Romancing the Tycoon

by Debra Webb

  Her phone rang, startling a little yelp out of her.

  For just one second she allowed herself to hope it might be him. That he’d realized he couldn’t live without her and that she should come back to Texas and pick out that ring after all. She shook off the foolish dream and scrambled to her feet, letting the afghan fall to the cool hardwood floor.

  She was no Cinderella and John was no fairy-tale prince. This was real life, he wouldn’t be showing up at her door to whisk her away to his castle after she’d lied to him.

  One look at the caller ID unit and her heart skipped a beat.

  The office.

  Oh, no.

  What if the Winterbornes had complained to Victoria? What if she was about to be fired?

  Amy stiffened her spine and reached for the receiver. If she lost her job it was no one’s fault but her own. She’d made a serious mistake, a grievous error in judgment. If Victoria chose to let her go, Amy certainly couldn’t blame her.

  “Hello,” she said hesitantly, bracing for the worst.

  “How are you this morning?”

  Mildred.

  Amy wanted to be relieved, but it could still be bad news. “Is everything okay?” No way Mildred would miss the desperate quality in her tone.

  “Everything’s fine here. How are you? I had a moment to catch my breath and I couldn’t help wondering if you were doing all right.”

  Amy dragged the phone back to the sofa with her and reached for the afghan. “I’m okay. Bored, maybe.”

  “Did you enjoy the chocolates I sent you?” the older woman asked hopefully.

  Amy glanced at the nearly empty box of decadent chocolates on her coffee table. “Yeah, they were great.” She reached for one now. “Thanks.” She popped the delicious candy into her mouth and savored the rich flavor. What did it matter if she gained weight? She was never going to fall in love again. Who needed men? Who needed sex? If she skated through this whole catastrophe with her career intact, she would simply throw herself more fully into it and accomplish the one goal she had left: to become a Colby agent.

  At least she had some undercover experience now. Not once had she screwed up and blown her cover. She lifted a shoulder in a listless shrug. That was something, wasn’t it?

  Of course, if she were really lucky, Victoria would never know about any of it.

  “Amy?”

  She snapped back to attention. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” She’d definitely zoned out there for a second.

  “A position is opening up in research. I wondered if you might be interested. If you are, I could mention it to Victoria. You know, most of our agents do time in research first.”

  Amy sat up a whole lot straighter. “Mildred! Are you serious?”

  “Of course, dear.”

  Amy could almost hear her smiling on the other end. “So who got moved up?” Any opening usually meant that someone had been promoted or married and moved away. She refused to think about the two M’s. Victoria always worried about losing her people that way. But she gained quite a few in the same manner.

  “No one moved up, Victoria just felt it was time to expand the department. She wants someone focusing solely on advanced technology as related to crime solving. You up for the challenge?”

  Was she up for the challenge? She’d hadn’t spent four years at Chicago State studying the engineering of high-tech gadgetry for nothing. “Absolutely! What do I have to do?”

  “Just be here bright and early tomorrow morning ready to dazzle Victoria as to how and why you’d be the best woman for the job.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Amy dropped the receiver back into its cradle and jumped up and down, earning herself a rusty creak of disapproval from the sofa’s inner springs.

  This was just what she needed. A boost. She grabbed the box with its remaining chocolates and hurried to the kitchen to shove it into a trash receptacle. She had to stay in proper physical condition if she was going to reach her career goal. No more feeling sorry for herself. No more worrying about whether she’d meet the right man and have the fantasy.

  She’d met the right man, she just couldn’t have him.

  End of story.

  REGINA WINTERBORNE touched the handkerchief to her eye, then to her nose, oh so delicately. She couldn’t let her mask of devastation slip just yet. The plan she’d devised to garner her father’s sympathy had worked like a charm.

  He was up in arms over the whole thing. Ready to hang Kevin for fooling her yet again and utterly furious at the young woman from the Colby Agency for not telling someone what had happened so he could have rescued his poor, poor vulnerable daughter.

