Irresistible You

by Francis Ray

  “Has Pierce heard—Sabra.” Ruth rushed forward, hugging the woman. “You’re safe!”

  Sabra hugged her back, her gaze going to Pierce. “I couldn’t leave.”

  “The pilot is about to make a landing,” the TV announcer said.

  “Master of Breath and God, guide him,” Ruth murmured.

  Pierce curved one arm around his mother and the other around Sabra. She was safe, but they all felt for the passengers, crew, and their families and friends who were going through the ordeal.

  The jet hit the asphalt, dipped to one side, then skidded for fifty feet before there was a visible crack in the wing. Smoke billowed from the screeching tires, the wing scraping the asphalt. The wail of sirens and fire engines could be heard over the roar of the engine. Finally the plane stopped. Moments later, the emergency door opened and the chute unfurled.

  By the time the first passengers hit the asphalt, emergency personnel were there to assist them. They were hurried to safety.

  “Thank you,” Ruth said softly, then looked at her children and the women they loved. “For everything.”

  Sierra folded her arms. “I love you, Mama, but it stops with Pierce.”

  Faith squealed. “Congratulations!”

  Sabra kept her gaze on Pierce. “I think you might be premature.”

  Brandon slapped Pierce on the back. “My kid brother just takes his time. He wouldn’t dare make my wife feel bad.”

  All eyes except Sabra’s were on him. He opened his mouth just as her cell phone rang.

  “Excuse me.” Sabra pulled the phone out. “Hello. . . . No, I didn’t catch the plane, Dave. I had my reasons. I’ll call you back.” She’d barely disconnected the call before the phone rang again. This time it was her assistant. The next call came from Britt, offering to send his jet to pick her up. Then the same offer came from the head of the movie studio.

  When the phone rang again, Pierce blew out a breath. “How many more calls do you expect?”

  “I’m not sure,” she said, finally looking at him. She spoke to the producer of her last play, then hung up again.

  “Then I better get this over.” He took her hand. “I love you with all my heart. Before my family, the Master of Breath, and God, I’m asking you to be my wife.”

  The ringing phone dropped from Sabra’s hand. Tears filled her eyes.

  “Please let that be a yes.”

  “Yes!” She launched herself into his arms, kissing his face. Laughing, Pierce swung her around.

  “This calls for a celebration!” Aunt Felicia leaned against her husband. “Faith, can you help us out?”

  Smiling, Faith whipped out her own cell phone to call her executive chef. “Henri, we’re celebrating the latest Grayson to find his heart’s desire. We’ll be there shortly.” She disconnected the phone. “I better go and see to things.” She hugged Sabra.

  Brandon hugged his brother. “Welcome to the fraternity.” Then he tugged his sister’s hair and winked.

  Sierra merely raised an eyebrow. Laughing, Brandon curved his arm around Faith’s waist and left.

  “Let’s give them a few minutes alone,” Ruth said, hustling everyone from the room. “Ten minutes and not a moment more.”

  Everyone congratulated the newly engaged couple. Sierra was the last to leave. Pierce smiled sheepishly. “If I said I was sorry I’d be lying.” He pulled Sabra closer to him. “She’s all that I wanted, even before I knew what that was.”

  Sierra started to tell him that he should have asked their mother, but changed her mind. He’d figure it out. Now he was too happy. “If you’re over ten minutes I’m eating.” She opened the door. “I’m happy for both of you.”

  “Tell me again,” Sabra said when the door closed. “Tell me you love me.”

  “I love you. More than I thought it possible for a man to love a woman.” His hands flexed on her arms. “We’ll make it work. Our love will keep us strong, no matter that you have to be away.”

  Her arms circled his neck. “What would you think of me filming the movie here?”

  He squeezed her to him. “You’d save my sanity.”

  “Marcus said he’s give me anything I wanted. When I dangle Silken Lies and give him options on the other two plays I’m writing, I think he’ll go for it,” she told him.

  He kissed her. “My brilliant fiancée.”

  She grinned up at him. “Your mother gave me the idea.”

  He sobered instantly. “What?”

  “Your mother. Is something the matter?”

