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  In silence, they made their way around the various flower gardens, the scent of rich soil and ocean air soothing Dani’s frayed nerves. A few deep breaths helped ease the knot in her stomach, and the hurt and anger inside dissipated.

  The gazebo perched on the top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Cope helped her up the steps and steered her to a screened-in opening on the west side, which offered an unobstructed view of the ocean. Strategically placed lights illuminated a path to the shore. Dani gasped at the sight of it.

  She faltered in her heels, which pinched her feet and made walking uncomfortable. Glad to see cushioned seating arranged so that the ocean view was the focal point, Dani sat on a loveseat, drawing Cope down beside her.

  “What happened to make you so sad? Did you get bad news?”

  Not wanting to upset Cope by divulging what his mother had done, Dani leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. “I’m overwhelmed. Tired. There’s been so much going on. I needed some air and space.”

  Cope’s hand stroked Dani’s hair, comforting and sweet. She should tell him about her involvement in the investment firm. Before she opened her mouth to speak, she bit back the words. What if he got angry and turned to Katherine? But the longer she kept it to herself, the worse it would be when Cope finally found out. A heartfelt wish to keep it secret forever surged through her, but she knew that wasn’t realistic.

  If Margaret ever found out, she’d be delighted to fill him in, and that would kill any prospects Dani and Cope’s relationship had. But spilling it now would be the worst decision. He’d be angry, they’d argue, and he’d fall into Katherine’s arms. The possible catastrophic outcomes flooded into Dani’s head one after the other.

  The soft, gentle touch of his hand on her hair slowed her racing heart and eased her anxiety. Cope touched a finger under Dani’s chin and tilted her face up so their gazes locked, and then he dipped to cover her lips with his.

  A lust-filled sigh escaped her, and he reacted by kissing her more deeply, his tongue probing her mouth. Letting the moment and Cope take her, Dani returned the kiss. Fists gripping the back of his shirt, she clung to him, wanting to hide here in the dark forever.

  It reminded her of the time they’d sat on the beach by the ocean, but this time, she was sober, and he was hers. His lips kissed a trail down her face, her throat, to the plunging neckline of her dress, and paused there, nibbling and tasting the bare skin.

  “Did you bring me out here to seduce me?” she gasped.

  “You make it sound like it’ll take work.” The devilish grin he had when he wanted to tease her had returned, making Dani’s heart hammer against her chest.

  “No, it would be way too easy for you,” she breathed back.

  Cope unzipped his pants and pulled Dani into his lap, hiking the dress around her waist as he did.

  “Ah, God. That low-cut dress, the slit up the side showing off one leg, has been killing me. I have to have you right now.” He sounded fierce, almost feral. Every touch of his fingers sent sparks racing to her loins. Dani heard the sound of a condom wrapper tearing open and buried her face in his neck.

  “What if someone finds us out here?”

  “In another few seconds, I won’t care if they film it and post it to the Internet.” Cope fumbled in the darkness and then lifted her so she straddled him. That made her giggle though nervousness competed with wanton desire, leaving her tense but still insane with lust.

  He held her hips, and Dani removed her panties and impaled herself on him, letting out a cry when he met her with a light thrust. They ground against one another, and Dani wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. Mouths pressed together as if they were resuscitating one another, they tumbled into a passionate rhythm.

  For a second, Cope came up for air, and said, “Daniella, I can’t keep my hands off your body.”

  Dani’s hands skimmed over his muscles and his soft hair. Everything about him was a miracle. His scent intoxicated her, and his voice soothed her. Cope, solid under her, in her, filled her and completed her.

  The ecstasy, when it flooded her, made her melt in his arms, and as she released, he spent himself inside her. Heartbeat to heartbeat, they clung together, inhaling sex and ocean breezes.

  Dani snuggled in Cope’s lap while he helped her put herself back together. Margaret’s threats and intimidations roared back into Dani’s mind, shattering her peace. Possessively, she hugged Cope and gave him a frenzied kiss.

  “Whoa, you’ll get me revved up again. What brought that on?”

