One night stand with my daddy's best friend
87

Dane

Something was seriously wrong with me. I'd always thought I was a man of honor, but after what happened in the limousine, and of course before in the copy room, it turned out I was just as bad as all the other men. Had I seriously pulled Bridget from the charity event, fucked her in the limo, and then let her leave the car by herself? Yes, I did.

Well, I didn't leave. I'd nearly gone back and forced her back in the limo, but I felt it would do more harm than good. I'd already acted like the biggest fucking asshole. I couldn't blame her for wanting to get away from me. I had to respect that. But I wasn't going to leave her alone on the street in the middle of the night. I had the driver pull ahead and wait until I saw a car arrive to pick her up.

Once the car had arrived to pick her up, I had the driver take me back to the charity event. I wanted to go home, but I'd come with Anne, and it was wrong to leave her there to replace her way home. Funny how I was worried about Anne's feelings but didn't consider them with Bridget until it was too late.

Jesus. I'd fucked her in the limo. I still couldn't wrap my head around that. And while I knew I needed to hate myself for it, and I did, I couldn't stop thinking about how incredible it had been. She'd been so responsive. So in tune with me. Or maybe it felt like that because it had been so long since I'd been with a woman. Maybe now that I'd had her, the insatiable need to be around her would disappear.

"Who was that woman?" Anne asked as we drove home from the charity

event. Lucky for me, once I returned, she was ready to leave. "She works for me."

"And you felt the need to deal with a business issue right then?" Anne's tone had tried to be nonchalant, but I heard the intrigue, maybe even jealousy in her tone.

I shrugged. "I had concerns about her relationship with the man who brought her. He works for me. We have rules about that."

She was quiet for a moment. When I chanced a look, her eyes were narrow as they scrutinized me. "Funny, I didn't see you deal with that with the man. I never pegged you as being sexist."

Fuck. Bridget had called me out on that too. And they were right. Along with being an asshole, I was a misogynist.

"I'll deal with him later."

"Hmm." She turned her head to look out the window, clearly not believing me.

"I do apologize for taking off like that. It was rude."

"Yes, it was." She moved closer to me. For a moment, I thought I'd been able to dissuade her interest in me, but when she looped her arm through mine again, I realized I'd failed.

"I know we haven't seen each other in a long time, and I bet it's hard to leave the military and re-enter the civilian world. I suspect it's even harder when you're thrown into running your father's company." She didn't know the half of it.

"I understand what it's like to live in a world in which you always must prove yourself. I can be a great support to you, Dane."

"I appreciate that, Anne. I really do, but...I'm not in the right headspace for anything except running the company until my father gets better." God, I hoped she didn't force me to tell her that I wasn't interested in her.

Anne could be cool and calculating, but that was probably from having to navigate her world. It was no secret that her father favored her brother. In fact, the rumor was he didn't love Anne. She didn't deserve to have me tell her I wasn't attracted to her.

"Your mother is hoping you'll replace headspace."

I sighed. "I've agreed to help my father, but I left home wanting to live my own life. I'm forty now, I'm not going to turn my back over to them."

"You don't worry about them disinheriting you?"

"No." Sometimes I wished they would. It would relieve me of the

obligation I felt to help them while my father was ill. "What would you do without your family?"

"I made it this far. I'm sure I could replace something." The job offer from Archer popped into my mind. I had options.

She sighed and rested her head on my shoulder. "Must be nice." "I'm sure you have options too, Anne."

She looked down at her wrist and toyed with a unique, elegant watch that encircled it. "Not really."

"Surely you want more than simply to be a rich man's wife."

She flinched and pulled away. "I don't remember you being such a jerk."

I scraped my hand over my face. "I'm sorry. I'm just annoyed at how much power our parents wield. Our lives should be our own."

She scoffed. "You should be grateful that you have parents who care about you and your future, Dane."

The limo pulled up to my home. "Maybe I should be, but I don't plan to sacrifice my life to make them happy." I got out of the limo. Then, not wanting to finish the night as a jerk, I poked my head back in the door. "I'm sorry if I ruined your evening, Anne. You're a lovely woman and I didn't mean to hurt you."

The irritation in her expression softened. "Thank you. Maybe we can try again sometime."

Fuck. I wanted to apologize, not have a second chance. "Maybe." I shut the door and watched as the limo drove off.

I had a sleepless night. Either I was having a wet dream about Bridget sucking my dick in the limo, or a nightmare about me and the company being sued by Bridget. I wondered if Anne would think I was such a catch if that happened. The worst was when I woke up with a start when I realized I didn't use a condom. Jesus, fuck. What was wrong with me?

Now what did I do? Did I apologize and tell her I'd take care of her? Something told me that wouldn't go over well. Bridget was a strong, independent woman. She didn't need a man to take care of her.

Then again, maybe that was what she was after. Maybe like Anne, she wanted a rich husband but was going at it in a different way. She'd been at the charity with Ethan. Maybe she didn't care what rich man she got as long as she got one.

I had to admit, that didn't sound like Bridget, but what did I know about her, except that when I was around her, my brain stopped working. She was equally involved in the sex, so maybe she was on the pill...unless of course she was as lost in the lust as I was and didn't think of protection.

