His mother was the sole reason for this charade and his brother...well, they each had their own thing going in trying to track down the bastard who stole everything from them once their mother passed. Yes, he knew plenty about loyalty. But he was about as far from noble as he could get.
His plan to take her father down and reclaim what belonged to him might be devious; it might be cruel, even. He wasn’t proud of that. For all his faults, he’d never been selfish, he’d never purposely been deceitful. But he was about to do a hell of a job now because the future of his mother’s legacy was on the line. With honor on one side and loyalty on the other, his choice was clear. There were no rules for him.
“Looking back, we could best be described more as friends than anything,” he added. He didn’t want to come off as a complete prick for flirting with Stella right after ending an engagement. “I’d gotten used to the idea of not being alone and being a couple was more habit than anything. She found someone and they’re in love. She’s happier now.”
“And you?” Her question came out in a slight whisper. “Are you happier now?”
Dane swallowed the strawberry and licked his lips. Her eyes darted to his mouth and he wondered if seduction really could be this easy. No wonder Ethan always had a new woman. Still, this wasn’t Dane’s typical behavior. There was no going back now, though.
Not with the chemistry crackling between them even though he hadn’t even laid a finger on her. Damn...he wanted to get her into bed. Even though it wasn’t in the plan—even though it might ruin everything—the temptation was growing stronger with every passing moment. Something shifted, something he couldn’t quite place a finger on.
Lust. He hadn’t expected this strong of a pull. He hadn’t wanted a woman in so long. Well, he had natural urges, but to actually feel the desire and the ache...he couldn’t recall the last time. Granted, avoiding people in general probably contributed to his lack of sex life. But sex or getting close to anyone would open the door to questions he wasn’t ready to answer.
In the last several hours, Dane found he actually wanted to get closer to Stella. That could be the lack of sex in his life talking, though.
“I’m happy that the marriage didn’t happen,” he stated. “When I marry, I plan for it to be a one-time thing.”
He nearly laughed at that statement because he rarely left his ranch, let alone dated anyone. Dodging people and any social activity had been his new normal since leaving the army, deepening the seclusion that had started with the untimely death of his mother, when he’d opted to keep to himself instead of talk to anyone—even Ethan.
So, no. Marrying was certainly off the table because he’d never let anyone get that close to him. Besides the fear of abandonment again, he wouldn’t subject anyone to his nightmares.
“So you do want marriage?” she asked.
“Maybe. Eventually. I’m not in a hurry.”
He leaned his hip against the edge of the stainless steel and reached out to push her long inky hair over her slender shoulder. There was no reason for him to try to avoid touching her.
He also needed to get away from this topic because the last thing he wanted her to believe was that he was ready for some fictitious happily-ever-after. The attraction clearly had a place here and that’s what he’d hone in on. Any sort of romance had to be left behind.
“You’re staying for a week.” She smiled and every nerve ending sizzled at that tiny dimple nestled against the corner of her mouth. “Consider every upgrade and meal on the house.”
“I can’t do that.” He shook his head and laughed. “You’ve already settled the bill for my room. That’s more than enough for just helping out over a few hours, though no thanks were necessary.”
“Thanks was very necessary,” she countered. “Considering I’m riding a thin line and I have someone waiting for me to fail... Well, that’s a story for another time.”
“So there will be another time?” he asked, not pressuring her on the topic of her father.
Her eyes held his and her smile remained. “As much as I’d like to, I work what seems like thirty hours a day.”
“All the more reason to take a break.”
“Breaks could cost me everything,” she murmured as she glanced away. Then she adjusted her shoulders and returned her focus to him. “It’s late and I’m sure you’d like to get to your room and relax.”
Only if she came with him.
“I’d relax more if I had some bourbon. Pappy Van Winkle would do the trick, but that’s not an option right now,” he half joked. “What do you do to relax, Stella?”
Her lids fluttered just a second when he said her name. Good. He wanted her thrown off. He wanted her to be flustered and aroused, thrown off guard enough to let things slip.
“I don’t even know what relaxing is,” she stated, but he knew she wasn’t joking.
“Have a glass of wine with me.”
Stella raised a brow. “And what about breakfast prep?”
“I’ll finish up afterward,” he told her. “I’ve seen the list and once I get this in the fridge, the rest has to be done in the morning.”
“I can’t leave a stranger in my kitchen.”