Although the ambience was definitely not that of a five-star restaurant, and the food was not covered in velvety sauce or garnished with the trendy miniature vegetable-of-the-week, Amanda couldn’t remember when she’d enjoyed a meal more.
There was one small glitch—when Julian, Marvin, and Luke Cahill had unexpectedly shown up. Fortunately, they appeared no more pleased to see her than she was to see them, and after a few stiltedly exchanged words, settled into a booth across the room.
Amanda wondered what the three were doing together. They could be plotting strategy, were it not for the fact that Marvin and Julian were on the blue team and Luke was on the red.
As much as she had riding on the corporate challenge, for this one night Amanda refused to think about her plan for success. After all, here she was, on her first real date with the man she’d always loved, and she wasn’t going to spoil things trying to figure out this latest bit of corporate intrigue.
Instead, she took a sip of the house white wine, smiled enticingly over the heavy rim of the glass, and allowed herself to relax fully for the first time since arriving in Satan’s Cove.
It was late when they returned to the inn. The moon and stars that had been so vivid the other night were hidden by a thick cloud of fog.
Someone—undoubtedly Mindy—had left a lamp in the downstairs reception parlor on; it glowed a warm welcome. The lights in the upstairs windows were off, revealing that the other guests had gone to bed.
Amanda didn’t invite Dane up to her room. There was no need. Both of them knew how the night would end.
The elevator was cranking its way up to the third floor when Dane turned and took her in his arms. “I’d say tonight went pretty well,” he murmured against her cheek. “For a first date.”
“Better than well.” She sighed her pleasure as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed myself more.”
“I’m glad.” His lips skimmed up to create sparks at her temple. Dane didn’t add that he’d worried she’d find Davey Jones’s Locker too plebeian for her city tastes.
“And just think—” she leaned back a bit, sensual amusement gleaming in her eyes “—the night’s still young.”
Actually, that wasn’t really the case. But Dane wasn’t about to argue. After all the sleep he’d lost fixing up the inn, he wasn’t about to complain about losing a bit more if it meant making love again to Amanda.
Lowering his head, he touched his lips to hers. At first briefly. Then, as he drew her closer, the kiss, while remaining tender, grew deeper. More intimate. More weakening.
Her limbs grew heavy, her head light. Amanda clung to him, wanting more. She’d never known an elevator ride to take so long.
The cage door finally opened. Hand in hand, they walked to the stairwell at the end of the hallway. It was like moving in a dream. A dream Amanda wished would never end.
They’d no sooner entered the tower room than Dane pulled her close and kissed her again. Not with the slow self-control of a man who knew how to draw out every last ounce of pleasure, but with the impatient demand of a lover who realized that this stolen time together was rapidly coming to an end.
With a strength and ease that once again bespoke the life of hard, physical work he’d chosen over shuffling papers, Dane scooped her up in his arms and carried her across the plank floor to the bed, which had been turned down during their absence. A mint, formed in the unmistakable shape of the inn, had been left on the pillow. Dane brushed it onto the floor with an impatient hand and began unbuttoning Amanda’s blouse.
“No.” It took an effort—her bones had turned to syrup—but she managed to lift her hands to his.
“No?” Disbelief sharpened his tone, darkened his eyes.
She laid a calming hand against his cheek and felt the tensed muscle beneath her fingertips. “It’s my turn.” Unconsciously, she skimmed her tongue over her lips, enjoying the clinging taste of him. “To make love to you.”
It was at that moment, when every atom in his body was aching to take Amanda—and take her now—that Dane realized he could deny this woman nothing.
His answering smile was slow and warm and devilishly sexy. “I’m all yours, contessa.” He’d never, in all his twenty-nine years, spoken truer words.
He rolled over onto his back, spread out his arms and waited.
Never having undressed a man—last night’s frantic coupling in the cave didn’t really count, since Amanda still couldn’t remember how they’d ended up naked—she was more than a little nervous. But, remembering how his bare torso had gleamed like bronze in the firelight, she decided to begin with his shirt.
With hands that were not as steady as she would have liked, she tackled the buttons one by one. She’d known he was strong—his chest was rock hard and wonderfully muscled. But it was his inner strength that continued to arouse her. Just as it was his loyalty, integrity and steely self-confidence that Amanda had fallen in love with.
When she reached his belt, she had two choices—to unfasten his jeans or tug the shirt free. Unreasonably drawn to the enticing swell beneath the crisp indigo denim of the jeans that had become his dress slacks when he’d changed lifestyles, Amanda stuck to her vow to keep things slow.
Dane was moderately disappointed when she took the easy way out and pulled his shirt free of his waistband—until she folded back the plaid cotton and pressed her silky lips against his bare chest. Her mouth felt like a hot brand against his flesh, burning her claim on him, just as she’d done so many years ago.
