“Oh, he doesn’t want to run it. At least not actively. He’s already announced that he wants to help select the new president, someone who will do things the right way.” Darci’s mouth turned into a grim smile. “In other words, he wants someone who will do things his way, instead of thinking for themselves.”

Cole pulled his hand away from hers on the pretext of continuing with his meal. But he was forced to admit to himself that he couldn’t take the feel of her skin any longer without turning his touch into a caress.

“Uncle John’s managed to convince Mother that I’ll never settle down to marry and raise a family as long as I have all this glamour and excitement to keep me distracted from finding the right man.”

Cole grinned in spite of the desire churning through him. “But you are married now. And we’ll work on the settling down part.”

Darci flashed him a reluctant smile. “But you’re not the perfect man Mother chose for me. Her candidate has lost out. She can’t stand to be wrong, if you’ll remember.”

His jaw clenched at the memories from the short amount of time he’d spent in the presence of Anita Blackmore. Darci was sugar-coating the truth. Anita Blackmore had never entertained the thought that she could possibly be wrong. And the rest of the world was expected to pander to her expectations.

When Darci stood, Cole allowed himself a moment to admire the gentle sway of her hips as she walked back to the desk. The crisp little business suit she wore hinted at undiscovered passions. He wanted to be the one to discover her secrets, to teach her just what love was all about. He let his breath out in a slow, controlled sigh, forcing the tantalizing thought away. He had to concentrate on business.

She sat at the desk and pulled the last file folder closer. “Thanks for dinner, Cole. Let me finish reading this last report and then we’ll head for home.”

Home. The word had an odd ring to it and brought a feeling of wistfulness to Cole. He wasn’t used to these emotions. For too many years, he’d just been trying to succeed in a tough world and hadn’t had time to feel. Then he’d held his newborn daughter in his arms, and the world championship he’d just won paled in comparison. But he’d been certain he had the world by the tail.

As fate often decreed, his marriage and his career had fallen apart, and he’d struggled to survive the challenges that were thrown his way. He’d closed off his heart and his feelings. Now the unexpected emotions battered him, threatening to tear him apart.