Kitabı oku: «The Billionaire's Christmas Desire», sayfa 3
“Your great-great-grandfather—I wonder if any of you resemble him.”
“You can see for yourself. In the last years of his life, someone painted his portrait. It hangs in the library.” He put down his arms and leaned forward. “C’mon. I’ll show you.”
“You don’t need to walk there now. I assume you’re supposed to be staying off your foot.”
“I can walk around,” he said, getting the crutch. “I go to the doc next week and hope to get off this crutch. I’ll still be in some kind of crazy medical shoe, but at least I may lose the crutch. C’mon. We’ll go look at my old ancestor. I suspect he was a tough old bird. My dad was in his own way. I’m amazed he kept the letters. He didn’t have a sentimental bone in his body until the last couple of years of his life. Or maybe since Caroline’s birth. That little granddaughter changed him.”
“That’s family—little children wrap around your heart.”
He gave her another big smile. “You’re sentimental, Emma.”
“I certainly am,” she replied cheerfully.
He led the way into the library that held shelves of books from floor to ceiling. A huge portrait in a gilt frame hung above the fireplace and she looked at a stern-faced man with prominent cheekbones, straight gray hair, mustache and beard.
“I can’t see that you look like him in any manner at all.”
“No, I don’t think so either.” He gestured across the room. “Over there are portraits of my paternal grandfather and my dad.”
She crossed the room. “You don’t look like them either.”
“If I have a resemblance to any forebears, it’s my maternal grandfather. People say I look like him. I don’t see it much myself except for the hair. No pictures of him here.”
She returned to the fireplace to study the picture, thinking about the letter she had just read. “I’d think you’d want to read every letter in that box.”
“I’m leaving that to you.”
She turned to find him looking at her intently, a look that was hot and filled with desire, giving her heart palpitations. In spite of his injured foot, he looked strong and fit. Muscled arms, broad shoulders, flat belly. She stepped toward the door.
“We better go back and let me start reading them,” she said, heading out of the room, aware that he fell into step beside her. “You said you have brothers. Do they have ranches around here or do all of you gather here?”
“Both. I’m not a rancher, so I’ve probably spent the least time here, but we were here plenty growing up. Plenty to suit me. I’m not a cowboy and not a rancher and my brothers can ride the horses. No, thanks. Will’s ranch adjoins this one. Caroline loves it there, so they go quite often. Ryan’s ranch is farther away. He’s a cowboy through and through. Maybe it’s because he spent too much time out here with Granddad.”
“So will your brothers come here this week for Thanksgiving?” she asked, lost in thoughts about her own family’s plans. She was taking a corn casserole and a dessert for everyone.
“No. Ryan’s with a friend and Will and family are going to his home in Colorado.”
“I can’t imagine not being with family, but if you’re with close friends or a close friend and family, that works,” she said, glancing at him to see a grin. “You’re staying out here alone, aren’t you?” she blurted, aghast to think his brothers were going their own way and Zach had no plans. She started to invite him to her house, but she remembered that her predecessors had not lasted more than a few days at best on this job. If she invited him and then he dismissed her, it would be awkward.
“You’re staring, Emma, and you have pity written all over your face,” he said. “A new experience in my adult life. I can’t remember anyone feeling sorry for me for any reason before.”
Heat flushed her cheeks, and she forced a faint smile, hoping the pitying expression would vanish. They had stopped walking and were gazing at each other. He placed a hand on her shoulder lightly. The feathery touch with anyone else would have been impersonal, but with Zach, it was startling.
“It’s my choice,” he said. “Stop worrying.”
“Zach, you can come to our house,” she said, changing her mind about inviting him because it was sad to think of him being alone. “My family would be happy to have you. We’ve always invited friends who would have been alone on Thanksgiving, so I know my family will welcome you.”
His grin widened. “Thank you for the very nice invitation, but I rarely notice holidays and don’t celebrate them.”
“Is this a religious thing?” she asked.
