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“She’d bring it out in any man who’s not dead. Whew! She’s feisty and maybe as underhanded as the rest of her family. She openly threatened you.”
“That will make this all the more interesting. Too bad she’s a Holcomb. Otherwise…” he let his voice trail away as he thought about Julia. “Let’s have coffee,” Nick said, sitting and facing Tyler. “Tell me again—we’ve got this takeover nailed, don’t we?”
“Yes, we do,” Tyler said, his gray eyes flashing with satisfaction. He poured more wine for himself and offered some to Nick, who shook his head.
“Make sure there aren’t any hitches. Rufus has killer instincts and he doesn’t draw the line at doing something illegal.”
“As long as you live, you’ll think it was one of their minions who ran you off the road back in your early days.”
“I know damn well it was, but there was no way to prove it in court. None. My word against them, and they would have had an alibi.”
“If that’s the case, be careful now. We’re going for his throat.”
“I’m not a kid now. I’m not worried about Rufus or Julia and her threats. More than ever, I want to destroy Holcomb and get revenge for my family.”
“Plus acquiring some real jewels,” Tyler declared, taking a long drink of wine. “Rufus’s sister, Helena, lives in Paris. Her health is failing and she has a nurse and companion, as well as a staff to take care of her condo. I flew over there myself to see her. She never wants to come back here.”
“That surprises me,” Nick said.
“She’s older than Rufus and thinks it’s high time he retired while he still has his health. She has definite ideas and it sounds as if the two haven’t gotten along from the day Rufus was born.”
“Julia isn’t close to her aunt?”
“No. Helena doesn’t think Julia should be at Holcomb. Helena’s opinion is that Julia should be home making babies.”
The image that popped into Nick’s mind temporarily wiped out hearing anything else that Tyler was telling him. Julia in bed. Nick’s temperature soared, and he tried to pull his thoughts back to Tyler and concentrate on his vice president’s conversation. Nick wiped his damp brow and stared at Tyler.
“We own every dime’s worth of Holcomb stock Helena possessed. You are now the major stockholder.”
“Are there any other relatives holding stock besides Julia and Rufus?”
“No. In addition to Rufus’s sister, Julia and Rufus are the only ones left. They only have each other,” Tyler exclaimed with eagerness. “Julia’s parents were killed in a plane crash three years ago. Between the Holcomb stocks and the bank, you’ve got ’em.”
Nick thought about the bank he had just purchased and the Holcomb mortgages he had acquired. “We can call those mortgages in whenever we want,” he said. “His family and ours have battled over horses and oil. It’s time to take Miss Julia Holcomb and her grandfather out of the picture. She’ll make a lot of money and so will Rufus. We’re not robbing them.”
A cell phone rang and Nick retrieved it from his pocket, talking softly and listening to his friend, Meredith Cates, while Tyler poured another glass of wine for himself.
“Sorry, Meredith. I’m tied up this weekend.” Nick listened while she fussed.
“I can’t change my plans. I’ll get back with you,” he said and switched off his phone.
“Another woman bites the dust,” Tyler said. “You go through them like lightning. Has there ever been one you couldn’t seduce?”
Nick smiled. “I’m sure there has,” he answered easily. “Although I can’t remember her,” he added, and they both laughed.
Tyler sipped his drink and gazed at his friend. “All right,” Nick said. “What’s up?”
“It’s after hours now, Nick. Business over.”
Nick nodded. “Right. I think I should do Gina a favor and drive you home.”
“Nope. I’m sober enough. I’ll tell you what—I want that year-old sorrel of yours—”
“Standing Tall? He’s still not for sale,” Nick replied firmly. “But you have an eye for horseflesh. He’s going to win me a bunch of races.”
“You like my new Ferrari, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to swap my horse for your car. I can buy a car. The horse takes breeding and luck.”
“You might not have to have to swap your horse. You might get both if you’re willing to take a risk.”
Nick drank the last of his coffee and set down his cup, his curiosity growing. “So what’s on your not-too-sober mind, Tyler?”
“Let me name a woman. If you can seduce her within the next two weeks, the car is yours. If you can’t, the horse is mine.”
Nick laughed. “You’ve lost it!”
“Listen to me. I’ll pick someone likely—she has to be under thirty, healthy, single, a knockout, unattached and a woman of my choice.”
