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“I guess you’re right.” She eyed him coyly surprising herself with her directness. “So what does that make us—exactly?”
He stepped closer, until he was near enough to feel the heat from her body, and was sure that she could hear his racing heart.
She felt the intimate caress of his eyes when he looked at her and held her breath as he spoke.
“I’d say that makes us two people who are on their way to something very—” he touched her chin with the tip of his finger “—very special.”
When she looked up into his eyes, he saw a mixture of longing and doubt. “What do you say to that?” he asked softly.
She hesitated, reluctant to say what she was truly feeling. Things were moving too fast.
“I’d say it’s time that we changed the subject.”
Trent smoothly recovered without missing a step, much to Noelle’s relief. The feelings she had about Cole Richards were coming too hot, too fast. She had to put on the brakes.
He grinned and shoved his hands in his pants pockets, reminding her of a little boy caught with his fingers in the cookie jar.
“And to what would you like to change the subject?”
Noelle breathed deeply. “What exactly did you do for Maxwell Enterprises?” She looked directly into his eyes.
Trent casually averted his gaze. “I was responsible for recommending particular aircrafts to suit the need.” He spread his hand in explanation as he continued. “I compared capabilities, costs, shopped around, kept up on the latest models, made necessary negotiations.” He shrugged, offhandedly. “Things like that.”
Slowly Noelle nodded while she absorbed the information. Then her head snapped up.
“Would that cover personal aircrafts as well?” Her pulse raced and so did Trent’s. He thought he knew where this was headed and he didn’t like the direction. But he couldn’t divert the inevitable collision.
“In some cases,” he replied with caution.
“Cole.” She stretched out her hand and clasped his arm. “I want you to find out what happened to my husband’s plane.”
“What?” That request he didn’t expect. “I—I, didn’t the FAA rule it as an accident?”
“I don’t care what the FAA said!” Her slender hands clenched into fists. “I have a feeling that something happened. Something that the FAA and my own investigator were unable to find. Jordan was too careful, too conscientious about everything. He never would have flown in a plane that had even the remotest problem.”
Her dark brown eyes locked with his. “And neither would Trent Dixon. Unless he knew…” Her voice trailed off with her thoughts.
“Knew what?”
She shook her head in uncertainty. “I’m not sure,” she said finally. “All I know is that I’ll never be able to go on with my life until I do know—for sure. And I believe that you’re the one who can help me.”
He read the silent plea in her eyes and he almost weakened.
“But you even said that you’d hired an investigator and he couldn’t come up with anything. The FAA couldn’t come up with anything. Why are you so sure that I can?”
Her features softened when she spoke. “You don’t have to answer me now. Just promise me that you’ll think about it.”
Trent briefly shut his eyes, realizing that at that moment, with her looking at him as if he was the only man on earth; if Noelle Maxwell had asked him to jump off of the Golden Gate bridge in his birthday suit he would have agreed. He nodded.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
With that aside Noelle took up their stroll again, heading back in the direction of the main house. She spoke softly as they walked.
“Sometimes,” she began, “I feel as though I’m trapped in some sort of limbo. Unable to go forward, unable to go back. My unresolved feelings have me locked into a fortress without windows or doors.”
“But you are moving on with your life. You’ve opened Liaisons. It’s obviously a success.”
She laughed a self-deprecating laugh. “This is all part of the fortress.”
His dark eyes squinted in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
She touched his arm lightly and instantly felt the heat spread through her fingers. “It’s a longer story than I care to tell.” She turned away.
For several moments he stood behind her, entranced by her solitary beauty. The iridescent glow from the half moon seemed to cast a halo around her black clad body, every detail of her form defined under the moonlight. He was spellbound by the sensuous voice, moved to undeniable arousal by her very existence in his life and pained by the fear and loneliness that was her life. Damn it Jordan! What have you done to her—to me?
He eased closer and turned her around into the circle of his arms.
“Maybe one day you’ll tell me,” he said gently. His eyes trailed languidly over her face and he felt her heart slam against his chest.
She stared at him, transfixed by an overwhelming anticipation that was almost unbearable. She struggled to control the spiraling emotions and failed as his head lowered. His mouth met her parted lips.
The contact was as fiery as an arson’s blaze. She felt her entire body ignite, yet she shivered in his arms. He pulled her closer, molding her body to his.