  Regina smiled behind her hankie as her father bellowed those very sentiments to Victoria Colby-Camp herself, the head of the Colby Agency, right that moment. Not that Regina wished poor little Amy Wells any bad will, but someone had to take the fall for this and it sure as heck wasn’t going to be her.

  However Mrs. Colby-Camp defended her employee or whatever comments she used to smooth over the incident, it was working. Regina could literally see her father calming down, going soft. Regina almost snorted. As long as the woman didn’t turn the tide and have her father looking at her with suspicion and indignation in his eyes, Regina didn’t care what she was saying to him.

  Finally, he hung up and heaved a big breath. “That’s taken care of.” He settled into his leather, tufted executive chair and peered over his massive desk at her. “Victoria assured me that it was a mistake that won’t happen again. However—” her father lifted one eyebrow at her “—she was quick to point out that you used her employee as a distraction.”

  Regina held her breath, certain she was in big trouble this time.

  “But,” her father relented, “I know that you were under the influence of that no-good scoundrel Kevin and weren’t thinking clearly so we’ll let it go for the moment.”

  She exhaled a little puff of relief.

  “But—” he said again more pointedly “—we will square this with the Calhouns. I don’t know just yet how I’m going to manage the feat, but I’ll make it happen somehow. The question is, can I count on you to do this right this time?”

  She leaned forward, her hands clasped in front of her. “Oh, yes, Daddy. I promise I’ll be good this time. I’ll do exactly what you tell me. John will make a fine husband. I looked at his portfolio and the pictures of his ranch Mr. Beckman sent this morning. It’s a lovely place. I could be at home there.” She also thought of the dozens of stores and spas located in Dallas that Beckman had told her about. She could be happy there. It wasn’t perfect, but it was doable.

  She could make it work. Her lips quirked. Besides, if there were any more cowboys in the area who looked as good as John Calhoun she wouldn’t run out of distractions. Wasn’t there some kind of sports team called the Dallas Cowboys? She would make cowboys her new pastime. And maybe she’d just write herself a book about the joys of living in cowboy country and become independently wealthy.

  Her father might force her into this marriage but he darn sure couldn’t make her be a wife. And definitely not a mother. The very idea of children made her skin crawl. If Mr. Calhoun thought she’d perform those sorts of duties for him, he’d better wake up, because she was doing no such thing.

  Regina Winterborne had no desire to play the role of little wife or mommy. This would be a marriage in name only.

  VICTORIA ALLOWED a moment to compose herself after concluding the conversation with Edgar Winterborne. She resisted the urge to shake her head at the man’s blind spot where his daughter was concerned. He didn’t have a clue how cunning the woman was. Nor did he intend to level any of the blame for this fiasco on her. She was the victim in his opinion. Victoria knew better, but to keep the peace she hadn’t pressed the issue.

  They had reached an amiable compromise. He let the whole incident go and she would do the same. They would continue to do business in the future as if this unfortunate incident had not occurred. Sti
ll, it made Victoria want to kick something.

  “Will there be repercussions?” Mildred inquired.

  Victoria banished her irritation. She’d forgotten Mildred was waiting to hear the outcome. “None. We’re going to call it even and put it behind us. His daughter propelled Amy into the situation and has no right to cry foul.”

  Mildred looked immensely relieved. “Good.”

  Victoria’s brow furrowed with worry. “I knew there was something on Amy’s mind, but I had no idea she wanted to move into the investigative side of things here.”

  Her loyal secretary nodded. “She’s very enthusiastic about it.”

  “I’m glad you told me. I believe she’ll be an asset. You explained to her that I blame myself partially for this whole incident since I’m the one who stuck that misleading information in with the Calhoun report, didn’t you?”

  “I did and she’s very grateful that you’re not going to penalize her for her slip in judgment.”

  “Well, there is that. But it was a mistake. One she won’t make again I’d wager.”

