Texas-Sized Temptation

by Sara Orwig

  The idea of Caitlin going out of his life at this point was totally unsatisfactory. He didn’t want that to happen and the minute he refused to sell to her, she would be gone. He groaned, thinking it might be easier just to sell her the house and land she wanted and let her stay. If he did, she might be willing to make love with him.

  He had to see his father tomorrow and he dreaded the meeting because they would probably get into another battle over marriage and his inheritance.

  Jake made a mental note to call Tony and Gabe to set up lunch plans. They would cheer him up. He glanced at the clock again and wondered how early he could call Caitlin. Yesterday, she hadn’t joined him in the kitchen until half past seven, so she must sleep late in the mornings.

  Groaning, Jake turned to try to go to sleep, thinking about Caitlin and wanting her in his arms. If at all possible, he would see her again Friday night for a weekend getaway. This time he was going to kiss away all her objections. First, he had to get through another tedious session with his father.

  Seven

  At eight Jake arrived at the palatial mansion where he had grown up. He greeted the staff as he passed through the back hallway, the large family room, and entered the kitchen.

  Trying to remember to hang on to his patience, Jake entered the breakfast room where his father sat in a maroon velvet robe while he read the morning paper and sipped what was probably his third cup of coffee. Dirk Benton was a man of habits and for all mornings Jake could recall, as long as his father was home, he rose at six, worked out for thirty minutes, showered and then went to the kitchen for breakfast which year after year was two eggs, toast, bacon and four cups of coffee while he read the morning newspaper. Jake was certain his mother, a late sleeper, was still upstairs.

  “Good morning,” Jake said.

  Blue eyes focused on him as his father lowered the newspaper. “Good morning. Want breakfast? I know we have plenty.”

  “No thanks, I’ve already eaten. I brought some papers for you to sign,” Jake said, sitting to the right of his father and opening a briefcase to withdraw a folder. He removed a pen from the briefcase and gave his father a quick refresher on what was involved.

  Jake waited quietly while his father signed and then put everything back into the briefcase.

  “What’s your schedule this week?” Dirk asked.

  “I’ll be in Kansas City the rest of the week.”

  “Gabe is off to North Dakota later today. Your mother is going shopping in San Antonio. I’ll be rather bored. Who did you take out this past weekend? Anyone we know?”

  “As a matter of fact, it was someone you know. Better than I do,” Jake said, for a moment enjoying the prospect of seeing his father’s reaction. “Caitlin Santerre.”

  Dirk Benton’s eyes narrowed while he inhaled sharply. “A Santerre? Will left town and you own their land. What are you doing going out with a Santerre? It has to be the granddaughter Madeline Santerre raised. Dammit, Jake, what the hell were you doing? Don’t get tangled up with a Santerre the way Brittany did with Will.”

  Jake couldn’t keep from enjoying his father’s reaction. Let the old man stew a moment with the thought that Jake might be thinking of marrying a Santerre to get even for the demand that he marry or be disinherited.

  “She was at the ranch when I got there last Saturday. She wants me to sell a little piece of her grandmother’s ranch back to her. Will Santerre never let her know he was selling the place.”

  “Will Santerre is a selfish bastard. Actually that girl is the bastard child. Titus Santerre never wanted to claim her, but Madeline stepped in and adopted her and gave her the Santerre name. I’m not surprised about Will. He wouldn’t care what she wanted. I’m sure he wouldn’t share a nickel with her if he didn’t have to according to Titus’s will.”

  One of his father’s eyebrows arched sharply and he studied Jake. “You’re not selling it back to her, are you?”

  “Of course not. She doesn’t want any rights, just the old house and barn and the land they’re on. She’s sentimental about the house and wants the people who worked for Madeline to be able to live on the ranch for the rest of their lives.”

  “Well, you don’t run a charity. So you told her no.”

  “Not yet. I will next week. I enjoyed going out with her,” he stated honestly.

