by Desiree Holt
Oh, God. Could she handle this? Yes. The new Taylor Scott could handle anything. If only her bones would stop shaking.
“I’m curious,” she told him. “What would you have done if I’d said no? If I’d turned you down?”
“I told you. I wasn’t coming back to Texas without you. That was a given.”
A given. For a minute Taylor had the feeling she was swimming in deep water—the tide had carried her far from shore and no one had given her a life jacket. Any minute now she might drown.
“Heads up.” Noah’s voice intruded on her thoughts as he turned left. “We’re at the ranch. Your role as queen of the empire is about to start.”
Taylor hadn’t been able to see much in the darkness except vastness of space rolling away from her. Now they pulled up to a massive stone entrance with an iron gate, the initials RA twined in the center. Noah reached out to punch codes in an electronic box and the gates swung open.
The ranch stood at the end of a long, curving driveway, a massive, sprawling one-story building that was lit up like a ball park. Lights shone everywhere.
She looked at Noah. “Is something going on here?”
“No. Just Jocelyn’s idea of a proper welcome.”
As Noah pulled up in front of the house, the heavy wooden door swung open and a man and woman walked out to the edge of the open porch. Taylor opened the passenger door and climbed out of the vehicle, her eyes on the woman.
Five foot six at a guess, her slim body as erect as a soldier’s and not a strand of her short blonde hair was out of place. Her linen slacks had a crease sharp enough to cut paper and her short-sleeved sweater looked as if it had been custom-knit for her.
The man was a head taller, lean and wiry, with thick dark hair and heavy eyebrows. In a blue chambray shirt and Levis, shod in boots Taylor was sure were custom made, he looked every inch the ramrod for a ranch. All that was missing was the ubiquitous Stetson.
Taylor was doubly conscious of her own rumpled appearance and wondered if on top of that she reeked of sex. She forced herself not to pat her hair or smooth her clothes, nervous gestures that would give away her shaking knees. I’m in charge, she repeated to herself. Lifting her chin, she strode forward and held out her hand.
“You must be the Harts. I’m Taylor. Thank you for getting things ready on such short notice and waiting up for me. I apologize for the late arrival.”
The fine tremor in Jocelyn’s body communicated itself in nervous smile. Her hand, when she clasped Taylor’s, shook slightly.
“Welcome to Rancho Arroyo, Miss Scott. I hope you find everything to your satisfaction.”
“I’m sure it will be. Mr. Cantrell tells me my…Josiah depended on both of you heavily to run things here. I hope you’ll do the same for me.”
Both Harts relaxed visibly, as if to say, “Good. You’re not here to fire us or tell us how to do our jobs.”
Tony’s mouth curled in a slight smile. “Noah would certainly know.” His voice was low and pleasant. “We had the pleasure of working with Josiah for fifteen years. Rancho Arroyo is our home.”
“And I hope will be for a long time. I’m sure you can understand what a shock this has all been to me. Thank you for accommodating the situation.”
Taylor could sense Noah’s silent approval as he urged her forward.
Jocelyn gestured toward the doors. “Please let me show you to your rooms. You must be very tired and I know you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow.”
Taylor smiled at her. “Thank you.”
The first hurdle had been crossed. Without giving voice to it, she and Jocelyn had silently taken each other’s measure and exchanged mutual approval.
Noah stopped to exchange a few words with Tony as Taylor followed Jocelyn through a massive foyer and down a wide hallway off to the right.
Taylor was used to guest suites in her grandparents’ house and others she’d visited but this one went beyond all of them. The living room was big enough to hold a party, with a fireplace and an office setup. A bay window curved out of one wall and a small round table and chairs had been placed there making a cozy nook to eat. Off to the left she saw the bedroom and she was sure a bath beyond description.
“If there’s anything you’d like changed please tell me.” Jocelyn’s voice was tentative again. “I wasn’t sure you’d be comfortable in Josiah’s suite but I’ll be happy to make the switch if you’d rather.”
