“Would you like some more?” asked Derek
Candice shook her head and leaned away from the sparkling dinner table. “Wish I could.”
“So?”
“What?” She feigned confusion, hoping that he’d forgotten their bet of a kiss for every point out of ten that he earned with this meal.
“How many points are we talking?” He cocked an eyebrow and grinned.
“I could…give you a zero.”
“You could.” He gazed at her knowingly.
“Oh, man.” Candice closed her eyes and raised a hand to her forehead. She couldn’t believe she was about to do this. Her nemesis, her archrival, and she was going to have to…pay him a compliment, not to mention—
“Zero to ten,” Derek said softly.
“Ten,” she whispered, and puckered her lips.
Note from the editor…
An Evening To Remember… Those words evoke all kinds of emotions and memories. How do you plan a romantic evening with your guy that will help you get in touch with each other on every level?
Start with a great dinner that you cook together. Be sure to light several candles and put fresh flowers on the table. Enjoy a few glasses of wine and pick out your favorite music to set the mood. After dinner take the time to really talk to each other. Hold hands and snuggle on the sofa in front of the fireplace. And maybe take a few minutes to read aloud selected sexy scenes from your favorite Harlequin Temptation novel. After that, anything can happen….
That’s just one way to have an evening to remember. There are so many more. Write and tell us how you keep the spark in your relationship. And don’t forget to check out our Web site at www.eHarlequin.com.
Sincerely,
Birgit Davis-Todd
Executive Editor
BARBARA DUNLOP
HIGH STAKES
Dear Reader,
Here’s the final story of the Reeves-DuCarter brothers. From the moment brother Derek appeared in Next to Nothing! to give his baby brother hell and his middle brother sage advice in Flying High, I’ve known that when Derek’s turn came, he was going to fall fast and he was going to fall hard.
Sure enough, Candice Hammond, the daughter of his archenemy, rocked Derek’s world. He’s used to being in charge, yet she challenges him at every turn. The woman is his intellectual and emotional match, and she’s going toe to toe with the millionaire entrepreneur until he gives her everything she wants. Which is also everything he wants, though he doesn’t know it yet.
I truly hope you enjoy the Reeves-DuCarter brothers. They’ve been a delight for me to live with and I’m thrilled to be able to share them. I’d love to hear from you at www.barbaradunlop.com.
Best,
Barbara Dunlop
Books by Barbara Dunlop
HARLEQUIN TEMPTATION
848—FOREVER JAKE
901—NEXT TO NOTHING!*
940—TOO CLOSE TO CALL
1006—FLYING HIGH*
HARLEQUIN FLIPSIDE
22—OUT OF ORDER
HARLEQUIN DUETS
54—THE MOUNTIE STEALS A WIFE
90—A GROOM IN HER STOCKING
98—THE WISH-LIST WIFE
To Dad.
With appreciation, admiration and love.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
1
YOU’RE ALWAYS THE BEST MAN, but never the groom…. ” Derek Reeves’s brother Tyler propped his elbows on the terrace guardrail outside the ballroom of the Quayside Hotel. Orchestra music and muted laughter from their middle brother, Striker’s, wedding reception wafted through the open French doors into the clear September night.
Derek grinned to himself. He’d admit to feeling a little smug about being the Reeves family’s sole remaining bachelor. He turned his back on the rose garden, the marble fountain and Lake Washington and imitated his brother’s pose. “Jealous?” he asked.
Tyler’s gaze strayed through the open doors to where Jenna, his wife of three months, chatted with the other bridesmaids. There was a thread of incredulous laughter in his voice. “Not hardly.”
Derek took a swig of his ice water. He had to admit that Jenna was great. So was Erin, Striker’s new bride. But they were still wives. They had needs, demands and agendas. Derek was planning to be his own man for a long time to come.
Tyler nodded at the water. “You the designated driver or something?”
Derek shook his head. “I’m expecting a call from Tokyo.”
“You brought your cell phone to your brother’s wedding?”
“I turned it off during the ceremony.”
“We have got to get you a life.”
“By life, I’m assuming you mean a ball and chain of my own? Misery may love company, little brother, but I don’t think so.”
Tyler raised his glass of Scotch in a mock toast. “Come on in, the water’s fine.”
The wind picked up off the lake, bringing with it the scent of roses, as Derek slid his brother a skeptical gaze. “Uh-huh.”
“I’m serious.”
“I’m perfectly happy on my own.”
“How do you know?”
Derek frowned. “What kind of a question is that?”
“When’s the last time you had a steady girlfriend?”
“Define steady.”
“Longer than eight hours.”
The frown turned to another grin. It had been a while. Which meant Derek’s life was ticking along exactly the way he liked it. “Few months. Maybe a year.”
“We need to find you a nice girl to bring home to Mom.”
Derek let out a chopped laugh at the sappy expression on Tyler’s face. “There’s nothing worse than a reformed bachelor.”
“Hey, I’m being serious here.”
“So am I. If I want a woman, I’ll find a woman. No offense, bro, but I don’t need your help on the romance front.”
