Page 30 of Nefarious
If only. But that wasn’t the narrative she wanted to sell. “Dane and I are friends, Noelle. Neither of us planned for that night to happen. Dane’s heart was broken, and I was there for him.” Until she wasn’t. She’d let Noelle assume she was the heart breaker in question, when in reality, Val had done the deed herself. “I just don’t want to see that happen again.”
“His heart was broken? I’ll bet.” Noelle rolled her eyes. “He’ll be fine.”
The napkin in front of Noelle had been shredded. Dane either had a worthy adversary who would never yield to him or a reluctant lover who would fight in vain against her own growing desire. Time would tell. Perhaps time was the answer. But Val was running out of patience.
Val schooled her face in a tight insincere smile. “Yes. Don’t worry. He got over rejection once before. He’ll move on soon enough.”
The pop of surprise in Noelle’s eyes told Val all she needed to know. The clock was ticking, and Noelle now knew she had to make her decision before she lost her second chance.
Satisfied she’d at least planted a seed, Val suggested they take a look at the summer dresses.Dane has no idea how much he owes me.
Dane pushed his muscles as he ran up and down the trail hills, rivulets of sweat cooling his back slightly. When he reached the edge of the man-made lake, he dropped into a casual walk, hands on his sides as he sucked in lungfuls of air. He passed a family feeding the ducks, but he barely saw them. His sight was turned inward, calculating his next move. Did he have a next move? Chess was never Dane’s game. Dane was more aDiabloguy; shoot everyone and collect the treasures. It was Val who could see the lay of the land, anticipate her opponent, and deliver at end game.
But what had she really ever won?
If she’d forfeited the game long ago, he might be with her today. She chose the game—and Geraldo—over the player. Over the simplicity of a love affair. Of course, who’s to say they wouldn’t have ended in a murder-suicide.
Val wasn’t his problem. She still wanted him, and she always would. Their friendship would survive his bungled attempt to bed her.
The real question was whether he could repair the damage he’d done last night with Noelle with his inept wooing. He botched that in the worst way—neither seductive nor vulnerable. Desperate and pathetic. Noelle would have every reason to disdain him and keep him far from her. She must think he was the worst creeper. He groaned recalling how she’d shut him down the last time.
It was New Year’s Eve. Why was it always New Year’s Eve?
He’d pursued Noelle nearly two months. He’d taken things slow because she intrigued him more than most of the women he’d hooked up with. Val mocked him when he confessed how much he liked Noelle, calling her—and he remembered this verbatim—colorless, flavorless, and odorless. But she was none of those things. Val was clearly jealous. Noelle was the first woman he’d ever truly courted. He barely recognized himself—or maybe he saw the person he’d been once years before, when he’d first met Val. Before he’d made a deal with the devil to hone him into a seduction machine.
He’d even sworn off other women while chasing after Noelle. And the weird thing was, he didn’t miss any of it. He would have been happy taking as long as she needed.
But he wanted her in his bed. And she’d made him think he was getting somewhere. Even if she wouldn’t agree to go out, she’d talked to him in the office, shared pieces of herself, listened to the things he’d confided. He’d gotten to know her every bit as well as any woman he’d ever dated. He’d planned to get her alone that New Year’s Eve, just before midnight. And then, after a night of drinking and dancing, she’d be intoxicated by the desire to spend the night in his arms. He was going to kiss her.
Dane rubbed the sweat off his forehead, anger resurging at the memory of his worst humiliation.
When he found her at the party, she’d frowned at him then walked away. She looked like she’d lost someone she loved. He foolishly thought he might be able to help her with some personal trouble, but it turned out he was the trouble. She told him to leave her alone. She’d said, “Stop stalking me, Dane.” And he’d asked her why. He’d been embarrassed by the way his voice had cracked, but he’d had to ask. “What did I do? I thought you liked me. I thought you could love me.” Even now, he cringed as he pictured the audience gathering to watch as Noelle put a stake through him, when she’d told him she could never love him. Never lovesomeone like him.
And so he’d done as she asked and left him alone.
Until now. Now he needed to gain her trust enough to bring her to the brink of desire again.
At least he’d partially succeeded. The date had gone better than he would have dreamed. Noelle was more beautiful than he remembered. He’d been charming and funny. She’d teased him and encouraged him. And they’d interacted like a romantic couple—up until that fumbled attempt at a goodnight kiss. He chided himself for that slip. He’d meant it when he told Val he wanted to watch Noelle’s resistance slip, but he didn’t want to force himself on her. His ego would only be assuaged when she not only consented to spend time with him but pursued him. When she didn’t recoil at his advances.
His only recourse to get back in the game would be to keep his distance and let things reset. Maybe in a week or two, she’d forget or think he wasn’t that serious after all. Not that either of those were good, but better than a restraining order.
He retied his running shoes, stretched his calves, and began the return trip through the woods, completely oblivious to the perfect blue June sky.
Sophie,
Finally, it’s Monday again. I never thought I’d say that, but the weekend seriously dragged on. I’d kind of hoped the interns might all go out together, but everyone seems to have gone back home, and I was stuck here. Alone. I went shopping, trying to find something nice (on sale) to wear in case Anthony ever does ask me out—which he won’t, but there’s really no harm in daydreaming. About him—or Dane. (Sue me. He’s hot.)
Oh, but today is the day! The heads of various special areas are coming in to pick an intern to shadow them for a week. I’ve boned up on securities and derivatives—even read up on futures and commodities. I’m gunning hard for Dane to pick me and spent most of the weekend reading everything I could to impress him. I’m so nervous he won’t pick me. Or at least Val. Fingers crossed for me. Think what you want, but even though he’s most well-known for his computer skills, he knows the business. It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy to look at, obviously.
I might be wearing a new skirt and a flirty top to catch his attention, and I know I look cute because Anthony brought me some coffee this morning—free coffee from the breakroom, but still. It’s sweet, but I’m annoyed that he didn’t contact me at all over the weekend when I was so bored. Maybe he went home like everyone else? Anyway, I’m giving him the cold shoulder to see if he’ll try a little harder.
I’m so ready for something interesting to happen.
Selena
Val waited for the interns to stop gossiping long enough to come to order. “Good morning, everyone. I trust you had a nice weekend. This week is going to stretch you, so if you’re tired or hungover this morning, you’re going to regret your life decisions very shortly.”
The kids laughed at her joke. These were the top students at various schools around the country. They’d come to learn and wouldn’t waste the opportunity partying. Although she noticed Anthony had moved his chair close to Selena and seemed to be trying to whisper something to her.