Taylor shook her head. “I’m having enough trouble taking all this in as it is. I don’t think I’m quite ready to sleep in Josiah’s bed.”
Jocelyn smiled and warmth darkened her blue eyes. “I understand.” She looked at Noah who’d come into the room, then back at Taylor. “Noah has informed me you and he will be meeting in the study in the morning and requested I have breakfast served in there. But first you’ll have to deal with Audrey and the wardrobe business. Would you like coffee first thing?”
That brought a real smile to Taylor’s mouth. Her system didn’t start without an initial intake of caffeine. “Thank you. That would be fine. That’s very kind of you.”
“I tried to tell Noah you could wait on the clothes for a day or two but he insisted we had to do it now.”
“She has to project a certain image the minute she sets foot in that den of vipers.” His voice was strangely harsh. “You only get one chance to make a first impression.”
“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about the kind of impression I make.” Taylor waved her hand. “But it’s fine. I’ll deal with it. No problem.”
“Would you like anything now?” Jocelyn asked. “Lupe’s gone to bed but I could probably scare something up.”
“Lupe?” Taylor raised an eyebrow.
“Our wonderful, wonderful cook. She feeds us all. Whatever you’d like, just tell her and she’ll fix it.”
“I hate to ask, but is it possible to get some tea now?”
“No problem. I’ll get it myself.”
“She likes you,” Noah commented. “You handled things just right. The Harts’ loyalty can’t be bought and their friendship is a treasured thing. Josiah considered them like family.”
“That’s good to know.” Taylor kicked off her shoes and stretched out on the couch. “If Jocelyn and Tony are running a smooth operation here, it’s not to my advantage to disrupt it. They have to know I’m in charge but I’m not here to disrupt things.”
He eyed her with speculation. “Think you’re up to what’s waiting for you tomorrow? Except for Carmen they’ll all be looking to slit your throat.”
“How comforting. Let me tell you something, Mr. Cantrell.” She got up from the couch and went to stand by the bay window, hands shoved in the pockets of her slacks. “No one was harder to please than my grandparents, two people who made their displeasure with me known every minute of every day. Until I read my grandmother’s letter I didn’t know why. But I promise you, there isn’t a person I’ll meet tomorrow who’ll be any harder to deal with than they were. You pulled me into this situation but I didn’t come here to be bullied. By you or anyone else.”
She was interrupted in her monologue by a knock on the door. Noah opened it and Jocelyn came in carrying a tray with tea and a plate of cookies which she placed on the round table by the window. “Noah, your suite is ready for you. I assumed you’d be staying here tonight.”
He nodded. “Thanks. For everything. I know how last minute all the arrangements have been.”
“My pleasure.” She turned to Taylor. “If there’s nothing else I’ll turn in. We’ll be having an early start tomorrow.”
Taylor gave her a weary smile. “Thank you, Jocelyn. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yes. I’ll have your coffee here at eight. Will that give you enough time to be ready?”
Taylor nodded. “More than. Thanks again.”
“Fine. Good night, then.” She was at the door when she turned back toward the room. “I know you have a full schedule but Tony and I want you to know when
ever you’re ready we’d like to sit down and explain the ranch operation to you.”
“As soon as I figure out what I’m doing.” She unclipped her hair and ran her fingers through it. Fatigue and the hours of tension had caught up to her. “In the meantime if you could just keep things running as they are I’d be very grateful.”
“Of course.” And then she was gone.
“Your suite?” Taylor looked at Noah with curiosity. “Do you live here at the ranch?”
“No. I have a home in San Antonio. But there are many nights I needed to stay here. Right now I’ll be here for as long as it takes to get you settled in.”
Nights. Taylor’s senses went on full alert. Would those nights include more of the addictive sex that gripped them? How the hell was she supposed to handle this and find her equilibrium in this situation at the same time? Especially with a man who could easily consume her if she let him.
“All the sleeping areas are suites,” he went on. “In case you wondered. Josiah designed it that way.”
