“What’s that face for?” she asks.
“A silly thought. I thought for a moment that you were someone else.”
“Anyone good? Or is this an insulting thing again?”
“An old friend’s daughter.” I laugh as I say it. I’d only seen her a few times. Why did I even think of her?
“And what if I was?”
“Then I’d be…in trouble.” That’s the lightest possible way to put it. If Jeff had the slightest idea of what I was thinking, he’d break my face. He already has enough reason to do it, considering his wife left him after I revealed the affair, but if I was constantly hard for his daughter, now that’s something entirely different… But she’s not his daughter. She can’t be. “But you can’t be her.”
She sighs and shifts to face me. “I took my mother’s maiden name when I turned eighteen.”
I stop the car harder than necessary at the stop sign. She squeals and stares at me behind her hair, panting. “What the fuck!”
“What’s your father’s last name,” I demand, ignoring the honking of the car behind me.
She swallows as she watches me, eyes wide, suddenly innocent and so blue that I almost want to take her in my arms and apologize for my anger. Then she licks her bottom lip and shakes her head. “It’s not your business.”
“Tell me. Now.” I fight the urge to grab her, to hold her down until she gives me what I want.
She doesn’t meet my eyes this time, only shakes her head. “You already know it.”
Chapter 5
Claire
Iknew he’d figure it out, but now I feel like a mess. I move in the seat and fix my hair, adjust my dress, and focus on the road. I feel his eyes on me, even as he drives. I can feel him breathing down my cleavage, not paying attention to the road. I should be used to that after a week of working with him and what happened yesterday. I know how he looks at me when he thinks I’m not paying attention.
“Say it,” he commands.
I don’t meet his eyes. “Donovan. I’m Claire Donovan. Is that what you want to hear?”
“Fucking… What the fuck, Claire!”
“You never would have hired me if you knew,” I remind him as he starts to drive again. “And I’m not him, so I don’t need to be known for his business. His business is his; it has zero to do with me.”
“You’rehisdaughter and you say it like it doesn’t matter. You’re just a—” He grumbles something, and when he hits the brake, he sticks his arm out in front of me, like a parent protecting their child in case of a collision. I shove his arm away, ignoring the hard muscles under his jacket. “I’m not a kid.”
“I’m well aware of that.” He raises a brow. His eyes narrow on my cleavage. His tongue darts over his bottom lip, then his eyes follow the curves of my body down to my knees. James shakes his head.
“I’m sure you are.” I look him over as salaciously as he’s looked at me.
“Don’t start with me.”
“Or what?” I challenge. “Going to spank me in front of all these rich people? Do it!”
He unbuckles his seatbelt and leans toward me. “Don’t tempt me.”
I like teasing him and tempting him. I like ruffling his feathers, knowing he won’t do anything. His breathing is ragged and intense. I offer him my hand.
“Give me the fucking ring,sir, so we can get this over with.”
He shows a gorgeous diamond ring, with one delicate diamond in the center of the silver band. It fits my finger perfectly. I shrug, not willing to admit that I like it.
“It’ll do, I guess.”
He helps me from the car and leans into me as he pushes the door closed behind me. “I don’t think you’re ready to act engaged.” He nearly growls, grazing my ear with his warm lips.