  Dirk’s eyes narrowed again. “Don’t you marry her out of spite because I demanded you marry. That would be cutting off your nose to spite your face—as the old saying goes.”

  “No. I won’t marry Caitlin Santerre. You can relax on that one. I am not marrying anyone this year.”

  “You’ll come around to my way of thinking before the year’s out and a fortune slips through your fingers. Otherwise, you’ll regret your actions for the rest of your life.”

  “I can tell you now—I will not marry. I’ll get along.”

  “Gabe can’t give you the share you’ll forfeit when he inherits it all.”

  “Dad, stop meddling in my life. Let me live my life in my own way. I’m not going to change my life because of your threats. Have you told Mom this latest one?”

  “Yes. She knows you’ll come around.”

  “You mean you told her that I’ll come around and marry and not to worry. Well, you will see at the end of the year when I’m still not married. If I fell in love, I wouldn’t marry. I won’t be coerced into matrimony to suit my father. You might as well get accustomed to that notion. I better go. I have appointments this morning.”

  Dirk frowned. “Don’t get too involved with a Santerre. They are bad blood and bad for Bentons. Tell her you won’t sell and stop going out with her. She’ll cause you trouble one way or another, Jake.”

  “I’ll remember. I think I’m going to be the one to cause her trouble this time. I’ll see you, Dad,” Jake said. He left, glad to get out of the house, thankful he could put distance between himself and his father.

  Jake drove to the office and spent the morning so busy he forgot his dad and the thought of telling Caitlin he wouldn’t sell to her. He couldn’t forget Caitlin’s beautiful face or lush body, though, and several times stopped what he was doing to think about holding her in his arms until he realized time was passing and he was lost in thought.

  Midmorning he called her and talked briefly about nothing in particular. At noon, just as he approached the restaurant where he would meet his brother and his friends, he talked briefly to Caitlin again.

  Tony, Nick and Gabe were already seated, drinking tall glasses of iced tea.

  “Did you see Dad this morning?” Gabe asked as soon as Jake had ordered.

  “Yep. He was his usual demanding self. It gave him a shock to learn about Caitlin.”

  “Did he say anything to you about getting married?” Gabe asked.

  “Deal is still on. He’s certain I’ll marry within this year.”

  “I hope to hell my dad doesn’t try this ploy,” Tony said. “Even as big a control freak as he is, I can’t imagine him demanding that I marry within the year. I don’t know that he’s that eager for me to marry anyway.”

  “I hope Dad doesn’t try this one on me,” Gabe said. “I can’t do what you’re doing, Jake. I don’t even want to think about it.”

  “I’m not marrying to please him. There’s only one reason to marry—you have to be crazy in love. You were just fortunate, Nick.”

  “Damn fortunate to have found Grace. Dad’s been gloriously happy with two grandchildren. He hasn’t tried to tell me to do anything since he learned he would have two grandchildren. They take all his attention. You guys might think about that one,” he said and the others laughed.

  “I told Tony and Nick about Caitlin Santerre,” Gabe said, sipping tea and crunching a small piece of ice.

  “She must really want to keep her family home,” Tony remarked. “Will Santerre was always bad news.”

  “How’d she take your refusal to sell to her?” Gabe asked.

  “I haven’t told her yet,” Jake replied a
nd Gabe’s eyebrows shot up as his eyes widened.

  “Why not?”

  “I’m going out with her this next weekend. I figure as soon as I tell her, I’ve seen the last of her. I had a fun time with her.”

  “That’s amazing,” Gabe said. “A Benton and a Santerre out together. Of course, Will and Brittany went out together.”

  “Is she good-looking?” Tony asked and Jake gave him a look.

  “That’s what I figured,” Tony answered. “She must be damned gorgeous.”

  “So when will you tell her?” Gabe persisted.

  “A week from now. I know I can’t keep putting her off. I’ll have to give her an answer.”

  “She’ll be bitter, but I can’t imagine her causing you trouble. Now if you were dealing with Will, no telling what kind of grief he would try to cause. The fight would be back on between the Bentons and the Santerres.”