  Mildred nodded her agreement. “Wisdom is gained through experience, good and bad.”

  Determined to know what other surprises might lie down the pike, Victoria decided to go for broke. “So, how are things with you and Dr. Ballard?”

  Mildred smiled knowingly. “You have nothing to worry about, Victoria. I may take a little time off here and there to enjoy this relationship, but I’ll always be back.”

  The woman read her like a book. “As much as I know I shouldn’t say this to you, that’s a relief. I don’t want to lose you, Mildred. I’m not sure this agency could bear the loss. However, I do want you to be happy and I know he makes you happy.”

  “You flatter me,” Mildred countered. “This agency could survive most anything—except perhaps losing you.” She eyed Victoria skeptically. “I know Lucas worries that you spend too much time at the office. And your son needs so much from you!” she sighed. “We all worry.”

  Victoria had to smile. She deeply appreciated her staff’s concern. “Lucas understands how much this agency means to me.” It was her turn to sigh. “Anything my son needs from me is a pleasure not an imposition.”

  It wasn’t necessary to say more. Mildred knew exactly what she meant.

  Love and family were the two most important elements of life. If Mildred’s suspicions were accurate, Amy had found and lost that first essential element all in the same weekend.

  AFTER CLEARING his schedule for the afternoon John waited in his office for Edgar Winterborne to come on line for the teleconference he’d requested earlier that morning. He’d wanted to discuss the issue immediately but John hadn’t been prepared to talk to him just then. He’d needed time and no one was going to deprive him of that. This was far too important a decision.

  He’d spent yesterday afternoon and most of last night walking the floors considering all that had happened…all that he felt. He’d come to only one conclusion where his personal life was concerned: he wasn’t about to jump the gun here. There would be no whirlwind courtship or marriage. Either Winterborne would go forward with the business venture or he wouldn’t. But John wasn’t jumping into a relationship with his daughter.

  Not when his heart belonged to someone else.

  John steepled his fingers and braced his forehead there. What little time he’d slept he’d dreamed of her, every waking moment was filled with thoughts of her. Even when he attempted to banish all thought of her, she was still there, just around the corner of his next thought.

  It would take time to get over losing her.

  What the hell was he saying? He’d never had her. She hadn’t really belonged to him. It had just felt that way, that’s all. He’d been a fool. Had been blind. All the signs of deception had been there…he’d ignored them all.

  But memories of the way she’d touched him…the way she’d looked into his eyes when they made love had been almost worth it. She’d told him that every moment had been real to her.

  But she’d walked away just the same.

  Hadn’t given him a chance…hadn’t given them a chance.

  If it had touched her on the same level as it touched him, then how could she just walk away without looking back…without calling? Anything?

  Then again, he’d let her go, hadn’t he?

  He’d been too stunned to think clearly, too full of anger about the deception. Now pride kept him from calling her, kept him from risking another blow to his ego.

  It wasn’t right, he knew. But he—

  “Calhoun?”

  John jerked from the troubling thoughts and focused on the conference call. “Yes, I’m here.”

  “Sorry to keep you waiting, but I had a last-minute matter to clear up.”

  John couldn’t help wondering if his daughter had run off with yet another old boyfriend. Nah. He couldn’t be that lucky. Then again, he wondered if he’d had employee relations problems at another of his facilities. The PI Nate had hired had learned that Winterborne had a few problems he’d failed to mention during the course of negotiations.

  “More problems with disgruntled employees?” John suggested.

  The extra second Edgar took before responding told John he’d hit the mark. “Nothing I can’t handle in a timely manner.”

  “There appears to be a pattern of employee-relations problems developing,” John pressed. “Is there anything we should know before we continue these negotiations?”

  John could almost see Winterborne’s face going beet-red and his jowls puffing out.

  “As I said, the matter is under control.”

  He’d just see about that. Nate had orders to keep his PI on the situation. “I’m sure you will. Are we on for tomorrow morning? I’d like to get these plans finalized as quickly as possible and move forward.”

