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But he had, years ago. They’d spent one glorious summer laughing and joking and making love. It was his quick wit and ease of manner that had attracted her to him initially. That and his hard, lean, gorgeous body.
“I can’t possibly cook you dinner, Reese. I’ll have someone else…”
“No. It’s you or nobody.” His dark eyes held hers firm.
Eliza thrust her chin up. If he wanted a battle of wills, then she’d oblige. “Then I’m afraid it’ll be nobody. I have to get back inside.” She turned to leave, but his hand snaked out to catch her wrist. He spun her around, and she faced narrowed eyes and a set jaw.
“You’re bought and paid for, darlin’. To the tune of thirty-five thousand dollars.”
Eliza’s eyes widened with surprise. She’d been so distraught at seeing Reese again she’d forgotten all about the enormous donation he’d made. “You don’t have that much—”
His brows shot up. “I do.”
He caught her staring at the fine cut of his tuxedo, his tie clasp made of solid gold and his handcrafted snakeskin boots. She wiped the curiosity off her face, wishing he would leave. She didn’t care how much money he had now. Seeing him hurt too much. She’d managed to tuck away reminders of his betrayal, but now that he was so near, all of it came rushing back with frightening force.
“Let go of me,” she said breathlessly.
He released her immediately.
“I’ll be over tomorrow night at eight.”
She shook her head again. “It’s not a good idea, Reese.”
“They don’t know, do they?”
He was smug enough not to have to explain. Eliza knew that he spoke of her family and the secret marriage she’d kept from them. She shook her head slowly.
“Six years, and you still haven’t owned up to the truth. You must have really been…hell, never mind.”
“Reese, you can’t come over tomorrow night.”
He scowled. “Would you rather I went to the press? News of the Fortunes was splashed all over the Tribune this morning. You’d think this damn charity event was the second coming or something. Wouldn’t they just love to hear about the sainted Eliza Fortune’s misfortune one summer in Montana? How she got down and dirty with a local cowboy?”
It hadn’t been like that. That summer had been magical until…She drew oxygen into her lungs. “Is that a threat?”
He jammed his Stetson back on his head. “Damn straight, darlin’. I don’t make them lightly.”
Eliza pursed her lips to keep from lashing out. She’d lost this round with Reese. She couldn’t afford for him to make good on his threat. It had taken several years to live down her last romantic debacle with a man who had aspirations of becoming Sioux Falls’ youngest mayor. She’d been engaged to Warren Keyes for six months and broke off the engagement two weeks before the wedding.
Local news stations and leading headlines in the Tribune had kept a running tally on their breakup for weeks, and Eliza had come out the loser. Her head throbbed as she recalled the pain she’d endured finding her fiancé in bed with his campaign manager. No one knew the entire truth except her family. She’d kept quiet about his infidelity, not out of any concern for him or his campaign but because she hadn’t wanted the public humiliation. Pity was the last thing she’d needed. It was bad enough that she’d suffered public scrutiny, being described as “flighty,” “fickle” and “confused” when she’d walked out on him.
But what she’d really been was hurt, the injury to a young girl’s heart almost too painful to bear. Warren had used her and her family’s name to attain status in the community for political gain.
She’d run away then to Montana and had met Reese Parker. The ruggedly handsome cowboy had swept her off her feet. She’d fallen hard for him, and they’d had a summer affair that led to a quick wedding. Now, if the truth got out about her marriage, the term rebound would take on a whole new meaning.
“Dinner at eight,” he said without compunction. “I doubt you remember my favorite meal, but this really isn’t about food, is it?”
With that, he strode purposefully off the terrace. Eliza watched the glass door slam shut in his wake.
“Pot roast and potatoes with creamed spinach,” she muttered softly.
Then trembled again.
Reese paced his penthouse suite, striding back and forth with suppressed rage. Eliza Fortune Parker, his wife, had tried to cast him off once again tonight. This time he wasn’t having any of it. She’d see him on his terms, whether she liked it or not. And she hadn’t liked it.
No, his appearance at her fund-raiser tonight had put a wrench in her nicely tuned life. Reese could take some satisfaction in that. He’d seen fear in her eyes, and that suited him just fine. Let her fear him and what havoc he could cause her.
