by Ciana Stone
Few people had the ability to shock, stun and completely daze him. She possessed it in spades.
Just like she possessed the ability to strip years from a middle age man's libido and have him feeling like a young chap again, randy and ready to claim what he wanted. He'd not deny himself the moment, even if he didn't plan on it ever happening again, and maybe because of that.
So, Russell took control, wrapped one arm around her waist to hitch her up nice and snug against him and indulged himself in the feel and taste of her. His ardor increased at the small sound she made and the way she pressed closer. It was fortunate they were in a crowd of people, or he'd have been hard pressed not to find a place to lay her down and indulge in more than a kiss.
When the kiss ended, she lowered down from tiptoes and looked up at him. “Happy New Year, Mr. Walker.” Her voice was a bit breathy and her skin a bit flushed, which pleased him to no end.
“Happy New Year, Naomie. Here's to 2019 being one hell of an interesting year.”
Just then Wiley Johns, a man Russell had known for some time, walked over. “Russell, good to see you.”
“And you, Wiley. Happy New Year.”
Russell noticed that Naomie quietly departed but looked back over her shoulder at him just before she disappeared into the crowd. He spent a few minutes talking with Wiley, then wished the newlyweds well and left.
As his driver headed for the small airfield, Russell thought about the kiss. It would be the first and last. He'd expected there would come a day when he and Naomie would act on the attraction between them, and he'd wondered if they'd part with less or more than they started with.
Now he knew, and he wasn't particularly thrilled. She wasn't the woman for him, no matter how much she stirred his blood. He forced his thoughts to a topic guaranteed to claim his attention because it was his greatest passion in life.
Heritage. His family's legacy.
It was what was most important. For six generations the Walker family had been guardians of Heritage, each generation expanding its scope and value. Under his watch, they'd grown to be the largest family owned ranch in the country, with diverse holdings and new divisions being formed each year.
If Russell succeeded in his ambitions, his children and his brother's daughter stood to inherit not just the largest ranch in the country, but an empire, and a legacy to pass on for generations.
Those thoughts occupied him until he was in the helicopter, being flown home. They passed over the site of the wedding, and he thought about the woman he'd kissed. A week from now she'd move into one of the cottages on Heritage's main homestead and take charge of what might be the most ambitious quarter horse breeding program this country had ever seen.
If successful, they would dominate the market and be in demand beyond the boundaries of the United States. Australia and South American ranches were stiff competitors in the market for the best quarter horses.
Russell believed Naomie could get Heritage into the lead in that market.
And he thought about the kiss. How long had it been since a kiss had affected him so strongly? Actually, had he ever been this affected?
He wasn't a young man. At fifty-seven, he'd suffered through three contentious divorces and one even nastier broken engagement and had sworn off relationships. He was twenty years older than Naomie. Too old. Old enough to be her father. Hell, he had kids her age.
Cradle robbing wasn't his style. Neither was being a dirty old man. He refused to be one of those middle-aged men who were stupid enough to think that a young, beautiful, not to mention, brilliant woman would fall for a man old enough to be her father.
It wasn't going to happen. Sooner or later the truth reared up and kicked you in the head. You couldn't compete with the young men, and there would, without question, come a time when she'd wonder if maybe she wasn't wasting time with an old man. No. He and Naomie Taylor weren't going to be anything other than employee and employer, colleagues or partners. Anything but that one thing he wished he was young enough to indulge in.
He nodded to himself. One thing was for sure. When he made up his mind about something, it would take an act of God to change it. If there was one thing, he was good at, it was sticking to his guns.
Then why was it that when he was finally home, sitting on the back deck with a glass of good bourbon in his hand, looking out at the land he loved so much, he couldn't stop thinking about that kiss?
Chapter TWO— January 3, 2019
Kalvin Burton pushed his chair back from the desk and swiveled toward the window. The lights of the city he'd built presented a display that never failed to remind him of his good fortune. He might have been born into wealth, but unlike many of his peers, he'd taken what his family had so generously bestowed upon him and increased it until he'd become wealthy beyond his dreams.
Real estate, casinos and oil had netted him a fortune. He could have retired at 40, but where was the fun in that? Kalvin loved making deals, and since 2010 his new passion was building cities. Resort cities where the wealthy could live, shop and play. So far, he had completed three, in Nevada, California and Florida.
He had his eye on Texas now. In more ways than one.
Kalvin spent New Year's at one of his resort city hotels in California. A private party on New Year's Eve, netted him an introduction to Cici Walker. To be correct, it was a re-introduction. He'd met her years ago, when she was a child.
She wasn't a child now. Not yet thirty, and a practicing attorney who'd passed the bar in a dozen states, she'd already made a name for herself as a brilliant lawyer who got the job done. A mutual friend, Edmund Altwell, who was one of her clients made the introductions.
Kalvin stared through the window, blind to the lights of the city as the memory ran through his mind.