  Another beat of silence. “We haven’t resolved the other matter,” Edgar countered. “I’d like this finished. After the fiasco this past weekend, I have no desire to drag out the preparations.”

  Old Edgar had his heart set on planning a marriage. For some reason he wanted to make sure John was bound to him heart and soul. But he wasn’t going to get his way, at least not until John had ample time to determine what he wanted.

  His gut tightened, rebelling against the whole idea.

  “I hate to disappoint you, Edgar, but that’s not going to happen,” John told him flatly.

  “But…but,” Edgar blubbered.

  “No buts,” John clarified. “I’m not jumping into anything.”

  “It’s that little trollop, isn’t it?” Edgar snarled. “She ruined everything with her interference.”

  John came up out of his chair, sending it banging against the credenza. “Unless you have something constructive to say regarding tomorrow’s meeting, this conversation is over,” he growled savagely. If he could reach through the telephone line he’d punch the guy’s lights out.

  “No! Tomorrow’s all set. Regina and I look forward to a productive meeting and then a nice lunch. I’ll see you in my office around ten.”

  “I’ll be there.” John punched the disconnect on his speaker phone and dropped back into his chair. He’d said he would be there. What he hadn’t said was whether it was an agreement or a warning. He had a lot more thinking to do before even he knew the answer to that dilemma.

  Two quick raps on his closed office door told him his father wanted to see him. No one else knocked on the door, they all buzzed him on the intercom before bothering to show up at his door.

  “Come in, Dad.”

  J.R. sauntered into the room and settled into one of the chairs flanking John’s desk. “Your secretary said you were talking to Winterborne.”

  John nodded. “That’s right. We’re meeting in his office at ten tomorrow morning. Would you like to go along?”

  J.R. grinned. “Any other time I’d say hell no. Don’t have much tolerance for the hustle and bustle of that city. But—” he shrugged “—I though
t I might just make an exception this time.”

  Exception, right. He just wanted to know what was going to go down between John and Winterborne. That was the bottom line. The big merger. Making the deal of the century happen.

  “Suit yourself.” John stood. Sick of the conversation, sick of this place. He needed a little wide-open space to get some real thinking done. “I’m calling it a day.”

  J.R. got to his feet, then hesitated before taking his leave. “I thought you might want this.” He pulled an envelope from his shirt pocket. “Liam said he found it under the hall table. Must have fallen. She left it for you.”

  John didn’t have to ask who she was. He stared at the envelope for a long time before he accepted it. Wasn’t sure then if he’d read it. He’d already heard her excuses for lying to him. What difference would a written version make?

  “See you back at the house.” J.R. smiled, but it wasn’t his usual high-wattage charmer. This one held a hint of sadness that gave John pause.

  “See ya,” John muttered. What was eating at him? he wondered as his father disappeared down the hall toward his own office. Not that he needed an office in the building, he pretty much stayed out of the day-today operations, showing up for the occasional investors’ meeting.

  It annoyed John that he was in the middle of this monumental personal crisis and he wasn’t even sure whose side his father was on. The company’s side probably.

  John looked at the letter in his hands and for one second he almost tossed it in the trash, but then he thought better of it. An emotion that was both unfamiliar and overwhelming made him tear it open and stare at the words penned in such gentle, feminine strokes.

  The first few paragraphs repeated what she’d already told him of how she’d ended up thrust into his life. He gritted his teeth so hard through that part that it was a miracle the enamel didn’t crack. Then the tone of her letter changed.

  I don’t know how to explain what happened next. I didn’t mean for it to happen, definitely didn’t expect it, but there it was. Being with you was no longer about the investigation. It was about you and the way you made my heart beat so hard I could hardly catch my breath. It was about the way it felt that first time you kissed me and from there it only got more confusing. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I just couldn’t stop…couldn’t leave because to do either of those I would have to let you go.