Deal of a Lifetime

by Rue Allyn

  She shook her head, removing his hold. “Really? Then this will be the first time the famous Connor O’Neal determination fails miserably.”

  Con watched her walk away. Her hips swayed gently. Her long legs carried her swiftly from the room. Too soon, all that remained of Tam were the seeds of doubt and the scent of ginger-laced peaches. Suddenly he discovered he’d lost his appetite.

  Tam was wrong. Any failure wouldn’t be his first. He’d already failed her, or she would have found a way to contact him—sick or not. He’d been left with a fledgling company plus a hole in his heart bigger than a crate of lemons and just as bitter. That hole still ached. She hadn’t believed in him or them. For that, he had no one to blame but himself. He’d treated her like something that would always be exactly where he’d put it. He hadn’t confided his most private thoughts or asked about hers. He’d never shown her that he needed her and her faith in him, or that a long-term committed relationship was not only possible but what he wanted for them both.

  The acid memory of days, months, years spent wondering what happened churned in his stomach. Wrong as she was about how many times he’d failed, he feared she might be right about the rest. No matter how determined he was, if Tam didn’t want him, he’d never win her back. He rejected the possibility. He held a passionate attraction for her. Yesterday he’d seen want in her sleepy blue eyes. He’d felt need in that incendiary kiss. She hid a wealth of desire. All he had to do was figure out how to mine that wealth.

  Tam had been skittish of commitment from the day they met at an orientation for interns working in the company where he was a junior exec. He’d been careful of her feelings and happy enough to shack up. They shared goals and dreams; the world was good. Then her internship had ended. Unwilling to let her go, he’d thought talking about marriage and O’Neal Corp. together would ease her fears. She’d disappeared anyway. If any hope remained for them, they had to deal with the real issues—his stubbornly determined, possessive, objectifying drive to get what he wanted and keep it at all costs, plus Tam’s distrust of personal commitments. They needed to build trust. He wished he was certain how to do that in five days.

  ****

  After a short, pithy conversation with the conference manager, Tam had a new, accurate folder followed by a very successful day of workshops, networking, and no sign of Con. She was relieved, she really was. Back in her bedroom, she hurried to put the finishing touches to her hair and fasten her earrings. She needed to call Susannah. Whenever business took Tam away, her heart ached at the separation. She always wondered if her own father had ever missed his daughter on his too frequent business trips, or had his only heartache been the heart attack that killed him while he was gone. Tam had never gotten to say goodbye or even remind him that she loved him. That would not happen to Susannah. Tam would move heaven and earth to communicate with her daughter every day they were apart. No way would Susannah grow up thinking that she took second place to a business. No way would Connor O’Neal’s single-minded drive have the chance to hurt Susannah, as Tam’s own father had hurt her and her mother.

  Tam dialed the number. Her conscience twinged. Connor is a good man. He deserves to know he has a daughter. Susannah deserves to have a daddy. She’s old enough. Both Con and I have made mistakes. Neither of us is more at fault than the other. Keeping Susa from Con shows a complete lack of faith in him. He’s obsessive and territorial but not dangerous. Those very traits helped him survive and thrive despite a poverty-stricken childhood, which argues that he would be an excellent father. Absolutely no proof exists that Con is like my dad and would neglect either Susa or me? Neither is there proof to the contrary. Mom suffered neglect and crushed dreams waiting for a man who was too busy making the next deal to love his family. Knowing how painful that was I can’t risk loving Con, not for myself, and not for my daughter.

  “Donal residence.” Sarah Carter Johnson chimed the formal greeting and drew Tam from her thoughts.

  “Hi, Aunt Sarah.”

  “Tam, it’s so good to hear you. How was your drive to Montana? We expected you to call last night. Are you okay?”

  Tam soaked up her aunt’s concerned outpourings. “Yes, I’m fine. The drive was long but uneventful.”

  “Good.” Having lost the rest of her family, Sarah worried in torrents whenever Tam was on the road.

  For her aunt’s sake, Tam tried to relax her voice and pretend nothing stressful had occurred. “I’ve only got a few minutes.”

