by Diana Downey
Seducing Texas
Diana Downey
www.dianadowney.com
The characters, places, and events in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. All characters, except historical and public figures, are products of the author’s imagination and should not be construed as real. In the case of historical and public figures, the situations, events, and dialogues of those people are fictional and do not depict actual events. In all other respects, any similarity to real person, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Copyright © 2016 by Diana Downey
All rights reserved. This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or other unauthorized use of the material or artwork herein is prohibited without the express written permission of the author.
Cover photo: Shutterstock
Cover design: Books on the Edge
www.dianadowney.com
ISBN 978-1-942630-09-8
Published by Books on the Edge
This book is dedicated to the readers.
Chapter
Shane
My only photo of Cyn, where’s she’s sleeping in my tent, is splashed across my monitor at work. It’s about the only time she was quiet enough during our trek across the Alaskan Interior to let me focus on our horrifying predicament—being hunted by my brother, the best tracker in Alaska, but that’s behind us. We have much worse problems now.
My wallpaper of Cyn doesn’t help me work at all. I’ve spent way too many hours fantasizing about her ever since she slid into the helicopter in Alaska, both of us saying goodbye. I cannot forget that sweet ass of hers grinding into my erection while she cuddled with me in my sleeping bag. Her kiss-worthy lips, that hellacious ass, and her luxuriously long legs have invaded every wet dream I’ve had since we parted ways.
Once Cyn confessed to me no man had ever gotten her off, I knew I had to rise to the challenge, and her sweet drenched pussy did not give me any problems. I put a big smile on that girl’s full lips and forced her into silence other than screaming my name. Nothing has ever sounded so sweet. I miss the hell out of her. I’d even compromise on giving up my dream of buying the Kenai fishing camp to be with her. I may have to give up that dream anyway.
After bringing to justice Cyn’s kidnappers and her mother’s killers, I’ve been back in Austin for about two months. I’ve already started a new business, Hoops N’ Hookups—combining the dating model of Tinder with Sports. Due to my business venture taking off like a rocket I’ve worked long hours to keep up with bug fixes and upgrades.
I have to work my way back to Cyn, but I can barely afford to take her out. The feds and the IRS are in the way. I need to work this out, and I’d better. My only goal is to be with my princess.
I still haven’t hired an accountant to pay my disgruntled employees. If I don’t get them paid this week, they’ll quit, and I don’t know shit about doing payroll. Most of my programmers are happy to work until I hire an accountant because I gave them a mil each when I sold my last company. They’re hedging their bets that I’ll make them multi-millionaires.
My assistant pokes her head into my office where the shades cover the windows looking into it. “Some man is here to see you. Timmons? He’s kind of an asshole.”
I’ve known my assistant Tanya for years. She’s an eternally happy single mom whom I completely respect. “Thanks. Send the asshole in.”
She grins. “Yes, sir boss.”
Federal Special Agent Timmons waltzes into my office, like he owns me. He doesn’t, but the IRS does. Most people don’t go to prison for evading taxes, but usually we’re only talking about thousands. I owe the government close to 200 million—not chump change.
Timmons always looks like he’s been beaten from his raccoon eyes to his sallow skin. He isn’t overweight, but it would take a crowbar to pry off his wedding band that strangles his ring finger.
He picks up and plays with my wooden desktop puzzle ball. “We’d like you to up your game with Nikita Harper. If you have sex with her, your relationship will seem more legit, not only to us but to her. I don’t know what you’re waiting on.”
What the fuck? I can’t even bring myself to kiss her. She pretended to love me to get at the millions I made from my first company, which the feds believe she siphoned out of my accounts.
I hate Timmons for forcing me to date Niki. The feds think they can find my money and have made a deal with me, so I won’t face prison time. Part of the deal is for me to pry information from Niki, which is why I’m going out with her. If Cyn catches me with her, she’ll never take me back, and I couldn’t live with that. I’m screwed at this point.
