Ticket to Temptation Page 18

  “Have you ever really seen the city?”

  She cocked her head and looked at me like I was daft. “Ah yes. I could hardly live here all these years without having gone to the city. Besides, Greg took me on a tour of the sights when we first moved here.”

  “Well, that explains everything. Let me show you my New York City.”

  Chapter 21

  Logan

  Despite the fact that it hadn’t seen the light of day for over a week, Daniel’s Aston Martin instantly purred to life. I popped my iPhone into the USB port and scrolled through until I found Justin Timberlake. Normally, music for me is a physical activity, and I’d be dancing and singing along with “I Can’t Drink You Away.” However, since I didn’t want to look like a complete ninny in front of Daniel, I limited myself to snapping my fingers and humming along.

  “Someone’s in a good mood.” Daniel’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, but it warmed the cockles of my heart nonetheless. Those two little lines between his brows troubled me, though.

  “What’s the matter?” I rested my hand on his arm. My fingers itched to fondle the fine blond hair on that beautifully-formed forearm.

  “What makes you think anything’s the matter?”

  I threw his words back at him. “Aren’t we a little beyond the obtuse stage now?”

  “Touché. Things were perfect back at the house.”

  Oh boy. I was going to have to wait this one out. The trouble was, as much as I’d learned to act like I was the poster child for the patient, all-concerned wife, I had little tolerance for evasion. I waited until I couldn’t stand it anymore.

  “And?”

  The edge of his mouth quirked a notch upward. “And I worry about what will happen to us once we’re back in the real world.”

  My heart raced just a little bit at his mention of “us.” “What do you think might happen?”

  Daniel drummed long fingers on the steering wheel until I was positively twitching in my seat.

  “Do you need a rest stop?”

  A rest stop? “No…thanks. But you obviously do.”

  That small smile broadened. “Is that your not-so-subtle way of letting me know you’re tired of waiting for my answer?”

  “That depends. Did it work?”

  “Not really, but it certainly distracted me.”

  “How so?”

  Daniel gave me a look that channeled heat directly to my core. Without a doubt, I knew he was thinking about my ass dancing around on his cock. Another one of those damned blushes washed over me.

  “You got it. I was thinking about all the things Greg might do to get you back.”

  “That’s so not happening. You can take that to the bank. Oh, and while you’re there, get my money.” I grinned up at him. His return grin was like the sun bursting through on a dull, cloudy day.

  “I have enough money for both of us. You have nothing to worry about there.”

  “That’s very kind of you, Daniel, but I don’t want your money. I want my money. But I guess I’ll have to be patient like Judy says.”

  The three pugs danced around our feet as we let ourselves into Judy’s bungalow.

  “We’re in here.” Judy’s voice drifted from the kitchen area, and we headed in that direction. She stood at the door to the sunroom leading off the kitchen. She grabbed me and hugged me hard. “I’ve been so worried about you.” She pushed past me. “And you must be Daniel.” She pulled him into one of her mother bear hugs. “Welcome.”

  “Ah, thanks,” Daniel said. “It’s good to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “All evil, I’m sure.” She winked at him and held him out at arm’s length. “Let me have a look at you.”

  Daniel’s appearance would make even the crustiest of women weep. From the top of his deliberately mussed blond head through his Eidos outfit and down to his Ferragamo-clad toes, he exuded a sense of bohemian style better suited to an artist than a lawyer.

  “My, my, you do show nicely. Yum.” Judy licked her lips and sighed loudly.

  Cliff came up behind her, hand extended.

  “Don’t mind her, man. She’s one big flirt. I’m Cliff.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “Cliff, Daniel. Daniel, Cliff.”

  “Enough of all this ceremony,” Judy said. “Grab a coffee and join us in here.”

  The sun room looked out onto Judy’s back yard. Although she liked to putter, most of the credit for the English garden went to the landscaper she employed. A giant red maple and scarlet oak threw much of the expansive yard in shade. Morning dew glistened on the variegated leaves of her treasured hosta collection.

  “Why’s Greg so desperate to get hold of you, Loge, and the operative word here is desperate?