  “Then I’ll put Susannah on. She’s waiting right here.”

  “Hi, Mommy.”

  Instantly Tam felt bright and lighthearted. “Hello, oh best of fairy girls, did you have a good time at school today?”

  “Chuckie let out our hamster, Bobo, and Miss Bebbins sent him to the office.”

  “Bobo or Chuckie?” Tam asked, knowing the answer.

  Her daughter’s laugh came over the phone. “That’s silly, Mommy. Chuckie went to the office. Bobo is lost.”

  Tam’s heart squeezed. She knew she had to work to support her family, but she hated being away from Susa.

  “I’m sure the hamster will turn up.”

  “Nancy said her daddy would give our class another one. He owns a pet store.”

  “That’s very nice of Nancy’s daddy.”

  “Mommy, is my daddy lost?”

  What could she say? Your daddy doesn’t know you exist because I never told him. I didn’t think he’d want us. Unless Tam confessed to Con soon, he might as well be lost. “I guess you could say he’s lost.”

  “Are you gonna find me another daddy?”

  “Do you want a daddy?”

  “Well, sorta, Nancy has lots of fun with her daddy. But I really want a baby brother. Aunt Sarah says I can’t have one unless I have a daddy.”

  Tam smiled. “Aunt Sarah’s right. No baby brothers unless you have a daddy.”

  “Then will you find me one?”

  “This is important to you, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thank you, Mommy. I love you.”

  “I love you too.” Tam made three loud smacking kisses into the phone, then placed the handset back in the cradle.

  “If that was your boyfriend, I hope you told him it’s over.”

  Tam jolted from the bed and turned. Con leaned negligently in the open doorway. She placed a hand over her racing heart. Had she forgotten to shut the door? How long had been there? “I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “No, you didn’t. You were too busy throwing kisses at your telephone lover.” He stalked her. Danger glittered in his eyes.

  She backed away. Thank heaven! He didn’t know who’d been on the other end of the line. Whatever else he might imagine didn’t matter. “Think what you like. My kisses are no concern of yours.”

  He crowded her toward the wall. “I disagree. Your kisses are very much my concern.”

  “Your disagreement is irrelevant.” She waved a hand, hitting the wall as she backed into it.

  “Let me demonstrate.”

  His voice rasped her nerves, and his face consumed her vision. His body’s heat swamped her. The spicy citrus tang of his aftershave and a deeper, more elemental scent teased her. Afraid to look in his eyes, she stared at his mouth. The urge to taste him nearly overwhelmed her, and she bit her lower lip in self-defense. A shallow breath narrowed the too-small space between them. Any closer and her breasts would caress his chest. She felt dizzy, shivery, and hot at the same time.

  “Tam.”

  She felt his breathy whisper in her toes. Afraid not to look at him, she met his heated gaze.

  “Kiss me.”

  “No.” Yes. Unable to resist she shifted her head the tiniest bit. Her lips brushed across his.

  Con followed that small hope, pressing his lips to the corner of her mouth. He touched his tongue to her sensitive skin, and she moaned, opening for him. Sweet. So very sweet. Tam, everything he ever wanted, and all
he ever needed.

  Passion arced between them, her body sinking into his. Her hands clutching his arms, he longed to pull her to him. He couldn’t let her go, but he had to, for now. He had to regain her trust, get rid of the armor of denial that she hid behind, or he’d lose her all over again, and that might kill him.

  He lifted his head, looking into her kiss-glazed eyes.

  “Con?”

  Never had his name sounded so much like wonder and want. He stroked her shining curls. He forced his hands away and stepped back. He knew he wore a dopey grin, but he couldn’t help it. He felt higher than the Tetons. “I’ll meet you downstairs. You might want to fix your lipstick.”

  As Con left the room, his ego kicked him. Idiot! You couldn’t tell her she was beautiful. All you could say was “fix your lipstick.”

  I was trying to be considerate, his conscience argued.

  Yeah, right. I never should have left the room. I should have taken Tam to bed and spent the next three days there. Hell, she was willing.