The main salon was packed. With only minutes until midnight, champagne flowed from multiple fountains and music could be heard beneath the cacophony of voices. Kalvin stood just inside the door that led out to the massive portico overlooking the pool and waterfall. With him was Edmund Altwell, a man Kalvin had known his entire life.
Edmund had tripled his family's fortune in the joint ventures he and Kalvin had in oil and real estate. Of late, he was delving into online cloud storage and streaming services. He was trying to convince Kalvin to pitch in with him, but Kalvin had his eye on other sights.
Like the drop-dead gorgeous woman walking toward them. Now, there was something inspiring. She walked like someone confident yet not conceited, comfortable in her own skin and aware of her beauty. Even her attire demonstrated confidence. Rather than the popular skin-tight glitter so many of the women present were encased in, she stood out in a simple black sheath.
Audrey Hepburn, he realized. She was that unique and elegant. He watched and realized that she was looking at him and smiling. “Ah, I see you've spotted her,” Edmund commented.
“You know her?”
Edmund laughed. “I've only been singing her praises for the last month.”
Kalvin cut a look at his friend then back at the woman walking alongside the pool, headed in their direction. “That's your new attorney?”
“Cici Walker,” Edmund replied.
“Russell Walker's daughter?”
“You know Walker?”
“Yeah, he was something of a mentor. Cici Walker. Wow.”
“You know her?”
“No. I met her once. I was twenty-five and had just earned my first million on my own, thanks to some advice Russell Walker gave me. I paid him a visit and he was sitting on his back deck, watching Cici on her new pony. I guess she was around eight or nine.”
“Well, she's all grown up, my friend and as sharp as they come. Want an introduction?”
“I believe I do.”
Edmund raised one hand. Cici Walker smiled and did the same. Kalvin watched her approach and noted that she gave her attention to Edmund. “Are you enjoying the evening?” he asked.
“I am. This is quite the place.”
&
nbsp; “It is. And this is the man responsible.” He gestured to Kalvin. “Cici Walker. Kalvin Burton.”
“I believe we've already met.” He offered his hand.
“Have we?”
“You were eight. You'd just gotten a new pony.”
“And my Dad got caught up talking to a handsome young man about a business thing and completely missed me taking a spectacular fall right into a fresh pile of pony poop.”
He chuckled. “I can't say I remember that. It goes without saying that you've changed.”
“I hope so. I think you have as well.”
“Seventeen years tells on a man.”
“Oh, I think it gave more than it took, Mr. Burton. And may I say that this is very impressive. I remember reading about your ambitious venture a few years ago and honestly, I was skeptical that you could make it work. My father said you'd make it happen. I bet against you.”
She sipped from her champagne flute. “I lost.”
“Your father has always been an astute business man.”
“That he has. And apparently so are you. Edmund tells me you may be in the market for new legal representation.”
Kalvin had not made any such claim but knew Edmund probably had told her the white lie because for whatever reason, Edmund had been keen on Kalvin and Cici meeting. Kalvin now felt that he owed his friend sincere thanks.
“Yes. I'd very much like to discuss it with you. If you're taking on new clients.”
“I think I have room for one more, and I'd be delighted to discuss it with you.” She reached into the small clutch she carried and pulled out a card. “Do give me a call, Mr. Burton.”
Suddenly, confetti and balloons rained from the ceiling, fireworks exploded in the sky and shouts of Happy New Year rang out. Cici looked at Kalvin. “Luckily, you're not yet a client.”
He didn't understand what that meant until she plastered her lush body against his, looped her arms around his neck and planted her lips on his. The thought registered in his mind. He should keep it impersonal. After all, she might well become his attorney.
But even as the thought appeared, he dismissed it. No man in his right mind would pass up a kiss from this woman. So, he put his hands on her hips to pull her up tighter to him then moved one hand on the back of her head and imprisoned her in a kiss that went from zero to sixty on the heat index in about two seconds.
Kalvin knew the moment her lips parted, there would come a day when they'd share more than a kiss. He also knew she was the most dangerous woman he'd ever kissed. Cici Walker was, without a doubt, that rare woman; able to compete in a man's world and most likely win more than she lost. And at the same time, a woman who made a man long to conquer and claim her. He wasn't sure he was that man, but he'd damn sure like to be.
When the kiss ended, she stayed pressed against him for a few moments. “I've wanted to do that since I was eight,” she whispered.
“So, you do remember me.”
“Happy New Year, Mr. Burton.”
“Happy New Year, Ms. Walker.”
She stepped back, gave Edmund a smile and then turned to walk away. Kalvin watched her leave then looked at his friend. “Well, that was unexpected.”
Edmund laughed. “She's nothing if not surprising.”
“Oh? You've—”
“No, absolutely not. She made it quite clear that she never gets personally involved with a client.”
“Then maybe I should think twice about hiring her.”