“I’m not very experienced.” Her lips skimmed down the narrow arrowing of ebony chest hair, leaving sparks. “You’ll have to tell me what you like.” Retracing the trail her mouth had blazed, she flicked her tongue over a dark nipple. The wet heat caused a smoldering deep in his loins, which threatened to burst into a wildfire.
“That’s a dandy start,” he managed in a husky voice roughened with hunger.
“How about this?” She bestowed light, lazy kisses back down his chest, over his stomach.
“Even better,” he groaned, when she dipped her tongue into his navel. His erection stirred, pushing painfully against the hard denim barrier. Realizing that it was important to cede control to Amanda, Dane ignored the ache and concentrated on the pleasure.
He could have cursed when she suddenly abandoned her seduction efforts. Relief flooded through him as he realized she was only stopping long enough to take off his shoes and socks.
For a woman who a little more than twenty-four hours ago had been a virgin, Amanda was definitely making up for lost time.
“I’ve never noticed a man’s feet before,” she murmured, running her hands over his. “Who could have guessed that a foot could be so sexy?”
He began to laugh at that outrageous idea, but when she touched her lips to his arch, lightning forked through him, turning the laugh into a choked sound of need.
“Lord, Amanda—” He reached for her, but she deftly avoided his hands.
She touched her mouth to his ankle, felt the thundering of his pulse and imagined she could taste the heat of his blood beneath her lips.
Realizing that she was on the verge of losing control of her emotions, Amanda shifted positions, to lie beside him. She returned her mouth to his face, kissing her way along his rigid jaw as her hands explored his torso, exploiting weaknesses he’d never known he possessed.
She left him long enough to light the fire he’d laid while she’d been out on the fishing boat. Then she proceeded to undress. She took as much time with her buttons as she had with his. By the time the white shirt finally fluttered to the floor, Dane had to press his lips together to keep his tongue from hanging out. As he observed her creamy breasts, unbearably enticing beneath the ivory lace bra, Dane discovered that ten years hadn’t lessened his reaction to the sexy lingerie that had driven a sex-crazed nineteen-year-old to distraction.
She sat down in the wing chair beside the bed, stuck out a leg and invited him to pull off the glove-soft cowboy boot. Dane obliged her willingly. The left boot, then the right, dropped to the floor.
The jeans were even tougher to get off than the boots. “I should have thought this through better,” she muttered as she tugged the black denim over her hips, irritated she’d lost the sensual rhythm she’d tried so hard to maintain.
“You certainly don’t have to apologize, contessa.” The sexy way she was wiggling her hips as she struggled to pull the tight jeans down her legs had Dane feeling as if he was about to explode. “Because it definitely works for me.”
Their gazes touched. His eyes were dark with desire, but tinged with a tender amusement that eased her embarrassment.
She had to sit down in the chair again to drag the jeans over her feet, but then she was standing beside the bed, clad only in the lacy bra and panties. The soft shadow beneath the skimpy lace triangle between her thighs had Dane literally biting the inside of his cheek.
“Don’t stop now.”
Thrilled by the heat flashing in his midnight-dark eyes, along with the hunger in his ragged tone, Amanda leaned forward, unfastened the back hooks of the bra, then held it against her chest for a suspended moment. With her eyes still on his, she smiled seductively.
As she raised her hands to comb them through her hair in a languid gesture, the lace bra fell away.
Unbearably aroused, Dane drank in the sight of her creamy breasts. While not voluptuous, they were smooth and firm. He remembered, all too well, how perfectly they had fit in his hands. In his mouth.
Watching him watch her, Amanda experienced a rush of power—followed by a wave of weakness. Although far more nervous now than when she’d begun the impromptu striptease, Amanda was determined to see it through. She hooked her fingers in the low-cut waistband, drawing the lace over her hips and down her legs.
“You are absolutely gorgeous.” The truth of his words was echoed in his rough voice.
“And you’re overdressed.” Returning to the bed, she knelt over him, struggling with his belt buckle for a few frustrating seconds that seemed like an eternity.
Success! She dragged his jeans and white cotton briefs down his legs, then kissed her way up again.
“You’re killing me,” he moaned as her hand encircled his erection.
“Now you know how I felt.” His sex was smooth and hot. “Last night.” She lowered her head, and her hair fell over his hips like a gleaming antique-gold curtain as she swirled her seductive tongue over him.
Curses, pleas, or promises, Dane wasn’t sure which, were torn from his throat. For the first time in his life, he understood what it was to be completely vulnerable.
She touched. He burned.
She tasted. He ached.
Amanda straddled Dane, taking him deep inside her, imprisoning him willingly, wonderfully, in her warmth.
Their eyes locked, exchanging erotic messages, intimate promises that neither had dared put into words.
Then, because they could wait no longer, she began to move, quickly and agilely, rocking against him, driving him—driving herself—toward that final glorious crest.
