by Sara Orwig
“There Is A Limit On This Marriage.”
“I know,” Jeff replied. “Part of the deal is that neither of us will fall in love. I think that’s a safe assumption. I’m not the marrying kind and you’re not going to stay on my ranch. I’ll tell you what, Holly, I’m never going to live in a city.”
She gazed into his wide gray eyes and knew he meant every word, just as she did. “This is a doomed marriage,” she said.
“Not doomed. Just exactly what we contracted it to be—temporary. One year only and then it’s over. No strings, no heartbreak, because no one’s heart is involved.”
Something hurt deep inside her at his words. Was she having real feelings for her husband…the husband she wasn’t allowed to love?
Dear Reader,
This is the second story involving twin billionaire brothers. Tempting the Texas Tycoon was the first book with Noah Brand. Now Marrying the Lone Star Maverick is the story of his identical twin, Jeff Brand, who is physically just like Noah, but in personality so different. Noah brings a woman into Jeff’s life who is Jeff’s opposite in everything. She loves cities, opera and shopping. Driven, Holly Lombard is an ambitious workaholic who takes life seriously. Jeff, on the other hand, is an easygoing, laid-back cowboy who loves the country and his horses and feels constricted by a city.
When these two are thrown together, a blaze ignites. How spicy is love when it attracts two opposing personalities? When they fall in love, trouble deepens for both. What kind of sacrifices will each have to make? The dynamics between the two protagonists constantly change. Against the backdrop of Texas—the Western ranch country with mesquite and cactus, the glittering city of Dallas, the lush green Hill Country—the story unfolds with the billionaire twins who compete yet band together when they need to help each other. Twins who are close and know each other as well as each knows himself. Here, now, is the second Texas twin’s story.
Sara Orwig
SARA ORWIG
MARRYING THE LONE STAR MAVERICK
Books by Sara Orwig
Silhouette Desire
Falcon’s Lair #938
The Bride’s Choice #1019
A Baby for Mommy #1060
Babes in Arms #1094
Her Torrid Temporary Marriage #1125
The Consummate Cowboy #1164
The Cowboy’s Seductive Proposal #1192
World’s Most Eligible Texan #1346
Cowboy’s Secret Child #1368
The Playboy Meets His Match #1438
Cowboy’s Special Woman #1449
†† Do You Take This Enemy? #1476
†† The Rancher, the Baby & the Nanny #1486
Entangled with a Texan #1547
* Shut Up and Kiss Me #1581
* Standing Outside the Fire #1594
Estate Affair #1657
† Pregnant with the First Heir #1752
† Revenge of the Second Son #1757
† Scandals from the Third Bride #1762
Seduced by the Wealthy Playboy #1813
‡ Pregnant at the Wedding #1864
‡ Seduced by the Enemy #1875
‡ Wed to the Texan #1887
** Dakota Daddy #1936
** Montana Mistress #1941
** Wyoming Wedding #1947
Tempting the Texas Tycoon #1989
Marrying the Lone Star Maverick #1997
SARA ORWIG
lives in Oklahoma. She has a patient husband who will take her on research trips anywhere from big cities to old forts. She is an avid collector of Western history books. With a master’s degree in English, Sara has written historical romance, mainstream fiction and contemporary romance. Books are beloved treasures that take Sara to magical worlds, and she loves both reading and writing them.
To David, Hannah, Rachel, Ellen,
Elisabeth, Colin, Cameron
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
Prologue
H e’d never met a horse he couldn’t break. The sleek sorrel had been a struggle, but now, under the bright lights of the corral, Jeff Brand felt the horse move smoothly at the merest touch. When he heard a car engine, he gave it little heed—the cowboys who worked for him often came and went at night.
“I thought that was you.” Jeff reined the horse to the side at the sound of a familiar voice.
In chinos, loafers and a neat button-down plaid shirt, his twin brother, Noah, looked like what he was—a city guy. His slow climb over the fence only underscored that.
“Is Dad all right?” Jeff asked, holding his breath. Their father’s second heart attack had scared the entire family. He was unable to imagine anything else could bring Noah to the ranch at this hour.
“Dad is okay. Didn’t mean to startle you driving out here without calling. That’s not why I’m here.”
The horse pranced slightly and Jeff reined him in again. “So what does bring you out here at this time of the night?”
“I was afraid I wouldn’t catch you during the day. As I recall, you always did spend a lot of nights riding. Great waste of evenings, if you ask me,” he added, grinning at Jeff.
Jeff rode closer. His horse snorted and pranced a few steps away, fighting him for a moment before doing as Jeff wanted. “New horse?”
“Yep. Past two owners couldn’t quiet him down. I think he’s going to be great.”
“I think you might be right. He looks like a runner.”
“He is. It always amazes me,” Jeff said, pushing his wide-brimmed Stetson to the back of his head, “how you have an eye for horseflesh when you hate everything about the country.”
“It’s easy to explain. I like to win at the races and the one way to do that—” He swung his leg and jumped down.
