“Ivory and I talked, and we have the financial means to stop Elijah Tyson.”
Drew sat back down. “Why would your husband agree to help me? He doesn’t know me.”
“Yes, he does, Drew.”
That was a shocker. “You told him about us?”
“Yes. Ivory and I promised never to have secrets, and I wanted him to know about our relationship.”
Drew released a deep breath. “And?”
“And Ivory and I love each other very much, Drew. It’s his belief that what happened before we married is water under the bridge. In fact, he thinks being involved with you after Thomas died kept me from being preyed on by vultures, opportunists, and all kinds of unsavory men. But back to the matter at hand. Like I said, Ivory and I have the means to stop Tyson, and we will. Ivory is flying to Boston tomorrow to meet with him. Ivory will claim to be a close friend of the Steele family and threatento take over Tyson’s company if he doesn’t end this vendetta and undo whatever damage he’s done to the Steele Trucking Company.”
Drew released a deep breath. “Thanks. I owe you and Ivory one, Valerie.”
“No, you don’t. Take care and best wishes with your lady.”
He frowned. “What lady?”
“Eden Tyson.”
“It’s not that way with me and Eden, Valerie.”
“Hey, I saw her on my Vogue magazine cover. If it’s not that way with you and her, then maybe it should be. She’s a very beautiful young woman. And from the articles I’ve read, she’s smart, intelligent, down-to-earth, and kind. There’s no pretentiousness about her. Goodbye, Drew.”
“Goodbye, Valerie.”
**
Eden quickly moved toward the door when she heard the knock. She knew it was Drew. Although excited about seeing him, she still paused to ask. “Who is it?”
“Drew.”
The throaty and sexy sound of his voice almost made her shiver in anticipation. After taking a deep breath, she opened the hotel room door to find him standing there, looking as handsome as ever. “Drew.”
“Eden.”
She took a step back, he entered and she closed the door behind him. He smelled good, too. Typically, once the door was closed, he would pull her into his arms. Instead, he walked to the center of the room, turned, and looked at her, causing all kinds of sensations to rush over her.
She wondered if anything was wrong but dismissed the thought when he slowly walked back toward her, with a look ofdeep desire in his eyes. He stopped in front of her, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her.
It was the kind of kiss she always got from him. One she wanted and needed. She had missed this. She had missed him. Terribly. Their monthly trysts and weekly conversations weren’t enough. She needed more. That was the main reason she had returned to the States to stay for the rest of the year. Hopefully, that meant they would spend more time together, especially during the holidays. Even if it meant she’d have to take a few weeks off and fly out to Phoenix to be with him. She had no problem doing that, and it was one of the things she wanted to discuss with him.
She stopped thinking when he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
**
Drew stood at the window in Eden’s suite and looked out. Because of her, he had come to New York every month this year and always found it crowded and noisy. However, tonight it looked vacant, and it was quiet. Probably because it was close to three in the morning, and most people were in bed sleeping. Like Eden was doing now.
He turned from the window to look at her, remembering that she had been sleeping the first time he had seen her, as well. She was naked underneath the covers after he had made love to her, not once, or twice, but three times. And to make matters worse, during that last orgasm, while gripped in intense passion, she had whispered that she loved him. He figured it was something she hadn’t meant to let slip, and probably hadn’t realized that she had. He didn’t want her love or anyone else’s.
He had come to New York to tell Eden it would be best if there were no further contact between them. As long as there was, he couldn’t move on with his life. He turned to gaze outof the window again, feeling disgusted with himself. Instead of ending things, he had taken her to bed and, as he usually did, found the ultimate in sensual pleasure in her arms.
“Drew?”
He turned. She had awakened and leaned up to look at him, wiping sleep from her eyes. “Yes, Eden?”
“Why are you dressed?”