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Maybe I just needed to wait and see if anything came of it. I knew I was clean so she didn't need to worry about an STD.

The next day, I went for a long run to relieve the anxiety and tension, before having it return that night when I went to dinner at my parents' home. I'd faced down soldiers with guns that wanted to kill me, but I was scared to face my parents. I tried to come up with an excuse to get out of dinner, but I hated being such a pussy. Plus, there was no escaping my parents. I'd have to see them sooner or later.

At dinner, my father was his usual brooding, quiet self. He certainly didn't look like he'd taken a turn for the worse yesterday.

Mom prattled on about the latest gossip among her rich friends. I kept waiting for her to chastise me for leaving Anne alone at the charity event, but she never did. That told me Anne hadn't said anything. Was that to protect me or to keep her in my favor?

"So, Dane, tell me about the charity event. Did you and Anne have a nice date?"

I took a breath before answering. I wanted to speak my mind but didn't want to have a negative tone when I did.

"It wasn't a date. I was supposed to go with you."

"But I'm sure it was much more enjoyable with Anne. She's a beautiful woman. Elegant. Smart."

If I had any question about my mother's intention, it was now answered. She'd set this whole thing up. She'd probably never intended to go to the charity event. No wonder dad didn't look any worse for wear today.

I sipped my bourbon and water instead of answering.

My mother smiled like she'd pulled off a great feat. "The two of you look so good together."

I frowned. "When did you see us?" "The event was covered online."

I nearly choked. If there were photos of me and Anne, were there photos of me and Bridget? As quickly as I thought it, I doubted it. Anne and I were

from rich, prominent, powerful families. We were interesting to people who cared about shit like that. Bridget probably wasn't noticed.

"I noticed Ethan Wheatly with someone. I'm surprised. With all his effort to earn his grandfather's favor, why was he with a nobody?" my mother said. I clenched my teeth to avoid blurting out something that would give my insane interest in Bridget away. "I believe Ethan introduced her to Mr.

Wheatly."

My gut churned at saying those words. I still wasn't sure I could believe Bridget's excuse that she was playing along to help Ethan. Then again, she fucked me in the limo. She wouldn't have done that if she was really interested in Ethan, would she?

"He can do so much better."

"Maybe you should dupe him into dating Anne," I snapped.

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My mother frowned for a moment, then her expression morphed. "I think you've found me out, Dane. I'm sorry I had to resort to such trickery, but you're forty years old and unmarried. I'd like to have grandchildren while I'm still young enough to enjoy them."

"I don't need to be married for you to have grandchildren." I nearly laughed at her shocked and horrified expression. "Legitimate grandchildren," she said through gritted teeth.

I downed my drink and waved a hand at the servant standing at the corner indicating I wanted another one.

"I can replace my own woman, mother, but I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. I don't think marriage is in the cards for me."

"You expect to take over a family business without having a family," my father finally blustered at the end of the table.

I shook my head. "No. I don't expect anything."

My father looked older and physically weaker after his heart attack, but he still had the steel gaze that made my insides tense.

"Now, now, boy. Don't get upset. All men are resistant to marriage until a good woman changes their mind. I have a good feeling about Anne. She's the right one for you."

If that was the case, then why was Bridget the only woman who had me so tied up in knots that she could possibly change my mind?

As always, after dinner, my father retired to the patio to smoke a cigar and

drink brandy. According to my mother, after his heart attack, he was supposed to change his nighttime ritual so now he was drinking seltzer in the evening. The smell of cigar smoke told me my father hadn't complied.

"Don't tell your mother," he said, when I arched a brow at the cigar and the brandy. "Life's too short to give up all of life's joys."

What did it say about him that his joy came from cigars and brandy?

"Sit. Tell me what's going on at the office?" He pointed with his cigar to the chair next to him.

"Business as usual. I'm holding my own considering I never expected to be in this position."

"What about Bran Erickson? Have you closed the deal?" My jaw clenched. "Not yet."

My father glared at me. "You shouldn't be in charge. Not after abandoning us."

"I agree." That wasn't a lie, but I couldn't deny the pain I felt at my father's words. My value came only from what I could do for him and the business.

"If you'd done your duty, you'd have learned the business and been running circles around Bran. But you left for what? So you could learn to swim and kill people a world away?" He crushed out his cigar and stood. He stared at me without saying a word. But he didn't need words for me to know that I was a massive disappointment to him.

Finally, he stormed inside, leaving me outside alone. It was a place I'd come to know well. Even as a child, I usually felt outside and alone from the family.

Was there something wrong with me that I hadn't warranted more affection? Or was the problem with them? Were they incapable of warmth?

Whatever the reason, it was a reminder that marriage and family probably wasn't in my DNA. Sure, I envied Troy and his friends. I'd love to have a woman to love and who loved me. I'd enjoy having kids to watch grow into their own beings. But mom was right; I was forty. It was nearly too late for me unless I wanted to take my mother's route and marry Anne. I shook my head. I'd rather be alone than in a loveless marriage. I guess that meant I'd always be a disappointment to my parents.