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Taming the Takeover Tycoon
Robyn Grady
Jack Reed spells trouble. But has trouble met its match?The business world trembles at the mere mention of Jack Reed, but Becca Stevens has no such fear. Her pleas for him to end his hostile takeover of Lassiter Media should be laughable. Yet there's such sincerity in her eyes, such a light his own life seriously lacks. Becca wants to show him just what his ruthless quest is costing others. And he goes along with her plan, seeing it as the perfect opportunity to woo her into his bed. But is he walking right into her trap–one that neither of them will want to escape?
“Give me a month,” she said, “and I’ll change your mind about dismantling Lassiter’s assets.”
Interesting. “So you think I’ll win this takeover battle?”
Becca lifted her chin. “Four weeks.”
“One day.”
“One week.”
“On one condition.”
“Name it.”
What the hell. “I’d rather show you.”
He slid a hand around her waist and drew her in as his mouth dropped over hers.
* * *
Taming the Takeover Tycoon is a Dynasties: The Lassiters novel— A Wyoming legacy of love, lies and redemption!
Taming the
Takeover Tycoon
Robyn Grady
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ROBYN GRADY was first contracted by Mills & Boon in 2006. Her books feature regularly on bestsellers lists and at award ceremonies, including the National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Booksellers’ Best Awards, CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards and Australia’s prestigious Romantic Book of the Year.
Robyn lives on Australia’s gorgeous Sunshine Coast, where she met and married her real-life hero. When she’s not tapping out her next story, she enjoys the challenges of raising three very different daughters, going to the theater, reading on the beach and dreaming about bumping into Stephen King during a month-long Mediterranean cruise.
Robyn knows that writing romance is the best job on the planet and she loves to hear from her readers! You can keep up with news on her latest releases at www.robyngrady.com (http://www.robyngrady.com).
For Penny and Gracie,
Two very cool ladies.
xoxo
Contents
Cover (#ufad2fc0d-96a9-5710-847d-77bc5f0d874e)
Introduction (#u5dfbf4b2-f370-51e9-b667-f85dd897171c)
Title Page (#u8432b283-4f7d-5e8c-9be8-6d0737754adc)
About the Author (#u356a08fb-8920-5911-a750-7e100ff05579)
Dedication (#ub2e608dc-45ac-58ad-be17-9cb0430e37fc)
Family Tree (#u531b5e6a-e20a-5233-9d20-10482b1747f1)
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Extract
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
One (#u09918f22-9829-5bfe-a3fd-4bc7a7cb8640)
The Robin Hoods of this world were Becca’s heroes. As she watched Jack Reed strike a noble pose then draw back and release an arrow that hit dead center of his target, the irony wasn’t lost on her.
Jack Reed was no Robin Hood. He was anathema to everything she stood for. To every living, breathing thing she believed in. Beyond all else, people ought to give back—even sacrifice—to support others who need help. Some mistook that level of compassion for weakness, but Becca was far from easy prey.
Looking GQ-hot in jeans and a white button-down, cuffs folded back on strong forearms, Reed lowered the bow and focused on his guest. The slant of his mouth was so subtle and self-assured, Becca’s palm itched to slap the smirk off his face. She might have done it, too, if she thought it’d shake him up some. But it was said displays of true emotion only amused him.
Jack Reed owned a property in his hometown of Cheyenne, Wyoming, as well as two residences here in L.A.: an ultramodern penthouse apartment in a downtown high-rise building that he’d purchased as well as this spectacular Beverly Hills estate. With a quiver slung across his broad back, he sauntered over the manicured lawn to meet her. Although he was expecting her visit, Becca doubted he would welcome what she had to say.
She introduced herself. “Becca Stevens, director of the Lassiter Charity Foundation.” She nodded at the target. “A perfect bull’s-eye. Well done.”
“I took up archery in college,” he said in a voice so deep and darkly honeyed, the tone was almost hypnotic. “I try to squeeze some practice in every week.”
“Difficult with your schedule, I imagine.” All that dismantling of companies and banking the proceeds had to take up oodles of time. “I appreciate you seeing me.”
His smile, designed to disarm, got bigger. “Any friend of J.D.’s is a friend of mine.”
“If J. D. Lassiter were alive, he might not count you as a friend at the moment.”
The smile widened more. “Straight for the jugular, Ms. Stevens?”
Given Jack Reed was a highly successful corporate raider, he ought to be used to the approach. “I thought you’d appreciate it.”
“I only want to help Angelica Lassiter reclaim what she rightly deserves.”
