by Cora Seton
“No, that I can’t do.” He caught her wrist when she turned away. “Here’s the way we’ll play this game. I’ll pick you up at seven on Saturday night and drive you to Robert Dare’s birthday shindig. We’ll spend the evening together, just like we said. The party will break up around one or one-thirty, maybe. That’s approximately six hours. Six hours, Carolina. Give me that much time to convince you to marry me.”
“Six hours?”
“That’s all I ask.”
“You’re cocky if you think you can change my mind,” Carolina told him. “I’ve been dead set against marriage for years.”
“Then I’ll just have to make it too interesting to pass up.” He leaned over, brushed a kiss across her lips and walked away.
Richmond Rule #4
The uniform makes the (wo)man.
You wouldn’t play football in a swimsuit, so don’t wear sweatpants when you pitch to a venture capitalist…
“I BROUGHT YOU a dress,” Winnie said when Carolina opened the door late Saturday afternoon.
“I have a dress.” Carolina backed up to let Winnie and the enormous garment bag she carried into the front hall.
“I bet it’s boring.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Actually, Carolina was having second thoughts about the no-nonsense gown she’d bought for the birthday gala. Back when she’d purchased it, her sole goal for the evening had been to work the crowd and raise awareness for her causes. To that end she’d bought a severe black dress that exuded confidence and class. It might be mannish enough to make Sanchez more likely to open his wallet, but wouldn’t help her persuade Connor to sleep with her. That required something different.
She led the way into her bedroom and stripped down while Winnie unzipped the bag and pulled out a gown. “What do you think?”
Carolina didn’t know how to answer her. Unlike the black gown she’d chosen to showcase her strength, this dress would flaunt her femininity—in a way that already made her want to run for cover.
“It’s gorgeous,” Winnie said. “Try it on.”
Carolina took it reluctantly. “You want me to wear red?”
“Scarlet,” Winnie corrected. “Trust me; if you wear this dress, every man in the room will want you.”
As she slipped it on, she felt like she’d just raised the stakes in the already dangerous game she was playing with Connor. This dress wouldn’t just seduce a man, it could make him fall in love with her. She didn’t want that. Winnie helped her do up the back and led her to the full length mirror.
“Spectacular,” she insisted.
Carolina didn’t say anything. The woman in the mirror oozed sexuality. The dress’s dropped sleeves, sweetheart neckline, nipped in waist and curve-hugging skirt all combined to call out her availability to one and all. “I can’t wear this.”
“You are going to wear it. For once in your life you’re going to act like a woman.”
“But—”
“No buts. For God’s sake, Carolina, you push so hard for women’s success you forget that we don’t have to limit ourselves to making money or winning awards. We get to have fun, too. Guys buy flashy cars or big gas grills or powerful boats when they’re flush. We buy clothes. We dress up. We go dancing. Anyone who works hard deserves to have a good time now and then. Why do you have to be a nun?”
“Because—”
“Because you got hurt once. Five years ago. When you were young. Well, guess what? Most people get hurt once or twice while they grow up. I sure did! Do you see me cowering behind black robes? No!”
“You’re really invested in me getting laid.” Carolina turned to the side and surveyed the back of the gown.
“You’re damn right I am. I want you to get laid and I want you to get married, and I want you to get pregnant, too.” She caught both of Carolina’s hands in hers.
“Why?” Carolina had to laugh at her melodrama. “What’s all this?” She held up their joined hands.
“I’m… pregnant.” Winnie searched her gaze. “You’re not mad, are you?”
“Mad? Of course not!” But as Carolina flung her arms around her friend, she couldn’t help feel a stab of pain. Only because she wanted to be a mother too—not because she envied Winnie’s married life. Because she didn’t. At all.
Really.
“Good.” Winnie hugged her back. “Then get out there and get knocked up so we can do this together!”
Carolina looked over the dress one last time and wondered what Connor would think when he got his first glimpse of it. A flutter of excitement rippled through her. “Okay, I’ll wear it and I’ll get knocked up just for you. Tonight.”
Winnie joined her in front of the mirror. “Connor doesn’t stand a chance.”
“HOLY SHIT, I nearly didn’t recognize you.” Daley opened Connor’s refrigerator and took out two bottles of beer. Handing one to Connor, he leaned against the appliance and surveyed him. “You never gussied up like this for the Dare bash before.”
“I never had a reason to.” He’d always worn a nice suit out of respect for his teammate’s father, but Daley was right; he’d never owned one of this quality before. He’d invested a small fortune, but figured it was worth it if it made Carolina look at him twice. One thing he’d always known; he attracted Carolina physically. He saw it time and again—that distracted look whenever he got too close. He planned to get very close tonight.
“Look, here’s the thing about women,” Daley said and Connor just stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Like Daley knew anything about women. “The minute they get pregnant, their hormones go nuts. Carolina might be all business now, but you put a bun in her oven, and she’ll go gaga for you. She won’t be able to marry you fast enough.”
“That’s not a risk I’m willing to take.” He didn’t want a part-time relationship with his child, or Carolina.
“If you think she’ll move to Colorado with you otherwise, you’re nuts.” Daley pulled out a chair and sat down.