  Colin! For a split second, I couldn’t think, I couldn’t move. Turned to stone for a millisecond of time, cold, unfeeling stone. Then, heat rushed over me, and this wasn’t the feel-good blush kind. I coughed and wheezed in a breath.

  “Oh honey, no, no.” Judy leaped up and started patting me on the back. “It’s not Colin I checked, he’s fine. Really.”

  I took a couple of huge breaths while Judy kept frantically petting me murmuring, “There. There.”

  “Oh dear God. For a minute.” Just the thought started another wave of panic. Breathe!

  “Are you sure, Jude?”

  “I’m positive. I talked with Colin myself. He’s fine. Greg’s the problem.”

  “He reminds me of a taipan, once cornered or threatened, they strike several times, swift and deadly.” Cliff’s rich bass voice drew all eyes toward him.

  “More like a weasel than a snake, I’d say.” Judy said.

  “There’s nothing cute and cuddly about that man, but weasel’s got him covered.” Daniel sat looking every bit like the panther, coiled to spring on said venomous snake. “What’s he done?”

  Cliff rested his forearms on his thighs. “It’s not so much what he’s done as how he’s behaving. Something happened a couple of weeks ago, and since then he’s been more and more frantic. I’ve seen guys like him before, man, and I’m telling you, this guy’s about to pop.”

  Daniel’s spine straightened. “All the more reason Logan shouldn’t meet him on her own.” Oh boy, a testosterone match.

  Judy went to stand behind Cliff, resting her hand on his shoulders. “Honey, I think—”

  Cliff raised a finger. “Sometimes risks need to be taken.” Judy and I exchanged a look. Judy pressed her lips together and took a seat beside me at the table. We might as well sit back and enjoy the fun.

  “So why not send Judy? Nothing is more important than Logan’s safety, and I want to know who I’m dealing with before I put any credence in what you have to say.”

  Zing. I did like Cliff, but I was so liking having my own guy to root for. He was looking out for me. No one had my back, ever. But then here he was being all possessive and everything. Fear and hope fused into a tingle that slithered its way up my spine.

  I could almost see the daggers leaping between those coal black and cobalt blue eyes as the testo match progressed. Who would blink first?

  Cliff sighed and scrubbed his hand over his shaved head. “Look man, let’s not get off on the wrong foot. If Logan says you’re kosher, that’s good enough for me. But what I’m about to tell you stays in this room.” Cliff winked at him and grinned. “Or I’m going to have to kill you.”

  Daniel, looking less than impressed, continued with his courtroom stare that had made lesser men than Cliff’s balls shrink right up into their bellies. Or so Greg had told me.

  Cliff whistled. “Hard crowd. Hi, I’m Cliff, and I’m a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service.” He held his identification out to Daniel.

  “Yeah, and he’s damned good at it. That’s how he knows this shit.” Judy was back to vibrating with excitement.

  “Thanks, babe, but you’re just a little bit biased. So…” Cliff looked down at his ID then back at Daniel’s eyes.

  Danie
l examined the ID, then shook Cliff’s hand. “I’m Daniel, and I’m a corporate lawyer, but I suspect you know that. So how long have you had him under surveillance?”

  “A year or so. I’m not at liberty—”

  “Yeah, yeah. Are you at liberty to tell us if it has something to do with offshore accounts and moving money around?”

  Who knew Daniel could be so impatient. And what on earth was he talking about? Judy and I sat on the edge of our seats like two movie patrons riveted to the action on screen.

  “It would be a big help if you’d tell me what you know, man.”

  “Not much. Just that Greg took some of my clients’ trust accounts and moved them offshore. I was pretty ticked when our accountant told me about it, and I had her move them all back. Greg was totally pissed when I told him.” Daniel had loved telling him all about it if his self-satisfied look was any indication.

  “What did he say?”

  “Some nonsense about it being perfectly legit and making extra interest. He didn’t seem to comprehend that it was not only illegal but unethical to be playing around with our clients’ money. I made it clear that I wasn’t going to be caught with my ass exposed in the little pissant’s pig pen.” He looked at me apologetically. “Sorry, Logan.” He smiled weakly.