  She would never forgive me for trying to manipulate her with sex. Sex is all we’ll have unless we resolve our differences. I want more. I want everything, but sacrificing Tam’s confidence isn’t the way to get it.

  He entered the elevator wondering how Tam would fare with Buddswell. Con had known the man for five years. Buddswell’s reputation as a womanizer was richly deserved and as legendary as the snack food king’s short-lived pro-basketball career. Their host deserved watching. Until Con was certain Tam returned his feelings, he didn’t want her going one on one with Buddswell.

  Chapter Three

  Standing near the bar, Con saw Tam step inside the wide double doors that opened onto the cocktail party. She’d progressed a scant yard, when at least two men offered her drinks. Every man here seemed to be on the hunt and not just for Buddswell’s contracts.

  She shook her head, dismissing each man. Her eyes traveled in his direction. That’s my Tamsin. She knows what she’s looking for and won’t accept substitutes.

  He watched her glance sweep the room, then settle on the area where he stood. If other women were present, he didn’t notice. She squared her shoulders. She’s found her target. I’d better meet her halfway. He excused himself to the group he was with and headed in Tam’s direction.

  She walked toward him, her gaze fixed over his left shoulder. He supposed she needed to salvage some pride, after the way she responded to his kisses. He could play her game. He’d eat an entire humble pie, if it would get Tamsin back in his arms.

  Ten feet and everyone would know she’d come straight to him. He raised his hands to take hers. Tam veered to the left, placing a knot of Buddswell staffers between them. Where is she going?

  He dusted pretend specks from his suit jacket, then swiveled around the human roadblock to see Tam join the group surrounding Mike Buddswell. Con’s protective hackles rose, and he hurried to join them.

  Buddswell held out his hand to Tam. The big man with the red hair looked at her as if she were one of his prize-winning snacks. She took his hand and smiled. She was just the kind of tasty morsel to suit the former basketball star. Even if she was up to the kind of games Buddswell played, Con couldn’t allow the man to take aim, let alone score. Caution be damned—time to steal the ball.

  Once she got rid of the two men who approached her, Tam had no trouble finding Buddswell. Even cropped short, his shock of bright red hair wasn’t easily missed, especially since he towered over his nearest companions. He was larger than Con and blatantly athletic. To Tam, Con’s slim strength appealed more. Still, the athlete’s physique and sports background made the snack food king an excellent advertisement for his healthy products.

  That background was her way in. She’d done her homework and would use what she knew about basketball to garner Buddswell’s attention. Then, she’d impress him with her knowledge of his present and potential markets.

  She wound her way through the crowd, fending off men all the way. As she approached, she heard Buddswell growl.

  “Bryant, Bryant, Bryant—he’s a good man and a better basketball player. The way the newspapers and the fans fawn over him, you’d think no one else ever played the game.”

  The men around Buddswell nodded as if he’d uttered the Beatitudes.

  “I don’t know, Mr. Buddswell,” Tam interjected. “I think Bryant would admit that he couldn’t have made any marks on basketball without greats like Jordan, Magic, Kareem, Bird and Cazzie Russell.”

  Buddswell leaned forward, taking a good look at her nametag and her chest. “That’s very perceptive of you, Ms. Donal. Are you acquainted with Kobe?”

  “No.”

  “I must introduce you to him sometime. Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse us, I think Ms. Donal needs a drink.” He grasped her elbow and moved. The group parted before them.

  “Do you know more about basketball than a few names, Ms. Donal?” They edged away from Mike’s admiring group.

  “I played in high school and college.”

  He checked her nametag once again before guiding her toward the bar. She was forced to move with him.

  “Donal, Donal? My manager briefed me on a reservation mix up involving someone of that name. Would that be you?”

  “I am,” she responded, pleasantly surprised.

  “Are you satisfied with the present arrangement?”

  Much as Tam wanted to put distance between herself and Con, now was not the time to complain to the man she wanted to impress. “I would be upset if a competitor suffered a disadvantage, simply because I can’t give up a room I can afford not to use. Why do you ask?”

  “As owner I want to ensure the comfort of every guest, also because your suitemate’s heading this way and looking like thunder.”

