by AC Arthur
She retrieved her bag, slipping the leather straps over her shoulder as she turned to smile at Dessie. It was just in time to see Tyler lean in and kiss the woman on her cheek. Dessie smiled and patted Tyler’s hand that rested on her shoulder. And Gabriella sighed. If Tyler West loved his mother half as much as he seemed to love Dessie, he was a damn good man, even outside of his good looks.
* * *
They’d seen the employee residences first and he’d watched while she took notes and measurements. They rode in the Jeep along the paved roads of the ranch after that, stopping so that she could see the areas where the animals were housed. She took more notes. From a distance, they’d watched the cows grazing in the early afternoon sun. She’d asked a few more questions about their feeding and selling process while she took even more notes. But it wasn’t until they came back to the equestrian center that Tyler noticed the light in her eyes.
She stepped right up to the paddock door and extended her hand to the Arabian bay. The horse, in return, dipped his head and let her run her hand down his forehead and muzzle.
“You’re a natural with them,” he said before he could stop himself.
Today she wore flat gray tennis shoes and had to go up on the tips of her toes to reach the horse. She looked adorable when she turned her head and smiled at him. The way the end of her ponytail shifted with her movement and her eyes lit up with the smile. It reminded Tyler of when he was a teenager and they’d first started having monthly rodeos at the ranch. He was always in charge of the pony rides and the children who were brave enough to climb up on that pony always smiled and looked over to him as if that were the best moment in their life. As he’d concluded earlier, Gabriella was no child, but she did look extremely happy at this moment.
“My dad had a vision for this place,” he said, thrusting his hands into the front pockets of his shorts.
He didn’t know why but he’d been talking a lot about his parents on this tour.
“I know you’re probably tired of hearing about them by now,” he added.
She shook her head. “Not at all. The background of this place is great information. If you decide to re-decorate, then knowing the visions and feelings of the people who lived and will continue to live here is imperative.”
She was still rubbing her hand along the horse’s muzzle. This one was named Brown Eyes, for obvious reasons.
With a slight shrug, Tyler moved a little closer to where she stood and continued. “When I turned fourteen we started hosting two rodeos per year. The people in town seemed to like it and when word began to spread, tourists started stopping by when they were in town, asking when the next rodeo was scheduled. So my dad decided we would begin to host them once a month. I was sixteen by then. We only had four horses at that time. I left two years later and, another two years after that, Jagger was off to Harvard.”
“I think it’s a good thing for people to branch off in their own direction, to see the world through their own eyes at some point,” she said as if she knew the guilt he still harbored over leaving.
“Is that what you did?” he asked, suddenly more curious about her than his own guilt-ridden past.
Her hand slowed and Brown Eyes nudged his muzzle against her palm, as if telling her to keep going. Tyler smiled because the bay must have been reading his mind.
“I went to college right after high school. The University of South Dakota was my choice and after the first year and a half, I finally decided to study photography. But that didn’t really work out. I took a year off and traveled to Pirata.”
“Where is that?”
“It’s a small village in Brazil where my mother is from. Well, actually, she’s the princess of Pirata. There are approximately two thousand people living in the town and her older brother governs them, so she was free to leave and marry my dad.”
“Oh.” That was all Tyler could manage because he would have never guessed she was related to royalty. Although now, with the slight tilt of her head and the way she held her chin up, he could easily imagine her wearing a crown. “So you traveled. For how long?”
She shrugged. “Two years. When I left Brazil I went to Paris for a while with my sister Adriana.”
“Adriana Bennett-Donovan,” he said.
“Yes! Do you know her? I mean, did you two run into each other while you were on modeling jobs?”
“No,” he replied. “The modeling industry is like its own universe with many types of models circling one spotlight. Your sister did more fashion and runway work than I ever wanted. I did mostly print modeling, magazines and billboards, things like that. Then I got into fitness modeling and the rest is history.”
“History as in you filmed your first fitness video when you were just twenty-four years old. From there, you created the Ty-Fitness brand, building it into a multi-million dollar business that now features fitness videos, public speaking and a new fitness fashion line debuting this fall. There’s also talk of you opening your first Ty-Fitness Center in Beverly Hills some time next year,” she said.
Tyler thought she sounded like an infomercial.
“You did your research.”
She nodded. “As did you.”
“There’s more information circulating about your siblings, than on you personally. Two of your brothers work for your father’s company. Another one is an artist. And then there’s Adriana. But nothing about you.”
“I’m the baby. The flighty and misguided one. My parents always said had I been their first, I would have also been their last. I’m blunt and argumentative and I don’t know what slowing down, committing and finishing something means.”
“What was that? Your impromptu bio?”
“No. That’s what any member of my family would say if you asked them about me.”
“Somehow,” he said and closed the last gap of space between them, “I don’t think that’s totally accurate.”
“You don’t know me that well,” she said.
She blinked and stood a little straighter, but she did not move. No, she was not the type to back down, or to run for that matter. She was going to stand and face whatever came next, regardless of how she really felt inside.
