HACKING THE BILLIONAIRE: Part 3 (3 page)

Riley had never dated two men at once. Not that she was sure she was dating either of them. Justin had kissed her on the cheek after their dinner. Dirk, of course, kissed her like a dying man being given a lifeline.

There were no tingles with Justin. There were too many tingles with Dirk. She wasn’t sure she could keep him at arm’s length. So she’d taken a day off from her day job to go out and see Dirk’s brother.

It was under the guise that she was asking him some questions about how he started his company. He’d been a gentleman the last time they saw each other, so she hoped that trend would continue.

She drove to his office in Connecticut. Guess he didn’t want to meet in Manhattan like Dirk.

Chad’s office sat in an office building just over the bridge into the small state. Riley figured the only way she was going to make progress in this case was to rattle some cages. Chad’s would be the first.

Riley parked her car and took in the surroundings for a moment. This was suburbia, but not too far from the city. She wasn’t sure she liked its genericness.

The sun shone down, and she put her face to it. The problem with working in an office was you forgot that there was an outside.

She entered the lobby and was greeted by a security guard. He was older and probably there to direct people more than to guard anyone. He told her what floor Chad’s office was on, and she rode the elevator up.

Chad had a small area that had three offices. One must be used by Luzy, but she wasn’t there right then. No secretary waited outside. Guess his business was running lean.

He greeted her from his office door, and for the first time, she saw his resemblance to Dirk. In a suit they could have been full brothers instead of just step-brothers. He wasn’t as handsome, but he had many of the same features as Dirk. They just looked better on Dirk.

“Come in.”

She sat in a chair opposite him. His office was a little rundown. Dirk had said his brother wasn’t the best businessman. She would have thought, based on his business, that he’d be doing better than a dingy office.

“Are you still working on my brother’s leak?”

“Only part time. I have some leads, but we’ll see how they pan out.”

Chad didn’t flinch. Either he wasn’t involved or he possessed a great poker face. She didn’t see any signs that he was bothered by what she said.

Or he didn’t believe that he’d get caught.

They chatted about inane things for a few minutes before she got down to business. Was this man capable of creating the leak and having someone else be the fall guy? That’s really what Riley wanted to know.

Or was Chad just as much a dupe as Dirk? She asked him questions only he should know about the leak. He couldn’t answer any of them.

“You forget that Luzy did this job. She’d pretty good. Her heart just isn’t in it. Now she wants to go off and be a baker.”

That was Riley’s fault. She’d encouraged the woman to follow her passion. She wasn’t going to apologize to Chad for that. No one should be unhappy.

When she left, she didn’t think Chad could be the mastermind. He was good at what he did, but he lacked the passion and the smarts. He probably worked harder than he wanted to. Luzy had probably taken that burden off, and now he was back to working hard.

Tough to have a sibling like Dirk, who was driven, and everything seemed to come easily to him. Except Riley. She hadn’t fallen at Dirk’s feet.

She climbed back into her car, a little frustrated because she wasn’t any closer to finding the culprit. And now she had a long drive back to Brooklyn. She’d missed her usual lunch with Justin that she’d come to enjoy and expect. The best she could hope for was a cold beer and a good movie.

She got on the side road, and someone came up fast to her. She would have pulled over, but there was no place. The person was tailgating. As much as she wanted to be jerk and drive slower, she didn’t want to antagonize them.

Finally she found a more country road, but the person followed. A few months ago, she wouldn’t have thought anything of it. After Dirk’s case, she began to become paranoid.

The person came closer and closer, and the road was curvy. No cliffs, but she could easily go off into the woods and never be found.

Her car couldn’t go much faster and be safe.

Damn.

Why couldn’t this person just pass her? They didn’t. Even when it was clear, they stayed on her tail. Making her nervous. She couldn’t see the person either. She couldn’t get a good look because she was afraid to take her eyes off the road.

Now the person rammed her.

“Holy shit!”

Then rammed her again. She kept control of her vehicle, but was afraid to drive any faster. No one came the other way. She was alone on this road, miles from the highway.

Damn.

Now she was more suspicious of Chad. She didn’t think this person was tailgating her for no reason. Must be the case and Dirk had been right. She was still in danger.

Cold comfort at this point. She couldn’t even dial her phone to call the cops. It was in her purse and out of reach. She kept two hands on the wheel.

Hopefully she’d see a sign for the highway soon.

What if she didn’t? The person rammed her again, and this time she lost control. Her car swerved this way and that. She couldn’t get it back on the road. The last thing she saw was a tree in her way.

***

Dirk received a call on his cell.

“This is a Connecticut State Trooper. Is this Dirk Trent?”

Connecticut. Was something wrong with his brother?

“This is Dirk.”

“This is Trooper Magill. I retrieved your number from the cell phone of Riley Adams.”

