by Aliyah Burke
She fluttered her eyelashes and placed a manicured hand on her chest. “I was so worried when we heard the news.”
“Not sure why, we’re nothing to each other. You were a one-time date.” He shot a look to Dan who was having difficulty swallowing his laughter. “We were just about to leave. Can we drop you two anywhere?”
After flying Princess off to do some shopping up in Seattle, Dan went somewhere on his own, Rex and Riona went to his place.
He stared at his sister as she walked across the marble floor to a window, the flash of red from her shoes had him shaking his head. She loved her Louboutin’s.
“You know you don’t have to be an ass to her,” Riona reprimanded.
“I’m not about to lead her on as that would be foolish. She’s the type of female who would be claiming pregnancy in seconds. Why do you put up with her?”
“I actually like her.”
“Which is why she’s your friend and not my girlfriend.”
She glanced at him, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Speaking of girlfriends. Who is this woman you were sending a check to?” Riona canted her head and looked him over a few times. “You look different. Fitter. Thinner.” The calculating expression faded and he was faced with the little girl who’d followed him everywhere as they grew up. “I was so scared for you, Royal.”
He moved to her side and hugged her. “I’m sorry I worried you.”
She returned the embrace. Not many people got to see this side of her, they were usually faced with the ball-busting boss who ran a billion-dollar company. Part of the reason he got along with Tanner Storm so well was he too, had been estranged from his family and had understood what the man had been going through. While no family issues were the same from family to family, the gist of the problem was.
“I’m not forgetting about this woman,” she murmured in his ear. “Who is she?”
Rex drew back and walked over to his favorite chair where he fixed a drink for both of them before he sat.
Riona took one across from him, kicking off her five inch heels, and curling her feet beneath her.
He had a hard time imagining Jules in shoes like those.
“So, her name is Jules?”
He blinked, a bit taken aback. “What?”
“You said Jules wouldn’t be wearing shoes like mine. And the issue with my shoes is a discussion for a later time. So, who is she? What’s her last name? Who’s her family?”
“Jules is the one who rescued me when I didn’t know who I was. The check was a thank you for what she’d done. However, Dan hadn’t put in anything with it, so I think she took it the wrong way.”
“That’s not Dan’s fault. You should have sent it. Why is it an issue?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m trying to buy her property.”
Riona stared at him, silent.
Rex waited.
She burst out laughing.
Not what I was expecting.
The longer she laughed the more irritated he became with her behavior. Swirling his drink, he drank while waiting for her to finish. “Are you quite finished?” he demanded when she stopped for a breath.
“I doubt it, but we’ll see.” She flashed a smile. “So you went and fell for someone you’re trying to take land from.”
He nodded, no point in lying about it. “Yes.”
“Which property?”
“Petrichor Farms.”
She sipped her drink and nodded.
Rex narrowed his eyes at her. “Stay away from her.”
“Did I say anything about going to see her?”
“No, but you meddle. And you have this need to protect me. I mean it, stay away from her.”
“Look, I know I have a viper persona in the corporate world but what do you think I would do to her?” She sounded wounded.
“Not buying it, Riona. You’re not hurt by my words. Leave her alone.”
She shrugged. “Fine. I have better things to do than go to a farm anyway.” Such distaste and derision in how she said farm.
“Good,” he replied. “Now, catch me up on you.”
As his sister went into talking about herself, his mind drifted back to the woman who’d stolen his heart.
That night, after he climbed into bed, it hit him. All the times he and Jules had slept together, never once had they used protection—he bolted up in his oversized bed, eyes wide and heart pounding.
What if Jules was pregnant carrying his child? Was it hope that made him think of it? Was it just an excuse to try to see her again? But of course, he refused to face any of those questions.
Rex knew now, that he would spend yet another sleepless night in his overly large but empty bed.
αβ
Jules wiped the tears leaking before she turned around to face Ward as he approached. No point in letting him know just how emotional she was as of late. Again, knowing her best friend, he already knew.
Regardless, she pasted a smile on her face. “What’s up?”
“Tommy Halthway wanted to know if you could get his daughter in today? She’s having a good day and he wanted to take advantage.”
She mentally ran over her schedule. “If LeeAnn can stay along with Tory we could do it. Propose it to them, let them know we’ll pay them for the extra hour. But if they can be there, yes, we can get Meghan in today.” She had to make sure the riders that came, had a good rapport with the therapist and those along the horse as well. It wouldn’t do to have someone who was scared of men, to have men surrounding her. Meghan had the ones she did better with and this was about progress not setbacks.
He nodded. “I’ll check with them and call him back.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll get Danny bathed and ready for her.” The damn tears wouldn’t give her a break, so she turned away from her eagle-eyed friend and walked down the aisle.
“Jules,” he called out.
Here’s hoping that I’m far enough away from him, so he can’t see my lingering tears. She slowed and pivoted back to him. “Yes?”
“Danny is not in this barn and going out to the pasture isn’t going to get you to him any faster. You may as well come back this way, I’ve already seen the tears.”