“No. It’s a ‘my thing.’ As I mentioned, my brothers and I grew up in boarding schools, and sometimes we were left there on holidays because our folks were in Europe or heaven knows where,” he explained. While he talked, she was acutely conscious of his hand still lightly on her shoulder. His gaze lowered to her lips and she could barely get her breath. It took an effort to pay attention to what he was saying. “None of us care much about holidays. Will is changing because of Caroline and his wife, Ava. I’m usually not in the country on Thanksgiving, but this year spending it alone here on the ranch is what I choose to do. Thank you anyway for your invitation,” he said, turning to walk again.
Still physically too aware of him at her side, she strolled beside him. The hot attraction that obviously affected both of them tainted this job. If she got to stay, could she keep their relationship impersonal? She didn’t think it would be much of a problem.
This loner, besides being her boss, was not the man to be attracted to. How could he possibly want to spend Thanksgiving alone? Even though he came from enormous wealth, he must have had a cold, lonely childhood. He seemed a solitary person who stayed out of the limelight and worked in distant places where he was unknown. She had seen pictures of his brother in the newspapers and in Texas magazines, but never Zach. He clearly kept a low profile.
As they entered the office, she parted with him and went to her desk to try to concentrate on work.
Over an hour later Zach received a phone call. She continued with her work, but by the time half an hour had passed and he had had three calls, she realized there must be a problem somewhere. He sat with his back to her, his feet propped up on a nearby computer table. The room was large enough that she couldn’t hear exactly what he said. When she caught snatches of a few words, she guessed the language was German.
She worked until five to get everything done he had given her. He was still engrossed in phone calls when she shut off her computers and left the room. In her room, she spent over an hour reading and replying to emails from family and close friends before going to the kitchen for dinner.
Thinking of the loner in the office the entire time.
Lowering his feet Zach had swiveled in his chair and watched Emma leave the room, but his many phone calls had demanded his focus. Now, he glanced down at a letter on his desk she had typed. “I’ll make the call at 8:00 in the morning your time and see if we can’t get this worked out quickly,” he said into the phone. “Right, Todd. I’ll let you know. It’s too late there to call anyone now.” He replaced the receiver, glanced at his watch and sighed.
His cell phone indicated a call and he answered because it was Will.
“Can you talk now?” Will asked.
“Yes. We’ve had problems on a job and I’ve been on and off the phone for the past two hours.”
“I’ve gotten a busy signal once. How’s it going with the new secretary or is it too early to tell?”
Zach glanced again at the letter on the desk. “She’s a good secretary. I don’t think she’ll last though. She’s totally wound into her family in Dallas, which is several hours away from here, probably too far. They live, breathe, eat and stay together most of the time.”
“Just say the word and I’ll get someone else sent out.”
“Not yet,” Zach said, thinking about Emma’s green eyes. “She’s efficient. She’s sentimental—you’d think these old letters were worth a million the way she views them. She can’t keep from telling me I shouldn’t shred them.”
Will laughed. “Another one telling you what to do?”
“No, not like the first one. Emma’s just so into families, she can’t understand that I’m not treasuring every word from our ancestor. He was probably a tough old guy, even tougher than Dad. Why would I treasure every word he uttered?”
“You’re a little more irreverent than most descendants would be. I’m a little curious about them, so I want to read a few and see what’s in those boxes.”
“You can have them, Will.”
“No. You volunteered. You just need the right secretary to help you. Sounds to me as if you don’t have a good fit yet and I should send someone.”
“No. She’s an excellent secretary. I’ve piled on the work and she’s done it accurately and quickly. I don’t want to dump her because she likes the box of old letters.”
“True. At least she may really read them.”
“Oh, she’ll read them all right,” Zach said, smiling as he remembered Emma poring over the one, her head bent. Her red hair held gold strands and a healthy shine. She had it pinned up, but strands spilled free and indicated long hair. Long hair and long legs.
“We’ll leave in a few weeks for Colorado. If you change your mind and want to come along, or to spend Thanksgiving with us, let me know.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine. My new secretary was a little shocked when she learned I’m spending the holiday alone. She invited me to join her family.”
There was a moment’s pause. “You two are getting to know each other.”
“How can we avoid it? Remember, we work all day together and there are just the two of us here except when we see Rosie or Nigel.”
“If you were Ryan, I’d ask if she’s good-looking, but I’ve heard you talk too often about avoiding dating employees.”
