by Sara Orwig
“Thanks. You’re right. It’s what I’ve always wanted. You’ve done a great job, Jeff, which I knew you would. I’ve talked to Dad about this. I’m offering you COO. Think about it for several days before you give me an answer. Don’t be too quick to say no.”
Jeff closed his eyes briefly and shook his head. “I appreciate your offer absolutely.”
“I drove all the way out here to talk to you about it. You’d have to work in Dallas, but you wouldn’t have to give up your ranch. Jeff, you’d be damned good as COO. At least think about it and consider it. Is it such a strain working in Dallas now?”
“No,” Jeff said, not wanting to tell Noah how relieved he always was to get back to the ranch, something he was certain Noah could never understand. “That’s just one day a week. Five days a week is a whole different deal. That’s the majority of the time.”
“There would be all kinds of monetary rewards. Your net worth would go a lot higher. Of course, I know the prestige and the contacts and all that sort of thing won’t impress you.”
“You’ve got that right,” Jeff said. “I don’t give a rat’s ass for any of that.”
“Sometimes I’m amazed that we’re twins.”
“I feel the same way. I’ll think about it, Noah. I appreciate the offer, but the corporate world just isn’t for me.”
“That’s difficult to fathom when you’re good at it. I could understand if you were a failure or it was difficult for you, but it’s not. You make it look easy. It probably is easier for you because you don’t give a damn about the outcome when you make a deal.”
“I want to make the deal, just like you do, but it isn’t the same. It isn’t as important. Now, riding in the rodeo—that’s a whole different deal.”
“Damn, I’ll never understand.”
“Neither does Holly,” Jeff remarked and Noah raised an eyebrow.
“I’m sure that doesn’t worry you one whit. No, she wouldn’t. She’s a city person through and through. Just think about it and see if you could stand to do it, even a few years. Five years—that’s not a lot. You’d make a fortune.”
“Noah, I appreciate this, but you can find good people easily. Executives who would jump at the chance. You told me you’ve been grooming Mason Cantrell for my position. Can’t he do this instead?”
“I prefer you. I know I can find talent. Maybe I like working with you.”
“Sure you do,” Jeff joked. “We’re competitive as hell when we’re thrown together.”
Noah smiled. “I still like working with you. Give it some thought. I want you in that spot. Even two years would be good.”
“Two years?” Jeff repeated, wondering how he could possibly stand the work for two years. One year was a prison sentence. “I promise I’ll consider it, Noah, and I appreciate the offer.”
“You’ve earned the offer.”
“As long as you’re here, you might as well stay for lunch. Holly will be glad to see you.”
“Sure. I’ll tell her to work on you about this, but then she probably has no power to move you to do anything, nor will she care.”
“Might be,” Jeff said lightly. “One thing, she’ll think I’ve lost my wits if I turn you down. You know, Noah, you ought to offer the position to Holly. She could do it.”
“I’m not thinking about that yet. I want you to consider it.”
Jeff nodded. “Sure. Enough about that. Let’s knock off and go to a place where you can get the best fried chicken in the southwest.”
“You’ve got a deal.”
To Jeff’s relief, through lunch they relaxed and got away from business. Jeff enjoyed reminiscing with Noah and Holly seemed entertained. Before they were halfway through lunch, Holly and Noah began talking business as Jeff’s mind wandered. He listened to them hash out new account details and talk about problems and successes, wondering how they could be wound up in Brand Enterprises 24/7. But it was what each one of them lived for.
He knew he’d never feel that way if he gave his life over to working for the family business. And he couldn’t see accepting Noah’s offer. The mere thought of it wasn’t enticing.
“Holly, Dad is finally retiring completely. He’s resigning as chairman of the board. There will be a formal announcement soon. They’ve had a board meeting and I’m the new CEO.”
“Congratulations, Noah,” Holly said. “I’m delighted for you and of course, you should be. Your father should feel he’s left the company in competent hands.”
