Dangerous Deception (Storm's Story): THE BILLIONAIRE BROTHERHOOD, #4

DANGEROUS DECEPTION

TO CATCH A COMMITTED BACHELOR...

When Dani Swift put on her chauffeur's uniform, with her hair tucked under her hat and her face make-up free, she looks like a clean-shaven young man.  It's while wearing her little disguise that she meets the man of her dreams, billionaire businessman Storm Hunter.  But how can she compete in his world of wealth and women who will do anything to snag this eligible bachelor?

Storm Hunter loves motorcycles and fast cars.  And then he meets Dani Swift.  Bold and independent, she's like no woman he's ever met.  And when their little game of deception leads to him losing his heart, that's when he knows that, in her, he's found his greatest love .

CHAPTER ONE

B ut Dani...

No ‘buts’.  Just tuck it away for a rainy day.  Dani stuffed the bank notes into her brother’s pocket.

But where’d you get-

What did I tell you, Brian?  She shoved him toward the door.  Now, go. I’ll be right down.  I just want to make sure we didn’t forget anything.

As Brian exited the door, pulling the large suitcase behind him, Dani turned to look at the boxes still standing in the hallway.  She shook her head.  She had no idea how all that was going to fit into her Chevy Blazer.  She'd warned her brother not to pack too many things, but he was taking so much stuff that she almost felt like he was moving out for good, and not just leaving Chicago to head out for his first semester at the University of Notre Dame.  She went into the living room and then into the kitchen, looking around to see if he had left anything lying about.  Finally, she went to his bedroom.

As she opened the door, a flood of emotions filled her and she blinked quickly, fighting back the tears.  This room had been Brian’s haven for the last four years, ever since she had moved them to this apartment when their father died from a heart attack.  She’d been only eighteen years old but, fortunately, legally qualified to be Brian’s guardian.  Her mother had succumbed to breast cancer when Brian was only eight, and then they’d lost their dad when he was fourteen.  She swore that as long as she had breath, he would not lose her, too.  He would never be placed in foster care.  And she'd kept her promise.

Dani pulled the door closed and went to the living room, where she picked up her handbag and slung it over her shoulder.  As she went through the door, she plastered a brave smile on her face.  There was no way she was going to let Brian know how deeply she was affected by his leaving. He was ready to start his new life as a college student and she wanted nothing to distract him.  She'd been a mother hen for the last four years but now she would just have to learn to let go.

She took the elevator to the ground floor then went out to the car and hopped into the driver's seat.  She turned to her brother.  Ready to go?

He shrugged.  As ready as I'll ever be.

She reached over and tousled his hair, just like she used to do when he was six years old.  Then let’s go get ‘em, tiger.

DANI'S FIRST WEEK WITHOUT Brian was busy, which was a blessing for her.  Her new schedule did not allow her the luxury of sitting at home, feeling lonely.  Each day, she rushed home from her teaching job at Applewood Preschool, changed into her uniform for her new night job as chauffeur at Apex Limousine Company, and checked in for work by five o'clock sharp. 

She'd been on the job five nights and, so far, had survived, despite some rough spots.  Tonight, though, something was different.  She'd been summoned to the boss's office and, through the glass door, she could see Tony Martino, the owner and manager.  He was pacing the floor.  As she pushed the door open and entered his office, he nodded to her.

We need to talk, he said, and jerked his head toward the only chair that did not have papers piled on top of it.

Dani's heart fell. Tony looked none too pleased.  What had she done to upset him?  She couldn't afford to lose this job, not right now. She'd only been working with the company a week and already had been able to send money to Brian for his books. She was counting on next week’s pay to cover the cost of his hockey uniform.

He flopped down in the chair behind his desk, then his look softened as he stared at her.  Don’t look so worried, he said.  I’m not going to fire you.

Dani let out her breath slowly and cursed herself for having such an expressive face. 

I know you’re wondering what this is all about, he said, and leaned forward.  I heard about the incident the other night.

