“Julian Lodge is Julian Masters.”
Finn nearly dropped his coffee mug. Dani had jumped into a car with a billionaire? What were the chances of that? Finn thought about it for a moment and calmed down. What would a billionaire want with his Dani? Dani was sweet and beautiful. Finn thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, but she didn’t have a Hollywood glamour. She was a small town girl. Now that he thought about it, she’d been really lucky. She’d managed to find someone who could take her to the one place where she would be perfectly safe. Yeah, this was a good thing. He’d sit in the café and have a little breakfast. When the stores opened, he’d find the nicest bouquet he could and then go out to the Barnes-Fleetwood ranch and talk to Dani. By this evening, he’d have her on the road to Dallas. He’d have to remember to send Julian Lodge a Thank You card.
“Finn, are you okay?”
Finn laughed a little at Lucas’s nervous question. “Of course. I just wanted to know she was safe. It sounds like she’s in good hands.”
Lexi’s husky laugh poured into Finn’s ear. “Damn, I’ll say. I kind of wish I was in her place.”
“Alexis!”
Finn held the phone away from his head as Lucas had a few choice words for his…well, whatever Lexi was to him.
“Sorry, Lucas. I know it’s a little perverse, but that man is sexy as hell. Oh, he scares the crap out of me, but I don’t know a sub alive who wouldn’t do just about anything to kneel at his feet. If he’s decided to train Dani, then all I can say is good for Dani.”
“Are you talking about that BDSM crap you’re always going on about?” A cold chill went through Finn’s system. Why Lucas wanted to spank Lexi, Finn had no idea. But the thought of Dani, sweet, eager–to-please Dani, in the clutches of a leather-clad sadist had him reaching for his keys.
Lucas sighed. “It isn’t crap, Finn. If you would just come with us, you would see. The club Lexi and I go to is Julian’s. He’s an expert. There’s nothing to worry about.”
But Finn wasn’t listening. He threw down some cash to pay for his coffee and ran to his car. Like it or not, the Barnes-Fleetwood family would be waking up early this morning.
Dani woke to the sound of something thumping. The pounding was rhythmic and pulled her from the sweetest dream. She sat straight up in the enormous bed and looked around for Julian. He wasn’t in the room with her. The door to the bedroom was open. She stretched and felt the most delicious soreness permeating her every muscle.
Wow. Last night came rushing back, and all she could think was wow.
Julian Lodge was absolutely the most insatiable, perverse, decadent man she’d ever had the enormous pleasure of meeting. Now she understood why women chased after a man. If other men had half the skill and wild imagination that Julian had, she might have to chase down a few.
Except that she couldn’t imagine doing anything like that with another man.
An image of Finn with her and Julian flitted across her brain.
It worked for Abigail Barnes. Why couldn’t it work for her?
Dani let the thought go. She wouldn’t be able to keep Julian for very long, much less convince Finn to give a girl a whirl. It was a little fantasy, but that was exactly where it would stay. She’d made the decision last night somewhere between orgasms eight and nine that she would hang out at the ranch while Julian was on vacation. It would do them both good. He said he’d been celibate for a while. She couldn’t imagine why, but he seemed really happy to end it. If it was okay with Julian, she would enjoy this week with him. After that, she would have to decide what to do, but whatever the future was, it wouldn’t involve Julian. He would go back to Dallas and whatever job he had there. She would pick up the pieces and figure out what to do with the next fifty years of her life.
Not going there. Dani shoved the covers back. She walked to the closet and hoped that she could find a robe or something. It appeared Julian’s clothes had been neatly hung. There were elegant dress shirts and slacks. Not a single pair of jeans. That was a real shame, because his ass would look good in a pair of Levi’s.
“Where is she, you perverted motherfucker?”
Dani turned to look out the open bedroom door. Was that Finn? She quickly pulled a dress shirt off the hanger and shrugged into it like a robe. The clothes she’d worn last night were downstairs, strewn across the living room. It would have to do.
She rushed out of the bedroom. She could hear someone talkingJulian, she thoughtbut he was speaking quietly. Finn was not.
“You better show me where you put Dani right now, or I swear I’ll make you wish you had.”
“I wouldn’t threaten me, whoever you are, although I suspect you’re Danielle’s ex-fiancé. Might I just speak for her? She has no intention of marrying you. She made herself very plain yesterday.” Julian’s voice was low and had almost no emotion to it.
Dani ran through the playroom toward the stairs. She hadn’t known Julian for very long, but she’d already figured out that he was at his most dangerous when he was perfectly, completely calm.
“I’m here, Finn.” Dani had no idea why Finn had decided to go commando on Julian’s ass, but he would lose that little battle. Julian was one amazing specimen. While Finn was incredibly fit, Dani figured Julian would fight dirty. It was best to stop the fight altogether. Dani raced down the steps.
Finn wasn’t alone. It looked like the entire clan was invading her and Julian’s little love nest. Jack Barnes was dressed in denims and a T-shirt. Sam Fleetwood hadn’t bothered with a shirt. Abby had wrapped a robe around herself and had a hand on Jack’s arm.
“Thank god.” Finn let out a deep breath and started toward her.
Dani tripped on the last step and started flying. One minute she was going to break her neck, and the next she was wrapped in Julian’s arms. He was wearing a pair of slacks and nothing else. His chest was male model perfect.
“Slow down, little one.” His gray eyes seemed warmer this morning. His hands tightened around her briefly, and then a wall slammed between them. “Your fiancé is here.”
“I’m not her fiancé. Now let her go.” Finn started to reach for Julian, but Sam stopped him.
“I really wouldn’t do that. Look, man, I know you’re pissed, but you don’t want to fuck with him.” Sam pulled Finn back.
Julian set Dani on her feet and immediately let go. She felt the loss of the intimacy. This was not the way she’d seen the morning going. She’d expected that she and Julian would spend some time in bed and then plan out their day. He didn’t look like a man desperate to spend time with her now. All of Dani’s self-doubts came creeping back. She turned from Julian to look at Finn.
“What are you doing here?” Dani asked. She’d left a message on his voice mail telling him she was okay. How had he even found out where she was?
He pulled away from Sam and walked straight to her, catching her hands in his. “I came for you, of course. Dani, you don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into. You have no idea who that man is.”
A bitter smile passed across Julian’s face. “And I suppose you do, whoever you are.”
“His name is Finn Taylor. He works with my brother, and he grew up here.” Jack didn’t look impressed. He watched Finn like he was waiting for an excuse to do something really nasty. What the hell had Finn done to put that black look on Jack Barnes’s face?
“Ah, so he works at a law firm in Dallas. The law firm where you and I are the biggest clients. That is interesting.” There was a silky threat in Julian’s voice.
Finn didn’t seem to care. “Fine, get me fired. I’m still not leaving Dani here. I’m not going to let you beat the hell out of her and call yourself her Master. You’re a sick fuck. Jack’s own brother is the one who told me.”