Everything Bared (Six-Alarm Sexy) Read online

  “Hey, guys. Look who’s finally here,” Will announced as they approached the patio. Chloe let out a squeal of delight and, as best she could with her walking cast, darted around and even between several pairs of legs to get to them. Knowing what was coming, Dani handed the flowers to Will and knelt beside Coco, holding her leash tightly.

  “Dani!” Chloe shouted as she launched herself into Dani’s open arms.

  Dani hugged Jamie and Erica’s daughter against her chest. “I’ve missed you, squirt. How’s the leg?”

  “The doctor said it’s almost better. He’s going to take the cast off soon.”

  “I can’t wait to kick your butt at soccer,” Dani teased.

  Chloe laughed and turned to Coco. “Can I pet her?”

  “Sure. Remember what I taught you?”

  “Let her sniff my hand first?”

  “Exactly.” Dani squeezed the little girl lightly, enjoying the chubby arms around her neck. And the joy in her blue eyes, so much like those of her uncle. Dani wondered, wished. Then firmly shoved the dream into the secret box at the back of her mind.

  She kept a close eye on Chloe as Coco sniffed her knuckles. A pair of sneakers Dani knew well came into view. “Hey, did your watch break, or were you too busy snoring to make it here on time?” Jamie teased. He was her boss, but they were friends too. And since the earthquake, she and Jamie’s wife had become close as well. Always more comfortable around men, Dani cherished her friendship with Erica. It gave her a perspective she didn’t get from her coworkers, or even from her sister.

  Standing, she gave Jamie a quick hug. “You’re looking a little worse for wear yourself, LJ.”

  The skin under his eyes was darker than usual, and he hadn’t shaved. But his eyes twinkled, and he laughed when Erica snuck under his arm. “Rickie had some plans for me this morning.”

  Erica’s cheeks flushed, making it quite clear exactly what those plans had been.

  Beside her, Will muttered, “Lucky bastard,” as his hand briefly skated over the curve of Dani’s ass. Her breath hitched at the sensation, a tingling that spread until it encompassed her hips and belly. She breathed and tried to get herself under control.

  Apparently, she was doing a piss-poor job of hiding her reaction. Erica grabbed the leash, handing it to Will, and hooked her arm through Dani’s to lead her away. “Let’s get you something to drink,” she said loudly. Leaning in close, she whispered, “Then you’re going to pretend this is an episode of Oprah and tell me what the heck is going on between you and William.”

  Erica had shared more with Dani than she’d ever wanted to know about Jamie’s relationship with his wife. Although Erica would keep her secrets, Dani just wasn’t ready to share. Wasn’t ready to bring her dream into the light of day and dissect it. Wasn’t ready to admit she was a fool for loving a man who wanted something she could never give.

  Will’s mother, Caroline, stepped out of the house and set a huge tray of food on the outdoor table. Then she clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Lunch is ready. Come and eat while it’s still hot.”

  Thrilled with the interruption, Dani breathed a sigh of relief. She went to the table and pulled out a chair. Will wrapped Coco’s leash around the armrest of her chair and placed a bottle of Corona in front of her, a wedge of lime bobbing in the bubbling liquid. Despite how much she tried, she could not stop the smile curving her lips. He winked and plopped down into the chair beside her. Under the table, he rested his hand on her thigh.

  Oh God. How was she going to get through this meal without giving away the truth?

  Under cover of the tablecloth, William slipped his fingers between Danielle’s cotton-clad thighs. He loved the white capri pants she wore today, but a skirt would have been better—easier access. The heat that enveloped his hand had him flashing back to two nights ago, to being buried deep inside her. His cock went rock hard, and he squeezed her leg to channel his reaction.

  Jesus. He had to be insane. Sitting here, surrounded by his family, all he could think about was having sex with the woman beside him. How she’d thrown her head back and screamed his name when she’d come. Over and over. All night long. While it had started out as fucking—he shuddered at the power he’d felt when tied to that chair—it had turned to lovemaking, an exchange of pleasure and power, as they’d taken turns leading. His bed, his shower, and the kitchen counter had all been christened. And if his cock had anything to say about it, they’d soon be christening the rest of the condo.