Connor took a swig of his beer and set it on the table. He patted his pocket. Keys and wallet. Was he forgetting anything? “She’ll move with me to Colorado.” He didn’t feel half as confident as he sounded, though. He figured he wouldn’t bring up Colorado until he’d made some headway on the marriage front.
“She certainly won’t want to move here.” Daley waved his hand at the Spartan interior of Connor’s modest house.
“She won’t have to. Wait until you see my ranch.”
“Hicks and cowboys. You can have ’em.”
Connor didn’t think Daley had progressed too far away from their roots, no matter how much money he spent on his house and clothes. “Fresh air, room to roam, horses, family. Everything a child needs,” he countered.
“Good luck convincing Carolina of all that.” Daley raised his beer in a salute.
“Thanks.” He’d need it.
Richmond Rule #5
Show up.
Nothing says amateur like being ill-prepared to play. Either show up with your game face on, or go home…
LOOKING OUT HER front window, Carolina raised an eyebrow when a Lincoln Town Car pulled up in her driveway. Connor didn’t normally care for fancy flourishes like this; he must be serious about changing her mind. She blamed the little flutter in her stomach on the tightness of her dress and the knowledge that she had one chance to convince Sanchez to part with his money, but as Connor walked confidently to her front door and rang the bell, Carolina admitted that this whole evening was a gamble. Ever since she got over Sam, she’d been able to maintain the upper hand with any and all men who entered her life. Her defenses should be strong enough to keep Connor at arm’s length. Still, she wasn’t sure she trusted herself to spend six hours in his proximity.
She touched the hard shape of her phone in her clutch purse. She could refuse to unlock the door and text him that she was violently ill.
No. She wasn’t a quitter and she would be damned if she let Connor intimidate her. She moved to the
door, her dress shushing around her ankles as she walked, and opened it. “You look nice.” She let her gaze travel over Connor, and the sparks of desire jittering inside her ignited into a full-fledged flame. He filled out a suit nicely, from his broad shoulders and chest to his trim waist and powerful legs.
Connor didn’t bother with words. He met her gaze with his own and the look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. He wanted her, but more than that—he cared for her.
And he’d made up his mind he would have her.
She took an involuntary step back, but before she could say a word he stepped forward, caught her chin in his hand and kissed her.
Caught off guard, she melted into him. It was as if her body had made its choice and didn’t care what her mind thought about the matter. Her arms curled around his neck and she stood on tiptoes to reach his mouth, drinking him in like a cool glass of water on a hot—scorching hot—summer day. Their kiss went on and on until Carolina wasn’t sure if they’d even make it to the gala. Maybe she should take him to bed right now.
Maybe she should say yes—
She tore away from him with a growl of frustration. “No way!”
He chuckled. “I haven’t even asked the question yet.”
“I don’t care. Whatever you’re going to say, the answer is no.”
“You look beautiful, Carolina. All I wanted to do was show you my appreciation. Shall we go?”
She waited for him to propose again, or at least to list the advantages of marriage over single-parenthood. When he merely offered her his arm and escorted her to the door, she was oddly disappointed.
SHE WANTED HIM. Not only did Carolina want him, she cared about him, too. Connor knew a man had burned her once, but he didn’t know how, or why it stuck with her. He’d even asked Winnie, but all Winnie said was that when Carolina was ready to talk about her past, she would.
Now he wished he’d pressed both women harder. Or hired a private investigator to ferret out the information. As he helped Carolina out of the town car at Club Meridian, he decided getting Carolina to open up about her past was the primary objective for the first part of the evening.
Loosening her tongue required alcohol and lots of it. Connor vowed to keep Carolina’s drink filled at all times, and when a formally dressed waiter appeared at their elbow the moment they stepped inside and offered them champagne, he thanked whatever angel was on his side tonight—until Carolina declined.
“Ice water, please.”
The waiter nodded. “Right away.”
“Ice water?”
“I intend to keep my head clear tonight.” Her look was challenging. “After all, I have to speak to Bill Sanchez.”
“Of course.” Hell, a sober Carolina was a worthy adversary. He led her inside and nudged her when he spotted Robert Dare, the man of the hour. “Look at him, holding court like a king.”
“He is a wealthy man.”
“There’s Ian.” He nodded at his team’s president. “I want to be sure to talk to him before he slips away.”
“What makes you think he’ll slip away?”
“Come on, you’ve been to these parties before. As soon as his half-siblings show up, Ian will leave.”
“Maybe. I heard they’re getting on better these days.”
Connor was sure they weren’t the only guests gossiping about their hosts. The Dares defined gossip in these parts. Robert Dare had married first for business and had five children with Emma St. Claire. Discontented, he’d fallen in love with another woman, and begun a family with her, as well—while still married to Emma. When one of his daughters from his second family fell ill and needed a bone marrow transplant, he’d come clean about his indiscretions in order to ask the children of his first family to see if they qualified as donors. Avery had, and Robert’s female children had all become friends. His male children had yet to see eye to eye.
“Have you ever hit up the Dares for money to support your causes?”