“Thanks. I’m here because I want Jeff to accept my offer of the position of COO.”
She turned wide green eyes on Jeff and he smiled. “I told Noah I’d think about it.”
“Holly, use your influence on him to get him to accept. The company has already shown an increase in revenue because of Jeff,” Noah urged.
“Jeff, congratulations to you on the offer,” she said, her green eyes sparkling with excitement that he couldn’t share. He looked at her mouth and wanted to get through lunch to be alone with her.
“That would be absolutely great if you and Noah would continue to work together,” she said. He wondered if it had even remotely occurred to her that he would turn down Noah’s offer.
“I’m flattered and I’m thinking about it, but I’m still a cowboy at heart. It would mean working in Dallas.”
Noah laughed while Jeff noticed Holly did not, frowning slightly at him. As he looked into her eyes, he realized she had discerned his reluctance, something she probably had never thought of when Noah first announced the offer.
“You try to influence him, Holly,” Noah said.
“I’m afraid I don’t have that much influence on Jeff,” she replied, still looking into his eyes. At the moment all he wanted to do was kiss that look off her face. It took an effort to pay attention to the talk about business.
“The new accounts are going to be a big asset,” Noah said, and Jeff assumed he was talking about the ones he had acquired. Holly turned to Noah to ask about them and soon she and Noah were back discussing Brand business.
Finally Noah glanced at Jeff. “We’re losing Jeff. I can see your eyes glazing over,” Noah said. “You were right. This is the best chicken.” He glanced at his watch. “I’d better head home.”
It was another half hour before they told Noah goodbye. Jeff drove as they headed back to the ranch. Holly was quiet and rode in silence.
“Do you want to talk about Noah’s offer?” Holly finally asked.
“If you’d like. I suspect you’d like to talk about it.”
“When he announced it, I thought you’d accept it.”
“It didn’t occur to you that I’d turn him down or not jump at the offer, did it?” Jeff asked, mildly amused.
“No, it didn’t. I still can’t understand your love of the ranch and all it involves. It looks like ghastly work night and day. And where do you get a thrill out of it? You can’t tell me you weren’t excited and happy to get the Houston account,” she said, turning slightly in the seat to look at him.
“First, the ranch—I love it. It’s daily challenges, some new and unique, some routine. I need the wind in my face, the sun on me, the outdoors and my horses. I feel free, fortunate to be where I am and doing what I’m doing. Riding, roping, delivering a calf, fixing the truck, even fixing the fences—I always get a feeling of accomplishment. I get none of that with Brand Enterprises.”
“That’s just impossible, Jeff,” she said in a tight voice. Whatever their physical relationship, they clearly remained poles apart in their life preferences, attitudes and ambitions.
“Let’s get back to the ranch and back to things that we enjoy together,” he said.
“This is an opportunity that half the world would be wild to get,” she said, sounding annoyed.
“I know plenty of people would be happy to have this offer. I appreciate it, but it’s not what I want. I didn’t want to work in Dallas for this one year.”
“Jeff,” she said, closing her mouth and turnin
g to look out the window. He knew she was unhappy with him and couldn’t comprehend his attitude.
It was almost two in the afternoon when they reached the ranch. As they approached his house, instead of driving to the office, he parked at the back of his house.
“We ought to get back to the office. We’ve already lost time today,” she said, sounding unhappy and impatient with him while he parked the car.
As he came around to open her door, she stepped out and slammed her door.
He took her arm. “We need to really talk, Holly. Let’s go upstairs where we can be alone.” He led her inside.
“Are we taking the day off?” she asked.
“We might be,” he replied. “Let’s go talk about Noah’s offer. He told you to use your influence, so here’s an opportunity.”
“I don’t have one shred of influence with you,” she said.
“I disagree,” he answered calmly, taking her arm as they walked through the back entry into the kitchen where Marc was pouring flour and milk into a bowl.