She’d caused him enough grief to last a lifetime. Reese shoved his hand into his pocket, coming up with the note she’d written him six years ago, the crinkled, worn parchment he’d been given by a hotel desk clerk a constant reminder to him to succeed in life. Hell, he’d practically used the note as his bible, his guide to never give up. To never let anyone best him again.
He glanced down at the delicate writing, smudged now and bleeding blue ink.
The marriage was a mistake. I’m going home. I don’t want to see you again. Ever.
Ever.
Damn her. He’d stayed away long enough.
He knew every cold, harsh word of that note by heart. It was time to end it all, and too bad if it didn’t fit into Eliza’s plans.
Before his father died last month, he’d made Reese promise that he’d get his affairs in order. With unspoken words, he’d immediately known what his father had meant. Normally, Cole Parker didn’t pull punches. He’d been one up-front tell-it-like-it-is kind of man. But his father had known that Eliza Fortune Parker had been Reese’s one weak spot so he’d trod carefully.
It’s time, Reese, he’d said, almost on his last breath. Take hold of your life, son.
His father had been right. It was time.
But Reese would take his time, making Eliza squirm, upending her perfect little world, showing her that he wasn’t the sweet-natured, bronc-busting cowboy she could tie up in knots, anymore.
God, he’d been a fool thinking that the rich, pretty socialite would be happy with a down-on-his-luck cowboy.
Reese winced and crumpled the note, shoving it back into his pocket.
Man, but he’d loved her. She’d come to Montana and he’d seen something unique in her, something beautiful in her heart. She’d turned him on with that body of hers, wearing clothes that hid her perfection. His imagination had taken wild rides, until he’d known he had to have her. And once they’d made love, it had been better than good. So damn much better than anything he’d ever experienced.
When Reese’s cell phone rang, he checked the number, then smiled. “Hey, Garrett.”
“Where are you, bro?”
“In the Providence Hotel.”
“Top floor?”
“Penthouse.” Reese could picture his brother’s grin. They’d often joked that once they struck it rich, they’d never stay in anything but the best—a result of too many sleazy motels with torn sheets and rodents as bed partners.
“I take it that’s not a Fortune acquisition?”
“Hell, I had to drive across town to find a decent hotel they didn’t own.”
“You’re home early. I take it the night didn’t go well?”
“On the contrary. I accomplished my goal.”
“Which was?”
“You wouldn’t approve, Sir Galahad.”
His brother sighed. “So, how is Eliza?”
Beautiful, sexy, cold as ice. “She hasn’t grown fangs or anything.”
“Ah, still a knockout.”
Reese didn’t answer.
“Hey, I’m on your side, Reese. We’re family. But I liked Eliza from the moment I met her.”
“You only met her one time.”
“True, but I could tell she was crazy about you. I thought you were a lucky man. And Pops, well, he wanted you to sort out your life, Reese.”
“That’s what I’m doing. I plan on getting her out of my life.”
There was a long pause. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”
Reese let out a bitter laugh. He knew his brother only meant well, but what option did a man have when his wife walked out on him without any explanation. She’d kept their marriage a secret because she’d been ashamed of him and his status in life and feared her family wouldn’t approve. She didn’t care enough about him to fight for what they had. He’d been broke, making his way through the rodeo circuit and pouring all of his money into his venture. But Eliza hadn’t stuck around long enough to see his dream come true. When she’d had enough, she’d simply walked out. Without taking a backward glance. Well, he’s making her take a good long look now. “I’m sure.”
“Okay,” Garrett said quietly, and Reese knew his brother only had his welfare at heart. “Hey, want some good news?”
“Shoot.”
“We had a blowout in Cinder Basin. A real gusher. Your instincts were right on. That makes seven straight oil strikes, Reese.”
Reese’s mood lifted. “Pops would’ve liked to hear the news.”
“He knows, Reese. He’s overseeing our operation from up above.”
“Yeah.”
Reese had ridden the rodeo circuit to sustain his dream, using his winnings to help finance his venture as a wildcatter. He’d worked long and hard coming up with nothing but dry holes his first three years. The standing joke was that he couldn’t find oil in a gas station. But then his luck changed and his rigs started paying off. He became a respected oilman, hitting five straight blowouts that year, and his success continued to mount every year, his ratio of blowouts to dry holes ten to one. It hadn’t taken him long to form his own company—Parker Explorations being one of the most prosperous oil companies in Montana.