  “Oh dear.” Annoyance tightened the skin around her eyes, while a flutter took up residence in her belly.

  “Please tell me if there’s a problem,” Mike urged.

  “Only in Connor’s mind.”

  “Does he know that?” Buddswell fixed his gaze on her mouth.

  “Mr. Buddswell, I have no interest beyond the professional in any man at this conference.”

  The tall man sighed. “Very tactful of you and very wise.”

  Con arrived at that moment, saving Tam from the necessity of a reply.

  “Mike, I see you’ve met my close friend, Tamsin Donal.”

  “Business acquaintance,” corrected Tam.

  Con glowered.

  Smiling, Buddswell pushed on. “We just finished talking about the art of the slam dunk and were about to get down to bargaining positions.”

  Tam was taken aback. Mike made it sound as if they’d been talking about sex.

  “S’that so, Tam?” Barely leashed fury roughened Con’s voice.

  “Well, I, uh…” she stammered. “I certainly intend to discuss TLC Distribution’s contract offers with Mr. Buddswell.”

  “I intend to give your company’s offer every consideration. Assuming the plan lays out better than other offers, I see no reason why you and I—I mean our companies—couldn’t climb into bed together.”

  If Tam hadn’t caught the twinkle in Buddswell’s eye, she would have been mortified at his bald innuendos. The man was teasing. She smiled at him and looked at Con.

  Con wasn’t smiling. Tension ticked in his jaw.

  What was wrong with him? He’d known Buddswell for years. Surely Con recognized the man’s style of humor.

  She took Buddswell’s arm and once again moved toward the bar. “You offered me a drink earlier. I’ll accept, if you’ll listen to a suggestion I have about the bids for your southwest US distribution contracts.”

  The red-haired man inclined his head. “That’s a small price to pay, if I can have your charming company a bit longer.” Mike might be teasing, but Con was dead serious. He grasped Tam’s other elbow. “You’ll have to share, Buddswell. Since O’Neal Corp. is bidding for exclusive rights. I have a vested interest in any deal concerning Buddswe
ll’s and all competitors, especially my close friend here.”

  His voice slipped past her ear, and he watched her shiver. How could she calmly flirt that way? No, she wasn’t his wife—yet—but she knew the score. He supposed she was trying to put him in his place. She’d find out his place was right beside her.

  Tam stopped, forcing both men to release her. “Business acquaintance.”

  The term emerged from Tam’s lips in unison with Buddswell. She exchanged a look with the taller man and burst into shared laughter.

  Con didn’t laugh. He clenched his fists at his side and broadened his stance. He wanted to break Buddswell’s jaw. Con cast one quick glance at Tam. Her amazed stare acted like a full blast from a fire hose. He sobered and relaxed. What happened to the caution he resolved to use with her? Regaining her love required more finesse.

  Buddswell laughed louder. He lassoed Tam with one arm, slapped the other around Con’s shoulders and moved them all forward. “C’mon you two. If we’re going to talk business, I’d rather do it with a glass of whiskey in my hand.”

  ****

  Tam waited as Con slid the key card into the slot, opening the door to their suite.

  “I don’t know how you persuaded Buddswell to agree to a private appointment tomorrow before the contract bidding starts,” Con remarked.

  She preceded him into the sitting room, dropping her purse atop the credenza. “He wanted to buy me a drink. The appointment was the price of my time. You were present. You heard what I told him.” She raised her hands to take the pins from her hair and felt Con’s lean fingers there. His touch was light, whispering over her head and against her nape. Tiny shivers tightened her nipples and swirled in her abdomen. Her hair tumbled free. Con’s hands remained on her nape. Heat seeped into her skin, loosening knots of tension. Her knees wobbled.

  “I’m willing to bet Mike has a different kind of negotiating in mind than you. I’d better come with you.”

  If she hadn’t been so entangled in the sensations his fingers created, she might have quashed that idea. “You don’t have much confidence in my ability to control negotiations with Mike. I think I’ve already proven I can handle him. He didn’t get that drink for nothing, and at the same time, I showed him that I wouldn’t just drop into his lap like some dewy-eyed basketball groupie.”