“I’ll meet you guys at the entrance,” he said and walked away.
Dallas’s eyes followed him out the door, and then locked on the smiling nurse before she looked away. Damn, this living arrangement is going to be harder than I thought.
****
Chicago, Illinois
Large windows were the first thing Mark Darley noticed when he stepped into his new office on the 50th floor. He knew the building would offer some spectacular views, but he had no idea he’d experience them first hand from his new corner office. With his hands in his tailored pants pocket, he ambled over to the windows and exhaled a long sigh. It had taken fifteen long years for his vision to become a reality. He had finally made it. He wanted to live someplace fast paced and prestigious, like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago. So when the top engineering firm in the country made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, he went for it. Now here he was, in downtown Chicago, prepared to start living the life he’d always dreamed of.
“Mr. Darley, I put your schedule for this week on your desk,” his new assistant said. “The first few days are full of meetings to get you acclimated to the projects that you’ll be responsible for, and the people you’ll be working with.”
So caught up in his thoughts he had forgotten she was in the room. “Okay. Thanks, Liz. I’ll take a look at it. Oh, and please call me, Mark.” She smiled and walked to the door. “Okay, Mark. I’ll leave you to get settled. If you have questions or need me for anything else, press one on your telephone.”
“Thanks.” Mark returned her smile. “I’ll do that.”
His cell phone rang after the door closed behind his secretary. “Hello.”
“Hey, Mark, I’ve made contact. She was released from the hospital. Did you know she was married?” “Married?” Nah, I didn’t know.” He walked over to his large desk and leaned against it. “This definitely puts a wrench in my plans.”
Chapter Four
Stupid, stupid, stupid, I can’t believe I kissed her. What was I thinking? The moment his lips touched hers, he knew he was in trouble. That brief contact made him want more, but he’d promised himself he wouldn’t travel down that road again. Flirting with her was one thing, and helping her at the hospital was another, but anything more than that would be suicidal.
He stood over Dallas and watched her sleep. Having her in his home, he couldn’t help but remember what they once shared. How could something so right, go so wrong? They were made for one another. Both were ambitious, they enjoyed the same things, sex was off the charts, and when they weren’t arguing, life was great. He never loved a woman the way he had once loved her. Months after they’d parted, he had held out hope that she’d be back. He’d longed to hear her say she’d made a mistake and that they belonged together, but nothing. She never called.
Tyler exhaled an exhausted sigh and left the room. It would be hard as hell to stay away from her while living together, but whatever it took.... Aw hell, I shouldn’t have let Simone and Tim talk me into this setup.
He walked downstairs to his office and took a seat at his desk. Now really wasn’t a good time for a houseguest, especially since he’d let his live-in housekeeper have the next two months off to spend time in Florida with her new grandchild. He needed a plan. Not only did he need someone who could keep Dallas company while he was working or traveling, he also needed a voice of reason nearby. Dallas in his home was a temptation he planned to fight. Tyler grabbed his phone and dialed. He knew the perfect person for the job, his twin sister, Skylar. A month ago her husband, Hadrian, was deployed to Afghanistan, prompting her and their daughter to move back to Milwaukee to be closer to family. Since their daughter was spending the summer with her husband’s parents in Tennessee, Skylar was the perfect person for what Tyler had in mind.
After several rings her voice mail picked up. “Sky, I need a favor.”