  Pierce threw back his head and laughed. “No, everything is perfectly all right. And you are the most perfect thing of all, my beautiful irresistible you.”

  EPILOGUE

  RUTH COULD HARDLY CONTAIN HER HAPPINESS AS they waited for Pierce and Sabra to arrive. Of course, it was past the ten minutes Ruth had allowed them, but that was understandable. When you were in love, time flew when you were together and stood still when you were apart.

  Ruth looked down the elongated table Faith had placed on the patio to accommodate the family. Three beautiful bouquets of red and white roses in crystal vases served as centerpieces. The flatware was sterling, the plates trimmed in gold. Both had come from Faith’s home. Ruth couldn’t be happier about her choice for Brandon, the nurturer.

  Then there was Phoenix, who might appear quiet but who burned with an inner fire. The ideal match for Morgan, the defender. Catherine possessed a quiet spirit except when it came to championing abused children or her husband, Luke, the protector.

  Ruth’s heart swelled with pride on seeing Pierce and Sabra. She had to smile at seeing Isabella with them. Things had gone exactly as planned. Pierce, the thinker, had learned there were no rules in love.

  As those at the table got up to congratulate the beaming couple, Ruth caught Felicia’s attention. They had done it again.

  Ruth felt someone watching her and knew before she turned she’d see her youngest. Arms crossed, her thick black hair dancing in the morning breeze, with her high cheekbones and delicate features, Sierra was stunningly beautiful and gifted with a knack for discernment.

  Ruth could almost hear Sierra vowing that she wouldn’t fall as easily as her brothers. A moment of unease swept through Ruth. If this went badly—No, as she’d told Felicia, she’d go through with her plans. She couldn’t stop them if she wanted to. Things were already in motion.

  But she was a mother who loved her children intensely. The man chosen was as unpredictable as the wind. Some said ice water ran in his veins. He was feared as much as he was revered. A shiver raced down Ruth’s spine. She said a prayer for all of them.

  Sierra, the loyal one, would face a man who could deeply wound her, but he could also love her like no other man could.

  For better or worse, Sierra was next.

  Read on for an excerpt from Francis Ray’s

  next book

  ONLY YOU

  Coming soon from St. Martin’s Paperbacks

  SIERRA GRAYSON WAS HAVING THE TIME OF HER LIFE in San Francisco. The city was breathtaking, the food fabulous, and the shopping superb. An added bonus was that she had left her matchmaking mother in Santa Fe. Ruth Grayson was determined that her youngest child and only daughter follow her four older brothers into matrimonial bliss—just as she had predicted and planned—whether Sierra wanted to get married or not.

  What her children wanted hadn’t mattered to their loving mother who had been sure they would be happier married. Sierra would give her credit for being right in choosing the perfect woman for each of her brothers, but Sierra had no intention of being next. She enjoyed life too much to be tied down to some man who’d want her to cater to his every whim.

  When her sister-in-law, Sabra Raineau-Grayson, had invited Sierra to San Francisco with her and Pierce, Sierra jumped at the opportunity. Having her other brother, Brandon, and his wife, Faith, join them had made the trip a fun-filled romp. And, as of five minutes ago, it had just gotten better.

  She had just
been presented with the golden opportunity to meet the movers and shakers of the city’s elite. Of course, when she did, she’d look for an opportunity to sell them a prime piece of Santa Fe real estate. She almost skipped with glee in her new Jimmy Choo sandals.

  A winsome smile on her face, she sauntered through the spacious and opulent lobby of the St. Regis Hotel. She would have had to be blind not to notice the attention she garnered. Since nothing much ever got past Sierra, she dismissed the interested gazes of the men along with the curious stares of the women.

  Without being conceited, Sierra knew she looked good. It helped that she wore a new purchase, an imported white Valentino embroidered-and-beaded couture cotton sheath that complemented her golden skin. As always she’d dressed with care, but especially this afternoon. Otherwise there was a distinct possibility that she wouldn’t have charmed Ken Simpson, the chairman of the auction that night, into accepting her as a replacement for her latest sister-in-law, Sabra.

