O'Neil Brothers: High Stakes Part 20

Dylan took her elbow. "Lets grab some lunch and see what happens." Ever the gentleman, he allowed her to precede him out.

Tommy took off with some buddies, and she and Dylan ended up in a cafe around the corner from the statehouse. Dylan snagged a table by the window-lucky him, because there were only twenty in the place. Rachel looked around at the open, wood-fire grill, green cloths on the tables and bundles of St. Paddys Daygreen-and-white carnations scattered throughout. "This is a nice place. Have you been here before?"

"A time or two."

A man hed spoken to on the way in said something to their waiter, who headed over. He and Rachel ordered coffee first. As she sipped hers, she said, "You know the guy who owns this place, dont you?"

"Yeah, he visits our pub when hes in town." Dylan smiled at her. "So, do you think the second hearing tomorrow with a different witness will go the same way?"

"And the day after." "Will you stay?"

"Yes, in case something develops. I was hoping to get an interview with the head of the committee or one of the defense lawyers."

"How would you do that?"

The query set off an alarm. She just watched him. "Is this for your column?"

His face was inscrutable. "Maybe."

That should be good news, but she felt the chill between them rise, as if the temperature had dropped ten degrees. "So, you are doing a second column on me?"

"You deserve one." He raised his chin. No longer was he the man whod tended to her while she was sick. The man whod looked happy to see her an hour ago. "Im leaning toward giving it to you."

d.a.m.n, she wasnt going to cower. If they were going to talk personally, these professional cards had to be on the table. "Any idea about the content?"

"Lots of them. But none Im ready to share just yet."

Rachel should have expected that. Just because hed helped her out a time or two, said he liked her, cared about her, didnt mean he respected her professionally. But if he slept with her on this trip, which she was hoping would happen, could he still write a scathing commentary?

Of course he could. Shed slept with him and betrayed him the very next day.

Wondering if his thinking ran along the same line as hers, she made small talk during a lunch of Reuben sandwiches. He said little, and the warmth of his greeting, his excitement yesterday morning about the book deal seemed to have disappeared. Oh, h.e.l.l, maybe hed thaw later, over a gla.s.s of wine.

When the check came, Rachel grabbed it. "Im on an expense account."

"Thats right. Sometimes, I forget..." He didnt finish.

"Forget what, Dylan?"

"Nothing."

She didnt push him. "So, ready to go back to the statehouse?"

"You know what? Since this story doesnt seem like its going anywhere, maybe I should head back to New York. I can follow you on TV."

Her eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, sure. No need for me to stay."

"I see." She hoped her expression didnt reveal her confusion and...disappointment.

Maybe it did. He seemed to relent a bit. "I have a column to write about you, Rachel. I came up here on a whim, and because I was with you so much when you were sick. Id also just gotten great news. I let myself believe I could ignore what I had to do, but I just realized staying-talking personally-will affect my professional integrity."

She felt like hed knocked the breath out of her. At first, he didnt say anything. Then she got out, "Do what you have to do, Dylan."

"Notes for CitySights article on Rachel Scott "Note to self: Be tough, Dylan. Make this cutting edge like your other stories.

"These are the facts: "Rachel Scott works 24/7.

"She is acutely ambitious. No personal life. (Absence of friends and time spent with family. No one to take care of her when ill?) "She uses poor judgment in choosing stories. (Secret Service Agent Tim Jenkins) "She blames others for her mistakes. (Sophie-everybodys edited.) "Shes devious and underhanded. Doesnt abide by promises. (Sneaking into Aidans wedding-no cameras, I promise.) "And why: need to succeed, parental disapproval, family of stars."

He stared hard at the incriminating words. f.u.c.k!

All of it was true, but slanted toward the negative. Yet he knew in his heart that he hadnt described the real Rachel, or at least not the whole Rachel. Not the Rachel he knew and had come to care for.

Pus.h.i.+ng himself away from the desk, he walked to the front window. It had snowed again last night. Maybe hed shovel off this mood. Donning boots, gloves and a thermal jacket, he headed outside. Icy cold slapped him in the face, but he ignored it. Ramming the shovel into the snow on the stoop, he threw the ma.s.s into the bushes, then cleared Liams stoop, too. On the sidewalk to the driveway, the snow got heavier. He lifted it, though, and felt a twinge in his back. After only a few minutes, he started to breathe hard. Shovel, shovel, puff, puff. His nose watered and his face p.r.i.c.kled. His ears were frozen. Forcing himself to blank his mind, he cleared a few feet, then a few more until you could see all the blacktop of the entire driveway. His heart was pounding and his lower back screaming. d.a.m.n, hed overdone it. Thinking hot shower, he headed up the now-clear driveway and reached Liams side of the house first; the door opened.

