by Francis Ray
Skylar chuckled. “No wonder Sierra is so outspoken and independent. My mother and grandmothers are the same way. You’ll meet my maternal grandparents at the auction. My paternal grandparents are in Europe on an extended holiday, but both are very interested in bidding on your daughter-in-law Phoenix’s sculpture.”
“That’s good to hear. You’ve worked very hard on this,” Ruth said. “You’ll be rewarded in more ways than you can imagine.”
Skylar glanced at Mrs. Grayson, thinking once again that she’d missed something.
The women walked through the door Greg held open, nodding their thanks. He passed them and continued down a long hallway. Students clutching books, cell phones, and backpacks passed them.
“This brings backs memories.” Skylar gazed at the pictures on the wall, stopping at one with Sabra Raineau Grayson surrounded by smiling young people. “Your daughter-in-law is a beautiful and talented woman. The bid to sit in the front row on the opening night of her new Broadway play and have dinner with her later has already reached over a thousand dollars.”
“Probably Pierce. My son trusts Sabra, but not the man who might take her out.” Mrs. Grayson tsked. “It took some hard talking on her part to get him to leave his name off the dinner engagement.”
“I understand Sierra met Blade when she took Sabra’s place at another auction because she had recently married Pierce.” Skylar continued down the hall. “Isn’t it wonderful how a chance meeting can lead to love?”
“Isn’t it.” Ruth stopped a couple of feet from where Greg stood in front of double doors. “But there’s something also to be said for allowing love to grow over time.”
Skylar jerked her head around to stare at Ruth, but she’d already released her arm and continued to Greg. When she looked back at Skylar, she wore the same warm, friendly expression she always did. Skylar chastised herself for being overly sensitive about Rio. She had to stop this. Sierra, and now Ruth.
Just because Ruth had said No man should walk alone didn’t mean she knew Skylar had the hots for Rio. Yet as she entered the room full of people waiting for her, she couldn’t quite be sure.
* * *
Skylar pulled away from St. John’s College two hours later, a full hour longer than had been scheduled for her to explain the auction. Everyone there had been excited and grateful. She thought the reasons for the lengthy meeting were mostly to do with the delicious food that Brandon Grayson, owner of the renowned Red Cactus restaurant, had unexpectedly showed up with, and the regents and other teachers angling for invitations to the auction.
Ruth became the woman of the decade when she passed out the coveted invitations to the regents and to her staff. Rio had cleared all of them weeks ago. For a moment Skylar and Brandon thought they would hoist his mother into the air.
Ruth had been right about one thing: Those were some very big dogs there. The regent whose granddaughter wanted to win the bid for Rolling Deep was the president of one of the largest banks in the area. The silver-haired woman had topped the bid to three thousand dollars. Her eyes had been narrowed at the time. Skylar and Ruth had shared a smile. The woman didn’t plan to lose.
Skylar’s contentment with the event faded in the slow traffic out of Santa Fe. The new cook said she’d serve at six. It wasn’t likely Rio would show up for the dinner. And if he did, he’d ignore her as usual.
But he hadn’t last night, a small voice said. So what? He could have reacted that way to any woman in her nightgown; it didn’t mean his reaction had been for her. This morning when she saw him on the castle grounds, he’d been his stoic self.
She eased on her brakes as the green light turned to yellow. The car on the other side of her went through the light. She heard the screeching of brakes and glanced into her rearview mirror. That’s all she needed. Rio would have a fit if the BMW was in an accident.
She blew out a breath and glanced out the window. Eli Patterson, the house manager, stood in front of a bar with another man. The stranger had his back to her, but he was around six foot two in a gray suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly.
She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but from the man’s wild gestures they were arguing. Her suspicions were confirmed when lifted his hand and pointed his finger at Eli. The house manager’s face blanched. The bigger man took Eli’s arm and hustled him into the black Lincoln pulled up beside them.