  “Nothing,” she said. “I don’t want to let you go, Cope, and I need to touch you.”

  “Not a problem.” He kissed her cheek and her forehead.

  No matter what, Dani decided, she’d never let Margaret steal this man away for someone else. But the doubt refused to go away. How would she ever be able to tell him the truth?

  Later that night, Dani wrenched out of a nightmare, shaking and chilled. The vision, this time of Margaret forcing her into the coffin and burying her alive, kept her awake until almost dawn.

  Chapter 17

  Candles lit, Dani stepped back from the dining room table and admired her handiwork. The aroma of roasted chicken filled the air, the salad was done and keeping chilled in the fridge, and the mashed potatoes stayed warm in the toaster oven. All she needed now was Cope to arrive.

  Since the night two weeks ago when they’d first slept together, she’d seen him every few days, though to Dani, that wasn’t often enough. An ache in her heart intensified whenever she thought about Cope. She missed him—his touch, the sound of his voice, his laugh, his gorgeous body—everything about him. And he made her feel safe and cherished, something she’d never had from anyone else.

  The doorbell rang, and Dani rushed over and threw open the door. “Flowers. How sweet. Thank you.” Dani took the bouquet of red roses, blue daisies, and fresh green carnations from Cope and headed to the kitchen to get a vase.

  He followed her, removing his blazer and dropping it on the couch as he walked by. “You opened the door awfully fast.”

  “I was so excited you were here that I leaped to open it.” Dani looked up, puzzled. Why was he commenting on how quickly she’d opened the door?

  “Maybe it’s not my place, but you’re a celebrity. It’s risky for you not to look through the peephole first. Don’t say you checked because you opened the door too fast to have taken the time to verify it was me.”

  Dani frowned. “I should have looked. You’re right. But I was expecting you, Cope, and you texted me you were on your way.” Not slowing in her quest to get a vase, she opened a cupboard door under the sink and retrieved a large, glass urn.

  “Yes, but since you gave me the access code, and I didn’t have to buzz to come up, you didn’t know who was there. What if I’d been delayed and a crazed fan had got into the building? Actresses have been killed opening their doors to homicidal fans.”

  Dani set the flowers on the table, trimmed the ends, and turned to the sink to put water in the vase. “I can only recall one example, so the odds are with me, but it doesn’t hurt to be cautious. I’ll check next time. Okay?” Dani gave him her biggest, most reassuring smile, touched by his concern.

  Cope moved to her side, put his arms around her waist, and nuzzled her neck.

  Dani sighed, loving the affection, basking in the comfort he provided. God, I’m falling in love. That surprised her—she hadn’t thought herself capable.

  “I’m worried, Daniella. You’re exposed. Photographers stalk you. This thing with your mother has kept your face in the newspapers, on TV, in the magazines. Now you’re filming a sequel to an Oscar-winning movie, and you’re at risk. Hire a driver from my company, starting next month. I’ll be open for business then. The money’s in the bank, and I’ve got everything lined up and ready to open the doors on the first of June. The driver will double as a bodyguard.”

  “Robert.” Dani set the vase full of water on the counter and
faced him. Ignoring the twinge of guilt about his funding, she jumped on the bodyguard comment. “A bodyguard? Why? I’m not royalty.”

  “You’re my queen.” Cope grinned, and his lips grazed hers.

  Her body responding, Dani pressed her mouth over his and gave him a deep, soul-shattering kiss.

  “Keep this up,” he muttered against her mouth, “and we’ll burn this dinner, too.”

  She pulled away and picked up the vase. “Not this time, my friend. I won’t be distracted. We’ll have the lovely, yet simple, dinner I prepared.” Dani winked. “Then we’ll take this party into the bedroom, because by then, I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.”

  Bodyguard? Did she really need a bodyguard? She supposed the idea wasn’t that crazy. Why argue over it when Cope was only concerned for her safety? Other than John, who was more like a big brother to her now, no one had worried about her or cared what she did. It was nice.

  Flower food packet opened, Dani dumped the contents into the water in the vase and arranged the flowers. She set the whole thing in the center of the kitchen table. “They’re so beautiful.”

