“Call my father now. I’ll talk to him, and we’ll straighten this out.” She looked for the clutch that she had placed next to her when she sat.

“No.” He lifted her clutch, the same one he’d slipped from her when she’d been looking out the window. “Not yet.” There was no way she’d run the show and call Daddy so he’d come rescue her. The plan was clear—Emanuel would take her out of Boston, hell, out of the U.S. for a while, and then contact her father.

“Give me my purse,” she said, and before he could deny her, she launched onto him, her warm, soft body colliding with his. She raised the hem of her dress to give her a clear advantage, and reached for his hand. Playfully, he passed it from one hand to the other, and she followed his movements, until he placed it behind his back, and she straddled him.

He swallowed, inwardly cursing his cock for responding too quickly. So, so eagerly. He placed his hands on her hips, bringing them into a perfect position to ride him. She gulped, her eyes widening. “Careful,” he said. “You make me think of other things I’d like to give you. And maybe you wouldn’t oppose given your current position.”

Even under the dim lighting of the limo, the pink staining her cheeks was visible. “What? You wouldn’t dare.”  He shouldn’t, for sure. Would he? The thought played in his head like a lazy, melodious Bossa Nova song. “I would never take a lady against her will,” he said, but couldn’t help the smile spreading across his face. “Although in your case maybe it would be mutual.”

She lifted her hand and slapped his face. The sound of her palm hitting his cheek sliced the air. An annoying sting burned his flesh. “You’re… crazy. To think I would ever…” Instead of scowling at her for the smack, he stroked her buttocks, making invisible circles and watching her blush deepen. “Sleep with the enemy? Don’t they say love and hate walk together? Lust and repugnance aren’t far behind,” he said, and leaned into her, the fresh scent of daisies filling his head.

She widened her eyes and jerked away from him. He could have grasped her if he had wanted to emphasize his point, but she seemed scared enough. Or was it fear of her reaction to him?

“Well, in this case lust is about three hundred miles behind. I guarantee you. So you’re not going to let me call my father. Who is this person you think my dad has in his possession?” She crossed her legs and smoothed her hand over her dress.

“Someone who knows the truth and your father doesn’t want exposed,” he said, hoping that much would be enough for now.

She frowned. “What truth?”

“All in good time, Erika.”

“That’s too vague. I’m free right now.”