Thrust: Bad Boy Racing Romance (Fastlane Series Book 2) (2 page)

DANI

“Mr. Rhys,” Leopold began, making his way around the end of the conference table. “Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice.”

Bernard trailed behind Leopold, circling around to the opposite side of Marco. Seconds later, the three men exchanged handshakes with one another. Marco offered them a polite smile but not much else. It was around that time I approached the three of them. Bernard and Leopold stepped aside and Marco’s gaze snapped towards me.

Our eyes met.

Composing myself, I smiled at him and extended my hand.

“It’s wonderful to meet you, Mr. Rhys. I’m Dani Simms.”

Marco didn’t take my hand right away. Instead, he continued to look in my direction and offered me little more than a slow nod.

Silence fell across the room.

In all the time I’d worked at the firm, I’d never had a male client refuse my handshake. In fact, he made the gesture seem awkward, almost inappropriate. But just before I decided to drop my hand back to my side, one side of his mouth curled upwards in amusement.

Just behind him, bright Monte Carlo midmorning sunlight shined into the decadent parlor of the yacht, illuminating his chocolate-colored irises with caramel streaks. Shadow wrapped around his square jaw, curling inward towards his perfect lips.

Marco reached for me, gliding his fingers inside of my palm in a single, smooth motion. With a slight pressure, he turned my hand downward while drawing it towards his mouth. I felt my lips part while he moved his own towards the back of my hand.

Before I realized it, he pressed his lips against my flesh.

Hypnotized, I happened to notice a trace of stubble lining his jaw. My body tensed and my nipples tingled at the idea of him dragging the short, sharp hairs across the skin on my neck. I could almost feel the heat from the friction of it, setting my body on fire with lust. He lingered there for two seconds, maybe three. Either way, it was one too many for my liking. A blistering pulse of fire raced through me, nearly causing my knees to give way.

What was happening to me? Jesus Christ, Dani!

These were the kinds of situations
I
was always in control of, but suddenly, it seemed quite the opposite. Instinctively, I attempted to pull my hand free of his grasp. Marco took notice. Looking at me, he arched a brow and smiled for an instant before releasing me and looking at me in silence.

“Is it?” he asked, at last, still smiling.

I blinked a couple of times.

Is it?

What is it?

What?

Glancing at Leopold and Bernard, I noticed their faces wrinkle with looks of concern. I sensed Marco still staring at me. I turned to look at him once again. Reaching up, I tugged a strand of hair behind my ear. I pulled my shoulders back a bit, lifted my chin towards him and straightened my spine.

“Is it… what?” I replied.

Marco stepped towards me. Confidence oozed from him but, it was far from the sleazy, playboy variety. He seemed completely at ease with his behavior. Standing less than a foot from me, he continued.

“You said it was wonderful to meet me. Is it?”

I blinked again. My mouth drifted open, searching for a reply. Poker-faced, Marco made no effort to help me with a response. Instead, he nodded and started walking, headed in the direction of the conference table.

“Think about it,” he said, passing by me.

My head turned on a swivel. Half-dazed, I followed him with my eyes, still not sure what happened. Just then, I felt a palm press into my lower back. I turned to see Leopold standing there. I noticed Bernard walking towards the table to join Marco.

“Dani,” Leopold began, leaning into me. He continued in a voice barely above a whisper, “What’s going on with you?”

I shook my head, muttering a reply to him in return.

“Nothing. I’m fine,” I lied, trying to refocus.

Leopold leaned away, narrowing his eyes at me.

“Okay,” he said, dropping his hand away from my backside. “Come on then.”

I took advantage of the fifteen feet or so between the entrance to the parlor and the conference table to collect myself. Red hot race car driver or not, the simple fact was Marco Rhys was just another rich guy – one I was more than capable of handling.

Come on Dani.

By the time I reached the table, Bernard started to speak.

“Please accept our condolences for the passing of your father, Mr. Rhys. Antonio was a giant.”

Marco listened, nodding, until Bernard finished. At last, he replied, “Yes, many people viewed him that way.”

I eased into my chair, two seats down from Marco. I frowned at his strange, guarded response. His answer was consistent with what little I knew about his family. Intensely private, his father had used his vast fortune to keep his personal life a well-guarded secret.

Leopold sat between Marco and me.

Marco turned his attention towards him and spoke. “I’d like to get through this meeting as quickly as possible. I’ve got a very busy day ahead.”

Clearing his throat, Leopold leaned forward in his chair, bracing himself against the table’s edge with his elbows.

I’d never seen him so nervous.

“Absolutely, sir,” he began, clearing his throat for a second time. “We all understand how busy you are.”

I looked down towards the end of the table to see Marco staring at me.

Again.

Since our awkward greeting a few minutes earlier, I did manage to collect myself. Staring back at him, I began to feel the control tilt in my favor. The look in his eyes was the kind of thing I’d grown accustomed to seeing from men in this line of work. I suddenly felt much better about my chances.

Bernard began to speak. “We won’t waste any of your time, Mr. Rhys,” he started, nodding his head as he leaned in towards the table in full salesman mode. “I think that our track record as an investment banking firm speaks for itself. We’ve got nearly one hundred billion under management and…”

Marco lifted his arm, showing his palm to Bernard.

