by Regina Duke
Pembroke Hazen leaned back in his big chair and swiveled it slowly to and fro. The intercom on his desk pinged softly.
“Mr. Hazen, I’ve reached that party you were waiting for.”
He punched a button. “Put him through, Maybelle.” He lifted the handset. None of those cell phones for his important calls. Besides, the old desk phone was hardwired to a recording system in the false drawer, and he didn’t want to fuss with changing that. Signals that float through the air felt too vulnerable. Technology had its uses where security was concerned, but he was more comfortable with an old fashioned hand set. He wanted his calls to speed along a landline without worrying about some hacker snatching his words out of the ether.
The voice on the other end of the line asked, “Does she suspect anything?”
“Not a thing. She's too busy mentally decorating her vice president’s office.”
“Is that what it took? I thought—”
“Just a ploy. Everything is fine.”
“She may never forgive us for this, you know.”
Pembroke chuckled. “She’ll forgive us eventually. Don’t worry. Everything is going according to plan.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Thursday, April 7
Axel parked his Expedition under the Cattleman’s portico and gave a mock salute to the bellboy, who was unloading luggage from a limo. “Good morning, Cody. I’m just here to meet someone.”
“No worries, Mr. Garrison. Smells like snow, don’t it?”
Axel tilted his head back and sniffed. The temperature had dropped overnight, and the air smelled of damp pines and impending precipitation. “Yes, it does. The ski resorts will be happy.”
He moved through the lobby, nodding and smiling at another bellboy. He enjoyed the fact that, in just a few months, he’d come to know several people well enough to feel welcome, if not completely at home, in Eagle’s Toe. Oddly enough, the place he felt most at home was on his eighty acres, purchased from Lucy Baxter, owner of the Lazy B. She was always glad to see him, and her cooks often spoiled him with fresh-baked cookies. He was well aware that his land purchase had made her solvent again. And he admired her pluck, turning her ranch into a resort for paying guests in order to keep it going.
It was only after the purchase was final that he learned that Thor and Rudy had hoped to buy the same land, as it bordered on the acreage they’d already accumulated. Thor’s luxury cabin was on the northwest edge of that parcel. Axel’s land was on the south edge. But it wasn’t Axel's fault that they’d never let him in on their plans. When he arrived in Eagle’s Toe, his cousins had assumed he’d soon be returning to New York. After all, he was raised on the East Coast. He must be a city boy.
In reality, Axel was raised on a large country estate three hours from Manhattan. Even the private prep school he’d attended was in the little village of Pawling, an hour’s drive from the city. His father was the one who loved the urban life. Lester left Texas to go to college and never looked back. His brother Rudy, and Rudy’s family, had stayed in Texas, at least until Thor left for Colorado.
Axel stopped at the free coffee bar in the lobby to pour himself a cup. He stirred sugar into his brew and helped himself to an apple fritter, closing his eyes with pleasure at the first sweet bite. As he sipped his coffee, it occurred to him that Rudy hadn’t actually stayed in Texas either. He’d spent his life working all over the world. He just wanted his family rooted in Texas so he could claim that he’d remained a Texan while scolding his brother Lester for living life elsewhere.
That realization made Axel smile. No wonder his cousins suspected some sneaky motive behind him buying the land they wanted. Antagonism appeared to be a family tradition. That explained why Axel and his father were often at odds with each other. On top of that, while Lester loved the excitement of New York City and the stock market, Axel dreamed of acquiring a different kind of stock. Livestock. In fact, he’d already begun. He wondered what his cousins would say about that.
His call to Dustin had been a waste of time. His younger brother sounded irritated that his work day had been interrupted for so trivial a matter as their father’s health. The whole exchange had left a bad taste in Axel’s mouth. Some day, he’d have to have a long talk with Dustin about family. On the other hand, Dustin was the sibling who had turned out the most like their father. So what was the point?
