From [email protected]

LOL. Don’t sweat it. I’m not falling for Todd in any way. You have nothing to worry about.

Five

Todd drove slowly through the traffic around UCLA, then pulled over to the curb. He scanned the crowd of students, then saw Marina talking to a young woman.

Not talking, he reminded himself. Signing.

The two women faced each other, their hands moving in a graceful dance he couldn’t decipher. Marina nodded, then glanced over her shoulder. She saw him and waved, then pointed at the car and signed something to her friend. The friend nodded, they hugged, then Marina started toward him.

He watched her walk. In her jeans and long-sleeved T-shirt, she fit in with the other students around her. He let his gaze linger on her swaying hips, then moved his attention to the way her long golden hair fluttered. She looked like a commercial for some sexy product. Buy whatever it was and get a girl like this.

She opened the passenger side door and slid inside. “Hey,” she said. “Going to let me drive again?”

“No. Too much power will go to your head.”

“So typical,” she muttered as she fastened her seat belt. “Why do men feel they have to hold out on women? Don’t give the poor females too much responsibility or power. They won’t be able to handle it.”

“Women control the majority of wealth in this country.”

“A fact that makes me smile every time I hear it. I know you don’t want me driving because my skill level threatens your masculinity.”

“Not for long. I’m in therapy.”

She laughed and he joined in. Their last meeting had been at the tux shop, where she’d kissed the hell out of him and had left him wanting more. He hadn’t yet decided what, if anything, he was going to do about that wanting. For now it was enough to simply enjoy Marina’s company.

As he pulled back into the traffic, he tried to remember the last time he’d wanted to just be with a woman. To hang out and talk and tease without counting the minutes until he could get her into bed.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to sleep with Marina—he did. But he also liked her.

When was the last time that had happened? Liking. He’d almost forgotten how that felt. Not that he trusted her. He trusted no woman. But he’d been looking forward to being with her today ever since the last time he’d seen her.

“How did you get interested in sign language?” he asked.

She glanced at him. “I’m embarrassed to admit I first learned because one of my girlfriends had a hunky older brother who was deaf. I was about fourteen at the time. He was older and brooding and I knew that inside he was really deep and fascinating and that he would fall madly in love with me if only we could communicate. I took a beginning sign language class and really enjoyed it, so I kept going.”

“What happened with the guy?”

“He turned out to be a total jerk who just happened to be deaf. Still, I’m grateful he put me on this path. I became a certified interpreter. It was a great part-time job for me through college.”

She glanced at her watch. “I’m sorry I have to split up our day.”

“No problem.”

“It’s an important class. So I appreciate you being flexible.”

“Far be it from me to stand in the way of someone’s education.”

“Spoken like a true member of the elite.”

They were heading over to a different caterer to sample food, then meeting up later at his place to interview a florist.

“Now that Ryan and Julie have picked their colors, we can make some firm decisions,” he said. “I let the florist know what the colors were and she’ll bring appropriate samples.”

“Good. I think the rose-green combo gives us lots of room and areas of compromise. The boy stuff can be green, the girl stuff pink.”

“Then everyone’s happy.”

“Exactly.” She smiled at him.

He braked for the stoplight and smiled back. While they were looking at each other he said, “That was some kiss the other day.”

Instantly her eyes widened and color stained her cheeks. She jerked her gaze away from him and stared out the windshield. “Yes, well, you said you needed protecting.”

He’d wondered what she’d thought about their kiss. Had it been as powerfully erotic for her as it had been for him? Now he knew the answer to that was yes. He also knew she was a little embarrassed and wondered why.

“Not that I thought you really needed protecting,” she said, still not looking at him. “You can handle women like that in your sleep.”

“I’m more interesting when I’m awake.” He drove through the intersection. “I wasn’t expecting the passion.”

“Just because I’m smart and into science doesn’t meant I’m not like other people.”

“You’re not like other people, but that’s a good thing. I’m not complaining, Marina. I like who you are.”

“Oh. Good. Not that your opinion matters.”

“Of course not.”

She glanced at him. “It was a pretty hot kiss.”

“I agree. I might need to be rescued later.”

“I don’t think so. You can save yourself without help from me.”

“That’s kind of cold.”

“Live with it.”

He chuckled and she smiled. Then she started talking about what Julie had said about the place settings. But most of his attention was on another, more interesting topic. Namely the idea of getting Marina into his bed.

He wanted her. That wasn’t the question. He knew they would be great together. He’d learned that the first real kiss told a hell of a lot about chemistry and compatibility and desire. He and Marina had it all times ten. But sleeping together wasn’t exactly intelligent.

For one thing, they would be connected to each other for the rest of their lives. Between his aunt by marriage being her grandmother and her sister marrying his cousin, they were in each other’s worlds. Having sex would only make a complicated situation more awkward.

For another thing, she wasn’t his usual type. She didn’t play when it came to men and he didn’t believe in getting serious when it came to woman. Better to keep things simple.

But it had been a great kiss. Thinking about it had kept him up much of the last couple of nights and that hadn’t happened to him…ever.

Marina stared down at the small plate of pasta in front of her. While she appreciated the artful presentation, she was starting to get a little paranoid.

She leaned closer to Todd and whispered, “Is it just me, or has every dish been covered with some kind of cream sauce?”

“It’s not you,” he whispered back. “The salad dressing, that creamy soup, the chicken, the crab cakes.”

