“Tell her I’ll be there shortly.” Hang the business. He’d explain to Darci later. Right now, he was going to his daughter, and no one, not even a stampeding herd of wild buffalo, could stop him.

When Cole’s secretary informed Darci that he wasn’t in his office, Darci set the receiver down with a frown. Once again, he’d disappeared without an explanation, had walked out on his obligations to her and the company. Anger simmered inside her. He’d made promises, vowed to do whatever necessary to help her win this battle. But he was of no help to her if he continued to run off at the whim of the wind.

She glared at the phone and wondered. Was it possible Cole was no better than her natural father? As much as she had loved the man, even her six-year-old mind had seen him for the irresponsible wanderer he was. And one day, his wanderings had taken him out of her reach. She’d never seen nor heard from him again.

To this day, she didn’t know what had happened to him. She only knew he’d left her feeling alone, empty, unloved. Much the same way she was feeling about Cole leaving without saying a word to her.

She wanted, needed, to believe in him, but was beginning to doubt even she could conjure up that much trust when he was proving to be so unreliable.

Alex stepped into her office to ask if she needed anything else, then said good-night, ordering her to get a good night’s sleep for a change. Darci answered him with a tired smile, noisily shuffling papers on her desk so he’d think she was desperately busy and leave.

As soon as the door closed behind her secretary, she leaned back with a sigh of relief. She knew she should just give up and go home, relax with a glass of wine, soft music and some wonderful pasta. But Cole would be there, and that would end any chance of relaxing. Besides, right now, she was just too tired to get out of the chair. Maybe if she closed her eyes for a moment, it would revive her enough to make it to the other side of town.

But instead of a quick rest, she drifted off to sleep, images of Cole Blackmore becoming tangled with her dreams. She remembered his touch, his kiss. Her dreams wove the possibilities through her thoughts, making her wish for a future for the two of them. When the dream became more erotic, she squirmed in her chair.

Hands touched her face, stroked her skin. Lips brushed against hers, tasting, teasing. With a low moan, she arched closer to the warm movement, wanting, needing more from the man who called himself her husband.

“I knew you wanted me.”

The voice was deep, thick with suppressed passion.

But it wasn’t Cole’s.

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

“Jeffrey!”