She held her breath again, sure she would be reprimanded for literally dumping one of her passengers on his own driveway.  The man had been drunk and had tried to grope her as she held the door open to let him out.  She'd pushed him off and, unsteady as he was, he'd landed on his behind.  Now, she was in trouble because of it.  She looked back at her boss but remained silent.

Tony’s face grew serious.  I heard about the incident through a third party, and I’m not pleased. Why didn’t you tell me what happened?

Dani’s glance wavered and she looked down at her hands.  When she said nothing, Tony spoke again, even more sternly.  From the day I interviewed you, I could see you were a tough kid, but you can’t keep things like this a secret.  You have to remember that you’re a woman and you have to be careful.  He leaned back and clasped his hands over his paunch.  And I have to remember that, too.  I’m not proud of the fact that I put you in that situation.

Her eyes flew to his face.  But you didn’t-

Yes, I did. He cut her off.  I should have known better than to give you a random assignment.  He steepled his fingers and fixed her with a frown.  From now on, you'll be assigned only to reliable customers.  I'm going to give you a very important customer of mine.  His father was my client for many years and now, he uses my services, too.  Tony paused, as if for effect.  His name is Storm Hunter.

Dani frowned.  "The Storm Hunter?  Of the Hunter’s Run clothing line?"

Tony nodded and gave her a satisfied smile.  The one and the same.  I’ve been serving his family for over twenty-three years.  I’ve known Storm since he was a kid.  Then his face grew serious.  As I said, he's an important client.  The Hunters, they've been good to me.  It's not like they need my services.  They can have tons of their own personal chauffeurs.  But, although they don’t need it, they always give me the business, because my mother helped his father so much, when he was in the hospital and almost died.  My mother was his nurse there.  He nodded.  Ever since that day, they’ve always looked out for me and my business, because they were so grateful.  That's the kind of people they are.

I understand, and I'll take good care of him, she said, still slightly dazed.  Imagine that.  She would be chauffeur to a member of the Hunter family, one of the wealthiest in the Chicago area.  They were ‘old money’ and everyone knew of them.  And even with all that money, the oldest son, Storm, had branched out of the family’s manufacturing business and had started his own clothing line, making himself a billionaire many times over, at the ripe old age of twenty-seven.

And seeing that you’ve already made some adjustments to your appearance, I want you to keep it that way.  He gave her a nod of approval.  I can't vouch for all my other customers, so I don’t necessarily want to broadcast that I have a woman on the team.  You don’t know who you might attract, once that kind of information gets around.  He stood up and walked over to check the computer sitting on the desk in the far corner.  Tonight, you’re going to pick up Mr. Hunter from a party and get him safely home.  If he plans to drink, he always arranges for us to come get him.  You can check the location on your computer in the car.

This was Dani’s cue to get going.  She stood up and gave her boss a quick nod.  Thank you, sir.  I appreciate your looking out for me.

No problem, Swift.  Now, just grow some hair on that baby face of yours and look tough.  Tony was chuckling as Dani walked out of his office and headed for the garage.

Things had turned out a lot better than she’d thought.  There she was, thinking she was about to get fired, and instead, she’d been assigned to a man who was probably the limousine company’s most prestigious client.

Now, if only his tips would be as big as his name, shed would be sweet.

That night, Dani arrived on location a whole fifteen minutes before the appointed time.  There was no way she would risk being late.  And she’d prepared well, too, making sure to pile every last strand of her thick, dark hair underneath the rim of the chauffeur's hat.  She’d been doing that since the groping incident.  She’d ditched the earrings and had left her face devoid of any form of make-up.  She’d even practiced her walk, trying to eliminate the feminine sway of her hips and adopt, instead, the long strides of a man.  Thank God she was taller than most of her sex.  At five feet seven and a half, she could easily pass for a man.  Now, if only she could grow some hair on her chin.  She chuckled at the thought.  She was willing to go far, but not that far.

At five minutes after ten, people started leaving the stately mansion.  The cars that rolled out of the driveway included Porsches, Jaguars and a Bentley.  Then, there were others who chose to depart in limousines.