“Thanks for the call, Garrett. I’ll be dreaming of black gold.”
“You’re going to need it with that house you’re building.”
Reese agreed. “Yeah, it’s a money pit, but it’ll be perfect when I’m through.”
“Perfection has its drawbacks at times.”
How well he knew that. At one time he’d thought he’d found the perfect woman, the perfect wife. They were to have the perfect life. Eliza had crushed that idea and left him a broken man. It had taken him a long time to dig himself out of that hole. But now he was back on top and nothing was going to stop him. He had the perfect plan for getting back at his wife.
“Yeah, but when you get it right, there’s nothing that compares to it.”
Two
“Here are the books you requested, ma’am.” Ivy Woodhouse, the Fortunes’ chef, handed Eliza three cookbooks as she sat in the great room just off the kitchen. “Are you sure you don’t need my help for that special meal you’re cooking tonight?”
Eliza glanced up at Ivy. “No, but thank you for the offer. I plan on doing this myself,” she said.
Even if it kills me, she thought. She couldn’t risk having the cook or anyone else around when Reese came over tonight. “In fact, since my father and Patricia won’t be home this evening, why don’t you take the night off.”
Ivy’s brows rose in surprise and she paused briefly before answering. “Thank you. Shall I set the table for you, miss?”
“I’ll take care of it. Enjoy the night off, Ivy,” she said as the cook thanked her again and left the room.
Eliza leaned back against the sofa, planning her dinner outside on the veranda, where no one would bother them. She remembered the chills she’d experienced last night when Reese had joined her on the hotel terrace. Most of what she’d felt had little to do with the weather. She’d been shocked and then angered by his appearance, which she believed was the exact reaction he’d wanted from her. He’d made her darn uncomfortable last night.
Now she had the chance to return the favor. If she could make Reese uncomfortable enough, maybe the evening would end quickly. She’d be willing to endure a slight frost to get rid of Reese. His presence here in Sioux Falls made her jumpy, but having him show up at her home tonight could surely do her in.
As luck would have it, her father and stepmother had dinner plans this evening. As for the rest of the family…hopefully they wouldn’t make an appearance, either.
Eliza opened a cookbook and began flipping pages.
Her father took a seat in his wide velvet-tufted wing chair, facing her. “Good morning, honey.”
Eliza lifted her face and smiled. “Hi, Dad.”
Nash Fortune, never one to miss a sign, sent a worried look her way. “Tired today?”
“Not really,” she said, telling a little fib. She’d spent a restless night worrying about what Reese’s appearance in Sioux Falls might mean, and she feared the lying would only continue.
“You worked very hard last night, Eliza. The fund-raiser was a huge success. And, as a father, I couldn’t be more proud of what you managed to accomplish.”
“Thanks, Dad, but it wasn’t all me. I had a great deal of help and—”
“And you’re the one with the ideas, the guts to pull it together, to make it all work, right down to the final dotting of the i’s and crossing of the t’s. I understand you’ve outdone yourself this year, bringing in more money than the museum had ever hoped.”
“Yes, I’m happy we raised the funds they needed for the repairs.”
“The gentleman who bid on your dinner put you over the top.”
Eliza slammed the cookbook closed, took a deep breath, then nodded.
“Do you know who he is? Where he’s from?”
Eliza’s heart raced with dread and she cursed Reese for putting her in this position. Her mind fumbled around for just the right words. “Montana, I believe. He’s passing through Sioux Falls.”
“Just passing through?” Her father scratched his head, then furrowed his brows in a gesture Eliza knew so well. When Nash Fortune wasn’t buying something, he couldn’t hide the expression on his face. His instincts were usually right on, but the man didn’t have a poker face. “Why would he donate so much money if he had no stock in Sioux Falls? No one I questioned seemed to know.”
Eliza clenched her teeth. Her father had asked people about Reese Parker? “It’s a good tax deduction,” she said, keeping her comments noncommittal, “and a wonderful cause, Dad. Maybe he’s generous by nature.”
