You bet Im what?
Smart.
Phillip blinked. He used to think he was. Now? He had no idea.
Im Frankie. She thrust out her hand, her smile widening. Its great to see you.
Its nice to meet you, Phillip said automatically, taking her hand. He was surprised at how small and delicate it was.
Her lips pursed, the move making him uncomfortably aware of how full her mouth was.
You dont know me, do you? she stated, her brown eyes dancing with mirth.
Should I? Yes, his tone was stiff. He didnt like people laughing at him, and he was sure that was exactly what the redheaded sprite was doing.
Im a friend of Laras.
Of course she was.
Phillip was sure the room could be divided into two camps.
The wild, gyrating, tattooed camp his sister belonged to.
And the protocol-loving, rule-living camp of the Navy that he thrived in.
Why, oh, why, did the two have to converge?
The pretty redhead shifted a little closer. Her dress showed off her golden shoulders and deep cleavage, and the table didnt block the length of her long, silky legs beneath her short skirt.
Sexual awareness hit hard and fast and very unwelcome.
In defense against it, Phillip looked away. His gaze landed on the stage, where his sister and Castillo were wrapped around each other like vines. It was Laras hand on her husbands ass this time.
Good God. A waiter approached the table and Phillip gratefully exchanged his empty glass for a full one, giving the guy a smile and a signal to keep them coming. If this kept up, he was going to need a few more.
He fought the desire to simply get up and leave. To get the hell out of here. But he was trapped. Trapped by his emotions, by the sudden demands of family, by his memories.
Desperate for distraction, a part of him screaming for reprieve, Phillip focused all of his considerable attention on Frankie. The name chimed faintly in his memory, but the sound was easily drowned out by his third scotch.
Cmon, Frankie said, getting to her feet and reaching out to grab his hand.
Where? Phillip didnt get up, but he didnt shake off her hand either. There was something oddly compelling about her touch. That, and seeing her standing there, her short dress glistening and her hair swirling around her face, was a serious turn-on.
The dance floor, of course, she said, laughing. You cant tell me youre Laras brother and you dont dance.
The waltz, a foxtrot if forced andalthough hed only admit it at gunpointthe tango, all thanks to lessons mandated by his mother, the queen of high society. Phillip glanced at the dancers and shook his head. Not one lesson at Madame Lenores had included a bump or a grind. Hed be lost out there.
Cmon, Frankie said again, tugging.
Curious, and just a little bit fascinated, Phillip let her drag him to his feet. Her tiny hand wrapped around his, she pulled him through the dancers. She was so small he felt as though he should be the one in front, protecting her. But she moved like a friendly bulldozer, her smile parting the crowd all the way to the sliding glass door that led to the patio. And, he knew from his initial inspection, a private elevator.
Escape.
Im staying until cake. He grimaced, remembering Landons orders.
She grabbed a bottle of champagne from a passing waiter and handed it to him before taking two empty glasses with a murmured thanks.
Cake isnt for another half hour, she said with a wink, pushing the door open and leading him through. It silently slid shut behind them and thenblessed quiet.
Phillip closed his eyes for a second, letting the lack of wailing guitars wash over him. It wasnt until his ears stopped ringing that he realized there actually was music out here, too. Softer music. A medley of strings.
Dance? Frankie asked, setting the glasses on an empty table.
Phillip hesitated.
Not because he didnt want to dance with her.
But because he did.
This was the wrong time to be attracted to a woman.
His head was all kinds of messed up. He was on a personal mission for vengeance.
He didnt do relationships. And despite her party-girl appearance, there was something about her freckles that told him Frankie was a relationship girl at heart.
Which made her off-limits.
Relationships and a career as a Navy SEAL? Despite the celebrating going on in the other room, Phillip knew relationships were a bad idea. He didnt believe in splitting his focus, and had long ago vowed that his only commitment would be to his career.
Hed be better off making his excuses and returning to the noisy assault and painful visuals. Ready to do just that, he gave Frankie a polite smile.
And wished those huge brown eyes werent so appealing. Or that body so temptingly hot.
