The Billionaires' Brides Bundle

by Sandra Marton

  It was a terrible thought but a plausible explanation. Either Felix had lied to him or his mind was slipping. Neither prospect was good.

  Lucas drew a heavy breath.

  “Mr. Norton. There has been—there has been some confusion here. I can see that this has nothing to do with you.”

  Norton nodded in relief. “Thank you, sir.”

  “Obviously this matter is—it is ended.” Lucas’s voice grew brisk. “I assume you came here by car. I would be grateful if you would drive me to town. I have no vehicle. It’s a long story and not very interesting, but—”

  “Nothing is ended, Your Highness,” Norton said quickly.

  Lucas stiffened. “I assure you,” he said coldly, “it is.”

  “The agreement between your grandfather and my client—”

  “Damn it, man, I’m not stupid. Your client did what he could to drag my grandfather—to drag the Reyes Ranch—into his financial mess. I promise you, that’s not going to happen.”

  Norton’s Adam’s apple danced again. “It’s already happened, sir. Your grandfather bought El Rancho Grande a year ago. It was to change ownership upon my client’s death.”

  Lucas was stunned. Reyes Corporation—damn it, he owned this disaster area?

  “Last week, your grandfather phoned to say he was ready to execute the terms of the sale. That he was sending you to, uh, to implement the final contract stipulation.”

  “Let me see the contract.”

  The attorney took a large white handkerchief from his pocket and mopped his face.

  “Perhaps we should discuss the stipulation first, sir, and then…”

  “Damn it, Thaddeus! Stop weaseling and get to it!”

  The voice, female and curt, sliced through the room. Lucas turned and stared at the woman in the doorway.

  She was tall. Slender. Her midnight-black hair was drawn back in a severe knot; pearls glittered demurely at her ears and throat. In a white silk blouse, black trousers, butterscotch leather blazer and polished black riding boots, she looked like she’d just stepped out of an expensive Manhattan town house, not a stable.

  And yet, that was the last place he had seen her.

  His eyes narrowed. “You clean up well for a woman who earns her living mucking stalls.”

  The look she gave him lowered the room’s temperature.

  “You should have taken my advice and left El Rancho Grande, Mr. Reyes.”

  “And not enjoy whatever interesting little performance is about to take place?” Lucas smiled thinly. “Not on a bet.”

  She dug in her pocket, held out the same key she’d offered him before.

  “It’s not too late.”

  “Trust me, it is.” Another thin, unpleasant smile curved his mouth. “Things are just getting interesting.”

  “Interesting,” she said, and gave a brittle laugh.

  It reminded him of how she’d laughed when she’d almost ridden him down.

  “Laughter,” he said carefully, “seems an inappropriate response.”

  “Believe me, mister, any other response is out of the question.”

  “Try an apology instead.” He took a step toward her. “You still owe me one.”

  That made her laugh again. It made his blood pressure soar. He was in a game but he didn’t know the rules, didn’t know his opponent, didn’t know the prize he was playing for.

  The only certainty was that the woman was knee-deep in whatever was going on.

  “You have one minute to explain,” he said, moving slowly toward her. “You or Norton. I don’t give a damn who tells me what this is all about. One minute. Then I’m leaving.”

  “Has anyone ever told you what a pompous ass you are?”

  Dios, he could feel the rage building inside him. “I warn you, amada, watch how you speak to me.”

  “The days of royalty are over, Mr. Reyes. Playing emperor won’t get you anywhere. Not here. This is my country, my land, my—”

  It was as if she’d pushed some hidden switch. Nothing mattered but dealing with her interminable insolence and Lucas knew exactly how to do it.

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  HOURS ago, she’d struggled against him, then given herself up to his kiss.

  Not this time.

  She didn’t just struggle, she fought like a wildcat. Tried to bite him. Knee him. Shove him away.

  Lucas wouldn’t let any of that happen.

  He used his anger, his height, his leanly muscled strength to propel her back against the wall. Then he used his hands to manacle hers and pin them uselessly beside her.

