by Jaci Burton
"You'd better start talking or I'm going to call Rand for butt to the seat in the booth at Torinos.
the details," Abby threatened.
Blair signaled the waitress for a margarita and grabbed Blair's head shot up. "Don't you dare!"
a chip from the basket in front of her. "Well what?"
"Then tell us what the hell happened! Because if you
"Don't play coy with us," Abby said, her eyes sparkling don't, I swear to God I will go to Rand and get his side of the with excitement. "You know what. Tell us."
story."
"It was fine." She bit into the chip and started chewing.
Blair gaped at Abby. She'd never known her friend to
"Fine?" Callie looked at Abby and back at Blair. "You be so fierce before. And she really did need to talk this out, and can do better than that. We want details."
who better to listen than her two best friends? If she couldn't The waitress set a margarita in front of Blair. She took a trust them, who could she trust?
couple long sips for encouragement, then said, "I went to his
"Okay, but not here. I can't talk about this here."
place. I fucked his brains out. Rinse, repeat. I went home."
"My place," Callie said, grabbing her purse and Abby frowned. "And?"
signaling the waitress for the check.
"And what?"
An hour later they were settled in Callie's living room,
"That's it?"
shoes off and comfortable with a pitcher of home made
"That's it."
margaritas and salty snacks spreads out all over the coffee table. Abby and Callie stared at her expectantly.
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She'd never told anyone about her secret desires before, enough. She didn't get up on time, she didn't walk right, she not even her two friends. It was now or never, though, and she didn't dress right. By the time I was old enough to move out on needed counsel.
my own she was nothing more than a robot following his
"Y'all probably aren't going to believe this, because commands. She lived a miserable existence her entire life I've always been the domineering and controlling type, but in because of a domineering man. She had no backbone, no self the bedroom I'm a complete and total submissive."
esteem and not enough self worth to walk out on him. He tried
"Tell me something I don't know," Callie said with a to do the same thing to me, but I bucked him every chance I soft smile.
could, refusing to allow him to bend me to his will.
Blair's jaw dropped. "You knew?"
"I vowed I would never, ever fall in love with a man
"I did. Don't know about Abby."
like that, that I would never involve myself with a strong Abby shook her head, her eyes wide. "Color me willed, controlling, domineering man."
clueless. You? Submissive? I had no idea."
The room grew silent and Blair was afraid to look at Okay, that wasn't as bad as she thought it was going to Abby and Callie, afraid they'd judge her mother's failings and be. She looked at Callie. "How did you know?"
somehow find her lacking, too.
"A few things you've said over the years. Plus I know Instead, her two friends flanked her on either side of the Rand, I know his type. He's totally dominant. And he melts sofa and she was sandwiched between them in a fierce hug that your butter in a big way."
made her eyes sting with tears.
Her pussy clenched just thinking about all the ways.
"You aren't responsible for your father's behavior or
"That he does."
your mother's lack of a spine," Callie said after she pulled back
"Now that much I did know," Abby said. "So why and looked at her.
aren't you still over there?"
Tears shined in Callie's amber eyes. And sadness.
"Because he scares me. And my reaction to him scares
"Don't cry for my mother. She was weak. I'm not."
me."
"I know you're not."
"Why?" Callie asked, leaning back against the sofa.
Abby squeezed her hand. "And Rand is nothing like Blair tucked her feet under her and focused on her your father."
margarita glass, feeling ashamed for what she was about to Blair nodded. "The logical part of me knows that. The admit. "I watched my father control every movement my emotional part of me runs like hell every time he comes near mother made. How much money she spent. Who her friends me and always has. It's what kept me from him all these years, were, where she spent her time. She couldn't even go the what has drawn me to wimpy men instead of the alpha, take grocery store without him timing her and then accusing her of charge man Rand is."
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She shuddered her next breath. "I've loved Rand A sharp knife like pain twisted in her belly. "I might."
McKay since I became aware of the sexual differences between She had a feeling she already had.
men and women. He's funny, honorable, intelligent, gentle and has a core strength that turns my knees to jelly. I knew then
"We have a new client."
what he was, and what I was. I knew he could give me what I Blair looked up from her desk in her office and smiled needed. Because I am sexually submissive. In every other at her assistant, Mary. "That's great."
aspect of my life I'm strong, capable, in control. In the
"Maybe it is and maybe it isn't." Mary worried her bedroom I like to submit. And it scares me that if I surrender to bottom lip and clutched the piece of paper in her hand.
him there, he might want me to surrender everywhere else. I
"Let me see it."
just. . .can't."
"You're not going to like this."
"Have you told him about your fears?" Callie asked.
Blair rolled her eyes. Her interior decorating business She shook her head. "No."
was her baby, her life's blood. She lived for new clients. She
"You should."
held out her hand. "Hand it over, Mary."
