Dane

The night of the fundraiser was hellish. He questioned everything they'd decided—even going to the stupid thing. The work day had run right up into evening and he hadn't stopped to eat, let alone breathe. But Lila was right, they needed to present a happy, united front for the sake of the company. Too many clients were nervous, and too many staff demoralized by the extra hours and negative press. This was a way to get a positive story and show the entire crew—as well as the public—that Daniels Security had not been derailed, or changed their focus, despite the problems.

​​

So at seven that evening, he stood in the apartment parking lot, watching Tish organize staff into four cars. They'd decided a convoy of Mercedes limosines made a better photo opportunity than a single bus. And was a lot more sexy. Unfortunately, there'd been some issues with timing. They had to have all the cars arrive together, so they were currently taking four to a vehicle. But in order to load them, they needed the bodies. As staff arrived late, or not at all—where was Lila?—Dane had given up on the ideal couples she'd described and just started ordering people to get in cars or lose their jobs.

Not what the night was for.

It was Tish, again, finding calm in the storm, who'd managed to get everything in place correctly with Lila oddly absent. If she hadn't left the office so late, almost crying over how little time she was going to have to get ready, Dane would have already torn down the door to her apartment to make sure she hadn't been kidnapped. But he had a full security perimeter on the building tonight, and hourly check ins. He knew she'd entered, and she hadn't left. So, he was giving her five more minutes before he was going to go retrieve her himself.

Chris was the last to get into the second-to-last car. Tish ticked his name off the little list Dane had given her then turned to him. "There's only us three left," she said warily. "Everyone else is in."

"Where the fuck is Lila?" Dane muttered. He grabbed the list from Tish and shook his head. Nothing had gone as it was supposed to. The strategically positioned staff to get out of specific vehicles together for maximum photo effect. But what could he do? They were already running late. "Go ahead and get in," he growled at Tish. "I'll go get Lila and we'll take the last car. Have the drivers wait two blocks down Mountainview until we join the back."

"Sure," she said and lowered herself into the last sleek, black car next to Chris, who was already grinning. "We have our phones."

"Just don't let them pull up until we're with you," he barked. Tish nodded and pulled the door closed. It took another minute for the drivers to coordinate, but finally the three cars inched around the corner and down the parking ramp, while Dane opened the front of the last car and told that driver to wait for him. "I have to go find Lila," he snapped, letting more anger bleed through than he actually felt. "Do not move."

"No sir," the driver, Wes, said easily. "I'll be right here."

He slammed the door and the thunk echoed through the cement parking lot, then he turned just as the elevator behind them opened and a vision of starlight rushed out, yelling an apology.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I had trouble with my hair and the stupid dress wasn't…" she slid to a halt, almost falling off her heels and stared at Dane who'd just run his hands through his hair in frustration. Her mouth dropped open.

Dane was speechless.

She'd twisted her hair up into some fantastic creation that…was that feathers? Her eyes were winged and shadowed in a shimmer that somehow made them look even more huge than usual. Her lips were painted a soft mauve.

She had a simple silver drop necklace framing her throat with a diamante pendant that sat just below her collarbones, pulling the short chain to a V, an arrow pointing straight to her cleavage.

And what a cleavage it was.

Dane's mouth went dry as he scanned down the sparkling thin straps that held up a V-neck that plunged below her breasts. The material of the dress was an incredible sparkling ombre that blended from a deep purple that was almost black on top, falling like water down her body to silver at her toes. The weight of the fabric meant it clung to every line and curve of her body, hugging her in ways Dane could only wish for.

She'd frozen when she'd seen the empty parking lot, her mouth open, eyes wide and staring as she took him in from top to toe as well. But he would have bet his entire fortune her view wasn't as good as his.

"You look…" she breathed. "I mean…"

All at once, Dane's brain began to work again. They weren't alone. There was a driver here. The doors were closed, but…

"Act normal," he snapped. Lila blinked as he turned stiffly back to the car to open the rear door and hold it for her. When he returned his eyes to her, a noise escaped his throat.

Lila lifted her chin and put her clutch under her arm, then started toward him.

The atmosphere lost all oxygen.

The dress had slits. Dear, Lord, the dress had slits at the sides that climbed her legs to her upper thigh. Her very, very upper thigh. The slits were discreet—disappearing as the clinging fabric hung straight when she stopped moving. But at every step he caught sight of soft, tan skin until his groin tightened.

When she reached the door, she put a hand to his arm and said, "Sorry, I was late. You look amazing," quietly, then leaned down to slide into the car.

Dane had to take a moment to be sure he wasn't going to embarrass himself moving to get into the car—her eyes were right at crotch level until he leaned down.

But soon they were both in the back of the car, facing the driver who'd left the barrier three-quarters of the way up, so they could see his eyes, but not the rest of him.

"I'll tell the others we're moving, Boss," Wes said as Dane settled in.

"Sure. Thank you," he replied, forcing himself to keep his eyes forward and not turn to look at Lila.

"Did everyone else get away okay?" she asked him quietly. She kept her hands folded in her lap, her shoulders hunched slightly forward. Her arms were pebbled with goosebumps.

"Are you cold" he asked suddenly.

She winced. "I was in such a hurry I forgot my wrap, but honestly, I'll be fine once we get inside. Those places are always warm. It's just between the car and the building that it'll be a problem."

He was already sliding his jacket off when she put prettily painted fingers on his arm, shaking her head. "It's not necessary. Really." She gave him a pointed look.

*****

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