He finished his coffee and fritter, then tossed the cup and napkin into a trash container. He glanced around as the time approached for him to meet Taylor. He didn’t see any likely suspects. The few men moving through the lobby did not linger as if waiting for anyone. He spotted the blue-haired spitfire he’d collided with the day before and snorted softly. She was pacing along the wall near the entrance to the Il Vaccaro restaurant, studying the historical photos hanging there, pictures of Eagle’s Toe from the 1860s to the present day. Axel let his eyes linger on her perfect figure. Her tailored pantsuit and stacked heels were meant for a day in the office. She carried a computer bag over one shoulder. He tilted his head to one side. If she wore Armani, she more likely owned the company than worked for it. He averted his eyes quickly when she glanced casually around. He pretended he hadn’t seen her and walked over to the young woman behind the registration desk.
“Excuse me.” He paused to read her name tag. “Janice?” He smiled, and she smiled back. “I’m supposed to meet someone here this morning. Have you seen him? His name is Taylor.”
Janice looked amused. “Your ‘he’ is a ‘she’ and she’s right over there. The lady with the blue hair.”
Axel felt dismay land on him with both feet. He managed to mutter, “Thank you.” Then he arranged his features before turning in Taylor’s direction. It occurred to him that his father never specified Taylor’s gender in their phone call. A tiny part of his mind wondered if that was done on purpose. Leave it to Lester to make his life more awkward. Oh, well. When she found out he was the person she was there to meet, she’d probably walk away. If she wore Armani, she didn’t really need this job, that was for sure. He wondered what his father was paying her.
He forced a smile and approached her with his hand extended. “Taylor? I’m Axel Garrison.”
Her dismay mirrored his own. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” She crossed her arms and ignored his offered hand.
Axel dropped his arm. “I see we are equally delighted to make each other’s acquaintance. How about this? I will buy you a replacement blouse, and we can start fresh.”
She examined him critically from thick, dark hair to barn jacket, faded jeans, and mud-caked hiking boots, and he tingled all over, as if her blue eyes were shooting tiny icicles. Her voice made her opinion of his wardrobe crystal clear. “No offense, but I will pick out my own blouse. You may, however, pay for it. Lucky for you, I got it on sale. Eight hundred and fifty dollars.”
Axel pulled out his wallet and counted out the cash. “Nice to know you’re a thrifty shopper,” he said, with the slightest hint of sarcasm.
He was surprised when she didn’t end the arrangement right then. Instead, she accepted the cash as if it were a ten dollar bill, slipped it into her computer bag, and asked, “Shall we get started? I understand I’m assisting you with your father’s biography.”
Axel concealed his surprise with a wave toward the front entrance. “Great. We’ll be working at my place. It’s a ways out of town, so I thought I’d pick you up and bring you back later.”
“I have a rental car,” she said briskly. “I will follow you to your place.”
Axel hesitated. “Four-wheel drive?”
She looked exasperated. “How do I know? It’s a car. A sedan. Shiny and new.”
Axel rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Gee, I wouldn’t advise taking a rental car to my place.”
“And why not?” Her attitude verged on flippant, moving quickly to snippy. “I am capable of driving a car.”
Axel shrugged. She’d find out soon enough. “If that’s the way you want it, okay. I’m parked ou
t front in the black Expedition. I’ll wait for you to pull around and you can follow me to my place.”
“Good. Fine. I’ll go get my car, since Yokelville doesn’t understand the concept of valet parking.” She turned on her heel and stomped off.
Axel felt a grin creeping up on him. He knew he shouldn’t let her take a shiny new rental car up to his cabin, but she was obviously furious at the fact that her new employer was the jerk who’d messed up her blouse. There was no way she’d listen to him anyway. Maybe after today, she’d lend him more credence. Meanwhile, he figured he’d better make a phone call while he waited in the Expedition. He had a feeling they would both be glad he did.
CHAPTER SIX
Taylor stomped across the parking lot. She couldn’t believe her miserable luck. How could her father send her out here to spend time with such an oaf? She felt this might be the last straw. Even worse, he was movie-star handsome. If only he weren’t dressed like a ranch hand. Then again, how many ranch hands carried hundred-dollar bills around in their wallets?
