A Steele for Christmas

by Brenda Jackson

  She looked at him skeptically. “And he didn’t see anything strange about what you want to do?”

  “No.” Eli paused for a second and then said, “So now that you see my offer is on the up-and-up, I’ll go back to what I asked earlier. Is there anything I can throw into the pot that will seal the deal?”

  After a few quiet moments, Stacey glanced over at him. He was waiting on her answer. She decided to ask for something so ridiculous, something he wouldn’t give up in a million years, just to stump him, make him think twice about ever proposing to her again. When an idea came into her head, she forced back the smile that threatened to spread across her lips.

  “Yes, Eli, come to think of it, there is this one thing.”

  “What is it?”

  “My shop. I really like it and think it’s in a good location on the ground floor of your office building. It’s a prime spot that draws in a lot of traffic and I know that’s one of the main reasons I’m doing so well in sales. However, I’m paying you close to six thousand dollars each month for rental.”

  He nodded. “You want me to reduce the amount you pay to lease the space?”

  A smile touched the corners of her lips. “No, I want to own the space.”

  He looked taken back. “Own it?”

  “Yes, own it free and clear. It’s just a few square feet out of many so you won’t miss it. You’ll still own the rest of the entire building.” A satisfied look appeared on her face. He might want to be council president but he wouldn’t want to get elected that bad. Everything had its limits and she’d heard he prided himself on owning such a prime piece of real estate in downtown Phoenix. He wouldn’t readily share it with anyone.

  He stared at her for what seemed like the longest time and she could imagine the wheels turning in his head. Let them turn. It shouldn’t take long for him to realize he would do better making his offer of marriage to someone else.

  “Fine.”

  She looked over at him. He had spoken in a somewhat quiet voice. “Fine, what?”

  “I’ll give you the shop. Free and clear. I’ll have Jared include it in the agreement.”

  She was speechless. Her head began spinning. “You want the presidency of the business council that much?”

  “Yes, it’s an investment in my future. Besides, I’ll also be getting you in the deal and you better believe I plan to make having you worth my while.”

  Eli leaned back in the chair and watched Stacey wear down her carpet by pacing back and forth. She still hadn’t given him a final answer although he had conceded to her one concession. Doing so had left a bitter taste in his mouth but he figured it would all work out in the end. Sooner or later she would decide to join Cohen in Florida and when she did, he would make her a good offer for the space. He would just make sure Jared’s contract gave him the first option to buy.

  And speaking of Jared…

  She had asked earlier if Jared had thought his proposal strange. What he didn’t tell her was that Jared had found it rather amusing since he and his wife, Dana, had started out sharing a fake engagement and it had worked out fine. In the end, they’d fallen in love and had gotten married.

  Eli knew for him and Stacey such a thing wouldn’t be happening. She’d pegged him right earlier tonight when she’d said he wasn’t the marrying kind. But he could certainly pretend to be. And he had no qualms pretending with her.

  His gaze stayed on her legs as she walked back and forth. They were such a gorgeous pair. He took note of that each and every time he saw them uncovered. His eyes reluctantly strayed from her legs up to her face. He could tell she was still thinking and he couldn’t help wondering what she was thinking about. Her answer should really be a no-brainer. He wasn’t a bad catch and being engaged to him—pretend or otherwise—couldn’t be all bad. But since she was still in her “weighing the options” mode, he decided to tip the scales in his favor.

  “As your fiancé, I’ll look forward to attending that party with you in Memphis.”

  She stopped walking and glanced over at him. Their gazes connected and he felt a hot rush consume his body. He didn’t have to ponder what that was all about. Stacey could turn him on like nobody’s business. “You would be willing to go with me?”

  He smiled. “Of course. I’ll officially be your fiancé so it wouldn’t be as if you were lying to anyone. Besides, I want to see the jerk stupid enough to let you go.”

  She smiled but he hadn’t made the comments to garner brownie points. He was dead serious. He needed to see this Wallace guy. The man certainly had more than a few screws loose.

  She dropped back down on the sofa and crossed her legs again and he was definitely taking it all in. Remembering what was between those legs and how much enjoyment he got sampling it. His gaze then traveled up the rest of her body. But then he liked her breasts as well. The nipples fit perfectly in his mouth. He definitely like licking and sucking on them.

  “Neither Cohen nor your brothers are going to believe it,” she interrupted his thoughts by saying. “As far as they know, we aren’t even involved that way and now you’re proposing that we marry around the holidays?”

  He grinned slyly. “Yes. It will be our job to convince them we’re madly in love. Just think of how much more relieved Cohen will be to leave you behind knowing you’re engaged to me.”

  A skeptical look showed on her face. “He also knows your reputation as a ladies man.”

  “Yes, but my job is to convince your brother, as well as those on the business council, that I’m a changed man. I no longer embody the playboy image. Now I take on the role of a man who has fallen in love and intends to marry and settle down.”

