Closer to You (A Haven, Montana Novel)

by Jill Sanders

  CHAPTER TWO

  Tyler was pissed again. Only this time, it wasn’t due to his ignorance or stupidity. Everything had been going great the last several months. He’d turned things around. Business had been booming. So much so that they had acquired one of their smaller local competitors, and the rumor was that another had gone under because of their success. They had also signed a lucrative deal with NewField Production Company, one that would keep McGowan Enterprises in business for the next few years. But now, JB Holding had sent trouble in high heels. What the hell had the woman been thinking when she’d worn those shoes?

  Her heels were taller than any he’d ever seen and they had been covered in white fur. It wasn’t bad enough that the woman was dressed as she was, but having his body react to her the way it did drove him even more toward the edge. Maybe it was just that it had been almost four months since the last time he’d enjoyed the feel of a woman’s body pushed up against his. Or, maybe it was those sexy, sleepy green eyes of hers or those soft-looking lips that had been covered with a deep shade of lipstick. Lips he was already imagining under his own.

  He shook his head clear as he finally pulled into his office’s parking lot. It had taken him almost three hours to finish up delivering the pipe to the east site. He was muddy, cold, and hungry, which meant he was in a foul mood.

  When he stepped in the front door, the sexy smell of perfume hit him and he groaned. He didn’t think he could deal with Sexy in Heels twice in one day.

  Why hadn’t she stayed at the hotel? Better yet, why hadn’t she turned around and gotten back on the plane out of here? It was obvious she didn’t belong in the country. Hell, she didn’t belong anywhere she might step in something unpleasant.

  He glanced down at his boots and grimaced. He’d forgotten to stomp off the mud. Rea was going to skin him. Backtracking, he did the best job he could with getting as much muck off before walking the rest of the way into the office.

  Sure enough, Sexy was sitting in one of the lounge chairs, reading a magazine like she was waiting to have her hair done.

  “It’s about time,” Rea piped up, thankfully diverting his attention from temptation. “Ray’s been calling for the last half hour. He says the pipe you delivered is too short.”

  “Like hell it is,” Tyler growled, ignoring the stares from the corner of the room. “Tell him . . . better yet, I’ll call him.” He thought he could make his escape, but instead, Kristen stood and followed him into his private office.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” He turned quickly, causing her to bump solidly into him. To keep her from falling, his hands came up and wrapped around her tiny waist. He’d enjoyed the feel of her earlier, and now was no different. Except now she didn’t have the extra layer of a coat, which only made him realize that she was much smaller than he’d first thought. And much softer.

  “We have business to discuss.” She took a step back and he dropped his hands.

  “It can wait. I’ve got—”

  “I’ll wait in here.” She nodded to the chairs opposite his desk.

  “—private business to attend to.”

  “Surely there is nothing private about talking to someone about how long your pipes are.” Her head tilted to the side and he watched her dark hair fall around her face.

  She’d changed into a different outfit. Instead of dark slacks, she wore a slim skirt with a long slit up the side, showing off enough leg to cause his mouth to water. Her blouse was teal; a color he’d imagined belonged on a warm beach somewhere instead of at the end of winter in Montana.

  The room was silent and he waited until it dawned on her what exactly she’d hinted at. As he watched her cheeks heat, he smiled. “Suit yourself.” He motioned toward the chairs.

  She moved quickly and sat down without a word. He held in a chuckle, then sat down behind the massive desk his father had built with his own two hands when Tyler was six.

  For the next hour, he argued on the phone, making sure to let as many four-letter words fly from his mouth as he normally did. Hell, if she wanted to sit in his office for the private conversations, she’d just have to deal with the language. After all, even his father had cursed.

  By the time he hung up the phone, his head was splitting and he desperately wished for a cold beer. His throat was aching and raw.

  Walking over to the coffee maker, he poured himself a cup of coffee instead. Then turned and held up a cup for her.

  “No, thank you,” she said, straightening her skirt. “Now, if you’re done yelling at your employees, maybe we can go over—”

  Just then, his phone rang and he smiled. Walking back to the desk, he picked up the phone and groaned when he heard his mother’s sweet voice on the other side.

  “I don’t mean to bother you, I know how busy you boys are, but I was hoping you’d invite the woman from JB Holding who arrived today over to dinner. I know that the diner in town is always packed and I’d hate for her to go without a good meal on her first day in town.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” His eyes roamed over to where the woman sat across from him, taking in how the blouse and skirt fit her like a second skin.

  “Tyler, I understand she’s here on business, but the least we can do is show her the McGowan hospitality.” His mother’s tone turned stern and he knew there was no getting out of it at that point.

  “I’ll ask,” he replied.

  “I’ll wait. I hear from Rea that she’s in your office now.”

  His eyes flew to the door and imagined the small smile on the face of the woman sitting outside. Rea and his mother talked too damn often. Nothing escaped either of them. Not when they ganged up on him.

  He set the phone aside, then sighed. “My mother would like to invite you to dinner tonight.”

  “I’d love to.” She smiled, making him believe that she’d known what was going on all along.