She warmed at the memory of his gaze focused on her soaked chest but snapped herself out of that in a hurry. She didn’t have time for physical attraction. She had her eyes on a New York City prize, and she would not be dissuaded by her body’s traitorous yearning every time Axel came within three feet of her.
She let her mind wander to the glorious mahogany office furniture she’d found on the web the night before. And the art work she wanted on the walls. Surely Daddy would spring for a Van Gogh. She calmed herself as she got into the rental car.
“Keep your eyes on the prize, Taylor,” she said firmly. “Eyes on the prize.”
The car started up and she maneuvered it through the lot and around the hotel to the portico. There he was in his black Expedition, leaning out of his window to look at her, waving and grinning like a fool. Well, okay, beaming at her like some movie star acknowledging adoring fans. She forced a smile and wiggled her fingers at him.
She had to admit, she would consider him drop dead gorgeous, if he wasn’t such a buffoon. At least she’d have someone decent to look at while she was pretending to be his underling. Thank goodness she’d been a procrastinator in school. It forced her to type all her own papers, and that meant she was pretty good with a keyboard. Not like her roommate, Miss Early For Everything, who would handwrite her assignments ahead of time and have her father’s secretary type them up for her. Now, Taylor realized her typing skills were going to win her a vice presidency. And with that kind of allowance—income, she corrected herself—spending time with Jackson would be her top priority.
As she followed the mud-encrusted Expedition onto Highway 50 and west, she felt a teensy twinge of responsibility. She should probably plan on being present in exchange for her salary. Maybe for the first year or so, she would hunker down and learn what she needed to know to run the company. Get in good with Daddy. Otherwise, her competitive siblings might try to edge her out. Especially if they got wind of how she earned her position.
“Slow down, idiot,” she muttered as the Expedition sped up to seventy. “The fool doesn’t even know how to drive when someone is following him.” But traffic wasn’t bad. In fact, she’d been astonished at how light the traffic was from the moment she got in the rental car. Colorado was not New York.
A large truck drove by in the other direction, pulling a horse trailer. That comforted her. Horses had been her passion since childhood, and Jackson allowed her to satisfy that desire. All in good time, she thought. First, get the salary. She didn’t want to be like some of her schoolmates, waiting for the day when she would inherit. And she didn’t want to have to ask for an allowance every month. She wanted to be independent, but she wasn’t stupid enough to walk away from her father’s wealth. She would have to juggle her personal goals with those of her father. Strike a balance.
Lost in thought, she had to brake hard to follow Axel when he took an off-ramp she wasn’t expecting. At the bottom, they turned south on a narrow two-lane road. Clumps of snow still littered the landscape, and there was a definite nip to the air. Ten minutes later, the Expedition pulled off the road onto a dirt driveway. Five minutes after that, Taylor realized it wasn’t a driveway. It was a dirt road. He passed a grouping of mailboxes, and when the dirt road began to wend even higher, Taylor gripped her steering wheel. She felt the bottom of the car scrape a high spot. That unnerved her. The road was now only wide enough for one vehicle at a time. Jaw clenched, Taylor noticed that the patches of snow were lying closer to the road, and the snowmelt had made the road extremely muddy. Up ahead, the Expedition moved farther and farther away, its huge tires flinging chunks of dark mud behind.
Now she was really worried. She could feel the little rental car slipping and sliding on the mud. She tried to speed up to catch the Expedition, but her tires didn’t have enough grip for this terrain. Her jaw clenched tightly as every tap on the accelerator brought another queasy slide. The trees were thinning out, and the road was even muckier, as the sun melted more snow. She realized the Expedition was out of sight, and a flicker of fear made her push the accelerator again. This time, the wheels spun madly, and the car twisted to the left. She turned the wheel to the right, hoping to get some grip, but when it came, she wasn’t expecting it, and the car jolted forward and tipped nose-down into a two-foot ditch.