Two leaked over as she sighed. “You could have let me pretend.”
“What good would that have done? I know you’ve been crying most days. I’m waiting for you to tell me why.”
Waving that off, she headed back up the cement aisle to his side. “I’m fine,” she lied. “Nothing to talk about.”
His expression told her he had no doubt the words leaving her mouth were lies. But for whatever reason, he left it alone. And she couldn’t express her gratitude for his action.
They walked out to the daylight together. The days had been beautiful and she should be happy. But there was an empty place in her heart and soul.
A place that had been taken up by Rex.
She shook her head, pushing him back away because it wasn’t going to do her any bit of good. He wasn’t her Rex. He was Royal Hamilton, billionaire who was used to getting what he wanted. And he wanted her property. Not her.
I will not cry.
While proud of her determination, she nearly laughed since it was a lie. She would be crying. As she had been most days lately. Eyes fixed on her destination, she flicked her tongue over her lips and struck out across the parking area.
In the barn, another wave of tears hit her and this time, she let them fall. Maybe if she did, they would finally dry up. Getting to Danny’s stall, she opened the door and brought him out before taking him back outside to let him enjoy the sun as she bathed him.
She got to work on that and as she was just about to finish shampooing him up, she paused when a long black limo pulled up the drive. Jules couldn’t ignore the way her heart kicked up to a record speed.
Could it be?
Her hand trembled and she nearly dropped the sponge she used. Gripping it harder, she didn’t leave her position. The vehicle sto
pped and she dipped back to the other side of Danny, adjusted her earbuds, and got back to work, sure that Ward saw the vehicle. They didn’t get limos in their drive often. Hell, she wasn’t sure when the last time had been.
Even though she was trying to pretend that she wasn’t watching, she realized she’d scrubbed the same spot on Danny’s neck five times. Focus, Jules, she reprimanded herself.
Dropping the sponge in the bucket, she turned to grab the hose and rinse him off. When she faced the horse once more, she did drop the hose, sending water all over his hooves and her boots.
Rex—Royal Hamilton stood there. The dark blue suit he wore no doubt cost more than she cared to think about.
Heaven help her, she wanted to jump over Danny and right into Rex’s arms. Instead, she bent at the waist and picked up the hose, holding in the urge to splash it on his expensive footwear.
Danny twitched an ear as if he knew where her mind went. All her horses were well in tune with her.
She put the water stream against his neck and began rinsing him.
“Jules.”
Lord, his voice had her knees trembling.
Meeting his gaze over the back of her horse, she lifted an eyebrow. “The name is Ms. Tarrington and I believe I told you not to come back here.”
“We need to talk.”
“So, make an appointment and I’ll see if I have time.”
“You know you walked away from me before, it’s not happening again. I’ll not be put off.”
This time the hose went over Danny’s back, spraying onto Rex.
He swore and stepped back, brushing frantically at the water spots on his suit. “Christ, what was that for?”
“This is a working farm, Mr. Harrington. You approached seeing I was bathing a horse. I have no sympathy for you standing in the way of the water. Perhaps you should sit in your limo and stay dry. Or perhaps have someone else come and do the talking for you.”
“Do you really think splashing water on my suit will get me to go away?”
Yeah, definite challenge in his tone.
“I don’t think about you at all.” She continued rinsing off Danny’s wide back.
“Funny, I can’t stop thinking about you. Day or night, you’re dominating my thoughts.” He stepped closer, ignoring the water that splattered from Danny to him. “I don’t want that. I wanted you out of my thoughts. Out of my life.”
She snapped her gaze up to him, anger churning in her gut. “So, leave. I didn’t ask you to come back here.”
His kissable lips turned up in that sexy smile she’d missed so much. “I know you didn’t. I wanted you to. I expected you to come at me with something.” He held up a hand stilling her retort. “But then I remembered something.”
She bent the hose, killing the stream of water. Later, she would kill herself for engaging with this man. She had things to do and playing some arrogant billionaire’s game wasn’t one of them. “What was that?”
His golden amber gaze heated as he held her stare. “I remembered you, Jules. You.”
“I suppose that should mean something to me for a billionaire to remember my name, but it doesn’t. Is that all? I have things to do.” The sting of tears informed her another emotion wave was swarming down on her. She prayed it didn’t show up until she got him out of her space.
“It means everything. It means Jules, that you aren’t the type of woman I am used to dealing with.”
“As far as compliments go, there isn’t anything you could have said that means more to me. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be nothing like the women you frequent your time with. Perhaps one of them would like the check you sent. Although, I’m sure you pay them more.”
“Jealousy is something I didn’t expect to see on you, but I’m glad the thought of me with anyone else makes you jealous.”
She uncrimped the hose and splashed cold water on Danny’s haunch. He snorted, sidestepping toward Rex, who instead of jumping back, merely put out a hand and steadied him with touch and a murmur.
“I’m not jealous,” she sniped.