"I won't take that chance. I know it's cowardly of me, Mary slid the paper across Blair's desk. Blair scanned but I can't risk losing my soul to a man who'll want to the request, then frowned.
dominate every breath I take."
What the hell was he thinking? Another game, another
"You can trust him," Abby said. "I feel it in my heart.
way to manipulate her? Oh, no. This was not going to happen.
He's one of the good guys. And I think he's been waiting for
"Assign it to Sue Ellen."
you his whole life."
"He specifically requested you do the work."
She inhaled, fear making her tremble. "That scares me
"I see that. I'm not doing it. I'm too busy."
too. That I can't be what he wants me to be."
"Your calendar is clear. And it's a big job. He said the
"I've never seen you this way," Callie said. "You're entire house."
one of the strongest women I know. Nothing scares you."
"I don't care. I'm not doing it."
"This does. He does. How I feel about him does.
"He said you either do the job or no deal."
Everything about the two of us together scares me. I can't be She shrugged and turned to her computer. "Then I with him."
guess it's no deal."
"So you're going to walk away rather than figuring out
"We can't afford to turn away business, Blair."
if you and Rand could work together," Abby said.
Dammit, she was right. Goddamn Rand for backing her Blair looked at her and nodded. "Yes."
into a corner like this. Exactly the
reason she would never
"You might be walking away from the greatest love of explore a relationship with him.
your life."
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Manipulation, pure and simple. Just like her father. It
"You indicated you wanted the entire house redone?"
was all about control.
she asked, glancing around the room and jotting notes on a She tapped her fingers on the desk and contemplated.
clipboard.
The project was huge and would infuse some needed capital
"Yeah."
into the business. She really couldn't afford to turn it down, but
"I'll make a few notes and be right back. I assume it's she hated to submit to Rand's ultimatum.
all right if I move around your house."
"Fine. I'll do it. Notify Rand I'll meet him at his place
"You've been here already, Blair. I don't have a tonight at seven o'clock."
problem with you wandering around anywhere you want to."
Mary let out a breath. "Great! This is going to be a
"Take a seat then," she said, not even looking at him.
killer project. I'm so glad you changed your mind, Blair. It's
"I'll be right back."
going to be wonderful for business!"
He flopped on the couch and propped his feet on the And devastating in so many other ways.
coffee table while she roamed from the living room to the small dining area and into the four bedrooms. He wondered if Rand leaned against the porch pillar and watched Blair she remembered what they did in the bedroom the other night.
pull up in the driveway. Rascal bounded out to greet her, He sure as hell did. Couldn't sleep the past couple barking and wagging his tail.
nights either. Laid awake jacking off, her scent clinging to his He knew the feeling. His pulse jacked up just looking at sheets and pillowcases.
her as she slid out of her car wearing a tight pink skirt with a Goddammit, he wanted her in his bed again. And not matching short jacket. Her sunglasses masked her eyes, but the just for one night or two, either. He wanted forever. God, he grim set to her lips told him she wasn't happy to be there.
could imagine how she'd react if he told her that. But he knew Not that he expected her to be. In fact, he'd wager she her fears and he had to handle this delicately. If he pushed too was downright pissed about his ultimatum.
hard, he'd lose her. So he had to play this cool. Very cool.
"Blair," he said as she walked up the stairs.
He picked up an auto magazine and flipped through it
"Rand."
while she wandered through the house, then set it down when
"Thanks for coming."
she returned, noticing she sat in the chair next to the sofa.
"Uh huh. Shall we get started?"
Keeping her distance, was she?
"Sure." He opened the screen door for her and she Flipping the paper over in her clipboard, she cast him a stepped inside, her back stiff and straight.
direct look. "I assume you have specific ideas on redesign."
Oh yeah. She was mad as a swatted hornet. He grinned.
"Not really."
Her perfectly sculpted brows arched upward. "Excuse me?"
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He leaned back and placed his arms over the back of way. But he wasn't going to have her. Not tonight, anyway.
the couch. "I have no clue."
"Decorate it in a way that would please you if you lived here."
"Then how am I supposed to redesign the interior of
"Fine. I'll make sure the litany of brides-to-be your home?"
approve."
"That's your area of expertise, Blair. I'm a lawman, not
"Great."
a designer."
"You'll need to move out for a couple weeks."
"But this is your house."
"I can stay down at the jail. There's a bedroom and
"I trust your judgment."
shower there."
"I could turn your entire house into a pink, frilly She stood and smoothed her skirt, pulling a sheet off nightmare."
the clipboard. "I'll need you to list and tag the items that are He laughed. "You could. But you won't. You're too staying. Someone from my office will call you in the morning ethical for that."
to notify you what day we'll start."
