Sara Orwig
Scandals from the Third Bride

Special thanks to my editors,

Jessica Alvarez and Melissa Jeglinski.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

Coming Next Month

One

After a short drumroll from the band, the emcee, Lance Wocek, stepped forward. “Here’s our own beautiful Katherine Ransome,” he announced, taking her hand, “talented artist, successful businesswoman and stunning bachelorette.”

Smiling into the ring of bright spotlights on Fort Worth’s Oak Hill Country Club’s impromptu stage, Katherine waved to no one in particular. The patrons in tuxes and designer dresses made a ritzy gala of the elegant charity benefit for homeless children. Katherine was in sympathy with the cause, but she wished again that she had written a check instead of participating herself.

“Gentlemen, for an evening with the charming and beautiful Miss Ransome, what am I bid?” Lance asked. “Who’ll start the bidding?”

“One thousand dollars,” called a male voice and guests applauded. Trying to gaze beyond the lights, Katherine looked at a blur of faces turned in her direction, probably men she had known all her life.

“One thousand dollars! Good start! What am I bid?” Lance asked, circling and smiling at his audience.

“Two thousand,” a man called, and she recognized local attorney Wes Trentwood’s voice. She was glad men were bidding, remembering her brothers teasing her that no one would bid because she had been so cool in the past to the local males. So far, between the two bidders, she preferred an evening with Wes to anyone else.

“Two thousand dollars,” Lance repeated. “We have a bid of two thousand dollars. Who’ll make it three thousand for an evening with one of the most gorgeous ladies in the county?”

“Three thousand,” came another bid that was raised immediately to four.

“I bid five hundred thousand dollars,” a deep male voice said.

While an audible gasp rippled through the room, heads turned. Stunned that anyone would pay so much for an evening with her, Katherine peered in the direction of the voice.

As she watched, a man stood and applause broke out over his bid. He threaded his way between the tables of onlookers. Unable to distinguish his features because of the lights, Katherine could see his black hair and broad shoulders. He wasn’t local, yet something about him struck a chord of familiarity. She could only stare in amazement, and then she reminded herself the money went to a good cause and his bid was a magnanimous donation.

As he approached the stage, even though she couldn’t see him well because of the blinding lights, she discerned that he was tall and moved with the grace of a panther.

As he narrowed the distance between them, her heart thudded.

Katherine’s pulse roared in her ears. Time hung suspended while she was flung back nine years. For an infinitesimal second, everything in her cried out to throw her arms around his neck and hug him. He stood as still as she, and the electricity jumping between them made her wonder why flames didn’t scorch the air.

Her brain began to function, and the moment was gone. Longing vanished, replaced by surprise.

Dressed in a black tux and a snowy white shirt, he stopped in front of her and looked at her solemnly. “You’re more beautiful than ever.”

She knew his voice, knew the pitch and timbre, knew his brown eyes. Even if he had changed in appearance and manner, his voice was the same and sent tingles spiraling through her as if he had touched her.

Dismayed, she gazed at him while her head spun and her heart pounded, drowning out all noise. For an instant she thought she would faint.

“Cade,” she whispered. Cade Logan, the man she had planned to marry was standing in front of her, close enough for her to touch. It was her first time to see him in nine long years, since the week before their wedding.

Lance spoke to Cade or to her. She had no idea which one. Someone called Lance’s name and he excused himself, leaving without either one of them answering him.

She was held in a gaze that shut off the rest of the world. Nine years ago and suddenly, here Cade was standing before her. She had thought about this occasion over and over again, and played multiple versions of it in her mind. Now that it was actually happening, she was unprepared, and the moment wasn’t like anything she had rehearsed in her fantasies.

Everything in her screamed a protest. And deep down, most disturbing of all, her first thought was, he was too handsome for words. She had a response to him that she despised, yet could not control. Her reaction rocked her because she had thought she was over him long ago and immune to ever seeing him again. There was nothing resistant in her system. Every nerve was raw; the beat of her heart was faster.

He stood holding out his hand to her. She moved automatically, going through the motions without thinking about them, numb as she offered her hand. His warm hand enveloped hers in a surprisingly gentle shake, and the moment they touched, an electric jolt went to her toes.

She yanked her hand away and narrowed her eyes, while her anger surfaced and overrode other emotions.

Rage, pure and deep, shook Katherine, sending tremors through her body. She wanted to wave her fists and shout at Cade, to scream at him and pound on his chest. Instead, she lifted her chin and gazed away coolly in disdain as if she hadn’t even recognized him.

“This is Friday night. As I understand it, I’ve acquired the privilege of taking you to dinner tomorrow night,” Cade said. She ached to decline. But she had made a commitment and little kids were depending on her.

“How dare you! How can you show up here like this?” she hissed between clenched teeth unable to hold back, yet aware they still stood spotlighted on stage. Her fists doubled and she shook. “You can’t possibly expect me to go out with you, of all people.”

“I not only expect it, I just paid a hell of a lot of money for the evening with you,” he answered quietly, thoroughly scrutinizing her, which only heightened her fury.

“There are several others you can take to dinner tomorrow night who will be much more receptive. Perhaps you’d rather go with someone else.”

“No, Katherine. I knew what I was doing when I bid for an evening with you,” he answered with a note of steel in his voice. Beneath her anger was a dim awareness that he was far more self-assured and confident than he had been nine years ago. He had to be worth a royal fortune to have tossed away five hundred thousand dollars to go out for a few hours with her. Occasionally, she had read about him in newspapers or seen articles or pictures in magazines and she knew he was a successful business entrepreneur, but she hadn’t dreamed the extent of his fortune. How had he made so much money in such a short time? Why was he back? Questions buzzed in her head.

Lance returned and his voice finally penetrated her shock. Lance extended his hand toward Cade and they shook hands.

“Thank you, sir, for your overwhelming donation to this fine cause. Your generosity will be deeply appreciated for years to come. You’ll change many children’s lives. And in return, you get an evening out with one of Fort Worth’s most beautiful women, Katherine Ransome.

“Before we go any further, let me introduce myself. I’m Lance Wocek. We’re overwhelmed by your donation that’s the largest we’ve ever had in any local charity event from a single donor that I recall.” He looked expectantly at Cade.

“Lance, you two know each other,” Katherine interjected in a tight voice. The two men had grown up in Cedar County and gone through Rincon High School together and she had been four years behind them. “Remember Cade Logan?” she asked. “Cade, I’m sure you recall Lance.”

Lance’s jaw dropped, and his eyes grew round while he stared at Cade. “Cade Logan? From high school? You’ve changed,” he stammered. “I didn’t recognize you,” Lance said as if talking to himself, and Katherine remembered the wild, slender boy who had won her love.

She could clearly see his shaggy long hair, tattered T-shirts and faded jeans and she had to concede that he did look different. She herself hadn’t recognized him at first. She surveyed the differences, noticing he had filled out his lanky six-foot-four-inch frame with broad shoulders. His black hair was neatly trimmed and combed. There was a subtle difference in his demeanor, a presence about him that indicated a “take charge” personality that hadn’t been there before.