Poor man, she thought. No one should be bullied. She wasn’t the only one having a bad day. The light changed and she pulled off.
* * *
Skylar ate dinner alone as expected, but refused to give in to the melancholy that had gripped her earlier. Perhaps it was seeing the house manager an hour ago with his head down. The bully was probably kicked back someplace having a great time, just like she was probably the farthest thing from Rio’s mind.
She stabbed her citrus salad and nibbled on a piece of lettuce and orange. Keeping her head down wouldn’t get her in Rio’s arms. She wasn’t sure what would, but there’d be no more feeling sorry for herself.
Her shoulders straightened. She wasn’t half bad looking, had a good sense of humor, and was intelligent enough to have worked her way up to director of events in fourteen months. Most men would be thrilled to have her. She dug into her salad with renewed gusto. Before the night of the auction, Rio would be, too.
* * *
Tuesday morning, Skylar dressed in a calf-length black skirt with a five-inch slit above her knees on one side and paired it with a white crepe blouse with long flowing sleeves. On her feet were toeless four-inch heels. Each time she moved, the skirt shifted against her skin and a glimpse of her leg, covered by sheer black stocking, was visible.
She put her hair in a chic chignon. Around her neck was the double strand of pearls her parents had given her when she graduated from high school. She put on her pearl ear studs, grabbed her iPad, and left the room.
Her first confirmation that she had achieved her goal of looking sophisticated and sexy was when one of the guards on the stairs stopped in his tracks as he saw her. She smiled. “Good morning, Eric.”
“Ah, Skylar.” His eyes roamed appreciatively over her face. “You look very nice.”
“Thank you.” She folded her arms around the iPad. “A woman always likes to hear that.”
He opened his mouth, his smile growing, then his shoulders straightened and the smile faded. “Please excuse me.”
“Of course.” Skylar stepped aside to let him pass, but in such a way that she could look back up the stairs. She wasn’t surprised to catch a glimpse of Rio. She continued to the small dining room for breakfast and took a seat. She wasn’t trying to make Rio jealous or get his men into trouble; she just wanted him to notice her as a woman.
“Good morning, Ms. Dupree.” The cook, Mary, placed a glass of cranberry juice and a glass of water by the place setting.
“Good morning, Mary,” Skylar greeted. “What are you going to serve me that will tantalize my taste buds and make me have to work out?”
The pretty young woman beamed. “Eggs ranchero. My family loves it when I cook it for them.”
“I’m sure I will as well.” Skylar placed the cloth napkin in her lap as the cook rushed out of the room. She was reaching for her juice when the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Slowly her gaze lifted to Rio’s. It was all she could do not to lean back, away from the force of his hard gaze.
“The first delivery is scheduled to arrive in twenty-eight minutes.”
Before she could comment, Rio left as quietly as he’d come. Skylar sagged in her chair, then sat up and glanced at her watch. Eight fifty-seven. She wasn’t going to be late. It was her responsibility to check each delivery to ensure it matched her master list and see that it was placed in the designated spot.
“Here you are, Ms. Dupree.” Mary set the plate on the table.
“It looks fantastic. Thank you.” Skylar blessed her food, then picked up her fork and began to eat. If Rio thought he could rattle her, he h
ad better think again.
She forked in another bite. Rio was incredibly gorgeous with the body of a Greek god, a noble bearing, the instincts of a seasoned warrior. Women were drawn to the mystique that surrounded him. It was exhilarating to be near a man that exuded that much power. When he turned those cold black eyes on you, you were snared and immediately knew you might find endless pleasure in his arms—but there was also danger. Continue at your own risk.
Rio might have thrown her at first, but she was made of sterner stuff. Her ancestors were Moors, Creoles, and free people of color. Some were warriors as well. Others had toiled in the hot sun, done backbreaking work, all with the goal of achieving wealth and independence. They hadn’t had it easy, but each generation had accomplished more than the next. No Dupree or Carrington—her mother’s maiden name—ran from hard work or a challenge.
