Stella reached for her glass and took another sip. “Let’s not bring my father into this.”
His hand inched a bit higher, then his thumb slid over the bottom button of her dress as if he would pop it open at any moment.
“Agreed. Everyone should stay out of this room except us.”
Stella took another sip and set her glass back down. “We’re not having sex.”
“Not yet.”
She couldn’t stop her smile. “At all,” she clarified. “I can’t afford to get caught up in anything but work right now.”
Dane’s eyes crinkled in the corners as he smiled. “Yet here you are.”
Well, he had her there. Stella laid her hand over his and for a split second—okay, maybe more—she wanted to slid it on up and show him exactly how he could alleviate her stress. But she held his hand firmly in place on her bare thigh.
“I don’t even know you,” she stated. “Clearly there’s chemistry, but I can’t get sidetracked by a sexy man who came to my rescue.”
“I obviously wasn’t looking to get sidetracked, either, but there’s nothing more I want than to lay you out in front of that fire and give you exactly what your body is aching for.”
The man knew all the right words to say. There should be some major red flags going up. A stranger coming in at the exact time she needed someone, the fact he knew precisely what to say and just how much to press without being a jerk...
No matter the flags, she honestly couldn’t find a flaw here.
Stella reached for her glass and tipped it back, taking every last drop of her favorite wine. With a soft clink, she set the glass back down and came to her feet. Dane’s hand fell away, and he rose, as well.
“I should get to my room and attempt a few hours of sleep.”
Dane brushed her hair from her face, letting his fingertips feather across her jaw. Something flashed through his eyes a second before he curled those same fingers around the back of her neck and pulled her mouth to his.
Stella didn’t even try to fight the kiss...why would she? They’d been building toward this moment since they met—did it matter that was only a few hours ago?
Besides, a kiss was harmless. Well, most of them were. A kiss from Dane Michaels was powerful, toe curling, panty melting, and instantly had her mind on sex. The way his body lined perfectly with hers, the way his lips coaxed hers apart, eager for more, only had her more than ready to take him up on his offer.
The wine had gotten to her just as she’d thought it might. She swayed against him, reaching up to clutch his bare biceps. Those were rancher arms. No sedentary job could produce muscles so firm, so...magnificent.
Dane eased back and Stella whimpered. Damn alcohol. She’d never whimpered or begged for any man, yet she’d just done the first and was closing in on the second.
“I’ll check on you tomorrow,” he told her. “If you need me, you know where to find me.”
When he released her, Stella had to concentrate on staying upright. She hadn’t had nearly enough time with him. She wanted more of that whiskey-soaked tone, that dark gaze, those lips and hands on her.
Straightening her dress, Stella pulled herself together and crossed the suite to the elevator. Dane came up behind her, practically pressing her against the doors. Stella closed her eyes and inhaled that spicy, masculine scent.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The whisper in her ear, the warmth of his breath on her skin had her shivering and with the way his chest was pressed to her back, there was no way he missed her body’s reaction to him.
Stella risked a glance over her shoulder. “I look forward to it.”
And then she fled back to her room where she replayed over and over the entire evening from the moment Dane stepped into the dining room to the moment he sent her entire body up in flames.
So why didn’t she just give in and let him douse them?
No. The real question was, how long would she make them both wait?
Four
Dane sipped his morning coffee and relaxed in the Adirondack chair on the expansive enclosed balcony. He’d come out at sunrise to admire the breathtaking view. He’d had a restless night, thanks in part to one seductress who’d plastered her sweet body against his and left him wondering just who was playing whom.
He’d remained in control of the situation last night, but barely. He needed to have a better grasp of just how potent Stella was before their next encounter. Coming into this whole plan, he sure as hell hadn’t planned on questioning his damn sanity regarding his hormones.
Stella had certainly surprised him last night by coming to his suite. He’d written off seeing her again until today after she’d seemed to reject his invitation. Dane wasn’t often taken off guard and finding more reasons to admire Stella was not helping his cause.
He didn’t want to admire her, he wanted to use her for her insight into her father’s sharklike mind when it came to business. Yet each moment he spent with her, he found himself growing more and more captivated.
Dane had already sent an offer to buy Mirage outright that was more than reasonable, but Ruiz Garcia had turned it down without a counter.
There had to be a way...and Dane was using the method he felt would be the most effective. If the guy treated his daughter like a peasant employee, why the hold over this resort? Why not just sell it, take the money, and cut his daughter out of the business entirely? Why string her along?
So many questions, yet none of them really mattered. All Dane cared about was what it would take for Ruiz to sell Mirage. That was the bottom line.
Dane extended his legs and crossed his ankles. He’d give his brother another hour or so before he called. Ethan was not a morning person, pretty much because he was a nighttime partier. His current state likely involved being wrapped around at least one woman.