Dirk straightened in his chair. What was Riley doing in that state? “Is everything okay?”

“She’s on her way to the local hospital. You seem to be her emergency contact.”

She’d never taken him out of her phone. She’d had him down as ICEDirk. ICE meaning in case of emergency. She could have Joan, but he was in there.

“Is she okay?”

“She’s been in a car accident. She had to be cut out, but the airbags deployed and she was just banged up. They flew her to a trauma center.”

The trooper gave him the address, and he looked on a maps program. Should he drive or fly? There was an airport near the hospital, but he’d have to find a way to get a car. Didn’t seem like a big enough airport to have a car rental place.

He could drive there in his sports car in less time. He called his driver to take him home.

He rushed out.

Marcia looked at him oddly. “Where are you going?”

“Connecticut. Riley’s been in an accident.”

“Okay. I’ll hold down the fort. Will you be back?”

“Probably not.”

He wished the elevator moved faster, but his driver was ready with the car running when he stepped out. He was home and back on the road in his own car in less than an hour.

Driving in the city was not fun, so when he finally had open road, he punched it. Speeding ticket be damned. He had to get to Riley. Why had she been up here?

The hospital was a smaller one, but supposed to be a trauma center. The activity level was nothing compared to a New York hospital. He worried that Riley wouldn’t get the right treatment here. Should have her transferred immediately?

He walked up to the desk. “I’m looking for Riley Adams. She came in from a car accident.”

The woman clicked some keys. “She’s in room B. Are you her husband?”

He’d been through this drill before. “Yes.”

He didn’t even blink. Riley might get mad, but she would just have to live with it. In the time he’d known her, she’d been in the hospital three times. All because of him. This had to stop. He’d find another way to find that leak.

She was in bed, awake. No hospital gown, but her face was bruised. A nurse was taking her blood pressure.

“Hey,” he said.

“What are you doing here?”

“Apparently I’m still your ICE number in your phone.”

“You didn’t have to come,” she said.

“I had to. If course I did. Really, Riley?” The nurse left them alone. “What were you doing here?”

“I came to see your brother. Maybe rattle his cage,” she said.

“Clearly you succeeded.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “It stops now.”

She frowned. “It may have to, Dirk.”

He almost fell off the bed. Riley was agreeing with him. “You’re in danger. Let the FBI take care of this.”

She frowned, shifted in her bed then grimaced. “I’ve been in the hospital more because of this case. I’m done, Dirk.”

“Good. Are they going to spring you?”

“Yes, I’ll get my discharge instructions in a few minutes.”

“I’ll drive you home.”

“You don’t have to, Dirk. You have no obligation.”

“I do, but I would even if I didn’t feel obligated. I’d still like to spend time with you.”

She grimaced again. Was it because of what he said? Or was she in pain?

“Dirk.”

“It isn’t up for discussion. Did you find anything out from my brother?”

“No. He’s got a good poker face. Nothing I said rattled him.”

“Maybe not then, but someone ran you off the road. You want to go see your car?”

“Yes. I need to get some things out of it.”

Then nurse came in and told her what she had to do; then Riley was on her way. Dirk escorted her to his car.

“You drove here yourself?”

He slid behind the wheel before he answered. “I couldn’t fly here and get a car easily. Would have taken more time than I thought I had.”

“I wasn’t dying.”

“I didn’t know anything about your condition. You look pretty darn good for getting cut out of a car.”

She laughed. “They were sure I had many injuries, but all the airbags deployed and they worked. Just bruised from them. That’s it.”

He drove her to the garage where the cops had said they’d towed the car. Riley was out first, walking around, reaching in the window for her stuff. Dirk followed a little slower, taking it all in. His heart fluttered in his chest.

Riley had been in this car. She would have died. All because of his case. Guilt sliced through him. He never should have asked her to continue with the investigation. She was in danger. He didn’t want that. He wanted Riley whole and safe.

Not injured.

“What?” Riley said.

She was looking at him over the car that looked like a crushed soda can. He leaned on the roof. “You have to stop, Riley. You could have died.”

She eyed him. “But I’m okay and I said I’d stop.”

“I mean it. Don’t just tell me you are and keep going. You’re in danger. I’m afraid for you. Especially since I’m not there to protect you.”

She put up her hands. “No bodyguard, Dirk. Stay out of it. I won’t do anything anymore. I don’t have much time anyway.”

Probably because of her new boyfriend. He didn’t want to think about that. He’d let her go. He never should have done that. Now he had a long road to get her back, but he was determined.

Riley would be his.

Riley remained quiet during the drive home. She wanted to stop investigating. She wasn’t going to tell Dirk that she might keep an eye on things, even more unofficially. No visits to family members.

Nothing like that.