“You want me to do what?” Is he really asking me to fuck her? That’s out of the question.
I gape at the cheaply suited fed. My ripped jeans don’t look much better, at least according to the only girl I crave, Cynthia Diaz. What in the hell is that pain in my ass up to anyway? God I want her.
The fed sits on my desk. “Nikita is a beautiful woman. You shouldn’t have any problem doing her. Hell, if I weren’t married with three kids, I’d do her.”
“Be my guest.” If I fuck Niki, I’ll permanently lose Cyn, not that I have a snowball’s chance in hell of ever seeing her again because I’m starting to believe prison is better than sucking up to my ex-fiancé and this asshole. Prior to Cyn and me hooking up, it had crossed my mind to bend Niki over my desk and fuck her so hard I’d paralyze her, mainly for dumping me over losing my millions. Then Cyn happened, and no other woman will do.
I just want Cyn in my bed. My need for her is out of control. I can barely work or function. Damn that princess. She has me by the balls.
Not once have I seen Cyn at the usual hangouts, but she is no longer living in the sorority house and has taken over the care of her younger sister Willa. A few times, I’ve stalked by her new townhouse, quite a step-down from the sprawling ranch she grew up on.
I impatiently tap my keyboard. “Can’t you just arrest your suspects and grill them? I can’t live like this for much longer.” I’m tired of Timmons breathing down my neck, and if I have to look into Niki’s lying blue eyes one more time, I’ll throw myself out my office-building window, which probably won’t kill me. Unlike my last company, I could only afford second floor rent instead of the higher floors in the tower.
“You were engaged to this girl, so what’s the big deal?” he asks, screwing with my other puzzles, which pisses me off. It’s like Timmons has moved into my home. I practically live at my office, and the feds’ operation is supposed to be a sting. How could any of my employees not notice him?
“Because I have a girlfriend.” Or I did. I’m in love with Cyn, and I should’ve told her.
“Cynthia Diaz doesn’t need some dead broke guy,” Timmons says. “Her dad’s in prison, and she’s the sole provider for her little sister. Must be tough for a spoilt society girl to go from filthy rich to sifting through Goodwill.”
She’d never step foot into Goodwill.
“You either screw your ex or bend over for the big boys in the pen.”
I’d like to keep my ass intact. “Look, is there anything else you need because I’m meeting Niki? She’s coming here, so you probably shouldn’t be hanging out with me since all your suspects work at my company.” I have no idea who stole all my money, but Timmons being here makes it obvious as hell that the feds are looking for the crooks.
Timmons finally leaves before I take the elevator down to meet Niki. His constant hassling is wearing me down, and Niki, I don’t know what the fuck to do with her. He told me she’d cheated on me with
several other entrepreneurs—a couple of them are millionaires now, like I used to be. Like any other guy, that’s all I am to Niki—a meal ticket. As soon as my company took off, she called me, saying she missed me. I didn’t even have to chase after her, like the feds expected.
In my private bathroom, I wash up and rearrange my junk. I miss Cyn’s sassy, temptingly sweet lips, and my poor sore cock has suffered the consequences of me personally satisfying my unrequited urges, which are many.
Picking up my phone, I stroll to the elevator while searching for my photos of Cyn and consider calling her. Before I returned from Alaska, I’d sent her mother’s engagement ring I’d found in Alaska along with a note to testify how much I care about her and still no word. I should just fucking call her.
In the tower lobby on the bottom floor, Niki is waiting for me. She is dressed in a skintight black dress that hugs all her voluptuous assets. I was engaged to this fabulously built, lying, cheating fake woman. Her tits aren’t even real. It’s like grabbing onto unripe cantaloupes, instead of the nice fleshy soft feel to Cyn’s. I groan from the pain in my stiff cock from just thinking about Cyn.
