Rescuing Diana (9 page)

Pounding her fists on the mattress, she forced herself to ignore the stinging tears behind her eyes. She’d never in her life shed tears over a man, and she wouldn’t start now. Bitter as it was to swallow, she knew she had nobody to blame but herself. Even though she had seen the warning signs in the beginning, even though she’d had her suspicions all along, Adam had still managed to play her for a fool. She’d allowed her body to do the thinking instead of her brain.

He’d made one little mistake, though, she thought. He hadn’t insured that she was totally wrapped around his finger before they’d made the offer. Thank goodness she’d only gotten to lesson twenty-seven! Otherwise her humiliation would have been unbearable.

Straightening, she muttered with satisfaction, “Now let them stew.”

The brothers would probably go crazy, wondering if they’d succeeded with her or not. She liked that. She suspected, too, that Adam wouldn’t just disappear now. After all, the game wasn’t quite played out. Most likely he would be even more visible, and more persuasive, until her signature was on the contract. But he’d controlled the game too long.

Now it was her turn. And she was a games master.

“Welcome to the real world, Rapunzel,” she told herself as she scrambled out of bed.

She decided the first step was a bit of pride-rescuing. It was about time she started rescuing herself anyway. Meanwhile, she’d better start hanging around the docks. Her vocabulary really did need a brush-up.

Driving her Datsun Z-80 through the busy streets of Oakland, Diana smiled her first genuine smile of the day.

She had the beginnings of a plan.

As she parked her car in the four-storied parking garage downtown, she decided her plan was a simple one too. And as she walked into the suite of offices containing Adam’s architectural firm, she congratulated herself for implementing the first step of the plan with barely a nervous flutter of her pulse.

But when Adam’s receptionist told her he wouldn’t be in until later in the afternoon, Diana felt her shoulders sag in surprising relief.

Maybe she wasn’t quite as ready to implement the plan as she’d first thought.

Then she straightened her shoulders. She’d completely forgotten that Adam had said he had to check on a site in Richmond today, but she couldn’t quit now just because she’d made a little
mistake. Clearing her throat, she smiled at the well-dressed young woman seated on the other side of the desk and asked, “Would it be possible to leave a message for Mr. Roberts?”

“Sure,” the receptionist replied, picking up a pen. Diana gazed at the cinnamon-red polish on the woman’s very long nails as she attempted to form a personal yet neutral message.

Finally she said, “Just tell him Diana Windsor stopped by, and she’ll be having a drink at the—the Oakland Towers Hotel around … six this evening, if he’d like to join her.”

The receptionist smiled as she wrote down the message. “He ought to be back at about half-past three. In the meantime, is there somewhere he can reach you, should he call in?”

“No. I’ll be … shopping.”

The receptionist nodded. Diana said good-bye and walked away. She tried not to walk too fast. Running was ridiculous, she thought, as she forced her feet to keep a sedate pace. Besides, one part of her plan called for some more sophistication, and it surely wasn’t sophisticated to run like a scared kid.

Somehow she managed to maintain her composure until she reached the sidewalk. Instantly she sprinted away from the tall office building, mumbling apologies when she bumped into several pedestrians. She was three long city blocks from Adam’s office before she slowed to a stop.

This was getting her nowhere fast, she thought, and firmly reminded herself that she shouldn’t be afraid or embarrassed to face Adam again. The shame was
his
for what he had done. She had every right to string him, and his brother, along,
every right to act sweet and almost love-sick until Adam was bragging to his brother that she was signed, sealed, and delivered. And then she had every right to turn around and sell her game wherever she darn well pleased.

Never get angry, she told herself with smug satisfaction, just get even.

Glancing at her watch, she moaned when she realized it would be nearly five hours before her drink with Adam—if he showed up. She dismissed the doubt. He’d show up. Under the circumstances, he probably wouldn’t be able to stay away.

She grinned. If he thought she would mention the offer from Starlight Software to him, he’d better think again.

Still, it would be long hours before they were to meet, and she wondered if she should go back home. She didn’t want to fight the traffic, but she had no idea how to fill the time. Then she chuckled to herself. She’d told the receptionist she’d be shopping.

So she’d go shopping.

A little before six that evening Diana walked into the Oakland Towers’ lobby. Immediately she spotted Adam already waiting by the elevators. In his gray pinstripe suit, he looked like a no-nonsense but very virile business executive. She remembered his sensual tutoring of the night before in a rush of sensations. And she remembered his betrayal of the morning. Her steps faltered and she fought the urge to turn around and run. Drawing a deep breath, she steeled herself to face
him, when he caught sight of her and waved. He hurried over.

“Hello, Adam,” she said as he drew near her. She gave silent thanks that she actually sounded normal. Her stomach was churning, her chest was heaving, and her body was unnaturally stiff. She couldn’t believe her physical reaction to him was stronger than ever, especially after the morning’s revelation.

“Hi,” he said softly. “I’m sorry I missed you earlier at the office. I really would like to have shown you around.”

She forced herself to smile. “I would have enjoyed that.”

His voice grew deep. “I wanted to call you this morning—”

“I’m almost glad you didn’t,” she broke in, her own voice low. She edged away from him as unobtrusively as possible. “I wanted to surprise you by taking you to lunch. Unfortunately, I forgot you had to go to Richmond on business.”

She sighed silently, grateful there had been no betraying awkwardness on her part. Somehow, she hadn’t panicked, and had even managed to sound almost flirty. The worst had to be over now. She hoped.

Adam gazed at Diana’s lush mouth. He wanted to kiss her, to carry her away and finish the lesson of the night before. He wanted to ignore his honor, but couldn’t. Diana needed time. If only her mouth didn’t look so soft and moist. Suddenly he noticed she was wearing lipstick … and eye shadow. And a sweater that outlined her magnificent breasts. Diana had always seemed like an
Eve to him—natural, innocent, and earthy. So why …?

