Chapter Seven
Dana walked back slowly to where David was still sitting on the couch. She wished she could simply walk past him, close her bedroom door, and pretend she never had a telephone conversation with her mother.
But he’d obviously heard the whole thing. “You probably heard that, right?” she asked.
He nodded.
“It’s my mom. This whole thing with my dad hit her hard. She is struggling to cope with what happened. And, on top of everything, she is struggling financially.”
“This has nothing to do with me, but didn’t your dad provide for her?”
Dana nodded. “Yes, he did, but I suppose with everything getting so expensive…” She shrugged.
“Don’t you have a brother?” David asked. “Does he help out?”
“He lives and works in Dubai. My mom visited him over Christmas last year, so he does his bit.”
David stared at her for a moment. “Have you spoken to your mother’s financial advisor? I assume your dad would have had someone look after his affairs.”
Dana nodded. “Yes, but my mother and he sorted out my dad’s things.”
David leaned forward. “Look, I know this is none of my business, but I suggest you talk to this guy. Try to find out exactly what her situation is. Maybe, I don’t know, it’s just a matter of helping her manage her affairs?”
“More coffee?” Ignoring David’s question, she picked up the mugs. The last thing she wanted was for David to become involved in her family problems. It was humiliating enough that he’d had to bring her home today.
Behind her, David moved and she felt his presence. He took the mugs from her and put them behind him on the kitchen counter. “No, thanks. What about your car?”
“I’ll sort it out, thanks,” she said, trying a smile. “I’ve been waiting for the school break before looking for a new car, so now I have time.”
“I’m staying at Don’s house for the weekend,” David said. “If you like, I could pick you up…”
She lifted her chin. “I’m quite capable of buying my own car, thank you.” She turned toward the front door. “Well, thank you for bringing me home… I’m sure you have other things to do…”
She trailed off. David had moved quickly and was standing in front of her.
“Oh, I have lots of other things to do…” He growled, his eyes flashing once before he bent his head down. Without closing his eyes, he caught her bottom lip between his teeth, much the same way she’d bitten him a few days ago.
A shiver ran down her spine; his eyes darkened.
“Dana,” he whispered and pulled her closer, “you make me want things…” He swept his hands up her back, and he molded her body to his.
This could not be happening again! She’d had a horrible day.
From what she’d discovered, it sounded as if David had been directly responsible for what had happened to her dad, her car had broken down, her mother was driving her crazy, but when David touched her, kissed her, her body simply took over the workings of her brain and all of her worries seemed to fade.
His scent filled her nostrils, pulled her in until she was only aware of sensations. Special. Safe.
Treasured. Adored. That was how he made her feel.
But it wasn’t real. He lived in a world light years removed from hers. She pushed against him, and he lifted his head.
“I’m fine. Thanks for all your help, but I’m—”
“Fine,” David said sardonically. “I can see exactly how fine you are.”
“Good.” She stiffened her spine. She opened the front door. “Goodbye.”
David held her gaze a moment longer. He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek.
“Good night,” he said and left.
She locked the door behind him, switched off the lights, and walked to her room. A big hole opened up inside of her, and a tear escaped and rolled over her face. Angrily, she wiped it away and sniffled.
Crying never did anyone any good. Tomorrow she would try to find out how involved her dad had been in Hastings’s dealings. But for now, she was going to take a long bath and try not to think.
*
Full of energy, David knocked on Dana’s front door. He couldn’t wait to tell her what he’d discovered. He’d hardly slept last night. He knocked again. It was quiet inside. He pressed his ear against the door. Finally, he could hear movement in the background.
It wasn’t that early; surely she was up by now? For the first time since he’d taken a shower, he looked at his watch and groaned out loud. It was only seven o’clock.
The door flew open, and he lost every single rational thought. Dana was standing there in a pair of pink pajamas—if that was what he could call the tiny strappy top and pair of sexy shorts she was wearing. Her hair was mussed, and it was clear she’d just gotten out of bed.
Blood pooled below his middle, and for a moment he felt quite light-headed. He steadied himself by clutching the door frame on either side of him.
“David!” she grumbled and rubbed her eyes. “What the hell? Do you know what time it is?”
His blood was roaring so loudly in his ears, he barely made out what she was saying.
“It’s a beautiful day.” He tried one of his best smiles. “But, sorry, no, I didn’t know it was this early. I haven’t really slept,” he tried to explain, as if his ramblings made complete sense.
She opened the door wider and rubbed her face. “Coffee.” She groaned and turned her back on him. “I must have coffee.”
He stumbled. Wow. What a sight. Her legs kind of went on and on and on. And the seriously tiny pair of shorts she was wearing lovingly cupped her tight bottom. Oh, man.
Taking deep breaths, he finally felt balanced enough to follow her. Ever since he’d kissed this woman, he’d been a bit off-kilter. His mouth lifted on one side. An interesting notion and one he wasn’t sure what to make of.