After Niki and I eat at a chic new restaurant that I can’t afford, Niki insists on going for a drink at some trendy dance club. I hate to dance. I can barely two-step and only really know how to tango because my sister wanted to take ballroom dancing and insisted I be her partner.
The bar is a few blocks away and Niki starts in on me. “Shane, why don’t we drive? It’s hot and sticky out tonight, and I wore these heels for you.” She cozies up to me by slipping her arm under mine and resting her blonde head against my shoulder.
I snicker. I love to piss her off, and walking won’t kill her.
“What’s so funny?” she asks, giving me a sour look.
Should I tell her? “Nothing.”
The club is packed and is the kind of place Cyn used to go to with her friends. I scan the crowd for her until Niki forces me to look at her by grabbing my chin.
“Pay attention,” she snaps.
I let out a frustrated sigh.
I choose a seat in the back corner, which I know will irritate Niki. She likes to be the center of attention. If she gives up on me, then the feds can’t blame me. I could get back to stalking my pain-in-the-ass-love-of-my-life Cyn.
After the day I’ve had, I immediately order scotch. While Niki chatters non-stop, I continue my scan of the bar and drown her out by drinking heavily.
Across the bar, several people crowd around a dark haired woman, and she’s passionately kissing a man. I try to get a better look because Cyn has coal black hair. I peek around the patrons.
What the hell? Cynthia Diaz, my princess, is locking lips with some other guy I know is gay. He’s dressed like he came off the cover of GQ, and he recently highlighted his ash-colored hair. Didn’t she learn from the last time, or is she attracted to these men? I thought she loved me, though I don’t think she ever said that.
I’ve drunk enough that I don’t care if I’m being an ass, and right now, I’d like to beat this other guy senseless. I’m big enough though that standing over him would scare the shit out of him.
Niki slaps my arm. “Are you listening to me?”
“What?” I can’t believe I have to suck up to this witch.
She smacks me again. “You aren’t listening to me?”
“Don’t ever hit me again,” I bark out, standing up. “Excuse me.”
She jumps up beside me.
“Stay here,” I order. I shouldn’t do this, but no one else should get to fuck my girl. I storm over to Cyn and pick up the guy by the scruff of his neck.
“What the hell, Cyn?” I bite out. I should’ve picked her up, curling her into my arms and reminding her of what only I can give her.
The guy struggles, bouncing around in my grasp. “Let me down.”
I drop him, and he stumbles to regain his balance. At first, Cyn looks happy to see me until she peeks behind me.
“What’s Nikita doing here?” Cyn asks, disappointment straining her voice.
I hate hurting her. “Shit, I told you to stay put,” I say to Niki.
Niki’s standing beside me now. I wish she’d disappear permanently.
“Leave my friend alone, Shane.” Cyn looks crushed, hurt shining in those fiery dark eyes. “You’re with her?”
Cyn closes her eyes. “Please just go.”
Fuck. “I need to talk to you.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” she says while Niki tugs on my arm.
“We should go,” Niki says in that bitchy tone. “Now.”
“Cyn, please,” I beg.
“You should go,” she says, her face crumpling and her eyes shedding tears, hanging onto those long lush lashes. “Your date is waiting on you.”
I don’t want to hurt her, and I sure as hell don’t want to be with Niki.
Cyn’s friend scoots way too close to her, and I should leave, but I’d rather go home with Cyn. I turn around to go, not touching Niki.
She nags at me the entire way back to her house where I drink myself into oblivion. When she pulls me down into a kiss, my stomach upheaves.
Chapter Cyn
Last night, Shane was with Niki. How could he? It’s like he took a hatchet to my heart. He’s supposed to be focusing on paying his back taxes, and when he returned my mother’s ring, he told me he missed me in his note.
Damn him.
If I weren’t so desperate for money, I wouldn’t go in for the interview with his company today. When I ran into him at the club last night, Shane didn’t even mention my upcoming interview. Maybe his admin didn’t tell him.
