Romancing the Tycoon

by Debra Webb

  Her eyes popped open and she blinked rapidly. She instinctively slowed her breathing and looked side to side without turning her head. She would simply die if anyone were looking at her.

  “You okay?” John whispered close to her ear.

  Utter humiliation obliterated all else. He’d noticed her heavy breathing or the tension in her muscles. Something. How embarrassing.

  She nodded stiffly.

  No way could she look at him.

  The arm around her shoulder tightened as he protectively pulled her nearer.

  His concern touched her.

  Made her all the more aware of her deception.

  Amy forced her attention on the minister. Lord knew she could use some divine wisdom about now.

  WHEN THE SERVICE ended John introduced Gina to more of his neighbors, but he didn’t linger long. She seemed to be in a hurry to go. Something was bothering her and he couldn’t figure out what it was.

  She’d stayed holed up in her room all morning. Then she’d scarcely spoken as they’d shared toast and coffee. He’d thought at one point during the service that she might burst into tears. He sure hoped he hadn’t overstepped his bounds last night. He’d thought she wanted that kiss just as much as he did.

  In fact, he’d been almost certain that she’d been moved by it. His gaze instantly sought her in the crowd mingling in the churchyard. That skirt showed off her legs and he liked it a lot. She looked amazing in everything she wore.

  She’d left her hair down which drove him crazy with ideas of how he’d love to run his fingers through it. He closed his eyes and allowed last night’s kiss to play across the theatre of his mind. He cupped her softly rounded bottom and pulled her intimately to him and he…he was almost sure she’d climaxed or come close. She’d whimpered, tensed, then relaxed against him as if release had come and gone in a red-hot flash.

  He opened his eyes and scrubbed a hand over his jaw. Damn. If that was all it took to get her motor running, he could just imagine how she would be in bed. Still, that just didn’t fit with what he’d been told about her social life. A woman as experienced as she was supposed to be would have better control than that. A mere kiss wouldn’t scorch her to that extent. It just didn’t add up.

  But then, there was something special between them. Maybe she was as startled by the inferno as he was. Maybe her reaction scared her and that’s why she’d stayed in her room this morning.

  John shook off that whole line of thinking. They needed to talk some more. To explore those feelings. Now wasn’t the time or place.

  “Ready?” he asked, moving to her side.

  She nodded and smiled but the gesture was forced. That bothered him. He didn’t like this other kind of tension between them. The sooner they got home the sooner he could get to the bottom of this. Since her father wasn’t arriving until tomorrow, they would have all afternoon and all night. Plenty of time to sort all this out before their fathers interfered.

  He didn’t want to waste any of the time alone he had left with Gina. He wanted to focus fully on her and where they would go from here.

  “John!”

  He turned to find Melvin Cook double-timing it toward him. Melvin’s ranch bordered the Wild Horse. John immediately thrust out his hand and chastised himself for failing to introduce Gina to his closest neighbor.

  “I missed you back there somehow,” he offered, certain Melvin was about to rattle his cage about ignoring him.

  Melvin pumped John’s hand once and smiled at Gina. “I could hardly miss you with this pretty lady at your side.”

  Gina blushed. The smile she gave the man turned John inside out. He couldn’t wait to get her alone. He wanted to see a smile like that directed at him again.

  “This is Gina Winterborne. She’s visiting from Chicago.”

  “Ah,” Melvin said as he took the hand she offered. “A Yankee. So how do you like Texas?”

  “It’s wonderful.”

  Melvin winked. “Better be careful or we’ll make a Texan out of you.”

  She blushed again and John resisted the urge to tell Melvin that he had that part under control. This was one lady he had no intention of letting get away.

  “Look, buddy, I hate to ask, but I’ve got a little problem. A flat tire. Ralph is going to run me over to his gas station to repair it, but the wife and kids—” Melvin shrugged helplessly “—well they don’t want to be stuck sitting in the hot sun while I get the repairs taken care of.”

  “I’ll be happy to give them a lift home.” John glanced at Gina and smiled reassuringly at her look of concern. “There’s plenty of room in that crew cab of mine.”

  Melvin clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks, neighbor, I knew I could count on you.”

  John introduced Gina to Melvin’s wife Darlene and their two children, Warren and Connie. After opening Gina’s door John opened the rear door of his crew cab truck and assisted Darlene with buckling in the kids. As he did he considered that in a few years he and Gina might have kids of their own. He stole a glance at her and wondered if she had the same goals in mind. Just another thing they had to talk about.

  The way she smiled at the children and chatted casually with their mother, John figured she liked kids and had nothing against motherhood. But he needed to know for sure.

  He needed a wife in every sense of the word. A broad smile spanned his lips as he climbed behind the wheel and fastened his own seat belt. Judging by her enthusiastic reaction to his kiss last night he had no doubts that they could make it happen.

  As he pulled out onto the road he wondered if maybe she was feeling guilty about her enthusiastic reaction. Maybe she feared he would hold it against her. There were men who preferred their women less enthusiastic. But John wasn’t one of them.

  If that was her concern she need not worry herself. He liked her reaction just fine. In fact, he loved it. Hoped he could induce it again. Very soon.