“You and I have agreed that’s a complication no one needs in his life. I don’t want any part of that kind of trouble,” he said, thinking about her full lips and hearing a hollow sound to his words. “There’s no need to bring emotions into the workplace—at least the kind of emotions that a relationship would create. Common sense says no way,” he added, more to himself than Will.
“It worked with Ava.”
“Yeah, but you hired her to work with Caroline—that was different from an office situation and you know it. It’s not going to happen here. I get looks from her like I’m from another planet with my feelings about holidays, families and memorabilia.”
Will laughed. “I can imagine that one. There are times you get those looks from me. Ryan is the baby brother and he accepts whatever we do.”
“Yeah. I do get those looks from you, but I don’t know why because you’re like me about sentiment. Or at least you were until Ava and Caroline. Especially Caroline. They’ve mellowed you until I hardly know you.”
“You ought to try it sometime,” Will answered lightly. “I’ll talk to you before we leave for Colorado.”
“Sure, Will. Thanks for the invitation. Tell Ava I said thanks.” Zach ended the call and swung his chair around to look out the window without really seeing anything outside. Envisioning Emma, he wanted to be with her again. He had just blown the sensible course. He should have let Will send out another secretary, yet how could he get rid of Emma when her secretarial skills were excellent and she wanted the job? He couldn’t send her back because of the steamy chemistry between them.
“Keep it strictly business,” he whispered, lecturing himself. Stay away from her except when working. Don’t share lunches or dinners or anything else outside of the office and work. Willpower. Resoluteness.
Thinking of the problems on the project in Maine, the buildings the company had bought and intended to replace with one large building, a parking garage and a landscaped area, he tossed down a pen and returned to thinking about Emma. He wanted to have dinner with her, but hadn’t he just resolved to avoid her? He didn’t want to get involved with an employee, especially a sentimental homebody who could barely leave her family and especially an employee living under the same roof with him. It could complicate his life beyond measure to have her expect some kind of commitment from him and to have rumors flying at the office. He didn’t want tears and a scene when he told her goodbye. Thoughts of any of those things gave him chills.
She didn’t look like a sentimental homebody, at least his idea of one. Her full red lips, the mass of red hair that was caught up on her head hinted at a wild, party-loving woman. The reactions she had to just a look from him implied a sensuous, responsive lover.
“Damn,” he said aloud. Taking a deep breath, he yanked papers in front of him.
Wiping his brow, he leaned over his desk and tried to concentrate on tasks at hand. After two minutes he shoved aside papers and stood. He should send her away, get her out of his life, but the chemistry he wanted to avoid made it impossible to think about giving her up. No matter what he’d just told himself, he wanted to be with Emma—what could a dinner hurt?
With a glance at his watch, he saw he had probably already missed her and a hot dinner from Rosie. Annoyed he would have to eat alone, he headed to the kitchen, hoping Emma was still there.
His disappointment when she wasn’t bothered him even more than her absence. Since when had he started to look forward to being with her so much?
Three
The evening was quiet and after dinner Emma stayed in her room. She had eaten alone, experiencing a mix of relief and disappointment that Zach hadn’t appeared. It was wiser that he had not eaten with her. The less they socialized, the better, even though there was a part of her that wanted to see him.
On Friday, he appeared wrapped in business and he kept his distance. That afternoon, he told her to leave at one so she could get to Dallas ahead of the traffic.
“Thanks,” she replied, smiling broadly. “I’ll accept that offer.” Shutting down her computer, she was on the road away from the ranch twenty minutes later. They had gotten through the first week, so she must have the job. They also had kept a distance between them. He had been professional, quiet, but there was no way she could feel she had imagined the chemistry simmering just below the surface. Any time they locked gazes, it flared to life, scalding, filled with temptation, an unmistakable attraction.
Now she could believe rumors she had always heard that he never dated employees, never getting emotionally entangled with anyone on his staff, never even in the most casual way. She intended to keep that professional, remote relationship with him and this job would be a plus on her resume.
If she could just keep from dreaming about him at night—with a sigh, she concentrated on her driving and tried to stop thinking about Zach Delaney. Instead, she reflected on the fun she always had at home with the family and with her nieces and nephews.