  Dimly he heard the attorney saying his name but he ignored that, ignored everything but the need to get even. To win. To let her know, without question, she could not laugh at him or look at him as if he were a creature worthy of her contempt.

  Even in the fever that gripped him, Lucas had to admit that there was more.

  There was the taste of her. Wild. Honeyed. Passionate.

  The heat that rose from her silken skin.

  The texture of her mouth as he invaded it.

  As she fought, as he forced her to accept his kiss, the part of his brain that still clung to civility asked him what the hell he was doing.

  He had never forced sexual compliance from a woman in his life.

  But he wanted that from her.

  No. Not compliance. Hell, never compliance.

  He wanted to hear her sigh with desire. To melt under the stroke of his hands. To return his kisses and ask for more.

  His mouth softened on hers. His hands lessened their grip on her wrists. He whispered to her in Spanish, words a man might use to tell his lover he would show her fulfillment beyond any she’d ever imagined…

  The woman caught her breath. And became warm and pliant in his arms.

  He felt the change. The delicate swell of her breasts against his chest. The almost imperceptible tilt of her hips to his. She was surrendering. Admitting that he was in command, not she.

  He could let her go now…

  Unless he kissed her until she begged him never to stop. Until what had started hours ago ended with his hands under her skirt, her panties torn aside so he could enter her. Thrust deep between her eagerly parted thighs as she urged him to take her, to possess her, again and again and again…

  She cried out. Wrenched her hands free or perhaps he let go. Either way, Lucas stumbled back. She swayed; her eyes flew open, dark and hot with hatred.

  Or with something that made him want to reach for her again.

  He shuddered.

  Was he insane? Was she? All he knew was that the sooner he left this place, the better.

  The woman was trembling. The attorney was goggle-eyed. Lucas forced himself to speak as calmly as if nothing had happened.

  “Now,” he said, “perhaps we can get to the truth.”

  “The truth,” she said, “is that you’re a son of a—”

  “Alyssa!” The attorney came to life and stepped quickly between them. “I suggest you not say anything you’ll regret.”

  “Excellent advice, amada.”

  “I have some advice for you, Mr. Reyes,” she said in a low voice. “Get the hell out of my house!”

  “Your house? Have I misunderstood something?” Lucas looked at Norton and smiled slyly. “Did your client leave the opulent El Rancho Grande to—what is it you call the lady? Alyssa?” He folded his arms. “Alyssa the what? The maid? The cook? The stable girl? My understanding—and perhaps I have it wrong—was that I own this place now.” His voice hardened. “All of it, from the dried-out pastures to the collapsing barn. Is that not so, Norton?”

  The lawyer looked as if he’d have given anything to disappear as he ran a shaking finger around the inside of his collar.

  “That is correct, sir. Though I’m afraid—I’m afraid it’s a bit more complicated than that.”

  “More complicated?” Lucas snorted. “My grandfather was tricked i
nto buying a useless ranch, I was tricked into coming here and you tell me there is still more? Are you about to tell me I must rescue a captive princess from the dragon-guarded tower in which she is chained?”

  Norton made a sound as if he were gagging. The woman—Alyssa—gave a bitter laugh.

  “Do not laugh at me again.” Lucas rounded on her, his face white with fury. “Or, I promise, you will regret it.”

  “What I regret,” she snapped, “is that I didn’t let Bebé run you into the ground!”

  “Such charm,” Lucas said slyly. “I trust you showed a warmer side to your lover.”

  “To her…?” The attorney blanched. “Sir. Let me explain who Alyssa—who this lady is.”

  “I’ve already figured that out. The only explanation I want now is what in hell you mean by this thing you call a ‘stipulation.’ Do I own this ranch or not?”

  “Well—”

  “Of course he owns it,” the woman said in mocking tones. “He is the Reyes Corporation, Thaddeus. He told me that himself.”

  Lucas looked at her and saw what the problem was. Felix had bought this useless place. Now McDonough was dead, and his mistress, his lover, call her what you liked, was furious. She’d expected to inherit the property.