His brother lazed against the doorjamb. "We have a snow blower."

"I know. I needed the exercise. Why didnt you come out to help?" Dylan asked, annoyed.

"Because you needed the exercise. I can tell by the stiff way you hold yourself that somethings eating you up." He nodded to the driveway. "Did it work?"

His gut still churning, he looked away. "Maybe."

"You dont sound too sure. Wanna come in?"

"Theres nothing to say, Liam. I made some mistakes lately that Im trying to correct."

A gust of wind blew some of the snow at his feet and more flakes fell from the roof, landing on Liams shoulders and chest.

"Get inside, man, before I freeze to death."

Dylan followed Liam into his half of the house and shed his outer clothing. He glanced around, noting how much more homey the place was than his. Liam got them both beers. Dylan asked, "Dont you have to work supper?"

"No, Sweeneys filling in. I got me a date with Sophie. I thought you were going away for a story."

"I went. It didnt pan out." Aka, I got cold feet.

"Hmm. I saw Rachel Scott reporting the bridge-scandal hearing on location. I thought maybe thats where you went."

Swallowing hard, Dylan held Liams gaze. For his whole life, he knew he could trust this man. "I did."

"When you let me know you were leaving town, you said you might not make it back tonight if there was a lot to do."

"Uh-huh."

Liam blew out a heavy breath. "Since it looks like Im only gonna get one-word answers, let me tell you what I think."

"I dont want to hear it."

"Tough." Liam leaned forward. "You have a thing for her. I suspected it right from the beginning by the way you taunted her, but its turned into more, I can tell that from the expression on your face."

"You think you know so much about me just by watching me?"

"Dont be an a.s.s. Im trying to help."

Dylan closed his eyes. "I know. Sorry."

"I thought maybe you were going to tackle your feelings head on when you left this morning."

Liams gentle tone brought forth Dylans honesty. "It was a bad idea."

"Was it?"

He gripped the bottle. "Yes."

"You know, Dyl, regrets are worse than mistakes."

"How would you know that? You and Kitty had the ideal life."

"We did." He stared off behind Dylans shoulder. "But she wanted another kid, and I said no. Shed had too much trouble with the previous two pregnancies given her endometriosis. We fought about it. When she died, I wished Id given her the little girl she wanted. Then Id have the child now, too, as a reminder of Kitty."

Feeling his brothers pain, Dylan put his hand on Liams arm. "You never told any of us that."

"It was too private."

"Im sorry. But Im not sure that applies to me in this situation."

"Maybe, maybe not. But this thing with Scott has got you in knots. My advice is to go find her and untie some. See how things hang together."

Dylan stood. Because his brother was voicing what he wanted to do, he had to get out of here. "Thanks, bro. Im not sure what Im gonna do, but knowing you care helps. And for what its worth, I wish you had that little girl, too."

When he walked back into his place, he dropped down in front of the computer and stared at the screen. The icon labeled Rachel, under his columns, stared back-accusingly. s.h.i.+t, he moved it to the desktop, then to the trash.

He opened a new file, where he kept track of her activities and all his notes on her, and listed what was in his heart.

"Rachel Scott is a genuinely hard worker. Her day begins early morning, as she prepares for her show and future static segments, which could be run anytime. She barely stops for meals but still looks beautiful for the taping."

d.a.m.n, delete, delete. He couldnt say she was beautiful. Could he?

"Rachel Scott cares about her family-world renowned doctors and a CEO. Scott has made her mark in the broadcasting world on par with their successes.

"Rachel Scott believes in pay-it-forward." He described the dance studio and little Kammy.

"Rachel Scott invites loyalty. People who work for her and care about her. (Not so sure about the higher-ups) "Rachel Scott is sensitive." (She treated my confidences with genuine concern and sincerity.)"

By the time darkness fell, Dylan sat back and looked at the new draft. It was all true, but so was the one hed trashed. d.a.m.n, what was he going to do with all this?

Rachel stared into the camera and gave her phoniest smile ever to the audience. "Im afraid thats all I have for you, Laura."

"Thanks for the live appearance tonight. I know your fans miss you."

They had. Shed been deluged by emails and tweets about her absence. Finally, shed had to post on her Facebook page that she was under the weather. And then gone on a.s.signment.

As she waited for the camera to turn off, she thought about what a bust this trip had been. First, shed expected to get some kind of story about Weinstein other than, On the advice of my lawyer... There had been a bomb scare in the city and Tommy was needed. Hed return tomorrow.

