“No. Not until I’ve had more time to study the cost sheets. There’s no rush. It takes time to—”
Cliff shoved back his chair and stood. Startled, Virginia glanced up. He was practically seething, his hands curled into fists at his sides.
“There’ll come a point, Virginia, when you push me too far!” He turned to Dillon and barked, “Be upstairs in the conference room in ten minutes.”
He stormed out and Virginia was left there with her mouth hanging open and an uncomfortable silence disturbing the air. It wasn’t like Cliff to put on such a display in front of employees.
Without really wanting to, she looked over at Dillon. He hadn’t moved. He seemed unperturbed by Cliff’s overreaction, but his dark eyes were cryptic. She tried a shaky smile. For some stupid reason she felt defensive. Having the world know her own brother reviled her had the same effect as being nicknamed “Chubby” in grade school.
“Well, I certainly pushed the wrong buttons this morning, didn’t I?” she said, relying on flippancy to save her pride.
Dillon narrowed his eyes. “Or the right ones.”
“What does that mean?”
“Why do you deliberately provoke him, Virginia?”
She pushed away from the desk and started for the door. Discussing family business with employees—regardless of how gorgeous they might be—wasn’t done. Still, she couldn’t resist one righteous parting shot. “I have as much right to know what’s going on in this company as he does. Or more so!” When she turned, Dillon was right behind her. She gasped, took a step back and hit the door. She hadn’t even heard him move.
He took another step closer, looming over her. His fingers touched her chin; his dark gaze touched everywhere else. In a rumble, he whispered, “There are gentler ways for a woman to get what she wants. Especially from her own brother.”
For one instant she felt frozen by his touch. Her stomach curled and her nipples tightened into sensitive peaks. Then she shook her head. “So I should play meek and mild just to placate Cliff? I don’t have a meek or mild bone in my body. I thought you understood that, Dillon.”
He didn’t smile. “Are you going to make time for me this weekend, Virginia?”
“Are you being pushy?” she asked automatically, still stinging from her brother’s remarks.
To her disappointment, he backed down, both physically and mentally. For a single heartbeat, he looked frustrated, almost angry, but he took a safe step away from her and shook his head. “No, of course not. I’m just…anxious.”
If he was really anxious, he’d insist she make a decision, she thought. But then, it wasn’t fair of her to try to force her own dominant spirit on him. She went on tiptoe to kiss his chin. “I need to be here Friday for a meeting, but I can take off Thursday.”
His gaze heated. “What time?”
“Whenever you like. You tell me.”
Without hesitation, he said, “Early. We could spend the entire day together. The waiting is just about killing me.”
After her brother’s crack about her weight, Dillon’s obvious desire was a welcome balm. She pressed closer to him for a kiss and felt his large hand cup her backside, gently squeezing. With her brother’s comment still lingering fresh in her mind, she was uncomfortable with the touch and stepped away. His gaze searched her face, questioning, and she tried not to blush.
Other men who had come on to her had been discreet with their touches, never venturing so boldly in broad daylight as Dillon seemed prepared to do. In thirty years, she’d had two lovers, and they’d both made it a practice to have sex in the dark and under the covers, which suited her just fine. The entire experience had always been rather nice. Safe and predictable and uncomplicated. The sex itself hadn’t been spectacular, but the sharing, the holding and touching had comforted her in a way nothing else could.
She hoped Dillon wouldn’t prove too difficult about the arrangement. Surely he’d be satisfied with proper bedroom convention.
“This isn’t exactly the best place, is it, Dillon?”
At first he didn’t answer and her heart raced in both dread and anticipation. He shook his head. “No, it isn’t. I’m sorry.”
Virginia sighed. “Since I know you’re worried about appearances, we’ll meet in the mall parking lot by my home. That way no one will see us leaving.”
“Can you be ready at six?”
“That early?”
His tone dropped to a husky rumble. “It’ll give us more time together.”
“All right, then.” She smiled. “Where did you want to go?”
Dillon hesitated, then touched her cheek again. “Why don’t you let me take care of that. It’ll be a surprise.”
“Hmm. A secret?”
He nodded. “What did you need to see Cliff about?”
She stared into his eyes, amazed by the mixed messages there. Hunger, but also…regret?
“Virginia?”
“What?”
He laughed, a low, rough sound that made her belly tingle. “You rushed in here to see Cliff, but got sidetracked. Was it important?”
“Oh.” She paused. “Oh! Damn it, I needed to talk to him. Something’s wrong with my car. I wanted to use his.”
“That’s not a problem.” He dug in his pocket and pulled out a large key ring, then unhooked one gold key. “Here. You can use the company car. I left it in the garage, lower level, personnel entrance. But what’s wrong with yours? Maybe I can help you with it.”
“I’m not sure.” Virginia accepted the key, feeling awkward with Dillon’s concern. She wasn’t used to anyone asking after her in such a solicitous way. For as long as she could remember, she’d taken care of herself. “Something’s wrong with the brakes. I started out of the parking lot, then remembered some papers I needed on my desk. When I went to put on the brakes, they felt sluggish at first, not really catching, and when I pumped them, the pedal went all the way to the floor. I ran into a guardrail.” She scowled, thinking of the damage that had been done to her bumper. “It’s lucky I found out they weren’t working before I tried to leave the garage. You know how the exit ramp slopes down right into the main road.”
“And into heavy traffic,” he added in an ominous whisper. Dillon’s brows were lowered and a muscle ticked in his jaw. Suddenly, his arms surrounded her and he gave her a tight squeeze. With his mouth against her neck, he murmured, “You could have been killed.”
Pushing herself away from his hard chest, Virginia laughed, trying to make light of his reaction. “Nonsense! It wasn’t all that dramatic or life threatening, I promise. I’d barely gone three feet before I found out they weren’t working. But I do intend to give my serviceman a piece of my mind. I had my oil changed not two weeks ago and he told me he’d topped off all the fluids.”
Dillon bent to press his forehead to hers. “I’ll take a look at it. You…might have had some damage to the brake lines.”
Virginia shook her head. “Dillon, looking after my car isn’t part of your job and not at all a necessary part of our relationship. Besides, I already called the tow truck. I can take care of myself, you know.”
He looked as if he wanted to argue, but held his tongue. In this instance, Virginia appreciated his restraint. She liked her independence and wanted no infringements on it. She smiled her approval. “You know, it’s too bad I have to check in here Friday morning.” She smoothed her open palm over his