HACKING THE BILLIONAIRE (6 page)

Riley stretched and shifted in her chair, but parts of her body were nicely sore from the weekend. She was working from Dirk’s apartment. She hadn’t been home except to pick up clothes. He’d convinced her that he was taking a half day and that they would get started on the fun if she was here.

Truth be told, he didn’t have to work that hard. She liked his place, and she could do her work here at a giant desk in his office.

In the chair she felt like a little girl in an adult’s chair, so she had her legs underneath her. She wore sweats and sneakers. She’d change later if they were going out.

What puzzled her was that her program sent her a notification. Zeke had sent an e-mail to an anonymizer. It could be something as simple as he was having an affair, or he was selling corporate secrets. Either way she didn’t want to tell Dirk until she knew something more.

So she did what she didn’t want to do and tracked down the e-mail. She hadn’t told Dirk she was going to read people’s e-mails, but to her this was part of the job. She doubted any secrets were sent via e-mail, but meetings might have been set up and she’d have records of them.

When she finally got to the e-mail she was disappointed. It was merely a test e-mail. As if he wasn’t sure he had the correct e-mail. Or maybe he had never used the anonymizer before and wanted to test it.

Either way, she had nothing definitive to bring to Dirk, but she was going to keep an eye on Zeke. Not that she wanted to spend any more time with him than she had to. He skeeved her out completely. She wanted to shower whenever his name was mentioned.

That bad.

Too bad he was Dirk’s best friend. She might have to spend time with him. Just not alone.

The front door opened and then closed. Dirk poked his head into the office a few minutes later. He frowned at her.

“What?” she said as she closed up her laptop.

“Sweats?”

“No one is seeing me,” she said.

“I am.”

“Then sometimes you are going to have to live with it,” she said.

One eyebrow went up. She’d put money down that none of his girlfriends had ever spoken to him that way. She wasn’t his girlfriend. She was a temporary lover. When this was all over she’d bring her wardrobe and her memories back to her tiny apartment.

She’d still wear sweats at home. She refused to let him change her that much.

“Okay. Lunch?”

“Out or in?” she said.

“Not out, the way you’re dressed.”

She cocked her head. “I can get changed.”

“I would advise that.”

He took off his tie then left her in the office. He would advise that? Maybe she didn’t want to go out? Maybe she wanted to go back to her place and wear sweats all day. She stomped into his bedroom.

“You are an arrogant son of a bitch.”

He stopped unbuttoning his shirt. “Where did that come from?”

“You can advise me what to wear when I am on your arm, but you don’t get to tell me what to wear when I am working from home.”

“But it’s my home.”

She spun around. “Then I’ll got back to my home.”

She ran to the office, gathered her things, then dropped them by the front door. She grabbed her suitcase from the bedroom, where Dirk still stood, not having gotten any closer to changing out of his work clothes.

“What are you doing?”

“Going where I can wear what I want,” she said.

What an ass. No one told her what to do. She wasn’t married to him. She wasn’t even dating him. Who did he think he was?

“You’re going to fight with me over clothing?”

The clothes weren’t really the issue, but she was too pissed to explain it. She didn’t like to be controlled. “Yes.”

She stalked out, not sure how exactly she was getting home, but she’d figure that out. How dare he look down his nose at her over her clothing. She had a bigger brain than all of his girlfriends combined. What did it matter what she wore in privacy?

With her things in hand, she waited for the elevator. Dirk opened his front door and stood in the doorway looking at her. He was in the same state of undress he’d been when she’d last entered the bedroom.

His tie was off. His shirt partially unbuttoned. His face held a quizzical expression. “Did you have a bad day?”

She had. Finding the e-mail from Zeke hadn’t been the best. She couldn’t tell him that because she had noting substantial to go on. And she didn’t like Zeke anyway, so part of her wanted him to be guilty. Of something.

“Why? Because I have an opinion?”

What was taking the elevator so long?