Monday when she returned to work, she dressed in jeans, a T-shirt sprinkled with bling, and sneakers. Zach had said jeans were fine and that’s what he had worn every workday. Even so, she felt slightly self-conscious when she entered the office.
He was already there and looked up, giving her a thorough glance.
“You said jeans are acceptable,” she stated.
“Jeans are great,” he said in a tone that conveyed a more personal response. “Yours look terrific,” he added, confirming what she thought.
“Thank you,” she answered, sitting behind her desk and starting to work.
“This afternoon I’m going to Dallas to see my doctor. Hopefully, I can toss this crutch when I come home.”
“You can return to your traveling?”
“How I wish. No. He’s already told me that I’ll have to wear this and continue to stay off my foot except to get around the house. Still, it’ll be an improvement.”
“Sure,” she replied.
He returned to whatever he had been doing and they worked quietly the rest of the morning. When she left for lunch, he stayed in the office. In the afternoon, she read more Delaney letters, occasionally glancing at the great-great-grandson, continuing to wonder how he could care so little about his history.
The next morning the crutch had disappeared. Zach remained professional and slightly remote. She noticed he hobbled around and kept his foot elevated when he was seated.
On Thursday afternoon she dug inside one of the open boxes of memorabilia and picked up a small box and opened it. Yellowed paper was inside and when she pushed the paper away, she gasped when she discovered a beautiful pocket watch.
“Zach, look at this,” she said, turning to take the box to him. He stood by a file cabinet. Today his T-shirt was navy, tight and short-sleeved, revealing firm muscles and a lean, fit body. Dark curls fell on his forehead. As he came around his desk, she handed him the box. Their fingers brushed, sending ripples radiating from the contact.
“This is beautiful,” she said. She looked up from the watch, meeting his gaze, ensnared, while tension increased between them. She could barely get her breath. It was obvious he felt something as he focused on her. His attention lowered to her mouth. Her lips parted, tingled while her imagination ran riot. How long before he kissed her?
“Zach,” she whispered, intending to break the spell, but she forgot what she had been about to say. He shifted, a slight closing of the space between them. His hand barely touched her waist as he leaned closer. She couldn’t keep from glancing at his mouth and then back into crystal blue that held flames of desire.
The air heated, enveloped her, and the moment his mouth touched hers, she closed her eyes. His lips were warm, firm, a dangerous temptation. Her insides knotted, dropping into free fall. Protests vanished before being spoken. Her breath was gone. His lips settled, opened her mouth. His arm went around her waist tightly, holding her close against his hard body.
She spun away, carried on his kiss. A dream kiss, only it was real, intensifying longing, burning with the impression of a brand that would last. Her hands went to his arms, resting lightly on hard, sculpted muscles.
As his tongue probed and teased, her heart pounded. Passion swamped her caution. She wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed him in return. Standing on tiptoe, she poured herself into her kiss. His arm tightened and he leaned over her, kissing her hard and possessively, making her light-headed. She wound her fingers in his hair as she kissed him, barely aware he was tangling his hand in her own hair.
It was Zach Delaney she kissed wildly. The reminder was dim, but gradually stirred prudence. “Zach,” she whispered, looking up at him. Her heart thudded because the look in his eyes scalded, sending its heat to burn her. His mouth was red from kisses, his eyes half closed. His expression held stormy hunger.
“Emma, you like this,” he whispered, winding his hand in her hair behind her head, pulling her head closer again.
She wrapped both arms around his neck, holding him and kissing him back. Her heart raced as she gave vent again to desires that had smoldered since she met him.
Their breathing grew harsh while he slipped his hand down her back to her waist.
Again, she grasped at control and raised her head. “I wasn’t going to do this.”
“I’ve wanted to since the first minute I saw you,” he declared in a rasp. His blue eyes darkened, a sensual, hot look that melted her and made her want to reach for him again.
Instead, she stepped away. “I came over here for a reason,” she whispered, unable to get her voice. Her gaze was still locked with his and he looked as surprised as she felt. His kisses had shaken her. Desire was a white-hot flame. She wanted him in a manner she had never experienced before and the attraction shook her even more than that first day she had met him.
“Zach, I should quit this job right now,” she whispered. He gave her a startled look and she could feel her face flush.
“Over a few meaningless kisses?” he asked.