  He stole a sidelong look at her and made a silent promise that very soon he would show her just how great it could be between them.

  Last night had only been an appetizer.

  Chapter Eight

  The silence was deafening once John had dropped off his neighbors, whose names Amy couldn’t even remember.

  Dread pooled in her stomach, worry pounded in her brain.

  She had to tell him and when she did…

  If never seeing him again were the worst of it she might be able to live with that, but it was the shock and hatred she would see in his eyes when reality punched through his disbelief that tore her apart inside.

  He would despise her.

  For the rest of his life each time he thought of her the memory would be laced with bitterness and ever-hardening hatred.

  She covertly swiped at her eyes. But there was no way around it.

  As he neared the turn-off to his ranch her anxiety mushroomed to an unbearable level and it was all she could do to hold back the building sobs of regret.

  How could she do this in front of Liam? What if his father showed up? It was Sunday. She remembered him saying that he had brunch with John on Sundays.

  “Where’s your office?” she blurted, her voice echoing her desperation.

  John glanced at her as he slowed to make the turn. “In Dallas. It’s—”

  “I want to see it…to go there,” she urged, the words scarcely squeezing out past the rock of emotion lodged in her throat.

  He blinked. “Now?”

  She nodded, certain she was beyond speaking at this point.

  For one long beat she was sure he intended to try and dissuade her, but then he shrugged as if he could hardly believe what he was about to do. “If that’s what you want.”

  She murmured a thank-you and settled back into the seat. The long ride to Dallas would buy her some time…

  As if that would make a difference.

  She squeezed her eyes shut and fought the rising tide of tears. She couldn’t cry. This was her fault. She had no one to blame but herse
lf.

  There was nothing left to do but make it right.

  The ninety-minute ride to his office passed without Gina saying a single word. About a dozen times John had started to question her request…to try and get her to tell him whatever was bothering her. But each time, one quick glance at her grim profile had held him silent.

  Whatever was bothering her it was serious.

  Or was it?

  She’d been evasive all morning. Not wanting to talk or even eat, much less go anywhere with him. And now this sudden request to see his office. Was this sort of peculiar behavior what her father had meant when he’d called her petulant?

  John hardened his jaw, called himself a damn fool. No, that wasn’t right. He knew her. Whatever troubled her today was real. This was no tantrum.

  His first guess would be this whole arrangement.

  John sighed as he entered the parking garage under the highrise that housed Calhoun Oil’s offices. Why had he ever allowed himself to believe that it would be simple? He should have realized that in this day and time a prearranged marriage would never work.

  He wondered just how much pressure her daddy had put on her to do this. Had last night’s kiss driven home the reality of what she was getting into? Everything had appeared to be going smoothly up until then.

  He parked the truck and turned to her, wished he could read her mind. Judging by the troubled expression holding that lovely face hostage, he felt certain her whole world was crashing in on her.

  “This is the place,” he said with as much cheer as he could inject into his tone.

  She nodded and reached for the door handle.

  “Gina.” He stayed her hand. “Please tell me what’s on your mind. Don’t lock me out like this.”

  She looked at him for the first time since they’d left church. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears and her lips quivered when she spoke, tying his gut into knots. “Just take me inside, okay?”

  Knowing a brick wall when he came up against one, he climbed out of the truck and moved around to her door. She’d already gotten out, probably not wanting him to offer assistance of any sort. That would require that they touch and he got the distinct impression that she didn’t want him to touch her.

  Funny, last night she’d come to life in his arms. What had happened during that kiss to have caused this kind of reaction? To have sent her diving for cover?

  Security buzzed them into the lobby.

  “I thought I was the only one who had to work today,” Carl, the security guard, chortled. “Sure didn’t expect to see you, Mr. Calhoun.”

  “I won’t be long,” John assured him. “You planning any fireworks tonight?” he asked as he waited for the elevator to arrive. Gina stood beside him saying nothing. She’d hardly managed a smile for Carl. John just couldn’t understand the complete turnaround.

  “Only the ones on the sports channel,” Carl mused. “I’m kicking back tonight.”

  John didn’t keep up with pro ball anymore, but a lot of his friends and colleagues did. He had no idea if anyone was playing. His sole focus was on the woman at his side.

  He watched thankfully as the elevator doors glided open just then.

  The ascent to the fourteenth floor took mere seconds, but the tension escalated as if a mini eternity had passed.

  “This way,” he told her when the doors had opened fully.

  Amy followed him through reception and past all the smaller offices until they reached the president’s office. His office. A large corner space that overlooked the city that he loved almost as much as he did his hometown of Runaway Bay. There was no place on earth quite like Dallas.

  It was a city with heart, with roots deep in the soil, kept rich and strong by black crude.

  He stopped just inside the door of his office and watched as she moved about the room. Preventing his gaze from dropping to the hem of that cute little skirt and admiring the toned limbs it showed off would have been physically impossible, so he didn’t even try.

  One small hand drifted over the back of his executive chair as she peered out the wall of windows. Despite the need to know what was going on in her head, he waited. Waited for her to make the first move. Instinct warned him that she needed the space.

