Stormy Passion (15 page)

“
Was I that easy to
forget?” Dani wrapped her arms around his neck trying to remember
how wonderful she had once felt when he held her. His lips were
hard, demanding and ... she felt nothing! It was gone. That special
feeling Steven had once produced had vanished.

“
Not likely,” he murmured
and pulled away. “I can't wait to make love to you. We'd better
stop this before we forget about dinner all together.”

“
Hardly.” The man had some
ego. “I've not eaten much since yesterday, and I'm two quarts low
on food.” She noticed her comment hadn't fazed Steven one bit. He
was always so sure of himself ... always the center of
attention.

“
How about Rio Rio
Cantina?” Steven suggested. “It's your favorite Mexican
restaurant.”

“
Sounds good. We can sit
outside and watch the river.”

They strolled along the cobblestone walkway,
making small talk about the weather. Dani had always felt
comfortable with Steven . . . but that feeling had left her. One of
them had changed, she told herself again. And it wasn't Steven.

After they ordered dinner, Dani handed the
waitress the menus. It was time for answers. She'd waited long
enough.

Once Adrian had finished at the store, he
returned to the hotel. He realized his Vice President probably
wondered why he hadn’t called. Either that, or Marty, thinking he
had been killed in the hurricane, was celebrating full control of
the company.

Quickly, Adrian punched the numbers,
regretting that he’d lost his cell phone during the storm. “Hi,
Marty.”

“
Where the hell have you
been?”

Adrian couldn't resist a little teasing. “At
the beach, of course.”

“
Don't give me that
bullshit! I saw the hurricane in the news. I've been working my ass
off in your absence, I might add. Now, where were you?”

“
In the
middle
of
the hurricane.”

“
No shit!” Marty's voice
calmed down a notch. “We thought you'd left the island.”

“
Afraid not. I hadn't been
listening to the news, so I had no idea Hurricane Felix had turned.
And by the time I did, it was too late. Hell, I thought the storm
was still down in Florida tearing up their coastline.”

“
Sorry about your birthday
present. We cancelled her at the last minute with the hurricane
reports, but I guess that was the least of your
worries.”

“
No problem. I had a
very
interesting birthday with a surprise you wouldn't
believe.”

“
Like what?”

“
Let’s just say I had a
better time without your little present. I'll fill you in when I
get home.”

Adrian smiled as he put the phone down. Marty
would never guess what had really happened. Adrian wasn't too sure
he
believed the last few days.

He showered, then dressed in the black silk
shirt and charcoal pinstriped slacks he'd purchased at the
mall.

After checking Dani's address, he decided
that would be the first place he'd go, but this time he'd leave her
purse here. After he found her, they could come back and get it. He
had definitely had enough of the purse jokes.

It only took a few minutes to get to her
place. He liked Dani's Spanish-looking apartment. Walking up a
flight of stairs, he eyed two doors before spotting her number to
the left. He pressed the doorbell button and waited. When there
wasn't any answer, he knocked. Evidently, she wasn't home, and he
wasn't going to wait like a puppy on the doorsteps for her return.
Maybe, he'd grab a bite to eat.

He had just started back to the stairs when
the other apartment door swung open.

“
I thought I heard someone
out here. Are you looking for Dani?”

“
Yes, I am. I don't suppose
you know where she is?”

The woman moved over to him and held out her
hand. She was cute with short, sandy-blonde hair that barely came
to her chin. She glanced up at him with big, brown eyes.

“
I'm Susan Cross. Dani's
best friend. And you are?”

Adrian chuckled. Smart lady. No information
until she knew who was asking. However, she wouldn't recognize his
name. “I'm Adrian Massimino--”

“
You're the one.” She shook
his hand like he was her long lost friend.

Adrian arched a brow. “I take it she's
mentioned me.”

“
Kinda. I can't believe you
two went through a hurricane together.”