While Dane worked here in Gold Valley, Ethan was hoping to work his own magic at the second Mirage resort on Sunset Cove. The island off the coast of California was certainly more Ethan’s lifestyle. Dane preferred his secluded ranch, he thrived in being alone where he didn’t have to feed a relationship and had nobody depending on him.
The bond between Dane and his younger brother had been strained since the passing of their mother, but they were still brothers and had two goals binding them together: get back the Mirage resorts and take down Robert Anderson. That bastard had stolen too much from them when they’d been helpless, but now Dane and Ethan were powerful and even more so when they put their resources together. There wasn’t a place Robert could hide, not anymore.
None of this was about the money. Both Dane and Ethan could buy any resort anywhere in the world. Hell, they could build something even bigger, better, but they deserved what their mother had created.
With the twentieth anniversary of her death approaching, Dane wanted, needed to feel closer to the only woman he’d ever loved.
Tamping down the ache resonating in the void in his heart, Dane came to his feet and rested his arms on the wrought iron railing. Clutching his coffee cup, he overlooked the valley and felt like a damn king. There was nothing more refreshing than mountain air that was so crisp, so raw.
Dane wouldn’t have a difficult time coming off the ranch with picturesque views like this to tempt him. He’d worried about who would actually run the place in his absence once he got Mirage in his control, but the worry seemed less potent now that he realized how comfortable he still felt here. He would be a hands-on owner. This was his mother’s place, his mother’s dream, there was no way he could turn Mirage over to anybody else.
So long as he kept that in the forefront of his mind, Dane knew he could push through his doubts and fears. If anyone could get him to step back out into society on a regular basis, it was his mother. She deserved for him to step up and put his own issues aside and be the man she’d raised.
There was no time to waste. He needed to discuss things with his younger brother. If that meant disrupting his morning slumber and irritating his bedmates, so be it.
Dane set his coffee mug on the large raw-edged wood island between the kitchen and the dining area as he dialed. He waited for Ethan to pick up, but voice mail kicked in and Dane muttered a curse before clearing his throat and leaving a message.
They were closing in on Robert and Dane was chomping at the proverbial bit to serve a healthy dose of vengeance to his stepfather. Dane wanted to know where Ethan stood and what intel he’d uncovered since they spoke last.
Each day that went by was another day closer to the anniversary of their mother’s death and another day that bastard was able to live his life as a free man. Those days were coming to an end and a new chapter in the Michaels brothers’ story would begin. Maybe regaining their legacy would bring them back together, closer, like they used to be.
Dane pocketed his phone and headed toward the en suite to shower. While waiting to hear from his brother and plan their takedown, Dane had a lady to charm. And judging from her reaction last night, he wasn’t too far from accomplishing all of his goals.
* * *
The vibration on the nightstand irritated the hell out of Ethan. Couldn’t a guy get a good morning’s sleep? If that damn thing kept going off, he’d throw it out the open patio door, not caring if it landed in the ocean.
He turned his face into the soft, warm pillow and blinked against the sunlight streaming in. He purposely kept that patio door open so he could hear the ocean crashing to the shore. Security wasn’t an issue—unless a thief who could defy gravity decided to scale the high-rise penthouse. Ethan had confidence he was safe.
Besides, he thrived here. The beach, the ocean, the endless water views from his bed. He’d grown up in Montana and the mountains were fine for his brother, but the second Ethan had set foot on a beach, he knew exactly where he belonged. Everything about this atmosphere called to him and he couldn’t imagine spending his life in the mountains like Dane.
The cell buzzed again and Ethan rolled over and smacked the damn thing before pulling it toward him. The screen lit up with a few texts from numbers he didn’t recognize and a voice mail alert from Dane.
The texts could wait. Even though they were likely from the ladies he’d met last night and Ethan rarely kept a woman waiting—in bed or out—this business with Dane had to take top priority. They both had their own individual goals, but their joint goal had Ethan sitting up in bed, the sheet pooling around his waist as he dialed his brother.
“Did I interrupt anything?”
Dane’s answer in lieu of hello had Ethan grunting and glancing to the other side of his king-size bed. The four-legged, furry feline hadn’t stirred since crawling over his face to get to her spot in the middle of the night.
Not many people knew about the fur ball that he’d rescued. But damn it he’d seen the poor lethargic thing out in a storm and he simply couldn’t leave it there. Ethan had had every intention of finding a new home for it.
Two years later, they were still together.
“I’m sandwiched between two redheads,” Ethan replied, instead of mentioning the real pussy in his bed. “This better be good.”
“I’m at Mirage in Gold Valley.”
Ethan felt a swell of pride and anticipation, quickly followed by a dose of jealousy and longing. Dane had already pushed through to the next phase of their mission to gain back what belonged to them, but timing was everything and Ethan wasn’t quite ready to make his presence known at Mirage in Sunset Cove.
“I’ve already gotten close with the manager—who also happens to be the owner’s daughter—and it’s just a matter of time before I can get the angle I need to get this location back in our family.”