“Or consider it your next challenge.”
Kalvin grinned. “Excellent suggestion.” He snagged a glass of champagne from a passing server and grabbed a second for Edmund.
“Here's to an interesting year.”
As they clicked glass, Kalvin's mind was already considering options on how best to conquer the challenge of Cici Walker. Perhaps his first move was to hire her, and then get her tied to his next project.
Kalvin's thoughts returned to the present and he swiveled his chair around and picked up his phone to place a call. It rang three times before there was an answer. “Well, good evening, Mr. Burton. What prompts this late call?”
“Is it? Late, I mean.”
“Late for some. What can I do for you?” Her voice carried a hint of amusement.
“Meet with me.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Can't. I'm booked solid.”
“The day after, then.”
“Not available then either, sorry.”
“Okay, when are you available?”
“Friday night.”
“What time?”
“Ten.”
“And you thought this call was late? That's a bit late for a business meeting.”
Cici laughed softly. “Oh, that's not our business meeting. We won't have that until Monday morning.”
“Then what happens Friday night at ten?”
“The beginning of our weekend.”
Kalvin was surprised. “We're having a weekend together?”
“Yes, we are.”
“To do what?”
“Get it out of our system before we start working together.”
He wasn't sure what surprised him more, that she'd issued the invitation or that he had gone from flaccid to erect in nothing flat. “You think that's going to do the trick, Cici?”
“Don't you?”
“I don't know. I guess we'll have that answer Monday morning, won't we?”
“Most definitely.”
“Where do you want to meet?”
“I've been wanting to get a look at your penthouse at Barton Bay ever since I saw that spread in Vanity Fair.”
“Then I'll expect you at ten.”
“See you then.”
Kalvin put his phone on the desk and stared at it. He'd trusted his gut instincts his entire life and right now his gut was telling him that this weekend was going to have a profound effect on his life. He just wished he knew if that was a portend for good or something quite the opposite.
Chapter THREE— January 6, 2019
“No, I don't understand, Cici. This has been planned for some time and I expected you to be here with the contracts, so we could move forward on Monday.”
Russell stood at the window in his office, looking out as he talked. His youngest had the uncanny knack of being able to piss him off with little to no effort. Cici had always had a control issue and he'd watched her play her games with others. He wasn't about to tolerate her trying that with him.
“Well, damn Dad, excuse me for having a life.”
“Don't play that crap with me. You said you'd be here and you're not. So, this is what's going to happen. Either you've going to have those contracts to me this weekend or I'll find someone else to handle the legal affairs of Heritage.”
Someone tapped on the door of his study and he looked over his shoulder to see his oldest son, Mace, standing there with a package. “This just came for you.”
Russell motioned for Mace to bring the package. Once it was in his hand, he looked at Mace. “Thank you. I'll rejoin the family shortly.”
“Sure thing.”
The package was a special delivery. From Cici.
“You were saying?” Cici asked, and then added. “Come on, Dad, you said you needed the contracts there. Not me.”
“Smart ass. But I tell you what. The next time I tell you there's a family meeting, you get your ass here or I'll find someone else to handle the legal work for Heritage.”
He could tell by the silence that his statement gave her pause. His children didn't work the family business for nothing, including Cici. She was paid handsomely for what she did, enough to afford her quite a lavish lifestyle.
He walked over to the desk and took a letter opener from the drawer to slice open the package. Russell had no qualms about her ability and would continue to use her as legal counsel as long as she remained loyal to the family. But he'd also cut her loose should she prove disloyal because loyalty to family was
paramount and every one of his children understood that.
“I'm sorry, Dad. I promise I'll be there next time.”
“I'll talk to you next week.” He wasn't really angry but had learned a long time ago that control often was exerted in simple ways, such as not allowing others to know what you were thinking or feeling.
“Okay, bye Dad.”
Russell set the phone on the desk and thumbed through the documents. It was all there. Good. He'd have Naomie and Nash give them a look and if everything was to their satisfaction, they'd meet with the other party next week and sign the contracts.
Then they were on go for the first of five horses for their breeding program. Russell slid the papers pack into the envelope and put it in his desk. He then made his way onto the back patio where the family was gathered.
A note from the author
I've been a reader my entire life, finding solace, excitement, happiness, fear and love in the pages of books. If anything has been a constant in my life, it's reading.
I also remember all the times in my life when being able to buy a book was a luxury, a treat that I didn't get every week. I've never forgotten those times or how much those books meant to me.
That's why I am so grateful to you, the readers. Regardless of your level of income or profession, I understand how precious your reading dollars are and I feel humbled that you've used some of those dollars to buy my books.
I hope my stories prove worthy of your investment and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Many blessings.
Ciana
About the Author
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Books by Ciana Stone in reading order:
(Connected Books)
Untamed Series
Feels Like the First Time
When You Least Expect It
Colton’s Memory
Untamed: A Three Book Box Set