Master of Fortune / Marrying the Lone Star Maverick: Master of Fortune / Marrying the Lone Star Maverick

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“What book?”

“Pippi Longstocking. The author was Astrid Lindgren. My mum said she wanted me to have that passion for life that Pippi always had.”

Astrid looked back over at Henry to find him watching her with that unreadable expression of his. She was talking too much, she knew, but she was tired. Physically of course, because her body had yet to adjust to the night owl hours, but also tired of keeping parts of herself from Henry. She wanted him to know the woman she was. Wanted him to look at her and see the real woman.

“I like that. Your mum sounds like she knew what she was doing when she named you,” Henry said.

Astrid wasn’t certain about that. A part of her had always felt as though she had to live a larger life than her sister. Bethann was driven and always made the right choices. She had achieved more and accomplished great things, as opposed to Astrid, who was always starting over.

“I’m not so sure. But I do like where I am right now,” she said.

Henry grabbed her hand, linking their fingers together as they walked down the street to where he’d parked his car.

“Have you ever thought about what you’d name your children?”

Astrid felt a sting of tears at his question. And turned away from him.

“Astrid?”

She shook her head. “Probably after my parents. You?”

“I’ve always thought I’d name a son after Jonny Wilkinson, the great rugby player.”

“Better hope your wife likes the sport,” she said. She tried to keep her tone light, but she knew that children was never going to be an easy topic for her…. How had they taken this track?

Henry didn’t want to talk about kids; he’d never really thought much about them other than when his mum had given birth to his two younger half brothers. But there was a tone in Astrid’s voice that made him believe he should pursue this line. There was something more to the way she had answered his throwaway question.

“What are your parents’ names?” he asked.

“Spencer and Mary,” she said. “I really don’t want to talk about this. I’m not even sure how we ended up on this topic.”

He unlocked the passenger door of his car and helped her inside. He walked around to the driver’s side and sat behind the wheel for a minute before starting it.

“My mum contemplated naming me Mick after Mick Jagger, but in the end she said she wanted to name me after the man who always loved her.”

“That’s sweet,” Astrid said. She had to wonder how hard it was on Henry growing up the way he had. “Why did you play rugby? Wouldn’t it have been easier for you to try to be a musician?”

Then she covered her mouth with one hand as a thought occurred to her. “Or can’t you sing?”

“I can sing,” Henry said. “Not very well, but I can sing.”

“So why not music?”

“I’m a stubborn cuss,” he said, starting the car. “I didn’t want anyone to say I had anything given to me. I started playing rugby when I was eight. I’d already grown up in the glare of my mum’s spotlight and the infamous circumstances surrounding my birth…. If I achieved anything I wanted it to be on my own terms.”

He pulled out and started driving toward Astrid’s car. “Where are you parked?”

“Near Waterloo,” she said, giving him directions to the location.

“You were very wise to make that choice so young,” she said. “Bethann is like that. She’s a solicitor. Always knew she wanted to be one.”

“What about you?”

“I always knew I wanted to live in London,” she said with a little laugh. “I love the excitement of the city and being so close to everything.”

“Why don’t you live in town?”

“Well, Woking was all I could afford on my own and all my mates are married now. Anyways, that’s why I have a flat in Woking.”

“I meant how did you find your way to the music industry?” Henry pulled into the car park where she’d left her car.

“My car’s in the second level,” she said. “I took a job out of university as a receptionist. It was with Mo Rollins Group, and I just sort of worked my way up. The funny thing is the longer I worked there the more at home I felt.

“It’s that green Ford Fusion.”

He pulled up behind the car and she gathered her bag to get out. But he wasn’t ready to say good-night just yet.

“And now you’re working for me. Still like this industry?” he asked.

“After a night like tonight? You bet. I loved the raw sound of XSU and once you sign them it’ll be exciting to watch their transformation into a solid band.”

“I agree. I had thought of being a sports agent or a recruiter.”

“Why didn’t you? I remember that telly show you had a few years ago that featured child protégés of the sports world.”

“You do? Did you watch it?” he asked.

“Sometimes,” she admitted. “How did you get into doing that?”

“My mum knows all kinds of people in the entertainment industry and after my injury she started putting me in touch with them.”

