Back on the bike, we sped through the night. We were on a small side highway now, and there was seldom a vehicle in either direction. We rode on for another hour or two and then turned up a small blacktop road that meandered for several miles before we came to a huge iron gate. When Buck did the entry code I knew we had come to the end of this journey. He was home and I would simply have to deal with whatever came next.
Buck
As we rode up that familiar long winding road I realized it was the first time I had done it since my father's funeral. It just wouldn't be the same without the old man here, and I knew that was why I had been avoiding the place. But it was time, and with Chrissie riding behind me I felt like I was ready to take up the reins in his place. But I still felt a bit of trepidation as we rode to that big old house, quiet without him. The whispered "Wow" from Chrissie reminded me that this may be home to me but to anyone else the first time can knock your socks off.
The old Georgian mansion was one of the first big estates built in the area and we had always cared for it, even before oil was found on our lands. The grey shale blocks were same color as the land, fitting since they came from the mountains nearby. They gave solidity to the place that spoke of generations living here, living with the land.
Cattle used to be our big asset, and then the modernization of America made what was beneath that grazing land worth far more than the cattle. Not that we didn't still have the herds, it would have been sacrilege to do otherwise in our family. My brother Bill took care of that side of the family business; it was second nature to him. But for me the rocks and the oil were what had always fascinated me. It was only natural that I went to University to study geology and was soon coming home with new ideas that the old man found peculiar. But I always thought I would have time to convince him and work alongside him. We didn't always agree on everything, but the love was there. It was hard to accept he was truly gone.
As we pulled up to the front door it opened and Bill stepped out. Tall and lanky like every Austin before him, he grinned as he walked up to us. "Buckaroo, it is about time you came home." I always hated his nickname for me, but tonight it was welcome. His eyes slid past me to Chrissie, and I could see a quick appraisal as he tried to decide how to greet her. I took the bull by the horns, "Bill, this is Chrissie. She is special to me so treat her nice." That was really all I needed to say.
As we dismounted, shaking our heads out after removing our helmets, Bill's eyes widened in appreciation. He was about to make some crack when I heard a commotion from the doorway. Rambunctious as ever, and always the center of attention because she demanded it, Marianne ran straight to me and jumped into the biggest hug this side of the Mississippi. "Where the heck have you been?" she demanded, socking me in the arm and hugging me at the same time.
"Chrissie," I said as I laughed and tried to defend myself. "This is my sister Marianne. Ouch! Give it a rest sis, or I will take off again." She whirled around to see Chrissie, and instantly gave her a hug as well. "If you are the reason this big gallop is back home, you have more than my blessing," she said as she towered over Chrissie, her arm still around her. "Any chance I get a sister out of this one Buck?"
I shook my head at my two siblings, grabbing our bags as we walked into the house. It looked the same as ever, walnut panels along the hallways with chandeliers that had been shipped all the way from France over a hundred years ago. Maybe to some folks it would feel like living in a museum, but to me it was home. I turned to Chrissie who was standing in the entrance, looking around with a childlike wonder. "Welcome to Black Diamond Ranch or what I refer to as the old homestead." I took her by the arm and led her up the stairs, leaning over to whisper, "Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore." She smiled up at me.
My mom is an old fashion woman, so I put Chrissie's bag in one room and headed down the hall to my old bedroom. It was late but I had texted Bill and Marianne earlier so everyone was still up. I popped down the hallway to see Mom. She was in bed, reading through some ranch reports with her glasses propped on her nose. Looking up she smiled. "Don't just stand there Buck, give me a hug" I dutifully did so, and then tweaked her nose. It was an old game we played when I was a kid, and she laughed to see that I still enjoyed it.
"Get some sleep Ma. Put that stuff away and we will go over everything in the morning." She nodded, wagging her finger at me as she did. "I heard about your girlfriend so no funny business tonight, you hear?" I nodded, though we both knew I had no intention of listening to her. I had been thinking of my big old poster bed ever since the stopover at Buffalo Hill. Tonight would be a coming home like none I had known.
"Bill has the helicopter ready to head out tomorrow and go over the changes since you were last here. You have some catching up to do before that board meeting in the afternoon," she admonished. "You will need your sleep." I grinned at her as I headed out the door and she shook her head at me. We both knew it was just a game.
That night was everything I promised myself it would be and more. Chrissie came to my room as we arranged, just as soon as the house stilled and everyone was asleep. I couldn't wait to have her back in my arms again, to feel her warm skin against mine and kiss her a million times over. This time we took our time, making love in long slow motions and returning again and again to kiss and cuddle before once again being lost in each other's bodies. When I arose a few short hours later, I left her to sleep in my bed as I met Bill for breakfast and our planned tour of the new operations.
We planned to drop Marianne off at the local airport on our way north to our scheduled flyover. My little sister is even more of a maverick than me; she doesn't even care about the ranch outside of using it as her focal point for her art. She has painted all her life, beginning as a child. By high school she was winning every local art contest, by 18 she was submitting her paintings for national art galleries. These days she is represented by an international agency with galleries in San Francisco, New York, Paris and London. Plans are underway for a show in Tokyo and she was flying out to meet the new investor who was paying for the show. They would be lunching in San Francisco and then discussing which paintings to include in this new gallery. She was excited to meet him and to be expanding into the Asian market.
