Body Chemistry by Dara Girard Page B

grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. “I’ll have the money deposited into your account and I will send you the manuscript and talk to you later.”
    “Next month perhaps?”
    He pulled her to him and smothered her mouth with a kiss that left her breathless. When he drew away his voice shook from a barely controlled emotion she couldn’t understand. “Remember that and don’t let me see your hand on Franklin’s arm again.” He slammed the door.
     
    Anger radiated through his calm demeanor as Dominic returned to his car. He’d returned to the city looking forward to seeing Brenda again. He hadn’t expected her to fall into his arms, but he definitely hadn’t been prepared to see her hand on Franklin’s arm as she flashed a coy smile at another man. He had struggled hard to stop the urge to knock the two men’s heads together.
    Brenda was his. He hadn’t sent her postcards and his manuscript just so she could toy with him. He’d never be anyone’s toy. He’d followed her home because he wasn’t going to allow her to dismiss him as she had the others. Sitting in the car only let his anger grow, but it warmed him as the cold air seeped in. When she’d finally invited him inside he was ready to unleash his fury, only to be met with her own fury. And in an instant his anger turned into disbelief. She hadn’t received any of his mail.
    Sergeant greeted him when Dominic made it home that evening.
    “Oh, you’re back,” Sheila said when she saw him. “I made you your favorite.”
    He patted his dog. “I’m not hungry,” he snapped, then saw her face fall and softened his tone. “Thanks. I’ll eat it later.”
    He went into his bedroom and sat on the bed without turning on the lights. Sergeant sat and stared up at him. “I’m all right,” Dominic told the dog, stroking its head. “Just disappointed.” He’d driven straight from the airport to Brenda’s office, eager to see how much leeway he’d made with her. When Chuck told him she’d taken time off, he’d been disappointed because he’d told her when he was returning. Seeing her outside the coffee shop had been an accident, but then again maybe it was meant to be.
    He looked at the bright red letters of his clock. He waited until late before he called Thomas.
     
    The ringing phone startled Thomas out of bed. He groped for it in the blackness of early morning, then picked it up. “Hello?”
    “What happened?” a dark voice said over the line.
    Thomas instantly knew whom it belonged to. “What do you mean?”
    “Brenda didn’t know I was away. I thought I told you to tell her.”
    He could feel Natalie waking up beside him and lowered his voice. “I did tell her.”
    “But she said you didn’t.”
    “Look, who are you going to believe? A bitter ex-wife or me? Your cousin and manager? Have I ever let you down? She probably lied just to put you on your guard.” Silence greeted him. “Dominic?” he said, wondering if the phone had gone dead.
    “Brenda doesn’t lie,” he said, causing goose bumps to form on Thomas’s arm.
    Thomas swallowed and turned on the lights, blinking against the shine. Wrong strategy. He wouldn’t attack her character. He had to think fast and come up with another reason. “Maybe she just forgot. It’s been a busy week and it was a short conversation.” He switched the topic, hoping to distract Dominic. “How does she like the water heater?”
    “She’s very pleased.”
    “See? I told you I’d come through for you. It was just a little mix up.”
    “And it won’t happen again?”
    “No.”
    “Hmm.” Dominic paused, then said, “How’s the studio coming?”
    “The studio is fine. I’ve found a great location for her.”
    “Good.” The line went dead.
    Thomas hung up, then fell back on the pillow.
    Natalie sat up. “What was that about?”
    “Dominic was confused about something.”
    “What?”
    “Just something,” he snapped. “It doesn’t matter now.”
    “He asked about the