  Not only was Sabra stunning, she was a two-time Tony-winning Broadway actress. But just as it was Sierra’s brain that had taken her to the top of her profession in Santa Fe, that same sharp intelligence impressed Mr. Simpson.

  As Sierra had explained to Mr. Simpson and the rest of his enthralled committee members over cocktails in a five-thousand-dollar suite, as much as Sabra wished to fulfill her obligations, it didn’t seem the right thing to offer a bride on the auction block. What Sierra didn’t say was that if they didn’t agree, there would be a third person at the winner’s dinner table—Sabra’s love-smitten husband and Sierra’s youngest brother, Pierce.

  Stepping outside onto the terrazzo floor of the outdoor restaurant, Sierra searched the almost deserted area for Faith. She’d called just before Sierra had gone to meet Simpson and said to meet her on the patio when she finished. Brandon, Sierra’s third brother and Faith’s husband, had gone to visit a friend who, like Brandon, owned and operated his own restaurant near the Cannery. The lovebirds, Pierce and Sabra, had taken off with Isabella, Sabra’s dog, for Fisherman’s Wharf.

  Continuing into the lush area overflowing with red bougainvillea, verdant ferns, and towering palms, Sierra searched for Faith. If Faith said she would be there, she’d be there. She was dependable to a fault.

  Just as Sierra turned to search another area, a deep, masculine voice stopped her dead in her tracks. A hot shiver raced over her body. Disturbed by her reaction, a frown puckered her brow as she swung back and moved toward the engrossing sound.

  Before that moment she would have bet she wasn’t the type of woman to get all hot and bothered by a man’s voice. Seemed she would have lost. Curious, led by instinct and an unexpected need, she sought the owner of the captivating voice.

  She’d sensed something else in his tone, a tormented spirit.

  Since Sierra was a direct descendant of an African high priestess and a Native-American shaman, she didn’t question how she knew he was hurting or her own actions. Her breath held, her palms damp, she stepped around a ten-foot potted palm.

  Less than fifteen feet away, Faith stood in profile with a broad-shouldered man. A gray tailored suit fit his powerful build perfectly. His muscular arms curved loosely around Faith’s waist; her hands were splayed on his wide chest as she smiled up at him.

  Since Sierra trusted Faith completely, she didn’t jump to conclusions. Instead Sierra ignored the strange tingling in her body and openly studied the stranger. One of her unique abilities had always been to size people up quickly and accurately. She did so now. Wealthy, powerful, dangerous. This man would take what he wanted and damn the consequences.

  As if sensing her, he slowly turned his head. Their gazes clashed. There was no other way to describe the shock of his onyx eyes boring into hers. Never one to back down, Sierra continued to stare boldly at him as his gaze assessed her in one slow smoldering sweep. The tingling spread like liquid fire over her body.

  He was sensually beautiful, Native-American, and magnificent with burnished copper skin. Thick jet-black hair secured at the base of his neck with a silver band hung past his wide shoulders. At least six-foot-five, he had chiseled cheekbones, incredibly long lashes, and a mouth meant to make a sensible woman sin.

  He was also one of the few men she had ever seen who was equal to her brothers, the Taggarts, or her cousin, Daniel Falcon. The sheer male beauty of the man, the noble bearing gave her pause, but it was his eyes, fierce and black, that sent another hot shiver racing down her spine.

  Faith, apparently realizing the man’s attention had wandered, glanced around. Seeing Sierra, her smile broadened. The warm smile faltered when it wasn’t returned. Quickly Faith stepped away from the man and moistened her lips in an uncharacteristically nervous gesture.

  Sierra’s sister-in-law ran a five-star hotel in Santa Fe with enviable ease. Nothing rattled her. She also loved Brandon to distraction.

  “Sierra, I-I see you found me.” Faith’s smile slowly faded. “Sierra Grayson, Blade Navarone.”

  “Ms. Grayson,” the man greeted, his voice stroking her.

  “Mr. Navarone,” she returned just as formally, although there was nothing formal about the midnight eyes closely watching her or the heat searing her. So this was the infamous Blade Navarone, billionaire real estate mogul.

  Faith looked from Blade to Sierra, then wrung her hands when neither said anything further. “Sierra is Brandon’s sister. Blade is a very good friend, Sierra. He happened to be in town on business. We bumped into each other in the lobby.”