  “Glad you like them. You okay with the bodyguard? I don’t want you rebelling and causing the poor guy grief. I’ve been in his shoes—I know how stubborn you can be.”

  “Yes. It won’t hurt me to have added protection.” She thought about Henderson. He made her increasingly uneasy. The other day, he’d asked Dani why she hadn’t admitted to him it was Cope she was dating.

  Dani and Cope had been careful to avoid being seen canoodling in public, though after going to his parents’ place yesterday, the news was getting out. But the tabloids hadn’t yet got hold of that tidbit about her personal life, so Henderson hadn’t heard it from the media. When she’d questioned him, he’d refused to say how he’d found out. And he’d been drinking again on set.

  The timer buzzed, and Dani went to take the chicken out of the oven while Cope disposed of the debris from the flowers.

  “The dining room table is already set,” she said. “We just need to carry the food in.”

  “I’ll help.” He headed for the fridge. “What do you need?”

  “Start with the salad and the bottle of sparkling water. There’s also organic juice if you prefer, and I have a well-stocked bar, but I haven’t touched it since filming started.”

  They set the table and settled down to the meal. Conversation flowed, Dani relaxing from Cope’s easy, affable manner.

  “This is great. I didn’t know you could cook.”

  “It relaxes me. Yes, I can afford to hire someone to do it, but I’ve always cooked for myself. When I was still with my mom, I made the meals for both of us.” She left it at that—discussing her crappy, non-existent childhood would just bum them both out.

  “I want to take you out for a change, on a real date,” he said. “We’ve hidden in our apartments too long, and a party at my parents’ doesn’t count.”

  “The media will be on it if we step out in public.” Dani wondered if it mattered to Cope whether his picture got in the paper.

  “Does that bother you?” he said.

  Dani shrugged. “If you don’t care that our relationship becomes public knowledge, then we can go out.” Henderson popped into her head again then. But Greg already knows who I’m seeing. He wouldn’t care. Still, that he’d see pictures of her and Cope together worried Dani though she didn’t understand why. She’d seen pictures of Henderson with a variety of women since shooting started, and she’d felt nothing.

  “What’s wrong? You’re scowling.” Cope stopped eating and set his fork down.

  Dani forced her face to relax and smiled at him. “Nothing. I’m okay with letting the news get out if you are.”

  “I have nothing to hide.”

  “They’ll pick us apart, Cope. Once it gets out, everything you do will be under the microscope. They’ll dig into your past. Remember when Greg and I were together? I wasn’t a household name then, but I became one overnight. The whole world got to hear that my father had abandoned the family when I was five.” Dani fell silent, remembering the whole sordid time.

  “Speaking of Henderson, I’ve tried to keep my mouth shut about that ape, but if he does anything inappropriate, tell me.”

  “It’ll be fine. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.”

  Cope took her hand and kissed it. “I know.” His voice became gentle. “I’m just acting like the jealous boyfriend. He’s your ex, and I’m trying not to think about the sex scenes you’ll be doing.”

  “The love scenes will be more technical than romantic. There’ll be a minimal set crew because filming that type of scene can make you nervous.” And it was scheduled for the next day, a fact she refused to disclose to Cope right now—why make him worry? When it was over and done, she’d mention it was in the past, and he’d be able to relax, knowing they’d got through it without problems.

  “I can imagine.” Cope finished the last mouthful of food. “Want to plan something for this weekend?”

  Dani’s heart surged at the prospect of going on a normal date. She thought about it as they cleared the table and did the dishes. It all seemed so domestic. Was this what John and his wife had? No wonder he’d refused to jeopardize it. An image popped into her head of her and Cope in a home of their own, surrounded by kids, a dog, cats …

  Her cell phone buzzed. “Sorry,” she said. “I meant to shut that off.”

  When she fished it out of the purse sitting on the couch, the call display showed “Greg Henderson.” She turned it to silent. Let him leave a message. This was her private time with her boyfriend. Dani smiled at Cope. “Nothing that can’t wait. Would you like a coffee or tea?”