But the sexy bedroom eyes with thick lashes were the same. He could still flash the penetrating look that always made her feel as if he knew her every thought. His full, sensual lower lip was the same, as was his wide, sculpted mouth.

“I’m the same Cade Logan,” Cade said easily. “It’s been a while.”

“None of us—” Suddenly Lance broke off and looked back and forth between Katherine and Cade. “You two…” His voice trailed away, and he looked stricken.

“I’ll make arrangements with Katherine for our evening together,” Cade said smoothly. “I have a check here for the five hundred thousand. Shall I make it out to the Slade House Children’s Foundation?” Cade asked, pulling out his checkbook and pen.

“That’ll be fine,” Lance said, staring at Cade until someone spoke to him and he had to turn away again.

Katherine couldn’t believe what was happening. She hoped it was a nightmare that would vanish upon waking.

Only it wasn’t disappearing. Cade gazed at her with unfathomable brown eyes, and she didn’t have any idea what was running through his mind.

“Why are you doing this? You can’t possibly want to go out with me.”

“I think I’ve shown that I do want to go out with you. I want to see you and this was the quickest, simplest way to do so.”

“It was rather costly.”

“I didn’t want to hassle over you with someone, nor did I want you to back out of the evening. It’s far more difficult to change your mind and your promise when so much is at stake for the kids.”

“Your donation will be wonderful for the charity.”

“I was happy to help that cause. Where should I pick you up and how is six?”

“Six is way too early,” she said, hoping she could go late and come home early. You can pick me up at this address,” she said, opening a small, black bag and producing one of her business cards. She turned it over, retrieved a pen and scribbled her address before handing the card to him. Again his fingers brushed hers and sent another electrifying jolt to her system.

He glanced at it, looking from it to her in a curious scrutiny that made her want to fidget and ask him what he was thinking.

Instead, she gazed coolly back at him and hoped he couldn’t detect her racing pulse or ragged breathing or any other reaction she was having to seeing him. Why was he here? The big question had always been why had he left, but now, the answer to why he had returned was more pressing.

“Have you had dinner tonight?” he asked.

“No, I haven’t, but if we go out tonight, that’s the night you just bid for and won.”

“That’s fair enough,” he said. “Can you leave now?”

“Leave? They’ll serve a very elegant dinner here. That’s part of the evening. Then there’s dancing afterward,” she said, unable to think about dancing with him and being in his arms again.

“I’d rather get out of here where we can be to ourselves. I don’t care to be interrupted all evening. Is there any arrangement that as a participant you have to stay?”

“No, not at all. My part in the auction is over. I’ll tell them I’m leaving and join you at the door,” she said, both relieved they would get the evening together over quickly and on edge about going out with him.

If she ever saw him again, she had always expected that she would hate him, but that wasn’t what she felt. Fury was dominant, but she responded to him as a female would to a sexy, appealing male. The evening alone with him made her tingly and excited even though she didn’t want it to.

After telling a coordinator she was leaving, Katherine hurried to one of the private rooms that the bachelorettes had been given to use as a dressing room. She paused to look at herself in the mirror, glancing swiftly over her sequined sleeveless black dress with a low-cut vee neckline. She wore high-heeled black pumps.

Taking a deep breath, she left, hurrying toward the exit and experiencing another jolt when her gaze met Cade’s as he watched her approach. A few hours with him and the evening would be over, she reminded herself. She could guard her heart and emotions for that long, surely.

He held the door open for her and then walked beside her, sliding his arm around her waist while they stepped outside into a cool October night. She felt the light contact with Cade as if it were a burning brand. She was prickly with raw awareness of his shoulder against hers, his arm circling her waist and her hip lightly touching his.

In the front of the club at the porte cochere, a limousine waited with a driver, who opened the door for her. Cade climbed in and sat beside her, turning slightly to face her.

Gazing back at him, she almost felt as if she were with a stranger. She didn’t know Cade any longer. There was only a dim connection to the boy he once was and the person she knew. Yet there was no way to wipe out memories or her hurt or her anger.

“Why are you here?” she asked bluntly.

“Reasonable question. Some curiosity about you and my past. But that part is minor.”

“So what’s the big reason?” she persisted.

“I’ve found that ninety-nine percent of the time, when you purchase something, it’s worth the difference to get the best.”

“So you’re here in Fort Worth to get the best of whatever it is you want.”

“That’s right. Why were you in the bachelorette auction?”

“The Slade Home is one of my favorite projects. Little children shouldn’t be on the streets. You helped the children enormously tonight,” she said, aware that he deserved thanks for what he had done for the kids.

“But, at the same time, you’d rather I hadn’t bid.”

“No. The money is more important and it’ll do many needed things,” she said, thinking how bland their conversation was while sparks ignited the air between them, and she fought the attraction for him that pulled at her as if he had never walked out and the past hadn’t been filled with hurt.

“You could have written a check to the charity, so I’ll inquire again, why did you participate?” he persisted.

“I’ve been asking myself that all evening,” she remarked dryly, still having the feeling of talking to a stranger, except for his voice. She knew his voice. Even his hands were different—larger, less roughened.

“So the men who bid didn’t particularly mean anything to you?”

“Not at all. I recognized one man and we’re friends. Where do you live?” she asked, curious in spite of wanting to ignore Cade.

“I live most of the year in Los Angeles, part of the time in Pebble Beach, part of the time in Switzerland. I’m building a house in Houston.”

“You’ve done well. Sometimes I’ve read about you,” she said. “According to the papers, you’re an entrepreneur involved in investments and finance,” she said, leaving out that every time she had read about him, she had wondered how someone who had been penniless and a high school dropout—a mechanic whose expertise had been bikes and cars—could have investments, but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of asking about his life.

“Katie,” he said, reverting back to the name he had always called her.

“It’s Katherine,” she snapped. “I don’t care to be called Katie by anyone.”

“Very well, Katherine,” he said in a flat tone of voice that gave no indication of what he really felt.

There was no wedding ring on his finger, nor would there have been if he’d bid for her time for an evening. Cade had been wild, the local bad boy. Friends had warned her he would never settle and he wouldn’t go through with the wedding. And they had been correct in their dire predictions.

“You’ve done well,” he remarked.

“I enjoy my work,” she said, wondering how he knew anything about her business. She became silently aware they were in downtown Fort Worth now. She gazed at the tall building that held Ransome Design, Incorporated. She had two floors and sixty employees and she dreamed of opening more offices. Her company was growing fast and she usually experienced a rush of pleasure on viewing the building with her office, but her emotions churned over Cade, and she didn’t feel the customary satisfaction. Thanks partially to the man seated facing her, her work was her life.

She turned to find him watching her.

“A penny for your thoughts,” he said quietly. “As the old saying goes.”

“It won’t cost you even a cent. I was looking at the building where I have my business.”

“Ransome Design, Incorporated had a very impressive twenty percent growth over a year ago. You’ve made a name for yourself, too.”

“My job is my whole life,” she said. “I suspect you can understand that.”