“You’re nuts. You’ve had enough wine. Let’s go,” Nick said and stood. “We’ve done a lot of crazy things, Ty. This is one you’re not talking me into.”
“Since when do you balk at seduction of a beautiful woman?” Tyler said, standing and walking out beside Nick. “Scared to risk your horse? You might get my Ferrari.”
Thinking about the prize car, Nick glanced at his friend. “You’d really bet your car?”
“Yes, I will. I want that horse. I think I can name a woman you can’t seduce.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“C’mon, Nick. It’ll make life interesting. Matter of fact,” Tyler said, getting a brisk, businesslike tone back in his voice, “here’s your chance to make your revenge really sweet. Miss Julia Holcomb.”
“To hell with that one,” Nick said.
“Scared of her? That would be the ultimate revenge, Nick. Absolute. I know your negative answer is not because she isn’t attractive enough. Sparks were flying between the two of you tonight.”
“Forget it, Ty. I’m not eighteen anymore, and you’re not talking me into something crazy like you used to do.”
Tyler kicked a small rock as they crossed the parking lot. “There goes my horse.”
Nick laughed. “C’mon. I’ll take you home and Gina can bring you back tomorrow to pick up your car.”
As they crossed the parking lot Nick remembered Julia and their encounter. How long was it going to take him to forget her? Or his pulse to stop jumping at the mere thought of her? Seduce Julia? Just the suggestion made his breath catch. But he wasn’t getting into a crazy bet with Tyler, even though it would be both a challenge and sweet revenge to seduce her.
After depositing Tyler at his house, Nick headed to his condo. While he drove, he thought about dinner and his fiery exchanges with Julia Holcomb, the sparks he could feel every time he locked gazes with her.
Beautiful, sexy, pure poison because of her family. He knew she viewed him as a monster.
I guess if I hadn’t stepped in front of you, you would have run right over that poor old dog. As her words rang in his ears, Nick clamped his jaw shut. He might be ruthless at work, but he didn’t run down helpless animals. He knew she’d said it to aggravate him, and his annoyance increased that she’d succeeded.
Nick drove to his condo that was the entire top floor of a twenty-story building. He moved around in the dark, enjoying the lights of the city, still unable to keep memories of Julia from tormenting him. He stood by the window and looked down on the sparkling city lights that sprawled in all directions. She was somewhere out there, probably in bed asleep. That thought made him groan, and he turned away, switching on lights as he shed clothes. He wished he were out on his ranch where he could go for night ride. Restless, he crossed to his desk and pulled out a ledger to think about work and get his mind off big blue eyes, long legs and the fiery tension between him and Julia Holcomb.
It was after three in the morning before he fell asleep, but within thirty minutes, the ringing of his phone awakened him. Immediately alert, Nick stretched out a long arm and picked up the receiver. His first thought was that something might have happened to his dad, whose health wasn’t the greatest.
“Nick.”
He heard Tyler’s voice. “Is Dad okay?”
“Yeah, sure. Sorry. I’m not calling about your family.”
Relief swamped Nick and he flopped down in bed again. “That’s good. What are you calling about?”
“There was an explosion on one of our rigs in the Gulf. Now there’s a fire.”
“Dammit!” Nick swung out of bed. A tight knot of anger curled in his stomach. “Was anyone hurt?”
“Two men have been evacuated to a burn center.”
“Get the helicopter to meet me in Galveston. I can be there within the hour,” Nick said, grabbing jeans.
“Just hold tight and I’ll keep you posted. You don’t have to be out there fighting the fire. That’ll just worry your dad more. You’re going to have to break the news to him because he’s going to hear it in the morning anyway.”
“Tyler, you find out exactly what happened, down to the tiniest detail,” Nick said, anger burning him. “If there is anything that points to the Holcombs, I’m going to sell off that company of his bit by bit and wreck what I can’t sell.”
“I’ll get back with you.”
“I’ll call Dad in the morning. He doesn’t get up as early as he used to. The more casual I can be about it, the less concerned he’ll be. Maybe by that time, you’ll know more.”
“I’ll keep you posted.”
Nick replaced the receiver, staring at the phone speculatively. He stepped out of bed, because sleeping again was impossible. Remembering clearly Julia’s and Rufus’s threats, Nick doubled his fists. Had she been behind the destruction? Or had her grandfather?
At eight o’clock the next morning, Nick’s intercom buzzed and he listened to his secretary’s voice. “Julia Holcomb is on the phone and would like to see you today, if possible. Your calendar is clear in an hour and at two this afternoon.”