They both greeted him and Holly walked on through the room while Jeff stopped to talk. Shortly, he caught up with her. “Let’s go to our bedroom. We can be alone and undisturbed there.”
As soon as he closed the bedroom door, he pulled Holly close. She was stiff and resisted him, gazing at him with fire dancing in the depths of her green eyes.
“I’ll never understand you. You’re getting the offer of a lifetime and you don’t want it.”
“It just isn’t what I want to do,” he said. “I told Noah I’d think it over and I will. I know what I’m turning down and I know if I do, they will fill the spot just fine. Now while I’m considering it, there’s something I’m far more interested in doing,” he said, drawing her to him.
“We should get to the office. We’re not alone here. You have staff all over your house.”
Jeff leaned down to kiss her, his heart racing from desire that had been building for hours. “I want you,” he whispered, kissing her lightly and then pulling her closer to kiss her more passionately.
She was stiff and unyielding for a few seconds and then she leaned closer. His arm tightened around her waist. She was soft, smelled sweet and he wanted to spend the rest of the day kissing and making love to her.
Kissing him, she wound her arms around his neck. He was aroused, wanting her and knowing no one would disturb them. He was also aware Holly was annoyed with him. As always, their physical attraction overcame their life preferences. In minutes she acted as if she had forgotten all dissension between them. To him, it wasn’t that important.
He wanted her with a need that surprised him because it seemed to continue growing instead of being satisfying or even diminishing.
As he kissed her, he unfastened the buttons of her black silk blouse and released her bra, cupping her breast, the softness filling his hand and raising his temperature. Desire escalated swiftly and the world beyond Holly ceased to exist.
Her softness was temptation, her kisses fire. He wanted to possess her, have her take him. Sex with her was spectacular each time, more than he had dreamed it would be and passion continued to heighten.
While he circled her taut bud with his thumb, he pushed her slacks away with his other hand, sliding his hand beneath her panties and caressing her intimately, light feathery touches that caused her to grasp him tightly and moan with pleasure. In turn, her responses heightened his own reactions.
He leaned down to kiss her breast, teasing her with his tongue, her hands moving over him increasing his need.
“Holly,” he gasped, undoing his jeans and shoving away his briefs. She opened her eyes to gaze at him with desire blazing. He picked her up, braced himself against the wall. When he entered her warm softness, she cried out and bit his shoulder lightly, trailing kisses to his mouth.
Crying out again, she raked her hands over him as she climaxed and then his control was gone. He pumped furiously, holding her tightly while he reached his own climax.
Their breathing gradually returned to normal. “You’re marvelous, love. You don’t know what you do to me,” he whispered, kissing her repeatedly. She was warm, pliant in his arms as she slid down to stand on her own.
“Jeff, you take advantage of me,” she whispered and he leaned away to look at her.
“Do I?” he asked. She gazed up at him and smiled.
“Absolutely. You know I wasn’t going to make love,” she answered while she caressed him and kissed his chest lightly.
He picked her up. “We’ll shower.”
“This doesn’t change how I feel about Noah’s offer. I just don’t understand how you can turn it down.”
“I told him I’d think about it and I will, but I can’t imagine changing my mind. Holly, I have enough money to do as I please,” he reminded her.
She nodded, but her slight frown remained. “Jeff, if you didn’t bring in such huge accounts, I’d think you’re hopeless. That’s what’s so frustrating. You’re as good in the business world as your brother, and it’s so easy for you. I don’t understand how you can turn your back on it.”
“I can with much happiness. I have a ranching business to run.”
“We could argue all day.”
“Instead, we'll shower and go back to work,” he said, setting her on her feet. Would it be possible to shower with her and not get aroused again?
Ten
I t was three o’clock before they returned to the office and Holly felt her cheeks grow pink as she walked in to the knowing smiles of both secretaries. It was a relief to reach the privacy of her own office. Even with her door left open, she was alone and the afternoon with all its surprises replayed in her thoughts.
