She fled to her room.
Quickly, trying not to think about the heat she’d seen in David’s eyes, she slipped into a pair of white jeans and a T-shirt.In the bathroom, she stared at her face.Her eyes sparkled; her cheeks were red.Groaning, she washed her face and tried to put makeup on with unsteady fingers.He had her heart racing, her blood heating, and she hadn’t even had her first cup of coffee yet!
She found him pouring coffee into yesterday’s mugs.He had to have washed them, as she hadn’t bothered last night.
“Sit on that side of the counter.”He motioned with his hand without looking at her.“Maybe if you’re across from me, I’ll be able to concentrate and remember what I have to tell you.”Only then did he look up.His hands stilled; his eyes darkened.
Swearing softly, he put the coffee down and reached her in two strides.He cupped her face, rubbed his thumbs over her lower lip.
“I have to kiss you again,” he murmured, before he bent down and caught her lips with his.
Dana put her hands on his shoulders to push him away, but the minute his mouth settled over hers, she couldn’t remember why she’d wanted to do that.Kissing David was becoming a habit.Her body was ready for the surge of pleasure that zipped through her, heating her blood and leaving her breathless.
He lifted his head slowly and kissed her forehead before he dropped his arms and turned away.Picking up his mug, he looked at her over his shoulder.
“You’re like a fix I constantly need.”He growled.
“Don’t say things like that!”she said, blushing.
“It’s the truth,” he insisted and sat down, facing her.“But, although I would like nothing better than to cart you off to the nearest bed and make love to you until neither of us can see straight, I’m actually here because I found out something I think you would like to hear.”
The first part of his sentence robbed her of her last breath, and it took a while before she was able to register what the second part of his sentence implied.“What did you hear?”She really hoped talking about something else would calm her hormones.
“Well, it turns out two of the other financial advisors whose names were mentioned two years ago are living near Hermanus.One lives in Caledon and one in Kleinmond.I thought we should try to get hold of them and see if we can talk to them, find out what they know.”
Dana stared at David while his words sank in.“I’ve been focused on trying to find out what the police know, and I’ve only recently decided to contact the newspapers.I never even thought of getting in touch with the other financial advisors involved.”
“Didn’t Sean say anything about them?”
Dana grimaced and lowered her eyes.“I… didn’t really give him a chance to say anything else other than…” She hesitated.
“I was the bad guy?”David asked.
She nodded.“Look, David, thanks for doing this, but it’s not your problem.I’ve had time to think, and I accept your version of what happened.So you don’t have any reason to get involved with my mess.”
He put his mug down slowly, his lips moving into a smile.“Oh, I don’t know.I like being where you are,” he said, as if it was the most logical thing in the world.“So get your bag or whatever you’ll need.I’ll phone and see whether I can get hold of them.I briefly spoke to both of them two years ago, so hopefully they’ll remember me.”
“And that’s a good thing?Most people aren’t fond of journalists.”
He shrugged.“I think they’ll talk to us.”
She hesitated.“You don’t have to come with me.I can do this—”
“By yourself.I know,” David interrupted.“I know you’re brave.I know you’re an independent woman who can do everything you want to on your own, but I’m here.I want to be close to you, and I can help.Also, I know I’m not responsible for what happened, but I should have made sure of my facts before I showed the story to the editor.And that was my mistake.One I’m trying to rectify now.Let me?”And the devastating Cavallo smile nearly had her falling off her chair.
Dana frowned and crossed her arms.“You’re not playing fair,” she mumbled.
“Oh, are we playing now?”he teased, and grabbing her hand, he pulled her up.
He pulled her closer and lost his smile.For a moment their bodies touched and she became aware of his desire.Light-headed, she shook her head and pulled away.
“M-my… um… my b-bag…” she stuttered and fled.
“Take your time,” he called out.“I’ll make some calls.”
*
David stared atDana’s retreating back.Only when she’d closed her bedroom door behind her could he exhale.Damn, the woman was killing him.Ever since he’d kissed her for the first time, he’d been walking around like a randy teenager.