  Greedy bitch.

  A moment ago, he’d happily have solved his problem by donating El Rancho Grande to charity. Now, he knew he would fight this taunting female to the end to keep it—and then give it to charity.

  “And you want it for yourself,” he told her softly. “That’s it, isn’t it? That’s the so-called ‘stipulation.’”

  “The ranch belongs to me,” she said, drawing herself up. “By all that’s right, that’s legal, that’s—that’s human and decent, it’s mine!”

  “Of course it is, amada.” Lucas’s voice was silken. “Just think of all you did to earn it.”

  Her face colored. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

  “I promise you, I do. I know the sacrifices you made, sleeping with an old man, doing his bidding in bed—”

  “You—you disgusting son of a bitch! I’m going to take this damnable contract stipulation to court and I’ll win.”

  “Do you have a million dollars? Because that is what it will cost you just to see me and my attorneys in a courtroom.”

  The woman glared at him. “You’re more than pompous, Mr. Reyes. You’re also a fool!”

  Lucas took a step forward. The attorney moved quickly between him and the woman.

  “Alyssa. Prince Lucas. My client is deceased but I’m honor-bound to continue representing him.”

  Norton’s sudden show of backbone was a surprise but he had a point. There was a legal matter to be settled here, and Lucas wouldn’t permit his anger at the rider to get in the way.

  “Fine,” he said coldly. “Then, let’s get to the bottom line—or did we just reach it? Did you bring me all this distance to alert me to the fact that this woman is going to try to convince the courts the sale of the ranch was improper? That she should have inherited it? Because if that’s the case, I must tell you, I suspect she has no legal grounds.”

  “I agree, sir. And that’s not the problem.”

  “Then, what is?” Dios, he was tired. He wanted a meal and a shower and a night’s sleep, but he damned well suspected he wasn’t about to get them any time soon.

  “Tell him, Thaddeus,” the woman said.

  Lucas looked at her. Her face was blank but hatred for him shone in her eyes.

  Suddenly his exhaustion dropped away.

  He thought of how he could change that look by taking her into his arms again and kissing her into submission. How she would respond to him. How she would beg him to make love to her.

  Damn it, he thought, and strode to the window, stared into the black night while the wind shook the trees and the rain pelted the roof. He had nowhere to go until morning or, more precisely, he had no way to leave this place until then.

  He had to calm down.

  A deep breath. Then he turned to the attorney.

  “She’s right for once, Norton. Tell me the rest. I’m sure I’ll find it amusing.”

  The lawyer pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and mopped his face.

  “First, you must understand, sir. The ranch was not always the way it is today.”

  Lucas glanced at the photos on the wall. “So what? For all I give a damn, it might have been the finest ranch in all Texas.”

  “It was,” the woman said in defiance.

  “Fine. It was paradise. Just get on with it.”

  “A royal command, Thaddeus. You must obey.”

  Lucas glared at her. “Be careful, amada,” he said softly.

  “Yes, Alyssa, please. You’re only making matters worse.”

  “You’re the one making matters worse,” she snapped. “If you’d done as I asked and simply ignored this whole thing—”

  Lucas slammed his fist on the desk. So much for staying calm.

  “Damn it,” he roared, “that’s it! Tell me what you’re hiding about that contract, Norton, or so help me, I’ll see you never practice law again!”

  Thaddeus Norton took a briefcase from a chair and extracted a thick folder.

  “Just bear in mind, sir, I told Aloysius this was insane.”

  “Insane?” The woman gave a shaky laugh. “How about immoral? Unethical? How about it’s like something out of bad melodrama?”

  “When the two of you get tired of this conversation,” Lucas said coldly, “perhaps you’ll be good enough to explain what in hell you’re talking about.”

  The attorney opened his mouth and then shut it again. The woman shot him a look, then lifted her chin. She looked beautiful, proud and untouchable.

