A Calculated Seduction

Chapter Thirteen

Ethan grabbed the letter and quickly read the contents. Disbelief held his sense hostage. Then pain so sharp, it twisted his heart. His breath tangled in his throat. Dulcy had resigned. She’d walked out on him. Instead of trying to make amends, work it out, she ran away, frightened.

Maybe, just maybe, it was a threat. He practically ran to her office and noticed things he didn’t before. All her personal items had been removed from her area. No pictures, no little knickknacks. Hell, she’d even taken the plants.

Slowly, he walked back into his office with a weary sigh. Nothing. He had nothing left for him here. Without her, he might as well head back to Houston. The thought of his cold apartment caused him to think twice. It was barely furnished and he smiled, thinking of the colors Dulcy would add to brighten it up. He couldn’t see going back there by himself. He really couldn’t envision his life without her.

“Bad weekend, boss?”

He looked up and there stood Pete Anderson.

“From the look on your face, you read her resignation.”

Without an invitation, he stepped into Ethan’s office and settled into a chair.

“You knew and you didn’t think to call and tell me?” Ethan asked.

“Hey, you thought I was stealing from Bill. You think I should help you?”

Ethan sighed and looked out the window. “I didn’t know what to think. The woman had me running in so many different directions...”

Anderson chuckled. “Yeah, and she had no idea what power she held over you. Still doesn’t. She’s that naïve.”

Ethan slanted him a look. “You know it wasn’t just the investigation. ”

“Yeah. Good Lord, you practically staked your claim by looking at her.” He crossed his arms and studied Ethan. “I talked to her last night when she called to give me the heads up about the investigation. She was crying. And hurt. So, what’cha going to do about it?”

“What can I do? The woman wants nothing to do with me.” Pathetic. He sounded absolutely pathetic.

“So, you’re just going to let her go. Let her have her own life, meet another man, have babies with him.”

Images of Dulcy with another man, in his arms, in his bed, filled his mind. Jealousy and possessiveness almost choked him.

“Ahh, so you’re not as cool as you pretend to be about this,” Anderson said, a smile curving his lips.

“What the hell do you want from me, Anderson?”

“I want Dulcy happy.”

“Why? Why is her happiness so important?”

“Boy, you are self-centered.”

Remembering Dulcy’s accusations the morning before, he frowned. “So, you’ve had a chat with Dulcy?”

He nodded.

“How’s she doing?”

It was Anderson’s turn to sigh. “What do you think? You broke her heart. Now, you have to fix it.”

“How?”

“You figure it out. You are the shark I’ve seen lurking around the office the last few months, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Don’t you have a job to do?”

“Listen, the woman adores you. Not at the moment, but she really does love you. She fell so fast for you. I don’t think she had time to contemplate what she was getting into. That was a good thing. Dulcy’s been careful since Jason dumped her. She lost all that reserve she had with other men when you showed up. Clear sign she was in love with you.” He stood and walked to the door. “I have a feeling you’re as much in love with her as she is with you. Don’t let your damn pride get in the way.”

“In love?” Ethan’s world tilted. Love Dulcy? Lust, desire, burning passion. All of this he associated with little Dulcinea Menendez. All thoughts slipped away and realigned. Never in his life had he had the burning need to possess, to protect a woman. And never had he ignored his better judgment. Every thought, every fiber of his being had been concentrated on one thing— Dulcy .

The force of his thoughts struck him like a thunderbolt. He was in love with her. That’s why the thought of living without her, of trying to get on with his life hurt. He sat in his chair, his mind whirling. He’d failed to make her happy, to keep her by his side.

“You look like you just got hit by a ton of bricks, boss.”

He glanced at Anderson wondering when the hell had that happened? When had she crept into his heart? When had living without her become something he couldn’t think about without his stomach turning queasy and his hands sweating?

Anderson laughed. “You didn’t know? How could you not know you love the woman?”

Irritated and uncomfortable, he stood and began to pace behind his desk. “How was I supposed to know?”

“Let me ask you this. Is she the first thing you think about in the morning and the last thing you think about at night?”

The tone of Anderson’s voice made Ethan stop and study the younger man. “You sound like you know what you’re talking about. ”

He smiled, his brown eyes lit with amusement. “Yeah, I do and it’s pretty special when you find that one person you want more than anything else in the world. You’re very lucky she’s the one for you, boss. She’s the sweetest, most loving woman I’ve ever met. Now all you have to do is convince her you’re the one for her.”

He turned to leave. “Anderson.”

He glanced back over his shoulder at Ethan.

“Thanks. For everything.”

“Just make her happy.” And then he left Ethan alone with his thoughts.

There had to be something he could do. Determination swelled through him. He picked up the phone and started to make his plans.

* * * *

Dulcy spent most of Monday looking through the want ads and avoiding the phone. Bill, her stepmother, even both of her sisters had called, but nothing from Ethan. Of course, she hadn’t expected the worm to call. A man as arrogant as Ethan would never lower himself to apologize to her. In his own warped mind, he’d probably convinced himself he’d been in the right. Making love to one dowdy secretary didn’t really ensure a gate pass to hell. It should, especially since she’d spent a night having the best sex of her life.

She sighed. If only she had her trust fund. She could set up her charity and not have to worry about unemployment, or the rent, or the phone bill.

The doorbell rang. For a moment, she seriously thought of ignoring it.