“Oh.” Taylor poured tea into one of the delicate china cups then gestured with the teapot. “Well, I’m sure he had his reasons. Just as he did for everything else.” She stirred sweetener into the hot liquid and squeezed a wedge of lemon, collecting her thoughts. “About tomorrow.”
“I think…” he began but Taylor held up her hand to stop him. “When I discovered what my grandparents had done, they were both dead and there was nothing I could do to make them pay. Josiah’s rejection didn’t help. When you showed up at my office my first inclination was to tell you to take the will and stuff it. But then I thought maybe by doing this I can achieve some kind of retribution for my mother.” She paused, weighing her words. “Once you’ve learned to live in a situation where any variation provokes the worst kind of emotional abuse and not shatter under it, you can do anything.” She closed her eyes, then snapped them open. “Anything.”
Noah looked at her with a strange light in his eyes. If she hadn’t known better, she’d have thought it was respect. “There is far more of Josiah in you than you can even begin to know.”
She gave a short laugh. “A compliment? Am I hearing right?”
“Just consider it a quick assessment. This won’t be a cake walk, Taylor but I’m beginning to think you can do it.”
“We’re in for a fight on all fronts, aren’t we.” Her smile was rueful.
“More than you know.” He came to stand beside her took the cup from her hands and put it down on the table. His big hands rested on her shoulders. “You’re nothing like either Josiah or I expected. You have a sharp mind, a wicked tongue and a fearlessness that you’ll need starting tomorrow. I had my doubts but he made the right decision.”
More compliments. She had to remind herself not to take them too seriously. She wasn’t foolish enough to think it put her on any kind of equal footing with this man but she was grateful for the praise just the same.
“God, I hope so.” She desperately wanted to lean her head on his chest and draw from his strength but that would show a weakness she couldn’t afford. He might assume command when they were naked with each other but fully clothed she gave up no control to anyone. She’d made that clear and she couldn’t afford to ease back in any way.
Then he threw her a curve. He bent his head and kissed her. A light brush of his lips against her, a breeze that dissipated so quickly she wasn’t even sure she’d been touched at all. Its very gentleness surprised her and unsettled her, an unexpected gesture from a man with a constant undercurrent of anger and a healthy dose of arrogance.
“Get some rest. You’ll need it,” he called over his shoulder as he headed for the door. He stopped to look back at her, the supreme confidence back on his face. “And starting tomorrow night, don’t lock your door.”
Taylor just stared after him. Dealing with the corporate complexities of Arroyo would be a snap compared to handling this man. She was suddenly sure that Noah Cantrell would be her biggest danger of all.
* * * * *
Even the sanctuary of his rooms didn’t ease the strain that had gripped Noah all day. He stripped off his clothes and stomped into the bathroom, turning on the shower full blast. Under the pounding of the hot water the tension began to ease from his muscles.
Damn Josiah anyway!
Noah had argued with him until he was hoarse, trying to get out of this obligation but the old man would have none of it.
“I don’t trust anyone but you with this. Just do it for me. It’s the only favor I’ve ever asked of you.”
That was true enough. For ten years Josiah Gaines had been both his mentor and surrogate father, saving him when he would have destroyed himself. How could he have refused this?
But being with Taylor Scott was like standing too close to a fire. It required a lot of dissembling to control the heat she ignited in his body whenever he got within five feet of her. He had a constant erection and all he ever thought about was fucking her. Damn him for letting himself get involved with her in the first place. He should have walked out of that hotel room a month ago. Taylor Scott was trouble, just like all women, a lesson he’d learned in the most painful way possible.
Well too late for that. Now he had to figure out how to put out this fire that threatened to consume him. Compounding everything was the sickening sensation that what he felt for Taylor was far more than lust. Cursing under his breath he leaned against the shower wall, wishing he’d never heard of Taylor Scott. Wishing his heart didn’t show signs of coming to life again.