  “Thaddeus is a coward, so I’ll do it and then we can all have a good laugh. For starters…I hate to disappoint you, Mr. Reyes, but Aloysius wasn’t my lover.” She paused. “He was my father.”

  “You’re McDonough’s daughter?”

  “His adopted daughter. My name was originally Montero. And there was never any warmth between Aloysius and me.”

  “Alyssa,” Norton said wearily, “that’s ancient history.”

  “You’re right for once, Thaddeus, but our esteemed visitor wants answers. Well, I’m giving them to him. My mother is dead and so is Aloysius. I cannot imagine missing him, especially now that he’s drawn me into this—this mess.” Her smile was bitter. “Sorry this is all far less intriguing than me being the star of some sordid little drama, Your Mightiness, but that’s the way it is.”

  “Let me get this straight,” Lucas said in the tone of a man who’d just watched a rabbit pulled from a hat and knew damned well that sleight-of-hand tricks were not magic. “Aloysius McDonough learns he’s dying. He has no wife but he has a daughter. She’s cold and unfeeling and he has no desire to give her the land he once loved.”

  “Sounds good. And you’ve got it half-right, except the land was actually my mother’s. And she loved it.”

  “Forgive me,” Lucas said with heavy sarcasm. “I had the characters wrong but not the basic plot. You want the ranch. I own it. And? You got me here so you could do what? Beg me to give it back? Ask me to sell it to you for next to nothing?” His mouth twisted. “Or did you imagine you’d seduce me into giving it to you,” he said, his eyes locked to hers. “Was that the plan?”

  “Try ‘none of the above,’” she said coldly.

  “Really?” Lucas folded his arms. “I wasn’t born yesterday, amada. Not being mentioned in Daddy’s will must have been hard to accept.”

  “But I am mentioned. That’s the problem.”

  “He left you something, then? Good for you but I don’t see how it involves me, or why I’ve come such a distance to watch such a badly written play.”

  Was he wrong, or did some of her confidence seem to drain away?

  “There’s a clause in the contract. I didn’t know about it until Aloysius died and the will was read. It’s—it’s what Thad
deus calls the stipulation.”

  “Dios, you say that as if the word might burn your mouth. Are you going to explain it, or must I shake it out of you?”

  “I would advise against anything so foolish, Mr. Reyes.”

  That tough attitude was back. The statement was a challenge. So was the way she’d addressed him. His honorific creaked with antiquity in this century but her deliberate avoidance of it was, he knew, an insult.

  Well, he wouldn’t rise to the bait. He wanted the truth and he had the feeling it was worse than it seemed, more than one man scamming another out of a lot of money.

  “Explain, then,” he said gruffly.

  Alyssa touched the tip of her tongue to her lips.

  “Everything you’ve heard is true. My father offered this ranch to your grandfather, and your grandfather agreed to buy it. But—”

  “But?”

  “But,” she said, her voice suddenly low, “your grandfather—your grandfather wanted to purchase something more. And my father agreed to sell it to him.”

  She fell silent as thunder roared over the house. The scent of ozone, of anticipation, hung in the air. A streak of jagged light sizzled just outside the window; thunder clapped overhead. It lent an air of melodrama to the scene.

  And yet, Lucas thought, this was no melodrama. Whatever was playing out here was real.

  Once, kayaking down a wild river, his craft had been poised at the lip of a class four rapid for what had seemed an eternity, enough time for him to look down into a whirlpool he knew had claimed many lives.

  His heart had missed a beat as he hung above it, caught somewhere between exhilaration and terror.

  That was how he felt now, looking at Alyssa McDonough, waiting for her to finish telling him what he had come all this distance to learn.

  “And?” he said softly. “What’s the ‘something more’ your father agreed to sell to my grandfather?”

  An eternity seemed to pass. Then Alyssa shuddered and raised her eyes to his.

  “Me.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THE look of horror on Lucas Reyes’s handsome face was exactly what Alyssa had expected.

  She recalled feeling just as horrified when Thaddeus first told her about what he kept calling the “stipulation.”