Game on!
Chapter 3
Skylar was sitting at the table beneath the open tent when the first delivery truck rolled across the drawbridge. There were one hundred items up for bid. Neither she nor the Navorones wanted delivery people traipsing in and out of their home. Nor did they want to risk photos being taken inside. The exterior was already well documented.
The simple solution was to accept the delivery in the courtyard. Once a donation arrived, the tracking number would be checked, then the package opened to validate the item with the driver present. Merchandise didn’t always make its way to the final destination.
The driver jumped out of the truck with a package in his hands. “This is the first of four. I don’t see why this delivery has to be different,” he muttered.
Silently Rio took the twelve-by-twelve box, scanned the label, placed it on a long folding table a few feet from Skylar, and opened the box with a box cutter. Removing the packing, he carefully pulled out a Baccarat crystal vase valued at twenty-five thousand dollars.
Skylar found the vase and marked it off her list. “One down and ninety-nine to go.”
“Yes.” Rio placed the rose-colored vase aside.
Skylar stared down at the screen of her iPad. At least he was talking to her.
“Here are the other three.” The driver stopped with a cart. “Who is going to sign?”
“I will.” Skylar placed the iPad on the table.
“I’ll take care of it.” Rio stepped past her and signed, giving the scanner back to the driver. He picked up the top box. “Please step over here while I open the other packages.”
“Hurry up. I got a schedule to keep,” the man snapped.
Rio had turned away but swung back so fast the driver stumbled, swallowed.
Skylar bet the man wouldn’t pop off again like that. She picked up the next box. “Shall I open it?”
Rio finally moved to place his box beside hers. One of his men placed the other one on the table. No one spoke as he opened each.
“They all check.” Skylar spoke to the nervous man. “Being courteous never goes out of style. Good-bye.”
The man went to his truck. Once there he sneered. Skylar smiled at him. “Have a wonderful day.”
The men standing with her laughed. She didn’t even have to look at Rio to know he hadn’t joined in with them. He was too serious. He needed to have some fun, and Skylar was going to be the person to show him how.
* * *
Rio personally took the four deliveries into the designated room. All the furniture had been stored so people could easily browse the collection. Skylar had even acquired locked jewelry cases. There were also stands for the expected art pieces. After placing the crystal pieces in their designated spots, he went back out. He’d gotten no more than a foot out the door before he heard the unmistakable sound of Skylar’s laughter.
No emotion showed on his face, but inside was a different matter. He shouldn’t care that she had such an easy way with his men. She was just another employee.
If only he could make himself believe that. He was actually ready to warn Henderson off when Rio caught the known womanizer and Skylar on the staircase that morning. Her tone had been light, almost flirtatious. Henderson wasn’t the type of man to let an opportunity with a beautiful woman pass.
A man with less control might have cursed at that admission. Rio continued to the tent. No woman was ever going to get the best of him. He’d mastered his body years ago, just as the Man With No Name had taught him.
“Another delivery is due in thirty minutes.” Skylar looked at her watch again. “It’s finally happening. I called Ruth while you were inside and told her about the first delivery.”
He didn’t know what to say to her. He’d never been one for small talk—with a woman or a man. She looked at him as if he were her whole world one moment or as if she wanted to crawl into his lap, then other times as if she wanted to comfort him. He didn’t need anything from her—except to stop looking at him with such innocent desire and sinful expectations.
“Everything all right on the island?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered, hoping that would end the conversation. She was sitting in a chair with her long, shapely legs crossed. The slight breeze loosened strains of her thick, lustrous black hair from the chignon and molded the white blouse to her high, firm breasts.
“I know you wanted to be there.” She twisted toward him, revealing more of her elegant legs. “But I’m glad you’re here.”
Rio mentally shook himself. Her striking hazel eyes wistfully stared up at him, not hiding any of her desire. Didn’t she have any sense? He might ask himself the same thing. “I’ll be back before the next delivery.”