  “No, she won’t cause trouble. At least I don’t think so.”

  To his relief, conversation moved away from his problems and they talked about business, about the next basketball game. Later, Gabe turned to Jake.

  “Did you tell Dad about going out with a Santerre?”

  “Yes, and you know his reaction. I ought to marry her out of spite, but I’m not giving him the satisfaction of a marriage, even one he doesn’t like.”

  “I don’t know when you got so stubborn,” Gabe said.

  “I’m not a kid and I’m getting tired of his interference.”

  “Amen to that one,” Gabe said, pushing back his chair. “I’ve got to run. I have an appointment in thirty minutes and then I fly to Dakota. See y’all soon.” He left, his long legs carrying him out quickly.

  Nick placed a tip on the table. “I need to get going, too, Jake. Rethink turning down your dad. That’s a huge fortune to pass on just to get satisfaction. There are millions of ways to get compensation if you get your dad’s inheritance.”

  Jake shook his head. “I’ll survive. Millionaire instead of billionaire. That’s not a bad life. I have had it with his taking charge of what I do.”

  “Nothing will give you independence the same way inheriting your dad’s fortune will,” Tony remarked after Nick had gone. “As for Caitlin Santerre, that one should be easy. Tell her no deal, and she’s gone forever. End of problem.” Tony stood. “I should go now, too.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Jake said, leaving a tip before walking out with Tony.

  “Guess I’ll see you two weeks from now for basketball, right?” Tony asked.

  “Sure. Usual time.”

  Jake headed to his car to drive to the office. As for Caitlin Santerre, that one should be easy. Tell her no deal, and she’s gone forever. End of problem. Tony’s words rang in his ears…gone forever. Jake didn’t care. It couldn’t be any other way with Caitlin, but he wanted to seduce her first. The thought of making love to her made him hot, aroused. He was leaving for Kansas City and he couldn’t see her until the weekend. She’d go, because he still hadn’t given her an answer, putting her off one more time. Friday night, he wanted to kiss her into losing all caution. Friday night—he was already looking forward to the evening with her.

  Caitlin studied her image in the full-length mirror while her thoughts were filled of memories of Jake and his kisses. Excitement kept her tingly. Another weekend with Jake. It had been four long days since she had told him goodbye. And though her work and appointments had kept her very busy, she’d never stopped thinking about him. They had talked on the phone each day and every night. Every hour she chatted with him forged a tighter bond. Was it the same for him?

  This week he would finally tell her his decision. He’d finally made a definite appointment for her to come in to his office in Dallas on Monday morning.

  She still wondered whether he was holding out for this weekend with her before telling her he would not sell to her. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he just tell her now?

  Jake moved in exalted business circles with mega-deals. She couldn’t imagine he had any trouble getting information about the Santerre ranch from his staff. Every hour of the past week had strengthened her guess that he would not sell.

  She straightened the skirt of her red crepe dress. This one had a high neck, long sleeves and a skirt that came below her calves, with slits on either side of the straight skirt that revealed glimpses of her legs. She wore high-heeled matching sandals. Her hair was pinned up and she hoped she looked sophisticated, cool and poised. She didn’t want Jake to see how much effect he could have on her so easily. Since they were in Houston, she had no idea what they would do. Stay here? Go to some close tropical place for the evening?

  The doorbell rang and her pulse jumped at the mere prospect of seeing him again.

  She hurried to the door to open it. The jump in her pulse when the doorbell chimed was nothing compared to the thud of her heart at the sight of him. She wanted to walk into his arms and kiss him. Instead, she smiled, while noticing the approval in his expression as he looked at her. How could she guard her heart against the handsome, commanding charmer who looked at her as if she were one of the greatest sights he’d ever seen?

  She would have to remind herself almost every minute of the night that Jake was a Benton, an enemy and a threat to the well-being of her heart. In spite of that knowledge, she was breathless.

