by Dakota Black
“This isn’t about not trusting you. I already told you that. I’m nervous, much more so than I’ve ever been. If this thing goes south, I stand a chance of losing everything. I refuse to allow that to happen, but if I do, I’m going to do everything I can to absolve the two of you. The less you know the better.” Mitchell was surprised at the sound of his despair. This wasn’t him. This wasn’t the man who’d taken over a company from a father whose tactics were brutal, unforgiving. He’d been determined to turn the company around, change the future as well as the way employees were treated. Yes, to some he was an arrogant bastard, but only because they didn’t see the man inside, nor would they ever.
Zach nodded several times. “Fine. I do understand your frustration. I’ll see what I can find.”
“I appreciate everything you’re doing.”
“Just be careful. I don’t want to have to draw up papers dissolving the company or worse, seeing it fall into the wrong hands.”
“You and me both.”
After finishing the beer, Mitchell left the restaurant, determined to take a long drive before heading back to the house. As he walked outside, he stood for a moment as his thoughts drifted once again to the lovely new employee. He wanted to see her. More importantly, she needed to understand that he wasn’t the man she’d come to despise. While he might have to open up, share details from his sordid past, he was prepared and ready. He wanted her in his life.
A grin crossed his face as he thought about the spanking. She needed more. Hmm. As he unlocked the car, he knew what he had to do. He tugged the phone from his pocket, dialing her number.
Voicemail. Was she avoiding his call or stuck in Friday afternoon traffic? Just hearing her sultry voice was enough to make his dick hard as a rock. “Hello, beautiful. I have an offer for you.”
After leaving the message, he climbed inside, lowering the convertible top. As he maneuvered out of the parking lot, smiling for the first time in days, he managed to catch his ringing cell phone. Perhaps she was already calling him back. Grabbing without looking, his voice held a sexual lilt.
“Are you ready?” he asked, grinning at his reflection in the rearview mirror.
“The question is. Are you ready for what you’re facing?”
“What did you say?” The voice on the other end was gruff, disguised. When there was silence, he hissed. “Look, you fuck head. You aren’t going to threaten me. I’ll hunt you down.”
An evil laugh slithered through the phone. “I’d be careful if I were you. Dirty secrets tell no lies.”
“You asshole. What secrets?”
“I’m going to destroy you and when I do, I’m going to take everyone you ever cared about with you, including that bitch you fucked. Have I made myself clear?”
When the call ended, Mitchell tossed the phone. The mother fucker was going to die.
Chapter 8
Dani sat in her car gazing at the set of brick columns and the tree lined driveway, her apprehension remaining. She glanced out the window, sighing for at least the tenth time during the trip. She’d driven all the way out here and wasn’t certain whether she could follow through. The morning sun was beautiful, shimmering against an almost cloudless sky. This was a perfect day.
Then get moving. The words of encouragement weren’t doing her any good. She eased her phone from her purse, snorting as she flipped to her voice mail. The words, the tone of his voice, his offer was delicious.
“Hello, beautiful. I have an offer for you. Before you say no and hang up the phone, just listen to me. I want to get to know you and I want you to see the real man. Why not come by my house tomorrow morning? We can talk, I’ll show you around and maybe even take a horseback ride. No pretense. No bullshit. Just you and me. What do you say? Here’s my address.”
Yeah, she’d listened now four times, maybe five and hadn’t responded one way or the other. Mitchell wouldn’t be expecting her. Maybe she could catch a glimpse of the real man. She rolled her eyes and gripped the steering wheel with both hands. If she didn’t find out what he was made of, there was no way she could continue working at Rush. At least these were her current thoughts anyway.
Garnering what little courage she had, she rolled the car onto the driveway. “Yes, you can do this.” After gulping air, she pressed down on the gas pedal, heading up the long driveway. When his house, that really could be described as a mansion, popped into view she groaned. The man was rich. Too rich for her blood. The house was a modern ranch, sprawling for several hundred feet. An oversized barn was several hundred yards away, horses grazing behind a short fence. The backdrop of very old trees, their branches swaying in the light breeze, was breathtaking. “Fuck.”