Surprised, he stared across his office and seethed with anger.
“I’ll see her in an hour,” he said flatly, his mind racing over what he wanted to do while he was curious about what she intended. He picked up a remote, switched on the news on the flat-panel television mounted on a wall across the room, and looked at images of what had been a productive Ransome oil rig only twenty-four hours earlier.
He stared while his anger climbed. Switching off the television, he tossed down the remote, picked up his phone and dialed Tyler’s cell number. In seconds, Tyler answered, static crackling.
“Any more news?” Nick asked.
“The fire expert is looking into the cause.”
“Remember that offer of a bet? Is it still on?”
“Bet?” Tyler sounded perplexed momentarily. “Ah, the horse and the car.”
“You’re on,” Nick snapped. “If the Holcombs want a fight, they’ll get a fight. If I seduce Julia within two weeks, I win your prize car.”
“And if you don’t, I want your horse,” Tyler replied, his voice fading.
“Keep me posted.”
“What? I’m losing you, Nick.”
Nick replaced the receiver and stared at the door, not seeing his office, but remembering Julia Holcomb’s blue eyes, her long legs. Revenge would be sweet. Seduction would be just the beginning.
As his appointment with Julia Holcomb approached, Nick glanced around, hoping that his office was bigger, finer and more intimidating than her own. Immediately, he had to laugh at himself. Never in his life had he felt that way with anyone, much less someone he was going to destroy.
He looked at the walnut paneling, the thick oriental carpet in muted colors, the oversized, polished mahogany table that served as his desk and brown leather furniture. The walls of his office held original oils by famous painters, art acquired on his trips to Europe. He was located on the eighteenth floor of the Ransome Building in downtown Dallas. He knew Holcomb Drilling was in a ten-story, suburban brick building that had been built about twenty years earlier to replace the old offices in downtown Dallas.
The intercom buzzed, and his secretary announced Julia’s arrival.
As the door closed behind Julia, he rose to his feet. She was as beautiful as he remembered. He hoped his features were as impassive as hers, but he couldn’t resist an appreciative head-to-toe glance. Taking in her tailored black suit and blouse, her blond hair coiled and pinned on her head, he wanted to tangle his fingers in that neat hairdo and watch those silky locks fall.
“Good morning,” he said, smiling at her. “Welcome to the wolf’s den.”
Two
“Good morning. I’m surprised you admit it,” Julia said, smiling as she crossed the room and extended her hand to shake Nick’s.
“Why wouldn’t I think this is a good morning?” he asked, something flashing in the depths of his dark eyes.
“Since I’m paying a call,” she answered.
In a long-legged easy stride, Nick came around from behind his desk. His charcoal suit added to his dark, handsome looks which she tried to avoid thinking about as much as she tried to ignore her excitement at the sight of him. She loathed dealing with Nick and beneath what she hoped was a cool, collected facade, she fought a rising panic over what Nick was about to do to her grandfather and what she could not stop.
When she shook hands with him, his fingers closed around hers, warm and firm, in a contact that sizzled to her toes. How could she be so physically drawn to him when emotionally she viewed him as a ruthless competitor? She withdrew her hand swiftly.
“Won’t you be seated,” he said, motioning her to a leather chair. He pulled another chair around to face her and sat only a few feet away. His brown eyes bore into her and she tried to remain cool.
She crossed her legs and noticed his gaze drifting down to her ankles. Just a look from him made her tingle. She was accustomed to having control of most aspects of her life and she was chagrined to discover her reaction to Nick Ransome today was as volatile as her response during the first few minutes in the restaurant parking lot.
“I know you won’t make this easy for me,” she said.
“I’m damned astounded you’re here,” he admitted with a frankness that took her by surprise.
Unable to avoid noticing how thickly lashed his dark eyes were, she stared back at him. “I thought we ought to get on better footing than we were last night.”
“I find that also amazing,” he added. He looked relaxed, sitting in the chair, one ankle on his knee, but she had a feeling that he was holding back fury. His dark brown eyes sparked with fire. His curly, dark brown hair softened his features slightly.
“I know we parted on a bad note last night—”
“That’s rather an understatement.”
“I thought perhaps I should try again to persuade you to let go your intentions to acquire Holcomb Drilling.”
“My objectives have been reinforced since dinner.”