“Because you didn’t have to snap at me. You could have gotten your point across without being angry, but you chose that route. That makes me think this is about something else.”

She wanted to throw something at him. How could he be so civilized? So genteel. So fucking right. The whole Zeke thing was bothering her. She let out a breath.

“I may have found something, but I can’t talk about it yet.”

“You know who is sabotaging my company?”

Maybe? Possibly? She hoped that Zeke was not her suspect. Dirk wouldn’t like that at all. Would he even believe her? “No, not yet. I’ve made some progress.”

He stood straighter now, his head cocked to one side. “You don’t want to tell me because of who it is?”

“Yes.”

He leaned on the doorframe. She wasn’t fooled by his lax posture. He was curious. “It bothers you that much?”

“Yes.” He smiled. She wanted to throw something at him again. “Why are you smiling?”

“You don’t want me to be hurt.”

Yes. Why? She had no idea. He was just a client. This was business. She cared too much.

There it was. That was the crux of it. She didn’t want him to be disappointed in his friend. She didn’t want to give him that bad news if it came to fruition. She nodded because the words escaped her at the moment.

***

Dirk stared at her. She looked cute in those sweats. They still hugged her body as if they fit her. The forlorn look on her face was sweet also. How could he resist her?

He held out his hand. “Come back in. You don’t have to tell me until you know for sure.”

She trudged back to him, stopping just shy of the door. “I’m sorry that I snapped, but I’m wearing sweats if I want to.”

“Just not in public.”

“Fair enough.”

She looked up at him with sad green eyes, and he wished he could take away that emotion. He never wanted her to be sad. He never wanted her to feel any negative emotions.

He pulled her into his apartment, closing the door behind them. “I need a shower. You want to join me? I’d like to go out for lunch, so you’ll have to change anyway. That means you’ll at least be partially naked.”

“You make an interesting argument.”

He nudged her against the door. “I’m trying.” He captured her lips in a kiss that he hoped would convey the passion he felt for her. She responded in kind. When they finally surfaced, he said, “Is that a yes?”

“Yes.”

“Come on then.”

He unbuttoned his shirt as they walked down the hallway.

“How was your day?” she said as she bounced along beside him.

Bounced? All of his dates were too demure to bounce. They strode or slid or glided. Riley was not self-conscious in the least. A refreshing change.

“Mine was okay. I already know about yours.”

“Yes, we covered that.”

“Do you know when you’ll be able to tell me?”

“When I know something for sure. I don’t want to accuse anyone without enough evidence,” she said.

He turned on the hot water when they entered the bathroom. Both had shed their clothes, and Dirk admired her pale, naked body. Every time he saw her he thought her more beautiful than the last time.

“What?” she said.

He shrugged. He just wanted to hold this moment in his memory so he could take it out when she was gone. As she would be when the job was over. He wouldn’t keep her here. She needed to go find her soul mate. Her partner. Whoever it was that was going to give her babies and security and love.

Things he was incapable of giving her.

“You look sad,” she said.

She put a hand on his face.

“No, I’m fine.” He grabbed her hand then pulled her under the warm spray. “Let me wash your hair. Turn around.”

She did as he asked. He lathered up then rubbed his fingers into her scalp. The moaning noises she made had him harder than concrete.

“That’s amazing.”

He nipped her shoulder then nudged her under the spray. “Time to rinse.”

“Mm.”

“Put your hands on the wall.”

She glanced over her shoulder, a question in her eyes. “What?”

“Trust me,” he whispered.

She nodded, then put her hands on the wall.

His gaze roved over her perfect ass. Then his hands followed where his eyes had been. He slipped them around her front and down to her soft, warm center. He circled around it, then pressed it. His fingers separated her lips,then he rubbed her gentl
y
–
at first.

Riley moaned.

“You going to tell me what you found?” he said.

“No.”

He chuckled. He nipped at the back of her neck as he increased his pressure on her clit. “Now?”