  He glanced at his watch. It was getting late. “I much prefer an answer tonight, but if you feel you need to sleep on it then go right ahead. I’d like your decision by tomorrow. If you decide to go along with my plan then we can surprise everyone and make the announcement at your brother’s going away party this weekend. That will make Cohen feel a little more comfortable leaving for Florida without you. He will know you’ll be not only left in my care, but the care of all the other Steeles since we’re a close family and Cohen knows it.”

  What he didn’t say was that it would also effectively remove her from Tyson’s care and protection.

  “I will have to sleep on it, Eli. There’s a lot I need to think about.”

  “Okay.”

  “And I promise to give you a decision as soon as I make one.”

  “That’s fine.” He eased up from his seat. “But just so you’ll know, Harry Farmer caught me off guard when he came to visit me today and when I felt pressured into telling him I was an engaged man, he asked for a name. I gave him yours.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “You gave him my name and told him we were engaged to be married?”

  “Yes. I was backed up against the wall and you were the first woman I thought about, mainly because you’d been on my mind all day. Hell, you’ve been on my mind every day…for quite some time.”

  He hadn’t meant to tell her all that but it was the truth, although he wasn’t all that happy about it. No woman had ever dominated his thoughts that much and the very idea that he couldn’t control it from happening did not sit well with him. The thought of marrying her wouldn’t be so bad as long as they understood each other and he was certain that they did.

  When he’d read his horoscope this morning, it had said that by the end of the day he would have what his heart desired most. And now that the presidency was so close to his reach, he knew his horoscope prediction was true.

  Chapter 15

  Eli Steele wanted to marry her.

  Stacey scowled as she stared at her reflection in the mirror while applying night cream to her face. He had to be desperate to even consider doing such a thing, which meant he wanted to be president of that council pretty bad.

  She took a measured breath and decided although she’d told him she needed to think about it, there was nothing to think about
. She wouldn’t do it. He needed to find some other woman to do the honors.

  First of all, nobody would believe that he of all people was ready to settle down with a wife, so he needed to come up with another plan to win over those people on the business council before election time. Over the years, he had painted a pretty good picture of who he was and what he was and people knew a leopard didn’t change his spots overnight.

  Besides, she thought, as she walked through the house to lock up for the night, she was the last woman he should want to marry. But then as she set her alarm, she remembered that he had no intentions of staying married. One year. Just long enough for him to clinch the presidency and then get comfortable in the position.

  But he had brought up a good point. If they could convince Cohen their engagement was legit, then her brother would leave for Florida believing that he’d left her in good hands, even if they were the hands of a former playboy. And Eli had definitely sweetened the pot by agreeing to throw in ownership of her shop. Although she could tell that her suggestion had been a bitter pill for him to swallow, he’d done so anyway.

  A short while later she was about to slide into bed when her phone rang. She smiled when she saw the caller was Dee. “Hey, girl.”

  “What’s going on, Stace?”

  “Nothing much. What’s going on with you?”

  Dee gave her an update on little Tommy’s torment of Melissa as well as the other kids in her kindergarten class. Although Dee complained about her students getting on her last nerve at times, Stacey knew Dee enjoyed what she did for a living.

  Just like she enjoyed doing what she did for a living. Being stuck in a nine-to-five job hadn’t been what she’d wanted, but it had paid the bills. But now she liked getting up every morning and going into her shop because, other than the lease payment every month, it was hers. And now Eli was giving her a chance to get rid of even the lease payments. She would own the shop free and clear if she was to marry him.

  Was it worth it?

  She tried to think of how it would be married to Eli. There was no doubt she would be the envy of a lot of women since he was considered a prime catch. And there was no doubt in her mind what their sleeping arrangements would be—basically the same as they were now—whenever, wherever and however they liked.

  So why was she having misgivings about his offer when it was nothing more than a business proposal? Especially when it could be a win-win situation for her. She was sexually attracted to him. Evidently, they were sexually attracted to each other. They had both acknowledged they didn’t love each other, so there was no risk of her heart getting broken. So what was causing her to flatly refuse his offer? Maybe it was because she was starting to feel a deeper attraction toward him, but it was something she didn’t want to admit.

  “Okay, Stace, what’s going on with you?”

  Stacey blinked when she heard what Dee had asked. “What makes you think something is going on with me?”

  “Because you zoned out on me several times like your thoughts were a million miles away and not on what I was saying. It’s not like you not to be focused.”

  Stacey would have to agree that she hadn’t been listening to what Dee had been saying. As usual, her thoughts were on Eli.

  “Stace?”

  She began nibbling on her bottom lip thinking she needed a second opinion, and since Dee had a level head most of the time, she would confide in her best friend. Stacey cleared her throat. “I’ve been involved in an affair,” she came right out and said.

  There was a pause and then Dee said, “Does that mean you’ve finally gotten over Wallace?”

  Stacey inwardly sighed. Dee and Cohen would be surprised to learn getting over Wallace hadn’t been that hard, which made her wonder just how much she was really into Wallace anyway. “Yes, and to be quite honest with you, it was more my pride than my heart that was broken.”

  “I know. A woman’s pride means everything and the last thing she’d want is for a man to trample it, especially a man you trusted. So who is the man who convinced you to live again? And is it serious?”

  Stacey chuckled. “No, it’s not serious, just a case of intense lust. No emotional entanglements.”