“Of course, and they’ve given freely. Their family dynamic may raise some eyebrows, but you can’t call them tight-fisted.”
“They’re not your quarry tonight, though. Where’s Sanchez?” He scanned the room, knowing that until Carolina made her conquest, he wouldn’t have her undivided attention.
And that was what he wanted.
He spotted the man deep in conversation with a small knot of guests to one side of the opulent room. “There he is.” He took Carolina’s hand and pointed discreetly.
Carolina stiffened. “Oh, my God.”
Richmond Rule #6
Know what game you’re playing.
Sounds like a no brainer, doesn’t it? If you’re in the Thunder Dome, you should be playing football. But you’d be surprised how many would-be quarterbacks have squatted down to receive a hand-off only to get hit in the head with a soccer ball…
“WHAT’S WRONG?” CONNOR asked.
Carolina couldn’t answer. She hadn’t seen Sam in five years. She’d kissed him good-bye before leaving for work one morning and had come home that night to find their apartment nearly empty. Sam had vacated it, taking most of their furniture with him. He claimed later that he’d only taken the items she’d bought him as gifts. By that time she’d been too devastated by his abandonment—and her debts—to fight him for it. Since they’d never made any kind of written agreement, the lawyer she hired advised her not to take Sam to court for the tuition she’d paid or for supporting him all those years.
“Think of this as an expensive life lesson and cut your losses,” she’d advised. “I’m sorry, Carolina. I wish we’d spoken before you’d agreed to pay for anything.”
Now Sam stood not fifty feet away looking distinguished in a hand-tailored suit she doubted he’d found on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. He was probably raking in cash hand over fist now that he was an established surgeon.
Carolina gripped Connor’s hand. “I… I need…” Sam looked their way and she twisted around to use Connor as a shield. “I need a drink.”
“I’ll go get you that ice water.”
“Get something stronger.”
“Yes, ma’am.” If her about-face surprised him, he didn’t show it. “Back in a minute.”
She realized her tactical error too late. Alone in the crowd wearing a scarlet dress, she was all too conspicuous. She turned to scan the other guests, desperate to find a conversation to join, but before she could find one Sam spotted her and quickly came her way. “Carolina, hello. You look well.”
Damn it. She looked up into Sam’s handsome face. “Thank you.” She didn’t return the compliment. “I haven’t seen you here before.”
“First time I’ve been invited. I operated on a member of the family recently. Guess they liked the results.”
“Oh. That’s nice. Excuse me, I need to…” She didn’t bother to finish the sentence before turning away.
“Carolina.” Sam caught her arm. “Can’t bygones be bygones? You’ve obviously landed on your feet. I don’t see why we can’t be friends.”
“Are you insane?” She caught herself when her voice lurched up an octave. “No. We can’t be friends.”
“Surely you’re over me by now. I know our breakup came as a big blow, but…”
He thought she was still in love with him? “What came as a big blow was the tens of thousands of dollars you stole from me!”
“I didn’t steal from you.” He took her arm and crowded into her space. “So lower your voice.”
“Like hell!”
“I can make a scene just as easily as you can.” He spoke up. “I didn’t care for your cheating, that’s why I left.”
Heads turned their way and Carolina tugged her arm free. “I never cheated. I was loyal. You were the one with something on the side.” She held up her hands. “Know what? I don’t care anymore. You’re right; I’m doing great. I have plenty of money and I have a man in my life I love—”
Connor’s sucked-in breath and touch on her elbow war
ned her too late he had returned. Carolina struggled for composure. “So get the hell away from me and stay away,” she finished lamely.
When Sam hesitated, Connor handed Carolina her drink and put a proprietary arm around her waist. “You heard the lady.”
“Fine. That sour attitude ages you, Carolina. I think I’ll go find something more pleasant to look at.”
Connor’s grip tightened as Sam walked away. “What was that all about? You want me to flatten that asshole?”
She downed the champagne he’d brought her in one long gulp.
CONNOR STEERED CAROLINA toward the bar, took her empty glass and ordered her a cocktail. If she chugged champagne like that she would be sicker than a dog before he could work his wiles on her.
He watched her gulp half her new drink before he took it back from her. “Okay, slow down. Tell me what’s going on. Who is he?”
“Give that to me.”
“In a minute. Answer the question.”
“Sam Powell. My ex-fiancé.”
Well, hell. It looked like he had his answer. He’d heard what Carolina said. Somehow this Sam Powell had stolen tens of thousands of dollars from her. He doubted the man had actually filched it, though, or she would have gone to the police. He must have gotten Carolina to fund him in some way. She had always been a sucker for a cause.
No wonder she distrusted men.
More importantly he’d heard what she’d said to dismiss Sam—she had a man in her life she loved. Had she made that up out of spite? Did she have a secret boyfriend?
Or did she mean him?
“How long ago did you two split up?”
“Five years ago.”
In other words, just before they’d met. He recalled the day he’d opened the locker room door for Carolina—and then asked her out when she thanked him for it. Her first reaction had been to say yes, and only later, when she’d had time to remember the fiasco of her last relationship, had she given him the cold shoulder.