  She moved again. Crossed the room to study the numerous plaques on the two inner walls. Accolades for Calhoun Oil’s environmental efforts. Acknowledgements from the city regarding charitable work and scholarships for up-and-coming young businessmen. And there was that Man of the Year plaque. His secretary had insisted on his displaying the thing.

  John worked hard, that was true. But, in his opinion, just because he chose to do good with the money his company earned didn’t make him special. It simply made him human.

  Gina suddenly turned on him. “So your business files are here in these offices?” She waved her hands magnanimously.

  Not certain where she was going with this, he nodded. “That’s right.”

  If anything she looked even more agitated now. He just couldn’t figure it out.

  She spun on her heel and marched back to his desk, moved behind it and flipped through his appointment calendar.

  “And if someone were to search through each and every one of those files—” her gaze locked with his “—what would he find? Any shady activities?” She rolled her eyes and huffed a sound of disbelief. “No, there wouldn’t be any, would there? I’ll bet you’ve never even cheated on your tax return.”

  Her words had somehow prodded him into motion. By the time she finished her last sentence he stood at the corner of his desk, more damn confused.

  “What’s this about, Gina?” He held her gaze when she would have looked away. “Why’d you hide from me last night and give me the silent treatment this morning?” He threw his hands up in surrender. Something damn close to hurt twisted inside him. She looked so lost…so forlorn. He wanted to reach out to her. To shake her and demand to have some answers. “What’d I do wrong?”

  She drew in a deep, ragged breath. “That’s just it, John. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re perfect. Nothing to hide. No deceptions. Just what you appear to be…the perfect man.”

  He couldn’t take it anymore. The hurt in her eyes ripped him apart. He had to know what this was about. “What do you want me to say to that?” He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her gently. “Tell me what’s going on,” he growled, his emotions verging on panic now. He’d only panicked once in his life and that was when his mother had died. Somehow…someway this felt exactly like that. “Where’s that woman I held in my arms last night? The one I kissed and who kissed me back…” His eyes went to her trembling lips then. He wanted so badly to kiss her. To make all of this go away.

  “She wasn’t real…none of it was real.”

  She’d gone numb. Hated the dramatics, but she just couldn’t find the strength to tell him the rest. The confusion, the worry in his eyes squeezed her heart, made her want to break down and cry.

  “I think you’re wrong about that,” he growled savagely.

  His mouth came down hard on hers. Amy tried to push him away. Her whole body longed to lean against his…to feel the strength of his arms. But she couldn’t let that happen. She had to do this…had to tell him the truth.

  She drew back, as far as his hold on her arms would allow, and turned her mouth from his. “There are things you need to know. The truth. I’ve—”

  “I already know all I need to. The past doesn’t matter,” he urged, breathless.

  She shook her head, tried to evade his tempting lips. “It started out as a mistake. I—”

  His hands released her arms only to close around her face, holding her still when she would have looked away from the intensity in those beautiful blue eyes. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is this.” And then he kissed her again.

  Kissed her until she sagged against him, desperation, longing, and desire all warring for her attention.

  “No more talk,” he whispered against her lips
. “Let me show you what’s on my mind.”

  She nodded, completely at his mercy…unable or unwilling to fight the need any longer.

  His gaze holding hers in a grip that very nearly frightened her, he shouldered out of his jacket and tossed it aside, then dropped to his knees in front of her. Her breath caught as he shifted her weight against his desk. Good thing, too, her knees suddenly felt too weak to support her. Already her heart hammered in her chest. She felt at once lightheaded and on fire.

  She should stop this…

  He pushed the hem of her skirt upward and tangled his fingers in the flimsy waistband of her panties. Slowly, surely, his eyes never leaving hers, he dragged the white scrap of lace down her thighs. When it fell haphazardly around her ankles, he urged her legs wider apart. Her eyes went wide as the breath she’d just drawn in promptly evacuated her lungs. His face pressed against her intimately and the moment his mouth moved over her feminine flesh she cried out his name.

  Her desperate cry served only as an encouragement to him and the resulting onslaught sent sensation after sensation raining down over her. Her head lolled back and she admitted defeat. She couldn’t stop this…whatever tomorrow brought. Here and now she was lost to a fantasy come true…if only for a few hours.

  Taking his time he nuzzled and suckled her until every inch of her felt molten with desire. He found that one special place and he drew deeply, nibbled hungrily and then sucked long and hard all over again.

  Her inner muscles coiled sharply, tightened with an ache sweeter than any she’d ever known. The intensity of it made the simple act of breathing impossible. She could only grasp the edge of the desk and wait for the spiraling sensation to peak. The coil snapped, wrenching another wanton cry from her and sending ripple after ripple of pleasure cascading through her womb.

  When the haze of ecstasy cleared a bit she became aware that he stood over her again…was dragging her sweater up and off. He tugged down the satiny cup of her bra and then that skilled mouth latched onto her breast. That distant ache started all over again. Each tug of his hot, seeking mouth drew on the invisible thread that sent those shivery sensations straight to her feminine core.