The airbag did not deploy, so she knew she hadn’t landed hard, but it shook her up. Her hands trembled, and when she tried to open the door, it jammed against a hillock of mud.
Taylor beat her hands on the steering wheel and screeched, “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!”
As if hearing her rant, the Expedition reappeared, moving slowly down the hill toward her on its oh-so-smug tires.
As Axel’s vehicle approached, a spark of revenge inspired Taylor to close and lock her door, then slump in her seat, letting the seat belt hold her weight. She heard his car door shut as he got out to check on her. She bit her lip to keep from laughing. She heard him try her door.
“Are you all right?” He sounded concerned.
She didn’t move. His voice grew more intense. “Taylor?!” He knocked on the window. “Wake up!” He banged on the roof of the rental. She wondered how far he would go. Would he try to break in? There were plenty of rocks about. Or did he have one of those window-breaking devices in his SUV? Maybe she’d taken her charade far enough.
She sat up and pretended to be woozy. When she saw the look of alarm on Axel’s face, she felt a pang of guilt. She tried to open her door again, but it would only move an inch. The engine was still running, so she opened her window instead. “Why on Earth did you let me drive this car up this road?” Her guilt disappeared as anger flooded back in.
Axel’s shoulders relaxed. “You may recall that my plan was to drive you up here and bring you back.”
“You might have explained about the mud,” she snapped.
Axel crossed his arms over his chest. “You made it obvious you didn’t want to hear anything I had to say.”
“Oh, so now it’s my fault?”
Axel turned sideways and stared off into the distance. “You should be a little more polite if you want help getting out of that car.”
“I don’t need your help.” Taylor’s anger had turned to cold, calm fury. She unfastened her seat belt, pulled her computer bag and purse off the floor, and shimmied halfway out the window. Realizing she needed to go feet first, she retreated, rearranged, and managed to get one leg over the door. How did those race car drivers do it? She grabbed hold of the top of the door frame and maneuvered her other leg through the window. Inch by inch, she scooted her bottom over the edge until her legs dangled. With one last effort, she was out.
And her beautiful new shoes were ruined as her feet sank two inches into the mud. She tried to move, lost her balance, and fell back against the car.
Axel applauded. “That was amazing. Are you a gymnast or something?”
Taylor glared at him. “A gentleman would offer a
hand.”
He gaped. “You just insisted you didn’t need my help.” He turned to look down the road again.
Taylor closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself down. Then, “Why are you staring into the distance?”
Axel pointed. “I was looking for that tow truck.” A big red-and-white truck was lumbering up the muddy road.
“That was fast. How did he get here so soon?” Then it dawned on her, and she was livid. “You knew this was going to happen! You arranged for all of this!”
Axel patted the air with both hands as he backed away. “Now, now. That’s not true. I didn’t know you would slide off the road. I just figured your little rental car might get stuck in the mud. I told Brady at the garage that I’d pay for his tow truck to make the trip, even if you didn’t get stuck.”
Taylor used both hands to free her right foot from the mud so she could take a step forward. Then she freed the left. Each step landed squishily in more mud. She ground her teeth. When she reached him, she would scratch his eyes out. Or at least leave something for him to remember her by.
Axel waved at the tow truck. He glanced back to see how Taylor was doing just as she lost her balance. He rushed to help her, but rushing was not wise in the slimy mud. One foot slid grandly toward her, accidentally hitting her ankle as he went down on his backside.
Taylor saw him coming and could not get out of the way. She waved her arms in the air, struggling for balance, but when his foot made contact, she pitched forward and sprawled on top of him. Her computer bag plopped a few feet away, splattering them both with mud.
Once again, Axel look worried. “Did I hurt you? Are you all right?”
Taylor braced her hands against his biceps, searching for leverage. Their size and strength gave her pause. She was pressed against his abdomen, which rippled beneath her. The man was a hunk! A shiver of desire raced through her. She found herself looking into his eyes. He met her gaze, and for a millisecond, she thought he returned that desire.