  “You missed the wedding. It was beautiful,” Sierra pointed out, but she already knew he attended few non-business social events. She’d done a thorough study of the elusive man after he’d unrepentantly shown up in Santa Fe at Faith’s request. His mission was to make Brandon jealous.

  Sierra hadn’t seen Blade while he was there, but he’d succeeded. Easygoing Brandon had become possessive and territorial where Faith was concerned. Only a fool wouldn’t worry if a man like Blade took an interest in a woman he wanted.

  No Grayson could ever be called a fool.

  “I was unavoidably detained elsewhere.” Something flickered in Blade’s eyes as he glanced back at Faith. “Faith understood.”

  Sierra’s brow furrowed. There it was again, the pain just beneath the surface. There hadn’t been any mention of problems, personal or professional, in the numerous news articles on Blade. There had been a few out-of-focus photos and a lot to read and admire. Navarone Properties and Resorts, the playgrounds of the rich and famous, were scattered like priceless jewels around the world.

  The titillating possibility of being his exclusive broker for the next Navarone property in Dallas where fifty-five private estates were going for one to eleven million dollars would have been a dream job for Sierra. For that she would have put off opening her own brokerage firm. The commission would have been staggering, the prestige boundless.

  She hadn’t even received a response from her query. She’d shrugged it off and gone on. Now, what Sierra couldn’t figure out was how Faith and Blade, complete opposites, were friends.

  Faith was guileless, open, a nurturer like Brandon. Blade was known to be ruthless and relentless. He didn’t give second chances. He’d come down on you like a hard rain if you crossed him.

  Before her cousin Daniel had cut back drastically in his business to be with his newborn son, he and Blade had been friendly business rivals. They also had the same unforgiving personality. Marriage and a family had changed Daniel. From what Sierra had read, there was no special woman in Blade’s life.

  “He’s just a friend,” Faith explained as she moved toward Sierra and away from Blade.

  “Just” was not a word you’d associate with Blade Navarone. He’d come seemingly out of nowhere almost twelve years ago with grit, nerve, and a razor-sharp intelligence to build a financial empire.

  “Sierra?”

  The unmistakable hurt in Faith’s voice finally pulled Sierra away from her examination of Blade. Steppi
ng forward, she extended her hand. The contact of his large calloused palm against hers sent more shivers skipping down her spine. His black gaze narrowed. He felt the unsettling sensation as well.

  Pulling her hand back, Sierra resisted the urge to swipe it against her dress. She had a strong feeling it wouldn’t do any good. Blade wasn’t the type of man a woman could forget easily . . . if at all.

  “Faith, I hate to interrupt, but we should be going before they give away our appointments at the spa,” Sierra said, firmly turning her attention to her sister-in-law. “Because of the auction, we were lucky to be squeezed in.”

  “Did they let you switch with Sabra?” Faith asked.

  Sierra smiled and almost relaxed. What was the matter with her? She hadn’t met a man she couldn’t charm. “Did you doubt?”

  Faith laughed and hugged Sierra, then turned to Blade. “Sierra changed places with her sister-in-law, Sabra Raineau, so she could be one of the prizes for a dinner tonight at the auction.”

  “And to keep my brother from being an uninvited guest at their dinner,” Sierra explained with a chuckle.

  “I won’t detain you further then. Goodbye, Faith. Ms. Grayson.”

  Still trying to figure out why she’d reacted so strongly to him, Sierra watched Blade walk away. No, not walk. Saunter like a big lazy cat.

  “You had me worried for a moment there.” Faith hooked her arm through Sierra’s and started back to the hotel’s lobby.

  Sierra bumped her shoulder against Faith’s. “You’re smitten with my brother. The same over-the-moon way he is about you.” She tilted her head to one side. “I guess I was just caught off guard by seeing Blade Navarone in the flesh.”

  The words had no more left her mouth than her mind tried to conjure up a picture of a naked Blade—strong wide shoulders, bare chest delineated with muscles, rock-hard abdomen. She shook away the unnerving image before her mind ventured further down his incredible body. “Or that you two were such close friends.”