  “Fine,” he growled. “Fine,” he said into the phone.

  “Good, I’ll expect you two around six. Oh, and Tyler, make sure you shower and dress up before picking her up.”

  He raised his gaze and locked eyes with the gorgeous green eyes across from him, and her sexy smile grew. And at that moment he understood she could hear his mother perfectly. Instead of answering his mother, he hung up the phone.

  “There, now we can talk.” He leaned back and waited for her to start negotiations so he could shoot her down.

  “Now.” She stood and held out her hand. “I realized we hadn’t formally been introduced. I’m Kristen Howell.”

  She waited and he felt like laughing, but instead decided to play her game and took her hand in his. “Tyler McGowan.”

  “Right.” She turned and pulled out a folder from the case she’d brought with her. “JB Holding company would like to extend an offer to purchase you and your brothers’ shares in your company. We have—”

  “No,” he broke in and closed the folder she’d just laid on his desk.

  “But you haven’t looked—”

  “I don’t need to. McGowan Enterprises is not for sale.”

  “We’d only be buying—”

  “No.” He maintained the tone of his voice but could feel his temper growing. She was as persistent as she was sexy.

  “I think you’ll find our offer—”

  “I don’t care.” He felt his left eye twitch and reached over to take another sip of his coffee.

  She sighed and sat down, then crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “What will it take for you to open your mind?”

  His eyebrows rose as his eyes roamed over her. Instantly his imagination conjured up a hundred images of what she could do to him to make his mind a little more open.

  “Mr. McGowan, I’m very good at my job. I think you’ll find I can be very persuasive.” Her tone was all innocence, clearly unaware of his train of thought. His smile grew as he continued to daydream about ripping off those expensive clothes of hers and finding out what kind of soft frilly
things she wore underneath.

  “Are you even listening to me?” She broke into his thoughts.

  “No,” he said honestly. He shook his head and took another drink of coffee, but wished for a cold beer instead.

  “No? You’re not listening to me, or no, you won’t listen to me?”

  “Both.” He stood up and walked across the room to pour himself another cup. “I think you’re wasting your time here.”

  “It’s my time to waste.” She stood up and walked to the window. “It’s snowing.” Her sigh had a hint of a groan in it.

  “It’s Montana in the spring. We expect snow through the end of May, sometimes on through June.” He glanced down at her shoes and shook his head. “I hope you brought something other than those things.” He nodded to her sexy boots.

  “Of course I did.” She turned and frowned at him. “Is there a place to rent a car around here?”

  He laughed. “Nope.”

  Her eyes narrowed, and he could see wheels turning in her head. “I don’t suppose . . .” She dropped off, biting her bottom lip.

  “You can borrow one of the company cars. I’ll set it up with Rea.” He walked out of the room, if only to give him a moment to clear his head from what her sexy scent was doing to him.

  When he walked back in, she was sitting in one of his chairs, using her cell phone like she belonged in the space.

  “I understand, yes, thank you.” She glanced up at him before she hung up the phone. Instead of standing up, she leaned back in the chair and looked quite comfortable. He waited, then leaned against the doorframe as she took the folder and shuffled the papers in it.

  “I just spoke to my boss, Mr. Burnett. He’s willing to—”

  “No,” Tyler broke in, shaking his head before walking over and twisting the chair toward him. Her eyes moved up to his as he waited for her to stand. When she didn’t, he took her arm gently and pulled her out of the chair.

  “Are you at least going to—”

  “No,” he repeated, feeling her breath on his face.

  “You are, without a doubt, the most—”

  “Your car is ready, Ms. Howell.” Rea broke into the room, holding up a set of keys.

  Two sets of heated eyes moved to the doorway.

  He felt her shiver and could see she was irritated, then watched her shoulders tense and straighten. “Thank you, Rea.” She leaned down and hugged the folder to her chest. “If you’ll be kind enough to give me the address for tonight, I’ll—”

  “No, I’ll pick you up,” he said as she walked toward the door.

  “That won’t be necessary.” She took the keys from Rea.

  “It is if I expect not to be chewed out by my mother,” he replied.

  Kristen looked toward Rea, who nodded in agreement. “I wouldn’t cross Gail McGowan. Not even after thirty-odd years of friendship and working for her husband.”

  “Fine, I’ll be ready at—”

  “Quarter ’til six,” he finished.

  “Fine, see you then.” She turned and left without another word. Rea followed slowly, shutting Tyler’s door behind her.

  Less than five minutes later, Trent walked in the door, his eyes sparkling. He whistled when he sat down. “Damn! Why didn’t you tell us JB sent a hottie?”

  “Because she’s here to try and take over the family business. Hotness has nothing to do with it.” Tyler punched keys on his keyboard.

  “Doesn’t mean we can’t have fun with her while she tries.” Trent chuckled, causing Tyler to glare at him.

  “She’s off-limits,” he said in a voice that was a little too like his father’s for comfort.

  “You sound like Dad.” Trent frowned. “Damn, you even look like him behind that desk.”

  Tyler turned back to his computer. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been in charge around here for almost four months now.”