“No matter how many orgasms you rip from my body, I won’t tell.”

“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he said.

He kept on with his pressure until her body froze and she let out a keening noise as her orgasm rocked her. That made him smile every time.

Her chest heaved, and she didn’t turn around right away. Then she let a devilish grin spread over her face. “Your turn.”

She slid her hands down his body then knelt in front of him. He moved so his body blocked the shower of water as she took him in her mouth. It was warm and wet and holy smokes, what was her tongue doing?

His eyes fell closed and he put a hand on the wall to brace himself. She was magnificent at this. Her lips closed over him and sucked and licked and oh God. His eyes rolled into the back of his head.

If she didn’t stop, he was going t
o
–
aaaah
. The climax ripped through him, and he was barely able to stand as he felt her hand on his balls. Holy shit.

When he could finally see again, Riley was looking up at him like the cat that had swallowed the canary. When she’d actually swallowed him.

“That was amazing, Riley. I’m afraid to ask where you learned that.”

She popped up to her feet. “Don’t ask.”

He laughed, and she grabbed the soap and lathered herself up. It would take him a few minutes to recover, but the rest of him enjoyed the show. “Where have you been all of my life?”

She nudged him out of the way and rinsed. “In front of a computer.”

She exited the shower, leaving him under the spray. Just like she would be leaving him at the end of this job. He swallowed as she stared at him through the glass door, while drying off. He slid the door open and leaned on it. “I have a thing this weekend.”

“That family thing you need a date for?”

“Right.” How could he have forgotten they’d already spoken about this? She was really getting under his skin. “With my brother and sister.”

“The ones who created that firewall.”

“Yes.”

He wanted his mother to meet Riley. That might be a mistake, but he’d do it anyway.

“Meeting them this weekend does make the most sense. Since I can’t meet them in a business sense. You’ll tell me how to dress?”

He hadn’t thought about it, but he would. “I can do that.”

“Good.”

She bounced away from him, probably to get dressed. He couldn’t help but smile at her.

Riley dressed in what Dirk had suggested for his event at his parents’ house. She’d be happy to dress how she wanted when the job was over. Even if she were to somehow manage to keep Dirk in her life, she would go back to dressing how she wanted day to day.

There would be ground rules. Not that it mattered. Dirk would go back to his models and starlets. He’d get bored of her. He didn’t want to be challenged by his partner.

And she would do that. She did do that. She sighed as she looked in the mirror. He’d told her to wear slacks and a short-sleeved blouse. This outfit was comfortable, and she knew she could spend the day in it.

She wore flats on her feet as she walked to answer the doorbell. She opened the door to see Dirk dressed in slacks, loafers, and a button-down shirt. Just from how it fit him, she knew it had been made for him.

Just once, she wanted to see him in jeans. She bet the right ones would make his awesome butt look even better.

“Hey.” He kissed her on the lips. “You look great. Nervous?”

“Yes. You’d think I was meeting your family as your real girlfriend. I have butterflies in my stomach.”

“They aren’t ogres.”

“I imagine not, since they spawned you. And you aren’t an ogre.”

He kissed her nose when they entered the elevator. “I hope not.”

She smiled up at him, but she had to remember that this was just a job. That this emotion and affection was all for pretend. They were lovers without strings.

If she told herself enough times, she’d convince herself that she liked it that way.

“How are we getting there?” she asked as Dirk drove out of her parking deck.

“Helicopter.”

Riley blinked. “Oh.”

“Are you afraid to fly?”

“Uh, sort of.”

“You’ve never been in a helicopter?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“I promise that you’ll be fine.”

Riley ended up enjoying the ride to Martha’s Vineyard in Dirk’s helicopter. He was a patient pilot who answered all of her questions. She was sorry the ride was so short, but they’d have to fly back, too.

They didn’t land at an airport. No, his parents’ house had a helipad. More than one. That made Riley’s mouth go dry. They were that rich.