Becca let out a humorless laugh and then sighed. “Ah, sorry. Just the idea of someone like you being in any way self-sacrificing...”
His gaze sharpened. “Angelica was J.D.’s only child.”
“You’re forgetting Sage and Dylan.”
“They are Ellie Lassiter’s orphaned nephews, adopted after J.D. and Ellie had been told by doctors—”
“I know the background, Jack.”
“Then you’ll also know that Angelica, J.D.’s own flesh and blood, was his favorite—that he’d entrusted her with the running of Lassiter Media those crucial months before his death. It makes no sense that his will should insult her with a paltry ten percent while controlling voting interest of J.D.’s multibillion-dollar company goes to Angelica’s ex-fiancе—” Jack paused for effect “—even if J.D. had handpicked Evan McCain for his daughter.”
“J.D. might have liked Evan for a son-in-law. No one would argue he has remarkable business sense.” Becca joined Jack as he headed off toward his target. “But Angelica trusted Evan. They fell in love.”
“Betrayed by the man she was ready to marry. Tragic, wouldn’t you say?”
Oh, please. “Evan had nothing to do with J.D.’s will.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. But nothing stops him from reinstating to Angelica what should be hers now. He could do the decent thing by the woman he professes to love.” Jack’s lips twitched. “I don’t know how he sleeps at night.”
An image flashed into Becca’s mind—Jack Reed lying butt naked on a rumpled sheet, fingers thatched behind his head, an unmistakable thirst reflecting in the depths of his glittering onyx eyes. Nerve endings ignited and flashed over her skin. The tingle raced through to her core, all the way down to her toes.
Reed was an attractive man; she would go so far as to say he was exceptional. If half of what the tabloids published was true, hoards of women had surrendered to the drugging heat she felt radiating off him now. The effect was gripping—beguiling—and, in Becca’s case, about as welcome as boiling water on a third-degree burn.
As they continued to walk, she tried to stay focused.
“I’m here to implore you, in J.D.’s memory, to show some human decency. Walk away from this. After her father’s death, Angelica’s in no shape to link arms with the likes of you.”
“Don’t underestimate Angelica.” His classically chiseled profile hardened as his chin lifted a notch. “She’s stronger than you think.”
“Right now, she’s desperate.”
He laughed, a somehow soothing and yet cynical sound. “You don’t beat around the bush, do you, Becca?”
No time. “You own an interest in Lassiter Media and rumors are rife. People are bracing for a hostile takeover bid. The charity’s donations are down. Regular beneficiaries are actually looking at other options. Want to guess why?”
“I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
Damn right she would. “The name Jack Reed means trouble—the kind of trouble clear-minded people run a mile to avoid.”
He blinked slowly and grinned as if the description was something to savor. “As long as Angelica wants my help, I’ll give it.”
“You sought her out,” she reminded him, “not the other way around.”
“Your point?”
Her heart was pounding in her ears. No one wanted to make an enemy of this man, but Becca had a principle to defend. A fight to win. Hell, she’d faced worse situations than this and survived.
“I know what you’re up to,” she said as they neared the target, “even if Angelica can’t or won’t face the truth. After you’ve used her to gain majority control over Lassiter Media interests, you’ll aim the next arrow at her back. You’ll sell off Lassiter assets like you have with every other company you’ve acquired.”
“Got it. I wear the black hat.”
“Simple, isn’t it?”
“If only.”
Lord above, how she wanted to shake this man. “Seriously, how much money does one person need? Is this worth betraying your friend’s memory? J.D.’s family?”
“This is not about money.”
“With you, it’s always about money.”
His jaw flexed as he stopped in front of the target and freed the arrow.
“I understand your desire to help, but Angelica and I have this covered. And make no mistake.” His uncompromising gaze pierced hers. “We intend to win.”
Becca’s focus shifted from the steely message in his eyes to the arrow’s bright red feathers, the shaft’s long straight line and finally the weapon’s potentially lethal head. Then she thought of this man’s lack of empathy—his obsession with self-enrichment. How could this superb body harbor such a depraved soul? How could Jack Reed live with himself?
Becca took the arrow from his hand, broke the shaft over a knee and, shaking inside, strode away.
* * *
Jack watched Becca Stevens’s spectacular behind as she marched off in a fiery temper and had to smile.
When Becca had contacted his office hoping to meet, instinct had said to shake her off. If ever Jack set his sights on a target, he committed to that goal two hundred percent. No one and nothing would sway him. In certain circles, the term pathological was used to describe his drive.
