Page 68 of Defending Love
“Cold?” I asked.
“The temperatures are dropping.”
“I’ll take it over the heat and humidity in Florida.”
Dani laughed. “That was nothing. You should go down there in August.”
The heat from the fire warmed the room, mostly illuminated by the flames and giving everything an orange glow. Dani stretched out her legs on the sofa. I lifted her feet, placing them in my lap as I sat. “I like being here with you.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“You said you don’t usually have mad, passionate sex on the second day.”
Pink filled her cheeks. “I don’t think that was exactly what I said.”
“I may have added a few adjectives. Nevertheless” —I laid my hand on her ankles— “how do you feel about the third day?”
“It depends.”
I quirked my eyebrow. “On what?”
“Are you going to stay tonight or disappear after you think I’m asleep.”
“You were asleep. I had work to follow up on.” I sighed. “If I leave, it’s because, you know, all great ideas come in the middle of the night.”
“Or in the shower.”
A laugh bubbled from my throat. “Another good option. Anyway, if it’s okay with you, if I leave, I’ll come back to your bed.”
“That’s definitely okay with me.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
Dani took a sip of her wine. “About?”
“The executive board. Why would a politician be a good fit for Sinclair Pharmaceuticals’ executive board?”
“Stephen sent over Preston’s curriculum vitae.” She swayed her shoulders. “He used to be the dean of research at Indianapolis University. He has his MD and a PhD in pharmacological research.”
“Impressive.”
“In my opinion, Preston only wants a seat on the board to further pad his resume. It will show the people of Indiana that he is interested in maintaining state businesses.”
“Would it be a conflict of interest?”
Dani thought for a moment. “I’d need to check, but as long as we’re not receiving any state funds, there wouldn’t be.”
Staring into the flames, I had a thought. “Where did you say Eric Olsen carried out the early tests on Propanolol?”
“I’m not sure if I did. He worked at Indianapolis University. They began their research years before Damien found out about it. But it was shut down. Possibly because of Eric Olsen’s death.” She shrugged and after having a drink, set her glass on the coffee table. “I hadn’t thought about that before, but maybe Preston worked with Dr. Olsen.”
I made a mental note to check that.
Dani laid her head back. “I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow. How do you feel about delivery tonight?”
“You don’t need to wow me with your cooking skills. I’m already impressed with you.”
“My grandmother said the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