Dirk helped her out of the chopper. She landed on her feet then got a glimpse of the house. Holy shit.

She’d wander for days in it and never be found.

Dirk squeezed her hand. “It’ll be okay. We don’t have to stay long.”

“It’s your family. Don’t you like being with them?”

He shrugged, gazing at the house. “My siblings are okay on a good day. Not sure what this will be for them.”

“They are full siblings?”

“No, both are half. My mother died when I was young. I don’t remember her. My stepmother raised me.”

His eyes held some sadness. Even if he didn’t remember her, he must feel the loss. She did even now, ten years after her parents’ death. She squeezed his hand back. He shook himself. His smile came back on his face, and he looked at her.

“Let’s not be dour when we get there,” he said.

“I agree.” They took a few steps. “How did your father make his money?”

“My father inherited a company from his dad and turned it around. Electronics.”

“Makes sense, what your sister and brother do.”

“Yes. I’m the odd one out. No tech genes in me at all. I’m lucky I can turn my computer on.”

They reached the house, a grand structure made of stone. “That is one beautiful house.”

Dirk looked at it as if he were seeing it for the first time. “I guess it is. I take it for granted. My dad bought it when I was a kid, so to me it’s normal.”

She laughed. “You have a very different normal than mine.”

Dirk laughed also. “Yes, I guess I do.”

“What if you had wanted to be a dog catcher or some other job that didn’t pay well?”

Dirk stopped to look at her. “I guess I wanted to stay rich.”

“That was honest.”

He wanted to stay rich. She could understand that. Made part of life easy if you didn’t have to think about money all of the time.

Eliza Trent was not as young as Riley had expected her to be. She was in her forties, and as attractive as she was, she was no trophy wife. She held Riley’s hands.

“Welcome. Trent doesn’t often bring women around,” she said.

Riley didn’t read into that, since this was business, but she didn’t know what to say so she just smiled. The woman kissed her cheek. A man came up behind her that looked the way Riley imagined Dirk would in thirty years.

He introduced himself as Carl Trent. This was Dirk’s father. The two men hugged, and that warmed Riley’s heart. The affection was clear between father and son. A new facet to Dirk that she never would have expected.

Too many families were estranged or just didn’t get along. Maybe Dirk didn’t have a great relationship with his siblings, but he clearly loved his father and stepmother. He hugged her next.

She fawned over him as if she’d birthed him, and in that moment Riley liked Eliza.

Having grown up an only child, she’d thought often that she’d avoided those entanglements, but seeing Dirk with his parents, she wondered if she was missing something.

“Are Luzy and Chad here?” Dirk asked.

“Yes. Chad arrived earlier this morning, and Luzy lives here again,” Eliza said.

There was no rancor in her voice. Dirk stiffened. Sore subject.

“I’d love to meet Dirk’s siblings,” Riley said, trying to defuse the situation.

Dirk smiled at her, as if realizing what she was doing. “Let’s go find them.”

***

Dirk was happy about how easily Riley had assimilated herself into his family. She wasn’t being anything but herself, and they loved her. Luzy might be on the fence, but she was treating Riley better than she’d ever treated any woman that Dirk had dated in the past.

The two were currently chatting together. Made Dirk smile.

They were all in the backyard for a barbecue. More guests were expected, but Carl always liked to have some time with his family first. Dirk always obliged.

“She’s a lovely girl,” Carl said.

He was hoping for grandchildren, but he’d have to get them from Dirk’s siblings. Luzy was married, but clearly having trouble if she was back at the homestead. Chad was single again, but that wouldn’t be for long.

He suspected that Chad wanted to get married at some point. Dirk never would. He knew that, and he’d made it clear to his parents.

“She is,” Dirk said.

He almost talked about how smart she was, but then his father would think this relationship was more than what it really was. No need to get their hopes up.

“I’m glad you brought her here,” Carl said.