Although their time together was drawing to an end, neither Amanda nor Dane brought up the subject of what would happen once the challenge week ended. By unspoken mutual agreement, they ignored the inevitable, intent on capturing whatever pleasure they could. Whenever they could.
On the overnight backpacking trip, while the others tossed and turned, unaccustomed to sleeping on the ground, Dane slipped into Amanda’s tent. Their lovemaking, while necessarily silent, was even more thrilling because of the risk of discovery. And when she couldn’t remain quiet at the shattering moment of climax, Dane covered her mouth with his, smothering her ecstatic cry.
Time passed as if on wings. On the day before she was scheduled to leave, while Dane was on the beach, preparing for the final event of the challenge week—the cliff climb—Amanda was alone in her room, her eyes swollen from the tears she’d shed after he’d left her bed.
The knock on her door had her wiping her damp cheeks. “Yes?”
“Amanda?” It was Kelli. “May I speak with you?”
Although they hadn’t exchanged more than a few words since the fishing-boat incident, Amanda had gotten the impression that Kelli had been watching her every move, which had only increased her suspicions that the public-relations manager was spying for Greg.
“Just a minute.” She ran into the adjoining bathroom, splashed some cold water on her face and pulled a brush through her hair. Then she opened the door.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but...” Kelli’s voice drifted off as she observed Amanda’s red-rimmed eyes. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” When Kelli arched an eyebrow at the obvious lie, Amanda said, “It’s personal.”
Kelli’s expression revealed understanding. “Love can be a real bitch, can’t it?”
“Is it that obvious?” Amanda thought she and Dane had been so careful.
“Not to everyone,” Kelli assured her.
Amanda decided it was time to get their cards on the table. “That’s probably because not everyone has been watching me as closely as you.”
If she’d expected Kelli to be embarrassed, Amanda would have been disappointed.
“That’s true. But none of the others were sent here from Manhattan to evaluate the office.”
“So you are a company spy?”
“Spy is such a negative word, don’t you think?” Kelli suggested mildly. “I prefer to think of myself as a troubleshooter.”
“Then you ought to shoot Greg Parsons,” Amanda couldn’t resist muttering.
“I’ve considered that. But my recommendation is going to be to fire him, instead.”
“You’re kidding!” Amanda could have been no more surprised than if Kelli had told her that Martians had just purchased the agency. “But he’s family.”
“Not for long,” Kelli revealed. “It seems his wife has gotten tired of his philandering and is about to file for divorce. Obviously, Mr. Janzen isn’t eager to employ the man who’s broken his granddaughter’s heart.”
“It probably helps that he’s incompetent to boot.”
“That is a plus,” Kelli agreed. “Which is, of course, where you come in.” She paused a beat. For effect, Amanda thought. “You’re the obvious choice to replace Greg as regional creative director.”
“I’d hoped that was the case.”
“I’ve already informed the partners that you’d be terrific at the job. But after receiving my daily emails, they’ve instructed me to offer you another position.
“You also know that all the recent mergers and downsizing has created a great deal of anxiety.”
“Of course.”
“Your Portland office is not unique. Janzen, Lawton and Young has been experiencing the same problems with all its new worldwide acquisitions. Which is why the partners have come up with the idea of creating the post of ombudsman. Which is where you come in.
“If you decide to accept the position, you’ll achieve upper-management status and be required to travel between offices, creating the same good feeling and teamsmanship you’ve managed with this group.”
“I’d rather have a root canal than repeat this challenge week.”
Kelli grinned. “After that fishing trip, I’m in your corner on that one. Actually, the partners think the challenge week was overrated and undereffective. They believe that you could achieve the same results simply by visiting each office and employing your diplomatic skills to assure the employees that the mergers are in everyone’s best interests.”
“Even if I don’t believe they are?” Amanda dared to ask.
“You’re in advertising,” Kelli reminded her with one of her perky trademark smiles. “Surely you’re not averse to putting a positive spin on things. As you’ve done to get Marvin and Julian working together this week. You weren’t lying when you stressed how important it was for the creative people and the accounting people to work together, were you?”
“Of course not, but—”
“Take some time to think it over,” Kelli suggested. She went on to offer a salary that was more than double what Amanda was currently making. “Of course, you’ll have a very generous expense account. Since image is important in advertising, all upper-level employees travel first class.”
“It sounds tempting,” Amanda admitted. She thought about what her father would say when she called him with the news.
“Believe me, you’ll earn every penny.”
“If I decide not to accept—”
“The job of creative director for the Northwest region is still yours.”
“How much time do I have?”
“The partners would like your answer by the end of next week. Sooner if possible.”
With that, Kelli flashed another self-assured grin and turned to leave. She was in the doorway when she looked back. “I’d appreciate you not saying anything about this to Greg.”
“Of course not,” Amanda murmured, still a bit stunned by the out-of-the-blue offer. It was more than she’d dared hope for. More than she’d dreamed of. So why wasn’t she ecstatic?