  “Is that how you want it, Stace? You used to believe in—”

  “Something I found out was just a fairy tale. There’s no such thing as true love or forever-after, Dee. I realize that now.”

  “I disagree since I’m still holding out on that possibility, but we won’t argue that point tonight. So who is he?”

  Stacey drew in a deep breath. “Eli Steele.”

  After leaving Stacey’s place, Eli felt like he needed a stiff drink and intended to drop by Morgantown and have one. But then he decided he wanted company while he tried clearing his head, so he found himself going across town to where Galen lived.

  As usual, Brittany was glad to see him, although Galen pretended to be annoyed by his visit. While Galen poured him a glass of bourbon, his drink of choice, he listened while Brittany told him how her school of etiquette, the one she’d opened here in Phoenix, was doing. Already all her classes were full and she had hired three new teachers.

  And while they talked, Eli couldn’t help noticing how his brother and sister-in-law interacted. It wasn’t the first time he’d noticed, but it was the first time his mind and thoughts had zeroed in on it. It was still hard to believe that his once die-hard bachelor brother had transformed into a husband who cherished the very ground his wife walked on. It was obvious in the way Galen looked at Brittany and it was clear as glass he didn’t give a damn who noticed. They made a perfect couple and Eli couldn’t recall ever seeing his brother happier. He then thought about the conversation he and Galen had shared in his office a few days ago and pushed the memory to the back of his mind.

  “So are you going to sit there and drink all my bourbon or are you going to tell me what’s on your mind, Eli?”

  Eli glanced around and noticed Brittany had left. He then recalled she’d told him good-night a half hour ago. “There’s nothing on my mind.”

  Galen laughed. “Who are you kidding? You never just drop by. Whenever you come to visit, it’s with the others, rarely alone, so what’s going on, Eli?”

  Galen’s frown served as a warning when he added, “And don’t give me some smart-ass response. I’m not in the mood.”

  Eli had thought about doing that very thing and kicked the idea out of his mind real quick. Galen was the oldest and the other five respected him as such, which was why Eli was here. He and Galen might butt heads every once in a while, but if Eli needed to discuss anything and get a serious answer, it was Galen whom he sought out. For one thing, Galen knew how to keep his mouth shut about anything he would tell him.

  He gave Galen a serious look. “I asked a woman to marry me.”

  If he had expected his brother to drop the wineglass from his hand or roll over in shock, then he was sorely disappointed. In fact, none of Galen’s features registered surprise and for some reason that annoyed Eli. “I didn’t get the response from you that I expected, Galen,” he said, taking a sip of his drink.

  “What kind of response did you expect when you’ve already told me about the woman? Although you didn’t give me her name, you told me enough for me to know you’d fallen in love with her.”

  Eli nearly choked on his drink. When his throat had sufficiently gotten cleared and his coughing had ceased, he glanced over at eyes identical to his and glared. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m not in love!”

  Galen leaned forward in his chair and pinned him with a direct stare. “I assumed you were since you asked the woman to marry you. And I also assumed she’s the same woman you’re so attracted to that you can’t think straight. The same one you dream about at night and then have naughty fantasies of in the mornings. The same woman that you think you couldn’t function until you’ve had a piece of. The same woman who can make you feel better than anything you thought possible in the bedroom. And the same wo
man you can’t wait to see again. To be with again.”

  Eli opened his mouth to say something, and then he shut it tight. Damn Galen for having a great memory and recalling every single thing he’d told him. He sat there silent for a moment, literally pissed that Galen had used Eli’s own words against him. Just because Galen might have endured similar lustful thoughts for Brittany before falling in love with her meant nothing. He and his brother were two different men. Brittany and Stacey were two different women.

  But both had caught the eye of a Steele man.

  Eli’s hand trembled somewhat as he took another sip of his drink. That wasn’t strong enough so he then took a huge gulp and felt the bourbon burn his throat going down. But he needed it.

  “You drink any more of that and it will be the guest room for you tonight, Eli,” Galen warned in a serious tone. “What you should do is stop trying to fight the inevitable. You’ve fallen in love. Admit it. And I still want to know if you don’t think you’ve fallen in love, then why would you ask the woman to marry you?”

  Eli sat his glass on the table between them with a thump. “I have not fallen in love, Galen, so stop saying that. And the reason I asked her to marry me is strictly business. I need to clean up my image to win the council presidency, so we’re going to pretend that we are engaged.”

  Galen’s brow lifted. “A pretended engagement?”

  “Yes. And we’ll marry on Christmas Day and stay married for a year. Not a day longer.”

  Galen shook his head. “I assume this was your idea.”

  Eli smiled. “No, it really was Lex’s and when he first suggested it, I thought he’d lost his mind. But now I agree doing such a thing has merit.” There was no need to tell Galen that Harry Farmer’s visit had prompted him to think that way.

  “And your woman has agreed?”

  Eli’s lips spread into a thoughtful smile at the idea of Stacey being his woman. He hadn’t thought of her as such before now, but he liked the title. He thought it fit. “Not yet, but she’s thinking about it.”