Montana Seduction

by Jules Bennett

  “You didn’t have to lie to me,” she threw back.

  Dane gritted his teeth as he tried to find words to defend himself. But she was right. Now that he looked back, now that he realized the impact he’d had on her and how much she’d already been through with her father, she was absolutely right.

  The wind kicked up so much the windows rattled. Stella jumped and the dogs started barking again.

  Dane snapped his fingers and turned to the dogs. “Bed.”

  The one-word command had them darting toward the wide stairs and they raced each other up to the second floor. Once they were out of sight, Dane turned back to Stella.

  “Come into the living room.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not staying or obeying your commands.”

  “You’re being ridiculous right now,” he growled. “Are you just going to stand in my foyer all night?”

  “If I want.”

  Dane raked a hand over his hair and blew out a sigh. “Don’t be so damn stubborn.”

  Stella stared at him for another minute before she turned her attention around the open space and ultimately went in the opposite direction of the living room.

  He glanced up to the ceiling and willed himself to remain calm. This woman had been through hell, at the hands of her father and then him. She was strong willed and angry, and totally entitled to all her frustration and rage.

  Having her here at his ranch seemed perfect in all the wrong ways. So as she set off, Dane had no choice but to follow.

  Seventeen

  Stella figured the storm inside was better to deal with than the storm outside...or at least that’s what she told herself as she explored the first level of Dane’s ranch.

  She wasn’t actually focusing on anything, more just wandering aimlessly through the oversize rooms. One area seemed to flow to the next and everything looked like something from a magazine. The high beams, the worn wooden floors, the plush leather sofas, and stone fireplace.

  Everything about this house reminded her of the resort. The dark wood, the way everything from the furniture to the size of the rooms just screamed power and money. His mother might have built Mirage, but Dane was clearly his mother’s son. Stella was not only fighting her father, but she was also up against a family lineage. Dane wasn’t just going to let her have the resort, and she wouldn’t expect him to if what he told her was true.

  Still, that didn’t mean he had gone about things the right way. She wasn’t sure what the right way would have been, but she sure as hell knew he’d made the wrong choice.

  “Looking for another escape route?” Dane asked as he came up behind her.

  Stella turned her attention from the photos lining the mantel to Dane. He stood behind her, just close enough she could reach out and touch him, but far enough to give her a bit of space.

  “I’m trying to wrap my head around all of this,” she replied honestly. “I mean, what the hell were you thinking coming into all of this? That you deserved Mirage, that you’d get it no matter what and that anything that wasn’t your feelings or your end goal simply doesn’t matter? Did I sum it all up?”

  The muscle clenched in his jaw as he shoved his hands into his pockets. Those dark eyes narrowed.

  “Don’t even try to be offended,” she went on. “You brought all of this upon yourself.”

  “I had no time,” he demanded. “It’s not just Mirage in Gold Valley. There’s more going on and I had to move when I could.”

  “More what? More businesses you’re trying to steal from unsuspecting women?”

  He stared at her for another minute before cursing under his breath and turning to pace toward the wall of windows. The harsh conditions continued to rage outside and honestly, it wasn’t much prettier inside. She wished she’d never come. She wished she’d never met Dane Michaels. And she wished like hell she’d never put stock in thinking her father would finally give her something—anything—she truly wanted.

  She’d felt so damn isolated for so long. Even training for the competitions she’d felt alone because not many people understood that willpower and determination.

  Now here she was alone. Stella knew she needed to dig deep and find that drive and determination all over again. She would, too. Nothing would keep her down. Life may knock her, but she couldn’t let the hits deter her.

  Stella stared at Dane across the room. He’d not answered her and from his rigid shoulders and silence, she had a feeling he wasn’t planning on it, either.

  She turned back to the photos on the mantel. There were only three. There were two on each end and each picture was a teenage version of Dane with another boy who she assumed was his brother, and their mother. The photo in the middle of the mantel was a snapshot of his mother alone. Her head was thrown back as she laughed and there was so much happiness, so much life in that image.

  Tears formed once again and Stella wished she didn’t feel for this woman, this man. But Lara Anderson was the woman Stella had admired for years. Stella had loved hearing the story about Lara and how she’d started the resorts for couples...yet she was a single mother with two boys.

  There was a family here in these photos, a family Stella had always wanted and craved. But this family had been torn apart by an untimely death and Dane just wanted to reclaim what he believed belonged to him.

  She turned back to find him staring directly at her. Her stomach tightened. That darkened stare had her nerves on edge. She didn’t want to see this side of him. She didn’t want to see him as a human with real feelings. From the second she turned into the drive and saw that iron arch with the ranch name, Dane had become a complete stranger. She didn’t know where the man was from the resort, but damn if her heart didn’t have a hole in it that was just his size.

  She could walk away, no matter how much it hurt, if she could convince herself that everything about that man she’d thought he was had been a lie. But the longer she stayed, the more she realized the truth was complicated—and so was Dane.

