Ran From Him Read Free Page A

reminder that with this millionaire it was the man himself who was powerful, not his money.
    “What do you want?” She tugged the covers up to her neck, uncaring that the action revealed her lack of sophistication. With Daniel, she felt the need for any protection she could claim.
    “I phoned Rob and he wants a word with you.”
    She glared.
    Daniel waggled a phone at her.
    She snatched it and put it to her ear. As he walked out, she poked out her tongue.
    “Cate, you should have told me you were coming.” Rob’s loved voice was warm and musical in her ear. She relaxed into its familiar comfort. “I’d have collected you from the airport. At least running into Daniel meant you weren’t stranded by the taxi drivers’ strike.” Rob hesitated. “He’s not really a bad bloke.”
    “You couldn’t prove it by me.” She seethed at how easily he’d circumvented her intention of speaking with Rob in her own time—which was definitely not naked in Daniel Garren’s penthouse. And by what right did he march uninvited into her room? “Daniel is a bossy, bullying rat.”
    Rob laughed.
    So did Daniel, entering with two mugs of coffee.
    “I have to go, sis. I’m phoning from work. But Daniel will take care of you. We can catch up for dinner, tonight. Salsa’s Restaurant at seven. Daniel will know the address. It’s Amie’s favourite. And Cate, it’s good to have you home.” He hung up.
    She threw the phone to the foot of the bed.
    Daniel ignored her sulks and sat down, his hip nudging her knee. He handed her a mug of coffee. “We need to talk.”
    “Not when I’m naked.”
    A suspicion of a smile lightened his expression. “I expect it would be unsporting, not to mention ungentlemanly, to talk while you’re at such a disadvantage.” He stood, all smooth muscle and assurance. The smile vanished. “But Cate, I’m serious. I won’t let old hatreds and your pride destroy Amie’s happiness.”
    She controlled her anger, but it was a near-run thing. The coffee sloshed alarmingly in her mug. “Get out and I’ll get dressed.”
    After a long, measuring look, he did so.
    She set the mug aside with a thump and hurried into the bathroom. Her image in the mirror frightened her. She prided herself on self-discipline, but just now passion burned furiously in her eyes and coloured her cheeks. She looked like a gypsy girl about to pull a knife on a cheating lover.
    “Stab him to the heart,” Cate advised her reflection.
    Daniel’s words had stabbed her. Always sister Amie, and his mum, came first. He would destroy anyone and everyone to protect them. Six years ago, he’d dismissed Cate’s frantic eighteen year old emotions. He hadn’t believed her when she said she didn’t want to marry. He’d believed her dad’s lies that Cate was happy but nervous, that she wanted him—because those lies had meant Daniel would get the money he needed to rescue the family firm and keep his mum and sister comfortable.
    She studied her haunted eyes in the mirror. “That’s how little you meant to him. You were just a means to an end.” She’d known that forever: it shouldn’t hurt.
    She set the shower to cold and stepped in. It cooled her tumultuous thoughts and feelings enough that she relented and added warm water, taking her time to wash her hair and then dry it to a smooth shoulder-length curtain of black silk.
    Her coffee was cold by then—but a life in journalism had taught her to appreciate any and all coffee. She drank it as she dressed in black trousers and a white, uncreasable shirt. Unlike Daniel, she had no casual clothes to wear, and besides, the armour of her professional appearance might help her. She was under no illusions. She was going into battle, and if it was the last thing she did, she would save Rob from manipulative men like Daniel and her father. Her beloved brother deserved a happy life and a chance to follow his dreams.
    Daniel waited in the kitchen. He’d put on shoes and a chambray shirt with