Dangerous Curves by Dara Girard Page B

“Does it matter?”
    â€œDo you think I’d ask if it didn’t?” He touched her chin. “I need to know what kind of woman you are.”
    She cleared her throat. His touch was soft, tender, but his penetrating gaze held a lethal intensity. She had to remember not to underestimate him. “And how I found out will tell you that?”
    He nodded.
    She bit her lip. “It was by mistake. He was supposed to take me to a concert and he forgot. I showed up at his house and she was there.”
    Kevin frowned. “That’s very sloppy.”
    Her brows shot up. “There’s a clean way to find out your boyfriend’s cheating?”
    He rested against the car. “No, it was sloppy for him to get caught that way. Why didn’t he pick you up at your house?”
    â€œHe thought it would be better for me to meet him since he gets home late and we’d then go to the concert from there.”
    He shifted his position again, making Dominique wonder why he didn’t seem to keep still. “That still doesn’t make sense.”
    â€œDoes cheating ever make sense?” She waved the question away, remembering who she was talking to. “Never mind.”
    Kevin lifted a brow as if reading her thoughts. “I’ve never cheated on a woman. I’ve never had to and never will. I have my standards. What was his name?”
    She hesitated then said, “Berton.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œOf course I’m sure.”
    â€œAnd you loved him very much.”
    Not very much. She’d never loved a man very much, but it had hurt. “Yes.”
    Kevin absently rubbed his leg. “Until he hurt you and you want to use me to forget him?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI don’t believe you,” he said softly. So softly that at first she wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly.
    She blinked. “What?”
    He shifted his weight again and looked up at a slowly moving patch of clouds. “I believe you’re angry, but he’s not the reason why you’re here.”
    â€œYou think I’m a liar?”
    He turned to her. “No, I don’t think you’re telling me the truth.”
    â€œIsn’t that the same thing?”
    He grinned, then walked away.
    He’d turned her down! A free invitation, carte blanche, and he’d walked away. Her face burned with anger and humiliation at the memory. The man with no scruples had turned his back on her and left her standing there like an idiot. Had she come on too strong? Not strong enough? Why didn’t he completely believe her story? It was true, dammit! And wasn’t a woman who’d been cheated on an ideal plaything for a man like him? A woman desperate and emotionally vulnerable was like a velvet cake to a sugar addict. Where had she gone wrong?
    Five hours later, Dominique pulled up to the DC club and parked in front of the entrance, glad she’d quickly recovered from the incident. He hadn’t brought it up again and she certainly wouldn’t. She’d thought of leaving—her pride still bristled with outrage—and thinking of another plan, but this was the best way to get close to him. As his driver she could find out his habits and routines.
    At least that was what she’d told her sister when Gloria had caught her packing. She’d hoped to get out of the family house without being spotted by anyone, but Gloria had returned from her yoga class early. Thankfully, she’d recovered quickly and spent only one night in the hospital. The family used their influence to avoid getting police or psychiatrists involved.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Gloria asked, coming into the bedroom.
    Dominique took some shirts off their hangers and put them in her suitcase. She could lie, but then that would make her sister curious. “I’m going to get back at Kevin.” She told her about the mistake and becoming his driver. “But