*
Dana stretched to get the coffee from the top shelf, and David groaned behind her.
Frowning, she turned around to find David’s eyes way below her middle. She looked down. Oh, bloody hell, she was still in her pajamas!
Now, wide awake, she inhaled audibly, and David lifted his gaze to meet hers.
“I’ll…” She swallowed. His eyes were a dark, dark brown, his nostrils flaring. “Get dressed.” She moved sideways in the direction of her room.
He leaned against the counter, his gaze raking her from head to toe. Heat uncurled inside of her, and she forgot to breathe.
“Good idea.” His voice was deliciously raspy.
She fled to her room.
Quickly, trying not to think about the heat she’d seen in David’s eyes, she slipped into a pair of white jeans and a T-shirt.
In the bathroom, she stared at her face.
Her eyes sparkled; her cheeks were red. Groaning, she washed her face and tried to put makeup on with unsteady fingers.
He had her heart racing, her blood heating, and she hadn’t even had her first cup of coffee yet!
She found him pouring coffee into yesterday’s mugs. He had to have washed them, as she hadn’t bothered last night.
“Sit on that side of the counter.” He motioned with his hand without looking at her. “Maybe if you’re across from me, I’ll be able to concentrate and remember what I have to tell you.” Only then did he look up. His hands stilled; his eyes darkened.
Swearing softly, he put the coffee down and reached her in two strides. He cupped her face, rubbed his thumbs over her lower lip.
“I have to kiss you again,” he murmured, before he bent down and caught her lips with his.
Dana put her hands on his shoulders to push him away, but the minute his mouth settled over hers, she couldn’t remember why she’d wanted to do that.
Kissing David was becoming a habit. Her body was ready for the surge of pleasure that zipped through her, heating her blood and leaving her breathless.
He lifted his head slowly and kissed her forehead before he dropped his arms and turned away. Picking up his mug, he looked at her over his shoulder.
“You’re like a fix I constantly need.” He growled.
“Don’t say things like that!” she said, blushing.
“It’s the truth,” he insisted and sat down, facing her. “But, although I would like nothing better than to cart you off to the nearest bed and make love to you until neither of us can see straight, I’m actually here because I found out something I think you would like to hear.”
The first part of his sentence robbed her of her last breath, and it took a while before she was able to register what the second part of his sentence implied. “What did you hear?” She really hoped talking about something else would calm her hormones.
“Well, it turns out two of the other financial advisors whose names were mentioned two years ago are living near Hermanus. One lives in Caledon and one in Kleinmond. I thought we should try to get hold of them and see if we can talk to them, find out what they know.”
Dana stared at David while his words sank in. “I’ve been focused on trying to find out what the police know, and I’ve only recently decided to contact the newspapers. I never even thought of getting in touch with the other financial advisors involved.”
“Didn’t Sean say anything about them?”
Dana grimaced and lowered her eyes. “I… didn’t really give him a chance to say anything else other than…” She hesitated.
“I was the bad guy?” David asked.
She nodded. “Look, David, thanks for doing this, but it’s not your problem. I’ve had time to think, and I accept your version of what happened. So you don’t have any reason to get involved with my mess.”
He put his mug down slowly, his lips moving into a smile.
“Oh, I don’t know. I like being where you are,” he said, as if it was the most logical thing in the world.
“So get your bag or whatever you’ll need.
I’ll phone and see whether I can get hold of them.
I briefly spoke to both of them two years ago, so hopefully they’ll remember me. ”
“And that’s a good thing? Most people aren’t fond of journalists.”
He shrugged. “I think they’ll talk to us.”
She hesitated. “You don’t have to come with me. I can do this—”
“By yourself. I know,” David interrupted.
“I know you’re brave. I know you’re an independent woman who can do everything you want to on your own, but I’m here.
I want to be close to you, and I can help.
Also, I know I’m not responsible for what happened, but I should have made sure of my facts before I showed the story to the editor.
And that was my mistake. One I’m trying to rectify now.
Let me?” And the devastating Cavallo smile nearly had her falling off her chair.
Dana frowned and crossed her arms. “You’re not playing fair,” she mumbled.
“Oh, are we playing now?” he teased, and grabbing her hand, he pulled her up.
He pulled her closer and lost his smile. For a moment their bodies touched and she became aware of his desire. Light-headed, she shook her head and pulled away.
“M-my… um… my b-bag…” she stuttered and fled.
“Take your time,” he called out. “I’ll make some calls.”
*
David stared at Dana’s retreating back. Only when she’d closed her bedroom door behind her could he exhale. Damn, the woman was killing him. Ever since he’d kissed her for the first time, he’d been walking around like a randy teenager.
Focus, Cavallo, focus. He scrolled down on his phone where he’d made a note of the names and telephone numbers of the men he was hoping they could see today. There was another number he wanted to phone first. This would be their first stop.