I slid my hand around her waist and tugged her tight to my side, loving the glare she shot me. Every time we’d been in the same room, and every exchange we’d had over the phone or text or email, Deena had been so self-contained. So in control.
But now she was rattled, and I loved it. I was a terrible person for it, and I didn’t care. I wanted to tease her until she opened for me. Wanted to learn all her secrets. Wanted to make her melt. Wanted to drag her somewhere dark to show her how angry I’d been at getting blocked. Again. And then have her beg for my forgiveness until we were both sated.
She spun in my hold so she was half facing me, placing a hand on my chest to try to put some distance between us. I kept my arm clamped around her waist and smiled. I wasn’t letting her out of my grasp so easily.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, sounding very much like the Deena I knew, and very much like she was on the verge of coming apart at the seams.
“After we spoke yesterday, I moved some things around. Thought I could surprise you.”
Confusion and irritation filled her gaze, but she stopped pushing at my chest. She softened against me, and I stroked her side with my thumb.
Her mother let out a sigh and shook her head. “Well, isn’t that just the most wonderful thing you’ve ever heard? Lisa? Alison?”
The other two ladies watched us with narrowed eyes, thencleared their expressions and smiled. “Isn’t it, just?” the blond one said.
I turned to the man and stuck out my hand. “Cal,” I said.
“Austin,” he replied, shaking. We gripped each other a little too hard, and when his eyes darted to Deena—and flicked over her chest—I squeezed even harder. He looked at me again and let go of my hand, dropping his arm to his side so he could try to hide the way he flexed his fingers. I smiled, and I knew it didn’t reach my eyes.
“I’d better make the rounds,” he said. “Excuse me. Congrats again, Mrs. Brand.”
“Yes, yes,” she said, not sparing him a glance. She was studying me: my tux, my hair, my watch. And then she smiled. I’d passed the first examination. “It’s so wonderful to meet you, Cal. Deena’s told us so much about you since your call, but reality is just so much better than we expected.”
“Mother,” Deena grumbled.
“I’m just saying, Deena! I half thought you’d made him up.”
“You weren’t the only one,” the dark-haired lady said. “What is it you do for work, Mr…?”
“Call me Cal,” I said with a smile. “And I own a small venture capital firm. We try to find companies with potential and give them the capital they need to grow.”
“In exchange for part ownership,” Deena added, her brow arched.
Temptation rose, and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to make her mad. I couldn’t help it; she turned me on when she was furious. Being a condescending ass would do the trick. I leaned down and touched my nose to hers. “Yes, love. That’s how I make money from it.” Her flush was a shade darker than her dress. I touched the pink strap, fingers running over the crystal embellishments, and said, “This is nice. You look like a princess.”
“Deena’s our pride and joy,” her mother cut in.
Deena frowned at the other woman. “No, I’m not.”
“Oh, hush, honey. Cal, can I get you a drink? Something to eat? I’ll talk to the caterers and we’ll shuffle the tables around so you can sit next to each other. I had you next to Austin so you could catch up, but now…” She waved her hands as if to dismiss that idea, excused herself, and hurried away, the two other ladies in her wake.
We watched them leave. I still had my arm around Deena, and I had no desire to let go. She looked up at me, her eyes narrowing.
I grinned at her. “You’re welcome.”
“Excuse me?”
“Seems to me like I just saved your ass. Good thing I showed up when I did, or who knows what stories you would’ve told about me.”
She clicked her tongue, all skepticism and snark. “Uh-huh. Is this the part where I call you my hero and bat my eyelashes at you?”
“Try it and see. If I like it, I might get you to do it again.”
Her cheeks went darker still, and she rolled her eyes. “Are you going to tell me what the hell you’re doing here? Did my mother put you up to this?”
“No.” I dropped my voice, turning to face her fully. “You blocked me again, Deena.”
Her chin jutted out. “So?”