“
I have trouble believing
it myself. Do you know where Dani has gone?”

“
She went out to eat.
You'll probably find her at Rio Rio Cantina since that's her
favorite. It's about halfway down the River Walk on the
right.”

“
Thanks,” Adrian said. “I'm
sure I'll find her.” He started to turn.

The short young woman with the bobbed hair
gave him a peculiar look. “I've no doubt you will.”

He had to admit the River Walk wasn't
Broadway, but the dark cooling water and lush green trees were a
paradise all their own. His steps quickened as he crossed the
footbridge over the river to look for the restaurant.

He saw Rio Rio Cantina just ahead. High on
the balcony, he glimpsed a bright fuchsia jacket worn by a woman
with long blonde hair. His stomach tightened. It had to be Dani.
But she wasn't alone. Damn.

He wasn't sure why he expected her to be by
herself. Of course, she'd be with Steven. A village idiot could
have figured that out
. It
didn't take her long to find
him
, Adrian decided as he asked the waiter for a table upstairs
toward the back. They found the perfect table. Dani's back would be
to him, yet he would be able to hear everything they said.

He'd just see how happy she really was!

Dani cleared her throat and placed her hands
on the table in front of her. “I was looking forward to our reunion
at the beach last weekend. What happened?

Steven reached across the table and took her
hand in his, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles--a sure sign she
wasn't going to like what he was about to say. She was just
realizing everything Steven did was a song and dance. He'd mastered
the angelic look and used it with perfect timing.

“
I really wanted to come,
but at the very last minute Kevin and Joe, two guys I worked with,
told me they had rented an Italian Villa and they wanted me to have
one last fling with them.”

He let her hand go, leaned back, and
shrugged, then fixed his baby blues on her. “Well, baby, I couldn't
turn down an offer like that. You know.” He shrugged again. “It was
the last hurrah. I knew you'd understand.”

Dani carefully picked up a glass of tea and
took a sip. Her eyes never left his face. In the past, her eyes
would have been brimming with tears by now, and she'd be hurt that
he’d wanted to spend more time with his friends than with her. But
that was in the past. Slowly, she set the glass down.

“
You're right.” Dani smiled
and tilted her head to the side while she watched Steven relax
again with male satisfaction. “I understand perfectly. Did you have
a good time?”

“
We had a
blast!”

“
I'm glad you did,” Dani
said. “Because I enjoyed my weekend, too.” She leaned forward in
her chair. “And I didn't want to feel guilty that you couldn't make
the trip.”

“
Really?” Steven gave her a
strange look. “What did you do?”

Nonchalant became Dani’s middle name. “I had
the pleasure of spending the weekend with another man.”

“
You did what?” Steven
jerked the napkin out of his lap. “How could you?”

My, my, my
, Dani thought.
Evidently, when the shoe was on the other foot, it seemed to
pinch Steven's toes.

His face turned beet-red.

“
It was easy.” Dani grabbed
her purse, then stood. “I think I've lost my appetite . . . for
food.” She raised a meaningful brow. “And for you.”

Steven stormed to his feet. “You bitch!” He
gave her a none-too-gentle shove.

Dani took a step back, but Steven caught her
arm. He'd completely lost his composure, that shallow façade he
wore for her, she realized as she jerked away from him. A chair
tipped over, crashing to the floor, and Dani caught a glimpse of
someone looming threateningly over Steven.

Dani gasped, her eyes wide.

Chapter Nine

“
You bitch!”

The words came at Adrian loud and clear. He
jumped to his feet so fast his chair fell backwards. In two swift
moves, he advanced toward their table. Steven looked up at him,
startled.

Adrian's knuckles connected with the jerk’s
jaw with a satisfying crunch, and the jerk flew backwards, landing
on the floor in an undignified heap.

“
Don't you ever make the
mistake of touching Dani again!” Adrian stepped over Steven, took a
startled Danielle by the arm, and escorted her out through the
patrons and down the stairs as if nothing out of the ordinary had
happened.