“Dulcy. Open up this door right this minute,” yelled Clarice. Sparky, the demon Chihuahua, yipped his agreement.

Slowly, as if trying to avoid the gallows, she walked to the door. She peeked through the peephole and sure enough, there stood Clarice, dressed to the hilt in a pink silk suit. Sparky wore his matching pink collar.

Dulcy opened the door.

“Really, Dulcy, I’ve been calling all morning. I can’t believe you haven’t answered your phone today.” She brushed past Dulcy, set Sparky down on the floor and turned. Dulcy quietly shut the door and studied Clarice.

How could the woman look that perfect at this time in the morning? There was not a hair out of place, and her makeup was perfect. Clarice removed her sunglasses, concern darkening her blue eyes.

Then she did something Dulcy never would have expected. She threw her arms wide. “Come here, honey.”

Dulcy hesitated for just a second, then practically ran into her arms. Clarice surrounded her with motherly warmth, and Dulcy hugged with every fiber of strength she had. Unheeded, tears rose to the surface, all the pain seeped out.

“Oh, sweetie. You just go right ahead. Let it all out. ” She patted Dulcy’s back and cooed. “Men are pigs.”

For several minutes, nothing but the sound of her crying filled the tiny apartment. When she finally cried herself out, she pulled back from Clarice’s shoulder, but not out of her embrace.

“Feel better?” Clarice asked. Dulcy nodded. “Well, you come sit over here.” She guided her to the couch. Sparky jumped into Dulcy’s lap. “Sparky and I brought you some things needed at a time like this.”

She picked up her pink bag and pulled out a massive bag of chocolate, some strawberries, a couple of champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne.

After getting the things ready, she settled next to Dulcy. They ate in silence, other than commenting on the food and drink.

“You know, I really lucked out with both my husbands. Victor and your father were part of a dying breed. Men of their ilk are hard to find these days. You know your father proposed to me in one of those little horse drawn carriages in Fort Worth.”

“Really?” Dulcy couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice. She thought of her father and his business suits, his constant scheduling, his lack of humor.

Clarice chuckled. “Oh, yes. Your father was a romantic. ”

“I never would have guessed.”

Clarice tsked. “You forget so easily. Remember when Jason escorted you to the prom?”

“Of course.” The memory of that night washed over her. Jason dressed in black, Dulcy wearing one of the ugliest dresses on record. Her father, too choked up to speak.

“Yes, he was stodgy,” she said with a smile. “But he knew how to treat a woman. And I don’t mean with presents, although he was very good with that. Unfortunately, sweet good men are hard to find. All my daughters seem to find it hard to find them.”

She stared at Clarice, completely dumfounded by the title of daughter bestowed upon her.

“Why are you staring at me that way?”

“You called me your daughter.” She couldn’t keep the wonder out of her voice.

“Well, of course you’re my daughter.” She slid her arm around Dulcy’s shoulders and pulled her closer. Dulcy placed her head on Clarice’s shoulder. “I know we’re really hard to take, the three of us, but it doesn’t mean we don’t love you. I think the girls are a little intimidated by you, to tell you the truth.”

“Intimidated by me?” She raised her head and looked at Clarice. “Me, frumpy Dulcy? Why would they be intimidated by me? They have looks, poise, hell they know how to match clothes.”

“But you can stand on your own two feet. Both of my girls are gorgeous, flirty, but show them a checkbook and they get confused. Don’t get me wrong. I love them, but they’re like their Mama in that respect. You pulled yourself up, got a job and survived. Plus,” she said studying her Dulcy’s hair, “this new makeover has made a huge difference. You look pretty cute. ”

“Cute? Bunnies are cute.”

Clarice laughed again. “I don’t know why I worry about you, young lady. You are just like your Daddy. Strong as an oak. ”

A lump formed in her throat and a curious warmth filled her chest. Clarice sniffled suspiciously, then cleared her throat.

“Now, what are we going to do about this Ethan person? You know that Henry DeMarco I dated last year has some connections. He would do anything for me. We could make Ethan cry.”

* * * *

Ethan stood in his empty Houston apartment and surveyed the surroundings. He’d had the apartment for over two years, but the place had never been a home.

“Don’t tell me you’re not going to miss this view,” Todd said from behind him.

Ethan chuckled and walked to the floor to ceiling windows. “No way. Besides, I’ll see if every time I visit you. When are you moving in?”

“Tomorrow. They’re packing me up right now. You want to explain why you’re moving to Dallas? And why you’re renting an office space up there?”

He turned and studied his employee. No, scratch that. His partner. He’d decided to offer Todd the opportunity to buy into MacMillan Securities and let him run it.

“No.”

“This has to do with the trust fund baby, doesn’t it?”

Ethan shook his head and returned his gaze to the window.

It’d been two weeks since he’d had his revelation of love and he was still acclimating himself to the feeling. He definitely wasn’t discussing it with Todd. Ethan turned back around to face Todd.

“Well, I guess I’ll get going if you don’t need me for anything more, boss.”

“You’re the boss now, Todd.”

His brown eyes lightened with his smile. “Hey, that’s right. See ya, partner.”

When he was finally alone, Ethan walked through the apartment, looking for anything the movers might have missed. He found nothing but an empty shell of a home. But it had always been that way. He’d always been that way.

He strode to the door. Ethan knew he was risking everything on one bet but that’s what he had to do. One last chance to win Dulcy, or live a lifetime as a cold empty shell.