Entangled With The Heiress. Dani Wade

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СКАЧАТЬ solely on him; she ignored everyone else. Something about her attention shook his control for a moment.

      Startled at her reaction, he deliberately pulled his mental barriers back in place, then moved effortlessly into the spiel he had prepared to convince the board of his usefulness to their present dilemma. His cover story as a business consultant rolled smoothly off his tongue.

      A brief discussion ensued, one Trinity continued to follow with that sphinxlike expression on her face. He knew she was soaking it all in, but she showed very little reaction to his pitch. Until the end.

      When he was done speaking, she stood up. It wasn’t an attempt to intimidate, as he’d seen the other men do earlier in the meeting through the small spy camera Richard was carrying for him. No. Instead, tranquility radiated from her, garnering the attention of those around her.

      Rhett didn’t understand what that magnetism was, but he was determined to find out.

      All eyes were riveted on her as she said in a solid voice that held no hint of hesitation, “Welcome, Mr. Brannon. We appreciate your willingness to take on our unusual situation.”

      He heard a quickly stifled hiss from Patricia, but Rhett didn’t look her way. He found himself too fascinated with this new, unexpected side of Trinity, this authority that seemed to come naturally to her. The woman he’d met last night had been hesitant. Shy, even. In this moment, she was commanding.

      For the first time, he wondered why the Hyatts saw Trinity as more of a nuisance who stood in their way rather than a true threat. They should be much more concerned. Because his instincts said he was now facing someone who might prove to be a more than competent adversary when crossed.

      “Gentlemen,” she said, her tone brooking no argument, “there’s been enough discussion for today. I believe hiring Mr. Brannon as a consultant is an acceptable solution all around.”

      She glanced toward the interim board director, who nodded. “This meeting is adjourned. You all know your way out,” he said.

      As one, everyone stood and headed toward the door. Not a single person lingered. Rhett could see why. Trinity had closed the discussion with a force of personality that hadn’t been in evidence earlier.

      His spy camera hadn’t caught her saying very much in the meeting, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t made an impact. It was almost as if she’d sat in the room, blending in like an old-fashioned wallflower, while she soaked in every word being said. But when she’d made her decision, it was time for everyone else to get the hell out of Dodge, so to speak.

      Impressive.

      Whispering among themselves, the crowd, led by Richard and his wife, filed out the door held open by a butler. Rhett would have gotten lost in the sprawling mansion if not for the butler leading the way.

      It possessed an opulent, dark beauty in the curved arches of every window, the elaborately carved entryways and myriad displays of art and books in every nook and cranny. Quintessentially Southern, it reflected the rich, spicy atmosphere of the city with splashes of bright color and nods to the rich, turbulent history of the land.

      Gorgeous, but stifling. Did Trinity find the elegance oppressive? Her focus on her responsibilities, while admirable on the surface, could simply be part of the act. Dutiful widow and all. Would she welcome him into her confidence to help her with the duties she’d inherited, even as he gathered the evidence to take her down? Though it was just an assignment, his heartbeat gained speed at the thought of working so closely with her.

      No, he needed to proceed with caution. He needed to get close to her, yes. But only to do his job. He needed the real motive…not the real woman.

      Still, enticing Trinity to have a little fun could serve his purpose well.

      Trinity exchanged a few quiet words with her lawyer when Bill paused beside her, but she didn’t move as he headed on through the door. Rhett didn’t miss the hard look Bill threw his way. That man would have a background check completed before the end of today. Too bad he would only find what Rhett wanted him to know.

      Somehow, without the words being spoken, Rhett knew Trinity expected him to remain behind. Sheer curiosity held him still. He was psyched to see what other surprises she had in store for him.

      As his gaze returned to her, he caught the briefest of moments when her whole body seemed weighed down. Her shoulders drooped. Her head hung forward a few inches. Her expression was lined with despair. It was only there for a moment, as if the demands of speaking earlier had drained every last inch of her energy.

      Then the moment disappeared, and she was once more closed off to his prying eyes.

      As soon as the last board member cleared the room, Trinity nodded to the butler and he firmly closed the carved wooden doors. Not missing a beat, she turned to Rhett and fixed him with her gaze.

      “Tell me exactly what game it is you think you’re playing, Mr. Brannon.”

       Three

      Watching Rhett’s gray eyes widen with shock was even better than the special scenes in the movies that were her big indulgence now that she was an adult. Her mother had believed films were sinful, but Trinity had no such hang-ups. There was nothing better than losing herself in scene after colorful scene…except maybe throwing Rhett off guard by stepping outside of the carefully constructed box he’d obviously placed her in.

      She had a feeling he wasn’t often at a loss for words. Today his presence was even more commanding than last night. He’d stepped into a room full of powerful businessmen without any hesitation. He’d taken up the reins of the meeting as if he’d been born to lead and established his abilities with just a few simple words.

      This was a version of the man she’d met last night. Still gorgeous in that glossy-magazine way, but without the flirtatiousness and single-minded intensity of the night before. Today he’d been performing for the entire room. Last night he’d been focused only on her.

      Or so it had seemed.

      What was he really up to? She needed answers.

      “You knew who I was last night.” The words weren’t a question, because they both knew the truth. She waited for the excuses to start rolling in.

      “Trinity.”

      His deep voice held the same intimate tone that it had the night before, except now they were in a boardroom, instead of what had seemed like a very private meeting of their own. Still she had to suppress a shiver as her skin prickled.

      This time it was her turn to be taken off guard. His dark good looks, the pull of his powerful personality sucked her under. What was the point in asking questions? It would be easier to sit and stare for a while, let his sexy energy distract her from the truth that had to be lurking behind that charming smile. It would be such a relief to drop the suspicions and defenses the situation seemed to require.

      “You’re right,” he said, the ready confession surprising her. “I did recognize you—after you told me your name.”

      That made sense. The story of Michael’s death and her inheritance had certainly been in the news lately. “It still didn’t occur to you to introduce yourself? Your real self?”

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