That thought should have stopped him, but it didn’t. It urged him closer, until he was lifting a hand to tuck the strands of hair that had fallen free of her ponytail back behind her ear.
“I know that I’m attracted to you,” he said, glad he could manage to be completely honest about at least one thing he was feeling these days.
She inhaled deeply, and let the breath out slowly, before speaking. He knew what the effort cost her as she carefully considered her words.
“We’re working together, Tyler. So I don’t think there should be any type of personal entanglements between us.”
“I understand,” he said. And he did. But a big part of him, just didn’t give a damn. “But answer me this one question. Are you attracted to me?”
Tyler couldn’t help himself. Yes, he’d heard her words and if she demanded he step back and stop anymore advances toward her again, he definitely would. He was well-versed in the no-means-no rule. But there was something here. He could feel it between them as if it were a living thing, breathing and…possibly growing.
“Yes,” she answered. “I’m not going to deny that. But in addition to our working relationship, I’m really not trying to be attracted to any guy, or involved with anyone at this time.”
“That’s cool,” he said, practicing Herculean restraint as his fingers tingled to touch that spot on her neck where her pulse had just picked up pace. “We’ll steer clear of any personal entanglements. After this—”
His lips were on hers once more. He couldn’t stop it and he prayed with every ounce of religion his parents had pounded into his childhood mind, that she wouldn’t want to stop it either. Not this time. Not this kiss. The one he felt he needed, more than he needed to breathe.
Chapter 6
Gabriella had no idea what the dress cod
e was for a “big Sunday dinner” at the Westwind Ranch and when she’d called Adriana to get her advice, she’d received her sister’s voice mail. So she was on her own, which was actually fine. She was one of those people who believed that packing more was much better than packing less. Therefore, she had four dresses that were suitable for cocktail parties and formal business dinners. She decided on the purple one with the ruffle sleeve and tight fit, purple and black peep toe platform pumps, gold and purple bangle and black jeweled clutch.
It wasn’t until she was climbing out of her car and walking up the dirt path to the front porch of the house that she thought maybe she was a bit overdressed. That was also about the time that she recalled the kiss with Tyler. The second one, because it was hotter than the first. Which was saying something because last night she’d thought that kiss they’d shared outside the resort was a scorcher.
But this afternoon, her lips had parted before his made contact because she’d been ready. More like, because she’d wanted that kiss. She’d wanted his hands to grasp her shoulders and pull her so close, so quick that she came up on the tips of her toes to meet him. And she’d definitely wanted his tongue to stroke alongside hers until she was breathless. She’d wanted these things so much that when he did them, she’d lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. He’d groaned as she’d pressed her aching breasts into his rigid chest. His hands had moved from her shoulders to palm her bottom as he made his burgeoning erection unmistakably known to her.
She’d loved how hard and thick he felt pressing against her, so much that she heard herself moaning. She wanted to stop it, to chastise herself for doing what she knew she shouldn’t be doing. And what she definitely should not be enjoying. But she couldn’t. Because it had felt too good.
He’d been the one to pull away this time. He’d stared down at her as his hands finally came unglued from her cheeks. She’d let her arms slide slowly down from his shoulders, her fingers trailing lightly along his chest, before dropping to her side.
“It won’t happen again,” he’d said solemnly, as if he were definitely making a pledge of some sort.
“Right,” she’d replied, nodding her head to cement her agreement.
And then the tour had ended. Gabriella had touched Brown Eyes one more time before telling Tyler she had to get back to her room to take a scheduled conference call. It was a lie, but he didn’t need to know that. She’d needed the space to breathe and think, and hate herself just a little for being so damn complicated.
Now, hours later, she was dressed and ready to see him again. Lord, she hoped she was ready to see this man again without jumping on him and begging for hot, sweaty sex.
Luckily—or maybe not—before she could be faced with that scenario, the front door opened and Brooke stepped out.
“Well, you finally arrived,” she said and pulled the door closed behind her.
Gabriella held her clutch with both hands in front of her and waited. She knew that after last night’s dinner, this moment was going to come. Women like Brooke needed to lay down the law first when faced with other professional and intelligent women. Gabriella didn’t mind, she just hoped that Brooke was prepared, because Gabriella just might have some law of her own to lay down.
“I thought Dessie said dinner was at seven-thirty,” Gabriella replied.
“Oh that’s right, only family needed to be here at seven to greet the guests.”
Brooke gave a triumphant smile. But Gabriella was not impressed. Still, she gave Brooke a brilliant smile of her own.
Brooke wore a classy one shoulder black dress and black patent leather pumps. Her hair was bone straight, hanging to her shoulders in a dark curtain. Her lips were red, plump, perfect as was just about everything else about her. Still, Gabriella wasn’t impressed. Her sister was a gorgeous model. Her mother was a princess. She had a sister-in-law who was an ex-marine and another who was an ex-exotic dancer turned artist. So Brooke Radison, junior marketing executive, did not intimidate her in the least.