  Tonight she was committed to spending the evening with him. She just had to remember that beneath the handsome facade was a tiger.

  “You look gorgeous.”

  “Thank you. Come in while I get my purse.”

  Stepping into the entryway, he closed the door and reached for her. “Caitlin,” he said in a husky voice that was its own warm caress. “Come here. It’s been too long without you.”

  “Jake, it can’t be—” she started. Her words ended abruptly when she saw the fires in his blue eyes. He drew her into his embrace swiftly, his mouth covering hers. She stepped into his arms, willing, eager. Clinging to him, she returned his passionate kiss.

  “Damn, I missed you,” he whispered, raising his head slightly and then coming back to kiss her again. She closed her eyes and gave herself to hungry kisses, wanting to agree with him that it had been too long, that she had missed him terribly, but she held back the words because they shouldn’t be said to him. They could only lead to more heartbreak later.

  They kissed until they were both out of breath, their hearts pounding. She could feel the beat of his heart as he held her tightly.

  Finally, she stopped the kiss. “Jake, we must—”

  “Shh. I had to kiss you. That’s all I've thought about all week,” he admitted. Her heart drummed and she stood on tiptoe to kiss him again. How else could she react after what he just said to her?

  She didn’t know how much time passed, but finally she stopped again. “Jake, you made plans for the evening.”

  “I can ditch them,” he said in a gravelly voice. She shook her head.

  “No. Let’s not do that. I’ve told you, I’m not into seduction.”

  “You kiss like you are,” he replied instantly and his statement took her breath.

  “I missed you, too, but I want to go on with your dinner plans. Let me get my purse.”

  He followed her into the living area where she picked up her purse. When she turned, he was looking around the room.

  “Very nice, Caitlin. Are these your pictures?” he asked, looking at framed black-and-whites of a bridge in Central Park, of the Grand Canyon, of a whale. He moved on to another wall with a grouping of pictures of people of various ages in different settings.

  “I’m impressed. You’re very good, but then I already knew that.”

  “Thanks.” She glanced around the contemporary living area that had blue walls, with white furniture and touches of red in decorative pillows. “My place is a different style from yours.”

  “That makes life interesting,” he said. “And entirely unlike the ranch house you love so much,” he added.

  “I like the change a
nd this works for me. I still love the ranch house just the way it is.”

  “I’m surprised you don’t try to duplicate it in your own place since you love it so much.”

  “No. That style belongs there and this change is satisfying, as well.”

  “That’s surprising. So shall we leave now for New Orleans? Flying time is short and we can have a fun evening.”

  “Absolutely,” she said, smiling at him over the thought of being in New Orleans for the evening.

  She locked up and they got into his black limousine.

  Jake reached over to take her hand and hold it in his. His fingers were warm, strong.

  “New Orleans is one of my favorite places,” she said.

  “Next time I’ll find a place you’ve never been before.”

  “New Orleans lends itself to fantastic snapshots and interesting people to photograph. Some of my favorite shots were taken in New Orleans. You ought to let me take your picture. You’d be an expressive subject.”

  “Expressive?” he asked, sounding amused. “So what shows in my face?”

  “Wealth, arrogance—”

  He chuckled. “Neither wealth nor arrogance can show in a face. Now if you take all of me and my suit, shoes, handmade monogrammed shirt—that’s different.”

  “Just your face. They show. You’ve got that in-command-of-your-part-of-the-world expression in your eyes and the lift of your chin. It shows, Jake. A zest for life softens the harshness of the other two.”

  “Ridiculous, Caitlin. You see all that because you know me.”

  “If you’ll let me take your picture, I’ll show you someday. I know what people’s faces usually reveal.”

  “We’ll make a bet on the outcome. Make it worthwhile because I intend to win,” he said.

  “You’re so sure of yourself,” she said, amused by his smug tone. “That’s what will show in your photograph.”

  “I’ve had a lot of photographs taken of myself and I can’t recall ever thinking those attributes show.”