He shrugged one shoulder casually. “There are other things more important,” he said, his dark gaze boring into her.

“Not in my life,” she answered and turned away to look out the window again. She could feel his gaze remaining on her and she wished she could lose the prickly awareness of him, the attraction that made him larger-than-life in too many ways.

She had no inclination to engage in conversation with Cade. She stayed on a raw edge, hanging on to her temper and all the accusations she had accumulated over time.

She wondered what was going through his mind, because he was quiet and didn’t try to engage her in any polite conversation, which would have been pointless.

She didn’t want to be alone with him. She didn’t want to be with him, period. In her peripheral vision, she could see him, and while she tried to ignore him, it was impossible. His long legs were stretched out near hers.

In minutes they stopped in front of another tall building and she realized their destination was the exclusive and prestigious Millington Club on the twenty-sixth floor. Her father belonged to the Millington, as well as the Petroleum Club, and she was surprised Cade even knew about it. She was certain he had known nothing about the exclusive clubs when he was growing up in Rincon in Cedar County, Texas.

They rode the elevator and emerged at a reception area with a thick navy carpet and mahogany furniture. To her surprise, she realized Cade had reservations. She watched while he talked to the maitre d’. As the two men conversed briefly, her gaze ran down the length of Cade, and she remembered exactly how it felt to be in his arms, pressed against that strong, hard body, his legs tangled with hers. Heat coiled low inside her and she clenched her fists, trying to ignore feelings and banish memories and desire.

He wore a simple watch with a leather band, but in the limo she had seen his watch was one of the most expensive brands. She suspected he’d meant what he’d said about having the best. And who was the woman in his life now? Cade wouldn’t be without one.

When he turned to take her arm, his hand touching her was as electrifying as any other contact they had had tonight. Trying to ignore everything about him and continually failing, Katherine walked beside him as they were shown to a linen-covered table beside floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the bright city lights. Soft piano music played and couples already were on the dance floor. She gazed across the table into Cade’s dark eyes.

“As I recall you like prime rib and they serve it here,” he said, and she drew a deep breath. Pain and fury and surprise mixed in her that he would remember. “We weren’t into drinking wine, so I don’t know your preference there,” he said.

“My tastes have changed and tonight, I think I’ll start with a cup of black coffee,” Katherine said, intending to keep as clear a head as possible around Cade. She saw a flare of amusement in his dark eyes as he ordered white wine for himself.

“You’re an entrepreneur, so what’s your latest project?” she asked, not caring, just wanting to get to an impersonal topic.

“I just acquired a film company. The news became public yesterday.”

She remembered seeing an article in the paper that she had merely glanced at without making the connection to Cade. She did remember it was one of the oldest and one of the last still family-owned. “I saw that the studio sold,” she admitted, “but I didn’t take the time to read about who had bought the business. I didn’t think about it being you. You’re going into show business—are you seeing an actress?”

“No. It was good investment and the company was on shaky footing and about to go under. As far as an actress is concerned, at the moment there’s no woman in my life.”

“I find that difficult to imagine,” she remarked dryly and he smiled, a smile that took her breath and hurt. Creases bracketed his mouth and memories tore at her. To escape from her tormenting thoughts, she picked up a thick black folder and opened it to study the menu.

“It’s true, there’s nobody,” he commented. “Who’s the man in your life, Katherine?”

“There isn’t one. I wouldn’t have been in the bachelorette auction if there was anyone on a serious basis. There isn’t even anyone on a not-so-serious basis. I spend most of my time involved in my work.”

“Then we’re alike there,” he said. “I could have given you the same answer. So there’s no particular man in your life right now and no woman in mine.”

“Don’t make anything of that,” she said sharply. “For me, it means nothing. And it doesn’t matter.”

His gaze caught and held hers in another penetrating look that made her wonder what he was thinking. Could he feel her rage? If he did, it didn’t disturb him, but then, why should it? He hadn’t cared when he had walked out on her without a word only a week before their wedding.

“I can’t believe you would come back to Texas. When I look at you, Cade, all I feel is hurt and anger and hate!” she admitted, the words pouring out, yet an inner voice screamed she felt something else, too. Attraction was hot, volatile, impossible to ignore.

She became silent when the sommelier came to the table to open wine for Cade and let him approve the selection. While Cade’s wine was being poured, a waiter came to pour her steaming black coffee and ice water for both Cade and her.

Once they were alone again, Cade raised his wineglass. “Here’s to our efforts tonight to help children.” His dark eyes were riveting and held her, fanning her desire. It was an effort to tear her gaze from him.

“I’ll drink to that,” she said, picking up her water and reaching out to touch Cade’s goblet lightly. His hand touched hers and he watched her as they sipped.

“How civilized we’re being,” she said in a tight voice, grinding out the words and unable to contain her fury. “All I want to do is shout and scream at you.”

“I can understand. We hurt each other, Katherine,” he said solemnly.

“Then why did you come back here to open it all up?” she asked, wondering again where each other came in and how she could possibly have hurt him? She couldn’t guess how he had twisted the past in his mind because there was no earthly way she had done anything at the time to cause him pain and she wanted to fling that fact right back at him, but she clamped her mouth shut.

“The past is far behind us and we’ve both moved on,” he said. “I expected to find you married with a family.”

“I’m married to my work,” she remarked. “You gave me a convoluted answer when I asked why you’re here and why you wanted an evening with me. What’s the real reason?”

Two

“I’ve seen some of the work you’ve done. It’s fabulous,” Cade said. “I have a project I want to discuss. I hope to hire you.”

She gazed at him coolly. “I won’t work for you, Cade. How dare you waltz in and expect to hire me!”

“I could have sent someone with a corporation name you’d never have recognized. You would have taken the job. As a matter of fact, until a few days ago, that’s what I intended to do. At first, I thought it would be best if our paths never crossed. I wasn’t any more eager to see you than you have been to see me.”

“So what made you change your mind?”

“I realized that as soon as you learned who owned the house, you might have walked out. Of course, I could have kept you from ever knowing. I have companies that you’d have to investigate to know that I own them, and I doubt if you check on all your clients.”

“No. I’ve never seen any need to do so.”

“I considered the possibility of staying out of it and keeping you from knowing, but later, it would come up sometime that there’s a house in Houston with your murals and a reporter would dig through the facts to find out who the homeowner is. Also, if I’m here, I can make sure I get what I want.”

“So you chose to come yourself. You want to hire my company’s services. Cade, I’m not for hire where you’re concerned. Get another ad agency. The world is filled with them.”

“They don’t all paint house murals and I don’t want your agency. It’s you I want to hire.”

“No! I won’t work for you.”

“I’ve been told by people in Houston, Chicago and L.A., that you’re the best in the country at painting murals, interior or exterior.”

“That’s good to hear,” she said, not really caring at the moment what he’d learned about her company or her. Why did he have to come back so damned handsome and so self-assured?

“I’ve heard that from people who had no idea where I grew up or that I knew you. You’re recommended by gallery people, museums and your former customers. I’ve seen your work and it’s top-notch. I told you, I prefer the best.”