“I’d like to hear from Ms. Simms. I’d prefer it if
she
would tell me why I should give your firm my money.”

I swallowed, ready to accept the challenge. This was what I lived for, making the deal. I sensed I had him right where I wanted him. All of sudden, it almost felt
too easy
. In a matter of minutes, I’d managed to turn the situation completely in my favor. Now all I had to do was use my gifts of persuasion along with the firm’s rock solid history, and he’d be ours.

With all three men now looking at me, I nodded and offered a polite smile to him before beginning. I reached for my briefcase and pulled out the prospectus we’d put together for him. Opening it, I placed it on the table in front of me and began my sales pitch.

“Thank you,” I began, nodding towards Bernard for an instant. I looked at Mr. Rhys again and continued, “Well, Mr. Rhys, as Bernard mentioned, the firm has been in business for more than three decades. We manage billions in assets and if there’s one thing that matters when it comes to taking care of fortunes, it’s that you pick the right partner.”

I placed my hand on top of the folder, opening it and pointing towards it at the same time.

“As you’ll see here, our analysts have put together a comprehensive offering for you. I think that you will be extremely pleased with what we can do for someone with an estate of your size.”

MARCO

I chuckled. Reaching for the arms of my chair, I wrapped my hands around them and started to stand. I’d heard the same pitch from half a dozen of these investment banks. I wouldn’t have even considered meeting with these three if they hadn’t come to Monte Carlo.

“I’ll be going,” I said, standing and beginning to turn and walk away.

From behind, I heard the sound of their chairs scoot across the floor, groaning in unison.

“Mr. Rhys!” Dani called out. “Please, was it something I said? Is there something you don’t like about what we’re offering?”

I turned back towards them. She held the prospectus in her hand. I wasn’t a fool. I’d been around people like this my entire life. They only want one thing. Bankers use women like her as a weapon, and it wasn't hard to see why.

Dani was a dark-haired beauty with full lips, translucent jade eyes and curves that didn’t quit. What’s more, it was easy to see she’d put her career ahead of her own needs. When I leaned in to kiss her hand earlier, I sensed it. If we’d been alone, I felt sure I’d have fucked her right then and there. She’d neglected her desires as a woman.
It showed.

Dani stood there looking at me, waiting for me to say something. I slid my hands inside the pockets of my pants.

“What
exactly
are you selling me? What’s so different about anything that you have to say? Your world is a small one, Dani. Surely you realize your offerings aren't that unique, or special.”

Pausing for a second, I walked back towards the table. The two men glanced at me and then looked at Dani.

I kept my focus on her.

“Do you have any idea how many times I’ve heard the same thing over the past couple of months?”

Still clutching the prospectus in her hand, she shook her head. “No.”

“More than I care to remember.”

“Mr. Rhys,” Bernard began, “What we presented to you is not yet custom-tailored to your needs, it’s merely a starting point. We’re more than happy to work with you and do what’s best for your situation, but unless we can discuss it, we can’t…”

I nodded, raising my hand towards him.

“I appreciate your time, but frankly, I’m not interested. The racing season might be over, but my work as a driver is never finished. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go train.”

I turned to begin walking away once more. I’d hardly gone two steps. From behind, I heard the sound of Dani’s heels as they
clacked
across the parlor’s marble floor towards me.

“Mr. Rhys,” she began, her voice carrying the hint of a plea. “Isn’t there anything I can do to change your mind?”

I paused again, turning my head to look at her. It was obvious she’d do almost anything to get me to sign up with the firm. She smoothed the fabric of her dress and arched her lower back a bit.

I smiled.

The truth was, managing billions of dollars wasn’t something I had any interest in doing. I might have been born into obscene amounts of wealth, but it had nothing to do with the man I’d become. Even so, I had no intention of putting my future in the hands of people who only cared about making commissions.

I needed something more from them, from her. In my world, beautiful women… they’re
everywhere.
The problem is that it's a lot like being in a pit full of snakes. You never know which one is going to bite. And so, unlike many of my fellow drivers, I’d opted to keep my conquests away from the track.

There are enough distractions in racing. The last thing I needed was to put my focus at risk over a woman. But Dani – she wasn’t from my world. I wondered how much she knew about it, if anything. Removing my hands from my pockets, I reached up and crossed my arms at my chest before speaking again.

“Like I said, I haven’t been impressed with what I’ve heard so far,” I began, lifting my chin up at her. “As far as I’m concerned, you’ve not been convincing.”

I paused.

Bernard and Leopold slouched at the mention of my displeasure. Dani did the opposite. She moved one hand to her hip and tossed her long hair away from her face. Shiny and full, it bounced in place while she waited for me to continue. I couldn’t tell if I’d angered her or challenged her, but either way I admired the backbone.

It would make fucking her all the more enjoyable.

I gestured towards her. “Is there something you’d like to say to me?”

She shook her head. “No, sir. I just want a chance to earn your business and your trust.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. I hadn’t expected her to use the word ‘trust’.

“All right then, Ms. Simms,” I began, nodding and touching my index finger to my chin. “I respect your directness. I will give you another opportunity to persuade me.”