And then, out of the blue, when theyd been having a nice lunch, the columns came up and Dylan took off.

"Thats a wrap, Rach." One of her favorite on-location studio operatives smiled over at her.

Rachel stepped away from the desk and took off her mic.

He added, "Great to have you here."

"You, too, Nick. Hey, I havent seen you since the fall. Did your kid like college?"

"Happy as a clam. Dads still missing her, though."

Trying to summon energy, she dragged her way to the dressing room shed used tonight, put on her long, red wool coat and took the elevator down to the lobby. Since she didnt need Sam here, she should have called a cab from upstairs but had been preoccupied with thoughts of Dylan. What was he doing tonight? How was he feeling?

When the doors opened, her jaw dropped. Because there he was, looking s.e.xy as sin in a black leather jacket over a light blue sweater that highlighted his intense gaze.

"I-"

He silenced her by stepping inside, shocked her by closing the door and pus.h.i.+ng the stop b.u.t.ton. Pressing her back against the wall of the car, he engulfed her in his arms. She was aware of only the hardness of his body and the demands of his mouth. He teased open her lips and then explored her. Ravenously. Rachels mind spun away from why he was here into a swell of sensation. He took more of her, consumed her. When he finally broke the kiss and stepped back, she was shaking with desire, wet with wanting. "I-"

He placed gentle fingers over her mouth and shook his head. Then he turned and released the stop b.u.t.ton.

She got the message-no talking. So Rachel didnt talk. She let him lead her outside, and kept silent for the entire trip to her hotel while he simply clasped her hand on his knee. When they reached their destination, he let the valet park his car and drew her to his side as they walked into the plush lobby. They ignored the people milling around and strode to an elevator. He kept her close the whole trip up to floor thirty-five. It was the s.e.xiest thing-like he was staking claim. And his silence added to the arousal she felt in every nerve ending.

When they reached her room, she took her card out and promptly dropped it to the floor. Dylan arched a brow in an arrogant gesture. Then his mouth turned up at the corners, showing his dimple. He knew she was in a hurry. Retrieving the card, he unlocked the door. She wasnt prepared when he picked her up and carried her into the room, kicking the door shut behind him.

Nor when he crossed to the bed and tossed her-albeit gently-onto it. A vein pulsed in his neck, telling her he was affected, too. When he spoke, he said only, "This okay by you?"

"Y-yes." She could barely utter the word.

Dylan stared down at Rachel. Hed always been a calm, cool lover. Oh, he got swept away in the heat of the moment, but he knew what he was doing. His forte was foreplay and he made a point of being attentive to his partners pleasure. But tonight he noticed his hands shook when he discarded his jacket, then reached for her and eased her coat off her shoulders, slid it out from under her and threw it aside. Toeing off his boots, he knelt on the mattress and removed her pretty low-heeled shoes. Then he covered her with his entire body, fingers linked, chest to chest, legs entwined with legs. The wool of her sweater and matching trousers rubbed against his denim. Soon, she freed herself from his grip, clutched on to his shoulders and pressed up and into him with her hips. His groan came out a grunt as he took her mouth. This kiss was different, though. Still hot. Still intense. But it was infused with tenderness, and he didnt know where that emotion came from. For G.o.ds sake, he was practically bursting out of his jeans. He brushed her lips, back and forth, then exerted more pressure. After tasting his fill, he moved from her mouth to her jaw, down to her throat. A s.e.xy chorus of moans escaped her, which made him granite hard. Her fingernails dug into his back and she bucked upward. He found her breast and kneaded it. After a few glorious moments, he slid his arms around her and rolled over. She was above him now, her hair a waterfall down her back and over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He fisted his hand in the heavy locks, drew her down and took her mouth again. She pressed her body down into his. Hed spread his legs and groin met groin. "Arrgh!" he growled, trapping her with his knees. Desire surged through him like a dangerous current, about to swallow up anything in its way.

Her moan was low and soft, like a purr. And still they continued to kiss. Dylans mind blanked and he let himself get lost in her.

Rachel didnt know who started the disrobing, but her hands were on the hem of his sweater, and her green cashmere one already lay on the floor. His bare chest greeted her and she buried her nose against the hard flesh with a dusting of hair on it. His skin was rough, male. She ran her lips over his pecs, neck, nipples. He squeezed her waist then tugged down her pants. She pushed up and kicked them off. He felt her thigh-high stockings and mumbled, "Holy h.e.l.l. Leave them on."

There was laughter with the tenderness and with the heat.