he said, a tape recorder in his hand.

Bailey smiled. “She's pretty and really nice. Ian likes her and he doesn't like anybody.”

“She's your daddy's little girl.”

Bailey wrinkled her nose. “She's not little. She's big.”

Anger exploded into rage, but Alex was careful not to let it show. He stepped between Bailey and the reporter, then offered his sister a hand up.

“Bailey, would you please wait for me in my office?”

Bailey's eyes widened. “Is it okay I played with the puppy?” she asked.

He forced himself to smile. “Of course. Give me a second, then we'll go.”

“Okay.”

She kissed the puppy's head, then eased it off her lap and stood. When she'd waved goodbye and passed through the swinging door, Alex turned on the reporter.

“What the hell do you think you're doing?”

The man was in his late twenties, short and skinny. He stood and scooped up the dog in one arm. “Whatever gets the job done, man.” He grinned. “I hear you have a new sister. Congrats.”

Alex grabbed his arm. “Who the hell do you think you are, using a puppy to get secrets out of my sister?”

The reporter's grin broadened. “Kids love dogs. Specially kids like her. The stupid ones.”

Alex's vision narrowed until there was only his anger and the other man. The insult to his sister fueled the need to lash out and before he could consider whether or not he should, he shot out his hand and punched the reporter in the face.

The guy yelped, as did the puppy. Blood poured from his nose. The tape recorder fell to the floor and cracked open.

Alex stepped on it, crushing the electronic guts of the small machine, but it was too late. The damage had been done…in more ways than one.

 

T
HE NEWSPAPERS
were delivered shortly after four in the morning. Alex was waiting for his. He walked into his kitchen and laid the front page on the dark granite counter. The message couldn't be more clear.

There was a picture of the senator, a blurry shot of Dani and a headline that read:

Senator Canfield's Love Child.

D
ANI WAS RUNNING LATE
, which meant she wouldn't be able to stop for coffee. Penny would probably have a pot going, but she was more into food than liquids, which meant the chances of getting a double shot latte with extra foam were about zero.

“Drive-through,” Dani murmured as she opened the front door and stepped onto the tiny porch of her rental. “Drive-through and—”

Her morning exploded into a blinding series of camera flashes and yelled questions.

“How long have you known the senator was your father?”

“Are any of your brothers his kid, too?”

“Are you asking the family for money?”

“Do you expect a cabinet position if the senator wins the election?”

Dani froze, stunned by the dozen or so people standing on her front lawn. Her inability to answer any of them didn't seem to stop the bombardment of questions.

They called out to her, took her picture and seemed to be waiting for something. A reaction, maybe? They were going to have to accept wide-eyed amazement, because that's all she had in her.

“Go away,” she managed at last and started toward her car.

Reporters surrounded her, pushing tape recorders in her face and shouting out more questions.

“What does Mrs. Canfield think about you being her husband's daughter by another woman?”

“Are you going to change your name to Canfield?”

Dani made it to her car and managed to squeeze inside. She started the engine and shifted into Reverse, but the reporters continued to huddle around her car. Not knowing what else to do, she eased her foot off the brake and let the car start moving. At last the reporters withdrew.

Her relief was short-lived. As she backed onto the street, several of them ran to their cars. She blinked. There was no way they were going to follow her, were they?

It was like something out of a movie, only this was real and she didn't know how to deal with it.

Her first thought was that she couldn't go to Penny's. Not with a parade of reporters behind her. She grabbed her cell phone and used speed dial to call Walker. The former Marine would know what to do.

The call went through to voice mail.

Dani swore. She drove through her quiet neighborhood, a six-car escort right behind her. She managed to lose two at the first light and three more at the second. Encouraged by that, she headed for a congested intersection, faked going straight, turned left on the yellow light and zipped around another corner. When she was sure she'd lost everyone, she pulled to the side of the road and called her other two brothers.

And got no one. Apparently they were all busy with their own lives. She stared at her cell for a second, then called information.

“Campaign headquarters for Senator Mark Canfield, please.”