Noah’s news of his dad’s full retirement and then the offer to Jeff had stunned her. For one brief moment she had a flash of joy and excitement over Jeff moving to Dallas. Even as well as she already knew him, it hadn’t occurred to her that anyone could turn down such an offer, not even Jeff.
She knew she was headed for disaster with him. In spite of all their differences, she was already in love with him. How that could happen still amazed her. Today had been typical. While she had been so annoyed with him, completely unable to understand his view, she had succumbed to his lovemaking—more than surrendering—loving him wildly in return and wanting him more than ever.
She rubbed her forehead. By the end of the year she would be so in love with him, she might never get over it.
With a loud sigh, she tried to turn her attention to work only to have her mind wander back to Jeff. How could anyone turn down COO of Brand Enterprises? It was the offer of a lifetime. A current of hot anger simmered all the time over his stubborn refusal to accept. And she knew he would refuse. He had argued with feeling today and she thought his promise to Noah to think it over was merely a token gesture.
How had she gotten in such a muddle, falling in love with a man she couldn’t understand? It seemed as if her life were spinning totally out of her control.
She should have left Brand when Noah originally told her that she’d be working for Jeff.
Knowing he was burning bridges, Jeff walked into Noah’s office and closed the door. Noah leaned back in his chair.
“Good morning. I can tell from the closed door that you’ve made up your mind about my offer.”
“Yes, I have. I’ve given it thought. You know I appreciate it enormously.”
Noah smiled. “I understand, Jeff. I always thought it was mostly Dad who ran you off, but it wasn’t, was it?”
Jeff thought a moment before he answered. “No, it wasn’t all him. I’m a cowboy and I love the ranch. I’m making a go of the ranch….”
“You’re making more than a go of it,” Noah said. “I know you have money from Brand, from our trust, from oil and investments, but you run a damn profitable ranch.”
“I’m turning you down. I just can’t face returning.”
“I’m not surprised, but I wanted you to have first chance at the job.
”
“I appreciate it, Noah.”
Noah nodded. “You suggested Holly and I think you’re right. She’s capable and she’ll take the job in a heartbeat. That’s why I want to talk to you about it. She’ll move right back to Dallas. If so, are you ready and willing for that? Will this tear up your bargain with Dad even if you do have the ranch?”
Jeff felt a lurch deep inside and it surprised him. “We’ll keep up appearances of being married. That will keep Dad happy. It’s okay with me,” he answered lightly, but he knew, for once in his life, he wasn’t answering Noah truthfully, something he had almost never done.
Noah’s eyes narrowed and he stared at Jeff. “You’re lying,” he said.
Jeff inhaled. “I think you should offer the position to her and I know she’ll take it without a pause. I think this is the right thing to do.”
“You’re getting mighty altruistic,” Noah remarked.
“Just facing the facts. I know she’d love the position and she’ll do a good job.”
“I agree. Well, I’ll be glad to have her back.”
“We expected the marriage to end anyway.”
“I can’t understand how either of you could have gotten into such an agreement. Well, yes I can. You wanted the ranch and she wanted money and what you had to offer.”
“Right.” Jeff stood. “I’ll get out of here and let you talk to Holly. I’m happy for her. Again, Noah, thanks.”
“I tried. I like working with you. When you go, tell Holly I’d like to see her. Let’s all go to lunch together and celebrate if she accepts as quickly as you say she will.”
He was surprised at how much he cared about seeing little of her from now on. And he knew she would be gone as quickly as she possibly could.
The idea hurt incredibly. He knocked lightly at her door, seeing her seated behind her desk. She looked up at him with wide eyes and for a moment he didn’t want to tell her to go see Noah. He closed the door and she cocked her head to one side to look at him with obvious curiosity.
“Noah wants to see you,” he said as he walked toward her.