  “I realize we’re not that different,” she stated. “We both want the same thing for justifiable reasons.”

  Dane started forward, but Stella held up her hands and kept going. “Your methods are clearly what sets us apart. I never would’ve used someone, blindsided them, and then stolen their life.”

  “You really think your dad was just going to turn the resort over to you?”

  Stella’s heart clenched. “Maybe not, but I had a fighting chance before you came along throwing your money and whatever else at him.”

  Dane crossed his arms over his chest and clenched his jaw. “I gave him two of my businesses on top of the money.”

  Part of her admired the lengths he would go to in order to reclaim his mother’s legacy. The other part of her, the part that had been manipulated, hated every part of Dane Michaels for going behind her back to steal what she’d thought could be hers.

  But damn if she wasn’t still attracted to him. Her body still responded to that midnight gaze, those broad shoulders...one glimpse of those talented hands.

  Why couldn’t there be some switch to turn off emotions and tingly reactions? Sex messed with her head. Great sex somehow managed to mess with her heart because there was no way she’d fallen for him. Stella refused to believe that she could have in such a short time.

  “You’re thinking.”

  Dane’s words settled between them. That low tone always got to her in ways she’d never been able to explain. How could a voice cause arousal?

  But, yes, she was thinking. Thinking how she was stuck here waiting for the storm to pass. Thinking about how she’d been used. Thinking about how the past few weeks had been out of her control and she wanted to take that control back.

  Stella took a step toward Dane before she could talk herself out of this. If she thought too much she’d find every reason not to
take this leap. But for now, just for this moment, she was in charge and she’d be damned if anyone else would ever take the decisions from her again.

  “I hate you,” she told him as she started working on the buttons on her dress. “I hate how you stole my world from me. But you’re right. You are the same man who stayed in my bed when I was exhausted and alone, who helped me when I didn’t even ask. You’re the same man my body craves and the man I can’t stop wanting.”

  “Stella—”

  “No.” She shrugged out of her dress, sending it to the floor in a whisper. “I call the shots now. You used me, right? Well, I’m about to use you. I want you and I’m going to have you.”

  Dane’s eyes widened, his jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. She recognized his signs of arousal and desire. His gaze raked over her nearly bare body. She had on only her knee boots and her matching nude lace bra and panties.

  “This isn’t a good idea,” he told her. “You know it’s not. Are you doing this to get back at me?”

  Stella shrugged. “Perhaps. But I’m also doing it because I want you. I wish I could turn that off, but I see you and my body responds.”

  She quickly rid herself of her boots before focusing on him again. “Unless you’ve decided you’ve gotten all you wanted from me.”

  Dane muttered a curse before he was on her. “I should turn you away, but damn if you don’t have some power over me.”

  He scooped her up and started back toward the entryway, back toward the steps.

  “Not your bedroom,” she commanded.

  There was no way she’d go somewhere that personal, that intimate.

  “This isn’t anything more than sex,” she added.

  Dane set her back on her feet and backed her against the wide door frame leading from the living room. For a half second, he merely stared, seeming to take in her entire body with one hungry sweep.

  Then he thrust his hands through her hair and captured her lips. Stella arched her body and found the edge of his T-shirt. With frantic motions, she jerked it up, pulling her lips away long enough to get the shirt up and over his head. Then he was on her again as she went for his belt and the snap on his jeans.

  She’d barely gotten them unzipped when he pulled away. Dane kept his eyes on her while he reached into his pocket and pulled out protection. He covered himself and stepped back toward her.

  Stella opened for him, threading her fingers through his hair, and taking everything he gave. Part of her knew this was wrong, but the devil on her shoulder thought it was a great idea. There was nothing wrong with taking charge and allowing pleasure. There was nothing wrong with going into this moment with her eyes wide-open and her heart shut tight.

  When Dane gripped her waist and lifted her, Stella’s thoughts vanished. All she knew was passion as she wrapped her legs around his waist and sank onto him. Clutching his shoulders, she closed her eyes and pressed her back against the solid door frame. Dane’s lips trailed over the column of her neck, over her sensitive breasts. He palmed her backside as he pumped his hips and Stella just let the euphoric sensations wash over her.

  Dane muttered something as he traveled back up to the erogenous area just below her ear.

  That was all it took for her body to respond and spiral out of control. All of her emotions balled up together and she gave herself over to the climax. This was why she’d decided to surprise him. She’d needed to be with him, needed to feel him.

  Stella’s entire body shook and all thoughts vanished. She kept her eyes shut, needing to keep her emotions locked inside and not look too closely at him. She just wanted to feel.

  Dane murmured something in her ear, she only made out the word “need” but she ignored it as he jerked his hips harder. His body tightened, his fingertips dug into her backside, and Stella dropped her head to his shoulder as he took his own pleasure.

  His heated body stuck to hers, and Stella didn’t want to lift her head. She didn’t want to face reality.