“That’s flattering, but there are others who are skilled at their craft and they can create scenes that will be as artistic as any I paint,” she replied, certain that there was no way he could talk her into working for him.

“I’ve heard differently.”

“I promise you, there are others who can paint as well. Graham Trevor is one. He’s excellent, and there are plenty of examples of his work for you to view. A mural is a simple thing to do.”

“Right, Katherine, if you’re good at doing them. Otherwise, it’s a difficult challenge.” Cade leaned back in his chair with one hand on his hip. “I don’t want Graham Trevor or anyone else except you. Surely we can both get past what happened nine years ago.”

“No, I can’t! I don’t want to. I hate you for what you did and I don’t want to work with you now. How plain do I have to say it?” she cried. She hurt and he was opening old wounds. Worst of all, right now in the midst of all their bickering, she wanted his arms around her.

“I figured by now that you would have let go of the past. It’s been over a long time,” he said and his words cut like a knife. How could he dismiss the past so easily when it had hurt so badly? But maybe it hadn’t hurt him at all, she reminded herself.

“I’m sure it’s forgotten for you. Obviously, it was over for you before you left Texas nine years ago.”

“We don’t have to be together for you to accept me as your client. I’ll pay you well.”

“I’m sure you would, but I don’t want your money, your business or anything to do with you,” she said, absolutely certain that there weren’t any circumstances in which she would agree to work for him.

They halted their discussion because the waiter came to take their dinner order. Even though she preferred prime rib, she didn’t want to give Cade the satisfaction of thinking she was the same person as she used to be. “I’ll have the pecan-crusted trout,” she said and the waiter nodded. She glanced at Cade to see a questioning expression as he ordered lobster. As soon as the waiter left, Cade leaned forward.

“So prime rib is no longer first choice with you?”

“No. Most all of my choices have changed through the years.”

He stared at her with a look of speculation. “There’s no reason to argue all evening. Let’s settle this right now.” While he continued to watch her, he took out a cellular phone and spoke so quietly, she could barely hear him. He put away the phone and stood, coming around to hold her chair.

“Let me show you something,” he said, and her curiosity was stirred because she couldn’t imagine what he intended. Walking close beside her, he took her arm. Before they left the restaurant, Cade paused to tell the maitre d’ to delay their dinners until they returned. Her curiosity grew over where they were going. They left the building and crossed the street to one of Fort Worth’s best hotels.

“I have a room here. That’s why we’re eating at the Milington Club instead of the Petroleum Club tonight. The Milington is closer. I want to show you something that I intended to show you after dinner.”

She balked and stopped walking. “Your hotel room?”

“That’s where we’re going. I have blueprints of the home I’m building. It won’t hurt you to come up and look and then we’ll go right back for dinner.”

“I don’t need to see any blueprints,” she insisted. “We have nothing to discuss.”

“Yes, we do. I want to talk to you about murals for my house.”

“There isn’t enough money in the world for you to hire me to paint for you,” she said, facing him and touching his chest with her index finger. “No, Cade.” Seething, she burned and perspiration dotted her forehead. She wanted away from him. At any moment she was afraid she would lose the iron control she was exercising and let fly all the accusations she had stored up for nine long years. And that last day was as fresh in her mind as if it had happened yesterday. To her surprise, Cade’s appearance had brought back the monumental hurt when she had thought she had finally been free of it.

“There might be a price that you’d agree to,” he answered quietly. “I have blueprints. At least look at what I want.”

“No!” she cried. “There’s no point in it. None! I’m not working for you and opening up old wounds or causing myself anguish. You’ve hurt me enough, dammit!”

“‘Dammit’ is right,” he charged in a low voice. “This is work, not our private lives. It’s just that everyone—I mean all the galleries and the ad people and the artists—says that you’re the best. Start being the professional that I know you are,” he ordered. “We have the rest of the evening and nothing to do except eat or shout at each other about past hurts or discuss the paintings I intend to have in my new house. Come look at my blueprints.” He tugged lightly on her arm. “You’re the expert. Come look.”

Reluctantly, she nodded and got another warm smile. As they crossed the lobby, he stopped at the desk to pick up a large roll of papers.

In silence they took the elevator to a suite on the top floor of the hotel. Cade unlocked the door and held it open for her.

She entered a large living area with beige and white decor. An adjoining dining area held a table with chairs for eight. Through open doors she could see two bedrooms and beyond sliding glass doors was a balcony with an iron table and chairs.

Cade shed his coat, and she remembered times he had taken off his coat before turning to make love to her. Her mouth went dry as he slipped out of the coat and draped it over a chair. When she had known him before he had been fit, muscled and strong. She guessed that hadn’t changed.

As she watched, Cade cleared a crystal vase of fresh flowers off the dining table and she joined him while he opened the blueprints. No way did she want to work for him or even have someone else in her firm hired by him. She was conscious he stood only a couple of feet away. She looked at his well-shaped hands as he smoothed out the stiff paper. He had become far more appealing, but she supposed she saw some of the same things in him now that she had when they had been younger and madly in love.

In another reminder of how successful he had become, she looked down at the prints that held a drawing of a Greek Revival mansion that had two immense wings and was three stories tall. Surprised, she glanced into his dark eyes that as so often before, caught and held her, making her forget what she had intended to say. His dark eyebrows arched questioningly.

“What is it, Katherine?” he asked.

She didn’t want to admit that she had lost her train of thought. “You left here without funds. You’ve done well, Cade.”

“I’ve been lucky,” he said in an offhand manner as if he hadn’t done anything more than the next person. “Here’s my house. It’s under construction and I’m not living there now. I want murals in six of the rooms.”

“Cade, this is such a waste of time,” she said in exasperation. She couldn’t imagine working for him because she was having difficulty getting through an evening with him.

“Give me a price,” he urged, facing her. His calmness and persistence were wearing her patience thin.

“No, I won’t. Don’t you realize that I absolutely have hated you for walking out on our wedding? Do you have any idea how that hurt?” she asked, shaking as she let go some of her restraint. His patient silence irritated her even further.

“You humiliated me and broke my heart!” she cried out. “I was devastated. I didn’t imagine anything could hurt like I did!” she exclaimed. The words came tumbling out and now that she’d started, she couldn’t stop. “You didn’t give me one reason why, or one scrap of a warning. You were gone. Running out on me in the worst, cruelest possible way.”

He flinched and paled beneath his tan, but he had an inscrutable expression that hid his feelings.

Suddenly she let go, all the pent-up fury boiling to the surface, and she reached out to slap him.

Like lightning he caught her wrist and held her firmly, but not tightly enough to hurt her. “You’re not going to strike me when you don’t know why or what occurred back then,” he said.

They were both breathing hard, tension drawn tightly between them while he held her wrist. Rage consumed her. Fire flashed in his dark eyes and the clash between them was tangible. While they stared at each other, he clamped his jaw tightly shut as if holding back harsh words, which was exactly what she was trying to do. The moment drew out and then, as they stared at each other, her anger changed.