“I would be,” he admitted. “I sure as hell would be. I am at the thought of you with anyone else.” Rex moved around Danny and stepped close to her, dwarfing her with his size. “I’ve been gone from here for nearly two months and all I think about when I have a moment is you and how being with you felt. Hell, even when I don’t have free time, you creep into my thoughts. I close a deal and want you there to celebrate with me. I can’t keep going this way, Jules. I need you back in my life.”
Words she’d dreamt about for the longest time. Pretty much ever since she rode away from him.
She lost herself in his gaze and finally shook her head. “No.”
That one black brow shot up. “No?”
“You lied to me.” Anger warred inside her with the hope. “You knew who you were, yet continued to lie with me and to me, knowing you were trying to bully me into selling. What makes you think there’s any kind of a future from that?”
Chapter Eight
Rex wanted nothing more than to swoop her up in his arms and put her inside his limo to relearn her body. Or inside the barn. Or her house. It didn’t matter. More important than that was to get her to understand he was serious about her. About them.
“Yes, I lied to you. I rather liked just being Rex for you. I loved the way you looked at me. Especially, given how your expression soured when you mentioned my company. I should have told you, I won’t argue that. But none of that changes how I feel about you.”
She didn’t realize how much her eyes spoke for her. Right now, behind the stormy blend of green-gray he saw hope and dare he say it, love. He was a business man and took risks. This would be a big one and it would be his largest. He had to count on her love for him to overlook his idiotic mistake.
His code was to go after what he wanted. It’s how he had made his mark in the world. He didn’t take no for an answer. With Jules, he would have to adjust slightly because this was a situation that tossing money at wouldn’t solve.
“I have a lesson.”
He captured her hand that held the hose and pried the rubber from her grip, dropping it to the ground. “And I need you.”
She lifted her chin. “I’m not something you can buy, Mr. Hamilton.”
“I know that. I never wanted you to think I sent that check to pay you for sleeping with me. That’s not it. It was a thank you for taking me in and taking care of me.”
“And for that you send me a check for five hundred grand? You didn’t eat that much. Not even close. Plus, you were working.”
“I was. Beside you. I saw you day in and day out, showing me who you were. And teaching me more about who I was.”
“All the words in the world aren’t going to get you this property.” Her words were harsh.
“Forget that,” he said, pulling her close. “Just forget that. I got the message when you sent it back torn up.”
“So, you’re just going to let it go?”
“It galls the hell out of me to do so, but like I told you, Jules. I learned about you and you taught me more about me.”
“Meaning?”
He moved her away from the horse and saw Ward come up and take over the rinsing of the equine. The man shot daggers at him but he would worry about that later. Backing her up to the barn, he put one hand on the side above her head, blocking her in with his body. “Meaning, I understand where you were coming from when you talked about how this place doesn’t need to be turned into another resort for the wealthy.”
“So, you’re backing off?”
“No.”
“Then we have nothing to say to one another.”
He chuckled and brushed two knuckles against her smooth cheek his body responding sexually to her proximity. “You’re wrong, Jules. We have much to say. But work is different, this is about you and me.”
“I’m not separate from this place. So, no.”
The shimmer of tears in her eyes killed him.
She was so amazing, he wanted to spend the rest of his life learning everything about her.
He dipped his head and kissed her. Took possession of her mouth and his heart sang when she responded to his kiss. She was covered in soap and water but he didn’t care the slightest bit at all about ruining his suit when she wound her arms around him and pushed her tongue along his, a soft purr rolling up from her throat.
Lifting her, he stepped them inside the barn and out of Ward’s view. She lowered her arms and tried to step back. He only allowed her to go so far, blocking her in between him and the wall. This time, he put both hands on the wall over her, lowering his head so he could see her eyes. “All I could think about was you, Jules. I told you this. Part of me wanted to write you a check to get you whatever money you needed to never have to worry about anything for this place and yet, I wanted you to sell it to me.”
Rex put his hand over her mouth. “No, this is my time to talk. You will listen.” He left no room for argument.
She didn’t fight him, just held his gaze.
Even so, he didn’t move back, if anything, he stepped closer, loving the fact her body was against his again. “I’m a business man. A fact I will not apologize for. I do what I do and I make an obscene amount of money doing it. More often than not, I’m a ruthless bastard. For whatever reason, when you welcomed me into your life, I saw life from a different view. No…let me state that better, I saw you and your life and because you are important to me, so now this place is. I want to help you. If you need me to help set up something to get investors or whatever you need. I want to be there and do this for you.”
Rex wasn’t quite sure what he’d been expecting but the wash of tears falling from her eyes definitely wasn’t it. Outrage, anger, shock, sure. Tears, not at all.
She covered her face and her shoulders shook with each sob.
He pulled her hands away, stared into her bloodshot gaze and wiped at the corners of her eyes with his thumbs. “What did I say?”
“Why are you doing this?”
Her question was more blubbering than anything but he made out the words. “I told you. I knew I could just write a check but that wouldn’t be what you wanted. Let me help you do it. I know business, I have contacts. Use me. Please.” God, he would move heaven and earth for her if only she would allow him to do it for her. And this woman was the only one in the world he would damn near beg to allow him to provide assistance.