Our family. They hadn’t been a true family since their mother died. When that happened, Dane had closed in on himself, their stepfather had shown his true, greedy self and Ethan...well, he’d turned to anyone who could make him forget, even if that was for just a night.
“You’re moving fast.” Ethan threw off the sheet and swung his legs over the side of the bed, taking a moment to enjoy the breathtaking view. “And here I thought I was the charming, irresistible brother.”
“You’re cocky. There’s a difference,” Dane retorted. “What have you found out about Robert?”
Ethan raked a hand over his bare chest as he came to his feet. “Right now he’s comfortable in Hawaii. We’re so damn close. I want to lure him in. I need him at Mirage in Sunset Cove.”
“You’re confident you can get him there?” Dane asked.
“He’s never been able to turn down the idea of making millions.” Ethan had formulated a rock-solid plan, but he needed his brother’s help. “If he thinks he can get this resort back and flip it again to make money on it twice, he’ll break records getting there.”
“Don’t make a move until you tell me,” Dane stated. “I want to be there when you approach him. We’re a team on this deal.”
Right. A team. Ethan had hinged his entire life on that...or at least the first eighteen years. But losing their mother had torn a hole through both of them, and they just hadn’t been able to reach each other across the empty space. They’d stuck together until they’d both finished high school but then, motherless and penniless, they’d both joined the military and gone their separate ways.
They stayed in touch, calling and texting, randomly getting together, but nothing was the same. Ethan couldn’t even blame their polar-opposite personalities. When they’d been growing up, they’d simply balanced each other.
While Dane was more studious, Ethan had been a jock. They could put down an extra-large pizza—covered with sausage of course—and one ate all the edges, the other ate the entire middle. Everything they’d done just seemed to jive.
As adults, well, they were more acquaintances than anything. Their main goal of taking back the resorts and annihilating Robert had always kept them bonded...but Ethan wanted more. He wanted his brother back. In the years since they’d split apart, no one had filled that void. He was always surrounded by people, but he was lonely for family.
“I’m hoping to lure him in within the next month,” Ethan replied. “I’ll keep you posted.”
“I’ll do the same from my end.” Dane cleared his throat. “We’re going to make this happen. For Mom.”
The void in Ethan’s heart throbbed. “For Mom,” he repeated.
And for us.
Five
Stella stifled the urge to breath a sigh of relief at how smoothly the morning had gone with the part-time chef. Thankfully she’d agreed to step up full-time and save Stella’s ass.
Considering it was only lunchtime on day one of the replacement, Stella wasn’t about to pull out the confetti and celebrate just yet. But she did feel some of the weight ease from her shoulders.
Granted she should be relaxed after that wine and those kisses last night from a virtual stranger, but that sexual tension...
She’d had friends in college who had had one-night stands and Stella had never understood how someone could tumble into bed with a person they’d just met.
Well, now she knew exactly why they didn’t let their inhibitions get in the way. Just the memory of that intimate moment had her body heated in ways she didn’t think possible.
Unfortunately, as much as she wanted to replay the events and tack on her own fantasies, there was too much work to be done.
Since the lunch rush seemed to be under control, Stella headed toward the front desk. Checkout time had passed an hour ago and they were due to get a new wave of couples. Every room was booked, which was always a good thing on a weekni
ght.
Since Stella had taken over, she’d been trying her hardest to make sure her marketing team kept pumping out information and waving the amenities around all over social media. The previous manager hadn’t been interested in growing the business, but rather staying behind his desk and remaining stagnant. All he cared about was that he got paid.
Well, that had put a damper on her father’s plans to watch cash just flood in, so Stella had jumped at the chance to not only manage this remarkable resort, but also show her father she was a worthy businesswoman.
She didn’t need his approval. She didn’t need his money. But she wanted his respect and she had a sickening feeling in her gut that she’d never get it. This was her last chance. She was done putting herself out there, basically waving around in his face all the ways that she was worthy to be in his world, his damn life. If he didn’t acknowledge her or treat her the way she deserved, then she’d be done.
Even if that would leave her officially alone. Over time she had come to the realization that perhaps she’d be better off alone than begging for attention or love from her own father.
Stella passed through the wide-open, four-story lobby. She never tired of the beauty of this place. Not only had Mirage been built with wood from the forest where the building stood, the place had been built around some of the old trees. Literally, there was a large, live ponderosa pine growing straight up through the middle of the lobby. It was quite a focal point for newcomers looking for a place to take selfies.
Besides the live trees randomly found inside the resort, there were windows absolutely everywhere. A breathtaking view was never farther than a glance in one direction or the other. Mountain views were the main reason Stella loved not staying behind her desk. She’d taken the smallest office, though she had a feeling her father had a hand in doling that area out to her.
Even though she was rushing from one crisis to another, at least she was surrounded by breathtaking splendor, so she wasn’t about to complain.
Montana Seduction Page 4