I don’t want to think about him. It’s too upsetting, so my younger sister Willa and I wander into one of my favorite designer shops in downtown Austin.
Oh God, this is just more torture.
The cute pair of Jimmy Choo wedges rest in my hands, dying to go home with me and make me feel better—retail therapy. Feed my sister or own these rare beauties.
“Food,” I mutter. I have to take care of Willa. She is far more important to me.
I hope my crazy drug lord uncle has given up on trying to kill me because I’d hate for Willa to accidentally get hurt by him. He’d hired the men who killed my mother and came after me in Alaska.
Willa laughs at me, hugging my shoulder. “You shouldn’t torment yourself looking at clothes,” she says, linking her arm in mine and putting the shoes back. She doesn’t miss shoes. High fashion is not her thing.
After selling my Porsche, I paid for her tuition, but I forgot about home, car, and health insurance. We have enough for our next few house payments, but we’ll be strapped. I can’t imagine going in for food stamps. I’ll have to dress down for Social Services, wear an old pair of Louboutins.
“I got a part-time job at Le Petite, and I get a twenty percent discount,” Willa says. It’s a haute couture shop downtown.
“I don’t really want you to work and jeopardize your scholarship.” After losing our fortune, she needs it now.
“My grades won’t go down,” she says. “You can’t believe the markups in the store. They could feed China on the overage.”
I sigh. They have beautiful clothes. It may be a while before I can buy from a designer store, and the withdrawal will probably kill me, but I love my little sister, and I have to take care of her.
“Wish me luck,” I say. “I apply for the accounting job at Red Sky this afternoon.”
Willa squeezes my arm. “You’ll get to see Shane today. He’s so adorable.”
“He was with Niki last night,” I say. I still feel like his dartboard.
As soon as he returned to Austin, Shane should’ve come by and at least given me a pity fuck. I miss sleeping beside him, even in his tent in the cold, wet Alaskan wilderness. It was kind of romantic lying under the stars curled in his arms, and as miserable as the weather was I didn’t mind because I was with him. My hiking boots are finally broken in,
so if he asked, I’d return to tramp in the beautiful mountains with him. I swear I would.
“He must have a good reason,” Willa says.
“What could that be? I hope it isn’t to give her that engagement ring he bought for her before she dumped him. I don’t want to think about him. He’ll get a piece of my mind during the interview.”
Or maybe I’ll give him something else that’s good for both of us.
Willa smirks. “That will get you hired,” she says sarcastically. “We need the money. Remember?” She closes her eyes. “If Mom were here, we wouldn’t be in this position.”
I touch her cheek. “I will take care of you, Willa.”
She sniffs, and a tear falls. “I miss her.”
I hate that I’m not doing a really good job of caring for her so far. “We’ll go see Mom today before my interview.”
“Okay.”
We walk into the grocery store to buy fresh vegetables and fruit. Willa and I started an herb garden on our porch along with tomatoes and other veggies to help with our food costs. We planted flowers from seeds, including lilies, in remembrance of Mom. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her.
After we drive home and put the groceries away, I grab a blanket to sit on the grass and pack our lunch. We try to visit Mom every week.
Before we slip into Willa’s Camry, a low-rider gang-banger Impala slowly turns the corner. We don’t live in a bad neighborhood, so I pull out my phone to video the car’s approach in case this is a drive-by shooting set up by Uncle Manny. After he hired killers to murder Mom and me, Willa and I both got our concealed weapon’s permit. We’re not taking any chances.
Willa swivels around to see what I’m looking at. “Should I get out my gun?”
I nod almost imperceptibly. The closer the car comes; I realize the three guys don’t belong to Manny.
My phone captures the license plate and the car’s make and model. I recognize the guy pointing his finger at me as one of Uncle Manny’s rival dealers. His red bandana around his head ties him to a Columbian gang belonging to Juarez. The gangbanger is also like a third cousin or something to Willa and me.