Overwhelmed, she parked alongside a huge Dodge Ram, a sleek Mercedes and a hot red Viper. Either the man had company or one of the finest selections of cars around. Out of her league. No, she was too good for him.
Cutting the engine, she left her things in the car. This might be a short visit. Time to find out one way or the other. After knocking on the door, she waited for what would be a staff member to open the door. When no one came to the door, she knocked again, only this time with more force. Still nothing. She stood back, listening for any sounds.
A loud whistle floated past the roofline. She eased down the front stairs and around the side of the house. There was some sort of activity near the corral. She wrinkled her nose and headed in the direction, her confidence level reaching a low point.
Did she really doubt she was good enough for him? Did she think she’d find him with another woman or five? The jury was still out. Throwing back her shoulders, she continued her walk. The closer she came, the more she relaxed. There were at least a dozen horses in the oversized corral, some grazing, others running the fence line. She was drawn to the incredible scene, the natural beauty.
She stood just behind the fence, enjoying the way the horses moved, their beautiful manes flowing in the light breeze, their color vibrant. Exhaling, she gripped the railing, her search for Mitchell on hold.
“What a surprise.”
His voice, seductive and alluring, washed over and around her, the tone smooth velvet. She swallowed and dug her nails into the dense wood. The man gave her such a rush as well as wetness between her legs. “I’m not sure why I’m here.”
Mitchell eased beside her, his face tipped toward the horses. “To find out if I’m a flagrant asshole and a liar.”
The blunt words made her smile. “Honestly? Yes.”
He chuckled and removed his hat, running his fingers through his hair. “I don’t blame you. I’m just glad you took me up on my invitation. I promise you, while you’re here I won’t bite.”
Dani risked a glance and bit back a moan. The man made dirty, ripped blue jeans and a faded shirt look incredible. Experiencing this kind of reaction was reprehensible. Maybe. Groaning inwardly, she nodded. “Well, I might.”
“I do love a lady with spunk. Any news?”
“None. My contact was on vacation for a couple of days, but he’s back now. Hopefully I’ll hear something by Monday. You?”
Mitchell kicked the dirt then turned toward her. “I’m beginning to think I’ve been railroaded in every area.”
“How so?”
“Let’s just say you may be right, but I didn’t ask you out here to talk business. We can push aside our concerns for a few hours. Can’t we?”
The look in his eyes was imploring and she exhaled. “I’d like that.”
“Good. Let me show you around.” He eased away from the fence.
“You own all of this?” she asked as she flanked his side.
“In a manner of speaking. My parents left me the place. I grew up here and before you ask, I moved away when I went to college. Never thought I’d come back.”
“Then, why did you? I mean, this doesn’t seem like you or maybe I don’t know you at all.” Flustered, she studied the landscaping, admiring the well maintained yet limited amount of grass. The area was surrounded
by expansive land, flat and nearly devoid of vegetation.
Mitchell shook his head and chuckled. “You do know me. I was going to be a city kid. Yep. Me. After college, I planned on moving to San Francisco or New York, even Chicago.”
“What happened?”
“Life and an offer from Camden. He knew of some land that he thought we could swing to start a company. My mother was begging me to come back, even pushing me to work for my dad, which I refused to do. I compromised. I came back, set up shop with Camden and the next few years went by in a blur. We worked eighteen-hour days for two, hell, maybe three years.”
“I bet your dad wasn’t happy.”
He exhaled and glanced back at the horses. “Dad was a difficult man. Let’s just leave it at that. Still, I love this place. It’s very special to me.”
The darkness in his eyes was unmistakable. “That I understand. This is amazing.” She thought about Sasha’s words regarding Rush as well as his sister. Every family had a dark and ugly secret.