“Now this pasta,” she murmured. “If we picked this place, we’d have to have white as our accent color.”

She raked her fork through the perfectly cooked fettuccini. She couldn’t complain about the food itself. The shrimp were delicate, the diced vegetables crisp, the sauce a decadent blend of cream and cheese and whatever spices went into it, but still.

“We can leave,” he told her.

“Do you hate the food?” she asked.

“No. It’s good. It’s just…”

“Too much?”

He nodded. “Exactly.”

A few minutes later, the dessert samples arrived. Marina managed to hold it together while the hostess explained what each dish was, then began to giggle when the women returned to the kitchen.

Todd raised his eyebrows. “Which will it be? The molten chocolate cake in cream sauce? The berries with cream sauce? The bread pudding with a chocolate cream sauce or the selection of sorbets with a ginger-cream topping?”

She took a bite of the bread pudding. “It’s delicious,” she said. “Really fabulous.”

“I like the food,” he said, sounding doubtful.

“I do, too. It’s just so rich. My stomach already feels funny. Maybe the owner was a cow in a previous life and all this cream sauce is a way to get back to her roots.”

Todd stared at her. “That’s odd, even for you.”

“I’m searching for an explanation. Okay, I’ll e-mail Julie and tell her the food is amazing, but it’s cream sauce central. Then they can decide.”

They stood. She put her hand on top of her stomach. “Can we stop at a mini market on our way back? I’m dying for a soda to wash away the cream sauce flavor.”

“Right there with you.”

After her class, Marina drove to Todd’s place to meet with the florist. Although she’d been to the gatehouse in back a few months before, she’d never seen the main house up close until today.

As she drove through the open wrought-iron gates, she stared up at the giant four-story mansion. There were dozens of windows and actual gables.

“And I thought Grandma Ruth’s place was impressive,” she muttered.

The grounds were manicured and endless. When she parked in front of the house, her car looked like a toy that had been left out by a careless child.

Sure, she’d known that the rich were different and that Todd was rich, but until this moment, she’d never realized exactly how rich. She had a bad feeling they were talking billions.

She headed up to the wide double doors, then paused as she glanced down at her jeans. Should she have dressed for the occasion?

Just then the front door opened and Todd stood there. “Take it all in?” he asked.

“Not yet. Do you give tours on alternate Wednesdays?”

“Only for a select few. Come on.”

He’d changed out of his suit and was also dressed in jeans and a long sleeved shirt, which should have made her more comfortable. But he looked too good—all hard muscles and sleek sexy male. So between his butt and the elegance of the house, she didn’t know where to look first.

She walked onto a marble entry floor and resisted the impulse to step out of her shoes. The foyer was large and oval, with a baby grand piano by the staircase. Right. Because every decent foyer should have room for a piano. There were incredible pieces of furniture that were probably antiques and paintings that looked both real and important.

Todd closed the door behind her. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m wondering how many bedrooms.”

“More than ten.”

“Okay. Good. So do you rent out to large families or simply invite small countries to move in?”

“It depends on my cash flow for the month.”

He was joking, but there was something about his expression. Something almost…wary.

“Am I reacting wrong?” she asked. “Should I pretend I’m not impressed and a little intimidated?”

“It’s just a house.”

She laughed. “It’s a really big house and you live here by yourself. That’s a little strange.”

“I grew up here. It’s big and expensive to keep up, but it’s been in my family for three generations and now it’s my responsibility.”

She looked around at the massive chandelier and the fresh flowers. “It’s like a really great hotel. Show me the fluffy robe and the room service menu and I’ll move in.”

“We don’t have room service.”

She sighed. “Then forget it. Room service is a deal breaker for me.” She looked at him. “How do they usually react? The other women?”

“They start by calculating how big a settlement they’ll get when the marriage ends.”

“Ouch. Not everyone you’ve dated has been in it for the money. A few of them must have actually liked you.”

He chuckled. “You’re not very good for my ego. Many of the women I date actually like me. The money is just a big plus.” He put an arm around her shoulders and led the way through an arched doorway. “I don’t usually show them the house.”

“I wouldn’t. Not until you’re fairly serious. The ones who are in it for money won’t be able to pretend anymore and the ones who are will be scared to death.”

“You’re not scared.”

They were close enough that she could feel the heat of his body, which made her remember how it had been to be in his arms. How he’d pulled her close and kissed her back and made her tingle all over.

“We’re not dating,” she reminded him. As far as she was concerned, they never would. Todd was too dangerous for her peace of mind. She wouldn’t have thought she could be scared by a guy, but in some ways he would never know about, he terrified her.

If only he didn’t turn her on. Reluctantly she stepped free of his embrace.

They stopped in a large family room. There were two sectionals, a couple of armoires, side tables, a writing desk and nothing about the room felt crowded.

“Nice,” she said, appreciating the warm colors and overall comfort of the space. “You have a decorator.”

“Of course. I’m a typical guy. If it were up to me, the entire world would be beige.”

Somewhere in the distance, she heard the sound of chimes.

“The doorbell,” he said. “Probably the florist. Have a seat and I’ll let her in.”

She crossed to one of the sectionals and sat down. To her right was a drinks cart made of incredibly beautiful inlaid wood. Instead of liquor, there were an assortment of soft drinks, along with ice, flavored water and a few snacks.

“Somewhere a housekeeper or cook is lurking,” she murmured to herself as she put ice in a glass and popped the can of her favorite soda. There was no way Todd had put this together himself.