  I shrugged. “No apology necessary.”

  “He is a pissant,” Judy said.

  “A big pissant, not a little one.” I giggled.

  “So what’s he done that has you so worried?” Daniel asked.

  “Just a lot of verbal threats against Logan and us if she doesn’t go home. He’s trying to find out where we live. The storm staved him off for a bit, but it won’t take him long now.”

  And it happened again. I started to shake and felt like I was choking. I took quick, shallow breaths. Calm down.

  “Shit. Come on, Logan. Let’s get you out of here.” Daniel was on his feet and at my side in a flash. He put his arm around my shoulder and started to pull me up.

  I put my hand on his chest to stop him. The strong, steady beat of his heart instantly calmed me.

  “No, that’s okay. I’ve got to face Greg sometime. I just wish I knew what set him off.”

  “I know,” Judy smirked. “He got the divorce papers and knows he stands to lose everything. Right now, other than your credit cards, he has no access to cash. That makes him one cornered weasel.”

  I gaped at her, uncomprehending. “What on earth are you talking about?”

  “Everything’s in your name, Logan. He can’t touch a goddamned thing without your signature.” She positively sniggered.

  “When did you find this out?” Daniel asked.

  “Cliff told me last night, sugar.”

  “So, now we can yank on the noose. Time to rope the fucker in,” Cliff said.

  “Rodeo metaphors aside, this sounds like it could put Logan at risk.” Daniel tightened the arm around my shoulders.

  My hero. If Greg couldn’t take all my money, there wasn’t anything else he could do to hurt me.

  We stepped through the solid oak door of Daniel’s loft and into another century. I followed Daniel through the living room to the open-concept kitchen where he dropped our travel bags.

  I positively gawked at how he combined old world splendor with every modern upgrade imaginable. “Oh my God. I’d die for a Boffi kitchen.” I lightly touched the Gaggenau appliances. “This place is amazing.”

  Daniel grabbed my hand. “Come on, let me give you a tour.”

  He was like a small boy showing his mother the first fish he caught as he pointed out the twenty-five-foot ceilings and spectacular skylight that ran the length of the open living space. I loved how he’d combined exposed brick with radiant heat mahogany flooring.

  “This place so reminds me of the house. Did you do all this work yourself?”

  “Ah, no. Carpentry’s not my thing.” His soft voice and wistful tone made me wonder if he thought he should be handy.

  “Well, that’s a good thing. Who wants calluses all over their hands?” The words no sooner left my mouth than I wished I could pull them back in. Now he would know how truly shallow I was.

  By now, we were in his starkly modern bedroom with three things in it: a massive bed, a rather cool looking suspended tub, and a closet. I looked around half expecting to find a Saint Andrew’s cross or something else kinky and tried not to show my disappointment.

  A grin lit Daniel’s face, and he opened the closet door. “This what you’re looking for?”

  A display that rivaled that of the kinky room at the house lined a huge walk-in closet. I whirled around the room, touching. Feeling wood, leather, satin, and the hard chain holding restraints. The faint smell of polish permeated the air. I breathed it all in, eager to try everything.

  I could not wipe the grin off my face as I turned back to Daniel. Like a five-year-old who’s just found her favorite toy, I wanted to jump and clap and ask “what first?” I don’t know what it was about being with this man that made me want to climb him like a tree. Instead, I searched his face and let that fire simmering in him melt those insecurities. I licked my lips. His grin widened, and he shook his head.

  “Oh no you don’t, not now. Come on.” He grabbed my hand again. “I’m going to show you my New York City. Let’s start with my Village.”

  Daniel grabbed my hand and tucked it in his elbow. We ambled through narrow, tree-lined streets with mid-rise apartments and row houses and a small-town neighborhood feel. The whole place had an artsy culture, as if we’d stepped out of modern-day New York City and into the city of the sixties. Gone were the suit-clad business types marching along to a staccato beat only they could hear. Instead, women wearing long, patchwork skirts with embroidered blouses carrying baskets with cut flowers and assorted produce smiled broadly and exchanged greetings with Daniel. Bicycles ridden by men wearing plaid pants and berets replaced the dense horn-blasting traffic that was a signature part of Manhattan. I loved the curvy streets and bohemian cafes and was in awe of the splendid architecture.