Once they were out of the building, Dani came
out of her stunned silence. She shook his hand off her arm. “What
are you doing here?” she demanded as she smoothed out her rumpled
clothing.

Her cheeks matched the hot-pink jacket she
wore, and Adrian liked the effect. He hadn't planned to embarrass
her back in the restaurant like that; he’d just wanted to see which
way the wind blew. Then that SOB had shoved her, and all bets were
off. The thought of the man laying hands on Dani made Adrian want
to go back and hit him again.

“
Listen.” He slid his hands
in his pocket. “I guess I've ruined your dinner. Let me make it up
to you. We can go somewhere else and eat. “Unless you want to go
back and take care of your friend.”

Dani shook her head. “That's over.” Still,
she stared at him as if he were a ghost. “There's a little
restaurant up the walk that will be nice--and quiet. We can go
there, I guess.” She watched him intently. “You still haven't
answered my earlier question.”

Adrian's fingers tightened on her elbow and
they started forward. Dani wondered if she were dreaming. She
couldn't believe Adrian was here in San Antonio. Had he really come
to see her?

“
I found your purse,” he
said in that deep voice she remembered. “I wanted to return
it.”

“
You found it!” Dani looked
up at him as they walked, admiring his strong chin. She couldn't
perceive something as small as her purse hadn't been washed out to
sea. “Where?”

He didn't get to answer the question because
she nudged him toward the doorway of Café Olé. “Here's our
restaurant.”

“
Two?” the hostess
asked.

Adrian nodded and said, “A table outside if
you have it.”

They waited only a minute before they were
shown to a small, checkered-covered table beside the river.

After they ordered, Dani asked, “Where is my
purse?”

Adrian grinned. “Back at the hotel. After
being the butt of enough jokes today about carrying a purse under
my arm, I decided it was best to leave it until I found you. We'll
go and get it after we eat.” His smile faded as he propped an elbow
on the table. “Why did that jerk shove you?”

The waitress came over with their drinks.
After she left, Dani's eyes shifted her gaze from the glass of tea
to Adrian. “I told him I spent the weekend with you.”

Adrian leaned back in his chair and gave her
an odd look. “That wasn't a good idea. Especially if you want to
marry the man.”

“
I don't.”

“
You don't?”

The surprised look on Adrian's face was
priceless, Dani thought with satisfaction. “Guess I wised up and
realized I'd always be second choice with Steven.” Dani shook her
head. “I don't want that. Not anymore.”

“
You don't deserve to be
second in anyone's book.”

“
Thank you,” Dani said. She
wanted to ask if she'd ever be first with him, but she wouldn’t
push.

As they ate dinner, Adrian filled her in on
how he'd found her purse and what changes they planned for the
house. He kept saying they as she didn’t believe he owned the
house. Dinner ended much sooner than Dani would have liked. She
didn't want to say goodbye so soon. “Let's take a walk along the
River, and I'll show you my city.”

“
Sure.” Adrian placed his
napkin on the table and politely helped her up, taking her hand as
they strolled along the dark, lazy river.

“
Is this your first time
here?”

“
Yes, it is,” Adrian
admitted. “My business partner recently took a trip down
here.”

Dani started to ask what kind of business,
but remembered
all too well
their earlier discussion.
However, this Adrian looked so different from the man at the beach.
His black shirt made him appear so suave and debonair. Tonight, she
really could picture him in a boardroom taking charge.

Maybe the beach house did belong to him.
Maybe he was a big time playboy who had spent the weekend with her
because he’d had nothing better to do.

No. She wouldn't ever let herself think that
way. She wanted him to be different.

“
This is a beautiful place.
I can see why you like it so much.” Adrian's comment interrupted
her thoughts.

“
It is pretty and growing
fast. We have our own basketball team, and I've heard a rumor we're
going to build a big amphitheater.”