 

T
HIRTY MINUTES LATER
, Dani was in a back booth at the Totem Lake Shari's. She barely had time to order coffee before Alex entered the restaurant. He looked good as he walked purposefully toward her. Despite the trauma of her morning, she could appreciate the broad shoulders and long legs. If nothing else, he was a distraction.

As he slid in across from her, he passed her the morning paper.

“You didn't see this?” he asked.

She scanned the headline and groaned. “No. I don't read the paper or listen to the news in the morning. It's too depressing. I guess I have to change that.” She quickly read the article. “How did this happen? I didn't tell them. I swear.”

“I know it wasn't you.” He explained about Bailey and the reporter and the puppy.

She stiffened in outrage. “That's horrible. Who is the guy? I have a former Marine brother who would be happy to beat the crap out of him.”

“I already did that,” Alex told her.

The waitress arrived with Dani's coffee. He ordered a second cup for himself. Dani used those few seconds to try to gather her thoughts and return to the real and rational world.

She held up one hand. “What did you say? You hit a reporter?”

He shrugged. “Nobody screws with my family.”

“Don't get me wrong—I'm not complaining. I would have done it if I could have, but it's still a surprise.” She would have thought Alex would be one of those totally controlled guys who never let emotion get the best of him.

One corner of his mouth turned up. “Tell me about it.”

“It's impressive.” So there was a lot of passion lurking inside the tailored suit.

“I'm tough.”

He was joking, but Dani thought there was plenty of truth in the statement. He was tough and basically a good guy. She couldn't complain about him defending his sister. Which meant he was good-looking
and
a good guy. That could be a problem, when it came to trying to resist her attraction to him.

“Can you do that?” she asked. “Hit a reporter? I mean I know you can. Obviously. You did it. But is it a good idea?”

Alex's expression tightened. “It depends on whether or not the guy files charges. If he does, I'm looking at an interesting change in my future.”

Dani didn't know what to say. Alex was a lawyer. Weren't they supposed to uphold the law or something?

She leaned back in the booth. “Okay, this is all crazy and happening way too fast. Let's start at the beginning. Some sleazebucket coerced Bailey into telling him about me. So the press knows and the story is out. What now?”

“Now we deal. You're going to be hounded by the press, at least for a while.”

She'd been afraid that was what he was going to say. “Can we define both ‘hounded' and ‘a while'? Are we talking days, weeks or do I need to move to Borneo?”

“Moving isn't required, but it could take a while for the story to die down. Do you live in a house?”

She nodded. “A rental. Nothing flashy.”

“It's not going to offer enough protection. You might want to think about staying with a friend until all this is over. Preferably one who lives in a secure building.”

She didn't know anyone who fit that description. “I hate the thought of being forced to leave my home because of a story in the paper.”

His gaze was steady. “There's having principles and there's reality. The press can make your life hell, at least in the short term.”

“And I'm not even Paris Hilton.”

“Who?”

She laughed. “You're such a guy.”

“Good thing. Otherwise,
I'd
be in the paper.”

“An interesting headline. Senator's Oldest Son Secretly a Woman. That would be a complication.”

His gaze dropped to her mouth. “In more ways than one.”

Was it her or had it just gotten hot in here? She shifted on her seat.

“I'm sorry,” she said. “I never meant to make a mess of everything. I didn't want to hurt anyone. I just wanted to find my father.”

He reached across the table and took her hand. “This isn't your fault. You didn't do anything wrong.”

His fingers were warm. She was sure he meant his touch to be comforting, so she couldn't blame him if she wanted to stretch and purr and have him stroke her all over.

“So you don't hate me anymore?” she asked.

“I never hated you.”

“You came really close. There was a little hate in your heart.”

“I didn't trust you. There's a difference.”

“And now?”

“Now I think you're who you say you are.”

“What changed your mind? My sparkling personality?”

He released her hand. One corner of his mouth turned up. “What else could it be?”

Before she could answer, she caught sight of her watch and groaned. “I'm late,” she said. She tossed five dollars on the table as she slid out of the booth. “Thanks for coming to talk to me.”

He picked up the money and tucked it into her jacket pocket. “I'm always up for a good rescue.”

 

D
ANI OPENED
Penny's front door without knocking and burst into the house.