“Too big for just one man.”
“No other family?”
“Nope.” Mitchell looked away and jerked the pair of sunglasses off his shirt.
“Sore subject,” she half whispered.
He stopped and turned toward her. “I’ve never been married. Close once. She and I just didn’t see eye to eye on many aspects of our life.”
“Marisha?”
“No, before Marisha. Marisha was a sexual attraction at first after being good friends. We fell into a relationship that was comfortable for a while. She wanted more. I didn’t.”
Dani could hear a ring of truth in his words. “Marriage is not something I ever want to try again.”
“You were married?”
She looked over and around him, her eyes misting briefly. Hell no. She was not going to allow David to get to her again. “Close enough I know it will never happen again.”
“Ouch. I can hear a story there.” When she didn’t say anything else, he lifted his head, nodding toward the back of the house. “Let’s get something cold to drink. Then maybe I can convince you to go on a ride with me.”
“In the gorgeous Viper?”
He gave her a heated look. “On a horse.”
“Ugh,” she mumbled as she shrunk back. “Big animals scare me.”
“How about big men?” He took several strides ahead of her, his laughter floating behind.
She narrowed her eyes, resisting giving him the finger and as she walked forward, her hard nipples scraped against her bra creating a wave of heat. “Men, I can handle.” Damn, the man knew how to get to her. The moment she walked into the house, she felt at ease. She’d anticipated antique furniture, the kind you admired but never experienced. The comfortable space was inviting, open and almost rugged. “Wow.”
“I haven’t changed much, except the kitchen. Mom was a cowgirl through and through. She preferred leather to lace, milking cows to fine dinners out.” Mitchell led her into the kitchen.
The gleaming space was picturesque but lacking in any feminine qualities. She slid her hand along the smooth granite countertop and sighed. One day she hoped to live in a house she could call a home. “I think I’d like your mother.”
“She would have liked you, too. Lemonade? I made it myself this morning.” Grinning, he held out the glass pitcher.
“You did, huh? Then I’d love a glass.” Dani inched closer, finding herself drawn to Mitchell and his gentle mannerisms. “What happened to your mother?”
“She developed cancer. Died in four short months.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Shrugging, he handed her a glass. “No need. She lived a full life and taught me to do the same.”
The moment their fingers touched, the same electricity flowed between them. Blinking, she willed herself to look away. The tension was agonizing.
“Can we talk?”
“About?”
“Dani, I know you have reservations about me as well as my company. I don’t blame you, but I want you to know that what we experienced the other night was wonderful. I haven’t been with a woman in almost a year. I haven’t wanted to. There is no waiting list, no girlfriends hiding under the mattresses. The only woman I was involved with over the past few years is Marisha. My experience with Nancy, the woman I’d considered marrying, was trying at best. She stole every drop of romanticism as well as passion away from me. Until you.”
“Sounds like you had the kind of relationship I did.” Dani forced herself to ignore the ‘until you’.
“She was manipulative and I found out almost too late was only after my money. I came this close to standing at the altar, taking her as my bride. If it hadn’t been for Camden, I would have married her.”
“Sounds like you have a very good friend.” Thoughts of her moment, standing in the white dress, her sight set on becoming a married woman wiggled into her inner psyche. She groaned and took a sip of lemonade.
“I think I do,” he said, his look faraway.
She noticed the flash in his eyes, as if unsure of the man standing by his side. “Uh-oh. Are you concerned Camden might be the leak and the backstabber?”
“God, I hope not. He’s been with me through so many tragedies.” He choked when he took a sip. “Your ex is an asshole?”
“Card carrying.”
“Then we toast to having ex’s.”
“Deal.” Dani was surprised at his candor and was thrilled she’d made the decision to get to know him. Maybe, she could let herself go and learn to trust again.
