Free Dangerous Curves by Dara Girard

him. She eyed an empty table. “I just think you should be aware that—”
    â€œI’m always aware of what I’m doing,” he said, taking a plate of sliced turkey. “If I want to eat with you I will, if I don’t, I won’t. I don’t need you to tell me about protocol.”
    Heat burned her cheeks. He was right. She had no right to lecture him. She’d forgotten that he was the employer and had the right to do whatever he pleased. His phone buzzed. He checked it, then muttered, “I really hate these meetings,” then started texting. As usual it didn’t take long before he looked satisfied and put the phone away. “All done. Just made five million.”
    Dominique blinked. “Five million?”
    He nodded. “I like to keep my business meetings short.”
    â€œThat was a business meeting?” she asked, surprised. The ones she’d known all her life were never like that.
    â€œYes, I like to keep them short. At least I’m not stuck in an office so I can’t complain. But I have to keep track of the businesses I own or co-own.” A slow smile spread over his face. “Did you think I just live off of my family’s money?”
    â€œIt’s none of my business,” she said, heat burning her cheeks. She’d misjudged him again.
    â€œDon’t worry, you wouldn’t know most of the businesses I’m connected to.”
    â€œRight,” she said, feeling foolish. All this time she’d been with him and she still knew so little about him. She took a deep breath, then noticed a small piece of dried food still on his fork. She shouldn’t make a big deal of it. It was a classy place and it appeared he’d been there before. It was none of her business. He probably wouldn’t even notice. But as he put the fork to his mouth she cringed and grabbed his wrist. “No.”
    Kevin looked at her startled. “What now?”
    Dominique couldn’t hold his gaze so she waved to a waiter. “Excuse me, but we need new utensils.” She snatched the one out of Kevin’s hand. “This one is filthy. And can he please get a glass of water, not a glass of ice?” she said noticing Kevin’s glass stacked with so many ice cubes she could barely see any liquid. “Thank you so much.”
    Once the waiter left, she hung her head, waiting for Kevin to berate her. She couldn’t help herself; she didn’t like when minor details were missed and… Why wasn’t he saying anything? She slowly lifted her head. Kevin sat with his chin in his hands, a devilish grin on his face.
    â€œWhat?”
    His grin widened and his eyes lit with amusement. There were no shadows there, no hint of pain, just pure merriment. And for a moment she could picture him as a little boy, wrapping his mother around his finger.
    But she wasn’t his mother and she wouldn’t fall for his charm. “What?” she asked again, wishing her skin didn’t feel so warm, wishing she didn’t feel a tingling in her stomach.
    He lifted a brow. “Freeport or the Caymans?”
    â€œI don’t know what you mean.”
    â€œWhere does your family vacation?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    The waiter returned with the requested items.
    â€œMaybe the South Seas, perhaps?”
    Dominique thanked the waiter, then opened her mouth to respond to Kevin’s question, but someone interrupted her. “Dominique, is that you?” a female voice said.
    Fear gripped her throat and knotted her insides. She knew that voice. She’d heard it for years. And the owner of that voice could ruin everything.

Chapter 11
    T he well-coiffured woman approached the table and squinted down at Dominique. She needed glasses, and had three pairs, but was too vain to wear them in public. “I knew it was you.”
    Dominique reluctantly stood and kissed both cheeks of one of her mother’s friends, Mariah