“You were sent here to spy on me, right? See if I can actually do this job and not screw it up?”
She’d been such a fool to think a kind stranger just happened upon her and saved the day, then was suddenly attracted to her.
“Does he know you want to sleep with me or is that all part of his plan?” Stella asked, suddenly sickened at the idea. “How much is he paying you?”
Before she could draw her next breath, Dane had closed the distance between them. His fingers curled around her biceps and he hauled her against his chest. The
motion had her tipping her head back to keep her focus on him.
“You think I’d whore myself out?” he demanded. “I don’t work for anybody and I sure as hell wouldn’t take money to have sex with you.”
Oh, he was angry. She didn’t know Dane, but after hearing the conviction in his voice, she had no doubt he was telling the truth. Beneath that anger, Stella saw pain.
“When I get you in my bed, it won’t have anything to do with your father,” he growled.
When.
Her entire body heated between the threatened promise of her in his bed and the way he’d plastered his body against hers from hip to chest, and Stella couldn’t do a thing but hold on.
She gripped his arms and stared back into those dark eyes, now hard with fury. But she wasn’t scared. Dane wouldn’t hurt her. Someone who sacrificed his whole evening to help a complete stranger, expecting nothing in return, wasn’t a person who should be feared.
But he was hurt by her accusation.
“I’m sorry.” Stella closed her eyes and pulled in a shaky breath, trying to rein in her frustrations. “My father... It’s all complicated, but I think he’s spying on me and how I’m doing here. With the timing of you showing up, I just jumped to conclusions when I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
Dane’s grip lessened, but he didn’t let her go. He eased back slightly, the muscle in his jaw clenched.
“Your father doesn’t trust you?” Dane asked, his brows drawn in.
“Apparently not. I never thought that was an issue,” she replied, hurt spreading through her. “But it would seem that my loyalty is in question or at least my judgment.” Stella shook her head and attempted a smile. “I don’t know why I find you so easy to talk to. Sorry about all that.”
Dane stroked his thumbs over the curve of her shoulders. “Don’t apologize. I’d say I’m easy to talk to because I don’t know the dynamics here. I’m just a stranger to you.”
Yes, something she needed to remind herself of. She shouldn’t get wrapped up in a stranger, emotionally or physically.
Yet here she was, doing a stellar job of both.
Everyone had a breaking point and apparently Dane Michaels was hers. She’d worked so hard for so long, putting her personal life on the back burner. No, her personal life wasn’t even on the stove, let alone a burner.
Maybe she should take an hour a day just for herself...and whatever pleasantries came along.
“Come to my penthouse for dinner,” she told him. “I’ll have everything ready at eight.”
Dane’s brows shot up. “You live on-site full-time?”
Stella nodded. “There’s no way I’d want to commute when I’m always needed. This resort is my life, my baby. I want to always be available.”
“You really do love this place,” he muttered.
“Of course I do.” She stepped back, needing to distance herself from the man who had her reevaluating her priorities. “So, eight o’clock?”
“You don’t need to feed me dinner.”
Stella smoothed her hair away from her face and squared her shoulders. “I do, so don’t argue. I’ll apologize and you’ll be a gentleman and accept my offerings.”
Once again, he got that hungry look in his eyes. Being in such close proximity with Dane made it quite difficult to remain a professional.
“Do you really think you’ll be back to your room by eight?”