Page 27 of Defending Love
Chapter Twenty-Six
Eli
U nder normal assignment circumstances, I would have left Dani alone to talk to her brother. These weren’t exactly normal circumstances. While I would have preferred if she put the call on speaker, I gathered from the way her jaw was set, I was pushing my luck.
Going to the window, I gazed down at the busy streets. There was a monster truck something or other happening at Lucas Oil and an Indiana Pacers game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The rest of the city was walking around as if the woman I loved wasn’t in danger.
From the one-sided conversation, I could construe the part I wasn’t able to hear, but that wasn’t the same as hearing it. It’s like inferring the fingerprints are Damien Sinclair’s.
When I heard Dani say goodbye, I turned back to her.
Since we’d returned from Florida, she’d changed her clothes to a loose-fitting sweatshirt and leggings that hugged her sexy legs. Her feet were bare, showing her pink toenails. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun. In a word, she was stunning.
“I suppose you want to know what he said,” Dani said, standing.
“Speakerphone would have been nice,” I said with a grin.
“You’re pressing your luck.”
I took a step toward her and reached out for her waist, tugging her hips toward mine. “You’re my assignment, Dani. I need all the information to keep you safe.”
“You can’t make me think the worst about my brother. Damien and I have always been close. I was his best woman, like a best man, at his and Ella’s wedding. Damien can be a pain in the ass, but he’s not capable of taking a contract out on anyone, much less our father.”
I placed my finger on her luscious pink lips. “Why did he call?”
“I was right. Mom told him I’d left Florida. She also told him that Stephen Elliott called her.”
“Does Damien know why?”
“Mom said he was checking on her, and she thought it was sweet.”
“Damien’s thoughts?” I asked.
“He joked that Stephen will probably bill for the call.”
“I could hear your end. You told him you came home early because you needed a break from thoughts of your father. That was good.”
Dani’s lips curled. “And you said I couldn’t lie.”
“I admit” —he kissed my nose— “you sounded convincing.”
“The main reason for his call is Monday’s executive board meeting. We need to fill Dad’s seat. Stephen has been campaigning for us to bring on a man named Preston Ayers.”
Titling my head, I repeated his name in my thoughts. “Why do I know that name?”
“If you spend much time in Indianapolis, you’d know him or of him. He’s an arrogant ass if you ask me. He’s also the top nominee for governor in the next round of elections. Our current governor can’t run again due to term limits.”
I took Dani’s hand and led her out to the living room.
She stopped, her gaze going to the kitchen. “I know you won’t drink wine, but I would like a glass.”
“I’ll have water.”
“Come in the kitchen,” she said with a grin. “I’m not an entitled assignment, and you’re not an entitled bodyguard. We can both get our own drinks and come back out here.”
“Tell me why Mr. Elliott is campaigning for Preston Ayers to be on the Sinclair executive board."
Dani freed a wineglass from the under-the-cabinet rack.
Near the refrigerator was an already-opened bottle of cabernet.
She removed the wine stopper. “I hope this is still good.” She poured a small amount in her glass, swirled the deep-red liquid, and took a small sip.
Her smile returned. “Still good.” Opening a cabinet, she removed a tall glass and handed it to me.
“Ice and water are in the refrigerator door.”
Back in the living room, she turned on her fireplace.
“Cold?” I asked.
“The temperatures are dropping.”
“I’ll take it over the heat and humidity in Florida.”
Dani laughed. “That was nothing. You should go down there in August.”
The heat from the fire warmed the room, mostly illuminated by the flames and giving everything an orange glow. Dani stretched out her legs on the sofa. I lifted her feet, placing them in my lap as I sat. “I like being here with you.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“You said you don’t usually have mad, passionate sex on the second day.”
Pink filled her cheeks. “I don’t think that was exactly what I said.”
“I may have added a few adjectives. Nevertheless” —I laid my hand on her ankles— “how do you feel about the third day?”
“It depends.”
I quirked my eyebrow. “On what?”
“Are you going to stay tonight or disappear after you think I’m asleep.”
“You were asleep. I had work to follow up on.” I sighed. “If I leave, it’s because, you know, all great ideas come in the middle of the night.”
“Or in the shower.”
A laugh bubbled from my throat. “Another good option. Anyway, if it’s okay with you, if I leave, I’ll come back to your bed.”
“That’s definitely okay with me.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
Dani took a sip of her wine. “About?”
“The executive board. Why would a politician be a good fit for Sinclair Pharmaceuticals’ executive board?”
“Stephen sent over Preston’s curriculum vitae.” She swayed her shoulders. “He used to be the dean of research at Indianapolis University. He has his MD and a PhD in pharmacological research.”
“Impressive.”
“In my opinion, Preston only wants a seat on the board to further pad his resume. It will show the people of Indiana that he is interested in maintaining state businesses.”
“Would it be a conflict of interest?”
Dani thought for a moment. “I’d need to check, but as long as we’re not receiving any state funds, there wouldn’t be.”
Staring into the flames, I had a thought. “Where did you say Eric Olsen carried out the early tests on Propanolol?”
“I’m not sure if I did. He worked at Indianapolis University.
They began their research years before Damien found out about it.
But it was shut down. Possibly because of Eric Olsen’s death.
” She shrugged and after having a drink, set her glass on the coffee table.
“I hadn’t thought about that before, but maybe Preston worked with Dr. Olsen. ”
I made a mental note to check that.
Dani laid her head back. “I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow. How do you feel about delivery tonight?”
“You don’t need to wow me with your cooking skills. I’m already impressed with you.”
“My grandmother said the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
Running my palm over Dani’s legs, I squeezed. “I tried to get you out of my heart and mind many times over the last year. I’ve given up.”
Dani sat forward, reaching for my hand. “You haven’t been here long, but it feels like you never left.”
I lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “What should we order?”
“Mexican.”