While she gazed into depths of brown, he looked at her mouth. When he did, her lips tingled. From the very first his kisses always melted her and erased any resistance to him.

Desire flamed, building heat inside her. They both were breathing hard. For an instant, everything else fell away except hunger for his kiss. She almost leaned toward him, started to and then realized what she was doing. She yanked her head back and shook her shoulders.

“Damn you, Cade. And you’re still not going to explain why you walked out.”

“I didn’t come back to Texas to dredge up old hurts and fling accusations. That’s over,” he said, releasing her wrist. “I’m not going there because we could hurt each other more than ever. There’s no point in stirring up resentment over the past. Not now. You were hurt at the time and for that I’m sorry,” he said with a dismissal that added to her fury. Yet even as his voice remained calm, she could feel the tension stretching and fiery sparks flying between them, invisible, yet tangible.

“Sorry is so completely inadequate!” she cried, jerking her arm free and spinning away from him to walk to the window again. Tears threatened, and she fought to get a grip because she didn’t intend to shed one tear over him. Not after all this time and all the control she had achieved. Where was all that restraint she had maintained through the years?

She wrapped her arms around her middle and hugged herself. “I don’t want to have anything to do with you, Cade,” she said.

“You can look at my house plans for a minute. There’s no commitment in looking. Come back over here, Katherine.”

She turned to glare at him and he stood, impassively waiting until it seemed ridiculous and childish to refuse to look at his blueprints. She crossed the room to stand a few feet away from him.

As she gazed at the drawing of the house, she was again amazed by his success, which was greater than the news articles or the magazines had indicated.

“This is the dinning room and I want a mural on this wall,” he said, pointing with his index finger. “One of the other walls will have mullioned windows that will prevent a clear view of the outside, so I want a landscape.”

She examined a drawing of a room with a cathedral ceiling and an enormous stone fireplace that had a medieval flair, and she could imagine a scene of a European countryside on one wall. He wanted six murals. Her usual price popped into mind and she suspected that she could easily get more from Cade. She tried to stifle any thoughts about the income and what she could do with it for her company. What a windfall the job would be if it had been anyone else who wanted to hire her!

Cade shifted papers and she watched his well-shaped hands as he carefully smoothed a print. She could remember those hands on her body, moving over her seductively, magic hands that had set her aflame. Everything he did provoked memories that were too vivid. Attempting to focus totally on his plans, she leaned over the table to peer at the drawings. Cade moved closer beside her and turned over a page to look at the next drawing. “Here’s the kitchen and dining area and I want a painting in here.”

“Why are you showing me these pictures? The answer is no,” she repeated, wondering if he ever heard “no” any longer.

“You’re letting your emotions rule your judgment because you’re turning down good business. My house will get attention and it would be advertising for you,” he said, turning to study her. He stood only a couple of feet from her and she drew a deep breath. Why couldn’t she handle being near him? When she was so angry with him, she hated to discover that she was still incredibly attracted to him.

“This is one time I don’t want the business,” she said, wishing her racing pulse would slow.

“Let me show you the other rooms,” he said, shifting pages around. He leaned over the table to point with his finger. “I want a mural on this wall. You can select the subject. Of course, I have to approve what you propose before you do it.”

“You don’t trust me, either.”

“Yes, I trust you. I want to see what you have in mind. I’m the one who’ll have to live with it. Give me a price, Katherine,” he said softly. “You have to be enough of a businesswoman and professional to look at what I have and give me a bid. Don’t say no over old hurts. There is surely some point where it would become worth your while.”

As he stared at her, their clash of wills was offset by her attraction, and she guessed he felt it, too. “No, there isn’t because I don’t want to work for you in any manner,” she said tightly and turned to walk away. For one fleeting second she was tempted to fling some impossible price at him, like five hundred thousand per mural, and see if he would back down. The money was a temptation because she was ambitious, but she put the possibility out of mind.

She walked to the balcony door, opened it and stepped outside without allowing herself to think about what the job would mean to her. A cold gust of wind whipped around her and she wrapped her arms around her middle.

“All right,” he said. She turned to find him standing in the doorway, leaning one shoulder against the jamb as he faced her. “I’ll make you an offer.”

She shook her head. “There’s no point in it.”

“I’ve told you that I want six murals. How’s eight million dollars for all of them?”

She lost her breath as if she had received a blow. Stunned, she stared at him. “Eight million dollars?” she gasped over the amount. She couldn’t imagine such extravagance.

“That’s too much!” The words were out before she thought.

“No, the price isn’t too high if I get what I want,” he replied smoothly. “I’ll pay all your expenses, of course.”

Again, he had shocked her profoundly. Never had she commanded such a price for her paintings. Her head spun over the amount and what she could do with it.

“You surely can use the income for something,” he remarked dryly.

“Yes, I can,” she said, barely able to get out the words. “Cade, I can’t believe you’d pay so much to get my art. You can hire perfectly good painters who will do a fine job for you for vastly less.”

“Maybe I owe you, Katherine,” he said quietly.

“A payoff,” she snapped, her temper rising, but there was no way to get the amount that he had offered her out of mind. Her plans for the future of her advertising company flashed, impossible to ignore. His murals would enable her to do what she wanted years sooner than she had expected. “Eight million for six murals,” she repeated as if she couldn’t believe what she’d heard.

He crossed the balcony to her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

Even though her pulse jumped, she shook her head at him. “No, no. You’re not buying my body with that offer.”

“I’m only standing here with my hands on your shoulders,” he replied in a husky voice that made her forget the money and the murals and everything except Cade. Wind blew locks of his black hair and she remembered how it felt to run her hands through his hair. His hands were warm and he ran them up and down her upper arms, sliding his fingers slowly, lightly in a provocative touch.

“You’re more beautiful than ever,” he whispered.

“Stop, Cade. We’re not going back there,” she said, but her heart thudded and she trembled, aching for him as if it were yesterday when she had last seen him.

He ran his finger across her lower lip. “Beautiful, Katherine.”

Tingles spiraled from his touch and her lips parted. The moment she realized her reaction, she twisted away to walk around him. “Let’s go inside.”

He followed her in and closed the door. “You know you can take the money, invest it and retire.”

“Never!” she exclaimed, frowning at him as he joined her at the table again. “My work is my life. I thrive on painting and would never consider quitting.”

He tilted his head to one side. “I know you took art classes, but I don’t recall that you had any burning ambition.”

“I threw myself into work to get over being hurt when you left, and then I discovered that I like success. All my life I’ve competed with my brothers. I want to make more money than they do, and now I might be able to do so.”

“You’ll have to go some to top your brother Nick. If you accept my offer, you might pass Matt.”

She studied the drawings spread in front of her.

“Here they are,” he said, leaning slightly over the table to spread more drawings out. “Here’s each room that I’d like to have murals in. I don’t have any idea what to put in these rooms. It’s up to you to select the picture.”