“That’s it. You’ve got the hang of it,” Mitchell said as he swung onto the horse. He noticed her hesitation and grinned. She was no cowgirl, but damn if he wasn’t going to try to turn her into one.
“I’m not sure about this. He’s awfully big,” Dani moaned as she tentatively petted the horse.
“He is a she. Betty is gentle and the perfect size for you.”
“Betty? Aren’t horses supposed to have powerful names like Killer?”
He shook his head and pressed the heels of his boots against the stallion’s side. “I can see you need serious training.” His thoughts drifted to the round of discipline. He’d thought of little else since the experience. He wanted to share the real man with her, one few women had understood, especially Nancy. Why he’d confessed to Dani about the loathsome woman he’d never understand. Her name had been stricken from every aspect of his life since ending the nuptials almost four years before.
She blew a stray strand of hair from her face, obviously terrified to let go of the reins. “I love animals.”
“I can tell,” he snarked then eased out of the corral. “Just relax. Betty can tell you’re a new rider. She knows what to do. Come on. I’ll take you to a beautiful spot. I have treats when we get there.” He patted his saddlebag, glad he’d thought of snagging a bottle of wine. The woman needed a release of tension. Either wine or a hard spanking were the two choices.
“Uh-huh. Whatever you say.” Her face pinched, she clicked her heels as he led them toward the open land.
Mitchell sighed as he noticed the way she was sitting. Cramps would be her nighttime friend if she didn’t change her posture. “Don’t hop on the saddle. Become one with it.”
“Become one. Sure, I can do that.” She rolled her eyes and dug her heels into Betty’s side. The horse trotted forward, picking up speed until Dani issued a shriek.
“Breathe and sit still. Allow Betty to do the work. Look up and enjoy the scenery. Before you know it, you’ll be an expert.”
She took a deep breath and nodded. “An expert. Sure. Here goes.”
After only a few minutes, her tension seemed to have eased. She even seemed to enjoy the ride, her eyes wide as they moved into a small but dense section of trees.
“Don’t look so surprised. We do have something other than desert here.” He held back another smile, concerned he’d push her away. “We’re close to one of the most beautiful spots around, even if I do say so myself.�
� He eased them down an overgrown path into a clearing. “Whoa.” Both horses stopped and he twisted in the saddle, admiring her expression.
“You’re right. This is gorgeous.”
“I thought you might like it. Come on. We’ll tie the horses near the water and spend some time.” Mitchell jumped off the horse and moved toward her, surprised when she swung her leg around and dropped on the ground. “Very good.”
“I can be trained,” she said, her words stilted. Stretching her back, she walked closer to the water. “What a lovely stream.”
“I used to come here as a boy, dreaming of another life.” He secured the reins and inched closer, inhaling.
“This one seems pretty amazing if you ask me.”
“You didn’t know my father.”
“Strict?”
“Tyrannical.” The memories were more bitter than sweet. “Let’s just say he wanted the best for me and… For me, but he was incapable of showing love.”
Dani tipped her head. “I understand. He at least gave you a sense of self-worth.”
“That he did.” As he thought about his sister, he turned around, refusing to allow the same sadness to creep into his mind. Today was one for sharing joy, not sorrow. “How about some wine?”
“You brought wine?” The thought seemed to thrill her.
“The finest place in the world to relax and enjoy.” He watched her every move as he eased a blanket off his horse, then grabbed the wine and glasses out of his saddlebag.
“I’ll do the blanket. You do the wine.” Her face flushed, she yanked the woven material from his hands.
The woman was fresh air, salt and vinegar and a hint of sugar combined. She was beautiful without understanding her effect on men. He also knew without a shadow of a doubt that she was looking for a dominant relationship. If only she’d open up, share her inner desires.
Dani sat on the blanket, crossing her legs and studying the rippling stream. “I’m glad I came.”
Pop!
Grinning, he poured the wine and advanced, crouching down just inches away. “For the lady.”