His own mind and body convulsed in a barrage of explosive emotion. His thoughts ran in circles as he tried to control the instantaneous passion that welled within him.
He felt as if he’d known her forever and then not at all. He wanted to taste every inch of her, make her his own. His eager tongue explored her mouth and when she willing responded he knew that he was lost.
Noelle searched his mouth. Her slender arms clung to him, her only means of knowing that she was still on earth finding herself within the warm cavern.
How long had she waited to feel this way? A day? A week—forever? Somehow she believed her search was over. Cole would show her what it was like to be a real woman.
Then reality stung her with vehemence. She couldn’t. Not with this man. Not with someone who knew Jordan. Then their long-kept secret would be discovered. She couldn’t do that to Jordan’s memory.
Without warning, she tore herself from Trent’s embrace. She shook her head warning off his spontaneous approach.
“No. Please. I shouldn’t have done that.” She turned away and started up the small incline toward the entrance.
Trent took off after her, reaching her just before she came to the door. He grabbed her arm. “I wanted to,” he said in a raspy voice.
Noelle remained with her back to him afraid to see the truth that she sensed would be in his eyes.
“I’ve wanted to from the moment I saw you, Noelle. So don’t blame yourself.”
Slowly she turned to face him. He saw the doubt in her eyes. He reached out and cupped her cheek in his hand.
“What are you so afraid of?” he asked gently.
She tilted up her chin, exhibiting a confident air. “You’ve got it all wrong. I just don’t want you to think that I was trying to…” She searched for the word.
“Romance me into helping you,” he said finishing her sentence once again. The beginnings of a smile tilted his full lips. “Like I said, Mrs. Maxwell, I wanted that kiss.”
The light in his eyes ignited. “And I think you wanted it, too.”
He moved his hand down to stroke her arm.
She stared at him for a brief moment. “Good night, Mr. Richards.” Her tone was suddenly formal. “Please let me know if you’ll accept my request.”
Without another word she turned away, hurrying into the safety of the villa.
For several moments Trent leaned against the ornate pillar, silently fuming. He could have kicked himself. He’d obviously misread her. He shook his head at his own macho stupidity. Just because he let his hormones lead the way didn’t mean that she was on the same wave length.
He slammed his fist against the pillar. Damn it! This was going to be even more difficult than he thought. Not only did he have to hide his identity, and keep his feelings for Noelle in check, he also had to get her to realize that he wasn’t some oversexed, oversized teenager on the make.
Noelle lay in her bed staring sightlessly up at the sheer netting that draped her bed. For years she’d kept a lid on her desires. She’d willingly substituted gratitude and loyalty for physical pleasure. And now, in one fell swoop, Cole Richards walks into her life and opens up the trap door to her heart.
She squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t let herself be swept away by a torrid desire for a man she hardly knew. And even if she did, which was highly unlikely, she’d had no experience with casual affairs and wouldn’t know how to conduct one. For all the years of her marriage she’d stuck to the letter of her vows. Forsaking all others. She’d never allowed temptation, unhappiness, or physical incompleteness to lead her into infidelity. Although she wasn’t particularly religious as an adult, her childhood years of churchgoing had left its indelible mark.
In any event, Cole Richards appeared to be the type of man who would never settle down and she knew she could never tolerate that.
Could she even trust a man, any man with her feelings, with them knowing who she was and the millions that she represented? Why would Cole Richards be any different from the others who had been attracted by the wealth and power? This time couldn’t be any different. Could it?
She turned on her left side, trying to still the racing beat of her heart. Even as she did visions of Cole, the scent of him, the feel and taste of him filled her.
She flipped onto her right side, pushing her face into the pillow. She’d just have to find some way of dealing with the irresponsible way he made her feel. She’d disguised her true feelings for years. This time wouldn’t be any different. Because Cole Richards was going to help her prove that Trent Dixon caused Jordan’s death whether he wanted to or not.
Nothing could interfere with that.
Chapter 6
Tempest spotted Noelle across the courtyard and waved to her. Even before Tempest reached where she stood, Noelle saw the lines of strain beneath the striking hazel eyes.
“Are you all right, chère?” Noelle asked when Tempest approached.
“Just a little tired,” Tempest answered lamely.
Noelle looked hard at her friend. “Now how long have we been friends?” Noelle taunted, tossing Tempest’s own question back at her.