“I usually furnish the ideas about three quarters of the time,” she said. “Occasionally, someone knows exactly what he wants,” she answered without thinking about what she was saying to him. The amount of money dazed her. She turned to him. “You can afford to toss out eight million to get these murals?”

“Yes, I can. I’ve been fortunate.”

She had been adamant that she wouldn’t work for him, but his offer was impossible to refuse. She would be certifiable if she turned him down. She could do his murals without succumbing to his charm, she promised herself. And she knew there would be charm. He had melted her heart before when he had been rough and a boy and without means. Now he would be irresistible.

She moved along the table, spreading papers and looking at precise line drawings of floor plans, but she was doing it merely as an excuse to buy time while she mulled over his offer. Could she do the murals and resist Cade at the same time? Maybe he would go back to California or wherever he worked most of the time. As swiftly as she thought about it, she dismissed it. No matter what he said, she knew he would oversee the project.

Eight million dollars for his murals. The offer was temptation with no way to refuse. Yet she could not keep from wondering how badly he wanted her. Curiosity tempted her. With her heart pounding, she looked up at him, wondering if she dared raise the amount. If he refused, she would back down instantly. “I’ll do your six murals for ten million,” she offered.

Holding her breath and frightened by her own audacity, she saw amusement flash in the depths of his dark eyes, which surprised her. She had expected almost any other kind of reaction from him. “A few minutes ago you told me that I proposed too much.”

“I was in shock over your offer. Now, I’m thinking about business.”

“Then we’ve got a deal,” he said, and she let out her breath. “Ten million it is.”

Ten million! Her reputation would be instantly established by the price. Soon, she could do the ambitious projects she had only dreamed about before.

“How do you want payment?” he asked. “How’s half now and half when you finish?”

She inhaled deeply. “You’re one surprise after another,” she admitted. “Why would you pay so much up front?”

“I’m certain you’ll deliver, so why not? You can put the cash to use right away. I can write you a check now for the first half, or Monday morning we can go to a bank and have the funds transferred to your account.”

“Let’s go to the bank Monday morning,” she said, unable to believe such a thing was actually happening.

“Let me show you the rest,” he said, stepping close beside her and pointing to blue lines on another page. “This is a recreation room. It’ll have a pool table. This is an interior room, so I want something in here, too, that will bring in the outdoors. I want the mural along this wall,” he said, drawing his finger in a line across the blueprint. “Something festive.”

“I’ll give you several choices and if you don’t like any of them, I’ll do more.”

“Fair enough,” he said and she realized she would be working with him constantly until he approved the murals she would paint.

“Then this room,” he said, reaching for another sheet and brushing against her arm as he pulled the blueprint in front of them. “This is an exercise room. Do something to liven it up. Something cheerful. Nothing is more monotonous than a treadmill, so give me a picture along this wall that I can enjoy viewing.”

She knew she would have to give thought and planning to what she would paint. She couldn’t make any suggestions at this point and she was certain he didn’t expect her to.

“Then over here,” he said, reaching beyond her and brushing against her again. Catching a whiff of his aftershave, she could see the faint dark stubble of his beard that was beginning to show as he leaned forward, close in front of her. Did he even notice when they touched each other? Was he doing it deliberately or without thought? She couldn’t keep from noticing and tingling as if the contact had been a caress.

“There’s no woman who should have a say in this?” Katherine asked, wishing she could take back the personal question the moment it was out.

He straightened and focused intently on her. “I told you before that there isn’t a woman. The only person who has a say in this is me.” He rested his hand on her shoulder again, but this time, he rubbed it slightly, touching a lock of her hair. “But as long as you brought it up—”

“Cade, I’m taking this job when I never intended to, but I want us to leave the past out of it. I don’t want to go into personal things. Let’s work as if we were two strangers who met tonight for the first time.”

“If I’d met you tonight for the first time, I’d be flirting with you every minute of the evening,” he said solemnly, his gaze drifting lazily over her features. His fingers trailed along her jaw.

Ignoring him, she turned back to the blueprints. “All right, we’ve looked at the dining room, the exercise room and the rec room.”

“I want murals in my bedroom, a utility room and the kitchen dining area. That should cover it.”

His bedroom. Her stomach grew fluttery at the thought. If only he would return to work in another city instead of staying at his Houston house, but she expected him to stick around to see what she was doing. She wished his bedroom wasn’t one of the rooms.

“How soon can you start?” he asked. “I’d like to have them started right away.”

“I have a job that’s pending, but it’s something someone in my office can handle,” she said.

“Don’t give my projects to someone else in your office. I’ll have a contract drawn up and I want your efforts exclusively.”

“I’m the only one doing the murals. That’s something I’ve specialized in and I enjoy, so of course, I’ll do the design and drawings myself. The work will go faster if someone helps me with the painting.”

He shook his head. “No, unless it’s errands and setting up equipment and that type of thing. Otherwise, I’m paying for you only,” he said firmly.

“Fair enough,” she replied.

A look passed between them that made her sizzle. Then he stepped closer to place his hands on her waist. “This is good. I’ve seen your work and you’re talented. I admire the mural you did in San Francisco at the Haywind store and I saw a couple you did in Kansas City and one in San Antonio.”

“I’m glad you liked what you saw,” she said. She was aware of Cade’s hands resting lightly on her waist as she looked up at him. They stood too close, conjuring up memories of other times she had stood with him like this.

“You can start right away?” he asked and his voice had dropped a notch, the only indication that he noticed anything else between them.

“Yes, I can,” she said, stepping away from him. “Is your house far enough along for me to start drawing?”

“Yes,” he replied, pulling on his coat. “We can talk about it while we eat dinner. Let’s get back to the club,” he said, and she crossed the room to pick up her purse, relieved that they were leaving his hotel suite and she would once again be out in public where the situation could not get intensely personal.

They had been seated only a short time back in the Millington Club when a first course of pan-seared crab cakes was served.

“We’re so civilized,” she said quietly while she ate a small bite. “I want to scream at you and throw things at you instead of work for you. As it is, you’ve bought yourself peace because I can’t do that and work for you afterward.”

He arched an eyebrow and his gaze drifted over her features. “For right now, perhaps we can both put the past on hold. It may not last, but we can try.”

She inhaled, thought about the price he was willing to pay her and what she could do with the fortune. All her life she had been in competition with her brothers and even with her father. Now, her earnings would equal theirs. The mural earnings would give her a chance for spectacular accomplishments in her career.

If only she could hold to those thoughts and shove the past into oblivion, she might get through this assignment without unleashing all her pent-up fury that increased every time Cade indicated that there was reason for him to be angry with her over the past.

He couldn’t have a single reason to have any bitterness on his part and it mystified her and infuriated her when he said that he did, but she didn’t want to go into it because she’d already lost control once tonight, she didn’t want to again.

“Tomorrow morning, if you’re available, we can fly to Houston and return in the afternoon.”

“That’s fine,” she replied as the waiter removed their dishes and brought green salads. Tomorrow she would spend the day with him. Her appetite had fled and she sipped her water.

“In your bedroom,” she said, “the painting should be something pleasing and relaxing, something you really like. What do you enjoy?”