  “Shouldn’t there be an ‘or me’ on the end of that question because that’s the option I choose.” He whispered it, thick and husky.

  “What about dessert?”

  “I’m thinking about dessert.” Cope strode to her and captured Dani in his arms. Mouth sinking to hers, he devoured, taking her breath away.

  The familiar jolt of desire spread through her body, starting at her stomach and weakening her knees. Savored kisses; shared passion. Dani tumbled into the lust and found affection, gentleness, and even love. Afraid she loved him, and that it was possible he loved her back, Dani focused on the physical, trembling, moaning to his caress.

  The world rocked, but it was just her feet going out from under her as Cope lifted her into his arms. “I’m taking you to the bedroom.”

  Dani nodded, unable to speak. Arms around his neck, she nuzzled his shoulder and kissed his lips. Such a perfect face he had. Her hand roamed his face, stroked his cheek, his ear, the curve of his throat.

  So gentle Dani almost cried, Cope set her on the bed and undressed her while she lay gazing up at him. When she tried to sit, to reach him, to strip him, he shook his head, his mouth curled into a bawdy grin. “Let me feast on you?”

  Again she nodded, still at a loss for words. But the gasps, the moans, and the sighs spilled from her. Cope’s hands sparked life and electricity through her. The room was too bright, so Dani found her voice. “The lights … turn them off?”

  When Cope removed his hands and rose to switch off the lights, his absence filled her with an ache stronger than anything she’d ever experienced. Need overwhelmed her—need for his touch, his voice, his whole being.

  “Oh, God, Robert. Please.” But she couldn’t have said what she begged him to do. It didn’t matter—whatever he wanted was okay with her.

  Cope lay next to her, mouth tasting her lips, hands exploring her, exciting her, sating the hunger within her that only he could satisfy. When his naked body covered hers, she came back with a shock, unable to remember him undressing.

  Impatient to have him inside her, she slid a hand to his swollen penis, already covered with a condom, and guided him into her. Gratified at the strangled cry wrenched from him as he entered her, Dani wrapped her legs around him, wanting him deeper, deeper.r />
  “Dani, Jesus. Oh, God. I’ll pass out.”

  Tighter. She gripped him tighter, with her arms, her legs, and the muscles inside her. This was about uniting, not just physical release. But the release was there, and hers came first. Gasps, twitches, moans, and screams she muffled with closed lips heralded Dani’s climax and then triggered Cope’s.

  Sweat trickled down his forehead, and Dani wiped it away with tender fingers. He collapsed onto her chest and rolled to his back, settling next to her. Dani snuggled against him, into the crook of his arm, her head on his chest. She peppered his chest with kisses and smiled in response to his grin.

  “I can’t get enough of you,” Cope said and smoothed the sweat-damp hair from her face.

  “Me too. You.” Dani giggled, a surge of happiness making everything delightful. “Stay here tonight?” Cope hadn’t done that before, and she wondered if asking him now would make him feel smothered. But the prospect of letting him walk out the door, leaving her alone, frightened her more than asking him to stay did.

  “Of course.”

  Relaxed, happy, drowsiness overpowered Dani, and her lids drooped. When the apartment buzzer sounded, she jumped.

  Chapter 18

  Cope turned to Dani. “You expecting someone?”

  “No, of course not. I’ll be right back.” Dani grabbed a robe from the hook on the back of the bedroom door and hurried to the foyer. She pressed the intercom button. “Hello?”

  A belch and sniffling greeted her.

  “Hello?”

  “Dan—Dan—ni—” Henderson’s voice hiccupped over the intercom.

  “Greg?” Dani startled when Cope’s hand dropped to her shoulder and his arm wrapped around her.

  “Everything okay?” Cope’s voice was mild, conversational, but Dani sensed the tension under it.

  “Can I—” Braaack. “Can I come up?”

  “Not a good time, Greg. Go home. You’re drunk, and we’ve got an early shoot tomorrow.” The love scene tomorrow.

  “I just want to talk, babe.”