Rio made a strategic withdrawal to the command center. Every good soldier knew there was no shame in retreating to regroup. No matter what, Skylar Dupree would not breach his defenses.
* * *
Rio was there to watch the items being unloaded as the day progressed. The deliverymen and -women cast nervous glances at him. He unpacked each box or package, carefully handling delicate crystal pieces as easily as he did sturdier items with his large hands.
Skylar remembered those hands on her and, from the sudden narrowing of his eyes when their gaze happen to meet, Rio did also. She might have rejoiced that she’d gotten another reaction out of him if her knees hadn’t been shaking.
“I’ll take that into the display room while you have the driver sign.” Glad her voice was steady, she picked up the box with the signed Waterford limited-edition vase and went inside the castle.
Five minutes later, more in control of her emotions, she came out of the room with the auction pieces and saw the house manager, Mr. Patterson. He didn’t look any happier than he had the day she’d seen him in town.
“Mr. Patterson, life can change for the better at a moment’s notice.”
If anything, his frown deepened. He stared at her in puzzlement. “What are you talking about, Ms. Dupree?”
Skylar wasn’t sure what her response should be. She didn’t want to embarrass him. “It’s just my observation. I better get back outside.”
* * *
The next morning as she left breakfast, she met Eli standing just beyond the doors of the small dining room. “Good morning, Mr. Patterson.”
“Good morning, Ms. Dupree. Would it be possible to have a word with you?”
“Of course,” she said and followed him to the library. He closed the door behind them.
The poor man looked worried. She hoped it didn’t have anything to do with what she’d said to him yesterday.
He glanced away as if unable to find the words, before finally facing her. “What you said about life changing at a moment’s notice has been bothering me all night. I had the feeling that it wasn’t just random conversation. Am I right?”
She hesitated. She should have kept her mouth shut. Especially since Rio had gone cold on her again.
“Please, I need my sleep,” he said, a slight smile on his lined face.
She knew exactly what he meant. She had tossed most of the night. “I saw you in town.”
/>
His expression didn’t change.
“With the man outside of the bar Monday,” she rushed on when his eyes widened. “I didn’t mean to spy or anything. I was at a stoplight and I happened to glance over.”
“I see,” he said slowly.
She truly felt bad. She placed a consoling hand on his arm. “He was mean to bully you. If there is anything I can do to help, you only have to ask.”
His complexion paled. His shaky hand fluttered to his chest.
Afraid he was having a heart attack, she took his other arm. “Mr. Patterson, are you all right? Do you want to sit down?”
“No. No. I…” His hand lowered, and he glanced away for a moment. “What you saw was a private exchange. The man is an unwanted friend of a friend. I realize I have no right, but please don’t tell anyone what you saw. It…” He swallowed. “It might cause problems.”
She certainly knew about keeping secrets. She’d be mortified if it became public knowledge that she was lusting after Rio. “I didn’t see anything.”
Her cell phone rang. “I have to take this. Hello. I’ll be right out.” She ended the call. “This conversation never happened.”
“Thank you, Ms. Dupree.”
She touched his arm one last time, then rushed outside and to the tent. Rio was at the receiving table cutting open a large rectangular box. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” He never looked her way or paused in what he was doing. Moments later he drew out a beautiful painting by Kara Simmons-Landers, a newly discovered artist.
Used to his short answers, she walked over. “Breathtaking, isn’t it?”
His dark head slowly turned. His dark eyes revealed nothing. “You mark it off the master list?”
She hadn’t. She’d been caught by the beauty of the man and the picture. “I’ll do it now.” Picking up the iPad, she entered the date and time of the painting’s arrival. Her head lifted and she saw Rio opening the other packages as the driver patiently waited. It was the same delivery service that first driver had belonged to, but she’d never seen the impatient first deliveryman again. She started to ask Rio about it, but decided to let it go. She had more important things to take up with him.