“I don’t think you’re going to want to paint that on my wall,” he drawled, and she had to laugh in spite of her irritation. She didn’t want his charm. Keep the barriers, she reminded herself.

“What are some of your favorite things?” she asked. “It used to be bikes, tinkering with cars and baseball, but, of course, I don’t know what you like now.”

“I haven’t changed that much. My fascination with bikes has changed to cars. I enjoy baseball. Now I can enjoy things I couldn’t then. I like fishing, skiing, golf, mountain climbing and snow boarding. As far as a subject for a mural for my bedroom—I’ll have to think about that,” he replied.

“I’ll come up with possibilities for the subjects, too. That’s my job.”

As they talked about business and about the murals, she noticed he didn’t have a big appetite, either. They kept the conversation off anything personal and she repeatedly thought about her job and changes she could make because of the money that would pour into her business, yet her train of thought wandered constantly back to Cade. Why hadn’t he married? Why wasn’t there a woman in his life now?

She shoved her questions aside. She wanted to keep everything as impersonal and professional as possible between them. He was now her client and she had to try to keep the past out of mind as long as she worked for him. Do the job and avoid thinking about their history—how many times would she have to remind herself? Had he ever loved her or had it all been a lie?

She took a deep breath and drank her water, trying to cool down and stop recalling the past, but she could only let go of memories a few minutes at a time and then soon, they were back in her thoughts again. She tried to pay attention to what he was saying as they talked in generalities and he inquired about different jobs she’d had, but her mind wandered. When her attention went to his mouth, she remembered his hot possessive kisses.

“You’re not eating,” he observed, drawing her abruptly back to the present. She felt her cheeks flush and hated that she couldn’t control her blush.

“You haven’t eaten very much yourself,” she replied. “I’m tense anyway when I start a new job and maybe even more edgy tonight,” she said.

“Relax,” he said, reaching across the table to take her hand. “I’m no ogre to work for and I know you’re an artist.”

He held her hand, his thumb running back and forth lightly over her hand and then her wrist and she knew he probably felt her racing pulse. His dark eyes bore into her and their surroundings ceased to exist for her, leaving only Cade.

“Katherine,” he said coaxingly, and for an instant, she wanted to lean closer to him until she realized how she was responding.

“Stop, it. I suppose it’s from not seeing anyone for a long time, but I’m more susceptible than I want to be. You show some restraint or this isn’t going to work.”

“Sure, it’ll work,” he said softly.

They each left a large portion of their dinners untouched. The evening was a strain, and she was ready for it to end before she lost her composure with him again.

“Want to dance?” he asked, gazing at her with a level, flat stare that made her wonder what he felt and what was going through his mind.

“No, I don’t, Cade. Let’s keep anything between us strictly business.”

“You know I paid royally for this evening with you,” he said easily. “I haven’t danced in a while. It seems to me, the night should include at least a dance,” he said, standing and coming around the table. He pulled out her chair and she stood, trying to bite back her comments.

“You’re definitely accustomed to getting your way,” she said, standing, her pulse racing at the thought of dancing with him. Everything involving him was two-sided. Attraction caused her nerves to sizzle while anger kept her in a knot as she struggled to avoid another outburst with him.

He led her to the dance floor and the moment she walked into his embrace, her pulse jumped. Why did this seem so right? He held her close against him, and she felt the soft wool of his tux. She could detect the scent of his aftershave, feel the brush of his thighs against hers.

She danced with him as if time had vanished and it was nine years earlier. Every step was familiar, every move was seduction. Her heart pounded and heat burned inside her. They danced together in perfect coordination as if they had been dancing together every night for the whole nine years.

“This is good, Katherine, to hold you,” he whispered, and his breath was warm against her ear. Her arm curled across his shoulder and she was careful to keep her hand on his coat and to avoid touching his neck. He swung her down in a dip and she instinctively clung to him as she looked into his dark eyes. She wanted him and there was no stopping what she felt.

In silence, she danced with him, closing her eyes only to be carried back in time again, remembering seductive moments in his arms when she had been wildly in love.

His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. It was pure torment because they fit too well, moved together in perfect rhythm and every step stirred up damnable memories of dances in the past…seduction…Cade kissing her.

The instant the dance ended, she turned to walk back to the table. She tingled all over from being in his arms. Dancing together had stirred too many memories and sent desire to scalding levels.

Physically, she wanted to kiss and love him. She almost groaned out loud, caught herself and coughed, hoping she could cover the sound she had made.

She picked up her purse and faced him. “I know you paid a fortune for the evening, but as soon as possible, I’d like to end it. After all, you accomplished what you intended when I agreed to work for you.”

“That’s true,” he said, taking her arm. “We’ll go.”

In the limousine he sat beside her again, closer this time, turning to face her. “I gave your address to the driver. I thought you’d live at the ranch.”

“No, I moved out nine years ago and got an apartment. Now I own my own house and live in town. I have a house at the ranch. All of us do and Dad has given all of us land. We get together about twice a month, if possible.”

“Nick told me he sees you fairly often.”

Startled, she looked at Cade. “You sound as if you know Nick.”

He shrugged. “Because of business dealings, we’ve crossed paths a few times.”

She was startled to learn Nick had never mentioned Cade to her and wondered why he hadn’t, deciding Nick probably thought it would be painful for her.

“I’m surprised he’s civil to you,” she said. “When you left, my brothers weren’t living here at the time. If you remember, they were both in college. When they found out what you’d done, they went after you, but you and your family had left the state and they couldn’t find you, which was a relief.”

“That’s not surprising.”

Trying to avoid the past, she thought about her new job. “Actually I can be free right away to start thinking about your murals.”

“Do you have someone you can really trust to run things if you’re gone a long time?”

“Yes. I’ve been away for jobs a lot. Also, Houston to Fort Worth isn’t so far that I can’t get back if I have to.”

“That’s fine,” he said easily, gazing intently at her. He wasn’t touching her, but he still could set her aflame with his sexy brown eyes and his supercharged presence.

“Are you an early riser? I can pick you up and we’ll go in my plane to Houston tomorrow. Is seven too early?”

“Seven works.”

“Fine. That’s a good time to go.”

“Tomorrow I’ll get your address and location,” she said. “I’ll find a motel nearby where I can set up my office and I can stay.”

“No, that won’t be necessary at all,” he answered easily.

“Why not? I’m not commuting every day.”

“Of course not. You don’t need to commute. You’ll live at my place,” he replied.

Three

“No! I can’t live with you,” she snapped, twisting in the seat to face him, angry that he even suggested it.

“Of course you can stay at my place instead of a hotel,” he replied smoothly. “You won’t be ‘living with me,’ you’ll be residing at my house,” he said, unfastening his coat and pushing it open. “There’s a world of rooms. Thirty rooms, as a matter of fact. You’ll be right where you’re working. If you don’t want to bring your car, I can put one at your disposal. There’s no reason not to stay there.”

