Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [90]
“Then you're an idealistic young fool,” he said harshly.
Jane's eyes dropped before the scorching fire in his. “Perhaps,” she whispered huskily, “but I'd still do it.”
“Well, have you made a decision?” Benjamin asked impatiently. “Are you going to press charges, or are you going to let the girl get off scot-free?”
Dominic's eyes gleamed mockingly. “It's quite a difficult decision,” he drawled. “It would be a bit of a bother going in to press charges.” Jane looked up, her face lighting up with hope. “On the other hand, I wouldn't be a responsible citizen if I encouraged crime in our youth, would I, Marc?”
Benjamin made a sound that was half snort, half cough, and entirely derisive.
Dominic ignored the rude expression, and strolled casually over to Jane. He lifted her chin so that he could look into her eyes. “I rather favor a compromise,” he said easily. “I'll not report the incident if you'll agree to come along on the cruise and work to pay off the damage.”
Jane knew such a surge of relief that her knees felt as if they would not hold her. “Oh yes, please,” she said eagerly. “I'll do anything you say.”
“Anything?” Dominic goaded gently. “You're dangerously impulsive, Jane Smith.”
The color once again flooded her cheeks at the teasing note in the deep voice, but her eyes were steady. “I'll work very hard, Mr. Dominic,” she said earnestly. “It's very generous of you to give me the chance.”
“Oh, I can be very generous when it pleases me,” he answered coolly.
“And just what duties is Miss Smith to perform to earn that generosity?” Benjamin interrupted caustically.
Jake Dominic's hand released Jane's chin, and he turned away. “You'll find something for her to do, Marc,” he said. “I'll leave it up to you.”
“Will she be with us for the entire cruise?” Benjamin probed. “You planned to be gone almost two months.”
Dominic smiled. “Oh, yes, the entire cruise, I think,” he said gently, his black eyes gleaming. “After all, it was a very expensive panel.”
Benjamin's eyes narrowed as he detected the restless flickering in the depths of Jake's ebony eyes. “I'll remind you of what you just told me,” he said warningly. “She's just a child.”
Swift anger darkened Dominic's face. “For heaven's sake, Marc, I'm not bringing her along to warm my bed,” he said harshly. “She'll work her way, just as I said.”
“And that's all?” Benjamin asked skeptically.
A reluctant smile touched Jake Dominic's lips. “Damn you, Marc,” he said in grudging admiration, “you never give up, do you?” He shrugged. “She amuses me,” he said simply. “Tonight is the first time in three bloody weeks that I haven't been bored out of my mind.”
“So you're going to keep her around as some kind of pet?” Benjamin asked bluntly.
“Not as a pet,” Dominic drawled, his brows arching mockingly. “Perhaps as a court jester.”
“Hadn't you better ask the young lady if she agrees to your terms?” Benjamin asked dryly. “Perhaps she would have some objection to donning a cap and bells.”
“I think she might prefer it to prison stripes,” Dominic suggested silkily. “But yes, why don't we ask her?” He turned and gazed down at Jane's bewildered face. “What about it, Jane? Part-time slavery, part-time court jester. Is it a deal?”
There was a nameless challenge in the dark face that struck an answering spark in Jane's own adventurous spirit. After all, what was the man asking of her? She couldn't believe that a man of his sophistication and brilliance would find her entertaining for very long, but she couldn't deny that Jake Dominic exerted a powerful attraction. It shouldn't be an onerous task to spend time in his quicksilver presence. Besides, what choice did she have?
“It's a deal,” she said quietly.
“What about her parents?” Benjamin asked. “You can't just shanghai the girl. They'll have you up for kidnapping, not to mention possible charges of corrupting a minor.” He gave Jane's diminutive figure a disparaging glance. “She can't be over eighteen.”
Jane bristled indignantly. “I'll be twenty-one in six months. And both my parents are dead. I can do as I choose.