  “Who would have ever guessed . . .”

  “What the hell does that mean?” He turned to Trent, who just shrugged.

  “Just that I guess I always thought that Dad would leave the business to Uncle Carl.”

  “Carl’s a drunk.” Tyler swiveled back to the spreadsheet on his computer.

  “Yeah, but he’s been a part of the business since the start and still owns part of it.”

  “So have we. I mean, I was four and you were two when Dad started out. It’s up to the sons to carry a father’s legacy.”

  “Sure, but . . .” Trent shook his head and stood to leave. “Never mind.”

  “Trent.” Tyler stopped his brother from walking out. “I always thought he’d leave you in charge.”

  “Me?” His brother frowned over at him.

  “Yeah, because of your head for business,” he added.

  The last time he’d talked to his father, shortly before he’d left town for LA, he’d walked in on his dad talking to Trent.

  He hadn’t known that the months after he’d left town that Trent and Trey would follow.

  He could remember Trent and his dad spending hours poring over business plans. Even back in high school, Trent had a knack for planning.

  “Sure, that part’s easy; it’s the negotiations and the ass-kissing I can’t stand. Unless it’s with someone like Kristen.” Trent chuckled. “No, if the last few months have proved anything, it’s that you’re perfect for this job.” He turned to go, but then stopped and threw over his shoulder, “Dad knew what he was doing, leaving you in charge.”

  Kristen checked her reflection one last time. She knew she’d probably overdone it. But she was even more determined to make an impression after talking to her boss today.

  She’d told him that Tyler wasn’t even willing to look at the proposal, let alone negotiate. Her boss had warned her that she’d better make him listen. For some reason, Charles Burnett, head of JB Holding, was determined to take over McGowan Enterprises. For what reason, she didn’t know, but honestly, she didn’t care.

  If making this deal meant moving up the next rung in the ladder that had been her career for the past three years, then she’d wade through five feet of snow in her Gucci boots. The trick was to make the family understand that it was in their best interest to sell out. She’d done it before, and she could do it again.

  There was a knock on her door just as she finished applying more lip gloss. When she opened the door, she felt her breath hitch.

  Tyler McGowan had been sexy as hell as a rugged man in faded work clothes. She’d never expected him to clean up to be an even sexier man who stood in front of her now dressed in a black suit that happened to fit him just right.

  “I hope you don’t expect me to carry you to the car dressed like this.” He waited until she smiled.

  “No, I think I can manage myself tonight.”

  She thought she heard him say good. But wasn’t sure.

  “Ready?” He held the door open. She nodded as an answer.

  “I heard you met my younger brother Trent as you left the office.”

  “Yes, he seemed charming.” She’d been surprised at how much the brothers looked alike, but yet they seemed so different. Trent had shown her nothing but kindness and had outright flirted with her, where Tyler had been all business and annoyance.

  Sure, the brothers were tall, dark, and sexy, but that didn’t detour her from pushing her own desires aside to get what she wanted. She’d been in this business too long to let her emotions and feelings get in the way.

  She’d passed up too many opportunities for herself to count. This was just another in the history of the social life she’d sacrificed, all for the betterment of her career.

  She followed him to a small sedan. “Not driving the truck tonight?”

  “That’s for work. This isn’t work.” He held open the door and she slid into the leather seat that was already warmed for her.

  When he got behind the wheel, he paused before driving.

  “My mother means the world to us, and I’ll respect her wishes, but the second you t
ry to convince her to sway us into selling out, that’s the second you’ll end up walking back here tonight. Understand?”

  She raised her chin slightly, then nodded. “Business is off the table for the night.”

  “Good.” He pulled out of the parking lot.

  “So,” she said after a moment. “Since business is out for the night, maybe now you can answer some personal questions.”

  He glanced over at her quickly, but she didn’t give him time for a rebuttal.

  “What city did you live in?”

  She heard him sigh, then answer. “LA.”

  “For how long?” she asked.

  “Almost a year. Before that, I bounced around for a while.” He shrugged.

  “What did you do in LA?”

  “Partied.” His short answer caused her to tilt her head until he added, “Went to school.”

  “For?”

  “This and that.” She sighed, then he surprised her by asking his own questions. “Have you always lived in New York?”

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “Did you go to school?”

  “Yes.” She kept her answers short like he had.

  “Parents? Siblings?” he asked, turning the car toward the outskirts of town.

  “Yes.”

  “Brothers? Sisters?” he asked as they turned down a narrow driveway.

  “Neither. I’m an only child.”

  “That explains . . .” He stopped when she turned her head. “Never mind.”

  “No, please. Continue,” she said as he pulled the car into park. Her eyes remained on him.

  “Very well, that explains the necessity for attention.”

  She laughed. “I don’t have a need for—”

  His eyebrows rose slightly. “Lady, you’ve been in town less than a day and every eye is on you.”

  “It’s not my fault that there isn’t anything better to do in Haven than gossip about someone new in town.”

  “We get a lot of people passing through, but never dressed like you.” He switched off the car and turned slightly toward her. “Or any that smell like you either.”