  I stood stock still in front of a magnificent old building filled with gables, leaded glass, and the coolest clock tower I’d ever seen. Daniel grabbed my shoulder to stop from knocking me over.

  “Whoa there.”

  “I want to go in there if that’s okay with you. I’ll only be a minute.” There had been a time when I couldn’t pass by an old building, museum, or historical monument without taking the time to explore. Those days ended with Greg, who insisted I had better things to do with my time.

  Daniel laughed. “You don’t need my permission. I thought you might like the library. Did you notice the water fountain?”

  Daniel pointed out the two reliefs, and I traced the stone heron, marveling at the artistry. The old man sitting beside the tree mesmerized me.

  “Come on, let me show you inside.”

  “I thought it was some government building, but a library.” I breathed the word with reverence. Libraries were like a second home to me, a refuge. There was no place else in the world I’d rather spend time… At least it had been before I discovered the existence of kink rooms.

  Once inside, I ran my hand reverently over the brick columns supporting the beautiful arched brick ceilings in the reference room. Everywhere I looked, some gem of architectural splendor peeked out at me. The stained glass windows were spellbinding in their intricate detail.

  “It used to be a courthouse. Now it’s the Jefferson Market Library. Some people think it’s the most beautiful building in America.” Daniel led me from room to room, regaling me with stories of its days as a women’s prison housing the likes of Angela Davis, and Valerie Solanas, who shot Andy Warhol in 1968.

  We stepped outside into the glorious heat of a spring day. A stray cloud drifted over the sun, and the single blotch on the clear blue sky sent a shiver down my spine. Like an omen. I shook it off, letting the shadow of Daniel’s solid mass of muscle shield me.

  “I’m starving. Where to now?”


  “One of my favorite places.” He steered me ten or so blocks to a quaint little wine bar and gastropub. Although it was only about two in the afternoon, Carroll Place had the dark, cozy feel of a well-loved slipper. A large awning and overhanging trees filtered out most of the afternoon light. Funky music with a strong bass backbeat, deep and low, left no doubt what kind of energy permeated the place. I’d barely crossed the threshold when a very tall, very leggy, and very attractive woman damned near shoved me out of the way in her zeal to cast herself upon Daniel. She kissed him soundly on the lips then hugged both cheeks with her hands.

  “Daniel, you bad boy. Where have you been?”

  “Good to see you, Carlotta. You know how it is.” He laughed as he hugged her back.

  Some strange feeling hummed through my veins, like a bee vibrating to shake pollen off a flower. It was suddenly hard work not to breathe hard. Black daggers flashed in my vision, probably the ones I wanted to throw at her. My blood started to boil as I watched this woman who had obviously been around the block more than a few times gush over Daniel. I cleared my throat.

  Daniel put his arm around me and pulled me to him. “Logan, meet Carlotta. She’s been working here since—” He paused and gestured to her, palm up.

  “The Great White Plague.” Carlotta laughed and held her palm up toward him.

  “Sixteen hundreds. The largest cause of death in the 1650s, but no. North American Smallpox Epidemic?”

  “Shit. Let me see.” Carlotta rocked back on her spike-high heels. I waited fearfully…hoping…she’d fall. “Seventeen eighty-two.”

  “Close, but no cigar, or should I say martini for you tonight.”

  “All right, you win.” Carlotta turned and gave me a look that even I could identify as speculation. I could just imagine Daniel in any number of spots with one of these bar babes having her way with him.

  I started as Daniel shook my shoulder. “Babe? You coming?”

  “What? Oh sorry. Yes, of course.” I scurried to catch up with the hip-swinging Carlotta, who stood gesturing to a seat at the bar. Two stunning young women, also clad in skimpy black dresses served up drinks behind the bar. One leaned over and kissed Daniel on the mouth. Bloody hell. Had he had a thing with all of these women?