She wanted to get into her pajamas and call Justin. She had his number, but they hadn’t been spending much time together. She did want to see him.

Sort of.

Being with Dirk was calming enough. Sort of. He had a presence about him that suggested strength and power. She wished he used it for good. Not to control her. Didn’t matter. He was gone now.

She had to wash him out of her life. Being with him was dangerous physically and emotionally.

“You hungry?”

She blinked at him. Those were the first words he’d said since they left the garage. He seemed to be bothered by the whole event. Seeing the car had made him more introspective. She saw fear in his eyes. She’d never seen that.

Odd for Dirk.

“Uh, yes, but I want to go home.”

“How about we stop and get some takeout?”

Did she really want to spend more time with Dirk? Did she want to risk it? She was still attracted to him. In his presence, she’d only thought about Justin once. Not good. Justin was a normal guy. Easy to be with.

Dirk presented all sorts of challenges. Her life would be simple with Justin. Her life would be anything but that with Dirk. Did she really want to play with fire? Or did she want to live an easy life?

Justin didn’t challenge her. Maybe that was the problem. She’d never had anyone challenge her like Dirk. Sometimes he made her tired. He also made her feel alive. What he talked about. What he knew about. How he made love to her.

That sucked. She wanted easy. No problems. But what did she really need? What would make her life full and worth living? A man who never questioned what she did, or a man who questioned everything she did?

She was too tired to make this decision now, so she agreed to takeout. Then he’d be gone.

But he wasn’t gone. They ate. Dirk cleaned up as Riley watched him from the doorway of her kitchen. He looked at home doing dishes. Why was that so sexy?

“Why don’t you go sit down?” he said.

“I’m fine. Just bruised.”

“It was a horrible crash. You must have been scared.”

Of course he would bring that up. She had been scared, but she wanted to deal with it on her own. He emptied the sink, then dried his hands. He stood in her galley kitchen as if deciding what to do.

He strode over to her, standing within inches of her. “It’s okay to let go, Riley. It’s okay to depend on me.”

The earnestness in his eyes melted her. He put his arms around her. “I don’t need to be anywhere else right now.”

The fear she’d felt when she saw that tree coming rushed back to her. She’d been holding it all in, and now Dirk was offering her a shoulder to cry on. And she needed this right now. Sadly, she had to admit that to herself.

He made her feel safe. Right now she wanted to snuggle up to him and let the world go by. For just a little bit. Just a few minutes.

She returned his embrace, the tears beginning to fall. He picked her up, carrying her to her couch. He settled her on his lap. She curled into him, taking his warmth and strength.

At this moment, Dirk was what she needed. Not what she wanted or wanted to need, but he was here. He was present. Comforting her. Just being and letting her cry.

She cried herself out, sniffing and wiping tears from her face. She then looked up at him. “Dirk.”

“Yes, sweetie.”

“Take me to bed.”

He looked down at her, a question in his eyes. “You sure?”

“Yes. I need to feel alive.”

He smiled, kissed her nose, then carried her to her bedroom. He set her on her feet, and she took off her shirt.

“In a hurry?” Dirk said.

“Yes.”

She couldn’t get her clothes off fast enough. Dirk watched her, a bemused smile on his face. He took his time getting his clothes off, and when Riley was naked, she helped him. Then she snagged a condom from her nightstand.

She ran her hands up his naked chest, loving the hard planes of his body. She needed this. More than she needed comfort. She needed to have mind-blowing sex. She didn’t think Justin could deliver on that.

Dirk could. He knew his way around a woman’s body. He knew his way around her body. What would happen tomorrow didn’t matter. All that made sense was this right now. What was going to happen in her bed?

“You are beautiful, Riley.”

He ran his hands over her, igniting fires across her body. Her eyes fell closed to take it all in. “Hurry. Not sweet or slow.”

He nipped at her neck, his hands kneading her breasts. She could feel his penis poking her already. She didn’t need a lot of foreplay today, so she grabbed the condom then ripped open the package.

He gasped as her hands rolled it on. “Oh God, Riley.”

She lay back on the bed, pulling him on top of her. He kissed her like a dying man. She kissed him back with the same desperation. His body felt right on top of hers.

Without preamble, he slid into her. She arched into him, taking all of him. Her hands gripped his back as he set up a fast rhythm.

She was already hot. Already on the edge. Her body stiffened with her orgasm. She’d never come so fast in her life. And she felt another one building as he thrust into her. He gritted his teeth.

She knew he was holding on for her to have another one. She didn’t disappoint. The climax racked her, the aftershocks jerking her arms and legs. From the darkness she saw in Dirk’s, she knew he was close. She nudged him to roll over.

He complied, and she was on top. Her turn to bring him to climax. She bounced on him, rubbing herself on his whole length. She was going to come again.