He stood in front of the barbecue, his usual spot. He was the king of the grill and had never taught Dirk what to do. Dirk was happy to let someone else cook. His mother was a whiz in the kitchen and had taught him to cook.

He just didn’t mind giving up the reins in the kitchen.

“Don’t read too much into it, Dad. She’s just a woman.”

Carl laughed. “I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

Dirk shook his head. “She’s my girlfriend. Nothing more.”

What was his father seeing? He was staring at Riley, moon-eyed. He was just admiring how gorgeous she was and thinking about what he was going to do to her body tonight. New position? New room? They hadn’t done it in the dining room yet, looking out on Manhattan. That had been his fantasy the first night she was in his penthouse.

How had he forgotten about that?

His father clapped him on the shoulder, his laugh bellowing out of him. “You keep thinking that.”

Having no desire to argue with his father, he let the man go on.

“I thought that about Eliza. And she had no designs on me either, but look at us now.”

Dirk had to admit that they’d been an unlikely pair. What he couldn’t tell his father was that Riley was just business. It didn’t sound true when he said it in his head, but he knew that was how it would be.

She was here for now. A job. When her job was done, they’d part. They’d agreed to that. He never went back on his word.

“I know the story, Dad,” Dirk said.

“I know, but you choose to ignore the similarities between my story and yours,” Carl said.

He flipped some burgers and the few steaks he had on the grill. It had been built into stone at one side of the house’s massive deck and patio. Dirk always loved it, but right now he wanted to be away from his father.

The man wasn’t going to let this go.

“I’m going to see if Mom needs help,” Dirk said.

His father’s laughter followed him into the house. His stepmother was fussing over some salads, putting the final touches on them.

“Hey there, Dirk. I was just chatting with Riley. What a lovely girl,” Eliza said.

Her, too? “I just escaped from Dad. I hate to disappoint you, but Riley is just my date. Nothing more. Please don’t think anything else.”

Eliza nodded, but he knew she wasn’t going to give this up. “Okay. Whatever you say. Can you start bringing these salads out?”

“Sure, Mom.”

He carried some out to the long table on the deck. Chad was standing with a beer in his hand. Dirk wasn’t drinking today, since he was flying. Sometimes Chad drank enough for both of them.

“Hey, big brother.”

“Hello, Chad. How’s business?”

The smile fell off of his brother’s face. “You always ask that first. Why don’t you just ask me how I am? Why is it always about business?”

Dirk shrugged. He’d play along. “So how are you, Chad?”

“Okay, but I think I’ve spotted my next conquest.”

Chad pointed to Riley. Dirk’s back stiffened. “She came with me.”

Chad put up his hands. “Okay. I get it. Hands off. Hopefully Mom invited some other single women for me to hit on.”

Dirk shook his head in disbelief. Chad saw any gathering as a meat market. Shameless. “Yes, that’s her mission in life, to get you married off.”

“Well, it isn’t like you’re going to get married. You’re a big commitment-phobe.”

Chad wasn’t wrong. Dirk freely admitted that he didn’t want to be tied down. He’d made no secret of it. Chad was one of those men that needed a woman. His girlfriends usually brought out the best in him. Dirk didn’t need anyone in his life to do that. He was the oldest, and therefore he was always responsible.

“Someone needs to give our parents grandchildren.”

Chad rubbed his chin, then took a sip of his beer. “Guess that falls to me, since Luzy can’t seem to keep her marriage together.”

“Not completely her fault. Her husband’s a dick,” Dirk said.

He’d never liked the men that Luzy chose. Too many of them were like him, but without the scruples to be honest about it. She had such a role model in their father. Why did she choose so badly?

“I think Mom need some help. You’re always the good kid. Go help her,” Chad said.

Dirk didn’t like his tone, but he would go help her.

Before he could return to the kitchen, their mother poked her head out. “Boys? I have more to come out.”

Dirk laughed at Chad rolling his eyes, but they both went to help their mother.