Ten bitter years had passed since a woman had nearly destroyed his life. His soul was permanently scarred, his emotions shackled. What would Miss Taylor Scott think if she knew his black secrets? He was sure the knowledge would change everything.
He turned the shower on to full cold, hoping the icy water could cool down his body and get his brain working. Otherwise he was cooked, because even in the midst of all this chaos, the thing uppermost in his mind was taking Taylor Scott to bed.
Chapter Five
Taylor felt as if she’d just closed her eyes when she heard a knock on her bedroom door.
“Miss Scott?”
“Yes?” Taylor struggled into a robe and went to open the door.
Jocelyn entered carrying a tray with coffee and toast, which she placed on the table by the window. “Here’s your coffee. Audrey Campbell will be here in thirty minutes with your wardrobe.”
Taylor stifled a yawn. “Thank you. That will give me time to shower and get ready. And thank you for the tray.” She tried to make her voice as friendly as possible. “The coffee will be a big help.”
Jocelyn stood where she was, eying Taylor with curiosity. “I hope you won’t think I’m rude but I have to say you’re not at all what we expected.”
Taylor laughed. “Were you looking for the wicked witch?”
Jocelyn actually blushed. “Noah gave us a one-page bio. To tell you the truth, we expected a money-hungry know-it-all who’d come in here and throw her weight around.”
“Well, I’ve been known to do that on occasion but not until I know which way to throw it.”
Jocelyn gave her an answering smile. “I’ll leave you alone to get ready. I’ll be back when Audrey gets here.”
Taylor gulped the coffee as if it were life-giving fluid. The day had barely started and a dull ache already throbbed at the back of her head. She dug into her suitcase for her bottle of aspirin, washing two down with the coffee.
A quick shower helped along with the aspirin and coffee kicking in. Dressed in lingerie and robe, she examined her face in the mirror. She decided the occasion called for something a little more dramatic than her usual hint of blush and lipstick. Digging in her cosmetic bag, she added deep eye shadow, a warmer blush and swiped on a new lipstick she hadn’t previously used. Her hair she gathered smoothly to the nape of her neck and pulled into place with a dull gold barrette. Finally she fastened her mother’s gold and diamond studs in her ears and took one last look
at herself in the mirror.
“Go get ’em,” she told her reflection. “Show these people they can’t lead you around by the nose.” Shoulders back, chin up and she was ready.
Audrey Campbell arrived with a list and an attitude, making Taylor grateful for Jocelyn’s presence in the room. At the end of an hour, however, she was showing grudging admiration for Taylor’s taste as well as her ability to wear clothes well. The pile of new clothing covered the bed and Audrey was putting the finishing touches to Taylor’s current outfit—a navy silk suit, no blouse but a silk scarf of blues and purples knotted loosely at her neck.
“Very nice. Isn’t that what they call a power suit?”
She hadn’t seen Noah arrive. He leaned against the doorjamb, cradling a coffee mug in his hands, his eyes examining her like an x-ray machine.
For a moment Taylor felt as if every bit of material had been stripped away and she stood naked before him.
“Good morning, Mr. Cantrell,” Audrey trilled at him.
He dipped his head. “Audrey.”
“Miss Scott wears clothes very well. Everything looks good on her.”
“I expected no less.” Although he kept a careful distance, the look he gave Taylor was smoldering.
“So what now?” She gestured toward the other room.
“Take them all. You’ll need them. Audrey can send the bill to the office and Carmen will take care of it.” He crossed the room to take her arm. “We need to get to the study. Jocelyn, can you call the kitchen and have our breakfast delivered?”
“No problem. I’ll get these clothes hung up too.”
“This way.” Noah guided Taylor out of the suite, through the large foyer and down another hallway.
“Do I get a GPS Locator to find my way around?” she asked.
“When we get a minute I’ll give you a guided tour. Everything runs off the central foyer, so that makes it easier.”
Noah unlocked a carved oak door and stood aside to let Taylor precede him into the room.