Damn.

She sped up her tempo. Dirk grabbed her hips and thrust into her one last, hard time as she came. Lights exploded behind her eyelids. Dirk gritted his teeth, then a keening sound came out of him.

She slumped onto his chest, completely exhausted.

***

Dirk didn’t know what had happened. His orgasm had been powerful, and Riley had had three. Three. He’d never worked so little for so much satisfaction.

He didn’t think he’d move for days. Riley lay across him, having just caught her breath. He played with a lock of her hair.

If the bed was on fire, he wasn’t sure he could move. He didn’t want to move. Riley slid off of him, and snuggled up next to him. They should probably get under the covers, but he didn’t have the strength. She would probably kill him, but what a way to die.

This day had gone better than expected. He’d never expected to end up in bed with Riley. He’d wanted to be a shoulder. A friend. He’d never expected to go this far.

He took care of the condom. When he returned, Riley was dressing. His heart sank. What was this? Her jaw was set. She wasn’t happy about something.

“You need to leave,” she said.

“You’re kicking me out? Didn’t we just have some amazing sex? Can’t we figure out where this is going?”

She tugged her pants on. “It’s not going anywhere. I needed something. I’m sorry to have used you.”

Used him? No one used Dirk. Well some had, but he was complicit in it, gaining something also. Today, he might be losing something. So this was how it felt? He was being tossed aside. He’d been stud service and that was it.

“I have someone coming over. You need to leave.”

“Justin?”

She stopped. “Of course you know his name. You probably know everything about him.”

He did, but Dirk chose to remain silent. Riley could think what she wanted. She stopped to look at him, her shirt going on without a bra. Was she going to greet Justin like that?

He felt a surge of jealousy. Was she sleeping with him also? Too bad for her, he’d marked her today. She had a red mark on her neck that she’d have to explain. He wanted to chuckle, but Riley would not be amused.

“I’m not giving up, Riley. I’ll leave, but I’ll be back.”

Riley was his. That he was sure of. He wasn’t just going to let her go. No matter the consequences.

“Don’t, Dirk. I’ve moved on.”

He did laugh now. “You’ve moved on?”

He glanced at the bed. She’d been just as involved in that lovemaking as he had. She’d been present. He hadn’t forced her. In fact, she’d asked for it. She’d seduced him.

“I’ve moved on. I have a new man in my life, and I’d like you to respect that.”

“Would that new man be around for long if he knew what we’d just done?”

“He won’t know.” She’d finished dressing then looked at him expectantly. “You need to go, Dirk.”

“What are you going to do for a car?”

“That’s my concern.”

“I could lend you one of mine.”

She put up a hand. “No. I can do this. On my own.”

He wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh again or be angry. He wasn’t giving up on her. They were meant to be together. Maybe she needed more romancing. Maybe she needed a light touch.

He put on his clothes, pondering. She left him alone. He found her on her couch. The same piece of furniture he’d held her on as she cried. Where she’d asked him to take her to bed.

He felt a certain bitterness at being used. He’d never been in that position to not gain anything back. “I’ll go, Riley, but this isn’t the end.”

“It is, Dirk. It has to be. We have nothing in common.”

“We can find things in common.”

He sounded desperate to his own ears. Her doorbell rang. A panicked look crossed her face. “Shit.”

“Guess that’s him. How are you going to explain my presence?”

Her gaze darted around. “You stay here. I’ll go somewhere with him. Then you can leave.”

He smiled at her. He wasn’t going to make this that easy. “No.”

She squared her shoulders. “Fine. You want to meet him?”

She strode to the door, and he admired her balls in this situation. She pulled open the door, a smile on her face. Justin handed her flowers. Then he saw the bruises on her face.

“What happened?”

She let him in. “I was in a car accident.”

“Oh, baby. So sorry.”

Then he saw Dirk. The smile dimmed a little.

“Justin, this is Dirk. He gave me a ride home. He was my last client,” Riley said.

Her gaze told him to be good. He had no desire to do that, but she’d be more pissed if he didn’t.

He shook Justin’s hand. The man met his gaze, and he saw the distrust in him. Good.

“I was just leaving.”

Dirk walked out, but he knew that Riley would have some explaining to do. He laughed all the way to his car.

But he needed a plan. He had to win Riley back. His heart needed her in his life. He probably should have told her how he felt. How he really felt. He loved her, and the thought of Justin having his hands on her made him mad.

He wanted Riley all to himself. All for himself. Justin would be an obstacle. Not a huge one, but one he had to consider. Would Justin fight for Riley? Did he care that much?

Dirk didn’t know. That was an unknown. Still. Dirk had beaten worse odds. And this was more important than anything had been to him in a long time.

He drove out of the parking lot of Riley’s complex, unsure, but undeterred in his mission.