“Because I forced you into court,” he finished for her. “Bring it with you an
d anything else you’ll require for an overnight stay, including a bathing suit.”
Oh no.
Rainey averted her eyes. She was terrified he would see how excited she was at the prospect of going anywhere with him…of spending time with him.
And his fiancée, a little voice nagged. Never forget that, Rainey Bennett.
When she felt recovered enough to meet his glance, she discovered him studying her prized serigraph of the Nantucket Lighthouse painted by Thomas McKnight. It hung next to her own paintings, the few that hadn’t yet been purchased by the authors of those books.
He suddenly turned in her direction, catching her staring at him. She didn’t look away, but heat scorched her cheeks.
“Would you bring your dog’s picture when you come?”
She shouldn’t have been surprised he’d seen the small framed photo perched on her desk. He noticed everything. What intrigued her was the reason why he’d made the request.
“All right.”
Their eyes held for a brief moment. “I’ll see you later.”
In an economy of movement he gathered the paintings and went out the door. Unable to help herself, she watched until he and the same security man named John disappeared from view.
After shutting the door she leaned against it, wondering if she was in the middle of one of her dreams about him. But six hours later she knew everything was real when John and another security man appeared at the door. They helped her to the limousine with her bags.
Insulated by glass that allowed her to look out without being seen, she enjoyed being chauffeured to the Financial District even though it was rush hour. Once they arrived in the underground parking of the Sterling building, she was whisked by private elevator to the penthouse.
When the doors opened to Mr. Payne’s office suite, Rainey couldn’t control the gasp that escaped her throat. It was like walking into her own painting.
Her dark-haired hero looked up from his massive oak desk and said, “Since seeing the cover on Manhattan Merger, I’ve had the same reaction as you every time I’ve walked in my office.”
Rainey stood there speechless.
Her gaze darted from the small framed photo perched on his desk to the painting of a ship passing a lighthouse.
“No,” she whispered in disbelief.
It hung on the only wall not made of glass, just the way she’d set things up in her painting.
And then there was the dynamic billionaire himself.
Dressed in the expensive-looking blue suit he’d worn to her apartment earlier, it could have been the same suit she’d put on him in the painting. Behind him loomed the Manhattan skyline, astonishingly similar to the one she’d painted for the cover.
Still in shock, she watched as he got out of his swivel chair and brought her the small picture from his desk.
“I’m afraid to look,” she confessed in a shaky voice as he closed the distance between them and handed it to her.
One glance at it and her green eyes flew to his. “This dog—the face—it looks like Winston!”
He nodded. “Meet Bruno, my trusty bullmastiff.”
“I don’t believe it,” she murmured, starting to feel light-headed. The picture slipped to the lush carpet.
Suddenly she felt a hard-muscled arm go around her. He ushered her to the nearest leather chair.
Their faces were almost touching. She could see the alarm in those unforgettable blue eyes, feel his breath on her cheek. “You went so pale just now. I’ll get you some water.”
In the next instant he’d returned and put the cup to her lips.