Tyler snorted. “Romance? I think they’re called one-night stands.”
“And your point is…”
“My point is, you’re hanging out with the wrong kind of women.”
“Well, the right kind of woman sure isn’t going to hang out with me.”
Derek had been in Europe three times this month. He had to be in Japan on the fifth. And if he didn’t figure out a way to salvage that electronics deal they’d just lost to Hammond Electronics, he’d be drumming up wireless business in rural Brazil. He somehow suspected most nice girls would insist he spend at least half his life on the North American continent.
“You never know,” said Tyler, making a show of sizing Derek up. “They might be able to get past your looks.”
“Nice try, pretty boy.”
Tyler laughed.
“The rest of you shareholders should be grateful I’ve stayed single.”
“Why?”
“The minute I have a little woman at home, the bottom line’s going to suffer.”
Tyler clicked his teeth, shook his head and gave Derek a pitying look.
“Don’t get sarcastic with me,” said Derek. “Women dilute a man’s focus. They want him to cater to their little whims, bring home presents, talk about their feelings.”
“Not all women are like that. Jenna’s not like that.”
“Yeah? When’s the last time you two spent an evening apart?”
Tyler glanced toward the ballroom again.
“A week?” asked Derek. “A month? Anytime since the wedding?”
“It’s not because I
can’t—”
“Right,” Derek drawled, knowing he’d easily won the round. Time to move the conversation along. “So while you were busy cuddling and whispering sweet nothings, did Jenna happen to say anything about the Lighthouse renovations?”
The Lighthouse Restaurant was a showpiece on the top floor of the family-owned Quayside Hotel. It was being renovated by Jenna and Candice Hammond’s company, Canna Interiors.
“She says you and Candice have been fighting again,” said Tyler.
“How could I fight with Candice? I’ve been in London for the past three days.”
“Candice obviously didn’t notice you were gone. She kept right on fighting.”
“Only way she can win,” Derek muttered.
“You do realize that you two are driving Jenna nuts.”
“So get Jenna to talk to Candice.” It wasn’t Derek’s fault that Candice was impossible.
“Candice says you’re micromanaging.”
Like hell. “I’m making sure Candice Hammond doesn’t blow three and a half million of my dollars.”
“They’re a reputable company.”
“She’s out for revenge.”
“Why?”
“Because you and I lied to them.”
“Jenna and I are happily married. Candice isn’t mad anymore.”
“She may not be mad at you, but she’s still plotting against me.”
“You’re paranoid.”
Derek took another swallow of his water. Paranoia was a highly underrated quality in a corporate executive. It had saved Derek’s ass more than once. “Just because I’m paranoid, doesn’t mean she’s not out to get me.”
“GET IT, CANDICE!” cried Jenna as Erin tossed the bridal bouquet over her head toward the middle of the Quayside ballroom.
Candice cringed when she realized it was coming in her direction. She faded to the back of the pack, vowing to thank Jenna later for calling even more attention to her single, relationship-less, dateless status. Cream-colored roses and pale orchids arced gracefully toward the domed ceiling, far above the heads of young women who’d gathered in a cluster.
That Erin had some arm on her.
Candice took another step back, then another and another. The women in front of her stretched up, their fingertips just missing the ribbon streamers as the bouquet’s trajectory brought it back toward earth.
They were all missing, turning, frowning…
Candice’s eyes widened in disbelief. Who would have thought Erin could toss that puppy thirty-five feet? Despite her efforts to avoid it, the huge bouquet zeroed in on her like radar. It plunked against her chest, and her arms automatically went around it.
Jenna dashed over from the sidelines, cheering madly in her apricot bridesmaid dress and high heels. Tiny sprigs of baby’s breath jiggled in her upswept hair. “Great catch,” she sang.
“Gee, thanks.”
Jenna laughed. “Now all we need to do is find you a man.”
Candice quickly shifted the bouquet to one hand, lowering it and tucking it behind her thigh, trying to shake the feeling that all eyes in the room were on her. Why didn’t somebody just write up a big Loser sign and paste it to her forehead?
It wasn’t that she had any particular interest in getting married. It was more that the world at large seemed to think twenty-seven was too old to be single. Like she was some kind of wrinkled spinster.
Jenna scanned the room. “Let’s see. Not too tall. Somebody with good career prospects. We want patience and a good sense of humor, since you can be—” She abruptly snapped her mouth shut.
“Since I can be what?” asked Candice, eyeing up her friend and business partner. Even wearing a satin gown and baby’s breath, Jenna still managed to look calculating.
Jenna didn’t answer.
“Are you suggesting I’m grumpy?” asked Candice.
“Testy.”
“Testy?”
The single men lined up for the garter toss, and Jenna took Candice by the arm, pulling her aside. “Only sometimes.”
Candice was more than happy to vacate center stage. She looked around for a nearby table to abandon the bouquet. If she was lucky, one of the eager, single ladies would steal it. “I’m never testy,” she said.
Jenna patted her arm. “I’m thinking about you and Derek.”