  Danielle was on furlough for the next four days, and he planned to make the most of her time off. How long had it been since his last vacation? Heck, how long since he hadn’t worked on a weekend? Too long. Maybe he should take a few days off as well. Time was flying by, and he wanted to get to know Danielle a lot better before she moved back to her own place, before their arrangement ended. Feeling pain in the vicinity of his heart, he rubbed his chest.

  From her place to his left, his mother wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Is everything okay, sweetheart? I know things are rough at work….”

  He smiled and kissed her cheek. “I’m fine, Mom. We’ll get through this.”

  “With you in charge, I know we will.”

  “Um… Dad’s still the CEO.”

  She squeezed his shoulder. “Keep telling yourself that.”

  When she turned to talk to Chad, William picked up his scotch and emptied it, sighing as the liquid burned a path to his stomach. His mother’s words, meant to be encouraging, only stressed him more. Everyone was depending on him to see the company through this latest crisis, a crisis more than ten years in the making. So many lives, so many futures, were in the balance. For all intents and purposes, the company was his to save—or lose.

  Something cold and wet touched his fingers where they hung over the chair’s armrest. Coco nuzzled him again. Could she sense his turmoil? He dug his fingers into the warm fur on her neck and scratched. It was oddly soothing to caress the animal this way. He smiled, and some of the tension left his shoulders.

  Danielle sipped her Corona, her gaze taking everything in. The gleam in her eyes was slightly mocking, but pleased at the same time.

  Yes, the dog hater was turning into a Coco fan. Just one of the many ironies in his life.

  Once everyone was served and had started digging into their chicken brochettes with rice pilaf, the conversation picked up. Jamie, Drew, and Chad talked about work, and how the city was making slow progress on repairs after the earthquake. The King County Courthouse had been a top priority, and Erica was already back at work.

  “How is it, being back there, Erica?” Danielle asked, and by the expressions on everyone’s faces, William wasn’t alone in never having considered that returning to the scene of the near death of her daughter and husband might be hard on her.

  “Guys, really? It shouldn’t take a master’s in psychology to know this would be difficult for Erica,” Tori said into the stunned silence.

  “It’s strange, and a bit… unsettling. Luckily, they’ve moved our offices to a different floor,” Erica said.

  Her lips thinned and Jamie hugged her to him. “Christ, Rickie. I never even thought of how going back to work would affect you. If you want to quit or transfer or whatever, I’m good with that.”

  She rested a hand on her belly. “It’s okay for now. Later… we’ll see.” Jamie’s eyes widened, then he grinned.

  What the hell was that all about? William snuck a glance at Danielle, who beamed at the couple sitting across from her. If her smile seemed a little forced, he was sure no one else noticed. Again, what the hell was that all about?

  Was Danielle crushing on Jamie? She had come to visit often when Jamie was living with him. Had Danielle and Jamie had an affair while Jamie had been separated from Erica? He’d never guessed it, but… Well, whatever. Maybe he’d ask her about it someday. The facts remained—regardless of what might have happened in the past, she was with him now. Sort of.

  Shit. He u
nderstood why she wanted to keep their relationship secret. Hell, he wanted that too. It was in both their best interests. Still, he didn’t like it. Didn’t like it at all. All he knew was that right now, he wanted to hug her, find out why she was upset, and comfort her if he could. But his hands were tied. And not in a good way.

  His father, who’d sat at the head of the table, not engaging in any conversation, cleared his throat loudly. The stiff back, the throbbing vein in his temple, the reddened face, the lack of exuberance, had all been clear signs to William that William Caldwell III was royally pissed. All of William’s muscles clenched. Certain the subject of conversation was going to put him right in the hot seat, William raised his chin and met his father’s stare.

  All of a sudden, he wished Danielle weren’t there. He wanted her to see him as an independent man. Someone who was her equal in confidence and mental fortitude, not a boy about to be scolded by his angry father. He gripped his thighs to keep from preempting the conversation.