  But she knew this was it. She and Dane were done...if they’d ever really started. They’d had a fling, that was all. Though she’d thought there was more, there couldn’t be. He’d deceived her, slept with her under false pretenses and then left without a word. At any time he could’ve given her the truth, but he’d chosen to keep his true self hidden away.

  The same way she’d have to hide away the fact she’d fallen in love with the man she thought he was.

  Pulling together all of her strength and resolve, Stella extracted herself from the warmth and strength she’d only experienced from Dane. She hated him for making her hate him. That sounded so messed up in her own thoughts, but he’d damaged something inside her. Something she didn’t know if she’d recover from.

  He didn’t say a word as he stepped from the room. Stella dressed in a hurry, not caring if her buttons were straight or her hair was in knots. She had to go. Staying here, waiting on him to state another defense, would only make her thoughts, her heart, even more muddled.

  Just as she zipped up her boot and came to her feet, Dane stepped back into the room.

  “You want to talk about this?” he asked.

  “Nothing to discuss.” Did that even sound convincing? “You used me, I used you.”

  “Is that what this was?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the very spot he’d just taken her. “You wanted to retaliate? Doesn’t seem like you.”

  Stella swallowed and tipped her chin. “Seems we didn’t know each other as well as we thought.”

  She crossed to the doorway, easily moving past him in the large opening.

  “Where are you going?”

  Tossing a look over her shoulder, she replied, “The storm has passed.”

  “What about us?”

  Gripping the doorknob, Stella turned away and whispered, “That’s passed, too.”

  Eighteen

  Mirage wasn’t near as inviting as it had been.

  For the past month, he’d been back and forth between the resort and the ranch. More at the resort, though, since he needed to acclimate the staff to his management style and get up-to-date with the various systems.

  Ethan had told Dane to hold off on coming because something had held Robert up and it looked like he wasn’t going to be coming for a bit. Dane certainly had things he could be doing here to bide his time.

  His first order had been to fire the asshole who’d disrespected Stella. Apparently he’d also been the spy, hence the cockiness since he worked directly with Ruiz.

  Dane’s second order had been to get his attorney and accountant on-site to see what the hell he could do to get Stella back here—where she belonged.

  That had been over three weeks ago and he’d still not heard a word from her. He’d known full well she’d received the employment offer and he didn’t know what was taking her so damn long to respond. Though her silence was nothing less than he deserved.

  Damn it. Nobody just flat-out ignored him. Never. Not even when he had it coming. He might be a recluse, he might shy away from getting too involved with crowds of people, but that didn’t mean he was soft or ready to just give up.

  Dane knew he had to give Stella time. Her entire world had been shattered and he’d precipitated it all. Now he was trying to piece all those shards back together and without seeing her, he had no idea if his tactics were even working.

  Since she’d walked out of his house after using him, he’d been destroyed. He didn’t care that she’d wanted to use his body. Their physical connection couldn’t be just ignored or brushed aside. There was no way someone as caring and loving as Stella could just walk away and not think or feel anymore.

  And there was love looking back at him when she’d been in his home. He’d seen it, felt it.

  And he knew he’d fallen just as hard.

  Dane turned the corner headi
ng to his office at Mirage. He nearly ran into one of the receptionists, but quickly put his hands out to stop her from plowing into him.

  “Oh, Mr. Michaels,” she gasped. “I’m so sorry.”

  Dane might still be struggling with some names of his new employees, but not Lola. He remembered her quite well.

  “I’ve told you to call me Dane,” he reminded her, as he’d done every single day he’d been there. “You worked for my mother.”

  Lola smiled and smoothed her cropped, gray hair from her forehead. “That may be, and I may remember you as a thirteen-year-old boy, but that doesn’t mean anything now. You’re my boss and I respect that.”

  “I appreciate the respect, but Dane will be just fine,” he confirmed. “You’ve been here since the beginning. I hope you’ll stay on.”

  Lola nodded and patted his arm. “I wouldn’t dream of leaving. Your mother would be so proud of you.”

  Guilt threatened to choke him, but so did a rush of warmth at the kind comment. Story of his life lately. He’d destroyed one woman he loved while honoring the other.

  “Oh, Stella is in your office,” Lola added.

  Dane jerked. “Excuse me?”

  “Stella Garcia,” Lola repeated. “She said she had an appointment, so I let her in. I was getting ready to call you. I hope that was okay.”

  The worry in her tone had Dane offering a smile. “That was more than okay. Thanks, Lola.”

  He skirted around the faithful employee in an effort to get to his office. Dane didn’t care that he looked like a madman racing down the hall. There was only so much control a guy could have and he’d waited long enough for Stella to get back with him about his offer.

  Granted, he’d thought she’d call, but an in-person meeting was sure as hell something he wasn’t about to turn down.

  Dane opened the door to his office and stepped inside to find Stella in his new leather office chair behind his desk.