She didn’t want to answer him. He stood there looking at her in that sharp manner he had while she struggled to get the right words.
“The kisses—” She paused. She didn’t want to admit more to him, but he wanted an answer. “Kisses weren’t like others. This was different. We have something—” She waved her hands helplessly.
He inhaled, drawing deeply, his chest expanding as longing flared again in his eyes.
“Common sense tells me to walk away now,” she whispered. “You have a reputation for never going out with an employee.”
“I never have,” he answered. “That doesn’t mean I can’t.”
“That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I want this job.”
“We’ll do something,” he replied, his voice raspy and quiet. “Don’t quit. We’ll try to stick to work.”
She shook her head, looking at his mouth and feeling her pulse speed as they talked. “I can’t. I’m quitting. I don’t think you need more notice than that. You can find a wonderful, efficient secretary soon enough.”
“No,” he replied, jamming his hands into his pockets while a muscle worked in his jaw. “I’ll double your salary and you stay.”
“Double my salary?” she repeated, shaking her head.
“You don’t need to pack and go because we kissed. We’re adults. If we kiss, it’s not that big a deal. There’s nothing between us—no history, no ties. If you don’t want to get involved, we can both exercise control. With my offer, you’ll earn twice as much. Don’t walk out on that over a few casual kisses.”
Exasperated and stung over his dismissal of kisses that had shaken her, she stared at him. “There’s no relationship between us. There’s not even any emotional bond. We’re practically strangers. But those kisses weren’t casual to my way of thinking,” she whispered.
She stepped close, put her arm around his neck and placed her mouth on his, kissing him with all the heat and fury she felt over his dismissive attitude. After one second that probably was his surprise holding him immobile, his arm banded her waist and he returned her kiss. Fully. He pressed against her, his tongue going deep while she kissed him, trying to set him on fire. In seconds she broke off the kiss and looked up with satisfaction.
“I’d say your body’s reaction isn’t casual.”
With his eyes darkened, his breathing was ragged. She had felt the hard throb of manhood against her and his heart pounding.
“Okay. Kisses damn well aren’t casual, but I’m trying to get us back there,” he said. A muscle worked in his jaw. When his attention focused on her mouth, she stepped back.
“Do you still want to double my salary—or do you want me to go?”
“I’ll double your salary,” he replied, grinding out the words.
“You’ll double my salary to get me to continue as your secretary. You know I can’t turn that down.”
“I hope not. You’re a good secretary,” he answered in a more normal tone of voice.
Inhaling deeply, she promised herself she would exercise better control.
“Against good judgment, I’ll stay. I can’t say no. I need the money for my college plans.”
“That’s settled.” They stared at each other until she realized what she was doing.
“I came over here for something,” she said, feeling foolish, struggling against stepping into his arms again, yet determined to regain her composure. She looked around and spotted the small box on the corner of Zach’s desk. She retrieved the box, clinging to it as if it were a lifeline.
“Look at this.”
He was still gazing at her and his blue eyes had darkened again. His expression no longer appeared as impersonal. Her heart drummed while her lips tingled. The urge to reach for him tormented her. With a deep breath he looked down, picked up the watch and turned it in his hand.
“This is a find,” he said, his voice deep, becoming hoarse, and she was certain the husky tone was not caused by the watch he held. “This watch is worth going through the box of stuff.” Turning it in his hand, he studied the gold back. “These are my great-great-grandfather’s initials,” Zach said, extending it to her and she looked down, stepping closer to gaze at the watch, which she had already studied. “Warner Irwin Delaney,” Zach read. “This we’ll keep, thank you, Emma.”
“It’s a beautiful pocket watch. I’m glad you’re keeping it. I’ll research to find one like it to pinpoint how old it is. For the moment, I’ll see what else I can find.”
“I’ll help for a while,” he said. “The watch makes poking around in all the old stuff more interesting.”
She returned to her chair, mindful of him pulling one up nearby. The awareness of him was sharp, intense and disturbed her concentration. She wanted to take a long look at him, but she didn’t want to get caught studying him.