Candice rolled her eyes at the mention of Derek’s name. She and Jenna had been working on the Lighthouse Restaurant renovation for three months now, and he’d been her shadow—like she couldn’t be trusted. Well, she had news for him. He’d lied to her, not the other way around.
“He’s the testy one,” she said to Jenna.
“Only when you’re around.”
Oh, sure, like it was Candice’s fault. “He’s arrogant, overbearing, bossy and conceited.”
Jenna smiled. “Yeah. But in a good way.”
A roar rose from the crowd of men as Erin’s garter sailed through the air. A hand shot up and snagged it. The successful man let out a whoop and made a big show of twirling it around his index finger. At least somebody was happy about being publicly tagged as next.
Jenna tilted her head and checked out the garter catcher. “Maybe you just need to get laid.”
Candice wasn’t sure she’d heard right. “Excuse me?”
“After three months of marriage, I can highly recommend it.”
“Over-sharing,” said Candice.
Jenna grinned, nodding toward the group of men. “I bet any one of them would be willing—”
Candice took a backward step. “Think I’ll go up and check on the Lighthouse.”
“What’s to check? You’re off duty, and we’re setting you up here.”
There was no way in the world Candice was hanging around while Jenna set her up. She tried to pull her arm from Jenna’s grasp. “I want to make sure the paneling was delivered.”
Jenna’s hand tightened. “It’s not like you’ll be able to do anything about it before Monday.”
Candice reached out to disentangle Jenna’s fingers. “I’ll sleep better if I take a quick look. You go ahead and scope out prospects while I’m gone.”
Jenna brightened. “Really?”
“Sure. Why not?” Since Candice had no intention of coming back to the wedding reception, Jenna could scope to her heart’s content. Candice wasn’t even planning to go up to the restaurant. Just as soon as she was out of sight, she was heading for the main door of the lobby and grabbing a taxi.
“See you later.” She started in the direction of the express elevator that serviced the rooftop restaurant. As she walked, she kept an eye on Jenna to gauge the best moment for her escape.
Not quite yet. Tyler had appeared out of the crowd, and both he and Jenna focused on Candice. They exchanged a few words, and then Tyler’s eyes lit up. They both waved happily.
Jenna had obviously enlisted his aid. How humiliating.
Candice gave them a brittle smile and waved back, making a show of pressing the elevator button. Unfortunately, the elevator was parked on the ballroom floor, and the doors immediately opened. She had no choice but to step inside.
Then the doors slid shut behind her, blocking out the orchestra and the buzz of conversation. She sighed in relief as she leaned against the cool wall, resting her hands on the metal rail, tipping her head back. It was nice in here.
The elevator rushed smoothly upward. Through the outer glass wall, Candice could see the black lake, the stars and the lights of Seattle.
She loved the Quayside. As the major shareholder, Derek was a major pain, but the building was beautiful. It was a stunning example of mid-twentieth century red brick and terra-cotta.
She and Jenna’s decorating business, Canna Interiors, was just getting established in Seattle, so they were taking every job they were offered. But Candice hoped they’d be able to specialize in historic buildings like the Quayside. They were the city’s heart and soul.
The doors slid open on the fortieth floor, and she decided she’
d better kill a little time before going back down to escape. She left the elevator, and her footsteps echoed on the raw plywood as she made her way down the hall.
The entire floor was closed for renovation. The paneling had been delivered, but then she’d already known that. Sheets of plywood, stacks of wood paneling and cans of paint were clustered against the foyer walls.
She passed through the big, antique double doors that led into the dining room. The wallboard had been peeled back to reveal arched window openings, and the glaziers had just finished installing new windows. The view of the city was spectacular.
Abandoning the bouquet on a sawhorse, she squinted around the room, picturing antique light fixtures, turn-of-the-century paintings, white tablecloths, hurricane lamps and fine china. Her gaze caught and held on the half-finished wine rack, apprehension sliding through her stomach. Something wasn’t right.
She started toward it.
Lifting the plans from the raw wood top, she read the hand-scrawled note stapled to one corner. She stifled the urge to scream. She’d given specific instructions on the placement and the dimensions of the wine rack. But Derek had undermined her authority, yet again.
She crumpled the note in a tight fist. He might be the reason she and Jenna had this job in the first place, but she had to put a stop to the man’s meddling. Forget cutting out on the reception, maybe she’d go back to the ballroom and track him down. Track him down, corner him and set the ground rules once and for all.
As she formulated a scathing lecture, the elevator doors down the hall whirred open. Measured, masculine footsteps headed along the passageway toward her. Perfect. Jenna had sent up a date. Could the evening get any worse?
She started toward the double doors, intent on sending the hapless man away. But when Derek appeared, she stopped short.
Tall, broad-shouldered and athletic, his strong chin, aristocratic nose and piercing blue eyes combined with his wealth and power to give him anything he wanted in life.
But not this time.
Not with her.
He froze, hitting her with a narrow-eyed, suspicious gaze. “What are you doing up here?”
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