There were a dozen good reasons to avoid staying at his house, not the least of which was that the man was larger than life to her. Whether she liked it or not, she could never view him as she did other men. His touch was fiery and his look could hold her immobile. Her pulse was faster right now, just riding in the limo beside him. She was too susceptible to him, far too vulnerable.

Each minute with him compounded the attraction that tugged at her senses.

“Stop worrying, Katherine,” he said quietly. “I’m no ogre. I’ll be at work. The place is huge.”

“I didn’t expect to ever see you again. Now the idea of working for you, living under the same roof, spending time together, is unsettling. Give me as much space and solitude as possible. Your murals will turn out better, I’m sure.”

“Is that a roundabout threat to leave you alone?”

“Not at all. I’m simply telling you that I’ll work more efficiently under those conditions,” she said, wanting to keep as much distance as possible between them.

He leaned close and drew his finger along her hand, making her tingle. “Let’s not argue every step of the way. I’m paying you a fortune. In return, I want cooperation.”

“Do you ever hear ‘no’?”

“Occasionally, and if there’s a logical reason, I pay attention. Can you give me a sensible cause for not staying at my place to do your painting?”

She gazed into his dark eyes. “You’re giving me one good reason right now. You’re too close. You’re touching me constantly.”

“Why is all that bad?” he asked.

“I’m susceptible to you, dammit, and I don’t want to be. Does that make you feel better? Give me room.”

He leaned away, his gaze intent. “I’ll give you room, and you move into my house. It’s large enough, Katherine. You’ll see tomorrow.”

Knowing she couldn’t refuse to cooperate with him when he was being reasonable, she shrugged. “All right, Cade. I’ll have to get measurements. I would prefer to look at all the rooms and then to focus on one at a time. I’ll get a proposal put together for you and we can meet at my office to go over it.”

“Sounds fine,” he said. They turned into her gated area, passed through the graceful white metal gates with Cade’s driver using the combination she had given Cade on her card. They slowed and stopped in front of her one-story redbrick house that was set back in a landscaped yard with oak trees.

“Beautiful trees and house, Katherine,” Cade said as he walked her to her door.

On the porch she faced him. “Thank you for your bid, for dinner and for your job offer. You’ve helped a lot of children tonight and you’ve given me a wonderful job opportunity.”

“I’ll get my money’s worth,” he said softly.

She frowned. “I hope there’s no innuendo in your statement. You’ll get six murals, nothing else. My body isn’t included.”

“I didn’t expect it to be,” he said, standing too close, gazing at her too intently.

For a few seconds they stared at each other. Her pulse raced and she could remember too many times he had kissed her good-night. Hastily, she removed her key and turned to open her door. Stepping inside, she switched off her alarm and turned back to find him standing in the open doorway. She had no intention of inviting him inside.

“Good night, Katherine. I’m looking forward to your work,” he said, holding out his hand.

Reluctantly, she reached out to shake hands with him and had that electric sizzle that spun to her toes the instant his hand closed around hers. She wanted to yank her hand away, but instead, she merely withdrew it gently after a second. She didn’t want this intense, fiery reaction to him, but there was no stopping it or keeping it from happening.

She watched him stride back to the waiting limousine. She closed the front door and leaned back against it, rubbing her forehead. Was he going to break her heart a second time?

She was going to live in his house and he would be there, watching what she was doing. All evening the question had plagued her of how she could resist him. Could she cope with being around him and not succumb to seduction?

Why was she so certain he would try to seduce her?

She could be wrong, but he hadn’t done too well at keeping his hands off her tonight. She was equally uncertain whether she could continually hold her fury in check. He stirred opposing emotions in her constantly. One minute she was attracted, afraid she would fall in love again, the next minute she was fighting to control her temper.

She thought about when she had lost her temper with him tonight. At least the outburst had been brief. When she moved into his house, she hoped she could remain coolly professional with him and avoid him when she wasn’t working.

She was drained and exhilarated all at once. Cade was here! She wished she could shake him right out of mind, but it was impossible. Everything inside her screamed a reminder that he had returned. After nine long years, Cade was back!

And then she thought about the murals and the payment she would get.

Her eyes flew open. Ten million dollars! She spun around in a circle, flinging out her arms and letting her purse fly, not caring when it hit the door and fell on the polished oak floor. She could open more offices—one at a time so she could get them started and running well before she moved on to another one. It had been her dream and now she would be able to do all she had planned.

Certain sleep was impossible, she kicked off her shoes and hurried to the office she had in her house. Switching on lights, she entered a room that was lined with shelves filled with books, drawings and awards. Two computers sat on her desk and another on a table.

She got down some books to look at pictures that might inspire her or trigger an idea.

As she poured over the pictures, her thoughts kept slipping back to Cade and the time she had just spent with him, remembering dancing with him, being held in his arms again, something she had never expected to have happen.

Where had he made his fortune? Why was he angry with her? Why had he been so insistent that she take the job instead of another painter? She knew there were others who were as good as she was and he could have hired someone for far less. Why was he still single when he was so handsome and successful? Questions besieged her and she recalled that first moment she looked into his brown eyes and recognized him—everything inside her had clamored for her to throw herself in his arms. She was going to live in his house with him. The thought alone set her pulse racing. The house would be a palace, but if it were five times the size of a hotel, it wouldn’t be large enough to keep fireworks from exploding between them.

Sooner or later, the past would rise up and all the money in the world couldn’t keep it from happening. Shutting her eyes, she remembered how they had met. Clearly, she could recall hot, mid-afternoon July sunshine. She was home from college after her sophomore year, twenty years old. With the radio blaring, she was driving a battered pickup, the oldest on the Ransome ranch. Racing ten miles over the speed limit on the usually deserted county road, she sang as she headed home.

A truck passed driven by a cowboy, who honked and waved. It wasn’t anyone she recognized, but she waved in return because most people who traveled the road lived somewhere in the general area.

Next she heard a bike and saw a guy on a Harley behind her. His shaggy, black hair was blowing behind him. He wore a red headband, a ragged T-shirt and frayed jeans. He pulled alongside her and honked.

She glanced at him, saw he was good-looking, so she smiled and then turned back to driving. He honked again and she flashed him a look.

Since she had been twelve years old, she had been receiving attention from males, so she was accustomed to honks, whistles, smiles, waves and guys hitting on her.

The biker wasn’t anyone she knew. He persisted and then when he didn’t get much reaction from her, he pulled ahead of her and slowed, causing her to slow or else she would hit him. When she signaled to pass him, he waved one arm frantically and as she tried to pass, he pulled over so she couldn’t.

Annoyed, she started to pull to the right to try to pass him, but he swung over to the right and kept waving his arm, only now he was pointing and jabbing the air to his right with his index finger. If he wanted her to stop, he was crazy.

She wasn’t afraid because she knew most people in her county and the surrounding area. She had her cell phone ready if she needed help.

He slowed, blocking her path.

She leaned on her horn and got within an inch of the back of his bike as they still drove down the highway, only now going below the speed limit. He shook his head, peeled out of her way and she pushed the accelerator, racing past him, sticking her tongue out at him as she roared past.

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