“—is to know horses,” Jeff finished. “Let me take care of him and you can tell me what it is you want. And I know you want something badly to drive all the way out here at this hour of the night.”
“You’re on target there. I’d rather be home with my wife and child than out here with you and a contrary horse.”
Jeff took the reins and began walking toward the gate. “We can talk in the barn.”
Inside, as Jeff unsaddled the sorrel, Noah sat on a stack of bales of hay.
“They think Dad can come home from the hospital the first of next week, but Dr. Gracy said he has to retire. Dad can’t keep from worrying about business and getting uptight about deals, you know him.”
“Damn, I hate to hear that. His job is his whole life,” Jeff said, lifting the saddle off his horse. He left to get a bucket of water and returned in seconds. “Dad doesn’t even have hobbies. There’s nothing else in his life.”
“It’s difficult to imagine what’s happened. Knox Brand and Brand Enterprises are synonymous. That’s why I’m here. Dad’s only staying on as chairman, but we’re handling the Cabrera leather line now and we’ve taken on two other companies. I need help badly. Your help.”
“Oh, hell no,” Jeff said, as he glanced at his brother and saw the worried frown on Noah’s face. He realized Noah was in earnest and his heart sank.
“Dammit, Noah, you know how I feel about the corporate life.”
“Look, just do it for one year. Help me get someone else trained for this spot. I can’t put someone new and green in it. You know the business from working there until you gave it up for ranching. You’re on the board, s
o you keep up. You know me. You’ll know what I want and what I don’t. You know the financial side. You’re a negotiator and a closer.”
“I mean no.” Jeff brushed his mount in long strokes. While he hated to say no, working in the Brand corporate headquarters would suck the life out of him.
“Your big objection was always Dad. He’ll be gone.”
“You’re just like him, Noah.”
“No, I’m not. Have I ever tried to run your life? You’d be a natural fit for the Cabrera line. It’s only one year, Jeff,” Noah said and Jeff knew he was in for a fight. When he wanted something, Noah was as stubborn as their dad. “I’ve got someone in mind we can move up later, but he’s not ready at this point.”
“That is twelve months too long,” Jeff said patiently.
“All right,” Noah said, walking around to lean on a stall as Jeff moved to the other side to brush down the sorrel. Jeff worked in silence while Noah marshaled his argument. “I’ll up the ante.” He sighed. “I’ll get my assistant to help you. She knows that company as well as I do.”
“That doesn’t change my mind,” Jeff replied.
“I just need you badly. Name what you want in return.”
Jeff stopped brushing the horse and turned to stare at his brother. He had seen Noah in bad times, but before it had never been like this.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Jeff tried to think what would make the job palatable. “All right, Noah, I’ll give you my terms. Plus a million up front for agreeing to do this, plus commissions if my division increases sales and on every acquisition I make. Oh, and I’ll expect a salary like yours. I want to work part of the time from here. I’ll put your assistant up.”
“You don’t want much, do you?” Noah snapped, sounding more like their father as his face flushed.
Jeff returned to brushing the horse. “Take it or leave it. You’re the one who came to me.”
“I might as well turn the company over to you,” Noah grumbled. “Those are pricey demands. You don’t even know what my salary is.”
“I know it’s good.” Jeff continued taking care of his horse. If Noah accepted, hopefully Jeff could live with such a lucrative deal for the coming year.
“You drive a hard bargain, Jeff.”
“That’s why you want me to be your closer.”
“I hate it when you’re right. You get what you want. All right. I’ll give you my assistant and you can work from your damn ranch. Work one day a week in the office. We’ll set it up so you’ll handle the Cabrera saddle and boot account from there, plus some others.”
“I suggest you don’t mention the terms of agreement to Dad. Don’t want to give him another attack.”
“That’s cold. I thought the bad blood between you and Dad was improving. Anyway, I’m glad to have you, and I want you satisfied, too. This is good, Jeff. I can sleep nights now. I’ll never understand why you left, because you have a mind for business.”
“Versus spending my time with horses,” Jeff said with a smile.
Noah shook his head.
“It boils down to I need your help. Understand that there’ll be times you can’t work from here. Most of the time you can. We can videoconference calls and meetings that have to include you.”
“I don’t see how you can possibly want me so badly.”
When Jeff thought about what he’d asked for and how his fortune would grow, he had mixed feelings. Dread and reluctance filled him right along with anticipation and excitement because the promises were dazzling, especially coming on top of his ranch income and inherited money. One year wasn’t forever. “You better need me as badly as you say. If I find out you don’t, I’m gone, Noah.”
“You’ll see for yourself,” Noah said. “Anything that isn’t going well, just tell me. Can you start Monday? It would help this first week if you’d stay in the office. You can get the paperwork done to get you on the payroll.”
Jeff wondered how the job would play out. “You’ve got yourself a deal,” he said, questioning what he was getting himself into and how much it would change his life.