He hid a grin, realizing she had dressed up, put on makeup, for him. There was no need. She was fine to begin with. Still, he had to admit he liked the enhancements.…

As he continued to stare at her mouth, Diana nearly did panic. Was her pale pink lipstick crooked? Too heavy? Downright clownish? She prayed it wasn’t. The lipstick had looked okay in the bright lights of the department store’s ladies’ room. So had the mascara and light blue eye shadow she’d applied. In fact, they had looked barely there. Maybe the makeup clashed with the pretty silver-and-blue designer sweater she’d purchased. She’d only wanted to look a little more sophisticated, not ridiculous.

“I like that sweater,” Adam said, slipping his arm around her waist. “Shall we go have a drink now?”

She nodded, relaxing at the obvious sincerity in his voice. Evidently her little impromptu changes were having the desired effect. She decided her plan was moving along quite nicely, despite her initial setback. All she had to do was keep a layer of detachment between herself and Adam. Easier said than done, she admitted as his arm seemed to burn her waist.

As they walked to the elevators she congratulated herself on her choice of meeting place. The restaurant and bar were on the top floor of the hotel, overlooking Lake Merritt. If nothing else, they could talk about the terrific view.

The elevator doors opened and they stepped inside.
As she turned around to face forward, Diana almost gasped out loud as the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen rushed into the elevator just as the doors were closing. Light perfume filled the enclosed space. Diana completely forgot about Adam.

“Morgan’s going to kill me,” the woman muttered as she pushed the already lighted button for the restaurant.

Diana stared at the redhead’s pale yellow cocktail dress. Obviously expensive, the long-sleeved dress clung to the woman’s body as if it had been designed for it. Probably it had. It was barely held together by gold clasps at the shoulders, and the neckline draped impossibly low, exposing much of the woman’s cleavage. As Diana’s gaze drifted upward to the expertly made-up face, she noted that in spite of her comment, the woman looked gorgeous, confident, and … sophisticated.

“That’s a beautiful dress,” Diana said to the woman. Normally she didn’t speak to people in elevators, but she just had to tell the woman how much she liked the dress.

The woman turned and smiled, pleasure evident in her brown eyes. “Thank you. I hope my husband has the same reaction. Maybe then he won’t strangle me for being so late. The traffic over the Bay Bridge was terrible! That’s a pretty sweater you’re wearing. I love those silver snow-flake appliqués.”

Diana thanked her, and decided that whoever the woman was, she was very nice. Then she became aware of Adam again and realized he hadn’t spoken a word since they’d entered the elevator. She glanced up to find him staring almost open-mouthed
at the woman. She shifted her gaze back to the woman. She could understand Adam’s staring. After all, her own reaction had been the same. But was he attracted to her?

She stiffened at the thought. The doors opened just then, and Adam suddenly came to life, whisking them both through the doors. Finally, he acknowledged the woman with a rather curt nod of his head.

The woman smiled politely at him, then said to Diana, “It was nice of you to defy the elevator code of silence and speak to me. Those were probably the last kind words I’ll hear for the rest of the evening. Speaking of evenings, have a nice one yourselves. The hotel’s restaurant is supposed to be very good.” The woman’s smile turned into a mischievous grin. “Well, I’m off to make a grand entrance. My husband never has learned to cope with one of those.”

The woman hurried away in the direction of a private reception room, and as she watched her go, Diana couldn’t imagine the woman’s husband even having the ability to speak after seeing that dress. Adam certainly hadn’t. It was even more depressing to admit that
she
hadn’t left him silently gawking as the redhead had.

She forced a smile to her lips. She wasn’t about to let him know that his reaction to the woman had upset her in the least. “She was very beautiful, wasn’t she?”

Adam grinned. “Yes, she was. But I know good fortune when I find it, princess.”

More than good fortune, he thought as he smoothed his hand down the length of her spine.
Diana, with her huge violet eyes and sexy naïveté, was much more beautiful than the redhead. He’d never had a woman obviously make herself look prettier because she thought it would please him. Diana had also given over a measure of trust to him last night, and he had never felt so honored in his life. Now he had to protect that vulnerable trust, nurture it. And he would. Women like Diana came along only once in a man’s lifetime—if they ever did. And if a man was very lucky, he’d recognize her. He
was
a very lucky man.

On that thought, he ushered her into the Tropical Room. The decor was overdone with bamboo and palm fronds. Even the waitresses’ sarong uniforms looked hokey to Adam. But the place had a certain thirties-era charm.

They were seated in tall fanback chairs by one of the panoramic windows and ordered drinks. Adam watched in amusement as Diana kept fiddling with the zipper on her purse. After a minute she asked, “How was Richmond?”

“Very good. We’re doing the renovations for several commercial properties, and the construction is just about ready to start. Between the massive redevelopment projects here in Oakland and there, my partner, John Polaski, and I figure we won’t be out of work for the next hundred years or so.”

“That’s wonderful!” she exclaimed. “When did you start your business?”

“About three years ago.” He grinned lopsidedly. “Like you, I prefer working for myself, even though I work harder. But it’s worth it.”

She nodded. Suddenly she leaned forward, staring directly into his eyes. “You know, I never asked you … but are you married?”

He burst into laughter.

Diana felt a hot blush cover her cheeks. Really, she thought. He didn’t have to laugh quite that loud. Maybe the question wasn’t exactly subtle, but it had suddenly occurred to her that she ought to know. Now she wished she’d never asked.

“I just thought I’d check, that’s all,” she said in a rush, trying to cover her embarrassment. “I nean … you never said … I never knew …” She collapsed back in the chair and began to laugh. “It was a heck of a question, wasn’t it?”