But those huge brown eyes were so appealing, and that body was temptingly hot. Her personality was so damned engaging that, for the first time since hed been taken captive, he didnt feel lost. The vicious fury that had become his constant companion, and that no therapy could erase, was shoved aside.
Instead, lust took over.
2
FRANKIE HELD HER BREATH, her heart beating so hard she was surprised her dress wasnt shaking. Eyes wide, she waited to see what hed do. After a second he glanced at the door leading back to the party. She tried not to pout, sure he was about to refuse.
Then, with a small frown, he set down the champagne bottle and held out a hand.
Look at how he made that look as if it was his idea. She grinned as she placed her hand in his and let him lead her out of view of the door. Of course, Phillip Banks of the Maryland Bankses was high society through and through.
Kinda like a prince.
Which, given her status in that same state, made her a pauper.
She wiggled her toes in her beribboned Lucite heels, figuring she could rock the role of Cinderella for just one night.
They reached the far side of the patio, a bronze fire pit casting a magical glow over them as Phillip faced her, his hand curling around her waist.
Amusement fled.
So did thought.
All Frankie could do was feel.
Staring into Phillips brilliant green eyes, she gave over to delight, loving everything that was going on in her body as they began to sway to the music.
Excitement.
Curiosity.
And a sexual rush that was doing wild things to her insides.
Tingling things. Wet, hot things.
Things that made her wonder what it would be like to strip naked and see what other moves he had.
The music picked up and Phillips arched brow was her only warning before he twirled her out and then pulled her back into his arms.
Oh, baby.
Im impressed. You have to have a special kind of rhythm to move like this, she said with a breathless laugh. I guess dance lessons do pay off.
You say that as if you know me, he noted quietly, his gaze intent.
She opened her mouth to tell him she did before closing it again. Just because she knew him didnt mean he knew her. She wasnt sure theyd ever actually said more than hello to each other before tonight.
Admitting how she knew him would mean telling him she was little Francesca Silvera, the housekeepers granddaughter. The tomboy whod had a secret crush on him all the way through school. Whod endured haystack hair for a year after dying her red curls blonde to try to look more like his prom queen girlfriend. Shed been the laughingstock of the sixth grade.
Hey, a girl needed some secrets, right? It wasnt as if he was ever going to come back to the Banks estate and find out who she really was. So why shouldnt she enjoy the encounter for what it wastwo people, practically strangers, who were very attracted to each other. At least, she was very attracted to him.
Phillip was hard to read.
Frankie? he prompted, his voice a little huskier than before.
Youve got a polish that most guys only have if theyve taken lessons, she lied, giving him a saucy look. On top of that, you definitely move like a man who knows what to do with his body.
Are you flirting with me? he asked, sounding baffled.
Delighted, she laughed. Poor guy. He clearly hadnt been flirted with enough in his privileged lifetime if he had to ask.
Do you mind if I do?
A tiny frown creased his brow. Before he could resolve whether he minded or not, Frankie decided to tilt the odds in her favor. She moved a little closer, her fingers sliding from his shoulder to skim along the back of his neck.
She wet her lips, smiling a little when his gaze shifted. Shed spent many a teenage year dreaming of him looking at her this way. At first she hadnt had a clue what shed do if he did give her that look. But thanks to the library, HBO and three older female cousins, it wasnt that long before she could fill in all the juicy details of her fantasy.
And life had just handed her a golden opportunity to live out that fantasy, to get more specific about those details. She knew she would regret it if she didnt make the most of it.
I dont think flirting is a good idea, he told her, his voice deep.
Oh, I beg to differ, she said, sliding closer. Her breasts brushed his chest, but thanks to the material of her dress, all she felt was hard metal instead of the hard expanse of his sexy chest. So she shifted, pressing one thigh between the length of both of his. Oh, the delight. Never discount the fun of flirting.
Fun?
You dont think flirting is fun?
He looked so serious as he considered her question.
Flirting is usually a prelude, he mused, his fingers flexing on her hip. Frankie wondered if he wanted to slide them down, wished he would. Shed love to feel his hand on her butt. Would he grab and squeeze, or smooth and caress?