One
A n hour before the office officially opened Monday morning, Holly Lombard smiled as she walked into Noah Brand’s office. She’d been summoned to see him and she had a stack of papers, assuming he had questions about the new line they were introducing. She crossed his office, her footsteps silent on the thick Oriental carpet.
“Morning, Holly,” Noah said, looking up from his desk. “Have a seat. I want to talk to you before everyone starts arriving.”
“Congratulations,” she said, sitting on a chair that was the finest leather Brand Enterprises carried. “I read your e-mail and saw that you got what you wanted.”
“Thanks. Jeff starts today,” Noah said, looking at her across his wide, antique mahogany desk, and she could hear the triumph in his tone of voice. “And that brings us to my purpose in talking to you. I have a proposition for you.”
Surprised, she placed her stack of papers on the table beside her and waited.
“I made Jeff an offer that he accepted, but it’s contingent on you taking a new position.”
The first quiver of apprehension pricked her, but she dismissed it as ridiculous. “This is out of the blue,” she said.
“I know, but I had to do some arm-twisting to get Jeff. He’s excellent, Holly.”
She reserved judgment. From Noah’s conversations over the years, she knew his twin had walked out on Brand Enterprises a long time ago to become, over the years, a cowboy out on a West Texas ranch. She couldn’t imagine that he could cope with the business.
“I want you to work with Jeff. In turn, I’ll move you up from my assistant to Executive Western Marketing Manager and give you a twenty-percent pay raise. That’s a big move, Holly. And you’re young.”
“Do I have a choice here?” she asked, appalled by the thought of working with Jeff Brand.
“Of course. I’m not going to lose you just because you won’t accept. It’s only a year. You’d get a jump in salary, title and responsibility. That’s a career builder.”
“I’d work for your brother, instead of you?” she repeated, thinking it would be death to her career. She’d leave the dynamic head of the corporation to work for a cowboy.
“That’s correct. And I’ve told him he can work all but one day a week at his ranch.”
“Oh, no!” she cried, jumping to her feet. “I’m not getting stuck out on a ranch in the middle of nowhere working for someone who has almost no business experience. I’m sorry, but I won’t do it,” she said, wondering if her career at Brand was going to end today. “I’m sorry, but that’s absurd to even ask someone to do such a thing. It would kill my career.” Hurt and furious that Noah would ask this of her, she drew herself up. “I can look for another job—would prefer to.”
“Calm down and sit again,” Noah said, sounding as if he were just telling her about a new design they were getting for one of their furniture lines. “Jeff may be a little rusty and needs to be brought up to speed, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised. You can have a company car and all expenses paid. Look, I want Jeff and you’re perfect to work with him. It’ll be as good as if I was there to help him myself, which I can’t do with Dad gone.”
Noah rubbed his neck and she knew he was mulling over some bigger incentive. This was lousy thanks for all the work and success she’d had with the company.
“Any way you look at it, this is a demotion. You’re sticking me in the boonies with an inexperienced cowboy. I loathe horses, country and Western stuff.”
Noah shot her a look and she wondered if she’d overstepped her bounds, but it no longer mattered. Better her career crumbled before her eyes than she moved to the boonies. Noah waved his hand.
“Hold it, Holly.” Noah did some figuring as he scribbled on a piece of paper. She sat, but wanted to pace the floor and scream at him. This was unfair and a huge waste of her talents. She wished Knox Brand were back on the job.
Noah came around his desk. “Here’s the deal I’ll make you. In addition to the raise and promotion, I’ll pay you a bonus when you start and a bonus when you finish—$125,000 to start, $125,000 when the year is up.”
With her stomach churning, Holly gazed out the window, knowing the offer had just become too lucrative to turn down without serious consideration. She envisioned West Texas—mesquite, cactus and dust. How out of touch could she get?
“You’re not bowled over by my offer,” Noah remarked dryly. “Make each payment $250,000, Holly.”
Startled, she looked up at him. “That’s a half-million-dollar bonus to do this. You want me in the worst way.”
“Yes, I do. I told you, he’s a negotiator and a financial whiz. He didn’t make all of his fortune on cattle. I can count on him. He isn’t an unknown. The two of you would be the best possible team. I won’t worry about anything I turn over to you.”
“I’m flattered by that endorsement,” she remarked dryly. The amount he’d just offered dazzled her. “For that much money plus the promotions, Noah, I can put up with a lot. I’d work with a gorilla at the zoo,” she said and he smiled.
“Does that mean you’ll accept? Usually women are quite receptive to Jeff, but I know circumstances are different.” His smile was contagious as he came closer to shake her hand. “You won’t regret it.”
“I think I’ll regret it constantly, but I’ll remind myself of what I’m getting. One year only.”
“I intend to hire someone to take Jeff’s place, so it might not be one year exactly, but close. You get your first payment and your new title and position today. I want you to start now. Jeff will be in soon to get on the payroll. Take this week to wind up what you are working on as much as you can. I’ll have someone moved over to be my assistant. Your suggestions are welcome. I’ve already told Jeff he can handle the Cabrera line.”
