donât know women very well, do you?â
âI know Shayla that well.â
âAfter just one night?â Sev asked skeptically.
Draco climbed to his feet and confronted his cousins. âHow long did it take you and Francesca, Sev? I seem to remember it was all of one night.â His gaze switched to Lazz. âWhat about you and Ariana? You may have resisted longer and harder, but in the end you still fell.â
Lazz blew out a sigh. âYouâre that certain?â
Draco didnât hesitate. âYes.â
Sev nodded, though he didnât look happy. âI guess the real question isâ¦does Shayla feel the same way?â
Once again, Draco didnât hesitate. âIf she doesnât now, she will in time, once sheâs had a chance to come to terms with whatâs happened.â He lifted an eyebrow. âUnless youâre saying The Inferno doesnât work.â
Sev released a humorless laugh. âOh, it works. Youâlldiscover just how well soon enough. My concern is whether sheâs about to become a pawn in this battle, trapped between her loyalty to her grandmother and her feelings for you.â
Draco had already considered that possibility. âIf she is, sheâll be the first piece I capture,â he stated firmly. âWhatever it takes to remove her from the playing field. But I will protect whatâs mine.â
Â
The meeting didnât last much longer. They invited Shayla back into the conference room and assured her of their interest in pursuing her grandmotherâs proposition. They requested another survey of the mines, which she readily agreed to. They asked for time to examine the diamonds. Since sheâd already suggested as much, she didnât argue that, either. Finally, they asked for a copy of the proposed lease along with any conditions pertaining to it and Shayla promised that her grandmotherâs lawyer would fax it to them within the week.
To Dracoâs amusement he watched Shayla charm the men, his grandfather and cousins falling, one by one, beneath the enchantment of her smile and her sunny personality. It wasnât a deliberate maneuver on her part. Heâd have caught it if sheâd been playing them. He suspected Primo would have, as well. In fact, his grandfather watched Shayla with an eagle eye, careful to reassure himself that this particular apple had fallen well away from the poisoned tree of her grandmother.
The instant the meeting wrapped, Draco whisked Shayla off to his office. âWhy donât you come upstairs and have lunch with me,â he suggested the moment they were safely closeted inside.
âNot a chance,â she said with a small grin. âI have a feeling âcome upstairs and have lunchâ is your code for âcome upstairs and take your clothes off.ââ
âWell⦠We could do that, too. I wouldnât mind eatinglunch naked, so long as itâs with you.â He approached, snagging the lapels of her lemony suit jacket and reeling her in. âOf course, we can also get naked right here in my office. Youâll find my couch is extremely comfortable.â
She shook her head, unable to suppress a laugh. âAs tempting as your offer is, Iâll pass.â Her amusement faded, replaced by a bittersweet longing. âIâm really sorry, Draco, but I have to go.â
âTime to report in to your grandmother?â He tried to keep the edge from his voice with only limited success.
She must have picked up on it, because she met his look dead-on, a hint of defiance glittering in the darkness. âAmong other things, yes.â
He let it go, determined to tip them over that line from business straight into pleasure, and keep them there. âWhy donât we have dinner together?â he suggested. âSomewhere ridiculously expensive and romantic. Weâll celebrate a new alliance between the Charlestons and the
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