“And since we’re on the subject, let me just make a few things clear,” Brooke continued. “This is a job. It’s a job that you don’t even officially have as of yet. There is no romance waiting to happen here. I saw how you looked at Tyler last night and I know that he went on a starry-night walk with you after dinner. But, please know that he’s above you. Even if your father managed to make some money and your mother escaped that dirty town she’s from. You are just a designer. And not a very experienced one, I recently learned. So stay in your lane or hit the road. Do I make myself clear?”
Well, Gabriella thought, as far as laying down the law that was pretty good.
“You are crystal clear, Brooke. Now, let me just add one tiny, little, thing,” Gabriella said as she took a step closer to Brooke. “I am here to do a job. I come from a family of hard workers who pride themselves on keeping their word. I told Tyler and Jagger that I would provide detailed proposals for them to review and that’s what I plan to do. As for who I intend to be romanced by, or even, take to my bed, that’s none of your business. Not tonight, without a signed business contract. And not tomorrow, when I guarantee I’ll be officially contracted to do this job.”
As expected, Brooke was shocked. Gabriella wasn’t supposed to reply. She was expected to cower and apologize and walk away. But Brooke’s research was faulty. She had no idea that of the Bennett clan, Gabriella was known as the fighter. And that didn’t mean she would physically assault someone—not unless it was necessary—it just meant that she didn’t take crap from people, especially not primped and bourgeois women with control issues.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a dinner to get to,” Gabriella said.
She walked around Brooke who was standing there with her lips clamped tight and opened the front door of the house.
As good as she felt about knocking Brooke down a peg, Gabriella was in no way prepared for the sight that greeted her in the foyer.
Tyler with his arms full of some blonde whose laugh sounded like someone was killing a chicken.
* * *
He saw it the moment their gazes locked. The questions and then the dismissal.
“Hello, Tyler,” Gabriella said as she came closer to where he stood with Hannah.
Tyler had already dropped his hands from Hannah’s waist. Seconds before Gabriella had opened the door, Hannah had run into him, wrapping her arms around his neck as if she were actually in danger of falling. He knew it was a lie, but hadn’t wanted to make a scene. Not tonight and not here with some of the ranch’s biggest customers in the other room.
“Good evening,” he said.
He had to lift his hands to take Hannah’s wrists and untwine her arms from around his neck.
“Gabriella Bennett, this is Hannah Palmer. Hannah’s father owns the P&P Steakhouse. He’s also a long-time family friend and customer of Westwind.” Tyler didn’t have to look at Hannah to know she hadn’t liked the way he introduced her.
Gabriella stepped forward, extending her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hannah.”
Hannah nodded and shook Gabriella’s hand gingerly. “Hello. You aren’t from Hobbs Creek? Are you a tourist?”
“Gabriella is a designer. She’s going to do some work here at the house and at the resort for us,” Tyler replied.
He didn’t want Gabriella to feel she had to defend herself to anyone, least of all Hannah. But he also knew women. More importantly, he knew Hannah.
“In fact, Gabriella and I need to go over some of the details for the project, so if you’ll excuse us, Hannah.”
Tyler didn’t wait for Hannah’s or Gabriella’s response. He took Gabriella’s hand and led her through the foyer and into the living room. He kept walking, nodding to a few people he’d already spoken to and leading her to the bar in the corner of the room. He stopped walking and released her hand. Then he grabbed a glass and fixed himself a drink.
“Hannah is a handful,” he said after the first gulp.
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br /> “I could see that,” Gabriella replied. “You had both your hands full of her.”
Tyler cursed. His hand clenched the glass tighter and he looked at her.
“It’s okay, Tyler,” she told him. “You don’t owe me any explanations. We don’t owe each other any explanations.”
“Because there’s nothing to explain,” he said.
She nodded. “Because we’re not sleeping together.”
“Well, glad we’ve gotten that out of the way,” Jagger said coming to stand behind Gabriella. “Otherwise I might be concerned about why my brother is so intent on keeping you around.”
Gabriella spun around quickly to face Jagger, while Tyler scowled over her shoulder at his brother.
“I was going to wait until tomorrow to suggest a time for us to meet,” Gabriella said to Jagger. “But let’s go ahead and set our meeting for tomorrow afternoon. I can be here at three. Does that work for you, Jagger?”
The bite to her tone was obvious. The look on Jagger’s face was a cross between surprise and irritation.
“That time is good for us,” Tyler answered.
“Fine,” she replied with a quick look over her shoulder to him, before she walked away.
Tyler took another swallow of his drink while watching her walk away. That dress fit her perfectly, molding the curve of her ass in a way that made his dick twitch.
“She’s a—” Jagger began before Tyler abruptly cut him off.
“Don’t,” he said, slowly lowering his glass from his mouth. “She’s doing her job and you need to stop trying to press her buttons about it.”
“She’s an outsider,” Jagger replied.
“And so is Brooke, so we’re even.”
Jagger picked up a glass and began fixing himself a drink. “Brooke is going to be my wife. We’ve scheduled the wedding for December 1st because she wants to honeymoon on Grand Serenity Island in the Caribbean. They’re having some type of anniversary holiday celebration there she keeps going on about.”