When we dropped her off she made me promise that Bill, Chrissie and I would meet with her tomorrow for dinner so she had a chance to get to know Chrissie better. The day passed quickly and I was anxious to get back to the ranch and talk to Chrissie about these new plans we were putting in place. I could see a role for her here, if she wanted to take it. I knew that she would get along like gangbusters with Marianne and was looking forward to that dinner the next day.
I had called Marianne several times that day, just to see how the meeting was doing and when we needed to pick her up tomorrow. All I got was her voicemail, which by the third time was beginning to annoy me. I got home, showered and headed downstairs for dinner when the phone rang. It was Marianne's agency calling to see if we knew where she was.
They had sent the car to pick her up from the airport but the flight had been delayed due to bad weather. Now it seemed to be missing altogether. I tried her cell again and got the same voicemail message. She hadn't called home. Bill had already called the airline but all they could tell us was that it had to divert its registered flight plans because of stormy weather. Where it was diverted to no one seemed to know. We had the company plane fueled and ready to take off at a moment's notice. The only problem was we didn't know where to go and if Marianne was okay.
MOMENTS OF GAME
Alpha Billionaire Romance
Moments Series Book 4
By Melanie Brandon
www.amazingromancebooks.com
Marianne
The trip to San Francisco should have been a few hours, four at tops. I had planned to do some catching up on emails, maybe get a bit further in that crime novel I was reading. Instead I soon found myself gripping the hand rests of my seat as our little plane bucked through a storm-t
ossed sky, trying not to be afraid. The electrical storm had come up suddenly and Jamie, our family's long time pilot, announced he would be maneuvering to fly above the storm. Apparently that didn't work and now we were flying in unfamiliar territory, at least unfamiliar to me and I took this flight pretty often. I trusted Jamie to find a safe route out of this mess, after all he had been piloting our family jets since I was a kid.
When we did manage to land, it was obvious from the get go that we were not in San Francisco. In fact, looking at the little blown-together shack they called an airport, I would guess we were in Mexico. Turns out I was right. The electrical storm had knocked out what little electricity they had in this town, but the plane was down and safe; I was safe. I could have kissed the ground.
Pulling out my phone to call Buck and let him know what happened, I discovered that somehow my phone had been fried in the storm as well. It turned out the entire little town, what there was of it, was also without phone service because of the storm. We were stuck here, at least until the storm blew over. My meeting would have to be postponed. I just hoped Yu-Tang, the investor I was to meet who wanted to back my own gallery in Hong Kong, would be patient. I didn't know much about him so it didn't make my waiting any easier.
It turned out we weren't the only ones who found ourselves caught south of the border when this errant electrical storm blew out of the Pacific and across the desert. Looking across the tarmac I saw a group of businessmen talking amongst themselves. They were an odd mix – young and old, Chinese, South Asian and Caucasian.
One man stood out amongst the rest. I noticed as they walked parallel to us into the building that he had a restrained powerful walk, like a tiger on a short leash. He was Chinese with a bit of something else I couldn't quite identify, maybe Northern Mongolian. As an artist, I love to draw people and am always paying attention to unusual and beautiful bodies. I couldn't help but think how I would love to draw this one, naked. The others seemed to defer to him as they talked, but he was the quiet eye in the center of the storm and said little. When he turned and looked my way, I felt an electric shiver along my spine that ran all the way to my toes. He was like a dangerous animal and yet I didn't feel afraid as much as intrigued.
When Jamie and I arrived in the building, the businessmen were already there. I could see they were discussing something with the lone official remaining at this outpost of an airport. I was exhausted and looked around for somewhere to sit, opting for the least dirty of the plastic chairs. Jamie went ahead to see if he could find out how long we needed to wait and where we could refuel. Once this storm had passed we wanted to be ready to roll. We intended to stay for as short a time as we could, especially since we were out of communication with everyone. Within a few hours we were on our way. I found myself wondering how my tiger man was faring as we headed out to San Francisco. Little did I know I would see him again and soon.
Yu-Tang
Our plane was down because of the storm, landing at some flea-bitten Mexican airport. The place had a charm of its own – reminding me of many film locations we would travel to back in the day when I still was willing to risk my neck for the sake of a good bit of storytelling. Well, that and the insane paychecks I got for each film I made. I looked around at my little huddle of fellow investors, wondering how I ever was talked into taking this side flight along the Sonora Desert before heading up to San Francisco.
These were all businessmen I knew well, people who like me were used to making decisions every day that could cost or make millions of dollars. They were not used to be stymied by anything, even something as odd as this electric storm. They were also frustrated by their inability to call out or find anyone in charge. But where they fretted about time lost, I waited and watched.