“She sounds like she’s very helpful.”

Henry laughed. “She’s a meddler. I told her I was going to live off my investments and just party all the time. That motivated her to use every contact she had to get me in touch with someone who could put me to work.”

“And she got her way, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she did. So I had the show, and I was talking to my own agent from when I was with the London Irish, but it was a frustrating job and I didn’t really enjoy it.”

“Is that when you turned to music?”

“Yes. I had the contacts in this world.” Henry said.

“And it gives you something in common with your mum.”

“Yes, it does. Want to come back to my place for a nightcap?”

“Um … what?”

“I don’t want this night to end. I don’t think you do either,” he said.

She hesitated and then sighed. “No, I don’t want it to end. But I have a busy day tomorrow.”

“I know your boss.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. It’s hard to balance working together with a personal relationship.”

“Is it? Everest Group has no policy against fraternization, so your job isn’t in jeopardy at all.”

“Will that still be true if I say I want to go home?” she asked.

“Of course it will be. I think you know me better than that,” Henry said. “And if you don’t, then going home is definitely what you should do.”

She bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I guess I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” she said, climbing out of the car. He watched her walk to her vehicle, and she opened the door, tossing her purse inside before looking back at him.

“Do you really want to pursue a relationship with me?” she asked.

He nodded. He couldn’t get her out of his mind and he was tired of trying. He was going to have Astrid Taylor if for no other reason than they might be able to work without the tension of wondering what they’d be like together.

“I’m going to be honest with you, Henry. I’m not sure sleeping with you is in my best interest.”

“Well, when you put it that way, I’m not either,” Henry said. He reached out and tugged on one of her curls. He didn’t want her to say no to him, but he knew that she had a lot more at stake than he did. He was trying to go slowly with her, but he was used to just reaching out and taking what he wanted.

And damn the consequences.

“Come to my country home this weekend,” he said. “We can ride horses and play rugby and get to know each other.”

She shook her head. “I already have plans.”

“Then invite me along,” he said. A shy man never got what he wanted.

“It’s with my family…. Still want to come?”

“Yes. What’s the occasion?”

“My sister’s birthday. My mum’s having a dinner party for her.”

Henry realized that Astrid thought she had taken a risk by inviting him. And he wasn’t about to pass it up. “I’d love to.”

“Good. I’ll see you at work tomorrow, Henry. Thanks for the lift.”

“You’re welcome. Drive safely, Astrid.”

She got in her car, and he backed up to let her leave in front of him. She was completely unlike any other woman he’d ever met and he was beginning to understand that was part of what attracted him to her.

Six

Astrid had had second, third and fourth thoughts about inviting Henry to her parents’ house for Bethann’s birthday, but she’d asked and he’d accepted, so there was no turning back now.

Henry hadn’t been in the office the past two days so she hadn’t seen him since she’d invited him. He’d sent her a text message the night before, asking what time to pick her up. Now she was standing in front of the mirror in her bedroom wishing that she’d turn into someone else. Someone who knew what she was doing with her life instead of a woman who just bumped along.

The bell rang and she sighed.

She walked through the flat and opened the door to find Henry standing there. He wore a striped button-down shirt with an open collar and a pair of dark trousers. He hadn’t shaved but the light beard on his jaw made him look even sexier than he normally did.

“Come in,” she said, stepping back so he could enter. “I have to grab my bag and then I’ll be ready to go.”

“Take your time,” he said.

She went down the short hall to her bedroom and gathered her stuff as quickly as she could. When she came back Henry stood in front of the wall where she’d hung her family pictures.

“Is this Bethann?”

“Yes. When she passed her A levels. That’s my parents’ place, as well.”

“Everyone looks happy,” he said.

“We generally are,” she said. She’d taken that happiness for granted. Thought that because she had a sunny outlook, her life would follow that path. But experience had taught her otherwise.

“Ready then?”

“Yes,” he said, walking toward her. But instead of continuing on to the door, he stopped and pulled her into his arms.

He kissed her, and she shut her eyes, savoring that moment of closeness. A moment that passed all too quickly as Henry ended the kiss and then put his hand on the small of her back to lead her to the front door. He waited while she double-checked her lock and then they went downstairs.