She tried to focus on a letter and realized her concentration was on Zach only. His kisses had been fantastic, setting her on fire in a blaze that still burned. She wanted more kisses, wanted to dance and flirt and make love—reactions that shocked her. Ones she had never experienced before in this manner. The men in her life had always been friends, family-oriented guys she had been comfortable with. Never anyone she had been very serious about either. Why did he hold such appeal for her?
She could barely think about the jump in salary for thinking about the man. Any other time in her life she would have been overjoyed at the increase in pay, but now it kept slipping her mind, replaced by thoughts about Zach.
The wise thing to do would be to pack and go no matter what salary he offered. She couldn’t do it. The salary was important. College—and her classes on the internet—was expensive. This boost in salary filled a great need. Without thinking, she glanced at him. He was studying her openly and she felt her face flush as they looked into each other’s eyes.
The glance had the same effect as a touch.
They worked in silence. As he methodically shoved aside letters, she realized he was looking for more things like the watch. She became absorbed in her reading.
“I feel as if I know part of your family,” she said, folding a letter. “After the Civil War, Warner Delaney started building this ranch house. He brought his family out here. Earlier, he met a woman in Kansas City and is going to ask her to marry him.”
“My great-great-grandmother? Her name was Tabitha, I think.”
They heard a commotion in the hall and a tall man in Western boots, jeans, a navy sweater and a Stetson entered the room. He held the hand of a little black-haired girl who smiled broadly at Zach and then glanced shyly at Emma.
“Will. Caroline. How’s my prettiest and favorite niece?” Zach asked, lifting her up and holding her to kiss her cheek. She laughed and giggled as he set her on her feet. “Hey, Will. Where’s Ava?”
“Stopped to talk to Rosie and leave Muffy with her. Muffy is a dog,” he explained, glancing at Emma.
“Emma, this is my niece, Caroline, and my brother Will Delaney. Ah, here is Ava. Emma, meet Ava Delaney. This is Emma Hillman, my secretary.”
As she shook hands with the adults, Emma gazed into warm welcoming green eyes of a sandy-haired blonde. Caroline, holding a small brown bear, could not stop smiling.
“C’mon, let’s go into the family room where it’s more comfortable and Caroline has things to play with while we talk,” Zach suggested.
Will smiled. “We were on our way back from Dallas and stopped for a few minutes to see about you.”
“Zach, all of you go ahead,” Emma said. “I can stay in here. I don’t want to intrude—”
“C’mon, Emma, or we’ll all have to sit in here on these hard chairs,” Zach said with a shake of his head.
“Please join us,” Ava said. “Don’t leave Caroline and me alone with these two.”
Emma smiled and nodded, knowing Ava was teasing and it was nice that they would include her. Will was strikingly handsome without the ruggedness of Zach. She would not have picked them out of a crowd as brothers because Will’s dark eyes were nothing like Zach’s vivid blue ones. Their facial structure was as different as their hair.
“Well, the offer is still open for you to have Thanksgiving with us,” Will said.
“Thanks. I’ll still stay here. You know Rosie will cook a big turkey.”
“You should join us, Zach,” Ava said. “The snow will be beautiful and we’ll have a great time.”
“Thanks, Ava. I’ll do fine here,” he replied without glancing at Emma.
When they entered the family room, Emma mulled over his turning down the offer for Thanksgiving. How could he turn down Will and stay alone on the isolated ranch? She would never understand how Zach could possibly avoid being lonely and miserable. Was this all a carryover from childhood hurts, seeking isolation because it was a shield against times he had been left alone and deeply disappointed?
“So how are you doing with the memorabilia?” Will asked.
“I want to show you what Emma found in that box of old letters. I’ll put it with anything else of value we find.”
“I’ll get it,” Emma said. “You talk to your family.” Before Zach could protest she hurried from the room. In minutes she returned to hand the box to Zach.
As she sat down, he took the watch and held it up. “Look at this.”
“That looks like a fine watch and something nice to keep since it belonged to a Delaney ancestor,” Will said. Zach carried it to show it to Ava and Caroline who crowded around them. Will got up to join them.
“If this isn’t just like Dad,” Zach said. “I’ll bet he found the watch and stuck it back in with the letters to let us find it.”
“I don’t know. I had the feeling he had never gone through that stuff before,” Will remarked.
“Maybe not. No telling what else I’ll find. Or Emma will find.”
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