A prelude to what? she asked, her thumb circling his palm. His slacks rubbed in delicious friction against the inside of her bare thigh.
A prelude to trouble, he decided with a smile, looking as if he was trying to warn her off but didnt want to be rude.
Ever the gentleman. Enjoying the feeling of his leg between hers, Frankie smiled. Shed always wondered if she could tempt him to lose that polite sheen. Time to find out.
You consider sex trouble? she asked, her fingers skimming up and down the warm skin along the back of his neck. At the same time, she gave him her sultriest lookpracticed for hours in front of her bedroom mirrorand made a show of nibbling on her bottom lip.
His eyes narrowed, but his expression didnt change. She was impressed. Shed only used that look on one guy beforeand granted, hed been delivering her new futon and shed been trying to convince him to take the old couch awaybut the result had been positive. Hed hauled off the couch, set up her futon and even moved her entertainment center.
But Phillip was a military man. A Navy SEAL. A yummy challenge in the form of her dream guy. Excitement layered over desire.
He was the answer to everything she needed.
A sexy lover shed been fantasizing about for most of her life. A hot, exciting man who, she was sure, in just one night would set her inspiration free.
If Frankie could seduce a man as controlled as Phillip Banks, she knew she could seduce her own creative muse out of the cave it had been hiding in.
I consider anything done impetuously to have the potential for trouble, Phillip said quietly, his words reminding her of the teasing question shed asked. Sex between strangers is both impetuous and ill-advised.
Ill-advised? Frankies lips twitched. He was so cute and proper.
Well, then, why dont we get to know each other? she suggested, her fingers trailing along the back of his neck. Im Frankie. I work with silver, love pasta and hoard cookbooks, even though I can barely boil water.
He looked baffled for a second, and then his eyes dropped to her dress. Since he had to look past the ample curves of her breasts to see it, she bit her lip, watching to see his reaction.
Nothing. She frowned.
Then his eyes met hers again and heat exploded in her belly.
Oh, those eyes. Deep green, filled with as much passion as pain. She wanted to pull him tighter into her arms and make him forget everything except pleasure.
Silver? Like jewelry?
Frankies stomach clenched, the familiar knot of fear thrumming in her chest. Shed always wanted to be an artist. To stand out for her creative style and share her vision with others. Until that vision had faded.
The answer to blocked creative energy was to refill the well. Shed tried every other option. Yoga, creative play dates with herself, changing her diet, her sleep habits and her hairstyle. Nothing had helped.
She took a deep breath, focusing on Phillips face. On his steady gaze. Hed help. He was the only fantasy shed ever had that she hadnt lived out. As soon as she did, she was sure the block would be broken.
There are a lot of other things made of silver besides jewelry, she finally said, smiling sassily. Quirky, fun, out-of-the-box things. Arts more fun when its unexpected, dont you think?
She almost laughed aloud at the look on his face. Polite doubt. Then his eyes slid down her face like a gentle caress, pausing for a second on her lips before dipping lower.
Oh. Her breath caught, her body happily sliding back over to the desire side, closing the door on all her boring doubts and worries. No, being turned on was much more fun.
Even more fun?
Turning Phillip on.
Hoping she could, Frankie took a deep breath, letting the cool air work its magic on her breasts, pressing them closer to his chest.
His eyes met hers, desire clear in the green depths.
Did you make your dress? he asked, sounding so normal she had to blink and wonder if shed misread that look.
She shifted so her thigh rubbed against his, her hip brushing the front of his slacks. Heat exploded in her belly, sending awareness through her body.
He might sound indifferent, but he was rock hard.
So she could listen to his tone, or something else.
The choice was a no-brainer.
I didnt make the dress, no. If I had, Id have made sure it was a little more secure, she said, shrugging one shoulder so the strap slipped just a little. Its heavy and its so loose on top that Im sure one wrong move and the whole thing will end up on the floor.
Or one right move.
Phillip looked as though shed smacked him upside the head. His eyes went dark and his breath caught as the image took hold.