Free Pages of Passion by Dara Girard

I’m not getting personal. The medication I’ve been on has me a little off my game, that’s all. I am in control of this situation. I won’t fail.”
    Joy stood and shrugged. “If you say so.”
    “I do.”
    “Be careful, Michael.”
    He smiled. “Relax, nena. I’ve got this. You know I’m always careful.” And he would be. He would be objective and keep his distance. Darren wanted his property back and wanted Harris to pay. He couldn’t mess that up. His reputation, his loyalty and his friendship all depended on his success. He couldn’t let a woman get in the way of that. Not again. He had to be professional.
    But over a half hour later as he stood outside the restaurant, he saw Arlene and knew he was in danger of losing all he held dear.

Chapter Seven
    T he moment Noreen saw Michael she knew she’d worn the right outfit. She didn’t like Clyde, but the man had great taste. The clothes he’d bought Arlene were expensive yet subdued. The antiques business must pay very well, she’d thought when she’d opened a zippered garment bag her sister had made her promise not to open until the night of the captain’s ball. Inside was a two-piece black-and-white ensemble featuring a white silk spaghetti-strap top with lace trimming and a black ruffled suede knee-length skirt—touched off with a pair of open-toed black pumps (which, luckily, were one of the more sensible pairs of shoes her sister had packed). To finish the look, Arlene had packed large eighteen-karat gold earrings shaped like leaves, a snakelike gold bracelet that could fit around Noreen’s upper arm anda novelty handbag shaped like bright red lips, which would have looked cheesy on any other woman, but complemented her ensemble.
    Noreen had spent nearly ten minutes staring at the outfit, debating whether she should wear it or not. Now she knew everything was perfect. His gaze slowly and seductively slid downward, taking in every aspect of her, lingering on her bare shoulders and exposed cleavage. The piratelike air had returned to him with a vengeance that no formal attire could hide. There was something inherently male and dominating in his gaze that exhilarated her.
    Was it only last night that she’d stared at him from across a ballroom, wondering if he was a hero or a villain? She still couldn’t be sure, but now she didn’t care.
    Noreen had left his cabin that afternoon feeling giddy. She went swimming just to burn up energy. He made her feel as if she could run laps around the ship, swim the ocean, dance until dawn and do two hundred cartwheels. She was falling in love with him but the thought didn’t frighten her. For several days she got to be Arlene and she was going to relish being a little reckless with her emotions. For the duration of the cruise she was going to let herself believe in happy endings and finding Mr. Right.
    For her, Michael was Mr. Right Now and that was enough. She couldn’t have imagined a better diversion from some of the mundane activities on board. She’d cared for him, dined with him, laughed with him, been quiet with him and felt closer to him than any man she’dever known. What amazed her was how his hazel eyes could easily twinkle with merriment, but just as quickly sharpen with an intellect that continued to surprise her. He smiled easily because he enjoyed life, not because he was shallow.
    Noreen admired his easygoing ways and with him she felt free to toss her cares aside and not worry. She wondered how long she’d be able to hold his attention. She’d never held a man’s interest like this. Being Arlene definitely had its perks. Their relationship—or whatever they could call it—was a dream, except when he mentioned Clyde, but she knew he couldn’t help being curious. It didn’t matter, because in a few days it would all be over and she was going to enjoy the now.
    Only minutes before, Noreen had come down the elevator wondering if Michael would show up for dinner. Nervous, she’d come up