Tempest sighed heavily and sat down on the bench beneath a huge transplanted palm tree. Noelle sat beside her and waited.
“Braxton left last night,” she blurted out.
Noelle frowned. “Just like that?” She snapped her fingers for emphasis.
“Yes. Just like that.” Tempest repeated the gesture.
“I don’t understand.”
“He claims he has another job in Brazil that needs his immediate attention.”
“But isn’t your daughter, Kai, coming in today?”
Tempest nodded. “I’m on my way to the airport now to meet her and Mrs. Harding.”
“I thought Braxton was going to use this time to spend with you and Kai?”
“That’s what I thought,” Tempest complained. “We spent the entire night arguing about it. He still insisted that he had to go.”
That would explain why she didn’t see them at dinner last night, Noelle guessed. She searched for something comforting to say. “Perhaps it is important. I can’t imagine that he would leave without seeing his daughter if it wasn’t urgent.”
Tempest stood up, smoothing the aqua-colored suit jacket. She looked off toward the horizon.
“Things have been very strained between Braxton and me for a while,” she admitted softly. She turned toward Noelle. “Our schedules are so hectic we hardly see each other. Then when we do—” her voice trembled “—it’ salmost like we’re two strangers. It was never like that between us, even after being separated for those six years after I left Virginia and went to New York. When we found each other again it was like those lost years had never happened.”
Noelle was shocked. She’d always imagined that Tempest and Braxton were the perfect couple. If you had wanted to write a book about a happy marriage, they would be the ones to write about. They had been through so much to be together. It was hard for her to believe that their marriage could be in trouble. But then Noelle examined her own marriage. Everyone believed that it was My Fair Lady come true. But at what cost?
Noelle stood up and put her arm around Tempest’s shoulder. “I didn’t know,” she said gently. “I only wish that I had the answers to make things better. All I can say is that as long as you and Braxton continue to love each other, everything will work out. You’ll see.”
“I hope you’re right. And I do know that I love him, more than anything in the world.” She forced a smile, still unable to put into words what was truly troubling her. She pushed aside her troubles. “How about you? Are you feeling better today?”
Noelle wanted to tell her about her evening with Cole, about the way she felt when she was with him. She decided that it wasn’t the best time to discuss her budding feelings for Cole in light of Tempest’s problems.
“Actually, yes. As a matter of fact, I thought about what you said about the attorney. Maybe I will call him.”
“I think that’s the right decision. The worst that could happen is that he won’t tell you anything.”
Tempest checked her watch. “I’ve got to go. The flight is arriving in L.A. Mrs. Harding got my instructions wrong and booked the flight into LAX airport.”
An idea came to Noelle. “Would you mind some company?”
“Of course not. It’s not the shortest drive in the world.”
“Maybe I’ll just pay my attorney Monsieur Malone a surprise visit.”
Tempest brightened. “Perfect. I love surprises. If you catch him off guard he won’t have time to prepare a story.”
“Exactly!” Noelle grinned. She linked her arm through Tempest’s. “Let’s go.”
Trent meticulously reviewed the data that had been faxed to him on Liaisons. He’d set up a small office in his hotel suite in L.A. It was fully equipped with a computer, printer, a copy and a fax machine. He’d already had his computer linked via modem to the main headquarters in Sudan and in Hong Kong.
The financial stability of Liaisons was excellent. He’d verified the credibility of the accountants, attorneys and had conducted a background check on all of Liaisons’s staff.
As he leaned back in his chair he breathed a sigh of relief. Noelle Maxwell was unquestionably an astonishing businesswoman, not merely a woman in business. There were no outstanding debts. All of the structures exceeded building codes and revenue was pouring in.
If he had any doubts about her capabilities they had certainly been laid to rest.
He closed the thick manila folder and stood up, shoving his hands in his jeans pockets as he did. To look at her one would easily assume that she was merely a pampered heiress with delusions of grandeur, he mused. To the contrary, Noelle was a woman of substance, with talents yet untapped. But did she have what it took to manage an empire as complex as Jordan’s? More importantly would she be able to handle the truth once it was revealed to her and possibly give up her one dream to save Jordan’s? Of that he was still unsure.
His own personal feelings about her seemed to be clouding his judgment. He wanted her. He wanted her like he hadn’t wanted any other woman. And the intensity of his emotions made him feel vulnerable. A feeling that was totally foreign to him.