“I'm late, I know,” she said. “I'm sorry.”

Penny stood and hugged her. “What happened? We were getting worried.”

The “we” in question was Penny; Lori, Reid's significant other; and Elissa, Walker's fiancée.

“I have the best excuse ever,” Dani said as she handed Penny the newspaper she'd brought with her. “I was chased by the press. I had to call Alex and tell him what was going on. Apparently I'm a story.”

Penny scanned the headline, then held out the paper so Lori and Elissa could see what it said.

“It could be worse,” Lori told her. “You could have been abducted by aliens.”

“Good point,” Elissa teased. “No one wants all that anal probing.”

Dani laughed, then shrugged out of her coat and collapsed on the sofa next to Elissa. “You've managed to put my life in perspective. Thank you.”

Penny sank onto the floor and pulled out a notepad. “So what happened to get all this in the press? Who blabbed?”

Dani explained the situation. The three women were outraged that some jerk had taken advantage of Bailey.

“Tell Walker,” Elissa said fiercely. “He'll make the guy pay.”

Dani was intrigued by the seemingly gentle Elissa being so willing to attack. Although it made sense. Walker was a warrior at heart—he would need a woman who was emotionally strong and secure within herself.

“Apparently Alex already did that,” Dani said. “The senator's eldest son, a card-carrying member of the Washington State bar, punched a reporter.”

Lori winced. “That can't be good.”

“He said he didn't know what was going to happen. It depends on whether or not the reporter presses charges.” Dani had a bad feeling he would. All the more attention on the event. Although the downside for the reporter was that he would come off as a jerk. Would he care about that?

Penny eyed Dani. “So the cool, conservative lawyer has a passionate side.”

Dani had thought the same thing, but she wasn't going to get into that with her sister-in-law. Not right now. “Enough about me,” she said firmly. “We're here to plan a wedding.” She turned to Elissa. “Where do we stand?”

Elissa drew in a breath. “It's going to be a big, splashy affair. I can't help it—that's what I've always wanted. A fairy-tale wedding with lots of flowers and twinkle lights. I want a dress with a big skirt and my hair up.”

Dani felt a twinge of envy. Elissa was happy, in love and getting married. Not that Dani felt any burning need to be married this second, but she would like to fall in love with a great guy.

Not going to happen anytime soon, she reminded herself. In the past year she'd been left by her husband, who claimed she hadn't grown enough in their marriage—a total sham to cover up his cheating. She'd fallen for and been seduced by a seemingly perfect man who turned out to be married. Last but certainly not least, she'd met a kind, quiet guy who had only recently left the priesthood. It was a challenge she hadn't been willing to take on.

Her love life had become a cautionary tale.

“You should absolutely have the wedding you want,” Lori said firmly. “Fluffy dress and all.”

“I agree,” Penny said with a sniff. “Even if you're not concerned about the food.”

Dani groaned. “Don't go there,” she told Penny. “It's Elissa's choice.”

Elissa shifted to the edge of the sofa and touched Penny's shoulder. “I'm sorry,” she said quietly. “I should have talked to you about this before. I don't want you catering the wedding.”

Penny's eyes darkened. “Yes, I know. That's been made very clear.”

Elissa continued as if Penny hadn't said anything. “It was a tough decision for me. I know you're the best chef I could ever hope to find, but you're going to be my sister-in-law. What kind of sister would I be if I made you work on my wedding? I want you to enjoy yourself. I refuse to be selfish. Our guests will simply have to understand.”

Penny shrugged. “It's your call.”

“I would love for you to cater the rehearsal dinner, if that isn't too much trouble. I know it's still work for you, but we're talking maybe fifteen or twenty people. That's nothing for you.”

“True,” Penny said slowly. “I guess that would work. I could give you some names for the wedding. I know a few people who won't screw things up.”

Elissa smiled. “I would really appreciate that.”

Dani leaned toward Lori. “Impressive. Penny could have held a grudge for years.”

Lori lowered her voice. “Penny and Reid already had this out a while ago. He's the one who first pointed out Elissa wanted her family having fun, not working in the kitchen.”