She sighed. "You're right. How am I supposed to know
"I hope it'll be soon?"
what you want, Rand?"
She pursed her lips and studied him. "Have a candidate
"It's easy. You know me. And this place is a mix and in mind for Mrs. McKay already?"
mess of furniture that doesn't match. Other than a couple
"You might say that."
antiques that belonged to my grandparents, everything goes. I She had trouble disguising her surprise at his comment.
want to settle down, raise a family some day, so all I'm looking
"I'll do my best to hurry things along for you, then. Wouldn't for is something functional."
want to keep the impending bride waiting."
"Really."
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
She tapped her pen against the clipboard. He fought With a sharp inhale through her nose, since her lips back a smile. "Yeah. Really."
were cemented shut in a tight line, she scooped up her things
"So you want to redecorate to parade the prospective and stalked to the front door, practically pushing the screen off brides around in something a little fancier than what you have its hinges as she slammed through it on her way out.
now."
Oh yeah. She was damn mad now.
Oh, she was getting pissed. He wished he could laugh.
He had her right where he wanted her. Furious, jealous
"Not fancy. I'm a simple man. I just want it nice."
and confused.
"Define nice."
God, he loved her.
He loved the way her bottom lip twitched when she was annoyed. He wanted to grab it with his teeth and pull her
*****
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Redecorate. Parade of brides-to-be. Blair drummed her Sickening.
fingernails on her desk and tore through her catalogs, wishing But Rand, instead of doing what Blair's father had she could redecorate Rand's house like a sultan's harem. Jewel done, had just given her free rein over his entire house. Had colored pillows, hanging swags, draping silks in every color of told her to decorate it the way she would if she lived there.
the rainbow. It would serve him right if she did.
Except she wasn't going to be decorating it for herself.
Too bad she had professional scruples.
She was going to be decorating it for some other woman. He'd Asshole. Prick. Degenerate. Dickhead. She hated him.
just fucked her, while he was obviously already entertaining Hated, hated, hated him. With a passion that made her blood the idea of marrying someone else.
boil.
Son of a bitch. How could she have let her heart get How dare he be so nice, so professional, so
involved in one night of glorious fucking? Because it sure as accommodating.
hell hurt at the thought of Rand marrying another woman, of So utterly and completely unpredictable. She'd fully some other woman having that back yard with those kids and expected him to have a detailed outline of every piece of dogs and that swimming pool.
furniture he wanted and where, every color, every fabric, Stupid fantasies, anyway. It had been a bet. And she'd allowing her no leeway whatsoever. I
nstead, he blew her away done her part and fulfilled it. Now it was over. She and Rand by telling her to do whatever she wanted.
were over.
Her father had allowed her to redecorate one room in And when she finished this project, she never had to their house once. Right after she'd graduated from college.
think about him, see him, or speak to him again.
She'd made suggestions, but nothing she'd offered had been But she would do a good job on his house. She would good enough for him. He'd changed everything. And his design it as if she was the woman who was going to move in choices had been hideous, but of course he had to have control.
there, as if she was the woman who was going to have his Her mother hadn't said a word. So typical. Blair hadn't children and create a life with him.
bothered to argue with him. It was his dime, after all. He'd She'd show him he could trust her with his faith in her.
wanted Early American ugly, and that's what he'd gotten. The Because she was a professional who was damn good at colors were dark, not a feminine touch at all. And it was their her job.
master bedroom. By the time Blair had finished there had been Not because she cared about him.
nothing left of her mother in that bedroom.
Except her mother.
And her mom had pronounced it just lovely, had praised Blair for her work and told her father that his taste was wonderful.
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"Damn. This is nice," he said, tilting his head back and resting his palm against the butt of his pistol in his hip holster.
"It just brightens up the front porch a little."
Her throat had gone completely dry. She hoped he couldn't tell she was shaking. Honestly, why was she so nervous?
Chapter Seven
"I'll take you on a tour of your new place, if you're interested," she said with a casual shrug.
The house turned out perfect. Blair's stomach squeezed
"Sure. I can't wait to see it."
with both excited anticipation and bittersweet regret. She could Rand didn't know who was more nervous--him or
live in this house, could be comfortable and happy here.
Blair. She might be trying her best to hide it, but he saw it in It was gorgeous, a place she would consider every the furtive glances she threw his way while she acted woman's dream, yet a house a man could enjoy living in.
nonchalant and shrugged her way into a near fit.
And Rand was due any minute. She cruised through For two damn weeks he'd been cooling his heels at his every room to make sure nothing was out of place, then ran to office, dying to sneak out here and see what she was doing, but the front porch when she heard him drive up, her stomach holding true to his word and staying away. It took enormous twisting in knots.