  Danielle slipped her hand under the tablecloth and threaded her fingers through his. The weight of their joined hands on his leg reassured him. He took a deep breath and shot her a sidelong glance. The corner of her lip quirked up, her eyes as soothing as warm chocolate. However close he was to his brothers and to Tori, he’d never felt this level of support from them. It was like he and Danielle were a team. She had his back even though she had no idea what was going on.

  She trusted him.

  Why that should mean so much, he had no idea. But his chest warmed with pleasure. With satisfaction. Whoa! This was not supposed to happen.

  Dial it back a notch, Caldwell. You barely know this woman.

  True. But he really liked what he did know about her.

  Around him, conversations stopped and everyone set down their utensils. His father once again cleared his throat. “First off, I’m glad everyone could make it today. This doesn’t happen nearly often enough. But since I have you all in the same place, I need to take this opportunity to bring you up-to-date on recent developments at Caldwell Fine Furnishings.”

  Danielle stirred uneasily. “Um… I’ll go inside so you can have some privacy.”

  Caroline tut-tutted her. “Nonsense, dear. You’re part of the family now.”

  Danielle’s eyes widened, and William was certain his own matched. Obviously, she was as unclear as he was as to the reason for her change in status. But on both sides of the table, everyone nodded. Wow. How out of the loop was he?

  “Now that the pleasantries are over, I’ll start by asking William a question.” His father’s gaze lasered in on William, and it was all he could do not to squirm. “Tell me, son. Why is it I have to hear about possible layoffs from the union leader instead of from my own CFO?”

  Almost deafened by the cacophony of whats and no damn ways, William slouched in his seat. If he could disappear under the table he would. Christ. He felt six years old again. Until Danielle’s fingers tightened around his own. Feigning to be reaching for Coco, she leaned in and whispered, “Remember, you have the power.”

  His entire body jolted at the visceral memory her words evoked. Was she crazy? He had no power here. He worked for his father, for the board. If they said, “Jump,” he had to ask, “How high?”

  “They know nothing,” she continued. “You are the one with all the information, all the data. Control the discussion.”

  This was what she’d tried to teach him the other night. Even though his hands had literally been tied, he’d been in charge, he’d directed their interaction. He’d known how he’d wanted things to go, and he’d made it happen. This was no different.

  Straightening his spine, he sat up and looked around the table before finally meeting and holding his father’s glare. “Well, Bill, the last few decades have been difficult ones for the company. That has only worsened in recent years.”

  “No matter how lean the times, people will always pay more for quality,” his father ground out.

  William forced himself to sound calm. “When people are foreclosing on their homes, they aren’t out buying custom handmade furniture, no matter how beautiful the design, or how well-crafted the product.”

  “That doesn’t explain why all of a sudden, we need to lay off our staff. Some of these people have been with the company for generations. Hell, Larissa’s mother is my assistant.”

  “Don’t you think I know that? Here’s the bottom line, Dad: Much more money is going out than is coming in. If we don’t make fundamental changes to the way we do business, we either have to lay off some staff… or we close our doors. And to be perfectly honest, if nothing changes, the layoffs will only delay bankruptcy by a couple of years.”

  His family’s gasps and shocked expressions assaulted him like bullets to the chest. He fucking hated being the bearer of bad news.

  “Bankruptcy! How could you let things get this bad?” Bill’s face darkened and his chest heaved like he’d been running up Madison Street past the Safeco Plaza. But the question also had William’s blood boiling.

  “How could I let this happen? How could you? I get that my predecessor made bad decisions, but you let him. It doesn’t take a genius to know a company is in trouble when expenditures are greater than income.”

  His father couldn’t have looked more stunned if William had punched him in the face. Had he truly not been aware of the company’s precarious financial situation?

  Bill passed a hand over his jaw, scratching at the stubble already poking through his skin. “Martell always said the tax write-offs balanced things out.”