Having spent my youth working in Hong Kong's thriving film industry, I knew the value of patience. Acting, like the martial arts that were central to my roles, requires patience, tons of it. That same patience had allowed me to take the millions I could command for each martial arts film and turn it into the collection of software, entertainment and banking firms I ran today. Sometimes I missed the adrenalin of the old times, but I certainly didn't miss the drama. I hate drama, even when some might think it is called for, such as in a situation like this. That might be why I found my gaze sliding over to the other plane that had been downed by this storm. Especially the woman, who I assumed was the sole passenger.
It wasn't just that she was stunning, though she was that. With long blonde hair that outshone the sun, a figure that would put a fifties starlet to shame and a grace that reminded me of ballet dancers, she compelled. I am used to beautiful women; I have had them around most of my life and never really cared. Most of them are like little pampered cats, always in need of more affection and attention. The few times I have met a woman I actually liked they tended to be married already. I have a rule about that, though I have at times regretted it.
But this woman, she was different. I could tell and it caught my curiosity. I wanted to know who she was, why she was not only beautiful but also obviously content. She was in the middle of a crises and she seemed shaken but not breakable. For just a moment we locked eyes and I felt a strange bolt, almost a sense of recognition. I looked away, unsure of what I felt. Then she was gone, walking into the building to talk to her pilot.
Within a few hours she had left with her companion, for all I knew he was her husband though they didn't act much like a couple. My guess would be he worked for her, but they had known each other a long time. I know people and I could see a familiarity between them that was almost like an uncle with a favorite niece. It made me even more curious to know who this mystery woman was. Why was I mesmerized by this woman, who so easily laughed while waiting for her plane to be refueled in the middle of nowhere in the Mexican desert?
Marianne
As Jamie touched the plane down in San Francisco I began to plan my next few moves. I needed to contact my agent about the missed meeting and somehow manage my life without a phone. I never knew how much I counted on that little piece of electronic wizardry until I had one that was about as useful as a doorstop. But Jamie was already on it, calling ahead for a driver and letting them know the situation with my phone. By the time we had taxied to a stop the car was waiting and new phone was set and ready to have all my important data transferred into it. I may bitch from time to time about how much I hate being part of "the 1%" and try furiously to pay my way with my art, but today I was really glad to see what money can take care of in a pinch.
I called Buck first, knowing he was probably frantic with worry. Turns out he was here in San Francisco with his new girlfriend so we talked briefly and agreed to meet for dinner later. My agent was ready to have a heart attack, especially since not only had my plane been thrown off-course making me late for our meeting, but it seems that Yu-Tang was also missing in action. No one had a clue where he was.
I agreed I would be available as soon as he showed and went to the boutique hotel in the Mission District I had purchased a few years back as my private hideaway. I had the entire top floor to myself and the rest of it paid for itself. It had become a favorite of artists in town for gigs, and I loved the vibe we had created with it. It had been one of my favorite creative projects. Now all I wanted to do was spend a few hours alone in my studio and hope that the recent events had not killed the deal.
I hadn't really considered having my own gallery until Yu-Tang made me the offer to set one up in Hong Kong. I had great relationships with the galleries that showed my work in places like New York, Paris, London and Rome. But the man was a big collector of my work and his offer to make me completely independent in a whole new market was tempting.
I hadn't yet cracked Asia and the idea of being able to not only control how I was presented but own a piece of the pie in Hong Kong might be too good to pass up. Some of it would depend on the man, what he was like to work with since his role as a business partner was part of the deal. I am picky about men. They t
end to always want more from me then I am willing to give. That is as true in a business partner as it is in a bed partner. I have to be equal and it has to be a real partnership. I don't understand why that is such a big demand, but so far it has netted me zero in the romance world. Oh lots of play partners, but nothing ever serious. I don't plan on settling for less than perfect, I don't understand why anyone else would.
A few hours went by as I dove straight into the latest series I was working on in my studio. I love the light in San Francisco and that was a big part of why I bought this old hotel. I had converted an old greenhouse that sat on the roof into my studio. It gave me the feeling of being completely out in the open, high above the city. It was heaven and my refuge. No one comes without my permission first. That was why I was so shocked when I suddenly realized I wasn't alone. I had been so lost in the painting that I had no idea how long the person had been standing behind me, but I was suddenly aware of another presence. But the real shock came when I turned around to face him. Because there was my tiger man from the airport; standing in my studio with a look of quiet enjoyment on his face.
Yu-Tang
Finding her studio had not been difficult. I have found that money does wonders for loosening someone's tongue when you are determined. I had decided a while back that I wasn't about to invest the millions I planned to invest into the gallery without seeing the artist in her element. That was why I had taken the time to find out about her private gallery in San Francisco and then called for a meeting in that city. I knew that she would be there when we finally touched down, several hours late for our meeting. I planned to surprise her in her den, so to speak. What I wasn't prepared for was my own surprise when she turned around to confront me. It was the golden goddess from the airport. How could this be?
VAMPIRE:Vampire Guardian Series: Paranormal Mystery Vampire Alpha Male Romance (New Adult Contemporary Paranormal Royalty Fantasy Romance Collection)) Page 26