  William shook his head. “They don’t. They can’t. The IRS won’t give us money we haven’t made.”

  Ever the peacemaker, Drew leaned forward. “Isn’t there something you can do, William? You made us all a ton of money on the stock market. Can’t you do the same for CFF?”

  The calmness of his brother’s tone, the implied support, eased William. He wasn’t in enemy territory. This was his family. They just wanted to understand, and to do that, they needed the information only William possessed. Danielle had been right.

  “Unfortunately, no. When I made those investments for us, we were using extra money. Money we could afford to lose. I invested in high-risk, high-return ventures. We were lucky and those investments paid off. We could easily have lost everything. The laws prohibit me from making similar investments with the company’s funds. Besides, as it stands, almost every asset we still have is earmarked for the pension plan, which is even more tightly regulated.”

  Chad tapped his fingers on the edge of the table, a rhythmic tat-tat tat-tat-tat, something he often did when trying to solve a problem. “You said earlier, ‘if we don’t make fundamental changes to the way we do business.’ What did you mean?”

  Dani leaned into Will’s side and whispered, “Stick to the high-level stuff. You and your dad can negotiate the details once you agree on a strategy.”

  Having finished his scotch, William snatched up Danielle’s Corona and took a huge gulp, almost gagging on the sour lime taste. But it helped to wet the Sahara that his mouth had become. His father was not going to like his suggestions.

  He set the bottle down, enjoying for a moment the amusement twinkling in Danielle’s eyes. Jeez. He was crossing so many lines with her today. For her sake, he hoped no one had noticed. For himself, he was pretty close to not giving a fuck anymore.

  “We have a few options. One, we can close some low-selling stores and eliminate the unprofitable designs from our portfolio.”

  Caroline smiled. Her sad eyes tried to convey her encouragement. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

  He put his hand over hers. “It would still mean some layoffs. And while it will help stabilize the losses, it won’t increase our profitability.”

  “So we need a more radical approach,” Jamie said, authority ringing loud and clear in his tone and posture. And once again, William wondered if Jamie wouldn’t have been the better choice of heir to the company.

 
; “If we want to save the business”—William glanced at his father—“and I assume we do, then yes. A second option is to widen our distribution. More sales equal more profit.”

  Resting his elbows on the table, his father clasped his hands under his chin, a confused frown between his brows “I don’t understand. More stores mean more expenses.”

  His heart pounding, William swallowed and met his father’s stare head on. “Not if they aren’t our stores.”

  “Our furnishings have always been sold exclusively through our own stores,” Bill sputtered, visibly recoiling from the idea.

  “I realize that.”

  “No, we can’t—”

  Jamie’s eyes narrowed, his face hardened. “Dad. Hear him out.”

  Bill blinked at Jamie as if he’d never seen his son before, and no wonder. Jamie had morphed into full Dom mode. Holy shit! Danielle’s nails dug into William’s thigh. He cocked a brow at Jamie, who froze, his hand curling around Erica’s shoulder. Then Jamie’s eyes flashed in understanding. His features relaxed and he smiled. “You got any other suggestions, William?”

  William pulled in a deep breath. “There’s one more strategy we can use. It’s the most radical, but also the most likely to result in long-term growth, as well as happier employees.”

  “Let’s hear it,” Drew said gently.

  “Since the first James Caldwell founded Caldwell Fine Furnishings, this company has prided itself on unique designs and superior craftsmanship. Unfortunately, the cost of raw materials and skilled manpower continues to rise. On the other hand, our client base has continued to shrink. The average American family doesn’t want to, or more accurately, can’t afford to spend fifteen grand on a dining room set.”

  Movement at the head of the table distracted William. Bill gritted his teeth, his hands gripping his glass so tightly William worried he’d break it. “Are you suggesting we start selling at a loss? I don’t see how that helps the bottom line.”

  “Not at all,” William said, forcing a reassuring calmness into his voice. “What I’m suggesting is the creation of a line of products targeted at the middle class. Products at the level of quality they expect and in a price range they can afford.”